Valentina Tran's favorite day of the year is Valentine's Day. She is named after the holiday and it's no wonder that her imaginary friend is Cupid. Val and Cupid are cuddly and sweet buddies when Val is younger, planning out hand decorated cards and heartfelt messages for friends and family. As Val grows older and learns more about her family history she starts to hate Valentine's Day. Her pal Cupid takes a dark turn and manifests as a terrifying spirit version of the martyred Saint Valentine. No matter what she does, Val cannot shake the haunting. She believes that her family is cursed, and that love leads to nothing but secrets and heartbreak.
What happens to change Val's relationship with Cupid? She discovers that her well-intentioned dad has been lying to her about something significant to protect her. Val's over-the-top grandmother spills the beans in a devastatingly awkward yet hilarious moment that sends Val spinning out into a community Lunar New Year celebration where she runs into a group of lion dancers. At this point, the story turns into a satisfying k-drama love triangle between Val and two cute lion dancers: one is rich, handsome, and flaky and the other is tall, brooding and hiding something. You can imagine where this is going. There will be plenty of tears, confessions, fights, reunions, a transcontinental a-ha moment, and lots of frozen yogurt.
Gene Luen Yang creates another perfect YA graphic novel full of family lore and secrets with Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese heritage disguised as a love story wrapped around the months of the lunar year. Understanding family history and where she comes from helps Val come to terms with who she is and what she wants in life. Aside from the frightening Saint Valentine, all's well that ends well.