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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
This was cute! A reality TV cooking show for teenagers with a bunch of 15 to 18 year olds? That has the makings of a lot of drama. But not terrible, angst-filled drama. Light and funny angst-filled drama! Light on the angst of course. Sophie is a sweet girl who goes on a reality show and quickly learns the hard way that it's not all peaches and cream, or in her case pasta and her mother's tomato sauce recipe. ;) There's her growing feelings for a close friend, cameras following her everywhere, and a cute French student popping up unexpectedly, not to mention having to cook stuff she's not heard of or ever cooked before! But new friendships help balance it all out. A quick and fun story that will make you smile. It even has a few real recipes you can try yourself. :)
This book has a super cute premise, but fell very short of my expectations. The only really interesting parts were scenes from the show when it was actually filming. The judgment scenes we are so familiar with reality TV contest shows, that I found myself craving them. For everything else in the book, I had to stifle a yawn.
There are a lot of pieces to this story. There's Sophie's strained relationship with her father, her growing attraction to her best friend Alex, her desire to cook and be a chef, and then there's being the television show itself. Many different aspects of Sophie's life to balance, and in the end, no one piece got enough attention.She came across as a very flat character. When Luc entered the picture in Napa, I was hoping something would really spark in her personality, but it didn't. Which just made me wonder what happened to Alex? He's another character that really showed very little emotion, and when he did, it felt much too contrived.
Luckily, there is the reality TV show. A fantasy for teens everywhere. Most of the TV scenes felt very rushed, but readers will recognize the format and be pleased with the way the voting and contestants play out on the show. The only other bit that felt thin was the actual cooking. Many teens looking to this book for recipes or long paragraphs on cooking will be disappointed.
Overall I felt underwhelmed, but the few exciting scenes make this story one worth reading.
There are a lot of pieces to this story. There's Sophie's strained relationship with her father, her growing attraction to her best friend Alex, her desire to cook and be a chef, and then there's being the television show itself. Many different aspects of Sophie's life to balance, and in the end, no one piece got enough attention.She came across as a very flat character. When Luc entered the picture in Napa, I was hoping something would really spark in her personality, but it didn't. Which just made me wonder what happened to Alex? He's another character that really showed very little emotion, and when he did, it felt much too contrived.
Luckily, there is the reality TV show. A fantasy for teens everywhere. Most of the TV scenes felt very rushed, but readers will recognize the format and be pleased with the way the voting and contestants play out on the show. The only other bit that felt thin was the actual cooking. Many teens looking to this book for recipes or long paragraphs on cooking will be disappointed.
Overall I felt underwhelmed, but the few exciting scenes make this story one worth reading.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book was highly unrealistic, and a bit fast for my taste. But you know what? It was exactly what I was looking for: FUN.
Full review to come!
This book was highly unrealistic, and a bit fast for my taste. But you know what? It was exactly what I was looking for: FUN.
Full review to come!
Sophie has practically grown up in her father’s italian-greek restaurant. Sophie loves going back to the kitchen, throwing on an apron and cooking. Her best friend, Alex, (who Sophie is also seriously crushing on) finds out about a teen reality cooking show and talks Sophie into entering. Now she only has to convince her father to let her go!
This isn’t really spoilery, because it’s in the summary, but Sophie makes it onto the cooking show. But there’s a lot more stewing on the set! There is drama, cut-throat competition and did I mention the cute French boy. Let’s just say, Sophie has her hands full.
This book is SO CUTE! It’s just really fun to read. I read it in one setting. It’s quick and easy to read too. This is also a really clean novel, so it would be a great book for middle grade readers starting out in the young adult genre.
There is a diverse cast of characters, and I have to say that I enjoyed each and every one of them. The writing was great and the story was entertaining. The behind the scenes stuff for the cooking show was so enlightening!
If your looking for a light, fun and quick read (that will totally make you hungry!) add Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to your reading pile.
And I can’t fail to mention, there are recipes in the book too! I think I might have to try out a few myself!
This isn’t really spoilery, because it’s in the summary, but Sophie makes it onto the cooking show. But there’s a lot more stewing on the set! There is drama, cut-throat competition and did I mention the cute French boy. Let’s just say, Sophie has her hands full.
This book is SO CUTE! It’s just really fun to read. I read it in one setting. It’s quick and easy to read too. This is also a really clean novel, so it would be a great book for middle grade readers starting out in the young adult genre.
There is a diverse cast of characters, and I have to say that I enjoyed each and every one of them. The writing was great and the story was entertaining. The behind the scenes stuff for the cooking show was so enlightening!
If your looking for a light, fun and quick read (that will totally make you hungry!) add Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to your reading pile.
And I can’t fail to mention, there are recipes in the book too! I think I might have to try out a few myself!
3.75 stars
Really simple, funny and funky writing style, this was a great treat, and although I felt it was a bit too short (some bits of the plots could've been expanded more and the romance angle especially.) it a was a good book just to enjoy. Nothing complex about this, just a good story to relax and have fun with :)
Really simple, funny and funky writing style, this was a great treat, and although I felt it was a bit too short (some bits of the plots could've been expanded more and the romance angle especially.) it a was a good book just to enjoy. Nothing complex about this, just a good story to relax and have fun with :)
We’re just going to throw out the normal form for this review because I can’t really think of a line I really liked. That might give you an idea to where this review is going. This was one of the books that I didn’t love, but I didn’t hate either.
There were some really cute things going for it though. I mean I love food and books so when the books are about someone who’s making food, I’m normally pretty happy. I liked the food combination with reality television. Including a French boy is always a good move for me. Accents are always a plus. The problem was I didn’t know which boy crush to root for: Alex or Luc? Luc was adorable, but I can relate with that boy with who you are most comfortable with yet still gives you butterflies. I feel like the book would have been better if she had just had one boy and not both. Either way would have been ok with me.
The book was a good time filler but I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.
There were some really cute things going for it though. I mean I love food and books so when the books are about someone who’s making food, I’m normally pretty happy. I liked the food combination with reality television. Including a French boy is always a good move for me. Accents are always a plus. The problem was I didn’t know which boy crush to root for: Alex or Luc? Luc was adorable, but I can relate with that boy with who you are most comfortable with yet still gives you butterflies. I feel like the book would have been better if she had just had one boy and not both. Either way would have been ok with me.
The book was a good time filler but I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Moderately entertaining, but nothing brilliant. Would have liked to have seen a little more detail with the food/cooking.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced