3.5 STARS

I used to be an avid reader of cozy mysteries, and I'm not sure why I fell off track with them. As I continue to age, I've found myself developing that need again to balance out the dark, heavy, and unsettling reads with books that are light, upbeat, and a little humorous. Cozy mysteries are perfect for this, because they typically envelope all the things I love about romantic comedies while inserting a good old fashioned murder or crime that needs solving. Mimi Lee checked so many of my boxes, and I'm truly grateful to have picked it up.

As the first in a new series, we spend a great deal of time getting to know Mimi, her new business, and her family/friends. What made this stand out from other cozies I've read was the own voices inclusion of Asian American culture, since the main character's mother is a Malaysian immigrant. As someone who has traveled to Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, I was eager to learn a few new things from the author, as well as enjoy the reiteration of the aspects I've experienced from traveling abroad myself. Mimi is the daughter of an interracial couple (her mother is Asian American and her father is caucasian), and we get a taste of the blending of these two individuals and how it produced the family dynamics they practice today.

Part of the reason that I couldn't give this the full 4 stars I had anticipated was due to the fact that the romance was quite juvenile, partially due to Mimi's character seeming more like a teenager than a 25 year old woman. The instalove romance between her and Josh, her lawyer neighbor, just didn't leave me fulfilled, perhaps because there is little to no conflict inserted in the plot between them. I am, however, very excited to see where the author takes the couple in the next book, now that Josh isn't having to represent her professionally.

Cozy mysteries can be tough on the mystery portion, as it all depends on the author and how much they want the crime at the forefront of the book. Thankfully Chow did a wonderful job at making the murder mystery at hand engaging, and dare I say enjoyable, to read through. She puts a new spin on the detective duo, as this mystery is solved by a 20-something woman and her newly adopted rescue cat, Marshmallow. Did I mention he can "talk" to her? Honestly, Marshmallow stole the show, and I instantly fell in love with his dry humor and witty banter. If you're looking for a light mystery with a hint of romance and comedy, consider putting [b:Mimi Lee Gets a Clue|48652969|Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (A Sassy Cat Mystery #1)|Jennifer J. Chow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575976663l/48652969._SX50_.jpg|72234750] on your March TBR!

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.