THE DOS AND DONUTS OF LOVE

A teen baker in Dublin reckons with dreams of baking glory and a new love interest.

Seventeen-year-old Bangladeshi Irish Shireen Malik is going through breakup blues when she finds out she’s made it: She’s going to join the cast of the Junior Irish Baking Show. She’s thrilled about being on reality TV—but it’s a shock to learn that not only is Christina Huang, her ex-girlfriend, on the show as well, but the producers have paired them for the first round. Though Shireen quickly makes a new friend, Niamh Lynch, who may or may not be flirting with her, it’s not going to be easy to be so close to her ex for the duration of the competition. In fact, it just might be the thing that throws her off her game. The pressure builds—Shireen hopes that a win will help You Drive Me Glazy, the family doughnut business, and Chris’ parents own a rival shop, The Bakers Dozen, making things even more personal. Full of culinary puns, the prose flies by with Shireen as the hilariously dramatic lead. Shireen is easy to root for; she’s a fat girl who’s not trying to lose weight, she’s aware of her anxiety and doesn’t let it hold her back, and she’s proud of being queer, brown, and Muslim. Her parents are loving and supportive as well. This joyful read with a cheerful protagonist also explores racism, fatphobia, and mental health with care.

Cute, fresh, and endearing.