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dreezy's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Racism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Misogyny
tostita's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
Cute, sweet contemporary romance between Lindsay, a professional baker, and Ryan, an up-and-coming actor. Both are living in the aftermath of losing a parent, one recent and one seven years ago, and changing relationships with the parents and siblings who remain. Both have to figure out what a relationship between them would look like and whether they are able to hold a relationship together in the public eye. Because I never really doubted their fundamental compatibility the romantic plot line sometimes seemed to lack weight, but Ryan’s relationship with his dad literally brought me to tears. I’m looking forward to the sequel with Mel and Vivian, characters we met in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
All of the significant characters are Asian or mixed race and two secondary characters are bi. There are instances of racism and homophobia/biohobia experienced and discussed by the characters. Two characters seek mental health treatment for postpartum depression and for grief.blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I liked this I think more than I expected to. The male lead was fantastic and kind of adorable. There was a lot of complex stuff dealt with here and it managed to be done without losing the fluff. Too many sex scenes however and I found them very awkward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Biphobia, Cancer, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, and Infidelity
ladylothlorien's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I love Jackie Lau’s books: there is always a perfect mix of humor and emotional growth. So when there is the “complication” that always comes near the end of romance novels, it feels more realistic in her books because you understand where each character is coming from. And the resolution is always about a character choosing the harder path of being vulnerable with someone else. I loved in this book how it didn’t shy away from tough topics like the realities of dating a semi-famous movie star, grief over the loss of a parent, and post-partum depression. I was also pleasantly surprised when two side characters didn’t get along and there was no grand gesture that resolved it later nor any inkling that perhaps the two will fix it later in their own novel. They were allowed to just not get along. Jackie Lau has definitely become a comfort read for me, so I’m happily trying to get through all of the books she’s written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Biphobia and Racism
Grief over the death of a parent is a big theme. Also the complicated feelings when a parent begins to date again years later. Post partum depression is experienced by the hero’s sister but she gets help and support. Anti-Asian racism is also talked about frequently. And one side character’s parent stopped speaking to them after they came out as bisexual.asparagusisreading's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A baker helps increase an actor's baking skills when he's asked to participate in a baking show similar to Netflix's Nailed It! Prior to this agreement, the pair didn't have the best introduction. Ryan came to check out Lindsay's bakery but wasn't paying 100% attention to where he was going and accidentally knocked 2 dozen donuts (the special flavor of the day) onto the floor and she chewed him out. During his weekly baking lessons, Lindsay and Ryan grow closer, boding over their interests, family, and similar life experiences. When they begin a romantic relationship, they're faced with their relationship being pushed into public's eye and communicating their feelings properly when it wasn't always taught to them by their parents.
5⭐ I picked this up on a whim, mainly because of enjoying contemporary romances featuring Asian main characters and having food themes in the past. I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship, especially when they got together. They were adorable and I loved every moment they had together. I was rooting for them throughout the book and couldn't help smiling big/cheering them on in the end. I was left with a good feeling after finishing and would love to own a copy.
TW + CW: multiple sex scenes, discussion of death (parents,) grief, postpartum depression discussion and depicted briefly on page, strained relationships with parents, terminal illness, negative comments and body shaping about male
-(most are relating to harmful stereotypes and behaviors towards Asians)
5⭐ I picked this up on a whim, mainly because of enjoying contemporary romances featuring Asian main characters and having food themes in the past. I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship, especially when they got together. They were adorable and I loved every moment they had together. I was rooting for them throughout the book and couldn't help smiling big/cheering them on in the end. I was left with a good feeling after finishing and would love to own a copy.
TW + CW: multiple sex scenes, discussion of death (parents,) grief, postpartum depression discussion and depicted briefly on page, strained relationships with parents, terminal illness, negative comments and body shaping about male
-(most are relating to harmful stereotypes and behaviors towards Asians)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Body shaming, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
amandalorianxo's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
I went into this book blind and I’m glad I didn’t read the reviews once I started. This is centered around a movie star named Ryan who is going to appear on a baking competition similar to Nailed It. But he’s not familiar with sweets minus maybe cupcakes. So he stumbles on a bakery in his hometown of Toronto and ends up paying the owner (after he collided with her) for baking lessons. I loved the Asian rep and Canada setting. The story discusses the topics of losing a parent, immigrant expectations, harmful stereotypes towards Asians, racism, sexuality and quite a few others. I kind of got a little bit of Kiss Quotient vibes from this one mainly because Lindsay and Ryan reminded me vaguely of Stella and Michael when it came to their personalities. Their is a role reversal (Lindsay is the instructor while Ryan is the pupil) but I felt twinges of deja vu in the back of my mind. The conflict could have been better but overall great read !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Biphobia, Cancer, and Pregnancy
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