C.B. Lee’s Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe is a delightful sapphic romance that weaves together parallel worlds, destiny, and the transformative power of love with the warmth of a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. This cozy YA fantasy strikes an impressive balance between light-hearted romance and surprisingly complex world-building, creating a reading experience that feels both comforting and adventurous.
A Tale of Two Universes
The story follows Brenda Nguyễn, a driven high school senior whose nineteen-step plan to save the world through science gets delightfully derailed when her internet crashes during a crucial scholarship deadline. Her frantic search for Wi-Fi leads her to a charming coffeeshop where she meets Kat Woo, a confident teenager who seems refreshingly interested in Brenda’s ambitious plans. The twist? Kat lives in a universe where magic is as commonplace as technology, and their chance meeting sets off a chain of events that threatens to destabilize both their worlds.
Lee expertly constructs two parallel realities that feel distinct yet interconnected. Brenda’s world mirrors our own contemporary reality, complete with college applications, extracurricular activities, and the constant pressure to optimize every moment for future success. Meanwhile, Kat’s universe presents a fascinating blend of modern convenience and magical technology, where spells can be purchased at Target and runebooks replace smartphones. The author’s world-building shines particularly in how magic functions as integrated technology rather than something mystical and separate from daily life.
Characters That Breathe with Authenticity
Brenda: The Overachiever’s Journey
Brenda emerges as a beautifully complex protagonist whose relentless drive to save the world through science feels both admirable and exhausting. Lee captures the particular anxiety of high-achieving students with remarkable accuracy—the color-coded planners, the constant optimization of time, the weight of feeling responsible for fixing everything. Brenda’s character arc from rigid planning to embracing spontaneity feels earned rather than forced, largely because her relationship with Kat provides a safe space for her to explore different aspects of herself.
The author excels at showing rather than telling Brenda’s stress levels through small details: her bullet journal filled with inspirational quotes, her tendency to take on extra responsibilities for Key Club and student council, and her genuine panic when plans go awry. Her nineteen-step plan to save the world initially reads as endearingly naive, but Lee gradually reveals the deeper motivations behind Brenda’s drive, connecting it to her family’s immigrant experience and her desire to honor her mother’s sacrifices.
Kat: Rebellion Against Destiny
Kat serves as both romantic interest and a fascinating exploration of what happens when someone actively rejects their predetermined fate. As the prophesied Chosen One who’s supposed to participate in a crucial magical ritual, Kat’s casual dismissal of her destiny creates compelling tension throughout the narrative. Lee avoids the trap of making Kat’s rebellion purely angsty by grounding it in real grief—the loss of her mother—and her justified anger at being treated as a tool rather than a person.
The chemistry between Brenda and Kat crackles on the page, particularly in their early coffeeshop conversations where Kat’s genuine interest in Brenda’s plans contrasts sharply with everyone else’s glazed-over responses. Lee captures the intoxicating feeling of being truly seen by someone new, especially for Brenda, who’s used to having her ambitions dismissed or trivialized.
Magic as Metaphor and Technology
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its treatment of magic as both mundane technology and powerful metaphor. The Mayfield Breakthrough, which allowed magic to be prepackaged and sold commercially, serves as clever commentary on how innovation shapes society while sometimes erasing cultural heritage. Lee touches on how Western magical practices became standardized, potentially at the cost of diverse magical traditions—a subplot that adds depth without overwhelming the central romance.
The magic system itself feels lived-in and logical. Spells require mana, intentions can affect outcomes, and magical exhaustion has real physical consequences. When Brenda accidentally casts a destruction spell in Target, the aftermath—physical weakness, desperate hunger, disorientation—demonstrates that magic comes with costs, making it feel more grounded than typical fantasy systems.
Cultural Richness and Family Heritage
Lee weaves Vietnamese and Chinese-American experiences throughout the narrative with genuine care and specificity. Uncle Chau’s herbal shop, inspired by the author’s own grandfather, provides a beautiful connection between traditional healing practices and magical craft. The exploration of generational trauma, particularly through the lens of refugee experiences and immigration, adds emotional weight without overwhelming the lighter romance elements.
The family dynamics feel authentic, from Brenda’s pressure to succeed as a way of honoring her family’s sacrifices to Kat’s complicated relationship with her father as she navigates grief and expectations. Lee handles these cultural elements with nuance, avoiding both exoticization and oversimplification.
Romance That Develops Naturally
The central romance unfolds with refreshing authenticity. Brenda and Kat’s relationship develops through shared interests and genuine emotional connection rather than instalove or purely physical attraction. Their conversations about D&D, their mutual support during crises, and their willingness to risk everything for each other create a foundation that feels solid enough to support the fantastical elements surrounding them.
Lee particularly excels at capturing the nervous excitement of new romance—Brenda’s careful planning for their first date, her anxiety when Kat doesn’t show up, and the giddy relief when they finally connect. The author doesn’t shy away from the complications of dating someone from literally another universe, using these obstacles to explore themes of sacrifice, communication, and what we’re willing to risk for love.
Where the Story Stumbles
While Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe succeeds on many levels, it occasionally struggles with pacing in its latter half. The revelation about the Order of the Crossings and Shannon Mayfield’s true nature feels somewhat rushed, with exposition-heavy conversations that slow down the narrative momentum. Some of the conspiracy elements around the Stabilization Ritual could have been woven more organically into the story rather than delivered through dialogue-heavy scenes.
The prophecy subplot, while thematically relevant, sometimes feels underdeveloped compared to the richness of the romance and world-building. Kat’s status as the Chosen One serves its purpose in creating external conflict, but the actual prophecy and its implications could have been explored more deeply to match the complexity of other story elements.
Additionally, some secondary characters, particularly Brenda’s friends, occasionally feel more like plot devices than fully realized individuals. While Erica and Jenn serve important functions in supporting Brenda’s growth, they could have benefited from more individual characterization.
Technical Craft and Writing Style
Lee’s prose style perfectly matches the cozy fantasy atmosphere—warm, accessible, and occasionally lyrical without becoming overwrought. The author demonstrates particular skill in writing dialogue that feels natural while serving multiple purposes: revealing character, advancing plot, and building the romantic tension. The alternating point-of-view structure allows readers to understand both protagonists’ internal struggles while maintaining narrative momentum.
The author’s background shines through in the authentic details of both high school life and magical world-building. From Brenda’s careful bullet journaling to the specific mechanics of how portal spells work, Lee grounds fantastical elements in believable specificity.
Themes Worth Savoring
Beyond its surface charm, the novel explores meaningful themes about destiny versus choice, the price of perfection, and the courage required to be vulnerable with another person. The tension between Brenda’s need to control her future and Kat’s rejection of her predetermined path creates interesting parallels that enrich both character arcs.
The book also thoughtfully examines how systems of power perpetuate themselves, whether through magical councils or academic pressure, and how individuals can find ways to resist without losing themselves in the process. The resolution doesn’t offer easy answers but suggests that connection and love can provide strength for facing uncertain futures.
Final Thoughts: A Satisfying Escape
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe succeeds as both a comfort read and a thoughtful exploration of love across impossible odds. While it may not revolutionize the YA fantasy genre, it offers exactly what its premise promises: a warm, engaging story about finding love and magic in unexpected places. Lee’s commitment to authentic representation and emotional honesty elevates what could have been a simple portal fantasy into something more meaningful.
For readers seeking escapist romance with heart, this book delivers beautifully. It’s the literary equivalent of that perfect coffeeshop—inviting, comforting, and filled with the kind of magic that makes ordinary moments feel extraordinary.
For Readers Who Enjoyed This Book
If Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe captured your heart, consider these similar reads:
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas – Another outstanding LGBTQ+ YA fantasy with strong family elements and cultural authenticity
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – Portal fantasy with similar themes of love transcending worlds
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson – Contemporary YA romance featuring an ambitious Black protagonist navigating love and college pressure
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – Cozy fantasy with found family elements and gentle magic
- Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall – While a picture book, it explores themes of identity and being true to yourself
C.B. Lee’s previous works include the Sidekick Squad series and A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, both of which showcase the author’s talent for diverse characters and engaging adventure narratives. Readers who enjoyed the magical elements and cultural richness of Coffeeshop would likely appreciate these earlier works as well.
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe stands as a testament to the power of gentle storytelling and the magic that exists in everyday moments of connection. It’s a book that lingers like the perfect cup of coffee—warm, satisfying, and leaving you grateful for the experience.
