This was… not a romcom?
I almost feel bad reviewing it because it’s on the publisher for marketing it as a romantic comedy when it really is more of a contemporary women’s fic. But this is a warning to anyone misled by the absolutely adorable cover and all of the listicles calling it a romcom: it’s not. There is some humor! There is some romance! But neither makes this anything but women’s fic. Which is totally great, but going into a book expecting tons of chemistry and laughs, it was sort of a let down. I’ve read some really great women’s fic lately but I just wanted a break for something lighter and more romance heavy.
The best part of this book is the exploration of Asian identity that plays a major role in Donut Fall in Love. I love seeing romance/wf making space for POC rep that has zero white washing. I also liked that grief is a part of this book and family dynamics in general.
The couple gets together too early for my liking, but to each their own!
Once again, this was just a preference issue and the fact that I did not read any reviews beforehand so I went into it expecting something very different! But in the interest of honesty, I’ll be rating it 3.5 stars. But I will be picking up her next book!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

So...I didn't love this.

First off all, I kept waiting for *something* to happen. It felt like there was virtually no conflict in this book and I was BORED. Secondly, I didn't love the characters. I didn't connect with them and didn't buy their chemistry. I just could not get into their lives or relationship. Lastly, the writing didn't blow me away. This book left me wanting in so many ways! Disappointing.

That being said, I respect authors so much. I know how much work and time and effort must go into getting their book into peoples' hands, so I applaud Jackie for that work and sharing her story with us. It wasn't for me, but I hope it has found its audience.

I found this story a sweet, romantic read. Be warned though: reading this story will definitely make you crave donuts!

This book was as sweet of a read as the desserts are in the novel! While I found the chemistry between our main characters a little lacking (they seemed to fall for one another so quickly and for whatever reason, I just wasn't sold on it), overall I would say I enjoyed this book. I found the family dynamics really interesting and appreciated the way grief helped bring the characters together.

This is a sweet (pun intended) close-proximity romance between a famous actor and a talented baker who are both dealing with self-doubt. They have great chemistry but felt something was missing, perhaps a dash of tension, in their relationship.

I liked that Lindsey's character is a bi-racial Asian who learns about her Chinese immigrant mother's struggle to fit in a Chinese culture she didn't grow up in while trying to assimilate into a Canadian culture she didn't feel accepted in at school. I wish this had been explored more in the book, especially by Lindsey, who would have her own unique experiences as a bi-racial child.

Ryan's pressure to successfully represent Asian-American actors was well articulated. His fear of losing leading man roles to stereotypical roles such as goofy side-kick or brainy engineer is common among Asian actors. Ryan’s relationship with his father was interesting, and his Dad's emergence as a witty social media star was a fun subplot.

I loved Toronto as the backdrop for this story since it's one of my favorite cities, and I look forward to more stories from this author.

Thank you to @berkleypub for the eARC of this book

Ryan Kwok has returned to Toronto after the promo tour for his latest rom-com film. Between the constant work and his mother's death, he's overdue for time off. His father won't actually talk to him, instead trolling him on Twitter, so he's off to a rocky start in town. That's worse when he knocks over two dozen specialty donuts that Lindsay Macleod made. There's an instant spark of attraction, which grows when Ryan asks her to teach him to bake when he signs up for a reality baking show.

Jackie Lau writes fun contemporary rom-coms, and somehow she manages to sneak in delicious foods. This time, it's a starring role because Lindsay bakes such delicious-sounding donuts! She's mixed Asian, working hard at the bakery, and doesn't even recognize Ryan when they crash into each other. It's a messy kind of meet-cute, which is adorable to read. Ryan is still grieving while his latest movie was panned and he only seems to be famous for his abs on social media. The references are funny and undercut the pain of his reticent father bailing on anything vaguely resembling emotions.

Both Lindsey and Ryan are plagued by insecurities, and we have the very serious themes of parental loss, grieving children, and postpartum depression in Ryan's sister. They're gently and respectfully handled as part of their lives and a way to showcase who they are as people; these very serious topics are not treated as silly stumbling blocks to romance, but a way to really bring home that emotions of all kinds are important. Communication is key in any romance, but especially here when Ryan and Lindsey have multiple hurdles to face together. They're adorable when dating and teasing each other through the baking lessons, as well as when the relationship really develops. I'm very happy that all of the emotional threads come together at the end. They were really fun people to read about and spend time with.

I enjoyed this sweet rom com set in Toronto between a baker and an actor. I loved their meet cute but this isn’t only a sweet romcom it also tackled some real issues like racism, loss, grief ansmd done mental health issues .this is a very good read with great characters too

Sweet, delicious, sugary romance! Donut Fall in Love is a delightful, steamy tale of happily ever after starring a super-hot actor falling for the baker of his dreams. It's quite fun, often steamy, and surprisingly sensitive too.

‘“People often ask if I’m sure my parents are Asian,” Mel said, “and I’m like, ‘You think I don’t fucking know?’” He paused. “But I understand why they ask. If you were expecting stories about me getting ninety-nine percent on a math test and my father asking where the other percent went, I’m sorry to disappoint you. First of all, because I never got above ninety on a math test. Come on, don’t stare at me like you’ve never seen an Asian guy who’s bad at math! I’m not the only one. But I’m a good driver, I promise.’ 😂😂 Mel had me laughing out loud!

Actor Ryan Kwok (and his abs) are back in Toronto after the promotional tour for his latest rom-com that got less than ideal reviews. Baker Lindsay McLeod meets him when she knocks over two dozen specialty donuts at her bakery. When Ryan signs up for the celebrity episode of Baking Fail, he decides to enlist Lindsey to teach him her baking skills. Will sparks fly over bubble tea and baked goods?

This book was so deliciously sweet (see what I did there?) 🤪 I mean what woman doesn’t want to fall in love with (I’m imagining Taylor Lautner here) six pack abs over confectioners sugar and donuts? The main characters bond over their shared grief and watching their relationship unfold was like opening a gift. So, so sweet. There is witty banter, lots of baking, and an adorable love story. And now I need to find myself some bubble tea! Yum!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise for this book sounds like absolutely everything to me. I'm a sucker for romances with famous characters, I love a good grief backstory (yes! make me sob!) and it taking place largely in a bakery is just so cute. Plus the awkward meet cute! Yes!

I really enjoyed how these characters were written on a personal level, but together I didn't see much romantic chemistry or passionate fire between them that makes so many romances not only stand out, but be believable. This book was cute, I enjoyed the interactions between the two mains, and I loved how all the characters were written to be more than their romance life, but it doesn't stand out to me as anything spacial amidst a pile of the hundreds of romance books published just this year.

I really liked how the book dealt with themes of grief and loss, as well as the racism experienced: often romance books are VERY white so I especially appreciated that diversity. However as far as the actual romance which is what I was there for) went... it was very forgettable for me.

Donut Fall in Love was a fun, if not very memorable rom com that takes the same concept of Notting Hill and sets it in Toronto with a baker instead of a bookseller. As a lover of baked goods and classic rom-com movies, the premise really sold me on this book.

I had two main issues that kept me from loving this book:
1) the overall slow pace of the book. It got boring in the middle - I read this book about a week ago and already cannot remember much of the plot. It wasn't bad, it just want not memorable and didn't keep me hooked the way romance novels typically do
2) the lack of chemistry between Ryan and Lindsay - at no point was I convinced that they HAD to end up together or that they were destined for each other. They had a few cute moments (especially in the bakery) but that wasn't enough to sell me on their romance. At no point was I rooting for them to end up together - in fact, I think they would have made better friends than romantic partners.

Things I loved:
1) Ryan's dad on Twitter
2) The descriptions of food (don't read this on an empty stomach)
3) The discussion of grief and moving forward in life

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘗𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

This book made me crave for Donuts, that's for sure. )Probably will try to ask my mama for a box of donuts once my exams ends).

Before reading this book, I'm kind of skeptical which I'll be delving on later so stating my review now:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. I didn't have problems with the writing style, I definitely liked it actually. It's the pacing & the execution that underwhelms me at most parts. I felt that it was just too slow for my liking and it didn't really hooked me at the start of the story. I would say, I did kind of forced my way to like it and be patient for the progress, for like 20-30 %-ish of the book.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭. Lindsay and Ryan are cute. I could relate to their struggles, especially in the part of the family matters that also were tackled here aside from baking donuts. There were also mentioned of racism that I find accurate and honestly existing not just in any work industry but also in the inner aspect, such as in family groups. I'm quietly pleased how this book transitioned from cute/ fluffy/ smutty scenes to deep and sensitve matters. Another thing is that, I did thought that it wasn't heavily romance at all (which I will be more delving later). Other than the baking, fluffy/ smutty and other relevant aspects of the story, I also did enjoy some characters, especially Ryan's father, I would say it was such an asian father/ grandfather thing like for some reason they tend to be this so funny and savage unintentionally (I kind of remember my lolo (grandfather) in these scenes tbh).

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. As I said before, I did say that this felt like not having that much romance at all or that heavy which is another thing that underwhelmed me aside from the pacing and execution. I felt that there isn't much chemistry at all in the characters and felt force not until the very 2nd half but still, it wasn't that much of it. I would have love it if the book did build more their chemistry. They were cute tho, I enjoyed their interactions, especially those kind of banters.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 this is a pretty good read. I did liked the asian rep, the donut baking & the characters. It just that I did hope that it was more of a fast paced. 3.5⭐

While this story has a cute romance and sweet characters, the lack of a real solid story messed with my enjoyment of the book.

This book has a few significant elements; the characters are sweet and likeable; I like the food element story. It has a realistic view of like and how there is always more to a backstory - family dynamics and struggles.
However, both the story and romance felt weak. While I did get into the romance late on, it felt so out of the blue read, and the lack of natural chemistry didn't help. While the writer explained they were attracted to each other, I felt none of that until much later than I should have

Overall a cute, fast, light read but nothing that will hold a reader too much.

In this new, food-based romance from Jackie Lau, Ryan Kwok and Linsay McLeod absolutely do not run in the same circles – in fact, there’s no reason for them to ever cross paths. But in a meet cute worthy of Ryan’s latest Hollywood movie, Ryan and Lindsay not only meet but end up being the perfect person at the perfect time.

Ryan Kwok wanted to take a step back from the spotlight. He had recently lost his mother, and now his latest movie wasn’t getting stellar reviews. A flop could mean years of recovery for Asian actors in North America, and if that weight wasn’t heavy enough, his abs are also trending on social media. So, no pressure. Retreating back home to Toronto to be with his father and sister seemed the best course of action. Once home, Ryan runs into bakery owner Lindsay – literally. Lindsay is everything Ryan is not: she keeps her life private, and lives for the cakes and donuts she makes everyday. But despite not getting off on the right foot, Ryan could use Lindsay’s help. And if all the help and time spent together leads to other things, neither Ryan nor Lindsay will complain…

I found a lot to love about Donut Fall in Love. While I adore a great meet cute, the romance in this novel was almost overshadowed by the representation – which was perfect for Ryan and Lindsay’s story. Not only are all the major characters in this story Asian (mostly East Asian, but also some South Asian) or biracial, but Lau does not shy away from what it means to be Asian in a predominantly white space, like Toronto or Hollywood movies. Through her characters, Lau beautifully addressed issues like the lack of Asian representation in entertainment, the problematic pattern of minorities being asked questions about themselves and their culture that white people would never be asked, and the feelings of displacement and self-hatred that Asian Americans (or, in this case, Asian Canadians) too often feel. I feel that many romance authors of Asian descent keep the romance and character identity at the forefront of the narrative, but Lau does a fantastic job at interweaving the romance, character identity, and cultural stigmas and issues that come with having that identity. On the surface, Ryan and Lindsay’s story is a steamy romance; at its heart, their story is a true commentary on what it means to be part of the Asian minority. Lau seamlessly worked these problematic situations into the narrative without detracting from the romantic plot or making the story any less palatable for a larger audience (i.e. she brought attention to Asian American/Canadian issues in a way that won’t make a white reader uncomfortable). I applaud Lau for the way she handled a lot of tough topics. And, of course, no romance would be complete without some drama and rough patches, and Lau did not disappoint in that area either.

Ryan and Lindsay were wonderful conduits for a whole host of topics: loss and trauma and feeling lost, but also new life, moving on and finding love. The rising Hollywood star and the gourmet baker were perfect on the page, made even better by their faults and insecurities. I really liked Ryan and Lindsay as a romantic couple, but I loved them for all the cultural and racial issues they gave voice to along the way.

Adorable and fun - Berkley knows how to publish romance. A recommended purchase for collections where contemporary romance is popular.

The story was about baking, romance, PLUS it had that celebrity-normie romance that was the right level of cute and believable. It's complex and heartwarming and 100% makes you want donuts...making it absolutely worth it.

This is my first book by Jackie Lau, and I am just sitting here wondering why I haven't read anything by her before. Donut Fall in Love absolutely captivated me, and it is a definite contender for one of my top favorite reads in 2021. I have been recommending this to book to everyone. Between the delicious bakery scenes, the well written cultural dynamics, and the sweet romance, I could not put Donut Fall in Love down. The chemistry between Lindsay and Ryan was palpable and I loved the scenes of them baking together. And then there was the steam. Man oh man, so good! The donuts weren't the only thing cooking! And don't forget Ryan's mouthwatering abs. If you love books about food or the movie Notting Hill, this book is an absolute must read. I hope there will be more books in this series, because I loved Lindsay's girlfriends and all the side characters!

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 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.

Donut Fall in Love was such a cute romantic comedy, and who doesn’t love a book that revolved around a bakery and donuts. This book gave me all the feel-good hallmark vibes, and some cultural dynamics as well.

Donut fall in love was a celebrity romance that deals with more than just romance, it touches on grief, loss of parents, and Asian rep in movies and tv. I thought the actual romance in this book was cute but didn’t have me completely wrapped in it.

If you want a light romantic comedy that reminds you of a Hallmark movie with some more serious topics within then this book is perfect for you!

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a fan of fiction/romance/mystery books that center around baking but I especially loved that this rom-com was set in Canada - that doesn’t happen too often - with a diverse cast. I also appreciated that it touched on stereotypes and inclusion in a lighthearted way. This book also deals with the loss of loved ones - reflecting on how different life is without the loved one and how much it impacts a family in different ways/how they get through it. I appreciated the depth these elements provided. The cover art, title and description are what appealed to me first but I would be interested in reading more from this author.

Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau was an absolute delight to read. I loved that these two characters had a disaster meet-cute, that they both felt attraction from the beginning, and despite living pretty different lives they had so much in common. An Asian television and now movie star and a baker/bakery owner find each other and love in this funny, touching, and emotional story.
Ryan Kwok is known for his abs, seriously he is; they even have their own hashtag on social media, but he’s also an Asian actor who currently has a rom-com in theaters where both the main characters are Asian and while it is doing okay both in reviews and at the box office, it’s not doing great and Ryan worries how this will affect his future at getting starring roles and that of other Asian actors. On top of that he moved home to Toronto to be closer to his family following his mother’s sudden death, a death he’s taken very hard. He spends a good part of this book trying to connect with his father, when they’ve never quite seen eye to eye, and helping his sister as she navigates first time motherhood. I could actually feel his frustration at not being able to glue his family back together with his mother gone. I liked that he wasn’t afraid to show emotion to those closest to him and that while cheeky and a social media sensation, he was also very down to earth, sweet, charming, and caring.
Lindsay McLeod loves her job, seriously she does. Making delectable donuts, cupcakes and specialty cakes she enjoys it day in and day out. It helps that she also gets to work with her best friend who co-owns the bakery with her. Still feeling the loss of her father from seven years ago, Lindsay has a good relationship with her mother although it throws her for a loop when her mother begins dating again. Her brother is back at home with their mom after losing his job and trying to figure out what is next for him. To say her social life has suffered is putting it mildly, Lindsay realizes she really hasn’t connected or made friends since her father’s death and she hasn’t had a boyfriend since then either, sure she’s had hook-ups but that’s it. She doesn’t even realize who Ryan Kwok is when he comes into her bakery the first time, but when he returns and asks her for baking lessons because he’s been asked to appear on a Celebrity Baking Fail reality show, she agrees.
I enjoyed watching their friendship grown from the start and the slow progress towards more, there were some bumps in the road which were to be expected given Ryan is a pretty well known actor and Lindsay isn’t the type of woman he’s usually seen with. She has several moments where she doubts that he can really like her or that he’s serious about their relationship and Ryan who came from a family where demonstrative love wasn’t shown feels like he’s failing at every turn. I appreciated that while it wasn’t smooth sailing they kept at it and even when they parted, they both analyzed what happened and worked to make things better.
Ryan’s relationship with his father was a bit part of this story, but it didn’t distract from the romance. It fact I think realizing that his father was struggling more than he let on, having doubts about his relationship with his children, and while not answering Ryan’s calls communicating with him through Twitter was his way of showing affection. It was quite frankly funny although I know Ryan was confused by his actions.
Donut Fall in Love had the perfect blend of fun, emotion, and romance to make it an absolute joy to read.