Spotlight & Giveaway: The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu

Posted November 9th, 2021 by in Blog, Spotlight / 38 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Julie Tieu to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Julie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Donut Trap!

 
Thanks for having me!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

THE DONUT TRAP follows Jasmine Tran who feels lost after moving back home after college and ended up working at her family’s donut shop in Southern California. Even though she doesn’t know exactly what to do, she knows she wants to do more than work with her parents every day. Just as she reunites with Alex Lai, a former crush, her family’s donut shop faces a rent increase and they need her more than ever. Jas has to decide what she wants, how she’s going to get it, and manage her parents’ expectations all at the same time.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

All of my customers have told me at one point or another that Sunshine Donuts is their happy place. Who can blame them? There are colorful sprinkled donuts. The smell of coffee mixed with the cloying saccharine aroma of glaze is intoxicating. Friendly customer service is the utmost priority. It is a great place to visit. To live and breathe it every day—that’s a different story.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

The donut shop setting is inspired by my experience working in my family’s donut shop. There’s a history of Cambodian-owned donut shops in California that I wanted to reflect in the book. There’s also a scene where Jas works on her résumé and the advice she receives is very similar to the advice I give when I work with students as a career counselor.

 

Please tell us a little about the characters in your book. As you wrote your protagonist was there anything about them that surprised you?

Jasmine was fun to write. She does and says things that I wouldn’t. Her family was also fun to write. It was important for me to capture not only complex feelings that come with working in a family business and managing expectations of refugee parents, but also the humor and joy.

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?

I’d choose the scene where Jas sees Alex for the first time since college.

“Um, Jas. This is my roommate, Alex,” Owen said, gesturing to Alex, who was busy looking around and taking in the shop. “Alex, this is Jasmine.”
Seeing Alex in the flesh without a plexiglass window between us set my insides on fire, as if lava was traveling through my veins. He was wearing the most basic white T-shirt, black basketball shorts, and running shoes, yet his hotness left me speechless. Even his toned calves looked sexy. Since when were calves sexy?
Alex finally looked at me and extended his right arm to shake my hand. In a daze, I managed to extend my right arm in response. Alex’s eyebrows shot up in confusion, and that was when I realized that I was still holding a pair of tongs. My reflexes got the best of me and I nearly snapped off his fingers.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I said, mortified. Linh and Owen failed at holding back their snickers. I placed the tongs on the counter and wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans before extending my hand a second time. Alex eyed it suspiciously.

 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

I hope people take away some laughs and swoons and comfort that it’s okay to feel a little lost, especially when you’re just starting out. I also hope that people will support their local independent donut shop!

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I am currently working on my second book, which is a workplace romance.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: Three finished copies of The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What is your favorite donut?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from The Donut Trap:

A collective “Oh!” boomed from the crowd as the batter struck out. The players on the field jogged back to the dugout as the game headed to the top of the fifth inning. I looked up on the big screen to check on the score when it transitioned into a heart frame with a cheesy saxophone soundtrack.
My eyes widened at the screen. Alex—who had been leaning back for most of the game—scooted forward to the edge of his seat.
There we were, staring at our stunned selves on DodgerVision, with everyone surrounding us cheering us on. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Feeling the mounting expectations from the crowd, Alex turned to face me, his expression asking for permission. My eyes widened; my body was temporarily paralyzed by the thousands of fans who watched for my next move. I looked down. My lips parted at the thought of kissing his mouth.
Next thing I knew, Alex turned his cap around and leaned forward while his hand held my face, drawing me closer. My hand pressed flat on his chest, bracing for impact. When I felt the warm press of his lips on mine, my mind went blank, as if nothing else in the world existed. I relaxed my grip on his shirt and reached around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Gradually, I became aware of my surroundings, like how our seating arrangement and the stupid armrest made it virtually impossible to press my body against his. How I felt rather than heard Alex groan on my lips because the crowd roared and the group of drunk guys behind us howled like wolves.
When we came up for air, we still found ourselves on the big screen. Suddenly comprehending our very public display of affection, I leaned forward, propping myself up with my elbows on my knees. I shielded my eyes with my hands, embarrassed by the show we gave to our audience. Alex didn’t seem to mind as the drunk guys behind us gave him high fives. When the crowd settled down, Alex gently pulled my hands away from my face.
“Hey. Was that okay?” he asked. Alex took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. Was he nervous? He put his arm around me and rubbed my shoulder. Warmth spread across my face. I lowered my chin, resisting the urge to touch my tingling lips.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all.

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Julie Tieu is a Chinese American writer, born and raised in Southern California. When she is not writing or working as a college counselor, she is reading, on the hunt for delicious eats, or dreaming about her next travel adventure. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her high school crush husband and two energetic daughters.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
 
 
 

«
»

38 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu”

  17. Glenda M

    The chocolate topped custard filled ones, blueberry cake, cinnamon sugared, tiger tails, and chocolate old fashioned.

  30. Irma Jurejevčič

    I’m not a fan. I eat a donut per year. And that one’s filled with jam.

  34. Linda May

    I love long Johns with white frosting. Thanks for your great generosity.