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A review by dhatislandbookworm
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was such a sweet and surprisingly reflective sapphic read!
Though A Bánh Mì for Two is a romance, and yes, Lan and Vivi’s relationship is adorable, the standouts are the story’s themes and personal character arcs.
Nguyen does an amazing job of exploring Lan’s grief and pressure of supporting her family, Vivi’s complex feelings about her identity, different mother-daughter dynamics, Lan’s feelings about the country’s tourism industry/commercialization, and the economic aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Nguyen also did a phenomenal job immersing me with her prose. Everything felt so vivid! The story is so rich with Vietnamese culture and I loved learning about the food and customs. You can tell that this book is a love letter to Vietnam.
Although the last 15-20% felt rushed and I would have loved more on Vivi’s mom and grandmother’s relationship, I liked how it ended!
The narrators also did an amazing job and this was a joy to listen to on audio.
Though A Bánh Mì for Two is a romance, and yes, Lan and Vivi’s relationship is adorable, the standouts are the story’s themes and personal character arcs.
Nguyen does an amazing job of exploring Lan’s grief and pressure of supporting her family, Vivi’s complex feelings about her identity, different mother-daughter dynamics, Lan’s feelings about the country’s tourism industry/commercialization, and the economic aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Nguyen also did a phenomenal job immersing me with her prose. Everything felt so vivid! The story is so rich with Vietnamese culture and I loved learning about the food and customs. You can tell that this book is a love letter to Vietnam.
Although the last 15-20% felt rushed and I would have loved more on Vivi’s mom and grandmother’s relationship, I liked how it ended!
The narrators also did an amazing job and this was a joy to listen to on audio.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Colonisation and War