Happy National Donut Day! Any excuse to grab a donut? Yes, please. Anyone who knows me knows my affinity for the classic deep fried (or baked), covered-in-sugar, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. In celebration of my holiday, I bring to you 7 delicious recent releases that I’ve paired with 7 of my favorite donut flavors.
POWDERED SUGAR // Kisses and Croissants by Sophie-Anne Jouhanneau
Powdered sugar donuts are my guilty pleasure. Much like them, Kisses and Croissants (released April 6, Delacorte Press) is a warm hug, a comfort YA read full of adventure, mystery, and feet-sweeping, young love. Jouhanneau takes you on a grand Paris vacation, where something so simple can be so elaborate.
CINNAMON SUGAR // Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A perfect balance of sweet and spice, Dial A for Aunties (released April 27, Berkley) slaps you with a packed punch of meddling family members, how to get away with murder, and rekindling an old flame. The cinnamon sugar combination compliments each other well, similar to the characters in this story. Sutanto will have you laughing out loud countless times, leaving you nothing short of entertained.
CHOCOLATE FROSTED WITH SPRINKLES // The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod
Crunchy and velvety to pair with sparkles and stardom? The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes (released May 4, Sourcebooks Casablanca) takes you behind the scenes of an all-girl rock band—the ups, the downs, all the dynamics between members and affiliates—with a sprinkle of a second chance, friends-to-lovers romance. Utterly tasteful, the slow burn will just be one you’d have to savor.
VANILLA CUSTARD-FILLED // Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Bursting with ooey, gooey flavor and smooth, creamy deliciousness, I seriously cannot stop gushing about Better Than the Movies (released May 4, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). Everything you could possibly want in a YA romance is here. Painter weaves in romantic comedy movie references, soundtracks, and glorious banter in this enemies-to-lovers story, all the while handling grief as a teenager and its many associated challenges.
STRAWBERRY FROSTED // From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn
A tart main character who doesn’t believe in fairytale endings, but then uncovers her sweet, tender side when she stumbles upon an unexpected romance in search of her long lost mother is… all the strawberry. Enchanting, real, and utterly bingeworthy, From Little Tokyo, with Love (released May 11, Viking) will open your eyes and capture your heart in the most endearing way.
APPLE FRITTER // The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
A donut with substance, you say? Caramelized, cinnamon-spiced apple chunks nestled in sugary dough might be divine perfection, and so is the electrifying chemistry between River and Jess in The Soulmate Equation (released May 18, Gallery). The unique premise draws you in for a page-turning romance about fate, scientific data and analyses, and exploring the possibility that relationship compatibility could be scored by genetics alone.
OLD-FASHIONED GLAZED // One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Consider me plain, but the infamous glazed donut is like home. Timeless. The you-can’t-go-wrong donut. One Last Stop (released June 1, St. Martin’s Press) is a timeless story about finding home, love, and belonging, with a scientific anomaly thrown into the mix. And, you can never go wrong with McQuiston’s immersive storytelling and colorful development of characters. A must-read this Pride Month, folks.
If you thought the donut love stopped there, guess again. I am putting two upcoming romance releases this Fall on your radar, if they aren’t there already—The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu (releases November 2, Avon) and Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau (releases November 9, Berkley). Any excuse for donuts, right?
For more romance recs and pairings, be sure to follow me on Instagram: @rcbooksandfood.
