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xojackiedaniels's review
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
**no spoilers**
I was obsessed with the Ukrainian Master Chef contest as a kid. So a book written from the POV of a contestant on a similar show was right up my alley.
I enjoyed the pace a lot, it was as fast and dramatic as these TV shows tend to be. However, there was a lot of "telling-not-showing" as a way to skip over the more repetitive/tedious aspects, which grinded my gears a bit. I also feel like some interesting parts were left out for the same reason. I wish we got to experience the contestants' confessionals, instead of simply hearing about them happening in between of major events.
The characters were sweet and loveable, the cast - diverse without tokenization. I liked that the main few were incredibly easy to relate to. Nevertheless, the character development felt pretty rushed :( Not sure if that is because of how rapidly the plot was progressing or due to poor writing...
Something I really disliked was how the main character used other people's bodies to characterize them. Whenever a person did something frustrating, she found a physical "ick" of theirs to focus on.
A former love interest is described as unattractive and having acne scars, but only AFTER we find out he did something really shitty. MC points out another contestants' belly and receding hairline after he says something mildly annoying. This happens on and on, where I felt like I'm supposed to dislike some of the characters purely because they are conventionally ugly and not because of their genuinely horrid actions. The focus was just off for me.
โญ3.75 for the unseriousness, DELICIOUS food descriptions, and the whole TV show setting. It is a very decent book, there were just a few personal icks I cannot get over. If you love food and wholesome romance, you'll love this.
P.S.: even though this is a new adult book, there is not a single sex scene present. Thought that some people could appreciate that!
I was obsessed with the Ukrainian Master Chef contest as a kid. So a book written from the POV of a contestant on a similar show was right up my alley.
I enjoyed the pace a lot, it was as fast and dramatic as these TV shows tend to be. However, there was a lot of "telling-not-showing" as a way to skip over the more repetitive/tedious aspects, which grinded my gears a bit. I also feel like some interesting parts were left out for the same reason. I wish we got to experience the contestants' confessionals, instead of simply hearing about them happening in between of major events.
The characters were sweet and loveable, the cast - diverse without tokenization. I liked that the main few were incredibly easy to relate to. Nevertheless, the character development felt pretty rushed :( Not sure if that is because of how rapidly the plot was progressing or due to poor writing...
Something I really disliked was how the main character used other people's bodies to characterize them. Whenever a person did something frustrating, she found a physical "ick" of theirs to focus on.
A former love interest is described as unattractive and having acne scars, but only AFTER we find out he did something really shitty. MC points out another contestants' belly and receding hairline after he says something mildly annoying. This happens on and on, where I felt like I'm supposed to dislike some of the characters purely because they are conventionally ugly and not because of their genuinely horrid actions. The focus was just off for me.
โญ3.75 for the unseriousness, DELICIOUS food descriptions, and the whole TV show setting. It is a very decent book, there were just a few personal icks I cannot get over. If you love food and wholesome romance, you'll love this.
P.S.: even though this is a new adult book, there is not a single sex scene present. Thought that some people could appreciate that!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship
Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Fatphobia
Warning for a revenge porn sub-plot.ashleysager's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
dearbookboyfriend's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment
nitya's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This made me want to binge watch old episodes of Top Chef
And it also broke my slump!!!! ๐๐พ๐๐พ
And it also broke my slump!!!! ๐๐พ๐๐พ
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual harassment
blackveilbeccy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was okay, I liked the main character and the love interest but a lot of the ensemble cast werenโt my thing. There was too much political talk for what I thought was a lighthearted chef romance. My favourite part was the Jewish representation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content and Transphobia
meganpbennett's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sadie on a Plate is an interesting novel. Sadie - after a story recounted about three quarters through the book in detail - loses her job at a Seattle restaurant. Shortly thereafter, she's invited to take part in a televised chef competition. On the plane to New York, she meets handsome Luke, and they really hit it off. And the next morning she learns that he's a last minute fill-in judge for the show. Oops.
If you like cooking competition shows, give this book a read.
If you like cooking competition shows, give this book a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Panic attacks/disorders
goodbyerachel's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Lately, I have been very keen on watching cooking shows (maybe to try to motivate myself to WANT to cook? I wish) but shows like Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay has been my ultimate de-stressor. And then picking up this novelized GEM of a cooking show was... a chef kiss. Fans of Food Network, add this to your TBR immediately!
As you can see from the synopsis there is a meet-cute, blooming romance that gets cut short due to a conflict of interest as he judges the show. I anticipated a clandestine forbidden romance (a la one of my FAVS, The Charm Offenssive). But was actually pleasantly surprised that this actually was much more Sadie and cooking-focused than romance-focused. While I didn't hate the romance, I honestly don't even think the book needed it.
There was an amazing, diverse cast of side characters competing on the show, to the point I was legitimately sad that a side character got eliminated off this novel version of a cooking show! I enjoyed the bit of tongue-in-cheek about reality shows. I appreciated how detailed the show, the dishes, the cooking process, and the reactions were written. I think Elliot found the perfect balance and I appreciated that there wasn't a "skip forward" section. Each new food description made me hungry.
The writing occasionally veered towards feeling chaotic. There is a lot of stream of conscious thinking from Sadie to just the very relatable mental tangents we all take in our heads. One section where she is contemplating "currying favor with the judges" turns to "not the good kind of delicious curry" to "I'm hungry and curry sounds good." So, sometimes it felt a bit much but mostly it made me laugh and feel like I was in someone's actual head. I can see this not being everyone's cup of tea, it was a bit silly at times.
Honestly, this book just brought me JOY. I think anyone who is a fan of cooking competitions will eat this up. It is super cute and well-executed. I wish there was just more of Luke or the romance plotline but even then I wasn't too mad because that may have taken away from the cooking.
Thank you Berkley and Amanda for this eARC for my review.
As you can see from the synopsis there is a meet-cute, blooming romance that gets cut short due to a conflict of interest as he judges the show. I anticipated a clandestine forbidden romance (a la one of my FAVS, The Charm Offenssive). But was actually pleasantly surprised that this actually was much more Sadie and cooking-focused than romance-focused. While I didn't hate the romance, I honestly don't even think the book needed it.
There was an amazing, diverse cast of side characters competing on the show, to the point I was legitimately sad that a side character got eliminated off this novel version of a cooking show! I enjoyed the bit of tongue-in-cheek about reality shows. I appreciated how detailed the show, the dishes, the cooking process, and the reactions were written. I think Elliot found the perfect balance and I appreciated that there wasn't a "skip forward" section. Each new food description made me hungry.
The writing occasionally veered towards feeling chaotic. There is a lot of stream of conscious thinking from Sadie to just the very relatable mental tangents we all take in our heads. One section where she is contemplating "currying favor with the judges" turns to "not the good kind of delicious curry" to "I'm hungry and curry sounds good." So, sometimes it felt a bit much but mostly it made me laugh and feel like I was in someone's actual head. I can see this not being everyone's cup of tea, it was a bit silly at times.
Honestly, this book just brought me JOY. I think anyone who is a fan of cooking competitions will eat this up. It is super cute and well-executed. I wish there was just more of Luke or the romance plotline but even then I wasn't too mad because that may have taken away from the cooking.
Thank you Berkley and Amanda for this eARC for my review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
megloveswords12's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
claudiajean's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment
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