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Baldwin Village #1
The Ultimate Pi Day Party
If there’s one thing that might get my dad, a retired math teacher, to visit Toronto and have a real conversation with me for the first time in seventeen years, it’s a big nerdy Pi Day party. And hopefully this party—and seeing the tech company I built from nothing—will finally be enough to impress him and make him forgive me for everything I did when I was a teenager.
But it’s got to be a really great party.
That’s where Sarah Winters comes in. She owns Happy As Pie, a sweet and savory pie shop, and wants to get into catering. She makes an amazing lamb-rosemary pie, cherry pie, lemon-lime tart…you get the idea. She’ll provide the food and help me plan the party, nothing more. No matter how much time we spend together, I’m not going to fall in love with her.
At least, that’s what I tell myself…
But it’s got to be a really great party.
That’s where Sarah Winters comes in. She owns Happy As Pie, a sweet and savory pie shop, and wants to get into catering. She makes an amazing lamb-rosemary pie, cherry pie, lemon-lime tart…you get the idea. She’ll provide the food and help me plan the party, nothing more. No matter how much time we spend together, I’m not going to fall in love with her.
At least, that’s what I tell myself…
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
118 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books871 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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March 18, 2019A very foodie Toronto-set romance that will make you crave pie. CEO meets pie shop owner. The romance is delightful, though I didn't quite feel the parental-trauma conflict purely because both MCs seem too loving, grounded and sensible. Mostly a low angst, highly likeable romance in a well developed setting and the pie descriptions will make you hungry.
August 21, 2019
Around the time the Alabama Anti-Abortion bill passed, there was a conversation on twitter about romances that dealt with abortion in a positive/normalizing manner. You can find many of the tweets with #RomanceforRoe. It’s most often been treated as a moral issue instead of a healthcare issue, and that should go out the door with slut shaming. A few readers and authors chimed in with books that addressed abortion as a healthcare choice that didn’t ruin the main character’s life. Canadian author Jackie Lau pointed to two of her books which dealt with abortion, and luckily I was planning to read both next anyway.
This review is a little unfair to the books, because I’m really only focusing on one aspect, which could give the impression that they are Very Special Episodes. They are not. Each book has it’s own rich tapestry of issues and moments. Most importantly, though one character in each book deals with an abortion in their past, those abortions are not a hindrance to the Happily Ever After. I enjoy Lau’s writing very much. She brings depth and complexity to characters.
Josh Yu’s father hasn’t talked to him in 17 years. It makes Josh feel badly because his father is generally considered a good person and is a beloved teacher. When he was in high school, Josh and his girlfriend had sex without having been given the basics of sex ed. His girlfriend got pregnant and had an abortion. Josh’s ex-girlfriend has gone on to become an advocate for sex ed and is soon to marry someone else. Nothing Josh has achieved as an adult has pleased his father. It’s clear that the trauma wasn’t the abortion, but the ignorance that led to the unplanned pregnancy and the moral judgement of Josh’s father. His judgement traumatizes Josh and effectively separates him from his family.
Sarah has recently opened a sweet and savory pie shop. She’s wanted to open her own place for years, and has worked hard to gain experience and save money to the exclusion of all else in her life. After discovering her restaurant, Josh hits on the idea of having Sarah cater a Pi Day party, which is a math joke his father would appreciate. As they spend time together, they fall in love. While the teen pregnancy and abortion don’t come between Josh and Sarah, his father’s inability to let go of his disapproval does come between them.
Jackie Lau consistently does fantastic work with the complexity of family. She illustrates with compassion the way familial expectations and disappointments can be stumbling blocks as we try to go out in the world and be our own adults. Even loving families have the power to hurt with thoughtless words.
In both books, characters make the reproductive health choices that make the most sense for them. It in not the medical procedures they have that impact them negatively, but the stigma and judgement around those procedures. I believe very strongly in the power of pop culture to be a positive force in the world. We do need #RomanceforRoe. We do need to normalize making appropriate healthcare choices for ourselves. There is no point in my life that it would have been appropriate for me to be pregnant. I have never had to address a pregnancy, but I have sat with friends who have made the choice to terminate pregnancies for a number of reasons, I have talked with friends as they celebrated births, mourned lost pregnancies, and struggled with infertility. Every person I know who has contemplated abortion made the right choice for them at that moment in their life. No laws should strip a person of their right to appropriate healthcare, or hinder their access.
This review is a little unfair to the books, because I’m really only focusing on one aspect, which could give the impression that they are Very Special Episodes. They are not. Each book has it’s own rich tapestry of issues and moments. Most importantly, though one character in each book deals with an abortion in their past, those abortions are not a hindrance to the Happily Ever After. I enjoy Lau’s writing very much. She brings depth and complexity to characters.
Josh Yu’s father hasn’t talked to him in 17 years. It makes Josh feel badly because his father is generally considered a good person and is a beloved teacher. When he was in high school, Josh and his girlfriend had sex without having been given the basics of sex ed. His girlfriend got pregnant and had an abortion. Josh’s ex-girlfriend has gone on to become an advocate for sex ed and is soon to marry someone else. Nothing Josh has achieved as an adult has pleased his father. It’s clear that the trauma wasn’t the abortion, but the ignorance that led to the unplanned pregnancy and the moral judgement of Josh’s father. His judgement traumatizes Josh and effectively separates him from his family.
Sarah has recently opened a sweet and savory pie shop. She’s wanted to open her own place for years, and has worked hard to gain experience and save money to the exclusion of all else in her life. After discovering her restaurant, Josh hits on the idea of having Sarah cater a Pi Day party, which is a math joke his father would appreciate. As they spend time together, they fall in love. While the teen pregnancy and abortion don’t come between Josh and Sarah, his father’s inability to let go of his disapproval does come between them.
Jackie Lau consistently does fantastic work with the complexity of family. She illustrates with compassion the way familial expectations and disappointments can be stumbling blocks as we try to go out in the world and be our own adults. Even loving families have the power to hurt with thoughtless words.
In both books, characters make the reproductive health choices that make the most sense for them. It in not the medical procedures they have that impact them negatively, but the stigma and judgement around those procedures. I believe very strongly in the power of pop culture to be a positive force in the world. We do need #RomanceforRoe. We do need to normalize making appropriate healthcare choices for ourselves. There is no point in my life that it would have been appropriate for me to be pregnant. I have never had to address a pregnancy, but I have sat with friends who have made the choice to terminate pregnancies for a number of reasons, I have talked with friends as they celebrated births, mourned lost pregnancies, and struggled with infertility. Every person I know who has contemplated abortion made the right choice for them at that moment in their life. No laws should strip a person of their right to appropriate healthcare, or hinder their access.
May 25, 2021
CEO of a tech company who develops apps, Josh Yu thinks he found the perfect occasion to make his father talk to him again. 17 years, that's how much time passed since his dad last talked to him, not forgiving his son for his rebelling teen years and mistakes. So after meeting baker Sarah Winters, he ask her to cater a Pi Day party for his colleagues and family. It would be a good test for Sarah, who own Happy As Pie and wants to expend her business into more catering and selling her products to grocery stores. From the first time they meet, there's something sweet between Josh and Sarah and it's not just pies😜.
I'm ending this great series with the first book. Too bad I couldn't find chocolate hazelnut pie anywhere because this book certainly made me crave it! It's my third time reading this author and there's three things that make her writing style so enjoyable :
-Witty humour
-Whether the MC's family are a bit kooky or stern, it shows how family relationship can be complicated
-How the MC act towards each other. With respect and interest. They want to know who the other is and what they like. And it's still pretty hot between the sheets🔥.
In other words, this book was touching, romantic and some of the moments made me laugh out loud.
I'm ending this great series with the first book. Too bad I couldn't find chocolate hazelnut pie anywhere because this book certainly made me crave it! It's my third time reading this author and there's three things that make her writing style so enjoyable :
-Witty humour
-Whether the MC's family are a bit kooky or stern, it shows how family relationship can be complicated
-How the MC act towards each other. With respect and interest. They want to know who the other is and what they like. And it's still pretty hot between the sheets🔥.
In other words, this book was touching, romantic and some of the moments made me laugh out loud.
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March 15, 2019Content Warnings
Overall, I found this book completely compelling; I could not put it down. It was full of all this wonderful tenderness between the MCs, and I especially appreciated the way they held each other's vulnerabilities. It was a beautiful romance arc, and I fell so hard for both of the MCs, and really wished that I could taste all the food, especially the pie.
Read my full review on my blog.
Overall, I found this book completely compelling; I could not put it down. It was full of all this wonderful tenderness between the MCs, and I especially appreciated the way they held each other's vulnerabilities. It was a beautiful romance arc, and I fell so hard for both of the MCs, and really wished that I could taste all the food, especially the pie.
Read my full review on my blog.
March 16, 2019
First, I really regret not having pie on hand while I was reading this. Learn from my mistake.
Second, this was really charming! I think this had the least bothersome final conflict in any of the books of Jackie Lau's that I've read and I really appreciated that. Josh is a much better son than I am daughter, because after 17 years of the silent treatment, I would probably not have kept trying in the same way. But I did get it.
Recommend checking this out!
Second, this was really charming! I think this had the least bothersome final conflict in any of the books of Jackie Lau's that I've read and I really appreciated that. Josh is a much better son than I am daughter, because after 17 years of the silent treatment, I would probably not have kept trying in the same way. But I did get it.
Recommend checking this out!
June 1, 2021
This had a kinda boring storyline and not much action/drama. Mostly inner conflict, which isn't usually my jam.
HOWEVER
There are some major good things about this that bumped up it's rating and my enjoyment level.
1. The diversity. Majority of the cast is not white. Obviously our hero isn't white but it doesn't stop there. Is Toronto actually this diverse of a city? I hope so. It was neat to read. And no one really makes a big deal. The heroine mentions how she knew her sister would be surprised Josh was Asian. Not upset about it, but surprised because they grew up in a smaller rural town. And the hero's sister (I think? Or mom? Can't quite remember) reminds him the parents won't care if he has a white girlfriend because they already went through that with the one sister. So it was addressed and not made into a big deal and just a part of every day life.
2. The consent. Omg swoon. Sad that this was such a big thing for me, but it was a major part of the book even though our MCs treated it as no big deal. Hero states heroine doesn't owe him sex. Asks to kiss her, touch her. Their first date there's some touching but he completely respects she doesn't want to go further.
3. The honesty. Both our MCs kinda make a joke out of (not in a bad way, joke probably isn't the right word) how they blurt things out around each other. And whether it's a nervous thing or not, it leads to some great conversations and frank discussions about their lives.
This is really a story of two every day people who don't have much drama or action in their lives. They meet and fall in love, much like you and me. Which doesn't lead to an exciting story, but it did make it feel like a new friend was telling me the story of how she met her husband. Comforting and cute.
HOWEVER
There are some major good things about this that bumped up it's rating and my enjoyment level.
1. The diversity. Majority of the cast is not white. Obviously our hero isn't white but it doesn't stop there. Is Toronto actually this diverse of a city? I hope so. It was neat to read. And no one really makes a big deal. The heroine mentions how she knew her sister would be surprised Josh was Asian. Not upset about it, but surprised because they grew up in a smaller rural town. And the hero's sister (I think? Or mom? Can't quite remember) reminds him the parents won't care if he has a white girlfriend because they already went through that with the one sister. So it was addressed and not made into a big deal and just a part of every day life.
2. The consent. Omg swoon. Sad that this was such a big thing for me, but it was a major part of the book even though our MCs treated it as no big deal. Hero states heroine doesn't owe him sex. Asks to kiss her, touch her. Their first date there's some touching but he completely respects she doesn't want to go further.
3. The honesty. Both our MCs kinda make a joke out of (not in a bad way, joke probably isn't the right word) how they blurt things out around each other. And whether it's a nervous thing or not, it leads to some great conversations and frank discussions about their lives.
This is really a story of two every day people who don't have much drama or action in their lives. They meet and fall in love, much like you and me. Which doesn't lead to an exciting story, but it did make it feel like a new friend was telling me the story of how she met her husband. Comforting and cute.
February 28, 2019
Ever read a book and get the hankering to eat everything the characters are? Well, The Ultimate Pi Day Party by Jackie Lau is definitely making me crave a pie (or three)! Set in her Baldwin Village series, this is a sweet and savory story of a tech geek falling for the town pie shop owner as they plan a mathematically delightful party to impress his estranged father. Out March 5th, I highly recommend!
Besides the delicious food descriptions, there were a myriad of small moments that really shone for me, including a scene with Lucky Charms (you'll know it when you get there), the heroine calling out the hero when he tries to mansplain some math jokes to her, and so much sexy consent! OH, and an amazing depiction of menstruation and how an awesome partner can make it so much better. Love it!
Free copy received in exchange for a fair review! Thank you to the author!
Besides the delicious food descriptions, there were a myriad of small moments that really shone for me, including a scene with Lucky Charms (you'll know it when you get there), the heroine calling out the hero when he tries to mansplain some math jokes to her, and so much sexy consent! OH, and an amazing depiction of menstruation and how an awesome partner can make it so much better. Love it!
Free copy received in exchange for a fair review! Thank you to the author!
May 25, 2021
If you want an incredibly funny, sexy, contemporary romance with a ton of delicious food, this is it! I have a series video review for this entire romance trilogy because it's just wonderful. This first book is filled with excellent consent and tackles things like mansplaining and excessive parental expectations & judgment. It got a little dramatic in the third act conflict for me, but otherwise was just such a great read!
Content Warnings:
toxic parent-child relationship
Content Warnings:
toxic parent-child relationship
August 21, 2021
When tech CEO, Josh wants to get his estranged father’s attention, what does he do? He decides to throw a Pi Day-themed party in Toronto which should pique his retired math teacher father’s interest. And Josh hires a local pie shop owner, Sarah, who owns Happy as Pie in downtown.
The two of them immediately hit it off and although they are working together in a professional capacity, something sparks between them. Although Josh is a CEO and Sarah is a small business owner, they have a lot in common and are equally as driven to succeed. Neither of them have had a serious relationship in a long time, focusing solely on their work. But when you meet the right person, things just somehow fall into place. The question is: will their relationship be easy as pie?
The Ultimate Pi Day Party by Jackie Lau is book 1 in the Baldwin Village series. This was such a sugary sweet, lighthearted romance that’ll be sure to make you hungry for sweet & savory pies! Throughout reading, I pinned plenty of savory pie recipes on Pinterest. Josh & Sarah were cute together and they put a smile on my face. I loved how this story really highlighted Toronto and the culture there and made me feel like I knew a city I’ve never been to better than before. I recommend if you want something short & fun! 4/5 stars.
The two of them immediately hit it off and although they are working together in a professional capacity, something sparks between them. Although Josh is a CEO and Sarah is a small business owner, they have a lot in common and are equally as driven to succeed. Neither of them have had a serious relationship in a long time, focusing solely on their work. But when you meet the right person, things just somehow fall into place. The question is: will their relationship be easy as pie?
The Ultimate Pi Day Party by Jackie Lau is book 1 in the Baldwin Village series. This was such a sugary sweet, lighthearted romance that’ll be sure to make you hungry for sweet & savory pies! Throughout reading, I pinned plenty of savory pie recipes on Pinterest. Josh & Sarah were cute together and they put a smile on my face. I loved how this story really highlighted Toronto and the culture there and made me feel like I knew a city I’ve never been to better than before. I recommend if you want something short & fun! 4/5 stars.
March 13, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up.
I have a personal reading pet peeve, and that is when characters keep saying, “This big THING happened and it shaped who I am!” But then they wait half the book (or more!) to tell us, the readers, what that Thing was. This book had that and it annoyed me.
Other than that, and some questionable thought processes around the 80% crisis, this was actually a really fun read. The neighborhood this series is set in is really cool. There was So. Much. Food. And I want to eat all of it.
I liked that the cultural and familial differences between our white heroine and Asian hero were acknowledged, but that they didn’t overwhelm the plot. I do think, being white myself, I missed some of the context and rationale of why the hero’s dad was so mad at/disappointed with him.
Plus, I wanted to pick a weird holiday for my Festive Read bingo square, and this more than fits the bill!
I have a personal reading pet peeve, and that is when characters keep saying, “This big THING happened and it shaped who I am!” But then they wait half the book (or more!) to tell us, the readers, what that Thing was. This book had that and it annoyed me.
Other than that, and some questionable thought processes around the 80% crisis, this was actually a really fun read. The neighborhood this series is set in is really cool. There was So. Much. Food. And I want to eat all of it.
I liked that the cultural and familial differences between our white heroine and Asian hero were acknowledged, but that they didn’t overwhelm the plot. I do think, being white myself, I missed some of the context and rationale of why the hero’s dad was so mad at/disappointed with him.
Plus, I wanted to pick a weird holiday for my Festive Read bingo square, and this more than fits the bill!
March 6, 2019
That was fun and now I crave pie, a not unexpected consequence! Lighthearted, low angst and sexy romance about a tech CEO and a pie shop owner whom he hires for a 'Pi Day' party as a way to reconcile with his estranged father. Lots of great Toronto multiculturalism on display! Recommended for readers who like food, diverse cultures and honest family dynamics with their HEA.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
February 7, 2020
A fairly good romance read. Josh and Sarah are sweet, and, if anything, I'd say this book runs too sweet and easy for me. As much as I love fluff, I wanted a bit more depth and substance. That said, it was nice to read a diverse romance, and I enjoyed the Toronto setting as well. A quick and pleasant read, though not one likely to stick with me.
March 17, 2025
This was a fun read - I really enjoyed both MCs and found them to be quite charming. I especially loved those moments when both Sarah and Josh were kind of nervous around each other and that made them act a little silly. Who couldn't relate to that?! Overall this was a sweet, and a little spicy, romance.
May 16, 2022
Delectable! Hot and sweet all in one - Jackie Lau never fails to make a great story.
April 1, 2019
I regret waiting as long as I did to read this book—not that it could've really been avoided. But, guys . . . I really loved this one! Jackie Lau has become a favorite author of mine, for her smart, fun, light-hearted and diverse romance.
The Ultimate Pi Day Party is one of those books that you start and don't want to stop. The characters are charming and a little bit awkward, their love story refreshingly honest, their issues tense but not overly angsty or overwought. It is, simply put, a book that'll leave your heart light and your face tilted up in a smile.
Once again, this book has an interesting family element and it's wonderful to see the different ways Ms. Lau sketches familial relationships—none of them exactly perfect, but all of them relatable and amusing and a little frustrating. Just like real life.
Highly recommend not just The Ultimate Pi Day Party, but all of Ms. Lau's books. She's a writer worth getting to know!
The Ultimate Pi Day Party is one of those books that you start and don't want to stop. The characters are charming and a little bit awkward, their love story refreshingly honest, their issues tense but not overly angsty or overwought. It is, simply put, a book that'll leave your heart light and your face tilted up in a smile.
Once again, this book has an interesting family element and it's wonderful to see the different ways Ms. Lau sketches familial relationships—none of them exactly perfect, but all of them relatable and amusing and a little frustrating. Just like real life.
Highly recommend not just The Ultimate Pi Day Party, but all of Ms. Lau's books. She's a writer worth getting to know!
March 7, 2019
Short story about Amrita & Holly - yes/yes?
More seriously, so very enjoyable. And heartfelt. Whether it was the honest communication between Sarah and Josh or how hard it was for the both of them to square the circle of what the other means in their life, this was a book about love from top to bottom.
The confession style narrative - with the point of view shifting between Josh and Sarah - works well here. Having a chance to "see" both of their sides of the story is helpful to understanding some of the complex emotions at play.
I appreciated the acknowledgement that love isn't an easy street, that love doesn't always equate evenly. Josh having to learn how to put his past behind him is no less valid then Sarah's need to learn a work/life balance before a relationship is feasible.
The sex is smoking hot and the friendships they both have felt like genuine adult friendships. The struggle Sarah went through when making tentative outreaching to Valerie and Chloe struck home for me. Amrita pulling every embarrassing story out she could was also great.
Get you a friend who happily tells your new girlfriend the "dick burn" story...and get you a girlfriend who finds it amusing.
Warnings though - this book will make you crave pie. Or host a Pi Day Party just to have pie.
More seriously, so very enjoyable. And heartfelt. Whether it was the honest communication between Sarah and Josh or how hard it was for the both of them to square the circle of what the other means in their life, this was a book about love from top to bottom.
The confession style narrative - with the point of view shifting between Josh and Sarah - works well here. Having a chance to "see" both of their sides of the story is helpful to understanding some of the complex emotions at play.
I appreciated the acknowledgement that love isn't an easy street, that love doesn't always equate evenly. Josh having to learn how to put his past behind him is no less valid then Sarah's need to learn a work/life balance before a relationship is feasible.
The sex is smoking hot and the friendships they both have felt like genuine adult friendships. The struggle Sarah went through when making tentative outreaching to Valerie and Chloe struck home for me. Amrita pulling every embarrassing story out she could was also great.
Get you a friend who happily tells your new girlfriend the "dick burn" story...and get you a girlfriend who finds it amusing.
Warnings though - this book will make you crave pie. Or host a Pi Day Party just to have pie.
March 27, 2020
The delightful story of Josh, founder of a tech company, who enlists Sarah, a bakery owner, to cater a Pi Day party for his employees. The guest of honor will be Josh’s father, who he’s had a strained relationship with since a high school mistake caused a rift between them. His dad is a math teacher, and Josh knows if there’s one way to break the ice and heal their relationship, it’s corny math jokes. Josh and Sarah have so much fun planning the menu for the party and tasting all the delicious sweet and savory options, it’s obvious they’re going to end up spending time together romantically. I love Jackie Lau for how real she keeps it--her characters are real people with real problems, but the stories themselves have a light and fun feel. Also, it was super fun to read a romance set in Toronto--it’s definitely on my list of places to visit once travel is safe again!
March 18, 2022
I have never wanted to eat pie so much in my life!! Have I now looked up pie shops in my area? Perhaps.
But, this book isn't just about pie. It is about two slight workaholics who find each other, find the courage and opportunity to confront their parents for their hurtful ways and words, and find their way to loving each other.
Sweet, short, and scrumptious.
Loved the couple and how they did things. SOOOOOO awkward, but also in a believable way.
Read if you are hungry for pie, adorable relationships, and awkward flirting.
But, this book isn't just about pie. It is about two slight workaholics who find each other, find the courage and opportunity to confront their parents for their hurtful ways and words, and find their way to loving each other.
Sweet, short, and scrumptious.
Loved the couple and how they did things. SOOOOOO awkward, but also in a believable way.
Read if you are hungry for pie, adorable relationships, and awkward flirting.
March 1, 2019
Hot Asian guy + delicious pies = a very happy carb-loving reader.
I'm always on the hunt for good pie, which is easy to find, and for romances with hot Asian heros which are not easy to find. Thanks to Jackie Lau, I now have both in one sweet story about two people who think they don't deserve love or success, and then discover they can have it all along with some amazing-sounding eats.
I loved Josh. A founder and CEO of his own company, Josh is humble and sweet to his friends and family, even as he struggles with the burden of his father's anger and disappointment. He was adorably flustered and funny with Sarah, even when he discovered her stash of CEO-themed romance novels.
Pear ginger crumble. Chocolate hazelnut tart. Butter tarts. The food featured sounded so enticing that I hope Sarah and Josh get a sequel with a wedding and an epic foodie honeymoon.
4.5 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by the author.
I'm always on the hunt for good pie, which is easy to find, and for romances with hot Asian heros which are not easy to find. Thanks to Jackie Lau, I now have both in one sweet story about two people who think they don't deserve love or success, and then discover they can have it all along with some amazing-sounding eats.
I loved Josh. A founder and CEO of his own company, Josh is humble and sweet to his friends and family, even as he struggles with the burden of his father's anger and disappointment. He was adorably flustered and funny with Sarah, even when he discovered her stash of CEO-themed romance novels.
CEOs always eat Lucky Charms for breakfast. It’s the source of our power.It was lovely to reunite with some of Jackie Lau's other characters, like Wes and Caitlin (no dinosaur costumes, boo). I did miss her funny, meddling Chinese grandmothers, though. The author does a fabulous job capturing life in Chinese families with the serious Asian kid guilt and the family battles to pay the restaurant bill.
Pear ginger crumble. Chocolate hazelnut tart. Butter tarts. The food featured sounded so enticing that I hope Sarah and Josh get a sequel with a wedding and an epic foodie honeymoon.
4.5 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by the author.
March 22, 2020
Sarah has defied her mother’s hopes and moved to the big city of Toronto (it was strange to read another book namedropping the same streets as Station Eleven so soon) and opened her own pie shop, Happy as Pie, in the Baldwin Street neighborhood. The store is doing well, and she’s hoping to expand into catering and possibly a second location down the line. Into her store walks Josh, CEO of a tech company his father sees no value in and number 19 on a list of Toronto’s 35 most eligible bachelors under 35. There are sparks which must be navigated with the fact that Josh has hired Sarah to cater a party at his house. Lau handles this all so well, Sarah and Josh each have a history of not dating, each has professional goals and focuses, each has a parent they are struggling with. The parts of Pi Day that worked best for me were the parts where Sarah and Josh were being dumb about their feelings, figuring out how to maneuver wanting to be in a relationship with no practical skills other than kindness.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
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September 30, 2019I’ve been seeing Jackie Lau’s adorable covers everywhere for months, so when I spotted The Ultimate Pi Day Party on sale, I snatched it up and dove in. The book follows Sarah, a pie shop owner with aspirations of growing her business, and Josh, a tech CEO hoping to reconnect with his estranged father. Josh’s plan to reconnect with his dad involves hosting the titular ultimate pi day party and he knows that Sarah’s pies will win over his father. The two fall in love while party planning and sampling Sarah’s desserts–could there be anything sweeter? I particularly loved the book’s focus on women who own small businesses and the bonds of friendship found there. Readers should be warned though that this book will kick your sweet tooth into high gear. Anyone know where I can get a chocolate hazelnut tart? –Kelly (excerpted from Bookish's Staff Reads)
March 20, 2021
I am not a romance reader, but this was suggested as a read for pi day, so why not. It's a quick, easy read and was more enjoyable than I expected. I think that's probably because it's set in Toronto (my home town) and has that Canadian tint to it. But all the talk of pie kept making me hungry and I have a serious craving for butter tarts now (which are impossible to find in the States!).
As much as I'm not into the happily ever after formula, the plot was good and the characters reasonably likeable while feeling real. Any romance reader would enjoy this one.
As much as I'm not into the happily ever after formula, the plot was good and the characters reasonably likeable while feeling real. Any romance reader would enjoy this one.
March 17, 2019
the writing got a bit repetitive towards the end, which kept me from giving it a higher rating, but this was: GREAT.
actual rating: 4.5/5
actual rating: 4.5/5
August 26, 2020
Such a fun concept and well executed! A lovely solid central romance with minor highlights for me including math jokes and casual misogyny that's directly confronted *chef's kiss*. It has a satisfying ending for this couple, but I immediately glommed the rest of the trilogy (it's one of those "each friend gets her own book" deals). <3
March 6, 2019
For full review - The Ultimate Pi Day Party on The Inked In Book Blog
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
The Ultimate Pi Day Party revolves around Josh & Sarah, who meet when Josh ends up at Sarah’s pie shop to get some dinner. Josh is going through *things* where his family is concerned and when he has the absolutely brilliant idea of throwing a Pi Day party to get his parents to visit him in Toronto, hoping that’ll help bridge the gaps, he hires Sarah to cater at the event. As they spend more time together, they start to fall for each other, but with both of them having such different priorities in life, it gets a little difficult to maintain the relationship. Does it survive their individual goals and issues is the question.
I absolutely love Sarah. She’s this determined, smart, headstrong, and hardworking woman who is working really hard to achieve her dream of making her pie shop successful and well known. She keeps long hours at work and doesn’t have any friends because of this. Her coworkers are nice enough and they all share a good rapport, but they are not her friends. She has her mother, who has visited Toronto only once when he opened pie shop, and her sister who is busy in her own life – her job, her marriage, her kids. So, yes, she doesn’t really have many people in her life. And, it is not something that is brushed upon. We see it constantly. Just an errant thought in her head, a tinge of jealousy when she sees two people who are clearly close friends. She desires for that and it shows. We also see her make an effort to make friends. So, it’s not just a desire, but something she actively works on. I really liked that.
Then, there’s Josh. He is the CEO of a tech company and he has worked really hard to get where he is today. Something happened in his past which made his father angry, and now, 17 years later, his father still does not talk to him, does not acknowledge his existence in anyway. Getting his father to talk to him seems to be the most important thing in Josh’s life now that he is someone who his father could be proud of – a successful entrepreneur. That’s how the idea to throw a Pi Day party is born. His father is a mathematician, a retired professor who loves Pi Day and used to have a do with his students while he was still teaching at university. So, of course, it feels like the most logical thing that would bring his father to Toronto. And, it does.
I absolutely love the romance in this, though. It is so amazing. Soft and cute in places, passionate and hot in others. It was so much fun to see their relationship growing. They’re such a cute couple, I adore! One thing that I absolutely loved in this was how they were both equals in the relationship, emotionally speaking. We didn’t see one of them be more invested in the relationship while the other brushed them off. Both of them brought something to the relationship and they really cared about the other. It was really nice to see that because we see so often that one of the characters is always picking up the slack for the other in a relationship. I don’t like those dynamics and it was nice to see two people who were both interested in each other interact and fall in love.
I particularly love one scene where Josh mansplains and Sarah calls him out on it. It was handled really nicely and I loved how Josh realized that what he did was wrong and genuinely apologized to Sarah for doing so. Really nice to see that bit.
What I didn’t like was the climax. It felt pretty anti climactic after everything that had happened and I wanted Josh’s realization to have more power, to be a little more dramatic than it had been, given the way the things had been before it happened. Apart from this little tidbit, where I think we could have had a better climax (no puns intended, people :p), I absolutely loved the book! A really great love story and I’m definitely picking up more books by Lau! 🙂
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
The Ultimate Pi Day Party revolves around Josh & Sarah, who meet when Josh ends up at Sarah’s pie shop to get some dinner. Josh is going through *things* where his family is concerned and when he has the absolutely brilliant idea of throwing a Pi Day party to get his parents to visit him in Toronto, hoping that’ll help bridge the gaps, he hires Sarah to cater at the event. As they spend more time together, they start to fall for each other, but with both of them having such different priorities in life, it gets a little difficult to maintain the relationship. Does it survive their individual goals and issues is the question.
I absolutely love Sarah. She’s this determined, smart, headstrong, and hardworking woman who is working really hard to achieve her dream of making her pie shop successful and well known. She keeps long hours at work and doesn’t have any friends because of this. Her coworkers are nice enough and they all share a good rapport, but they are not her friends. She has her mother, who has visited Toronto only once when he opened pie shop, and her sister who is busy in her own life – her job, her marriage, her kids. So, yes, she doesn’t really have many people in her life. And, it is not something that is brushed upon. We see it constantly. Just an errant thought in her head, a tinge of jealousy when she sees two people who are clearly close friends. She desires for that and it shows. We also see her make an effort to make friends. So, it’s not just a desire, but something she actively works on. I really liked that.
Then, there’s Josh. He is the CEO of a tech company and he has worked really hard to get where he is today. Something happened in his past which made his father angry, and now, 17 years later, his father still does not talk to him, does not acknowledge his existence in anyway. Getting his father to talk to him seems to be the most important thing in Josh’s life now that he is someone who his father could be proud of – a successful entrepreneur. That’s how the idea to throw a Pi Day party is born. His father is a mathematician, a retired professor who loves Pi Day and used to have a do with his students while he was still teaching at university. So, of course, it feels like the most logical thing that would bring his father to Toronto. And, it does.
I absolutely love the romance in this, though. It is so amazing. Soft and cute in places, passionate and hot in others. It was so much fun to see their relationship growing. They’re such a cute couple, I adore! One thing that I absolutely loved in this was how they were both equals in the relationship, emotionally speaking. We didn’t see one of them be more invested in the relationship while the other brushed them off. Both of them brought something to the relationship and they really cared about the other. It was really nice to see that because we see so often that one of the characters is always picking up the slack for the other in a relationship. I don’t like those dynamics and it was nice to see two people who were both interested in each other interact and fall in love.
I particularly love one scene where Josh mansplains and Sarah calls him out on it. It was handled really nicely and I loved how Josh realized that what he did was wrong and genuinely apologized to Sarah for doing so. Really nice to see that bit.
What I didn’t like was the climax. It felt pretty anti climactic after everything that had happened and I wanted Josh’s realization to have more power, to be a little more dramatic than it had been, given the way the things had been before it happened. Apart from this little tidbit, where I think we could have had a better climax (no puns intended, people :p), I absolutely loved the book! A really great love story and I’m definitely picking up more books by Lau! 🙂
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May 2, 2019Sweet, very food-centric, down-to-earth, and with more than a few funny moments. I laughed out loud a couple times. I loved how both characters realized early on how much they liked who they were--who they were free to be--when they were with the other person.
September 7, 2019
Hmm... I think this is 3.5 stars, rounding up. Might move this to 4 stars but need to think about it.
I’m a big fan of Jackie’s books and despite having never been to Canada, I love her settings and I really want to visit Toronto! I’m not a big pie person but just a warning this book will make you HUNGRY so don’t read on an empty stomach like I did :)
I loved Sarah and her ambition and how vulnerable she allowed herself to be when she was opening herself up to Josh and to new friends. It’s hard making friends as an adult and I really identified with that part of the story. I loved that part of fulfilment for her was finding strong platonic friendships in addition to her career and her new relationship with Josh. I also loved that while initially she felt it would be a “distraction” for her that she didn’t hold on to this for too long. It was refreshing because I feel like that could’ve easily been artificially dragged out conflict in another author’s hands.
Josh was maybe the slightly less... I don’t want to say successful character, because I really liked Josh, but... I dunno. He’s so wonderful with Sarah (ugh I SWOONED when he bought her menstrual pads!!) and their relationship is so sweet and giddy but then there is this other side of his story involving his estrangement from his father. At any rate I will say I liked that his character arc involved forgiving HIMSELF and not letting a toxic relationship with his father keep him from love.
The main thing stopping me from rating this higher is the part under the spoiler tag but like I said, I may raise this later because it really was a quick and enjoyable read and I just really love Jackie’s books and characters a lot.
CW: mention of teen abortion; mention of parent w/ cancer in past (now in remission)
I’m a big fan of Jackie’s books and despite having never been to Canada, I love her settings and I really want to visit Toronto! I’m not a big pie person but just a warning this book will make you HUNGRY so don’t read on an empty stomach like I did :)
I loved Sarah and her ambition and how vulnerable she allowed herself to be when she was opening herself up to Josh and to new friends. It’s hard making friends as an adult and I really identified with that part of the story. I loved that part of fulfilment for her was finding strong platonic friendships in addition to her career and her new relationship with Josh. I also loved that while initially she felt it would be a “distraction” for her that she didn’t hold on to this for too long. It was refreshing because I feel like that could’ve easily been artificially dragged out conflict in another author’s hands.
Josh was maybe the slightly less... I don’t want to say successful character, because I really liked Josh, but... I dunno. He’s so wonderful with Sarah (ugh I SWOONED when he bought her menstrual pads!!) and their relationship is so sweet and giddy but then there is this other side of his story involving his estrangement from his father. At any rate I will say I liked that his character arc involved forgiving HIMSELF and not letting a toxic relationship with his father keep him from love.
The main thing stopping me from rating this higher is the part under the spoiler tag but like I said, I may raise this later because it really was a quick and enjoyable read and I just really love Jackie’s books and characters a lot.
CW: mention of teen abortion; mention of parent w/ cancer in past (now in remission)
March 18, 2021
My first Pi Day romance! This had straightforward storytelling, more telling than showing, which generally doesn’t work for me. Nonetheless, I was interested to see how things would develop between Josh and Sarah. The food descriptions are top notch and now I really want to eat pie. This was enjoyable enough but there were pacing issues and there wasn’t really anything driving the plot. It took too long for the Pi Day party to arrive and then it barely got any page time. My main issue, however, was the way the conflict was resolved (or not ) with Josh’s father and the way their family was complicit with his father refusing to speak to Josh for 17 years, even when they were in the same room. I couldn’t understand why Josh allowed himself to be treated that way or why his entire life was oriented toward making his dad proud when really he should have cut him out of his life completely. Yes, family is complicated but this level of mistreatment is not. Where the story really went awry for me was when Josh broke things off with Sarah. I didn’t want them to get back together after that and I hate feeling that way about a romance. Sarah deserved so much better.
Character notes: Sarah is a 31 year old white baker and the owner of Happy As Pie. Josh is a 33 year old Chinese Canadian CEO of Hazelnut Tech. This is set in Toronto.
CW: caterer-client romance, parental estrangement (dad hasn’t spoken to him in 17 years and wanted to kick him out in high school but his mom intervened), mom had cancer when hero was a teen but she’s cancer-free now, hero’s girlfriend got pregnant when they were in high school and she had an abortion, alcohol, gendered insult, ableist language, reference to past underage drinking and drug use, reference to past racism, reference to past homophobia (secondary character)
Character notes: Sarah is a 31 year old white baker and the owner of Happy As Pie. Josh is a 33 year old Chinese Canadian CEO of Hazelnut Tech. This is set in Toronto.
CW: caterer-client romance, parental estrangement (dad hasn’t spoken to him in 17 years and wanted to kick him out in high school but his mom intervened), mom had cancer when hero was a teen but she’s cancer-free now, hero’s girlfriend got pregnant when they were in high school and she had an abortion, alcohol, gendered insult, ableist language, reference to past underage drinking and drug use, reference to past racism, reference to past homophobia (secondary character)
April 1, 2019
This book is set in Toronto and it makes me appreciate the city I grew up in because Jackie does a great job of conveying the richness of all the various cultures intermingling. It’s also a great setting for an interracial couple because it’s not inconceivable or impossible. The city and Baldwin Village are places where relationships can and do blossom amongst people who aren’t necessarily of the same ethnic or racial background. As someone who’s been reading romance since I was 13ish (20+ years) I am so happy when I find authors who create romance stories with main characters that look like my friends, myself and the people who are usually absent from love stories with HEA.
Word to the wise, the pie descriptions are so good you’ll be drooling, so make sure to have snacks on hand while reading! Something that I really loved was how Josh and Sarah meet because of pie. Good food always brings people together, which is why any successful gathering must have food. That the good food brings two people together and love is the end result is almost as delicious as the pies listed throughout the book!
Happy As Pie is not a real place but this book is and if you like two business oriented people falling in love, with food and family as part of the story, you’ll love this yummy book that Jackie Lau has crafted! 🥧🥧🥧
PS: preorders for the next book are up and that book involves ice cream 🍦
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