The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu Published by Avon on November 2, 2021
Genres: Romance
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Goodreads
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
About The Donut Trap
Julie Thien’s debut, The Donut Trap, sparkles as a New Adult romance and looks at some of the challenges faced by the child of immigrants.
Jasmine isn’t sure what she wants to do – she graduated from college a year ago but now she’s fallen into a routine of Netflix and working in her parents’ donut shop. While she’s not sure about what she wants to do, she knows it’s not this – endless days of maple bars and her mom’s constant questions about her plans.
And then she runs into her college crush. And it’s a mutual crush. Even better, he’s Chinese which delights her parents. They’re Chinese born who’d been living in Cambodia and fled to the US to escape the Kmer Rouge. And yet, Alex isn’t as perfect as she thought.
My thoughts about The Donut Trap
Jasmine is so relatable – wanting to move onto the next chapter of her life but unsure what that is. She feels a responsibility to help with her family’s business which is on the verge of failing. Yet she dreams of never working there again.
The tension between Jasmine and her parents is so relatable. Julie Thien handles it with a lot of sensitivity – no one is a bad guy. Her parents want a better life for Jasmine and she appreciates their sacrifices but doesn’t always understand their particular POV.
There are absolutely adorable moments like when Jasmine and her mom are doing market research ie staking out other donut shops and checking out their customers and what they’re buying.
The romance is sweet and gentle – nothing explicit.
I loved Jasmine’s friends and how supportive they are. I also want to go to brunch with them -yum!
In conclusion
The Donut Trap is a sweet, sparkling New Adult debut! I’m eager to see what Julie Tieu writes next.
For fans of Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam or Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
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