This was delightful, plenty of romance, good food and real life issues and diaspora. Balanced beautifully and packs a punch in a relatively short amount of pages. I wish there’d been more books like this when I was a teenager.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. A Bánh Mì for Two is cute sapphic romance that follows Vietnamese-American exchange student Vivi, and bánh mi street vendor Lan, as they navigate different family tensions and their complicated relationship to the city of Sài Gòn. There were several plots in this book, but I thought the strongest was Vivi's search for her maternal family, when the book delved into the toll of the Việt Nam War, and explored the reasons that Vietnamese families might've stayed in or fled from the country. Other than that, this was a typical YA romance, though I did appreciate the vibrant descriptions of Sài Gòn--it's clear how much the characters, and subsequently the author, love the city. I'm also so glad that publishers are releasing more books set outside the U.S. I'm excited to see what else this author has in store!

I feel bad DNFing this because it’s very cute. I just keep getting progressively more annoyed at how unlikely it is. Vivi goes to Saigon and IMMEDIATELY runs into the food blogger she idolizes, Lan. And so far Vivi has shown photos of her long lost family to two random shop owners Lan knows and both the owners know the family. Aren’t there like 10 million people in Saigon?

This is one of the first not fantasy romance books I've read, and I loved it! It was so charming and wholesome, my little heart is swooning.

I can't stop awww-ing about this book... Lots of yummy food, family history, self discovery, and romance... It was a quick and charming read... It made me want to travel to Vietnam to eat...

*A Bánh Mì for Two* feels like a love letter to Saigon and a hug for children of immigrants who struggle to find a place where they truly belong. The heart of the book lies in the two main characters, Vivi and Lan, whose individual qualities really made this story stand out. Vivi's bravery and determination were inspiring, while Lan's strength was admirable. The way they complemented each other so perfectly was incredibly sweet.

The third-act breakup was a bit predictable from the moment they met, but given that this is a short and sweet YA story, I wasn’t too upset by it. The Vietnam setting was another highlight for me. I loved experiencing the city through the eyes of both someone who has never been and someone who has known nothing else. Each perspective was distinct, and it has even inspired me to look at my own surroundings with a fresh perspective.

That said, I did find myself a bit bored at times. Vivi's quest to locate her mom’s family— with nothing but decades-old photographs in a city of 10 million— felt a little too easy. Throughout the book, Vivi spends nearly all her time with Lan, and we don’t really see her interacting with the best friend she came with or forming connections with other students. I honestly kept forgetting she was supposed to be there for school. There were also moments that seemed more focused on vibes (like the rainstorm motorbike scene) rather than further developing the characters. Those could’ve been better spent exploring their personalities or deepening their relationships.

Overall, *A Bánh Mì for Two* offers a heartfelt and immersive journey, but its pacing and character exploration left me wanting a bit more.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I received this book through a giveaway hosted by Fierce Reads.

What a lovely queer romance! I loved reading about the developing romance between Vivi and Lan. I also liked hearing about both characters’ family relationships and how those changed.

The cutest 😭♥️♥️♥️ Love them so baddddd. Don’t really read YA romance but had to give this a try and I’m so glad I did. They’re everything to me

This cute little book was so good! It had so much information about Saigon and Vietnam. The descriptions of the food in the street stalls made me hungry just reading about them. I enjoyed the relationships between the family members and the girls in the book. It was fun to see how Lan and Vivi's relationship grew and progressed and the effect it had on those around them and in their families. I loved learning about Vietnamese history and landmarks in Saigon and District 2. I would really enjoy a book 2, I'd love to know what happens next!

I DNF'd this 20% in.
I couldn't get over all the forced coincidences and the characters' cookie cutter personalities.

This was an adorable book about two people from different worlds coming together. It is dripping with familial drama and expectations.

This is by far the cutes book I've read all year! I love the setting in Sai Gon, Viet Nam and I loved Lan and Vivi's relationship so much!

When the world feels like it's too much, you just want to read a book that feels like a hug. A Banh Mi for Two was that book for me. I loved exploring Saigon with these characters and it reminded me of my own study abroad experience.

Representation: Sapphic MCs, large portion set in Sài Gòn. One MC is Vietnamese, the other is Vietnamese-American

Rating: 4/5 An adorable story about two girls connecting through food and the blog that one of them writes, I really enjoyed learning more about Sài Gòn through the eyes of both a local and a visitor who has ancestry there. I kept shaking my head at the audacity of Vivi to lie to her parents and go to Sài Gòn rather than Singapore, but I would be frustrated by the lack of answers and knowledge about my parents’ past too. I liked that the feelings between Vivi and Lan developed slowly over time and wasn’t insta-love, even though they’re teenagers. I especially loved the parts when Lan was showing her city to Vivi, helping her learn more about her heritage and finding her family. I also like how supportive Vivi was of the blog and business run by Lan, very encouraging despite having no real stakes in what happens to them. This was a wonderful story about family, ancestry/heritage, and support.

This was the sweetest and most cozy romance story I have read in awhile. Nguyen manages to make Lan and Vivi have the best vacation ever while reconnecting with their culture. It is just a heartwarming story with some heartfelt moments.

A sweet, fluff-lined story of finding yourself in Saigon, starring a food blogger Saigon-native and a Vietnamese-American study abroad student trying to trace her family's roots. This book will make you hungry and eager to take your own trip to Vietnam.

I had trouble connecting with the characters and believing in the flames of their budding romance (thus, the three star rating) but I admit I might just not have been in the mood for a lighthearted story. This book manages to diligently tackle the very real, very hard to sit with reality of post-war Vietnam while not sacrificing the overall cheerful vibe of the book, which deserves commendation. That's a difficult balance to strike and this book does just that.

A perfectly detailed and cheerful read for YA romance devotees or anyone looking for a heartfelt YA contemporary centered around family and food.

3.5/5 This book was so sweet and romantic. I loved reading about Vietnamese food and how deeply connected Lan and Vivi felt to their cultures. Family conflict is biiiig in this book and I feel like it was handled with care. I think this is perfect for queer/sapphic young adult readers!

A Bánh Mì for Two is about Vivi who tells her parents that she’ll be studying abroad in Singapore while she’s actually in Việt Nam, trying to figure out the mystery behind why her parents never talk about Vietnam, and the rest of their family there.

Vivi crosses paths with a food blogger she’s a fan of, Lan. Lan is stuck between her duty to her family and her actual passion after the loss of her dad. She’s trying to navigate her grief and obligations but pushing away anything and anyone else.

This was a cute sapphic book rich in culture, identity and food. If you don’t mind insta-love and want an approachable and heartwarming but at times difficult story about family, immigration and grief, give this a read! I think it’d be an especially good read for a younger audience.

I sadly was not able to buy into this premise or romance. I also found that it dragged at places making it a slow read for me. The book first gave me a pause when we find out that Vivi is lying to her parents about where she is studying, then the two main characters meet, and the immediate attraction, trust and getting so wholly involved in each other’s lives after knowing one another for a few days took me out further. By the time Vivi, someone who has no writing experience was giving writing tips to Lan, a successful blogger, and calling it “our” writing, I was already rolling my eyes.

What I did really enjoy and appreciate reading about was the detailed Vietnamese culture, history and especially food. I loved reading about their trips through various Sai Gon neighborhoods, and how their love for the city as a native and a newbie created an interesting contrast. Many other reviewers have mentioned how it’s like a love letter to Sai Gon and I can absolutely see that, it made me wanna go and visit.

What else I liked:
+ Vivi’s inner thoughts around identity, belonging, especially as a first generation immigrant.
+ Vivi’s family story and how that whole story unraveled and resolved. I feel like this would have been a more compelling read as a straight up family drama with the same two characters. Since Lan’s inner struggles with her family was also very well handled.

What else I disliked:
- The wholly unnecessary third act breakup and the too quick resolution after.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s, Henry Holt and NetGalley for the ARC!

A tasty sapphic romcom set in Sài Gòn, featuring a Vietnamese-American tourist seeking her roots, and a a young food blogger trying to figure out her future. Delicious and entertaining-- a satisfying offering with lots of appeal. Readers will enjoy the descriptions of food, the exploration of an oft-underutilized setting, and the relatable characters.

Vivi is a Vietnamese American girl, who is desperate to learn about her family history and expand her world beyond just her home in the US. Lan is a Vietnamese girl who helps run her father’s is bánh mì stand and writes a food blog on the side. When their paths cross, they start to learn more about themselves, and what they want from life.
I thought the characters were well fleshed out though the side characters were a bit one note, and I forgot who some of them were. This book perfectly captures the feeling of young love while trying to find your path in this world. I loved Vivi and Lan, and I love them. Even more. When they were together. The added side story of finding Vivi’s family added a little bit more of conflict to the story, which I appreciated as it highlighted the history of Vietnam in a realistic way. Lan’s story was also pretty good. I don’t think it was a strong as Vivi’s but it was a story on grief, and trying to figure out what you owe the dead and your family. Overall, this was a really sweet story, perfect for someone looking for a sweet, cozy read.