Lou’s Review: The Dos and Donuts of Love, by Adiba Jaigirdar

I’ve been a massive fan of Adiba Jaigirdar’s writing since her debut novel, The Henna Wars. In my opinion she writes some of the best Young Adult fiction going. Her stories are uplifting, heartfelt romances starring women of colour. Plus, Jaigirdar has thus far resisted the way commercial publishing centres stories North America and the UK, setting her books in her home country: Ireland. And the fact Jaigirdar consistently writes what feels true to her rather than going with conventional choices of heroines or locations means every last book shines with sincerity. Her latest release – The Dos and Donuts of Love – is my favourite yet.

After a messy breakup with her ex, Shireen Malik’s luck changes when she’s accepted as a contestant on the first ever Junior Irish Baking Competition. Shireen’s spent years working at her parents’ donut shop – You Drive Me Glazy – coming up with recipes and product names, as well as serving customers. Baking is her passion, and the contest is a dream come true. But there’s just one catch: her ex, Chris, is a competitor.

And it’s hard to get over someone when you’re thrown together in a high-stakes situation, especially when Chris is determined to make things right. But another contestant – a charming redhead, Niamph – has her eyes set on Shireen as well as the prize. Which means that Shireen has to choose between a girl who understands her better than anyone else and a girl she’s keen to know more about.

The Dos and Donuts of Love is a cracking read from start to finish. Humour can be a tricky thing to land in fiction, but Jaigirdar absolutely nails it. I particularly love the wordplay. On the Definitely-Not-Bake-Off reality TV baking competition, our judges are Máire Cherry, Galvin Cramsey (of Cramsey’s Kitchen Horrors fame), and Padma Bollywood. Then there are the charming names Shireen gives her donuts, my personal favourite being Orangelina Jolie. All of these jokes enhance the book’s tone and atmosphere, creating a story every bit as delicious as Shireen’s cakes.

And, as protagonists go, Shireen’s completely and utterly lovable. She’s creative, motivated, and extremely hardworking. Also the anxiety Shireen feels over her parents’ struggling business makes her even more sympathetic – and raises the stakes for that €10,000 cash prize. But Shireen’s not some saccharine sweet goody two shoes. She’s got the hormones and chaos of your standard teenager, making some questionable choices as a result. Yet her growth arc is an absolute joy to read.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the plot. But I was hooked from the opening chapter, drawn in by Jaigirdar’s intensely readable writing. Her pacing is perfection. My only criticism is that there are several repetitions which could have been resolved by a more fastidious editor. Otherwise, this book is excellent. The sky-high internal and external stakes combined with the sheer fun of this novel make it extremely difficult to put down. Plus, the distinctive premise – a romance set on a baking contest – makes The Dos and Donuts of Love stand out from any sapphic book I’ve read in the last few years.

In a way the tropes (Rivals-to-Lovers & Second Chance) and competing food shops run by migrant families are reminiscent of Guava Flavored Lies. The shared history and experience of working in the food industry combined with the intensity of being opponents creates extraordinary chemistry in both stories. As it’s YA, The Dos and Donuts of Love is low heat – our heroines don’t do more than kiss. But it all carries extraordinary emotional resonance. Even when things are messy – which is frequently the case, given these characters are hormonal teenagers – there’s a rightness to Shireen’s feelings.

Elitist reviewers invested in maintaining the status quo, where white is the default setting in literature, can dismiss YA written by and about people of colour as “issues books”, as if engaging with ongoing socioeconomic issues undermines all of the craft and skill that goes into writing a novel. As if all the kids reading these stories are living lives magically untouched by such issues. But this book simply wouldn’t be believable if Shireen – a plus-sized South Asian girl – participated in reality TV without facing any kind of bigotry-driven backlash to her presence.

That Jaigirdar doesn’t shy away from difficult truths gives this story, which could have easily ended up on the twee side, a powerful credibility. With the exception of Malorie Blackman’s iconic Noughts and Crosses books, I didn’t have access to any stories where characters faced the same struggles I did while growing up. And I’m delighted that young readers have books like Jaigirdar’s. The Dos and Donuts of Love is well worth reading.