Salty, Spiced and a Little Bit Nice

Crazy Rich Asians meets Always Be My Maybe in this deliciously sugar-free rom-com from debut author Cynthia Timoti.

Ellie Pang has had enough of her controlling family​ who has been micromanaging her life since her type 1 diabetes diagnosis​. When her parents orchestrate a public proposal from their business partner’s son, a proposal that goes humiliatingly viral, Ellie escapes to the other side of the country to put her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery into action. After all, she’d done her research. How hard can it be?

She hits a snag when her storefront turns out to be a dump and in need of major renovations. Worse, the only person who can help her turn things around is Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and the man responsible for crushing her teenage heart ten years ago.

But Alec has a proposal of his own: he needs a pretend girlfriend in order to cement a business deal. All they need to do is feign love and affection, while trying not to maim each other. But when the thin line between hate and fake-madly-in-love starts to blur, and buried secrets resurface, Ellie must learn to trust her heart, and choose between love and family.

©2025 Cynthia Timoti (P)2025 Spotify Audiobooks

Palm trees?

The story is really cute! I’m about 3/4 of the way done and I’ve been really enjoying it and listening to a nonstop. My ONE issue is that it’s supposed to take place in a coastal town in the Seattle area. I live in a coastal town in the Seattle area. The author has mentioned palm trees twice, and we DEFINITELY don’t have palm trees here in WA. It took me out of the story both times.