Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

by C. B. Lee

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Expansive, exciting and full of heart, this fantasy's world-building is just as rich as its cast of characters and emotional beats. There's just so much to love!

A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in the deluxe trade paperback edition of Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee's fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance featuring gorgeous sprayed edges.

When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.

The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.

As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250417336
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

C.B. Lee is an author of young adult and middle grade fiction including the NYT Bestseller Minecraft: The Shipwreck. Their works also include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selected A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, the Lambda Literary Award nominated Sidekick Squad series, Ben 10 graphic novels, Out Now: Queer We Go Again, and From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Lee’s work has been featured in NPR, Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.

Editorial Reviews

"Epic world-saving plotting mixes with intimate star-crossed love and touches of magic and mischief, making for a satisfying and cozy read." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Told in alternating POV chapters, Lee’s latest is a delight... This sapphic romance manages to be sweet, tender, and high-stakes all at the same time—a true triple threat." —Booklist, starred review

"Endlessly fun . . . Lee’s book stands apart from the recent flood of fantasy romances thanks to its clever interweaving of high stakes with a heartfelt love story." —Washington Post

"Great for fans of F.T. Lukens and those who enjoy cozy fantasy and standalones." —School Library Journal

"A cozy, comforting, and adorable adventure with just the right amount of thrills and romance. You can't help but cheer for Brenda, Kat, and their plans to save their worlds." —Malinda Lo, New York Times-bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club

"Magical, inventive, and a fresh spin on the coffeeshop romance trope. CB Lee has crafted an enchanting contemporary fantasy filled with whimsy and wyverns. Perfect for readers who love intricate worldbuilding, sweet meetcutes in alternate universes, and joyful queer romances.​" —FT Lukens, New York Times-bestselling author of Spell Bound

"Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe brews a story of love, longing, and the endless possibilities of what-ifs. CB Lee crafts a romance that lingers like a warm cup of coffee—comforting, rich, and a little bittersweet. Perfect for fans of cozy queer love stories, multiverse adventures, and the magic of missed connections." —Aiden Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of Cemetery Boys

"Lee’s fully developed parallel worlds are alike in many ways, although in Kat’s, you can buy teleportation spells at Target.... A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love." —Kirkus

From the Publisher

2025-03-08
The lives of two Los Angeles girls inhabiting different universes intersect, proving that love knows no bounds.

Brenda Nguyen has a 19-step plan to save the world. Kat Woo is haunted by her legacy as the chosen one, a role she has no interest in. Brenda, working on an environmental science college scholarship application, stumbles into Sammy’s Coffee and Pick-Me-Ups, which Kat’s family owns. As the girls get to know each other, Brenda at last finds someone who’ll listen to her detailed plans, while Kat discovers she has something to look forward to. The girls, who alternate narrating the story, must defy the odds as their worlds begin to collide. As well as being a love story, this is an exploration of familial expectations: Kat is trying to outrun them, while Brenda is driven to fulfill hers. The girls, who are of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, respectively, complement each other: Brenda learns to live in the present, and Kat begins to look to the future. While there are pixie swarms and mana surges, the action takes a back seat to characterization. Lee’s fully developed parallel worlds are alike in many ways, although in Kat’s, you can buy teleportation spells at Target. The cast is rounded out by solid portrayals of the girls’ friends and family, who are important to the plot.

A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love. (author’s note, recommended reading)(Fantasy romance. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews