There has been so much hype and fanfare over this book I couldn’t wait to read it!
The idea behind it was so good however the book it’s self just lacked so much! There is no fantasy beyond cute baby dragons, the storyline talks about things that could be amazing but the writer doesn’t actually take it anywhere. The plot is so basic and the writing is also really basic.
The book is basically just a romance and even the romance aspect isn’t great. So many issues and problems with the FMC and MMC that are just skipped over.
It just felt really flat! the potential is there with things they talk about however again they are not explored or expanded on which is disappointing.
If you don’t read much or are new to reading it would be a good book to start with.
There are also plans at the back of the book to expand to a baby dragon bakery and a baby dragon bookshop, not sure if I would give them a chance!
🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 16th January 2025

Scorched and gnawed skirts are a small price to pay to be surrounded by baby dragons. And Qureshi knows exactly how to write the most adorable dragons. It’s such a shame that this strength is so entwined with its flaws. One that I do think it manages to mitigate. However there really is no escaping that despite how often it tells you that the Sterlings are one of the most esteemed Drakkon families, a family with dragon carers and even stables, Aiden neglected his baby for months.

It’s unsurprising that he has to be prompted to apologise to his dragon. It’s unsurprising that he was more sorry his behaviour upset Saphira than his dragon. One of the elements that I did enjoy most was the domesticity of Aiden and Saphira’s arrangement. And I will say that Qureshi does come to paint a wonderful portrait of the three of them as a family. However I can’t help but feel that if Sparky had been a dog rather than a fantastical creature that Aiden would rank closer to characters who kick dogs than swoonworthy romance heroes.

The prose is heavy on exposition. Not in itself necessarily bad though I’d rather experience the world than have it told to me. It ultimately feels like a pop-up book. The shallowest gesture at a world. The arc of the romance ultimately is prized over its reality. Aiden’s job, for instance. It’s important in that it sets him apart from his family but suddenly it all but disappears from the narrative and he spends every day at the cafe. And ‘in a world where dragons flew through the air, nothing was too far out of reach’ was so frustrating. It’s not special. That’s an everyday occurence.

I don’t like to quote so much at once but in this instance it’s demonstrative -‘With a start, Aiden realized he was home, standing in front of his door. Sometimes he got so deep in his own head, he forgot about everything else around him. Usually he enjoyed the winding road that led up to his cottage, taking in the sight of all the leaves returning to the trees, the buds that would soon bloom. But he hadn’t noticed any of them today, he was so lost in thought‘.

The first sentence comes after pages of the world building and yet again re-explaining the circumstances in which Sparky came into his care. We know he’s walking somewhere because the chapter tells us as much when it starts, itself immediately following him leaving Saphira. The second sentence is just a repetition of what we, the readers, have read and know to have happened. The third fully does not matter and only belabours the point. The fourth yet again is just a repetition of what we, the readers, have read and know to have happened. The only thing in this paragraph that matters is that he’s arrived at his house.

I’m genuinely so sorry that Qureshi didn’t get an editor because I can’t fathom how this happened otherwise. There needed to be someone who said trust your readers. We can remember what you told us the chapter before. We can remember what you told us the chapter before that. It isn’t only the repetition, however. It often says the same thing in the same way and isn’t paced well. Saphira’s relationship with her mother is clearly set up but is forgotten for a large swathe of the book only to be thrown back in in quick succession just before it becomes relevant again. The paragraph was the worst example of this but I’m surprised that this book wasn’t at least a dozen pages shorter.

I do appreciate that Aiden didn’t keep secrets from Saphira for long. The last thing this book needed was something else to drag it out. As partners, they tend to work really well and it was lovely to see them interact that way. Even if he leaves her helplessly in the dark at times. I’m so glad that Qureshi didn’t feel the need to throw in a third act break up for the sake of convention. What she did include was genuinely very sweet and worked perfectly.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

This was an enjoyable and wholesome story, I loved Sparky the dragon and the slow burn romance. The characters were all likeable and I enjoyed their growth throughout the book, I hope to read more by this author.

3.5/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️
CAWPILE: 41/70

Tropes:
- introvert x extrovert
- dragon training
- cafe
- <spoiler>fake dating</spoiler>
- <spoiler>one bed</spoiler>

Recommended To:
Lovers of low stakes, cozy romance and those who seek out hella good vibes over depth.

My Thoughts:
(Book 1 of The Baby Dragon series) Okay, to get it out of the way, yes the dragons were sooooooo cute. I loved Sparky with my whole heart i swear to god. This was an extremely cozy weird but in my opinion it lacked a lot of depth. Which isnt necessarily vibe, especially when you want some feel good smiles and a warm heart :) it is perfectly low stakes, deliciously slow burn, and so sweet it might give you a happy little toothache. Aiden is a cutie pie and Saphira was like a big heaping pile of cherries on top.

The characters are not very complex, but there was a little bit of character development. I dont think it was anything amazing, but its there. Their internal problems weren't really a focus of the story.

The conflict is where my CAWPILE rating kinda dipped a little bit. It it meant to be a low stakes read and its really good at that, butttt i did find myself a little bit put off at how easily everything was resolved. The easy solutions and lack of permanent consequences made me not really care about the conflict happening.

I would call the writing style pretty standard, though at time a little bit jilted and awkward. I wouldnt say theres anything amazing or bad about it, but the type of style that flies under the radar as you get lost in the story and giggle at the characters. And thats a good thing, imo.

Triggers:
(past) parental death, (past-ish) illegal racing, money issues, minor classism

Spice:
Slow burn and high tension. woooo boy the tension was tensioning and made me tense but in an intensely good way. the brief touches, the almost giving in, the instant attraction but reluctance to act on it, MWAH chefs kiss it was done so well. The part where they finally bone is sweet and simple, not explicit and closes the curtain when they start to get busy. the spicy chapter is <spoiler>chap 24</spoiler>

Special Notes:
-29 chapters, very short, third pov
-took me about 3 hours to read this one
-arc read, comes out Jan 16th

I requested this because of the dragons, but there is practically nothing else going for this book.

The writing was awkward (sentence structure) and bland (in its entirety), making me wonder if it's undergone any editing beyond basic spelling and grammar. Definitely better than the other NetGalley ARC I just read, but still astonishing that this is considered publishable. I FIRMLY believe the author can do better than this, because this read like a first draft.

The characters were one-dimensional, to the point that the "conflict" in the last twenty pages (not even kidding) is described to us as the result of "something they had talked about once". If this was to be the dramatic (albeit low-stakes) ending of the story, some foreshadowing or something would have been appreciated; there really needed to be more solid buildup in order for this to hit the way it was intended to. It came out of nowhere and disappeared within the same chapter.

I DID like how their friendship was an important part of the story, but the rest of their relationship (and every relationship) was so inconsistent that I couldn't even really appreciate that.

There were some potentially interesting plot points, especially with illegal dragon racing and Sparky being one of the most-trafficked breeds, but that also went nowhere. On that note, I can say this book did genuinely surprise me: all of the little things dropped about potential plot points or conflict ended up not being important at all.

While I was excited for the concept of this book I felt disappointed in the execution. It had good cozy fantasy elements and feel-good romance at the helm, but I found the characters flat and the writing repetitive. I always enjoy a cute animal companion and so was happy with Sparky and the small world building enough to situate the characters. I did not feel invested enough though for the plot to be compelling.

I am happy this book was written as there is a need for cozy feel good content with diverse leads. This was just not the book for me.

This book was heartwarming. A book you want to cosy up with whilst reading. With baby dragons and a slow-burn romance it’s an easy read that truly makes you feel good

The Baby Dragon Cafe is a cozy romance set in a charmingly small town with a side of dragons, coffee, and pastries. With funny, relatable narrations, the main characters were sweet and easy to root for. This is kind of the story you read when you need a break from the world, or simply want to unwind.

Some cute quotes:

"It was the kind of cafe you went to for lattes on a first date, or to meet up with old friends over a pot of chai, or to read a book by the fire while sipping on a mug of hot chocolate with extra mini marshmallows. A place where people connected— where you felt at home. Where you felt the very opposite of lonely."

"Saphira knew she should be practical and wear trousers or jeans, but she loved how a pretty skirt made her feel. (Her love for aesthetics over practicality was a real problem.)"

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

Unfortunately this was an early DNF for me. The writing style just really wasn’t for me. It was a bit too simplistic and felt stilted in a way that prevented me from connecting with characters. In the amount I read there was also so many uses of the word “draggo” that just made me cringe every time. I’m sure this will work for some people and be a favourite cozy romantasy, just disappointed that it wasn’t for me.

Cosy fantasy and romantasy has been a genre that I have been interested in reading for a while so when I heard about this book I knew it was a great book to try it with.

The Baby Dragon Cafe was a cosy and cute romantasy book that I found myself lost in and enjoyed reading.
We follow Saphira who owns a cafe open to baby dragons but what she wasn’t expecting when she initially opened was for her to have to replace so much furniture after it being burnt which leads to her being unable to cover her costs. And Aiden who is a gardener whose mischievous baby dragon is causing him disruption at work so he decides to ask Saphira to help him train his dragon and pay her enough to cover the cafe’s costs. They both hold the answers to the others problems but also know they are the others complete opposites.

It took me a bit of time to be hooked by the story but once I was heavily invested in the story I just wanted to keep reading and just spend time with these characters.

I found these characters to be ones who I wanted to learn more about and enjoyed spending time with. Saphira was a character who felt both understandable and relatable, she created such a cosy environment and I felt like that bled into her character. I also really liked seeing her relationships with the other characters because I felt like that gave me a wider picture of who else lived in this area. Aiden was a really interesting love interest and character as a whole. I could relate to him quite a lot and I liked seeing how he had been shaped as a person from the family he came from and his life experiences. By having two characters from very different backgrounds that are viewed differently by those in the world it was really interesting to see how that impacted their views and how they then tackled things in their lives and it was a contrast that I liked seeing and felt added to the world building.

I absolutely loved the dragon aspect of the story. I found them to be really interesting, enjoyed learning more about them and oftentimes they made me laugh or just added some fun which I always love.

Saphira’s cafe was such a cosy environment that I loved spending time in. It gave the entire story a super cosy feel which I was looking for as I dip my toe into cosy fantasy. That being said I would have liked it if there was more world building because I do feel like I have been left with some questions surrounding the world that I hope are answered in future books. However it didn’t ruin my reading experience and I almost expected it going into the story.

Overall this was a super cosy romantasy book that I had a great time with. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to reading the sequels when they are released over the next year. I think I am most excited about the bookshop one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A cosy romance that had me desperate to hang out with the baby dragons, despite all the chaos they cause! Sparky was certainly the star of the show here and Saphira's relationship is incredibly sweet. I also enjoyed Saphira's relationship with her friend and colleague Lavinia, which brought all those great female friendship vibes to the story. Aidan is shy and a total hermit, and I can at least relate to the latter. It was nice to have his POV for the story to better understand him and his anxieties, as well as his total adoration of Saphira. This pair certainly grew together, each bringing something different to their budding friendship. It's a slow burn which I liked but I did say I was let down by how corny the book turned when their relationship developed beyond friendship. The way Aiden in particular spoke to Saphira was too syrupy sweet for my taste, and the book did take a bit of an odd (to me) turn at the end but I still enjoyed diving into a world full of adorable baby dragons.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Saphira has always dreamed of owning her own café. Not just any café though, no a café where baby dragons are welcome to enjoy some delicious snacks whilst their owners enjoy a drink of the vast café menu. Since Saphira was little, she knew that this is exactly what she wanted to do.

Aiden on the other hand, has a broken heart after his brother passed away 2 years ago. He left him a baby dragon and Aiden is not so sure what he is going to do now this little dragon is in his life. Especially since he’s still grieving. The only thing he does know for sure is that he wants to keep this baby dragon - the only thing still connecting him to his brother.

When one day Aiden runs into Saphira at her baby dragon café, the two of them agree that Saphira will assist to train the little baby dragon called Sparky. Will this arrangement between Aiden and Saphira be causing sparks? Or will they both end up burned?

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book! It’s such a cute, cosy, and heartwarming romance story, perfect to read when you’re curled up under a blanket on the sofa! I enjoyed both Saphira and Aiden as main characters. They each had their own, sometimes tragic, background story and I liked how their different worlds merged together. The side characters were a lovely addition to this story, especially Lavinia, Theo, Ginny, and Emmy. I do feel that certain topics could have been addressed a little more in this book, but overall I think it was written well.

Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No, but it’s a cute romance story with dragons so what more would you want?

Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing me with the ARC of this book!

This is an excellent novel. I really enjoyed reading it, and it was a nice take. Could see our students really liking it too.

I am new to the cosy fantasy genre and to be honest I don't think any of them could top the baby dragon cafe!

I mean a cafe.....for baby dragons? I adored every second of the book and Saphira and Aiden were such amazing characters,

Can't wait to own a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with an ARC of the eBook.

This book was as cosy and adorable as the title suggests. I loved Saphira as a character and how much love she has for these little baby dragons. Sparky had such a fun personality too. Cheeky and just how you would imagine a baby dragon.

I had already pre-ordered this paperback before being approved for the ARC so I can’t wait to add this to my collection.

Now off to work out how to turn my pet Leopard Gecko into a baby dragon!

A cute romantic novel that has the added bonus of being set in a world where dragons exist, and the protagonist runs a cafe for baby dragon owners. The dragons are not welcome in many establishments as they create chaos and carnage as they learn to use their power of fire. Saphira has had a lifelong dream to run a cafe and is able to due to an inheritance from her beloved grandmother. With no other family Saphira dedicates her life to her business with no time for fun. There is a system of hierarchy among dragon owners, with only rich and long established families are allowed to own dragons, Aiden inherited a dragon egg from his late brother and fears the family expectations involved with having a dragon. The two meet and start to become friends despite their very different backgrounds and place in society.

I found this a cute, easy read, with a slow burn sweet romance among the two main characters. A great book for young adults and those that enjoy character development with predictable buy enjoyable tropes.

oh, this book is the very definition of a cozy romance; it’s cozy, very low-stake, and a soothing balm to the heart. i wouldn’t say the romance between aiden and saphira was slow burn—at least, their love story wouldn’t be my definition of a slow burn romance. there was an instant connection between them from the moment they met, and their relationship progressed in a way that was so seamless and easy. i loved them a lot.

i also absolutely adored all the scenes involving their baby dragon, sparky! even though the book didn’t exactly go into super, in-depth detail of the lore of the dragons in their universe, but the basics are there, and you do get some idea of how they all operate. especially the baby ones. you don’t know the amount of times i squealed seeing sparky’s antics. i sympathized with aiden’s inability to control sparky but i couldn’t help but gush at how cute sparky was during his tantrum.

i think, over everything, this book is really about finding a place for yourself in the world, getting that sense of belonging, and a little bit about navigating grief of those who have passed, alongside a cute romance with our cutest duo and their baby dragon. just perfect. i can’t wait for the next book.

thank you so much avon uk and netgalley for the e-arc. i’m so grateful.

Unfortunately this was one of those books where I had to drag myself to the end for Netgalley purposes; while everything in concept seemed like a wonderful idea unfortunately it was just very plot-less and slow paced.

I don't have much to say about the book overall because I really just didn't enjoy it, it's taken me weeks and weeks to read it. I think if your thing is the slow paced thematic cafe based books I've seen floating around maybe it'll be your jam but this just wasn't doing it for me.

The romance aspect I wasn't rooting for, the cafe I wasn't rooting for, I wasn't rooting for anything because I was entirely uninvested and I am devastated about it because baby dragons sounded so cute. Not enough sparks, fantasy or plot for me

The Baby Dragon Café is a cosy and comforting novel - with cute baby dragons. I adored our main dragon, Sparky, who was such a delightful creature! If you are looking for a sweet and soft fantasy novel with the most tender and adorable main couple then this is the book for you! The slow burn is slow but the feelings are very real, and the cast of supporting characters is a riot.

Thank you so much to the author and Avon Books for the ARC of this book - which also has the cutest cover!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me early access to this title.

I picked up The Baby Dragon Cafe because it sounded like just the thing I'd enjoy - a cosy fantasy with baby dragons. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. For starters, the logistics of the two main characters each running their own business, but then seemingly dropping everything on a whim to do up the cafe's garden didn't make sense. Their attraction was a bit too much insta-love for me, and the reasons for trying to ignore that attraction felt a bit contrived. The pacing felt off in places, and especially towards the end rituals were introduced seemingly at random.
Also, considering that such a big deal was made of the illegal dragon races, the way Sparky not getting involved in racing was resolved felt a bit anticlimactic.

Perhaps some additional edits could have helped it along? However, looking back at my highlighted passages, I noticed that I mainly highlighted passaged where I felt the language could have done with some polishing, and not really any inspirational favourite quotes. This wasn't for me.