Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu

7 reviews

pucksandpaperbacks's review

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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? Yes
CW: Ableist language, drug use, SA, alcohol, alcoholism, fatphobia.

Thank you to Libro.Fm for a copy of the audiobook through the ALC program. 

Jasmine is in limbo after college working at her family’s donut shop and trying to make the next step toward her career but doesn’t know what she wants to do. So relatable for twenty-somethings to experience after college, especially just going to college to fulfill their parents wishes. I liked the incorporation of social media marketing! 

There's a lot of expectation on Jasmine and her brother, Pat from their Chinese-Cambodian parents; especially for Jas to get a job but also get married. Mandarin and English are spoken, Jasmine does not speak Mandarin. 

Jasmine struggles with confidence and self worth due to the pressures from her parents and their comments. So she may be frustrating to read at times since she doesn't take accountability for her actions and also has a double standard. 

Spoiler Jas having a double standard. She doesn’t tell her parents that she is going out with Alex, but then when Alex’s mom calls him and he doesn’t mention he’s with her, she gets mad. Though, she’s doing the same thing.
 

Overall, I think this would be a good movie! It was a relatable book and I liked how unique the setting was and the incorporation of marketing. But, the love triangle was tired and I didn't like how Jasmine didn't take accountability for her actions.

Spoiler Jas hid her white bf from high school from her parents, Michael and Alex gets jealous. Though, Jas challenges him on it and tells him to stop being jealous of nothing. I do hate the jealousy tropes like that bc it shows they aren’t trustworthy or have trust issues.



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alicelalicon's review

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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ocean_the_reader's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was such a cute romcom. I was smiling a lot while reading it. My only complaint would be how it felt like Linh ambushed Jasmine with meeting Alex and basically rushed her into dating. My other complaint would be that there was that Michael was not needed, there was enough drama without him in there. Plus he seemed not like a great person, he totally misread situations and didn't like thay Jasmine wasn't reciprocating. But overall this was a book I feel like a lot of people could relate to.
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nmfcarney's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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kayladaila's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

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emcanady's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

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samharlow85's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! This book snuck up on me and ultimately surprised me in the end, becoming a great story about growing up and finding your way. Jasmine (Jas) just graduated from college and is feeling lost after returning to work at her family donut shop. The donut shop is in trouble with a rental hike, and Jas’s refugee parents are relying on her help more than ever. Julie connects with Alex, who was a college crush and also from an immigrant family, and they feel an instant connection. This story is a romance, but really I thought it was actually more about finding your way after college, as well as navigating complicated family relationships and trust issues as a first-generation Asian, young person in Southern California. The romance between Jas and Alex is sweet and nuanced, but I thought the relationship between Jas and her family were the real winners of this book, including the challenges, pressures, and joys of being raised by refugees and immigrants in modern America. This book took a little bit to grow on me, but I ended up loving the ending and the sweetness and empathy between all the character’s as you learn more about each of their complexities. I recommend this story for lovers of closed door romances, American immigrant and refugee family dynamics, and coming of age fiction. 
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