August 1, 2022
Lau (Donut Fall in Love) shines in this witty rom-com that pairs a Chinese American comedian and a Chinese Canadian finance whiz. Uptight accountant Vivian Liao is eager to meet stand-up comedian Melvin Lee, star of Just Another New York Sitcom, whose friend Ryan is dating Vivian’s roommate Lindsay—but their first meeting does not go as planned. One wrong comment from Mel, and Vivian is ready to write him off—that is, until Ryan and Lindsay get engaged, and Mel is tapped as best man and Vivian as a bridesmaid. As they’re forced to work together to plan celebrations for their dear friends, something between them shifts and they agree to try long-distance dating. But Vivian’s complicated family history has made her fiercely independent, and she’s hesitant to commit to anything that may lead to dependency on another person. With miles between them and both their guards up, will they be able to make it work? Refreshingly, both hero and heroine are bisexual, a fact Lau handles confidently and casually. Mel’s outrageous, matchmaking grandmother, meanwhile, steals every scene she’s in—including one where she shows up at a comedy club right when Mel is trying out some new oral sex–related material. This fun, feel-good outing hits the spot.
September 1, 2022
Vivian Liao is a talented artist with a career in banking whose life principles stem from her traumatic upbringing. Melvin Lee is a well-known stand-up comedian. In contrast to his comedic persona, he suffers from depression and trauma from his father's abandonment at a young age. When Melvin began questioning Vivian's life choices, Vivian immediately drew a line between them. To her dismay, they both agree to be a part of their friend's upcoming wedding, putting them in each other's company more and more. Despite Melvin and Vivian's differences, they manage to undo each other's insecurities through a slow but passionate progression of their relationship filled with high sexual tension and steamy intimate moments. As both main characters are bisexual, the novel takes care to discuss the discrimination that bisexual people often face when they're in straight-presenting relationships. Lau's inclusion of BIPOC characters, mental health issues, intergenerational trauma, and exploration of sexualities beautifully illustrates Vivian's and Melvin's personalities. VERDICT If readers enjoyed Donut Fall in Love, they will doubly enjoy Lau's follow-up novel.--Michelle Mistalski
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