e-Audio, 08:27:43
Narrated by: Priya Ayyar
Release Date: June 6, 2023
Published by: Dreamscape Media
Read from: April 6-11, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Libro FM ALC (I received a copy of this book from the Libro FM ALC program in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Racism, Fatphobia, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Toxic Relationship, Racial Slurs
For Readers Interested In: Romance, YA, Foodie Favorite, Baking Competition, LGBTQ+, ContemporaryA pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush – perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and She Drives Me Crazy !
“Welcome to the first ever Junior Irish Baking Show!”
Shireen Malik is still reeling from the breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Chris, when she receives news that she’s been accepted as a contestant on a new televised baking competition show. This is Shireen’s dream come true! Because winning will not only mean prize money, but it will also bring some much-needed attention to You Drive Me Glazy, her parents’ beloved donut shop.
Things get complicated, though, because Chris is also a contestant on the show. Then there’s the very outgoing Niamh, a fellow contestant who is becoming fast friends with Shireen. Things are heating up between them, and not just in the kitchen.
As the competition intensifies , Shireen will have to ignore all these factors and more― including potential sabotage―if she wants a sweet victory!
*MY THOUGHTS*
I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to say about this book. I really thought it was cute but I also thought she was naiive. I didn’t like that she was ready to believe everyone instead of going with her gut. I think it would have kept her out of a lot of trouble. But anyways……. Other than that I really liked it.
So first things first, the best thing about this is the puns. I don’t care what anyone says, the best name for a bakery ever is You Drive Me Glazy. The rest of the book is also filled with those puns and I loved them all. I don’t usually like puns, but when they’re baking ones, and in a book this cute, I’ll allow it lol The rest of the writing style was good too. I couldn’t stop listening to it. I was up till like 2 both nights trying to finish this. It was definitely worth the late nights. I did feel like the pacing was off tho. Like it was really slow and then the big thing happened and then it was over. I think it should have had some bigger events. At the very least like let her win something.
The romance was super cute. I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance, but since they were also now rivals to lovers, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And sure enough it was super cute. I loved it so much. I was a little annoyed that she was being that way just to make room for someone else that was terrible. As usual tho, I did wish there was more of them together, but LOL what can you do. IDK authors heard us say don’t do insta-love, so they just said ok and didn’t give us any romance until the very end. I just need a healthy balance.
The food in this one was also cute. I remember wanting donuts immediately after. So basically remember to have a snack on hand when you’re reading this too because otherwise you will be SOL. And you don’t want to be like me. I had no donuts and had to make due with a different kind of sweet. It was a crazing I just needed at the time.
The characters were the reason I wasn’t exactly sold on this tho. I just wasn’t into the way Shireen was. She was like a real Mean Girl. She might have just been acting out because she was just mad, but yeah no she was just mean.
This was another book that was actually more deep than the cover and the plot let on about it. The people who were watching the show weren’t exactly nice. They did like all people on social media and left hateful comments. I hated reading that, but it was accurate. That’s how keyboard warriors do. There was also some instances where the hate was front row and center and I REALLY hated she had to go through that. I was literally yelling at everyone in the book. Including Shireen.
This book is so cute and I really hope y’all read and like it as much as I do. It’s so much more than just a cutesy rom com! I enjoyed this immensely.
Overall, I give this
