Donut Fall in Love

Jackie Lau

Oct 2021 · Sold by Penguin

About this eBook

"[Lau's] trope-forward contemporaries are as sugary and irresistible as the desserts her characters create."—New York Times Book Review

A baker provides the sweetest escape for an actor in this charming romantic comedy from the author of Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie.

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 years of constant work and the sudden death of his mother, 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.

Ratings and reviews

2.5 stars — This book wasn’t bad per say, but it was very very meh for me. If it hadn’t been a NetGalley, and I wasn’t buddy reading it, I probably would have DNFd it. I could see a lot of potential, but in the end the word I would use to describe it is flat. Also, if you are hoping for a rom-com (as this one is advertised), well, I would lower your expectations. So what was flat? The characters were pretty flat. Honestly, I didn’t find either of them that interesting. They weren’t bad, they were just kind of boring and not as well fleshed out as they could have been. I enjoyed Lindsay’s passion for baking, but I didn’t connect with her on a whole lot of other things that I really should have (including losing my father at a younger age). I enjoyed her insights about her life and family and being biracial, and I understood on the surface many of her struggles with relationships and knowing people before and after grief…it just never got to a deeper level. And when her insecurities started, they rode that line between relatable (which I genuinely love), and annoying…and she teetered over it on occasion. I think I got a bit more out of Ryan’s story, though it was kind of flat as well. I did feel for his grief, but not as much as I was expecting. Like with Lindsay, I enjoyed the insights into his life as an Asian movie star, and the things that he had to deal with with that. But…I don’t know. I just needed something a bit more. And their romance? Super flat. I didn’t feel ANY chemistry. There was no banter, everything felt kind of forced. It was the definition of tell instead of show. It probably doesn’t help that I just came off a great show book. I did enjoy bits of their friendship though, and the way they could connect with losing a parent. This is not to say that there weren’t glimmers of good stuff in the story…I wouldn’t have rounded up otherwise. One bright spot was definitely the strange relationship between Ryan and his Dad. It was complicated, and could be pretty funny, and in the end it provided me with the most emotional connection, especially at the end. There were some other interesting secondary characters, but unfortunately they had their dull moments to take the shine off (particularly the Mel/Vivian thing). I could probably go on, but it’s all along the same theme — the book was just missing that spark, that extra.

What a delicious (ha!) romance! This story was better than a box of fresh apple fritters! Jackie Lau is known for utilizing food in every romance (the way to a guy's heart, amirite?) and she hits it clear out of the park on this one! I was immediately drawn in to the story by the relatable characters and adorably messy meet-cute, and the story just flowed all the way through the flirty baking lessons and angsty family relationships. Ryan is an up-and-coming movie star who is sweet and down-to-earth. Still grieving his recently-deceased mom, he's struggling to connect with his dad while navigating the ups and downs of celebrity social media. Lindsay is instantly relatable, a little in awe of Ryan's public persona but she soon realizes he's not so different after all. I loved her dedication to her craft and how she shared her enthusiasm with Ryan. I'm pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading about all the fabulous baked goods they produced. I really enjoyed the side storyline of her relationship with her roommate, Vivian. This author always delivers a strong emotional impact, and this book is no exception. Both Ryan and Lindsay are dealing with insecurities and family drama. I adored the careful way they discussed their feelings, and I especially loved their conversation after their first intimate time together. This is a heartwarming story with plenty of steam and even more heart. There was a heartbreaking but necessary transition period on their way to their HEA, making their eventual happiness all the sweeter for it. Ms. Lau is not afraid to show her characters' vulnerabilities, making their romance a truly unforgettable journey. I sighed, I nearly cried, and I rejoiced at the end. It's everything a great romance should be. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

About the author

Jackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between penning “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. She is now the author of over a dozen romantic comedies.

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 gelato, gourmet donuts, cooking, hiking, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.