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fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Super cute and perfectly pitched with angst and growth and judginess without cattiness. Loved the protagonist never apologizes for her existence, that she insists on being recognized - something that’s hard for a lot of Asian immigrants in mostly white countries. Also, interesting to me in that this is the first book I’ve read with a Bangladeshi hero and a first with an Asian immigrant hero in Ireland. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Gaslighting, and Body shaming
monstrouscosmos's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Characters: 9/10
Relationships: 9/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Overall: 60/70, 4.25*
I wanted a book that didn't have any spice so when I saw that this was YA I was initially so excited! when I found out how young the characters would actually be it became hard for me to stick with listening for awhile. nothing against younger characters! but teen romance isn't really what I was expecting/hoping for. I'm glad I stuck it out though, this was such a heartfelt story! definitely something I wish I'd had as a teenager. a very sweet coming of age story!
Relationships: 9/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Overall: 60/70, 4.25*
I wanted a book that didn't have any spice so when I saw that this was YA I was initially so excited! when I found out how young the characters would actually be it became hard for me to stick with listening for awhile. nothing against younger characters! but teen romance isn't really what I was expecting/hoping for. I'm glad I stuck it out though, this was such a heartfelt story! definitely something I wish I'd had as a teenager. a very sweet coming of age story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship
bek_p87's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A super-cute sapphic YA rom-com with a fat South Asian protagonist, set on a baking show, and full of food-related puns? Sign me up! With romance, intrigue, and donuts at every turn, I loved this. After the disappointment of 'A Million To One', this is a return to form for Jaigirdar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism
headinthepages's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Grief, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
4 - 4.5 ⭐️
I thought it was super cute and I would have been obsessed with this in high school and I wish I had this book back then.
Adiba Jaigirdar has single handedly reminded me how much I love cleaver chapter titles! The chapter titles in this book are mostly, if not all, puns that relate to the coming chapter and I think it was a small little detail that really just elevated the book; as it plays into Shireen’s knack and love for puns and it was such a nice touch!
This book was so fun! It follows Shireen, a fat, queer, Bangladeshi/Irish Teen, who applies for a TV baking competition in hopes of winning to not only make her dreams a reality but to bring money and attention to her parent’s Donut Shop. Things get complicated when Shireen gets there and finds Chris, the daughter of her parent’s shop’s biggest rival and her ex girlfriend… Shireen also befriends one of her fellow competitors, Niamh and things heat up between the two of them, causing the trio to have tensions you could cut with their chefs knife... Will there be betrayal in the Kitchen? Who will win the competition? Will Shireen‘s Parent’s shop be ok in the end?
I really adore the way Jaigirdar writes the connection between characters, her characters are all well defined so the relationships between them are also beautifully defined. Particularly I love the relationship between Shireen and her best friend, their relationship felt so realistic to that age range; although best friends, they argued and didn’t get along at every second of the book and their arguments felt true to that time in life. I also adored the way the love between Shireen and Chris was depicted; although their relationship evolves and changes over the course of the book, even when they aren’t currently together or even talking they still have such an obvious place in each others hearts and I think the way it is written was very beautiful and relatable especially to queer kids.
Niamh however can get fucked, she was not only a toxic friend but just a bad person, she was cause for suspicion from the start but the further into the book you get the worse she gets
I thought it was super cute and I would have been obsessed with this in high school and I wish I had this book back then.
Adiba Jaigirdar has single handedly reminded me how much I love cleaver chapter titles! The chapter titles in this book are mostly, if not all, puns that relate to the coming chapter and I think it was a small little detail that really just elevated the book; as it plays into Shireen’s knack and love for puns and it was such a nice touch!
This book was so fun! It follows Shireen, a fat, queer, Bangladeshi/Irish Teen, who applies for a TV baking competition in hopes of winning to not only make her dreams a reality but to bring money and attention to her parent’s Donut Shop. Things get complicated when Shireen gets there and finds Chris, the daughter of her parent’s shop’s biggest rival and her ex girlfriend… Shireen also befriends one of her fellow competitors, Niamh and things heat up between the two of them, causing the trio to have tensions you could cut with their chefs knife... Will there be betrayal in the Kitchen? Who will win the competition? Will Shireen‘s Parent’s shop be ok in the end?
I really adore the way Jaigirdar writes the connection between characters, her characters are all well defined so the relationships between them are also beautifully defined. Particularly I love the relationship between Shireen and her best friend, their relationship felt so realistic to that age range; although best friends, they argued and didn’t get along at every second of the book and their arguments felt true to that time in life. I also adored the way the love between Shireen and Chris was depicted; although their relationship evolves and changes over the course of the book, even when they aren’t currently together or even talking they still have such an obvious place in each others hearts and I think the way it is written was very beautiful and relatable especially to queer kids.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Racism
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