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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.
Content Warnings
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
Content Warnings
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia
ande_reads'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.
kaylaogle's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
zia_tiffah's review
3.0
this is quite possibly my first wlw adult romance I've read. two incredibly stubborn women and i love it
pineconek's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Factors that drew me to this book:
- The only reality TV that I've consistently indulged in have been cooking shows
- I'm currently on a "give modern romance a chance" kick
This book toed the line between kinda cringey and very entertaining (some of the smut was uh questionable at best), but both held my attention. We follow a restaurant owner and her head chef. They're both great at their jobs, messes in their personal lives, and need to save the failing business. What better way to do that than to appear on the cooking reality TV show hosted by the head chef's ex? And let's not forget the restaurant owner's awful father coming in to judge this place for not serving rapini (or broccoli? one of the two).
Recommended if you're looking for something light and silly and sexy and, damn it, we have to save the restaurant!! And our love for one another!! 3 stars.
- The only reality TV that I've consistently indulged in have been cooking shows
- I'm currently on a "give modern romance a chance" kick
This book toed the line between kinda cringey and very entertaining (some of the smut was uh questionable at best), but both held my attention. We follow a restaurant owner and her head chef. They're both great at their jobs, messes in their personal lives, and need to save the failing business. What better way to do that than to appear on the cooking reality TV show hosted by the head chef's ex? And let's not forget the restaurant owner's awful father coming in to judge this place for not serving rapini (or broccoli? one of the two).
Recommended if you're looking for something light and silly and sexy and, damn it, we have to save the restaurant!! And our love for one another!! 3 stars.