After a brief detour as a dentist, she is now grateful to spend her days in fictional characters’ heads instead of real people’s mouths. Gloria Chao is the critically acclaimed author of American Panda, Our Wayward Fate, Rent a Boyfriend, and When You Wish Upon a Lantern. But when their feuding families and changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?

While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship-and maybe more. and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can't do it alone. Then Liya discovers her family's wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding of All Time-and they haven’t spoken since. By pre-registering, you are verifying that you are fully vaccinated and will wear a mask throughout the entirety of the event.Īcclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people's wishes but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts' desires-each other. Please note: Pre-registration for this event is required. There will also be delicious mooncakes available for purchase from Maa Maa Dei!

For this event, Chao will be in conversation with Samira Ahmed. Join us for an in-person event celebrating When You Wish Upon a Lantern by Gloria Chao.

Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao