I have to admit it took a long while to get into this book. I tried four times to read the first chapter. Yeah, it was tough. Yet, once I started it turned out okay. I really thought it would be more romance and less of finding oneself. Which was a bit disappointing. I also felt bad for Jasmines ex boyfriend. He wasn’t a bad guy at all. No clue why he had to be added to her current story. Now, to the good parts. I love and craved donuts reading this book, I liked Jasmine and how she was resilient and kind. She tried to be happy and please her parents at the same time. Hard to juggle with all those expectations. I liked Alex and her together. They were cute, I also liked her brother Pat. He was a great supporter for her. Overall, it was an okay light romance story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was cute!

Jasmine finds herself stuck working for her parents in the donut shop she doesn't want to be in. Her past relationship is one she wants to forget, and he mom keeps reminding her of the boyfriend and job she doesn't have. In walks Alex, an old college crush that is also handsome, successful and Chinese, all her mother wants for her. As their relationship takes a turn, is Jasmine ready for what's to come.

After reading a lot of heavy dark reads for a couple of months and as a fan of light-hearted romance novels, I dove into "Donut Trap" with high hopes and a craving for some sugary-sweet storytelling. While the book delivered on some fronts, it left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.

The novel was more of a blend of new adult coming-of-age and romance. It seems to have been marketed as more of a romance, though. I loved the scenes where the main character tried to get her parents to have more creative donuts to improve their donut shop revenue.

I will check out additional books by this author.

I was expecting the storyline to lean more into the romance elements than the coming-of-age ones, so this one fell a bit flat for me. The donut shop premise was fun and I liked following Jas' journey to elevate her family's recipes and bring in more business. I do have an adult novel from Tieu on my TBR shelf so hopefully that one is more my speed!

Look. Ima be real honest. This book is RELATABLE!! Haha.

I have been in Jasmine's shoes to a degree, I had all the feels at how things wete going for her.

I thought the romance was sweet in this one and I loved the build up.

I really just liked Jasmine too. I don't bond with FMC often, but right off the bat I found that I liked her and her determination. Plus she is just a fun sassy character.

This book was just okay. It's been awhile since i've read it. I'm trying to update the books on netgalley that i've read already so I can focus more on the ones that I haven't read. I'm hoping to be better about reviewing books as I read them.

This was a lot of fun and a great read! It was quick and made me hungry!! I really liked the relationships in this book and the way the characters all interacted.

Donut Shop was an easy read. Light hearted at times but had heavier topics at times as well. Reads more like a Y/A . It was cute and fun. The family business is a cute trope in a donut shop. I had trouble connecting to the main characters at the beginning. They seemed a little naive. The love chemistry wasn’t there for me. But by the end I found myself smiling and hungry for more. 🍩

Tried to get into the story a few times, but it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it's a fun book for others, but the only reason I'm sending feedback is to preserve my rating. I wasn't able to finish reading.

These main characters, Jasmine and Alex, were horrible. I did not like them at all. Plus, their relationship didn't feel "right". I just didn't really enjoy this one as much as I thought I would.

*Thank you @avonbooks for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because rating 4 stars or less.*

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read to & review an ARC of this book!**

Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-I loved the focus on family , but also the balance of being your own person & find your own passions.
-I liked that Jasmine was able to become her own person throughout this novel.
-I enjoyed how the author brought in cultural aspects & the reader got to learn about some of these through reading this book.
-The focus on donuts was SO GOOD!

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-I found the pacing of Jasmine & Alex's relationship to be a bit off. I felt very weird to me & it built quickly based on not a lot of time together.

Overall, I enjoyed the book & I gave it 3 stars.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of The Donut Trap! All opinions in this review are my own.

I tried reading The Donut Trap a few years ago and eventually put in my try again later pile. I ended up listening to it this time and was able to fly through it.

I loved how Alex and Jasmine are finally able to get together after a chance encounter years ago. However, I didn't love how once Jasmine got a job and was trying to do her best, he complained about how she was on her phone when he has an equally grueling work schedule.

I would have loved this book if I had read it when I was closer in age to Alex and Jasmine. Reading about characters who also struggle to figure out what they will do with their lives and where they fit when you are also going through that is so important and validating. However, for me, it is a time I would prefer not to relive through reading!

Jasmine is a pretty unlikeable mc and her love interest wasn't much better. It was hard to really get into the story when I didn't enjoy either character that much. The romance itself was also a bit lacking and didn't trigger the swooning that I have come to expect from a romance, and definitely one that I like. It's disappointing, but hopefully Tieu builds her skill and is better with the next one.

I really enjoyed this romance. Books that focus on food and our connections to culture are some of my favorites and this title really delivered. I loved the voice and the flaws in the characters. I also loved the focus on family dynamics and living up to family expectations.

entertaining and engaging read that offers a refreshing take on the traditional coming-of-age story. It's a great choice for anyone looking for a light-hearted but thought-provoking novel with a strong sense of humor and heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

This book was cute, but a bit forgettable for me. I mostly judge a romance by the swoon factor, but this one was missing some. I would try another book by this author in the future though. Love the Asian rep!

While this was a cute read, it didn't hook me in and it fell a bit flat for me as I struggled to connect with the characters or get invested in the plot.

While THE DONUT TRAP had a promising premise, it failed to deliver for me personally. I did find bits and pieces of this book charming (I'm a sucker for a good romantic moment or line, and I know it), and there were other aspects that were relatable (the family dynamic and the search for direction in life). But I ended up finding this one just okay overall due simply to the fact that I never quite clicked with the main character or the love interest and so, was less invested in their lives and relationship than I would have liked.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟯.𝟱 ⭐️ / 𝟱 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this adult romance! At first I thought it felt a bit YA due to some of the arguments and rebuttals used, but seeing the characters personal growth through the progression of the book really made it really easy to get absorbed into the story and invested in the relationships. Aside from the MC’s sweet budding romance, I enjoyed the blend of working on family relationship as well.

Pick this book up if you love donuts, Kim’s Convenience, reps of Asian- American cultural elements and family dynamics/growth.