A review by uutopicaa
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

 

This is a beautiful, quick read with incredibly relatable characters. 

I thoroughly enjoyed traveling through Vietnam alongside the protagonists, as well as experiencing the dynamic between them. 

The story offers a refreshing and heartwarming romance that takes the time to develop their relationship with each scene while also advancing the plot and highlighting the individual goals of each character.

As with any book, there are moments where it feels like certain elements were included solely to serve the plot, even if they don’t seem entirely logical for the situation (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here). 

Additionally, I couldn’t shake the feeling that some scenes were missing. It’s not that pages were cut out, but rather that certain aspects of the story and some secondary characters felt underdeveloped. For example, one of the protagonists is in Vietnam on a university exchange, yet there’s no exploration of her academic life (her studies, goals and classes are entirely absent). This left me wishing for a bit more depth in that area.

Finally, the ending. While I appreciated the moment the book closes on, there were some bittersweet gaps that, in this type of romance, didn't quite convince me. A final scene or even an epilogue would have been ideal to fully tie everything together. That said, it’s a short book, and I do love that about it. Still, I think two or three more chapters could have really enriched the experience.

These are minor details that don’t ruin the overall enjoyment of the read, but since they’re recurring, I felt they were worth mentioning.

All in all, this is a perfect book for a relaxing afternoon if you love a wholesome and refreshing romance. I highly recommend it! It’s one of the sweetest sapphic stories I’ve read in a while!