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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This book was rather predictable, and I saw whole plot arc coming from the first 40 pages, but it was sweet and fun and lovely (just like I imagine coconut cake must be). Lou owns a restaurant (French, because her overbearing fiance said so, but she could cook anything anywhere). Al is a scathing food critic who writes under a pseudonym and hates living in Milwaukee. You already know where this is going, right? doesn't matter. it's still a fun read, and I enjoyed it.
Made a lovely, if unintentional, book flight with Kitchens of the Great Midwest - another fun foodie Midwest jaunt, albeit with more serious themes sprinkled in.
Made a lovely, if unintentional, book flight with Kitchens of the Great Midwest - another fun foodie Midwest jaunt, albeit with more serious themes sprinkled in.
It took some time to get into the flow of the story but I really enjoyed it by the end. It's a fun quick read about a chef who's business is destroyed by a food critic that she happens to fall in love with (because she doesn't know it's him). And now I'm craving coconut cake!
Just a round the mill book about food. I truly did not see the chemistry between the leads but, I really liked their character arc and the growth they had individually. Together they did not seem to compliment each other. The romance element was not great but, it was a good read.
2.5 of 5
A couple of things let me from liking this as much as I would have liked...
- Both Lou and Al felt like parodies of characters.
- Plot felt more like a "visit Milwaukee” pamphlet than an actual series of events and character growth. Don't get me wrong - I love what Reichert had done with her setting and Milwaukee is a great backdrop for the story. But the plot doesn't work as a a love story to Milwaukee, in my view. Too much of the store is focused on the relationship between Lou and Al.
I can understand why the publishers didn't market this as a romance (genre snobbery is real!) but this is a contemporary romance novel. The entire book is about the pursuit of a happily-ever-after.
A couple of things let me from liking this as much as I would have liked...
- Both Lou and Al felt like parodies of characters.
- Plot felt more like a "visit Milwaukee” pamphlet than an actual series of events and character growth. Don't get me wrong - I love what Reichert had done with her setting and Milwaukee is a great backdrop for the story. But the plot doesn't work as a a love story to Milwaukee, in my view. Too much of the store is focused on the relationship between Lou and Al.
I can understand why the publishers didn't market this as a romance (genre snobbery is real!) but this is a contemporary romance novel. The entire book is about the pursuit of a happily-ever-after.
As a romance, this was actually pretty terrible. But it gets a 5/5 as an advertisement for Milwaukee. Considering I only picked this up since I was traveling to the city it was about, I’m giving it a bit more credit than I normally would. Honestly, it seemed more like a love letter to Milwaukee than a love story between the main characters, but that served my purpose in reading it! If you’re going to Milwaukee and want a quick read that won’t take up space in your brain, this is perfect. For any other reason I would just give it a pass.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
I love a foodie story, especially a foodie romance (Simmer Down, With the Fire On High, etc.). But this fell very flat. Not compelling and the narrator was terrible - very monotone and I can't get over her pronunciation of "confit" (con-fit). I realize not everyone was a French major but geez.
Entertaining but painfully predictable. And I'm fine with a basic story that is painfully predictable, it's often comforting, but then it was to be coupled with great writing, tiny internal twists, and/or funny unexpected moments along the way. This had good food descriptions, not great, but good. And likeable characters, so it was a quick read.