Go make your self a cup of tea and snuggle in to your cosy spot when reading this one because it is just so cute!

If you enjoyed Best Hex Ever or Pumpkin Spice Cafe but fancied something with baby dragons, low stakes and a really lovely romance plot, then you’ve got it! This was a really easy read and world felt so magical.

Saphira was so down to earth and relatable with her busy life and insecurities. And I really liked how the author scattered lots of little nods to her culture throughout too. The deserts sounded so lovely!

I perhaps would have liked the slow burn to burn slower, or for there to be a little more tension between Aiden and Saphira, but it was very much what was expecting. I also really liked that there was no spice in this. Sometimes I just want to read a cute romance without spice, and this was perfect!

Tropes:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• One Bed
• Fake Relationship
• Small Town

The Baby Dragon Cafe is a super sweet, cosy, small town, romantic, light fantasy novel about baby dragons and a love story (no spice) between Saphira and Aiden. Saphira is the main female character who is sweet, kind and beautiful and she follows her dreams and opens up a gorgeous baby dragon cafe in Starshine Valley. Aiden is the main male character who is a grumpy gardener, quiet, awkward, closed off and from a privileged, rich background and the story continues with their relationship developing whilst training Aiden's baby dragon, called Sparky.

I enjoyed the South Asian references to yummy, delicious cakes, sweet desserts (gulab jamun) and hot drinks (karak chai) and the way the author described the cafe and brought it to life in this book. It was also very heartwarming the way the author described her relationship and memories with her grandmother (Nani-ma) and her relationship with her best friend Lavinia.

The Baby Dragon Café is a cute, fluffy, heartwarming, romantic, light fantasy novel with a HEA and will make your heart smile.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books UK for sending me the ARC.

Tropes:
• Grumpy Sunshine
• We pretend we're married
• Small town
• No spice

If you read the title of this book and think that it's pretty on the nose...you haven't seen anything yet.

There isn't much subversive or complex about the "Baby Dragon Café", but I doubt that there was ever meant to be.

I found it all to be too underdeveloped to create a solid experience. It's foundatiom reminds me more of the concept for a video game rather than an adult romance narrative.

Cozy reads still need to have some substance, and those moments in this book were just too few and far between. I liked Saphira and I wanted to see so much more of her and more moments of her culture tied into the coziness of the book but the dragon-owning world and the Café environment are like oil and water to me. They never blend in a satisfying way and much like the supposedly cozy Starshine Valley are too separated for my liking.

I absolutely loved this story, it was different, quirky and not too much spice. Saphira and Aiden are perfect together and let's not forget little Sparky. I need to visit this cafe and get a baby dragon of my own

What a fun cozy fantasy! I haven’t read much in this genre, but really enjoyed this!

Always looking for fun books on the cleaner side to recommend to the appropriate audience, and this will fit that bill nicely.

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read this via NetGalley.

4.0/5.0

The Baby Dragon Cafe is such a delightful concept for a book! From the very first page, I was enchanted by the idea of a cosy cafe where dragons and their humans gather—a perfect blend of warmth, magic, and heart.

Saphira is an absolute gem of a character. She’s kind-hearted, passionate, and genuinely cares about everyone around her. It’s easy to become invested in her journey, and I found myself fully supporting her dreams for the cafe. In fact, I could have happily spent the entire book just reading about her daily interactions with the regulars and their dragons! Her love for both the cafe and the community is so palpable, and it’s clear how much of her heart and soul she’s poured into making it a special place.

Aiden, on the other hand, is the quintessential grumpy male love interest, though, like any well-written character, there’s far more to him than meets the eye. Beneath his brooding exterior lies a man struggling with grief after the death of his brother, and his attempts to care for Sparky, an unruly baby dragon, make for some heartfelt (and often hilarious) moments. Watching Aiden slowly open up as he forms a connection with Saphira and Sparky is a truly touching journey, and I found myself rooting for him every step of the way.

Saphira, Aiden, and Sparky make such a wonderful trio. Their growing bond is heartwarming and full of tender moments that had me smiling and even wiping away a few happy tears. Sparky, with his puppy-like antics and undeniable intelligence, is an absolute scene-stealer. His interactions with Saphira were some of my favourite moments in the book—he’s both chaotic and endearing, a perfect fit for their world.

The small-town setting adds so much charm to the story. The tight-knit community, the local businesses, and the sense of belonging all contribute to the cosy, feel-good atmosphere of the book. I also loved the colourful cast of side characters, each with their own quirks and stories. I’m already looking forward to seeing more of them in future books!

While we only get a glimpse of the broader world in The Baby Dragon Cafe, I’m hopeful that future instalments will explore other villages in the valley that are hinted at in this book. There’s so much more to discover, and I’ll definitely be following along to see where the story goes next!

In short, The Baby Dragon Cafe is a heartwarming, magical read that will leave you smiling, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Avon books and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

This was an absolute cozy delight. If you’re a fan of cozy reads, make sure to add this to your TBR because it is peak cozy with adorable baby dragons. Also, when I say cozy, I mean COZY. It’s so cozy the stakes are almost nonexistent. I loved the whole premise of towns built around families that had dragons and being able to bring the baby dragons with you everywhere regardless of the havoc they create. I adored the bond that formed between Saphira and Sparky during their training sessions. I’m not going to lie, I was more invested in their relationship than the one between Saphira and Aiden. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy their relationship because I did, but there was something so pure about the bond between Saphira and Sparky. I did enjoy how Qureshi developed the relationship between Saphira and Aiden so organically. It took spending time with each other for their relationship to evolve from employer/employee to friends to lovers. I also really enjoyed the time on the mountain going through the various rights of passage between dragons and riders. I’m so excited to see there will be more books set in this world, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

This wasn't something I'd usually read but I found myself enjoying it very much.
The characters are sweet and there is something very simple and intriguing about it, a very easy read.
I could almost taste Saphira's sweet treats and teas.
Cute cosy romance with added baby dragons.
5 stars if you love cosy romance I'm looking forward to the sequel

This book was a cozy, fun and perfect cold weather read, something to curl up with under a blanket! Focusing on Saphira, a woman who loves dragons and Aiden, a man who puts up with them, and the romance that blossoms when Saphira begins to train Aiden’s new baby dragon. Saphira has dreamed of opening a dragon cafe that caters to baby dragons - but baby dragons are very destructive and soon the bills start piling up. Enter Aiden, a man whose dead brother has left him a dragon egg that has unexpectedly hatched, and now he has a new baby that he cannot train. Solving both problems? Saphira trains Sparky the dragon for Aiden.
And so their romance begins - neither of them aim to fall for each other but it’s almost inevitable. It’s a sweet, slow burn romance where they slowly realise how important they’ve become to each other and how much they love each other - and I ate it up with a spoon! It was just a sweet romance, with low tension and fade-to-black scenes.
It’s a low stakes, cosy fantasy with a limited plot beyond their romance - perfect if that’s what you’re looking for in the morning but if you go in expecting more you will be disappointed. There are a lot of threads for other characters in the book that I’m sure will be the subject of future books in the series. There’s also a few threads that are brought up but aren’t really dealt with in the book or the scope of the story - there’s a lot mentioned about their differing social classes and the judgement Saphira gets, but it’s never really dealt with in the narrative or beyond these mentions. I don’t know if that was a goal for the book but I think it could’ve added an interesting secondary plot to the book.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley & Avon. This is an honest review, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for this eARC!

Such a cute and cozy read! Low stakes and fluffy, this book is such a pleasant escape from everyday life. Who doesn’t want their own baby dragon?! Saphira and Aiden have such a wholesome relationship and dynamic that you really root for them from the beginning.

If you’re looking for a cute and quick without much world building or any mind-numbing fantasy politics, read this is definitely the book for you!

I really enjoyed this one, cozy fantasy with baby dragons! Would recommend to those who liked pumpkin spice cafe but wanted more magic!

I think some of dialogue needed some work, as it could have had more depth but overall still a 4 star!

this does exactly what it says on the tin - a cute, cosy romance with low stakes, low spice, but exceptional levels of yearning... and adorable baby dragons causing chaos too.

I absolutely loved reading the baby dragon cafes the characters I loved them all. I truly couldn’t put this book down. The story is a good pace and I enjoy getting both Saphira and Aiden’s take on things . Both are great characters and I can’t wait for the next book .

Well who does not need a book about a lovely cafe and baby dragons! This book is definitely a twist on your typical boy meets girl. More boy meets girl due to a cute baby dragon!

Imagine the scene, a young girl setting up and running a cafe, doing all she can to make it a success. However, there’s one major difference to her cafe and any other, hers allows baby dragons inside. Baby dragons who cause her constant trouble when trying to run the cafe!

This is something very different but lovely. The idea of people owning dragons and taking them out much like you would a young child, is something unique to me.

The author really sets the scene and in my minds eye I can visualise everything, from the cafe to the places they visit and the flowers they see.

Having not read many fantasy books based in modern times, it seemed surprising that dragons were walking around with humans, in an age of technology and such advances. Although the book mentions different areas around where it is based, I’d love to know more about where this town was located, are the dragons and other mythical creatures only here or are they all around the world.

All in all an enjoyable read, something to loose yourself in. The characters grow on you throughout the book and you will certainly have a soft spot for the cute, but slightly mischievous baby dragon!

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a cute, cozy, fun read and I felt like it was such a beautiful story! I officially have a new book boyfriend in Aiden and I loved the characters sooo much! The whole concept is also really cool and I was so excited when I learned this was a series. I cannot wait for the rest to come out and I will absolutely be buying a physical copy of this book when it comes out and recommending it to my book club because it’s just such a cozy, nice read!

What I Loved:
- Cinnamon Roll MMC (sidenote - why is there no cinnamon roll emoji?! Someone needs to get on that lol!) - Aiden was awesome! I literally think he’s one of the best, if not the best MMC I’ve come across in my reading journey. He’s grumpy at first but warms up quickly and he is so, so supportive of Saphira! He respects her, encourages her, takes care of her, pays attention to little things she says, is so thoughtful, is incredibly sensitive about wanting to respect her boundaries (also double-checking for consent! Thank you!) and listening to her body language. He’s just a great guy! I am literally in love with him - he’s awesome! I wish all MMCs were like him.
- The Love Story! - I just freaking love these two characters together! When they got together, it was so cozy and sweet and tender and it made my heart so happy! I could read about these two forever. I literally could read about them doing the most boring stuff imaginable and I wouldn’t care. Gimme! I love them SO MUCH!
- The Food! - Loved all of the food references made throughout the book and how multiculturalism was introduced throughout the story this way. It’s a little touch, but I think it makes the story all the more authentic and makes it feel cozier!
- Saphira! - Speaking of which, I loved Saphira’s character and how much elements of her cultural identity were brought into the story. It felt very authentic and I loved getting to learn more about different types of art and food featured throughout the book. She’s also such a sweet FMC and I genuinely rooted for her throughout the entire book! She was really good at helping Aiden to open up and being vulnerable and taking brave steps throughout the story. She is thoughtful and kind, just like Aiden, and they both make such a great match for each other!
- The Characters! - This book has a diverse cast of characters, which I enjoyed very much! Can I also just acknowledge how cool it is that both of the main characters are successful, independent business owners? Love that! The characters in this book feel very relatable, the dialogue felt authentic, and I loved the different personalities as well as Aiden’s big family!
- Sparky! 🐉 - I mean, obviously, right?! He’s adorable. No doubting that. I loved how it felt at times like I was watching a Disney movie with the description of his facial expressions. So dang cute!

What I Liked:
- The Concept - I feel like this whole story idea and story world is a really unique concept that I haven’t seen before. I know there’s fantasy, cozy fantasy, cozy fantasy romance, but when I saw this cover I immediately felt like it was such a cool idea and I don’t know that anybody’s put all these elements together - the low-stakes, cozy romance, dragons, grumpy-sunshine - into one book. It may be that I’m still new to the world of cozy fantasy, but I just thought this was a really creative concept and I love how it was executed!

What I Didn’t Like:
- Lack of Description - This book is a quickly, easy read and there are certainly things I loved about the writing style in that it felt very conversational and relaxing to read. But, I will say I wanted more description. At times, it was hard to visually orient myself in the scene and if I’m being honest, I just wanted more of this world! It’s such a cozy, beautiful world and I wanted more descriptions to foster that cozy feeling.
- The Worldbuilding - A.T. Qureshi built a cool world in this book, no doubt! I love it and I want more! But it did take me a while to orient myself in it and I feel like the author could have expanded and shed more light on different aspects of it. For example, what exactly is the Dragon Council? That was never fully explained and was only briefly mentioned, but I’d love to hear more about it. What are the power structures of this world? What about the other creatures - the phoenixes and chimeras and griffins? I want to learn more. Basically, I want more and I am very much ready for more in her next book! I will be waiting with my popcorn and high anticipation.

All that said, this book was such a beautiful, cozy, warm, loving, wonderful read. I’m so happy I picked it up and so thankful I got to read this before it was published. The love story and characters (especially the MMC! ❤️) was sooo beautiful and I will be picking up a copy of this book for my shelf for those reasons! I can’t wait till I’m older and can pass this book down to my kids, because it’s such a treat. It made me emotional how sweet this couple is and they will hold a special place in my heart for a while. 🥹 🥰

Basically, I just want more of this book and more of this world and I am SO HAPPY that she is releasing more of these books soon! It felt like reading this that these books were written just for me because they ticked so many of my boxes in terms of the storytelling and sweet love story. I am in love and cannot wait! 2025 and 2026 cannot come soon enough! 🎆

p.s. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!

Thank you to Avon Books for sending me an eARC of this book 💖🐉

The Baby Dragon Cafe is such a cute cosy fantasy with an adorable romance at the centre. I really like Saphira and Aiden as our main characters and related to a few of the struggles that both of them experienced. Their meeting and subsequent friendship to romance was so sweet, and while there was instant attraction between them, the romance was a slow burn which I enjoyed!

And can we talk about the dragons? I really liked seeing the different baby dragons and how they interacted with the world and each other. I want my own Sparky please! I’d have liked to learn more about the lore of the Drakkon families and of Mount Echo, but maybe that’ll be explored in later books.

The writing style wasn’t my personal favourite but it was such a quick and easy read that I didn’t mind all that much! It was just a nice cosy story to take my mind off of everything, and I enjoyed it so much.

If you liked The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and also love dragons then I think this will be perfect for you! 🐉

I will never stop recommending this book. It's so cute and I love it so much. The characters were perfect and who DOESN'T love a book that has baby dragons in it?

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for an arc of The Baby Dragon Cafe! Publishing date 16th January 2025!

If you liked the Dream Harbour books (The Pumpkin Spice Cafe) and also like dragons, this is definitely one you'll love!

We are following Saphira as she has just opened up her cafe that welcomes baby dragons (which are not usually that welcome) and she soon discovers it's hard work. In comes Aiden, a local gardener who sees how good Saphira is with dragons and decides to hire her to train his baby dragon Sparky.

This book is cute, whimsy and gives all the cosy vibes. It's centered around the romance however I enjoyed the underlying story of Saphira following her dreams and the "found family" element of the book. Not to mention Sparky is the cutest, where can I get one?!

I did find the plot seemed rushed in places and I would have liked to see some more world scene setting- understand it is a light read but more descriptions would have made this extra cosy.

Excited to see where the author takes the series next! I also want to try every drink and meal mentioned in this book!

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 |

Thank you @avonbooksuk for the gifted digital copy of The Baby Dragon Cafe!

Synopsis:

When Saphira opens her cafe welcoming pet baby dragons, she isn’t expecting it to be quite so hard to keep the fires burning. But her young dragon patrons keep incinerating her furniture, which means selling coffee isn’t covering all her costs.

Local heart-throb Aiden is a gardener, though his disobedient baby dragon is a major distraction from his beloved plants. However, Saphira’s café gives him an idea – he’ll ask Saphira to train his dragon, and pay her enough to keep the cafe afloat.

They know they’re the answer to each other’s problems, but happy-go-lucky Saphira and gorgeous-but-grumpy Aiden couldn’t be more different. Can they find a way to work together – and maybe even ignite some fire of their own?

The perfect dual POV, grumpy sunshine cozy fantasy, with HEA guaranteed!

This was a super cute, fun read. I really enjoyed the original concept and the witty writing, it flowed and worked well. I love books with a cosy cafe setting and the added fantasy element with the baby dragons etc was a nice shake up!

It's not a spicy read but the romance is really cute and you'll find it hard not to love the characters.

The Baby Dragon Cafe will be released on the 16th January 2025. Will you be reading it?

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This book was just so cute! The vibes were perfect.
I was really happy at the end when I saw there is two more from this world coming out!
So well written, and I could really feel and picture the cosy vibes from the cafe.
I want my own Sparky!