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evarano's review against another edition
Won’t rate but didn’t make it past 5%. Narrator was good but no interest.
limeykiss's review against another edition
5.0
I loved, loved, LOVED this book. The author totally nailed the setting and I felt like I was right in the mix of Edinburgh in August, when the city swells with tourists and artists coming for the festivals. And the second-chance romance was so well done. I could feel the yearning between the two MC's, the tension practically jumping off the (digital) page. I also loved all the food references. This was the perfect pick-me-up and I can't wait to read what this author writes next!
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A fantastic debut that retells Jane Austen's "Persuasion" in Edinburgh, where things are heating up in the kitchen, in the restaurant scene, and in the hearts of two former lovers...
Susan Napier loves food; not only is she a talent pastry chef, but her grandfather founded a successful chain of restaurants, Elliot's, and taught her everything she knows about food. But, now, her grandfather is dead and if Susan doesn't act soon, so will the original flagship restaurant located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. Susan must act fast to save Elliot's, and that is all she can focus on. Too bad that her father and sisters didn't get the memo as they overload her with their problems. And then there is the man she sees at the baggage claim. A very familiar man.
Chris Baker returns to the city of his youth to finally open his own restaurant. He trained under Elliot himself and has since become a renown chef in his own right, traveled the world, and hosted his own television cooking competition show. Now, he's ready to take that next step and fully put down roots in the city he grew up in. Maybe then he can finally start to get his heart to give up on Susan Napier, his first love and the woman who broke his heart. So, of course, who does he run into upon finally return to his native Scotland?
This brilliant contemporary retelling of "Persuasion" is lavish in its descriptions of food (Moore having come from a family of chefs herself), as well as plenty of drama, humor, and heart, with the brilliant deliverance of the idea of not allowing your past to define your future. The restaurant scene is a brilliant way to re-imagine this Austen classic, and as a reader I felt right at home in Edinburgh (that travel bug is biting hard...) and it served as a wonderful setting for this story. Also, now very hungry and would like some tea. So much good food is mentioned, and I want to try my own hand at baking so many new things!
I am eager to see what Moore will create next. You could say my interest is.... "All Stirred Up!"
A fantastic debut that retells Jane Austen's "Persuasion" in Edinburgh, where things are heating up in the kitchen, in the restaurant scene, and in the hearts of two former lovers...
Susan Napier loves food; not only is she a talent pastry chef, but her grandfather founded a successful chain of restaurants, Elliot's, and taught her everything she knows about food. But, now, her grandfather is dead and if Susan doesn't act soon, so will the original flagship restaurant located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. Susan must act fast to save Elliot's, and that is all she can focus on. Too bad that her father and sisters didn't get the memo as they overload her with their problems. And then there is the man she sees at the baggage claim. A very familiar man.
Chris Baker returns to the city of his youth to finally open his own restaurant. He trained under Elliot himself and has since become a renown chef in his own right, traveled the world, and hosted his own television cooking competition show. Now, he's ready to take that next step and fully put down roots in the city he grew up in. Maybe then he can finally start to get his heart to give up on Susan Napier, his first love and the woman who broke his heart. So, of course, who does he run into upon finally return to his native Scotland?
This brilliant contemporary retelling of "Persuasion" is lavish in its descriptions of food (Moore having come from a family of chefs herself), as well as plenty of drama, humor, and heart, with the brilliant deliverance of the idea of not allowing your past to define your future. The restaurant scene is a brilliant way to re-imagine this Austen classic, and as a reader I felt right at home in Edinburgh (that travel bug is biting hard...) and it served as a wonderful setting for this story. Also, now very hungry and would like some tea. So much good food is mentioned, and I want to try my own hand at baking so many new things!
I am eager to see what Moore will create next. You could say my interest is.... "All Stirred Up!"
car3war's review against another edition
2.0
two chefs/bakers who previously were in love square off, and something seems different this time around
chels_z's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
atrailofpages's review against another edition
3.0
I love to read retellings, even if they’re based off or inspired by books and stories I’m not a huge fan on. I just love to read different authors different takes on retellings. This book is supposed to be a retelling or inspired by Persuasion, which if I’m honest, I’m not a fan of
aprilcote's review against another edition
4.0
This book was lighthearted and fun.
Synopsis: Susan Napier is set to save the dying line of her grandfather's renowned restaurants, Elliot's, by returning to her hometown set in Edinburgh. She quickly discovers that her ex, Chris Baker, a former chef who came up under her grandfather's tutelage is opening his own super trendy up and coming restaurant in the same down. Chris has just returned from American television fame and everyone has their eyes set on his new place. Susan must overcome her heartache, guilt for the way she ended the relationship, and the stress of rebuilding and rebranding a dying restaurant.
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book very much. Moore wove a cute romance amidst the backdrop of the restaurant industry. Her insights into the kitchens and "chef-politics" was spot on and I really appreciated her raw revelations. I happen to love her explanation of baking. I know the book was based on Persuasion- and I have to admit it - I haven't read it- so I can't speak to that theme, but I enjoyed this book and thought it was lighthearted and fun and would recommend it to anyone who ever worked in the restaurant industry, relieves stress by baking, or likes a fun romance novel.
Synopsis: Susan Napier is set to save the dying line of her grandfather's renowned restaurants, Elliot's, by returning to her hometown set in Edinburgh. She quickly discovers that her ex, Chris Baker, a former chef who came up under her grandfather's tutelage is opening his own super trendy up and coming restaurant in the same down. Chris has just returned from American television fame and everyone has their eyes set on his new place. Susan must overcome her heartache, guilt for the way she ended the relationship, and the stress of rebuilding and rebranding a dying restaurant.
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book very much. Moore wove a cute romance amidst the backdrop of the restaurant industry. Her insights into the kitchens and "chef-politics" was spot on and I really appreciated her raw revelations. I happen to love her explanation of baking. I know the book was based on Persuasion- and I have to admit it - I haven't read it- so I can't speak to that theme, but I enjoyed this book and thought it was lighthearted and fun and would recommend it to anyone who ever worked in the restaurant industry, relieves stress by baking, or likes a fun romance novel.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
So I read a lot of romances in my teens and the ones I really loved were written by Jilly Cooper which, I guess, would be considered romantic comedies in today’s genres. No matter which, they all have the same basic and familiar plot and characters, and the author’s job is to dress those up and make them as appealing as possible. Now, many decades on, I find myself drawn back to this genre and, while the tropes have not changed one jot, the novels do get a whole lot steamier. In the pie of romances, my preference is for the contemporary romantic comedy slice and All Stirred Up is an excellent serving.
Set in Edinburgh, and honestly the tourist board couldn’t have done a better job of making me want to visit, the novel centers on romance in the restaurant world. This means we get many mouthwatering descriptions of desserts and cakes (Susan is a baker and is trying to save her family’s flagship restaurant) and Scottish fusion cuisine (Chris is a TV star chef who opens a much-buzzed about new restaurant). As is often the way of modern romances, they had a relationship in the past which ended badly. We all know where it’s going, and the author takes us on a very entertaining route to get there.
The ride to get us to the end point is where the author gets to play, with subplots and secondary characters. Susan’s family is fairly monstrous, but also sad. Susan has a fling that doesn’t work out with a charming but manipulative movie star. Chris’s backstory is tragic and he has a salt of the earth sister. The staff of the restaurants are a mix of villainous and supportive. There is a dog - there is always a dog and, as a dog owner, I find myself wondering about the welfare of dogs in romantic comedies as they mostly seem to be a prop and never get enough exercise or attention.
The audiobook is nicely done and made for several pleasant hours of listening. The reader does an excellent variety of Scottish and English accents and even manages the tricky transition between the Scottish chef and his Irish sous chef without missing a beat.
Of course All Stirred Up isn’t going to make you smarter or a better person. But it might take the edges off a rough pandemic week and inspire you (as it did me) to make lemon meringue pie and encourage your child to apply to Edinburgh University.
Note: I just read that this is an updated version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion - completely passed me by.
Thanks to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy.
Set in Edinburgh, and honestly the tourist board couldn’t have done a better job of making me want to visit, the novel centers on romance in the restaurant world. This means we get many mouthwatering descriptions of desserts and cakes (Susan is a baker and is trying to save her family’s flagship restaurant) and Scottish fusion cuisine (Chris is a TV star chef who opens a much-buzzed about new restaurant). As is often the way of modern romances, they had a relationship in the past which ended badly. We all know where it’s going, and the author takes us on a very entertaining route to get there.
The ride to get us to the end point is where the author gets to play, with subplots and secondary characters. Susan’s family is fairly monstrous, but also sad. Susan has a fling that doesn’t work out with a charming but manipulative movie star. Chris’s backstory is tragic and he has a salt of the earth sister. The staff of the restaurants are a mix of villainous and supportive. There is a dog - there is always a dog and, as a dog owner, I find myself wondering about the welfare of dogs in romantic comedies as they mostly seem to be a prop and never get enough exercise or attention.
The audiobook is nicely done and made for several pleasant hours of listening. The reader does an excellent variety of Scottish and English accents and even manages the tricky transition between the Scottish chef and his Irish sous chef without missing a beat.
Of course All Stirred Up isn’t going to make you smarter or a better person. But it might take the edges off a rough pandemic week and inspire you (as it did me) to make lemon meringue pie and encourage your child to apply to Edinburgh University.
Note: I just read that this is an updated version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion - completely passed me by.
Thanks to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy.