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book_concierge's review
4.0
Book on CD performed by C S E Cooney
Lou is struggling to get her French bistro Louella’s off the ground. Native Brit Al has landed in Milwaukee as a free-lance journalist, writing restaurant reviews under an assumed name. Al goes to Louella’s after receiving an anonymous tip, but it happens to be the same day that Lou found her fiancé with another woman and she is, frankly, a mess. The food suffers, and Al writes a scathing review. A few days later they meet in a bar – Lou is drowning her sorrows and Al is complaining about the “backwater” of Milwaukee. Lou challenges Al to see the real charms of the city, with her as guide. Her only requirement – NO talking about work.
What a deliciously delightful foodie romance! I liked the characters, and felt they acted reasonably (if somewhat improbably at time). I was invested in their story from the beginning and just flew through it. The food descriptions made me hungry, and I loved the way Reichert described the joys of this city (my current hometown).
C S E Cooney does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She has great pacing, and is a gifted voice artist who can easily differentiate the various characters.
Lou is struggling to get her French bistro Louella’s off the ground. Native Brit Al has landed in Milwaukee as a free-lance journalist, writing restaurant reviews under an assumed name. Al goes to Louella’s after receiving an anonymous tip, but it happens to be the same day that Lou found her fiancé with another woman and she is, frankly, a mess. The food suffers, and Al writes a scathing review. A few days later they meet in a bar – Lou is drowning her sorrows and Al is complaining about the “backwater” of Milwaukee. Lou challenges Al to see the real charms of the city, with her as guide. Her only requirement – NO talking about work.
What a deliciously delightful foodie romance! I liked the characters, and felt they acted reasonably (if somewhat improbably at time). I was invested in their story from the beginning and just flew through it. The food descriptions made me hungry, and I loved the way Reichert described the joys of this city (my current hometown).
C S E Cooney does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She has great pacing, and is a gifted voice artist who can easily differentiate the various characters.
justcallmemoe's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A very cute read, a lighthearted book that was needed to cheer the late winter blues! As a Wisconsin resident it was fun to romanticize Milwaukee in that way, and I most definitely cried near the end! Gah, Gertrude and Otto are such lovable characters.
saycheeze37's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I had to DNF this one. Not bad, just didn't hold my interest.
sksrenninger's review
5.0
I loved this!! I finished it in one day. It's a little cliche, of course, but it's a fantastic sweet foodie romance that I couldn't put down. There is a recipe for coconut cake in the back that I can't wait to try, and the art on this cover is the greatest. Plus, this book made me want to visit Milwaukee, of all places. I wish I was still reading it. Cute, cute, cute. Read it!!
uearthen's review
4.0
I have been reading a lot of heavy things lately, and this was exactly the pallet cleaner I needed. Is it Austen? NO, but it doesn't have to be. This is everything you want in a cheesy romance, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else.
I always come back to this book when I am having a blue day. It's not perfect, but it's fun and easy to read.
I always come back to this book when I am having a blue day. It's not perfect, but it's fun and easy to read.
biblioraptor's review
5.0
Think You’ve got mail ... with food 🤤This might make you hungry. There’s a fair bit of cheese literally and figuratively (Wisconsin setting) but it reminded me of all my favorite Rom Coms . Someone please make:
1) This into a movie
2) Me a coconut cake
1) This into a movie
2) Me a coconut cake
gabmc's review
3.0
Lou is engaged to Devlin (and he insists on calling her by her full name, Elizabeth ... so we already get a sense of the power dynamics in their relationship). She owns a French restaurant, Luella's (named after her grandmother) but Devlin wants her to give it all up and be a stay at home wife to him, which he is hoping will enhance his legal career. She makes him a special coconut cake for his birthday and while on the way to deliver it to him, literally bumps into Al. Al is an English transplant to Milwaukee and really doesn't like the city much at all. As a food critic (with a biting pen), he is enchanted by the scent of Lou - who smells like the best Mexican vanilla. Lou and Al meet up again one night when she is drowning her sorrows after work. They become friends but decide straight away not to discuss work with each other. As Lou shows Al around her city and introduces him to all the nice foods, festivals and sights, their friendship develops into something more. However, Al feels bad that Lou doesn't know what he does for a living and wants to tell her. Something holds him back though. Very sweet (sorry, bad pun!) romance.
christiana's review
3.0
This was fine, but not nearly the cute fest I had my hopes up it would be when I heard You've Got Mail comparisons. And there was so much Milwaukee description that sometimes I felt like it was just there to make the story longer. It did make me hungry, I'll give it that :)
Also, isn't this just the cover of the Imperfectionists with a cake photoshopped in?
Also, isn't this just the cover of the Imperfectionists with a cake photoshopped in?