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tagoreketabkhane31's review
4.0
*Carina Press, while an imprint with HC via Harlequin, is not one of the one that are part of the current HC union strike. That is why this review is being provided. For more information on the exemption, find it here: https://twitter.com/bookwormbullet/status/1610689386877976577?s=20 *
This was a great stroy with two FMCs that have great chemistry with each other, NO miscommunication (which I am starting to see as a trend with sapphic romances, and I am here for it) and also seeing how Sophie was able to navigate being in her first queer relationship. Having read both gay and sapphic romances, I really appreciated Barrett and her pacing for their (Amy and Sophie) relationship as it developed. Yes, it did seem to be insta love for the two of them (both prior to getting together and even when they did) and personally, I am not a fan of that. I also felt that their "third act" breakup, while not based on miscommunication, was rushed in how we didn't really see actual chracter growth from Amy on being able to dicate and "fix" for others.
Great book, and I would be very interested in reading more from Barrett.
This was a great stroy with two FMCs that have great chemistry with each other, NO miscommunication (which I am starting to see as a trend with sapphic romances, and I am here for it) and also seeing how Sophie was able to navigate being in her first queer relationship. Having read both gay and sapphic romances, I really appreciated Barrett and her pacing for their (Amy and Sophie) relationship as it developed. Yes, it did seem to be insta love for the two of them (both prior to getting together and even when they did) and personally, I am not a fan of that. I also felt that their "third act" breakup, while not based on miscommunication, was rushed in how we didn't really see actual chracter growth from Amy on being able to dicate and "fix" for others.
Great book, and I would be very interested in reading more from Barrett.
rosebache's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
_lc_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a fun, quick little read. The characters were cute and kinda chaotic as they tried to run a business, prove their worth after becoming a minor celebrity and work out their feelings towards each other.
It was hot, funny and cute.
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio (Libby)
POV: Dual
Tropes: Boss/employee, yes chef, paying staff a living wage, reality tv, cooking competitions
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+
seventhswan's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
July’s read for book group. I liked the premise of this - I enjoy food, restaurants and cooking shows - but the execution left a lot to be desired. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope, personally, and its liberal use really put me off Amy as a character. I liked Sophie a lot and wanted to protect her from Amy, not see them get together. We get it! She has trauma! But it felt gratuitous and like it was perpetuating the idea that people with trauma in their past are doomed to have volatile, emotionally unhealthy relationships.
I also thought the writing itself wasn’t great. There was a lot of repetition and not much consistency, and I struggled to differentiate between the PoVs at times. The sex scenes also had some elements that made little sense.
I have to give this book some credit for feeling fairly true to life - it was believable, even if I didn’t want to believe. But a romance novel should fill me with warm fuzzy feelings, and all I got from this was irritation.
I also thought the writing itself wasn’t great. There was a lot of repetition and not much consistency, and I struggled to differentiate between the PoVs at times. The sex scenes also had some elements that made little sense.
I have to give this book some credit for feeling fairly true to life - it was believable, even if I didn’t want to believe. But a romance novel should fill me with warm fuzzy feelings, and all I got from this was irritation.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Blood, and Sexual harassment
beasleysbooks's review against another edition
I was just so extremely bored & the characters were lowkey insufferable to start and then there wasn’t any character development. No thanks.
meromenesko's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mangofraiche's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
kmoz's review
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia
andelock's review against another edition
I wanted to like this book, but I had to stop. This is one of those books where most of the dialogue takes place in the character’s heads and nothing is said out loud because that might actually progress the story. So we get to hear a nice alternate reality conversation that never actually materializes. Again and again and again. In a very meta exchange in Ch. 7, Sophie even says to Amy “listen, I think we should talk” and Amy thinks “that is the last thing we should do”. Clearly this is not going to get better.
We’re told how nice Amy is supposed to be (aspires to foster a safe workplace, wants to pay a fair wage, etc) but her actions and words paint her as an asshole, and, most importantly, she is a total idiot when it comes to running a restaurant. How are we to believe she supposedly used to be successful at it?
Also, the Hollywood nickname is incredibly cringe. It took me out of the story every time Amy utters it. Stop trying to make fetch happen.
I tried to push through so I could mark this as finished and give a low star rating, but I just couldn’t do it anymore.
We’re told how nice Amy is supposed to be (aspires to foster a safe workplace, wants to pay a fair wage, etc) but her actions and words paint her as an asshole, and, most importantly, she is a total idiot when it comes to running a restaurant. How are we to believe she supposedly used to be successful at it?
Also, the Hollywood nickname is incredibly cringe. It took me out of the story every time Amy utters it. Stop trying to make fetch happen.
I tried to push through so I could mark this as finished and give a low star rating, but I just couldn’t do it anymore.