A Bánh Mì for Two

Vietnamese teen Phan Ngọc Lan secretly authors popular food blog A Bánh Mì for Two. But when a bad case of writer’s block puts her blog on hiatus, she spends time working at her family’s bánh mì stall in Sài Gòn. In the U.S., meanwhile, Vietnamese American college student Vivi Huỳnh feels disconnected from her heritage; she is curious about her mother’s childhood in Việt Nam, but her mother refuses to talk about her experiences. Inspired by Lan’s blog, Vivi travels to Việt Nam as part of a study abroad program, unbeknownst to her parents. After a chance encounter brings Vivi and Lan together, Vivi encourages Lan to submit a piece about Sài Gòn to a prestigious writing competition. As thanks, Lan helps Vivi track down people who can tell her more about her mom. Driven by a shared passion for Sài Gòn, the two embark on numerous adventures, falling for each other in the process. Explorations of identity, generational history, and trauma are tempered by the girls’ sweetly developing romance. Vibrant descriptions of Việt Nam and its culture adorn Nguyen’s lively debut, a love story ideal for foodies yearning to travel. Ages 14–up. (Aug.)