The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi

Published by Avon on January 16^th, 2025

317 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

When Saphira opens her cafe welcoming pet baby dragons, she isn’t expecting it to be quite so hard to keep the fires burning. But her young dragon patrons keep incinerating her furniture, which means selling coffee isn’t covering all her costs.

Local heart-throb Aiden is a gardener, though his disobedient baby dragon is a major distraction from his beloved plants. However, Saphira’s café gives him an idea – he’ll ask Saphira to train his dragon, and pay her enough to keep the cafe afloat.

They know they’re the answer to each other’s problems, but happy-go-lucky Saphira and gorgeous-but-grumpy Aiden couldn’t be more different. Can they find a way to work together – and maybe even ignite some fire of their own?

My review

I am not a fan of dragons in general, but I had to read this book for a the bookclub at Indigo Rideau Center and I liked the backcover, so I decided to give a chance. I am glad I did because I felt in love with Sparky, Aiden’s baby dragon. He was even my favorite character of the book, even though he doesn’t talk, just his presence and what he did for the relationship of Aiden & Shapira, he deserves the first place.

When I read the resume, I thought their relationship would be like Luke&Lorelai in Gilmore Girls and I have to admit it’s pretty much close to it, but with dragons. Aiden is a grumpy young man with a soft heart. The reader learns early why he is like this and it helps to give him a chance.

If you are looking for a romantasy, you might be disappointed. It’s more a contemporary romance with dragons. Please note, they don’t really talk and they are more acting like they were pets. Since it wasn’t my thing first, I like the fact that Sparky was there to help the two-protagonist bond.

I liked that Shapira had a good sense of humour. I laughed a few times at the beginning of the story when she was overwhelmed with baby dragons. I know it said the story was for adult, but I think the public is more teens – young adult. Since I like that genre in general, I appreciate the story.

Excerpts

The sight of the baby dragons in her café filled Shapira with pride. She had opened six months ago, and hers was the first café to allow the little dragos in, which thrilled the people of Starshine Valley. Most establishments were pets-free, and many even had signs that specifically said NO BABY DRAGONS ALLOWED in big, bold letters. (p.2)

The Baby Dragon Cafe’s specialty, after all, was dragon-roasted coffee. The coffee beans were roasted by Dragon flames until the beans developed sweet and rich profiles, full of body and texture. (p.12)

But Aiden had tried for the past six months and made no progress. The Sterlings were one of the most esteemed Drakkon families anyone could belong to; he came from generations of riders. Every other member of his vast family had taken to their dragons instantly, but here Aiden was, struggling- a failure. (p.23)

Usually, Aiden didn’t enjoy being around people, especially new people, but there was something inexplicable about her. The way she looked at him, curious. He thought she might actually see him and understand, if he would let her. (p.54)

He loved that she was happy in what she was doing, even though he knew it stressed her out at times and made her tired. It made him overjoyed that she had something in her life she loved, something she was passionate about. (p.122)