Reviewed by Christine Nguyen for Readers' Favorite

Fated to Love You, Chasing the Comet (Book 1) by Kayla Cunningham is a captivating contemporary romance. Cassie Steel is in Colombia to participate in a college study-abroad program indulging in her passion for science. She is escaping from heartbreak with her high school sweetheart. Cassie shares the closed lab room with the distant and mysterious Zhang Xuan on their last night in Colombia. Cassie and Zhang share a memorable night getting to know each other. Sparks soon fly as two genius brains are united in their love of science and intellectual pursuits. An unexpected twist of fate has their lives at stake, and depending on each other for survival. Cassie and Zhang must overcome many obstacles for their love story to succeed.

Kayla Cunningham writes a powerful love story that delves into many deep issues with her compelling heroine Cassie and love interest, Zhang Xuan. This is a thrilling romance that is well-written and fast-paced. Reading any story, much less a romance, with a Chinese male lead is rare. I applaud Cunningham's bravery in writing a love story with diverse multicultural and multiracial characters. Fated to Love You confronts the pervasive issues of interracial relationships, racism, cultural identity, family dynamics, and overcoming adversity. Cunningham also brilliantly highlights brains over beauty and how being smart is so sexy. I cannot wait for Book 2 of the Chasing the Comet series, as I am fully invested in Cassie and Zhang’s unique love story!