REVIEW: The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin

The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin is the third book in the Blue Cedar Falls series. Having only read the first book in the series, I feel this can be read as a standalone, as each book focuses more on each of the Wu sisters.

Elizabeth Wu had wanted to be an artist, but after her mother had a stroke, she finds herself in her hometown, struggling to figure out what to do with her life as she not only works at her family’s inn, but teaching painting as well. She comes up with the idea to run an art festival, but she needs the down town council to approve it. She turns to her best friend and roommate, Graham, for help, as he works at town hall.

Graham has been in love with Elizabeth for as long as he can remember, but he doesn’t see her feeling the same way. As he helps her with her art festival plans, he secretly makes plans of his own to move out of their apartment, in hopes that some distance would allow him to move on from her. But when Elizabeth discovers this and how much she hates the idea of him leaving, she begins to wonder if maybe her feelings for him are more than ones of friendship.

Elizabeth is a character that readers will sympathize with. She’s always felt like an outsider in her own family, and she harbors guilt from a fight she had with her family years earlier. She does her best to help them out, but still keeps herself from getting too close so she doesn’t disappoint them again. Her friendship with Graham was the bright spot in her life, so I wasn’t overly surprised that she chose not to see what was right in front of her, due to her fear of losing his friendship.

I liked Graham for the most part. I did think he could have just been honest with Elizabeth instead of leaving her to wonder why he wanted to get away from her. I also had a hard time believing that for how long he had known her, he let his father put doubts about Elizabeth in his head. Their friendship seemed stronger than that, and this was only time in the book that I didn’t like him.

The arts festival was an interesting idea, and I enjoyed seeing how the planning of it brought everyone together. In a way, it not only helps Elizabeth discover something that she’s truly passionate about, but it also becomes a source of healing for her.

The House on Mulberry Street is a story about friendship, family, love, and healing. It would be for readers who enjoy small-town romances or the friends-to-lovers trope.

Book Info:

Publication: March 7, 2023 | Forever | Blue Cedar Falls #3

Between helping at her family’s inn and teaching painting, Elizabeth Wu has put her dream of being an artist on the back burner. But her plan to launch an arts festival will boost the local Blue Cedar Falls arts scene and give her a showcase for her own work. If only she can get the town council on board. At least she can rely on her dependable best friend Graham to support her. Except lately, he hasn’t been acting like his old self, and she has no idea why.

Graham Lewis has been secretly in love with Elizabeth forever, but it’s past time that he faces the cold, hard truth: vivacious, amazing Elizabeth will never see him as anything but a platonic pal. He’s going to help her get the festival off the ground, but after that he needs to forget his one-sided crush. Until one impulsive kiss changes everything. Can they really rebuild their entire relationship—and the festival—from the ground up? Or will it all come crashing down?