The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu was a strong romantic comedy hopeful for me in 2022. It came in from the library much faster than I expected and I was over the moon about the idea of the lost wanderer millennial, the complex family dynamic, and the note that this would be reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience. I was gravely disappointed in the plot, character development, and a bit of a lack luster twist.
Jas is a year out of college and working at her parent’s donut shop, but it’s not where she wants to be. She’s a bit lost in her direction for life, with parents who want the best for her but don’t know how to show it. Then there is a cute boy, she falls for the cute boy, but obviously, it’s complicated. Jas reads like a 16-year-old girl who doesn’t like her parents, her job, or knows what to do. She is very immature, and her inner monologues are distracting to the larger story. The conflict, the fact that the donut shop might not be able to fully make rent due to rent hikes, is almost a side plot to Jas’ inner monologue. The conflict somewhat resolves, but not fully.
Then enters Alex, the cute boy. The issues that keep them apart are primarily the main character’s immaturity. The book wraps up a little too nicely and I’m not sure I really “get” what Julie Tieu was trying to do with the story. Overall, this book forced me to go buy a donut because I was super hungry after reading it and although the family dynamic and the romantic conflict could have been a great idea, it was overshadowed by a very frustrating main character.
