Author: Jackie Lau
Series: Donut Fall in Love Series
Category: Contemporary Romance
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"Who could have predicted that knocking over a tray of matcha tiramisu donuts would lead to love? Perhaps someone should put that in a movie..."- Ryan
All the feels! I loved both Lindsay and Ryan, they were sweethearts with insecurities that tended to overwhelm them but ultimately made them closer as a couple.
Donut Fall in Love was a quasi-slow burn, though there was plenty of sexual tension simmering in the air, we have to wait a bit for the characters to decide to act on it. The meet-cute and baking classes were important, but I was sorely tempted to fast-forward to the first kiss!
Lindsay was lovely and engaging but was struggling to find herself after feeling like life was passing her by. It was easy to connect with a character who, after a traumatic loss, had a hard time getting out there and making new friends and new relationships. She met Ryan at the exact point in time when she was willing to step out of her box.
"She felt like she was in a movie right now. This gorgeous famous guy was in her bake shop, his attention all on her." - Lindsay
Although she didn’t come across as insecure, I can imagine anyone would eventually be prone to self-doubt due to the social media exposure that comes with celebrities. It was completely reasonable that this was part of her resistance to dating Ryan.
"When Ryan Kwok woke up on Tuesday morning, he discovered his abs had become a social media sensation."
Ryan was such a good guy all around. He had a lot on his plate and admittedly, was in over his head trying to hold his family together. I loved his ability to laugh at himself, his humility, and how down-to-earth he felt. It wasn't the best time in his life to start a new relationship, but he finally recognized he would be passing up something special if he didn't at least try to make it work.
"'She makes me feel like I have more to give,' Ryan said, then realized that was the corniest line ever." - Ryan
Familial relationships played a heavy role in the book, not only in grieving loss but also in what moving forward looks like. There was definite tension in the transition to when adult children started to look after their own parents. While their relationship was strained and stiff, the fact that Ryan's father trolled him on Twitter had me laughing out loud.
"'This was what my son wanted to be when he grew up.'
Underneath, there were two pictures. One of Cookie Monster wearing glasses, and one of Cookie Monster without glasses." - Ryan
Jackie Lau dives right into the different stereotypes, assumptions, and hurdles that many Asian people deal with, both inside the entertainment industry and beyond. Culture and expectations were big story drivers and ultimately played a role in how the main characters thought and experienced life.
The beginning of Donut Fall in Love did drag a tiny bit, I would have liked fewer pages on detailed baking scenes and old sitcoms. However, I loved that this book dove deeper into character development than the normal contemporary romance; particularly relationships with immediate family and navigating life's trials.
Overall, Donut Fall in Love was a great book and I was more than happy to share this review. I was giggle happy at the sweet parts and teary-eyed at the sad ones. If you like Hallmark movies as much as I do, put this book on your list to read next.
Tropes and Themes: Celebrity, Bakery, Slow Burn, Contemporary Romance, Romcom.
Blurb
Actor Ryan Kwok is back in Toronto after the promotional tour for his latest film, a rom-com that is getting less-than-stellar reviews. After the sudden death of his mother and years of constant work, Ryan is taking some much-needed time off. But as he tries to be supportive to his family, he struggles with his loss and doesn't know how to talk to his dad—who now trolls him on Twitter instead of meeting him for dim sum.
Innovative baker Lindsay McLeod meets Ryan when he knocks over two dozen specialty donuts at her bakery. Their relationship is off to a messy start, but there’s no denying their immediate attraction. When Ryan signs up for a celebrity episode of Baking Fail, he asks Lindsay to teach him how to bake and she agrees.
As Lindsay and Ryan spend time together, bonding over grief and bubble tea, it starts to feel like they’re cooking up something sweeter than cupcakes in the kitchen.
Comentários