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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Piggybacking on Bourdain’s incredibly popular, incredibly shocking memoir about the realities of being a chef - sex, drugs, and escarole - our nameless narrator shares a romance set against London’s fine dining scene.
The romance is not what you’d expect, though there’s plenty of sex.
The romance isn’t with a man or a woman, but instead with the burst of adrenaline chef gets every time she sets foot into the crazed atmosphere of a kitchen. Between the whirring tickets demanding her attention, the food runners waiting less than patiently for their plates, and her fellow chefs shouting obscenities at one another, our chef is in love.
It’s something made more accessible of late in pop culture, with books and television giving a glimpse, but it becomes clear: if you aren’t really in the kitchen you’ll never understand.
Chef struggles with depression, seeking salvation in a man, in sex, in conversations with her long suffering father, in a wrap full of knives. She falls in love over and over - and it’s hard to say which lovers are worse for her, the men or the restaurants.
Chef is brash and unforgiving. If women talking about sex (and having it) makes you uncomfortable, this book isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for an uncensored look at the obsession required to become a chef, look no further.
It’s a book that will be great for discussion, preferably around a table set with fine silver, a heavy pour of wine, and a meal that knocks your socks off. And while it’s technically listed as non-fiction memoir, it reads like heady contemporary fiction/romance.
It’s also funny as hell.
While it can be repetitive at times, I highly recommend it if food culture interests you. I devoured this one in 24 hours and I’m still thinking about it.
Vibe check: Restaurant Confidential, The Bear
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Thank you goodreads for the copy in a give away. I’m going to be honest it’s a good book. Not at all what I was expecting though. I definitely thought with the authors pen name and the title it would be more explicit so if your a romance reader like myself tame down sexy expectations. The way the author talks about food and cooking however… that was sexy. As this is an ARC copy if you’re taking suggestions before final print. Put in the fish soup recipe, or please send it to me I need it desperately 😭
lighthearted
fast-paced
This doesn't read as a memoir. It's a fun read, but it lacks depth, especially for a memoir. The author needs to dig deeper because everything is so superficial.
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
A uniquely fun and visceral read from start to finish. The writing style is singular and the descriptions of food, cooking, listlessness, depression, infatuation and friendship are all so real and honest. Reading someone writing about food like this makes me realize just how much of a foodie I am, because I soaked it all up. I’ll be thinking about these descriptions, meanderings and conclusions for a long time.
Thanks to Simon&Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC!
Thanks to Simon&Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC!
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
As much as I wanted to enjoy this erotica novel based around a foodies adventures on becoming a chef, unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.
The erotic scenes for me missed the mark and came off more lewd and for the shock value and I didn’t connect with the main character - she seemed unable to help herself and make meaningful growth on her journey.
⭐️⭐️
The erotic scenes for me missed the mark and came off more lewd and for the shock value and I didn’t connect with the main character - she seemed unable to help herself and make meaningful growth on her journey.
⭐️⭐️