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taylor_dwyer's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun new adult romance with depth. Set in Seattle as two newly graduated teens are interning at a Food Network type tv studio. Reese is working as the marketing/media intern while Benny is working more hands on with the talent.
When the network is looking for new ways to create content, Benny and Reese get thrown together in an amateur cooking show. Initially Reese tries to keep her distance knowing that her and Benny are both competing for the single paying job at the end of the summer. However, try as she might she can't resist Benny's charms and good looks.
I loved how sweet Benny was and how supportive and great a listener he was for Reese. Reese has her own emotional scars from an early high school relationship and is very leery about social media criticisms as she and Benny turn into a viral presence. The author did a great job digging into the double standards and sexism that is rampant in workplaces everywhere and how damaging social media comments can be.
Great on audio narrated by Bailey Carr, this book is perfect for fans of A taste for love by Jennifer Yen or Where there's a whisk by Sarah J. Schmitt - two other YA books with cooking competition plots.
When the network is looking for new ways to create content, Benny and Reese get thrown together in an amateur cooking show. Initially Reese tries to keep her distance knowing that her and Benny are both competing for the single paying job at the end of the summer. However, try as she might she can't resist Benny's charms and good looks.
I loved how sweet Benny was and how supportive and great a listener he was for Reese. Reese has her own emotional scars from an early high school relationship and is very leery about social media criticisms as she and Benny turn into a viral presence. The author did a great job digging into the double standards and sexism that is rampant in workplaces everywhere and how damaging social media comments can be.
Great on audio narrated by Bailey Carr, this book is perfect for fans of A taste for love by Jennifer Yen or Where there's a whisk by Sarah J. Schmitt - two other YA books with cooking competition plots.
halliewilts's review against another edition
3.0
this was so so sweet! i loved the main characters and seeing their relationship progress. it felt very natural and realistic! the commentary on feminism and the treatment of women in the workplace and online was spot on. i really related to reese and her struggles. a wonderful read and another amazing addition to my “baking-themed rivals to lovers” shelf (yes that’s a real thing). 3/5
curls's review against another edition
2.0
Premise of the book — Reese is a marketing intern at a food network type company that does you tube videos.
Benny is a kitchen intern. His family runs a restaurant and he’s an experienced cook.
When the normal stars are double booked, Reece’s boss volunteers her for a quick show with Benny. Neither are in the position to say no. It goes viral and the CEO decides to have them compete for the one fall intern spot.
Which doesn’t make sense. Benny is an actual chef, Reese is in marketing. Why would they have the same internship? Why would Reese want a culinary internship when she doesn’t know how to cook? Why would Reese want to do marketing when she avoids all social media because of a high school rumor?
There’s an underlying message of feminism in this book. But it’s not so much underlying as it is that is the entire point of the book. My problem with it is it’s all lip service. Feminism is repeatedly talked about, but never shown — it’s literally telling not showing. And with the main characters being 18, it was really hard to take them seriously. Reese is reasonably flawed and I liked that. No one has it figured out at 18, even though most 18 year olds think so. But it made Benny seem so unrealistic because he is perfect at 18. And all the other men being misogynistic was just too much.
Reese is the feminist that rants about the patriarchy but when is face with the patriarchy all she does is cry. She’s young at 18 though so I probably would have liked this one more if the characters were older.
Had potential to be a cute ya romance but was too preachy for me to like.
Two stars - one for Benny and one for the food puns.
Benny is a kitchen intern. His family runs a restaurant and he’s an experienced cook.
When the normal stars are double booked, Reece’s boss volunteers her for a quick show with Benny. Neither are in the position to say no. It goes viral and the CEO decides to have them compete for the one fall intern spot.
Which doesn’t make sense. Benny is an actual chef, Reese is in marketing. Why would they have the same internship? Why would Reese want a culinary internship when she doesn’t know how to cook? Why would Reese want to do marketing when she avoids all social media because of a high school rumor?
There’s an underlying message of feminism in this book. But it’s not so much underlying as it is that is the entire point of the book. My problem with it is it’s all lip service. Feminism is repeatedly talked about, but never shown — it’s literally telling not showing. And with the main characters being 18, it was really hard to take them seriously. Reese is reasonably flawed and I liked that. No one has it figured out at 18, even though most 18 year olds think so. But it made Benny seem so unrealistic because he is perfect at 18. And all the other men being misogynistic was just too much.
Reese is the feminist that rants about the patriarchy but when is face with the patriarchy all she does is cry. She’s young at 18 though so I probably would have liked this one more if the characters were older.
Had potential to be a cute ya romance but was too preachy for me to like.
Two stars - one for Benny and one for the food puns.
s_smith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jackiepenn18's review against another edition
5.0
Get ready for a gushing review of this book because I loved it! It's a sweet YA enemies-to lovers story that also deals with cyber bulling, which is such a necessary topic to explore.
Reese is originally from Kentucky is spending her summer as an intern at a Seattle based cooking channel. Reese is determined to prove herself and hopefully snag the fall internship. But when her bosses pitch her and the cooking intern Benny (who is charming and handsome) doing an amateur cooking show, Reese' realizes that her simple plan isn't so simple after all. Forced to face her own fears with social media, Reese tries to protect herself in any way she can and that includes not falling for Benny -- no matter how great he looks in t-shirts or how much he makes her laugh.
One of the things I loved most about this was how the author turned the enemies-to-lovers on its head. You still get the banter and the slow burn aspect, but Benny is one of the sweetest love interests ever. He truly cares about Reese and does whatever he can to support, even as she continues to push him away. I also loved once Reese explains the misogyny and double standards that she's experiences at the internship, Benny immediately sided with her -- and wanted to become a better feminist himself (swoon!). I also loved that the grumpy-sunshine troupe was reversed: Reese is the grumpy one and Benny is the sunshine one.
I also enjoyed all of the food challenges as well - they made me hunger but were also delightful to read.
I adored this book so much and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. If you want a sweet and super quick read with a great story and characters, then you should definitely check this one out.
Special thanks to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Reese is originally from Kentucky is spending her summer as an intern at a Seattle based cooking channel. Reese is determined to prove herself and hopefully snag the fall internship. But when her bosses pitch her and the cooking intern Benny (who is charming and handsome) doing an amateur cooking show, Reese' realizes that her simple plan isn't so simple after all. Forced to face her own fears with social media, Reese tries to protect herself in any way she can and that includes not falling for Benny -- no matter how great he looks in t-shirts or how much he makes her laugh.
One of the things I loved most about this was how the author turned the enemies-to-lovers on its head. You still get the banter and the slow burn aspect, but Benny is one of the sweetest love interests ever. He truly cares about Reese and does whatever he can to support, even as she continues to push him away. I also loved once Reese explains the misogyny and double standards that she's experiences at the internship, Benny immediately sided with her -- and wanted to become a better feminist himself (swoon!). I also loved that the grumpy-sunshine troupe was reversed: Reese is the grumpy one and Benny is the sunshine one.
I also enjoyed all of the food challenges as well - they made me hunger but were also delightful to read.
I adored this book so much and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. If you want a sweet and super quick read with a great story and characters, then you should definitely check this one out.
Special thanks to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
rshearon's review against another edition
4.0
This was really cute and I had a good time.
I picked this up at a book signing where the author was MCing for Chloe Gong. It's a nice little fluffy read with the cooking show trope. I really like reality tv plot lines in rom coms and this did it well. It added nice angst and some pretty good commentary on feminism and sexism in the workplace. I thought it was especially nice that the MC and LI were fresh out of high school and enduring these issues. Speaking of the LI, he was sweet and kind and understanding and a great listener and no 18 year old boy has ever been all of those things at once lol but I had a good time!!
I picked this up at a book signing where the author was MCing for Chloe Gong. It's a nice little fluffy read with the cooking show trope. I really like reality tv plot lines in rom coms and this did it well. It added nice angst and some pretty good commentary on feminism and sexism in the workplace. I thought it was especially nice that the MC and LI were fresh out of high school and enduring these issues. Speaking of the LI, he was sweet and kind and understanding and a great listener and no 18 year old boy has ever been all of those things at once lol but I had a good time!!
nbwalks's review against another edition
3.0
Not at all what I expected lmao Diving into feminism could have been a great surprise, but the delivery fell so short it's a little sad. Reese got so damn annoying it completely destroyed the message in my opinion. Then everything got resolved unbelievably easily it was laughable. And to be honest, can't say I see why Reese would even still want to work at FoF? Just ignoring every red flag there is because that's always been your dream? Then she literally played the victim The. Entire. Book. Ummmmm....no. L O L But I did finish the book so I guess it's not a total loss. 2.5 stars
sandygriff16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
estar210's review against another edition
2.0
This was a perfectly fine, sometimes overly sweet romance. I personally don’t read teenage protagonists much anymore so it was difficult for me to relate and enjoy their perspective, hence the slightly lower rating.