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Donut Fall in Love #1
Donut Fall in Love
A baker provides the sweetest escape for an actor in this charming romantic comedy.
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.
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.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2021
225 people are currently reading
18189 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books868 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,217 reviews
November 25, 2021
Gender reverse Notting Hill theme + lovely Asian characters + critical approach to social media racism and bullying +genuine approach to grief process +emotional inconveniences and lots of mouth watering, tempting, delicious sweets = donut ever dare to skip this lovely, just read it!
Popular romcom star Ryan Kwok literally bumps into Lindsay McLeod and ruins her art pieces of two dozen donuts she’s worked for hours to create. This is bump at first sight and fall hard after several private cooking lessons kind of romance.
Ryan returns to his hometown Toronto after losing his mom who was also his best friend and mentor, trying to adjust his life by interacting with his big sister who recently gave a birth to her first baby and dealing with grumpy and sarcastic father of his who seems like having adapting issues after losing his wife.
He takes an offer to attend a baking show which was his mother’s favorite one. But he has no intention to share his lack of cooking skills with the audience, especially when the critics write negative comments about his latest romcom movie and his six pack get more attention on social media than his acting skills ( he starts to think they can be individually nominated to Golden Globes and win it! )
For showing better performance, he needs a tutor to teach him how to cook delicious sweets. Lindsay who conducts her bakery business might be the one who can help him.
This starts their movie star- non celebrity relationship and their palpable chemistry makes things steamer.
Lindsay’s inner security gets tested several times as she keeps asking herself why a guy who can date with her super model co-stars chooses her over them? And Ryan already deals with his own commitment issues after losing his parent and having hard time to bond with his father.
The bullies on the social media spies on his each move, being ready for trolling their relationship. Will they get through all of their obstacles to ride into the sunset or will they fall apart?
Well, I like both MCs but Ryan’s father stole the entire show with his sarcastic Twitter comments about his son and his odd, bitter- sweet, eccentric manners! I loved him so much!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this sweet, soft, entertaining romcom with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Popular romcom star Ryan Kwok literally bumps into Lindsay McLeod and ruins her art pieces of two dozen donuts she’s worked for hours to create. This is bump at first sight and fall hard after several private cooking lessons kind of romance.
Ryan returns to his hometown Toronto after losing his mom who was also his best friend and mentor, trying to adjust his life by interacting with his big sister who recently gave a birth to her first baby and dealing with grumpy and sarcastic father of his who seems like having adapting issues after losing his wife.
He takes an offer to attend a baking show which was his mother’s favorite one. But he has no intention to share his lack of cooking skills with the audience, especially when the critics write negative comments about his latest romcom movie and his six pack get more attention on social media than his acting skills ( he starts to think they can be individually nominated to Golden Globes and win it! )
For showing better performance, he needs a tutor to teach him how to cook delicious sweets. Lindsay who conducts her bakery business might be the one who can help him.
This starts their movie star- non celebrity relationship and their palpable chemistry makes things steamer.
Lindsay’s inner security gets tested several times as she keeps asking herself why a guy who can date with her super model co-stars chooses her over them? And Ryan already deals with his own commitment issues after losing his parent and having hard time to bond with his father.
The bullies on the social media spies on his each move, being ready for trolling their relationship. Will they get through all of their obstacles to ride into the sunset or will they fall apart?
Well, I like both MCs but Ryan’s father stole the entire show with his sarcastic Twitter comments about his son and his odd, bitter- sweet, eccentric manners! I loved him so much!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this sweet, soft, entertaining romcom with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 12, 2021
Actual rating: 3,5
First of all, let's take a moment to appreciate this amazing title that can be interpreted in three different ways (you got it: DONUT like sweets two main characters were making, then DO NOT fall in love, and DO NUT fall in love, like do crazy fall in love)!
Second, let's also appreciate that the story is set in Canada.
Maybe that is not a big thing for some of you guys, but I rarely read books that take place in that country, so it means a thing to me.
Now let's talk about the book...
I guess I have a thing about romance with cakes/baking, as this was the third novel in that subgenre I read in a row, and I liked it.
Also, two main characters are Asian, just like in previous books I read too, and I loved that (huge) aspect of the story.
The novel was enjoyable in general. It was well written with easy to connect with characters.
It was written in third person following two different POVs: Ryan's and Lindsay's.
This book touches the topic of losing a parent, so keep that in mind, as it could be triggering.
To me, Ryan's relationship with his father was too familiar as it reminded me of the one I ha(d)ve with my mother.
This book is pitched as gender reversed Notting Hill and I can see why.
It is also one of romances where the couple gets together pretty early in the story (I think it was before 50% mark) so the conflict that was necessary to keep the story going felt forced.
Other than that, the book was really good.
So if you are looking for an easy read to relax with, Donut Fall in Love is the perfect choice, and I hope you will do NUT fall in love with it.
First of all, let's take a moment to appreciate this amazing title that can be interpreted in three different ways (you got it: DONUT like sweets two main characters were making, then DO NOT fall in love, and DO NUT fall in love, like do crazy fall in love)!
Second, let's also appreciate that the story is set in Canada.
Maybe that is not a big thing for some of you guys, but I rarely read books that take place in that country, so it means a thing to me.
Now let's talk about the book...
I guess I have a thing about romance with cakes/baking, as this was the third novel in that subgenre I read in a row, and I liked it.
Also, two main characters are Asian, just like in previous books I read too, and I loved that (huge) aspect of the story.
The novel was enjoyable in general. It was well written with easy to connect with characters.
It was written in third person following two different POVs: Ryan's and Lindsay's.
This book touches the topic of losing a parent, so keep that in mind, as it could be triggering.
To me, Ryan's relationship with his father was too familiar as it reminded me of the one I ha(d)ve with my mother.
This book is pitched as gender reversed Notting Hill and I can see why.
It is also one of romances where the couple gets together pretty early in the story (I think it was before 50% mark) so the conflict that was necessary to keep the story going felt forced.
Other than that, the book was really good.
So if you are looking for an easy read to relax with, Donut Fall in Love is the perfect choice, and I hope you will do NUT fall in love with it.
September 15, 2021
There is a difference between donuts and rom-coms.
Stay with me on this one. It'll all come together. (Or it won't, and we'll all be left craving deep fried pastries and filled only with disappointment.)
Donuts are for everybody. Even myself: For years I thought I didn't care for donuts, and then Tim Hortons Timbits and Voodoo Doughnuts Homer/Dirt/Buttermilk Bar (respectively) came into my life, and I realized the error of my ways.
There are cake donuts for people who are boring, and there are donut holes for people who are dainty like little dolls, and there are Dunkin Donuts for people who always thought bread should have bulletproof layers of frosting on it, and there are filled donuts for overgrown children such as myself.
There's something for everyone.
So every person should have a donut, always. But...
Not every book should be a rom-com.
Take this book, for example. The food descriptions are excellent. The two main characters are unique and interesting. Their respective backstories and familial relationships are well done. In fact they are done better than...the actual plot.
The romance here brings the whole thing down.
I would say this is not necessarily a "funny" book, nor does it feel like a "romantic" one. There's not a real chemistry between the two characters, and I wasn't rooting for them to get together. And calling a book comedic just because it rhymes with the rom(ance) is my least favorite literary trend of the last 5 years.
We should've dubbed this a contemporary, put the romance in the background, and left it at that. Then I could have given it four stars and we all could've smiled and gone on our way.
Instead, here we all are. Disappointed and dreaming of donuts.
At least we have alliteration going for us.
Bottom line: REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROM-COMS. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DONUTS.
------------------
pre-review
aaaaaaand the best-worst part of this was the food descriptions.
i might need to buy a deep fryer.
review to come / 2.5
------------------
tbr review
oh no...immediately i want a donut, badly...
thanks to the publisher / netgalley / whoever for the copy in exchange for review
Stay with me on this one. It'll all come together. (Or it won't, and we'll all be left craving deep fried pastries and filled only with disappointment.)
Donuts are for everybody. Even myself: For years I thought I didn't care for donuts, and then Tim Hortons Timbits and Voodoo Doughnuts Homer/Dirt/Buttermilk Bar (respectively) came into my life, and I realized the error of my ways.
There are cake donuts for people who are boring, and there are donut holes for people who are dainty like little dolls, and there are Dunkin Donuts for people who always thought bread should have bulletproof layers of frosting on it, and there are filled donuts for overgrown children such as myself.
There's something for everyone.
So every person should have a donut, always. But...
Not every book should be a rom-com.
Take this book, for example. The food descriptions are excellent. The two main characters are unique and interesting. Their respective backstories and familial relationships are well done. In fact they are done better than...the actual plot.
The romance here brings the whole thing down.
I would say this is not necessarily a "funny" book, nor does it feel like a "romantic" one. There's not a real chemistry between the two characters, and I wasn't rooting for them to get together. And calling a book comedic just because it rhymes with the rom(ance) is my least favorite literary trend of the last 5 years.
We should've dubbed this a contemporary, put the romance in the background, and left it at that. Then I could have given it four stars and we all could've smiled and gone on our way.
Instead, here we all are. Disappointed and dreaming of donuts.
At least we have alliteration going for us.
Bottom line: REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROM-COMS. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DONUTS.
------------------
pre-review
aaaaaaand the best-worst part of this was the food descriptions.
i might need to buy a deep fryer.
review to come / 2.5
------------------
tbr review
oh no...immediately i want a donut, badly...
thanks to the publisher / netgalley / whoever for the copy in exchange for review
November 17, 2021
Ugh, I loved this so much!!!
Donut Fall in Love is a book that largely features coffee and warm baked goods, which was mouthwatering and unfair. It was cozy and sweet and delicious and I wanted more!!!
Basically, Lindsay is a professional baker who's had trouble forming new, meaningful relationships since her dad's passing in her early twenties, and Ryan is a not-SUPER-famous actor who has to cope with his mother's sudden passing four months earlier as well as what it means to be an Asian actor in the film industry.
Ryan and Lindsay meet as he bursts into her bakery and bumps into her, causing her to drop an entire tray of donuts (loved it, A+ meet cute). After a somewhat sexually charged argument, Ryan goes on his way.
Later on, as a way to honor to his mother, Ryan decides to accept the opportunity to participate on a baking reality show. Of course that means he must go after the cute baker he so thoroughly pissed off earlier and ask for baking lessons.
This book was truly the cutest, and a lot steamier than I was expecting! Ryan was like a labrador puppy, a true cinnamon roll, just trying his best, being his sweet self. And Lindsey was so self-aware and knew herself so well, it was very refreshing.
I’m really looking forward to what else this author has in store. This one was amazing!
Donut Fall in Love is a book that largely features coffee and warm baked goods, which was mouthwatering and unfair. It was cozy and sweet and delicious and I wanted more!!!
Basically, Lindsay is a professional baker who's had trouble forming new, meaningful relationships since her dad's passing in her early twenties, and Ryan is a not-SUPER-famous actor who has to cope with his mother's sudden passing four months earlier as well as what it means to be an Asian actor in the film industry.
Ryan and Lindsay meet as he bursts into her bakery and bumps into her, causing her to drop an entire tray of donuts (loved it, A+ meet cute). After a somewhat sexually charged argument, Ryan goes on his way.
Later on, as a way to honor to his mother, Ryan decides to accept the opportunity to participate on a baking reality show. Of course that means he must go after the cute baker he so thoroughly pissed off earlier and ask for baking lessons.
This book was truly the cutest, and a lot steamier than I was expecting! Ryan was like a labrador puppy, a true cinnamon roll, just trying his best, being his sweet self. And Lindsey was so self-aware and knew herself so well, it was very refreshing.
I’m really looking forward to what else this author has in store. This one was amazing!
January 27, 2022
3.5 stars
Donut Fall in Love is about famous actor Ryan Kwok and baker Lindsay McLeod. They have a meet cute when he walks into her bakery and accidentally destroys two trays of her donuts. This leads to Lindsay teaching Ryan how to bake as he prepares for a celebrity baking competition show. The more time they spend baking together, the more they are attracted to one another.
I have lots of thoughts and feelings one this one. First off, the title and cover of this book are top tier. Seriously, both are so cute and fit the feel of the book so well! I’m not huge on celebrity romance tropes but what I liked about this one was it wasn’t focused on Hollywood and rather Ryan was on a break between projects. So the focus wasn’t on film making which I appreciated. I loved the different dynamics between Ryan and his dad and Lindsay and her mom. I love when family dynamics seem really authentic in a book and they were some of my favorite parts of this story. I also loved the side characters of Vivian and Mel. Even though they didn’t hit it off in this book I would love to see a spinoff romance novel about the two of them, it would be so good!
This book got three stars from me mostly because it struggled to keep my attention. I felt the plot between the two main characters was weak and I wasn’t really as interested in their romance as I was about their interaction with side characters which is not a good thing. I would also set this book down and not want to pick it back up, not because it was bad or anything, the plot was just really slow.
Donut Fall in Love is about famous actor Ryan Kwok and baker Lindsay McLeod. They have a meet cute when he walks into her bakery and accidentally destroys two trays of her donuts. This leads to Lindsay teaching Ryan how to bake as he prepares for a celebrity baking competition show. The more time they spend baking together, the more they are attracted to one another.
I have lots of thoughts and feelings one this one. First off, the title and cover of this book are top tier. Seriously, both are so cute and fit the feel of the book so well! I’m not huge on celebrity romance tropes but what I liked about this one was it wasn’t focused on Hollywood and rather Ryan was on a break between projects. So the focus wasn’t on film making which I appreciated. I loved the different dynamics between Ryan and his dad and Lindsay and her mom. I love when family dynamics seem really authentic in a book and they were some of my favorite parts of this story. I also loved the side characters of Vivian and Mel. Even though they didn’t hit it off in this book I would love to see a spinoff romance novel about the two of them, it would be so good!
This book got three stars from me mostly because it struggled to keep my attention. I felt the plot between the two main characters was weak and I wasn’t really as interested in their romance as I was about their interaction with side characters which is not a good thing. I would also set this book down and not want to pick it back up, not because it was bad or anything, the plot was just really slow.
September 22, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC!
This was exactly the kind of book I needed and I didn't realize it.
Y’all, I didn’t think I was a fan of romcoms or donuts, and now I think that’s changing. I’ve read more romcoms this year than I ever thought I would (read: more than two). The donuts I’m not as sure about, but Jackie Lau and Stephanie Buttermore’s Instagrams are probably going to change my mind.
The plot of this book was about as addicting as the genre, which is to say: very. The book follows Ryan Kwok, an actor whose latest movie didn’t get the greatest reviews, and Lindsay McLeod, a baker who can’t quite adjust to her supposed adult life.
They meet when Ryan rushes into her bakery, knocking over a tray of specialty donuts and setting Lindsay off after an already-pretty-crappy day. Not a very smooth start to a relationship. But when Ryan is enlisted to be a competitor on Baking Fail, a celebrity baking show, he asks Lindsay to teach him how to bake.
The characters were really well-developed, and while they weren’t very intense I don’t think they were supposed to be. I was surprisingly attached to them.
Lindsay was very relatable in that she acted like she had her life together but was really a mess. I liked her perspective and the way her mindset came across. She was written very creatively but realistically and had a lot of characterization that I thought went above the standard.
Ryan was so much fun to read and I loved that he was such a flawed and normal human, despite being a star actor who won a Golden Globe and had a trending hashtag on Twitter about his abs. It was funny but also really deep to see how different he was as a human with real, genuine problems, as opposed to someone on the big screen, and I thought the portrayal was done amazingly.
Their narrations were so easy to connect to and I really liked reading through their perspectives. It made the romance so fun and cute.
He graced her with a ridiculously charming smile.
He’s a movie star! He’s paid to do shit like this.
Yeah, only natural she was attracted to him, but it didn’t mean anything.
The minor characters were also fleshed out, which added so much more to the book because it made everything feel more important and more interesting.
Vivian was amazing, such a role model and I loved her strength despite the fact that she wasn’t as important.
Alice, Lindsay’s mom, was a powerhouse and I was really into how she got involved with everything.
Melvin...was not the greatest in my opinion, but he added a lot to the story, and I can appreciate that.
Ryan’s dad was honestly a frustrating character, but in a good way. I kind of predicted his character toward the end, but the way he was written was still really good and well-done.
“I don’t know why you brought all this,” Dad muttered. “I can take care of myself. And why did you bring me cupcakes?”
“I made them. I’m taking lessons because I’m going to be on a celebrity baking show.”
“I really do not understand your life.”
“For example…”
Oh God. There were examples. Dad could go on for an hour.
“...why do you retweet pictures of baby goats?”
Well, that wasn’t where Ryan had expected this conversation to go.
The comedy was also really good. I don’t usually laugh out loud at things and don’t really hold a lot of stock for comedy in books, but I had fun with this one. Take that however you want to.
The romance was the main event, and it was very cute - even though it was fast-paced almost to the point of insta-love. I’m usually not a fan of quick romances like this, but for a romcom and the characters it worked really well for this book. For something that’s less substance and more sweet couple stuff, there’s nothing else to really expect.
I also liked their banter and how well these two connected. When I go into a fluffy romance, I don’t really expect too much nuance, but this book still delivered it. Their relationship actually felt pure and human instead of just surface-level. They connected so well and empathized with each other, and I liked that their relationship depended a lot on communication and really getting to know each other, despite the quick pace.
“I’m a man of hidden talents.” He waggled his eyebrows as he folded himself into the chair across from her.
Yeah, I bet you are.
“Taking off your shirt and making latte art. A winning combination.”
Also, major green flags. Ryan and Lindsay communicated (to the best of their abilities) what they wanted or expected in the relationship. And RYAN ASKED FOR CONSENT. More than once. He told her to talk to him if he did anything she didn’t want, or if she wanted him to do something. They were open about what they wanted in the relationship and their emotional vulnerability.
“Is this okay? You’ve gone rigid. I thought…but if you don’t want…that’s totally…”
“I want,” she said.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he dropped his head and kissed her.
Romance usually isn’t my favorite part of a book, but this? The scenes where they’re open about what they expect from each other? The scenes where they’re nothing but themselves? Yes.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the relationships in general. I loved how the characters were fleshed out and given these intricate relationships with family and friends.
Ryan’s family was written with amazing mental health themes and believable conversations. The awkwardness, bordering on tension, between Ryan and his dad was spot on, especially with the underlying layers of grief and strained childhoods. Ryan and his sister got along in a way that I thought was accurate (being an only child, I can’t tell, but I thought it was done nicely.)
Lindsay and her mom had a great family dynamic and I liked the way that played into the plot constantly. The parental, familial and platonic relationships in this book were such a strong bonding force behind everything, which I don’t see a lot in the books I read.
How could he be someone’s boyfriend? How could he possibly make this work when he had no experience? When the non-romantic relationships in his life were a disaster?
What made him think he could figure out how to fit Lindsay into his life?
I was also pleasantly surprised at the representation of grief in this book. Both Lindsay and Ryan had lost a parent, and the book followed a lot of Ryan struggling to deal with the recent and sudden loss of his mother.
The mental health themes played such a strong role in the book and I loved how they were so crucial in Ryan and Lindsay’s connections and the emotional content of the plot. This book explored the aftermaths of grief and loss in this tender way that I did not realize was going to hit that hard in a romance book.
He laughed because he needed to laugh, but it sounded tinny and weird.
“You don’t have to talk,” she said, “but if you want to . . . I’m here.”
My biggest issue with this book was the sex scenes. Like I said, I’m not a huge romance fan in general (my friends might call me out for lying but I don’t see myself as a romance person) but I’m just not there for smut.
This wasn’t even that bad and not as explicit as some of the books I’ve read, but since I’m probably on the asexual spectrum I just had a hard time dealing with the sex. In fact, I didn’t deal with it. I just skipped through the pages. Not sorry.
Overall, this book was just really, really sweet. Pun intended. The amount of baking content in the plot was amazing (quarantine baker here). 50% of this book was cupcakes, donuts, cake, cheesecake and bubble tea, and the rest of it was either adorable romance or surprisingly deep characterization.
I had so much fun with this read. It made me crave like three different kinds of pastries and bubble tea. It made me genuinely feel for the characters, and swept me into the plot, which I didn’t expect but very much enjoyed. I feel like I usually go into fluffy romcom books with low expectations, and I might need to start reconsidering that.
Lindsay’s cheeks heated as she recalled when she’d held the cinnamon sugar donut hole up to his mouth. For a second, she’d thought he would kiss her.
Read
November 3, 2021Very warm and sweet romance about a film star and a baker. Slow burn with very low conflict--both of them are grieving parents and struggling to get themselves back on track emotionally in order to develop new relationships and improve existing ones. If you want a gentle feelgood romance with a lot of food porn, this is absolutely it, and Ryan's dad's Twitter account is a delight.
November 5, 2021
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did, but it just never moved past okay. I'll break down the things that worked for me and the things that didn't...
What I liked:
1) The premise. Hot, famous guy meets cute, normal girl, sparks fly and then baking lessons happen? Sign me up! This cuteness kept me reading a lot longer than I should have.
2) Dessert descriptions. Yum.
3) Asian representation. Reading romances with diverse casts has been one of my goals this year. I loved reading the perspective of Ryan as an Asian actor and the discrimination/stereotypes he faced.
4) Ryan's dad. The scene with him near the end was one of the best of the book.
What didn't work for me:
1) For a rom-com, it's not funny. There's a scene with a stand up comedian and I don't think I even smiled. Also I don't know if the author is setting up for a future book, but there was a very awkward scene with Ryan's bff and Lindsey's roommate right after the stand up scene. Eek.
2) The lack of chemistry and banter between the two main characters. There were some scenes that should have been fun, filled with witty banter, and sexual tension but they just fell flat. After they got together, it was just sex and more sex.
3) I would have loved even more family interactions instead of the same ones over and over. Lindsey's mom is dating and Ryan's dad ignores him. Repeat. Repeat again.
If you are looking for a low angst read with drool-worthy desserts, give this one a shot. I have high expectations for my romance novels and this one fell a bit short.
What I liked:
1) The premise. Hot, famous guy meets cute, normal girl, sparks fly and then baking lessons happen? Sign me up! This cuteness kept me reading a lot longer than I should have.
2) Dessert descriptions. Yum.
3) Asian representation. Reading romances with diverse casts has been one of my goals this year. I loved reading the perspective of Ryan as an Asian actor and the discrimination/stereotypes he faced.
4) Ryan's dad. The scene with him near the end was one of the best of the book.
What didn't work for me:
1) For a rom-com, it's not funny. There's a scene with a stand up comedian and I don't think I even smiled. Also I don't know if the author is setting up for a future book, but there was a very awkward scene with Ryan's bff and Lindsey's roommate right after the stand up scene. Eek.
2) The lack of chemistry and banter between the two main characters. There were some scenes that should have been fun, filled with witty banter, and sexual tension but they just fell flat. After they got together, it was just sex and more sex.
3) I would have loved even more family interactions instead of the same ones over and over. Lindsey's mom is dating and Ryan's dad ignores him. Repeat. Repeat again.
If you are looking for a low angst read with drool-worthy desserts, give this one a shot. I have high expectations for my romance novels and this one fell a bit short.
December 28, 2021
This is Jackie Lau’s first traditionally published book with Berkley, which I was excited about. It’s a romance between a bakery shop owner and a Canadian actor. I really liked it! Ryan and Lindsay were cute together - he asks her to help him learn how to bake for this celebrity baking show, and they get together fairly quickly. It’s a low-conflict, low-angst type of book. Ryan is dealing with the loss of his mother and his messy relationship with his dad, who I actually really loved. Lindsay’s dealing with life now as a regular person dating someone famous, with the invasion of privacy and mean comments. I wouldn’t consider this a rom-com - it’s more of a cozy read and I loved all the food aspects. There were also some great discussions about what it’s like being Asian in the entertainment industry, like all the gender expectations, that was pretty meaningful to read.
November 26, 2021
This is my first Jackie Lau book and I'm looking forward to reading more of her stuff. I wasn't completely sold on the romance in this book, but I did really enjoy the cooking element and the discussions related to what it's like to be Asian in the entertainment industry. 3.5 Stars
Donut Fall in Lovefollows Lindsay and Ryan in a cute food based romance. Lindsay is a professional baker who has a knack for making gourmet style donuts. Ryan, a famous actor well known for his abs, begins to work with Lindsay to take cooking lessons for a baking reality show. The two form a quick and close bond as Ryan begins to learn more about the baking industry. One of my favorite parts of this book was definitely related the baking. I'm a huge fan of any novel that centers on cooking/baking especially romances. It was fun watching Ryan learn so many different things about baking and having a greater appreciation for the work that Lindsay does. Also, it serves as a means for Ryan to work through his grief and the troubled relationship that he has with his father. Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was Lau's discussion around the experience of the Asian community in the entertainment industry. Not only is there acknowledgment of the lack of roles offered, but also the way that consumers of the entertainment industry have viewed or not viewed Asian men as attractive. Lau pulled me in every time Ryan would talk about this with family and friends. It's something that I think about in terms of the Black experience, but not necessarily other marginalized communities. The fact that this book takes place in Canada also makes the narrative different.
While I think that this book does handle a lot of topics well including grief and family dynamics, I wasn't completely sold on the romance. Lindsay and Ryan get along well, but they didn't have the chemistry that I often look for in the romance books that I read. It's definitely a slow burn so if you're looking for something more fast paced then this wouldn't be the read for you. It was almost as if I enjoyed learning a lot about Lindsay and Ryan as individuals, but I wasn't really invested in what happened to them in the scope of their relationship.
Overall, I think that this was a well written novel and did capture some very unique experiences that are faced by the Asian community especially those invested in the entertainment industry. I look forward to checking out some more works by this author.
Donut Fall in Lovefollows Lindsay and Ryan in a cute food based romance. Lindsay is a professional baker who has a knack for making gourmet style donuts. Ryan, a famous actor well known for his abs, begins to work with Lindsay to take cooking lessons for a baking reality show. The two form a quick and close bond as Ryan begins to learn more about the baking industry. One of my favorite parts of this book was definitely related the baking. I'm a huge fan of any novel that centers on cooking/baking especially romances. It was fun watching Ryan learn so many different things about baking and having a greater appreciation for the work that Lindsay does. Also, it serves as a means for Ryan to work through his grief and the troubled relationship that he has with his father. Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was Lau's discussion around the experience of the Asian community in the entertainment industry. Not only is there acknowledgment of the lack of roles offered, but also the way that consumers of the entertainment industry have viewed or not viewed Asian men as attractive. Lau pulled me in every time Ryan would talk about this with family and friends. It's something that I think about in terms of the Black experience, but not necessarily other marginalized communities. The fact that this book takes place in Canada also makes the narrative different.
While I think that this book does handle a lot of topics well including grief and family dynamics, I wasn't completely sold on the romance. Lindsay and Ryan get along well, but they didn't have the chemistry that I often look for in the romance books that I read. It's definitely a slow burn so if you're looking for something more fast paced then this wouldn't be the read for you. It was almost as if I enjoyed learning a lot about Lindsay and Ryan as individuals, but I wasn't really invested in what happened to them in the scope of their relationship.
Overall, I think that this was a well written novel and did capture some very unique experiences that are faced by the Asian community especially those invested in the entertainment industry. I look forward to checking out some more works by this author.
December 28, 2021
I was seeing Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau quite a bit on my Bookstagram feed so I decided to give it a try. This isn't a Christmassy book, but it really is the perfect novel to read around the holidays if you are in the mood for something warm and fuzzy! I love that it centers around a female baker which seems to be a trend with books I've been reading lately. There are plenty of mouth-watering descriptions of baked goods including donuts, and I would be kidding myself if I didn't say it made me crave all the things. The romance between Ryan and Lindsay was really sweet, and the story alternates between both of their viewpoints throughout. I loved Ryan's dad and the banter between them, but really, I just enjoyed all of the banter in the whole book!
I was able to get the audiobook from my library and it was a really quick listen. Narrated by Kenzo Lee & Carolyn Kang, it is about 10.5 hours, but it definitely didn't feel like that. I enjoyed Lee's narration a bit more than Kang's and even on a 3x speed, Kang's narration was a bit odd. I felt like her pauses were in weird spots on occasion and some felt unnaturally long to me even at that speed. Lee did a really nice job, and while it's not my favorite audiobook, it is still a solid listen. Ryan is dealing with the loss of his mom so there is a heavier theme of grief that really comes out towards the end, while Lindsay is dealing with something of her own. Donut Fall in Love was a bit of a tearjerker because of this, but the overall feel is definitely on the lighter side and it had a nice amount of humor as well. I had never read Lau before, but I will definitely have to pick up more of her books now!
I was able to get the audiobook from my library and it was a really quick listen. Narrated by Kenzo Lee & Carolyn Kang, it is about 10.5 hours, but it definitely didn't feel like that. I enjoyed Lee's narration a bit more than Kang's and even on a 3x speed, Kang's narration was a bit odd. I felt like her pauses were in weird spots on occasion and some felt unnaturally long to me even at that speed. Lee did a really nice job, and while it's not my favorite audiobook, it is still a solid listen. Ryan is dealing with the loss of his mom so there is a heavier theme of grief that really comes out towards the end, while Lindsay is dealing with something of her own. Donut Fall in Love was a bit of a tearjerker because of this, but the overall feel is definitely on the lighter side and it had a nice amount of humor as well. I had never read Lau before, but I will definitely have to pick up more of her books now!
April 30, 2022
dnf at 20%. i’m sorry i really thought i would like this. i mean it’s cute. but i cannot bring myself to read it and i really don’t want to fall into a reading slump. it’s pretty predictable. the vibes are nice and cute and it has a plot but it’s kind of flat for me. maybe i will pick it up in the future, but now it’s really not fitting my mood
January 12, 2022
Donut Fall In Love centers is about Lindsay, a baker specializing in donuts, and Ryan, an Asian actor famous for his good looks and abs. Despite having a pretty rough "meet-cute," Ryan needs Lindsay's baking skills to help him prepare for a show. The two develop feelings for each other, and the rest is history🍩
While it had a solid premise, this book ultimately left me dissatisfied. I wasn't a fan of the writing. Throughout the book, readers only get to know what's going on in the characters' minds by telling the readers their emotions rather than seeing how Lindsay and Ryan's relationship blossoms. I know both are important to tell a story, but with scenes such as Lindsay and Ryan baking together, as a reader, I would have liked to see the scene play out rather than feeling like the author providing instructions on how to bake. In addition, Ryan and Lindsay's relationship/chemistry was hard to believe.
They pretty much hit it off from the first baking class, and it's all smooth sailing from there. There's no conflict or tension between the two. Also, I had hoped there was more build-up as we approached the baking show, but the author glosses over it. And yet again, we're told about it rather than seeing it play out.
One of my pet peeves in romance novels is when characters say that they are different; they've never felt like this without showing the readers why or how. You tell me it's different but can't sell it. That's how I felt about Ryan and Lindsay. To me, they were just two horny people (do people have that much sex??!!) that were banging each other rather than falling in love with their soulmate.
I appreciated specific topics addressed, such as lack of (positive) Asian representation in the media and internalized racism, internalized racism, strict Asian parents, etc. For example, Ryan, an Asian actor, feels the crushing weight that comes with succeeding as an Asian male lead to set the path for other Asian men since the opportunities are so rare.
I received a free copy of Donut Fall In Love from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
While it had a solid premise, this book ultimately left me dissatisfied. I wasn't a fan of the writing. Throughout the book, readers only get to know what's going on in the characters' minds by telling the readers their emotions rather than seeing how Lindsay and Ryan's relationship blossoms. I know both are important to tell a story, but with scenes such as Lindsay and Ryan baking together, as a reader, I would have liked to see the scene play out rather than feeling like the author providing instructions on how to bake. In addition, Ryan and Lindsay's relationship/chemistry was hard to believe.
They pretty much hit it off from the first baking class, and it's all smooth sailing from there. There's no conflict or tension between the two. Also, I had hoped there was more build-up as we approached the baking show, but the author glosses over it. And yet again, we're told about it rather than seeing it play out.
One of my pet peeves in romance novels is when characters say that they are different; they've never felt like this without showing the readers why or how. You tell me it's different but can't sell it. That's how I felt about Ryan and Lindsay. To me, they were just two horny people (do people have that much sex??!!) that were banging each other rather than falling in love with their soulmate.
I appreciated specific topics addressed, such as lack of (positive) Asian representation in the media and internalized racism, internalized racism, strict Asian parents, etc. For example, Ryan, an Asian actor, feels the crushing weight that comes with succeeding as an Asian male lead to set the path for other Asian men since the opportunities are so rare.
I received a free copy of Donut Fall In Love from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2022
3.5 stars!
This was a really cozy read!
What I Liked
-The descriptions of Toronto. It was very interesting to learn about the city
-The donuts aspect of the story was very mouthwatering
-There were a lot of different relationship dynamics in the story. Luckily, this wasn't overwhelming
-The talk on racism and the need for diversity in the film industry
What I Disliked
-Lindsay and Ryan's relationship felt slightly forced. I didn't think there was much chemistry between them
-The writing was wordy at times. I found myself re-reading phrases quite a bit
More detailed reviews can be found on my blog https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/
This was a really cozy read!
What I Liked
-The descriptions of Toronto. It was very interesting to learn about the city
-The donuts aspect of the story was very mouthwatering
-There were a lot of different relationship dynamics in the story. Luckily, this wasn't overwhelming
-The talk on racism and the need for diversity in the film industry
What I Disliked
-Lindsay and Ryan's relationship felt slightly forced. I didn't think there was much chemistry between them
-The writing was wordy at times. I found myself re-reading phrases quite a bit
More detailed reviews can be found on my blog https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/
September 19, 2021
This was a fun and cute story. I'm always a sucker for food/baking in my romances. Bakerys are just great settings - sweet and filled with possibilities. Ryan and Lindsay were a good couple, but I didn't feel like they had the most explosive chemistry, but there was plenty of cute moments. And while I always love to have family elements included in honestly any story, I still feel like there wasn't really enough there, apart of Ryan's relationship with his dad, which I truly loved.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
November 21, 2021
This was really cute! I think if I read it in one sitting I would've loved it, but life got in the way and I found it hard to get back into the story. Definitely a me problem, so I'll have to reread it soon 😂
(side note, I was Annoyed™ the whole time, though, because it's set in Canada, and typical Canadian spelling is doughnut 😩😩😩)
(side note, I was Annoyed™ the whole time, though, because it's set in Canada, and typical Canadian spelling is doughnut 😩😩😩)
November 22, 2021
Came for romance but stayed for donut.
July 30, 2024
Do not be fooled by the sweet book cover because this book is spicy 🌶! I love everything about this book and I love the characters and their relationships and I loved how this book also covers deeper themes as well. I also love the baking theme and I suggest that you don’t read this book on an empty stomach because there’s some amazing bakery 🧁.
November 1, 2021
3.5 stars! I enjoyed it but it's a comforting slow read so if you're looking for a fast pace angsty one, this one ain't it. Also really freaking love the discussion about asian representation and the bs that comes with being famous + Asian.
January 18, 2022
Sweet non famous and famous person romance. Baking lessons.
Poc is a main character! 😊
Poc is a main character! 😊
January 11, 2022
⭐️
Thank God I finished it. If I took a shot every time Ryan's abs were mentioned I would have been wasted on page 20. I'm sorry for the author but this book is boring, repetitive, childish.
And long, way too long.
But let’s start with the characters, I couldn't care less about Lindsay and Ryan’abs (‘cause abs are the real stars here, I've heard more about them than their owner, they even have an #). She is insignificant, she gave me nothing but boredom, he, on the other hand, is self-centered, selfish, conceited, everytime he does something ‘nice’ he goes with ‘’cause i’m perfect’ ‘i’m a rich superstar’ ‘i’m the best’. OhmyGod shut up!
I don’t care if you’re joking or not, you suck!
The story keeps repeating itself: Ryan's first bakery - sex - abs.
Lessons / sex / Abs.
Please stop.
Thank God I finished it. If I took a shot every time Ryan's abs were mentioned I would have been wasted on page 20. I'm sorry for the author but this book is boring, repetitive, childish.
And long, way too long.
But let’s start with the characters, I couldn't care less about Lindsay and Ryan’abs (‘cause abs are the real stars here, I've heard more about them than their owner, they even have an #). She is insignificant, she gave me nothing but boredom, he, on the other hand, is self-centered, selfish, conceited, everytime he does something ‘nice’ he goes with ‘’cause i’m perfect’ ‘i’m a rich superstar’ ‘i’m the best’. OhmyGod shut up!
I don’t care if you’re joking or not, you suck!
The story keeps repeating itself: Ryan's first bakery - sex - abs.
Lessons / sex / Abs.
Please stop.
July 15, 2022
"Who could've predicted that knocking over a tray of matcha tiramisu donuts would lead to love?"
I can't even deny it. I ate this book up in a few hours. I absolutely loved it. All the food descriptions and the punny title and so much more. This was a lovely recipe of romance, baking, grief/acceptance, family, consequences of fame, and Asian culture.
Obviously, it gets the Canadian points and some bonus hometown points. It brought a smile to my face to see familiar street names and landmarks.
I was initially shocked that this book was on my tbr since I'm usually not fond of the famous person/normal person trope in books. Ryan and Lindsay were great characters apart and together. I related to all their personal issues and the jabs at Asian culture (especially being half-white like Lindsay and being raised more akin to Western culture). It was so much fun to see them bake together and how their relationship evolved. This may have been just me, but I was honestly picturing Ryan as Simu Liu while reading.
I usually hate theuseless third-act drama and, yes, it was unnecessary here but it wasn't as dramatic as other versions I've read and to the extent that I thought it would've gone. So with that in mind, I'm going to leave my rating as is because the writing was so smooth and so much fun.
I can't even deny it. I ate this book up in a few hours. I absolutely loved it. All the food descriptions and the punny title and so much more. This was a lovely recipe of romance, baking, grief/acceptance, family, consequences of fame, and Asian culture.
Obviously, it gets the Canadian points and some bonus hometown points. It brought a smile to my face to see familiar street names and landmarks.
I was initially shocked that this book was on my tbr since I'm usually not fond of the famous person/normal person trope in books. Ryan and Lindsay were great characters apart and together. I related to all their personal issues and the jabs at Asian culture (especially being half-white like Lindsay and being raised more akin to Western culture). It was so much fun to see them bake together and how their relationship evolved. This may have been just me, but I was honestly picturing Ryan as Simu Liu while reading.
I usually hate the
March 8, 2024
All of the food sounded freaking amazing and made me miss baking. Oh, and watching Ryan and Lindsay fall in love with one another was the cherry on top.
Want to read
September 20, 2021Pre-read/pre-review thoughts: I’m a simple woman. I see a book published by Berkley, I add it to the TBR.
January 19, 2022
I wanted three things as I read this:
One -- I wanted to bake a cake
Two -- I (vaguely) wanted donuts
Three-- I wanted this to end within the first 50 pages.
I will say that, like many bakery-based romances (is that a genre? I'm claiming that term now), it's a cute premise. I'd say this is a very Hallmark-y book with an Asian cast. But I couldn't get into the writing, the "banter", or the incredibly awkward sex. It almost felt like I should have been playing a forced laugh track throughout.
The food descriptions were also exasperating -- when our romantic interest tries the "best ever donut," they get hints of "sugar, flour, and butter." Note to anyone reading: if you get hints of flour in your baked goods, then it's raw and you should return the item and find another bakery. I wanted donuts, yes, but I'm always hungry and the bakery items in this just didn't do it for me.
To be fair, if you want a mindless, cutesy, forgettable read, this is perfect.
One -- I wanted to bake a cake
Two -- I (vaguely) wanted donuts
Three-- I wanted this to end within the first 50 pages.
I will say that, like many bakery-based romances (is that a genre? I'm claiming that term now), it's a cute premise. I'd say this is a very Hallmark-y book with an Asian cast. But I couldn't get into the writing, the "banter", or the incredibly awkward sex. It almost felt like I should have been playing a forced laugh track throughout.
The food descriptions were also exasperating -- when our romantic interest tries the "best ever donut," they get hints of "sugar, flour, and butter." Note to anyone reading: if you get hints of flour in your baked goods, then it's raw and you should return the item and find another bakery. I wanted donuts, yes, but I'm always hungry and the bakery items in this just didn't do it for me.
To be fair, if you want a mindless, cutesy, forgettable read, this is perfect.
December 31, 2022
the summary
Okay, I am quite disappointed with the book.
Although I really liked the Asian representation in the book, Singlish in general is appropriately used, the characters are rather flat. It is like stating facts.
Ryan Kwok. Actor.
Lindsay. Baker.
This makes it far less enjoyable, and the chemistry is not.there.
1 star.
chev's system for reviews
plot development ☆
character development :
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I launched my instagram, @chevreads and @hiddenbooks.sg (follow me!)
the rating
1/5
Like this review for a mention :p
Find me on:
Instagram: @chevreads - for bookish news
Wattpad: @writerthursday
Pinterest: @thursdayfrappe
Youtube: @chevreads - posting soon!?
P.S. Add me as a friend :) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
Okay, I am quite disappointed with the book.
Although I really liked the Asian representation in the book, Singlish in general is appropriately used, the characters are rather flat. It is like stating facts.
Ryan Kwok. Actor.
Lindsay. Baker.
This makes it far less enjoyable, and the chemistry is not.there.
1 star.
chev's system for reviews
plot development ☆
character development :
chev's board
I launched my instagram, @chevreads and @hiddenbooks.sg (follow me!)
the rating
1/5
Like this review for a mention :p
Find me on:
Instagram: @chevreads - for bookish news
Wattpad: @writerthursday
Pinterest: @thursdayfrappe
Youtube: @chevreads - posting soon!?
P.S. Add me as a friend :) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
Read
November 21, 2023Cute in theory, but unfortunately boring. I didn't feel engaged or interested in the characters, stakes, romance... anything. The only thing that gave me feeling was the interaction between Ryan and his dad as they finally navigate their grief.
November 4, 2021
So boring and the characters fell flat. They were so unrelatable
November 19, 2021
Donut Fall In Love is a sweet (because BAKING), light romance that follows the celebrity love interest trope. It’s fairly formulaic plot-wise, but the character specifics, the setting, and the families make this book stand out as something special.
Lindsay runs a donut shop with her best friend Noreen, where they specialize in high-end, super-fancy treats, like matcha tiramisu and chocolate espresso donuts. Their baked goods are not just delicious, they’re works of art.
Ryan has returned to Toronto to spend more time with his family, anxiously watching reviews of his latest film to see what it will mean for his career. And as he notes, as an Asian actor, the movie industry seems to see the success or failure of his rom-com as a litmus test for whether an actor of Asian descent can pull off a romantic lead role. He feels the weight of representation on his shoulders, and worries not just about his own career, but whether his so-so box office results will spell doom for other Asian actors.
When Ryan is asked to appear as a celebrity contestant on a popular TV baking show (Baking Fail), he instantly thinks of the cute bakery owner he (literally) ran into the previous week, and asks Lindsay for baking lessons so that he doesn’t completely humiliate himself on national TV.
Lindsay, while also of Asian descent, was raised by a mother whose family emphasized assimilation, so she grew up without speaking the language that her grandparents grew up with. While Lindsay and Ryan’s backgrounds have many differences, they share a sense of otherness from growing up in largely white communities, and soon learn that they have much more in common than ethnic background and experiences with tokenism and racism.
Their weekly baking lessons become a highlight for both of them, as they laugh, flirt, and bake together, and they each realize that their enjoyment of each other’s company might be more than just friendship. Plus, their chemistry is undeniable, and while Ryan is the one who’s famous for being a sex symbol, the attraction is clearly, strongly mutual.
As is typical in celebrity-in-love-with-a-regular-person romances, Lindsay deals with self-doubt. Ryan is super hot, as is obvious from the popular hashtag #StarringRyanKwoksAbs. How can such a gorgeous man with a stunningly perfect body possibly be interesting in an ordinary, not-perfect person like her?
Ryan and Lindsay are very cute together, and soon find themselves intimately involved. But as they learn, sex might be easy, but true intimacy, trust, and emotional connection are much harder.
I liked a lot of aspects of Donut Fall In Love. Both Ryan and Lindsay are dealing with grief over the death of a parent, and the author portrays the lasting impact of these losses very thoughtfully and sensitively. I also appreciated the depiction of the impact of the casual racism disguised as humor that Ryan and other Asian actors must deal with, as well as the off-handed cruelty that internet commenters seem to have no problem throwing around, as if the people on the receiving end aren’t actually real people at all.
The characters’ family relationships are also well depicted, although I did feel that Ryan’s difficult relationship with his father was fixed rather suddenly and without a whole lot of processing.
I feel like I should have a steaminess index for when I review romances, but haven’t come up with a scale yet! In any case, this book has a mostly light and flirty tone, but when sex happens, it’s explicit, so be forewarned if that’s not your style when it comes to romance reading.
Overall, I really liked Donut Fall In Love. Yes, the plot is somewhat predictable and by the book, but the unique personalities and donut-filled settings make the story a tasty treat.
My main complaint? I feel like this book should come with a gift card to a bakery. It made me crave sweets on every page! Gimme donuts. Gimme donuts now.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Lindsay runs a donut shop with her best friend Noreen, where they specialize in high-end, super-fancy treats, like matcha tiramisu and chocolate espresso donuts. Their baked goods are not just delicious, they’re works of art.
Ryan has returned to Toronto to spend more time with his family, anxiously watching reviews of his latest film to see what it will mean for his career. And as he notes, as an Asian actor, the movie industry seems to see the success or failure of his rom-com as a litmus test for whether an actor of Asian descent can pull off a romantic lead role. He feels the weight of representation on his shoulders, and worries not just about his own career, but whether his so-so box office results will spell doom for other Asian actors.
When Ryan is asked to appear as a celebrity contestant on a popular TV baking show (Baking Fail), he instantly thinks of the cute bakery owner he (literally) ran into the previous week, and asks Lindsay for baking lessons so that he doesn’t completely humiliate himself on national TV.
Lindsay, while also of Asian descent, was raised by a mother whose family emphasized assimilation, so she grew up without speaking the language that her grandparents grew up with. While Lindsay and Ryan’s backgrounds have many differences, they share a sense of otherness from growing up in largely white communities, and soon learn that they have much more in common than ethnic background and experiences with tokenism and racism.
Their weekly baking lessons become a highlight for both of them, as they laugh, flirt, and bake together, and they each realize that their enjoyment of each other’s company might be more than just friendship. Plus, their chemistry is undeniable, and while Ryan is the one who’s famous for being a sex symbol, the attraction is clearly, strongly mutual.
As is typical in celebrity-in-love-with-a-regular-person romances, Lindsay deals with self-doubt. Ryan is super hot, as is obvious from the popular hashtag #StarringRyanKwoksAbs. How can such a gorgeous man with a stunningly perfect body possibly be interesting in an ordinary, not-perfect person like her?
Ryan and Lindsay are very cute together, and soon find themselves intimately involved. But as they learn, sex might be easy, but true intimacy, trust, and emotional connection are much harder.
I liked a lot of aspects of Donut Fall In Love. Both Ryan and Lindsay are dealing with grief over the death of a parent, and the author portrays the lasting impact of these losses very thoughtfully and sensitively. I also appreciated the depiction of the impact of the casual racism disguised as humor that Ryan and other Asian actors must deal with, as well as the off-handed cruelty that internet commenters seem to have no problem throwing around, as if the people on the receiving end aren’t actually real people at all.
The characters’ family relationships are also well depicted, although I did feel that Ryan’s difficult relationship with his father was fixed rather suddenly and without a whole lot of processing.
I feel like I should have a steaminess index for when I review romances, but haven’t come up with a scale yet! In any case, this book has a mostly light and flirty tone, but when sex happens, it’s explicit, so be forewarned if that’s not your style when it comes to romance reading.
Overall, I really liked Donut Fall In Love. Yes, the plot is somewhat predictable and by the book, but the unique personalities and donut-filled settings make the story a tasty treat.
My main complaint? I feel like this book should come with a gift card to a bakery. It made me crave sweets on every page! Gimme donuts. Gimme donuts now.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
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