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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
this is how you do the onesided enemies to lovers trope. suprisingly tender and heartfelt romance. i felt the romance in every sense of the word, the mmc was really charming.
I have no idea how this book isn’t more well known! It’s written so well and the characters are great too. The only fault I could find really was that I wouldn’t consider it to be enemies to lovers like the blurb suggests but it’s still a very cute and enjoyable read.
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
I enjoyed this re-read. I must say I was a little mmm about Patrick at the beginning in how manipulative he was, but as the book progresses, you understand why he felt he needed to be that way, and it helps that Sarah quickly starts to speak up her mind and shows him that she is also the one making decitions, or just plainly calls him out on things. I also really like that it is about two people who are finding themselves again, what they want, and working out the ways in which they can grasp those dreams and help each other do it, as well. The way both compromised and listened to each other and just talked, and did so even through their insecurities.
And I get Sarah so much in that scene about the shoes, when they don't fit you just right but you want them and you buy them, and once you've done so and have to wear them reprimand yourself a little bit but are still happy that you've got them and they're yours. Also how it is a gift to herself, to let herself want this and not always be practical.
And I get Sarah so much in that scene about the shoes, when they don't fit you just right but you want them and you buy them, and once you've done so and have to wear them reprimand yourself a little bit but are still happy that you've got them and they're yours. Also how it is a gift to herself, to let herself want this and not always be practical.
I like this one so much. A little less angsty than Florand can be.
2/2/2014 Reread 1/23/19 ; 10/18/19; 8/21/2021
2/2/2014 Reread 1/23/19 ; 10/18/19; 8/21/2021
Good. Not my favorite Laura Florand. Shame really since the heroine is Korean and knows her way around sugar and chocolate and the love interest is adorably goofy/mischievous and talented in making chocolate look perfect.
It was a mistake to start this book after midnight. I know that Laura Florand sucks me into her Paris food world very easily and so it proved this time. Stayed up way too late finishing this one and now I have myself a book hangover!
I have a lot to say about this that I haven't been able to put into proper words yet.
Bottom line: This story has an appealing plot on the surface. I love the way Florand writes about food, and I think her ideas are quirky and fun. However, as an Asian American woman, Sarah Lin is NOT how I want to be represented. She is the token submissive Asian woman stereotype who is cowed --I mean, "seduced"-- by the White Man that needs to see a therapist.
Her cultural backstory is contrived, inaccurate, and hollow; it pokes at the surface issues and forgets about them in favor of the "whirlwind romance," making Sarah's frankly outlandishly boring background feel like a convenient ploy to make her "unique" and tragic.
These characters are not compelling and engage in a strongly toxic and imbalanced relationship that is controlled by both racial and social tensions that seem to be ignored or forgotten. It makes me wonder what this story would be like, had it been written by an Asian American author.
1.5/5 stars
Bottom line: This story has an appealing plot on the surface. I love the way Florand writes about food, and I think her ideas are quirky and fun. However, as an Asian American woman, Sarah Lin is NOT how I want to be represented. She is the token submissive Asian woman stereotype who is cowed --I mean, "seduced"-- by the White Man that needs to see a therapist.
Her cultural backstory is contrived, inaccurate, and hollow; it pokes at the surface issues and forgets about them in favor of the "whirlwind romance," making Sarah's frankly outlandishly boring background feel like a convenient ploy to make her "unique" and tragic.
These characters are not compelling and engage in a strongly toxic and imbalanced relationship that is controlled by both racial and social tensions that seem to be ignored or forgotten. It makes me wonder what this story would be like, had it been written by an Asian American author.
1.5/5 stars
Nope. I tried so hard but I just couldn't. It's a DNF. I managed 225 pages but no I'm not going to keep doing this to myself. Weak heroine with no self-esteem or confidence + an unhealthy obsessive crush on a possessive, manipulative man who takes advantage of his power position = I'M OUT. The lenghts this guy went to in order to seduce his intern... sick (e.g lying about where he lived, stealing her umbrella out of her backpack) , NOTHING romantic about it. Possibly the worst book I've read in my adult life.
4 stars because I loved Patrick so much. Sarah was a little reserved for me to really fall in love with her, although when she let herself and her hang-ups go, I did adore her and Patrick's relationship. The ending got a little repetitive, but as always, Paris served as a beautiful backdrop and the food sounded delicious and the French boy. Ohhh, the French boy.
I will note: I LOVE this series, but sometimes the lack of communication between the couples k-i-l-l-s me. Just talk to each other, for eff's sake. Seriously. It's so easy.
I will note: I LOVE this series, but sometimes the lack of communication between the couples k-i-l-l-s me. Just talk to each other, for eff's sake. Seriously. It's so easy.
Ergh, I wanted to stop at that chapter when Patrick went all creeper on Sarah during the night he walked her to her apt with the excuse of wanting to borrow an umbrella. (SPOILER- he had STOLEN her umbrella so he could have an excuse to stay at her apt- he even kindly thought about quietly returning the umbrella in the morning when he left.) Are you kidding me? This guy is crazy, not romantic. But I wanted to see if this train wreck was going to fix itself or continue on its path to destruction... And YUP, it did-- go on wrecking itself, I mean.
And that doozy when he basically confessed to sexually harassing her at work when she suddenly realized all the UST was him sexually harassing and manipulating her- is this for real? How could she NOT be running for the hills after that? I understand her admiration and attraction for him, but damn, don't take that shit from anyone, not even a handsome French dude like Patrick.
And can anyone tell me what the plot was? I mean, I know a lot of romantic novels are rather iffy in the plot area, but I totally lost the plot on this one. (And don't tell me that this is a romance novel-- it's supposed to FOCUS on the looooooove between the protagonist vs the plot itself. I KNOW you can have BOTH and still have a successful romance novel.) I thought I was going to read about Sarah's internship at this famous pastry kitchen and learning about her ambitions, not this terrible, terrible MAN PAIN thinly veiled as this awesome idea about an Asian American women who gave up her life's work in her first career to work in a male dominated Parisian pastry kitchen as an intern. And DAMN she even learned fluent French for this chance! I feel so let down! I would give it one star, but I'll tack on the extra one because of the awesome premise.
And that doozy when he basically confessed to sexually harassing her at work when she suddenly realized all the UST was him sexually harassing and manipulating her- is this for real? How could she NOT be running for the hills after that? I understand her admiration and attraction for him, but damn, don't take that shit from anyone, not even a handsome French dude like Patrick.
And can anyone tell me what the plot was? I mean, I know a lot of romantic novels are rather iffy in the plot area, but I totally lost the plot on this one. (And don't tell me that this is a romance novel-- it's supposed to FOCUS on the looooooove between the protagonist vs the plot itself. I KNOW you can have BOTH and still have a successful romance novel.) I thought I was going to read about Sarah's internship at this famous pastry kitchen and learning about her ambitions, not this terrible, terrible MAN PAIN thinly veiled as this awesome idea about an Asian American women who gave up her life's work in her first career to work in a male dominated Parisian pastry kitchen as an intern. And DAMN she even learned fluent French for this chance! I feel so let down! I would give it one star, but I'll tack on the extra one because of the awesome premise.