Gouda Friends

Not only did Tam Doan’s boyfriend throw away the gourmet and expensive cheese she’d saved up for, he’s also cheating on her. Dumping him, metaphorically, into the bin along with her cheese, the also newly unemployed Tam flees to her best friend. Josh O’Malley, once a troubled teen and a member of Tam’s high school “Nerd Herd” friend group, is only happy to help. Studious Tam was essential to helping Josh find his confidence and his career in pop-up restaurants. As they try to figure out what Tam’s dream career might be, sparks fly, and they must navigate the cost to their friendship. The novel is chock-full of cheesy puns, food descriptions, and excellent banter, with deft narration by David Lee Huynh and Jenapher Zheng. (Zheng’s narration for Vietnamese American recovering perfectionist Tam is especially delightful.)