Review Detail

A BANH MI FOR TWO is a sweet YA contemporary about family, grief, and finding yourself. Vivi is Vietnamese American, but she knows almost nothing about her parents' history in Viet Nam. She suspects that her mother has family there, and she has arranged for her first semester of college to be abroad in Sai Gon, also the location of her favorite blogger who used to post regularly about food and her love of the city.

Lan has felt a bit adrift since her father died. They used to work on the blog, A Banh Mi for Two, together. Since his death, she has had trouble writing in it, even though she has a lot of fans hoping for her to come back. She is focused on taking care of her mother and keeping them afloat, working their food cart.

When Lan and Vivi collide, they find themselves helping each other with their coming-of-age journeys and falling in love.

What I loved: This was a really engaging read that transports the reader to Sai Gon, discussing the historical context as well as the current state of the city. The reason for Vivi's mother's immigration is discussed as she searches for answers about her family, told by the perspective of the people who are there and who understand why others left after the war with the climate being what it was and the fallout. At the same time, a love for the city shines through those who reside there and from Lan, who loves discussing her favorite foods and sights.

The story is largely character driven with each of Lan and Vivi having a bit of coming-of-age. Lan has been living with the weight of her grief and her responsibilities for a while. When Vivi encourages her to apply for a prize and with some reflection about her father, she takes the chance and begins to find herself and her love for writing again. Vivi is searching for her potential family, but she is also connected with her parents. While she does not want to upset them, she wants to know more about where she came from, never fully feeling a part of the US nor of Viet Nam. This experience of the diaspora and of being second generation was an interesting theme throughout.

Other strong themes around complicated family relationships, grief/loss, falling in love, and finding yourself were also really strong. The romance builds up slowly, but it was lovely to watch throughout the story as Vivi and Lan learn more about each other and find their feelings growing.

The story also wraps everything up well with important conversations amongst the families that result in a satisfying conclusion.

What left me wanting more: The beginning of the story felt a bit slow as things get set up, but I found it moving much faster about halfway through. I think this will work best for people who like character-driven, slow-burn reads.

Final verdict: A BANH MI FOR TWO is a charming YA contemporary read with thought-provoking themes and strong character development.