Reviews

Thanks to PRHAudio for the free audiobook, and to NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC.

Effie has travelled around and been a chef many places. She returns home, down on her luck, and gets a job at a local restaurant.

She and Ernie were childhood besties. Lots of history between them. Ernie also works at the restaurant.

They date-ish. The start having bucket list dates and they are just delightful.

Things are amiss at the restaurant, a bit of a mystery and investigation into what is going on.

This was a fun, hometown, childhood friends to lovers that was enjoyable. I found the audio to be a delight.

sparetimereader's review

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4.0

Short synopsis: Effie moves back to her hometown island off the coast of Main, to work as a Sues Chef in a fancy restaurant. She quickly runs into Ernie, her childhood best friend.

My thoughts: This was such a light bingeable read. The small town island setting was perfection, and the inside look into the restaurant business was accurate!

Don’t go into this one on an empty stomach. The talk of fresh seafood had me wanting to hop on a plane to somewhere not landlocked to get fresh shrimp and lobster.

I liked how the relationship between Effie and Ernie repaired itself slowly, and their bucket list island items were so fun to experience along with them. I especially enjoyed watching Effie find her passion, and roll with it.

Read if you love:

Fresh food and the restaurant drama
Friends to lovers
Small towns
Great side characters
Second chance romance
Bucket lists

thindbooks's review

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4.0

This story follows Effie who is a chef and arrives back home where she stopped speaking to her childhood best friend. This was such a fun, cute read perfect for the summer. I enjoyed Bilow’s writing style and how they took us to Maine where lobster is the main dish for the state. The conflict was entertaining and while reading this book, the author just made you feel warm with all the descriptions of beach and ice cream. This book is told from Effie’s pov.

Effie is the FMC of the story and had been a chef all over the world and decides to come back home. She is dealing with some past problems that won’t escape her and I enjoyed seeing her development though them and receiving the help. Then we have Ernie who is the main side character and I really enjoyed his character. He’s a sweetheart who cares for Effie and would do anything to get her to stay. There are other amazing side characters in this book and a chef everyone will hate. The romance is a second chance and friends to lovers with minor steam. The chemistry is cute and well done.

The ending was amazing where everyone got the life they wanted to have. I do wish this book was a bit shorter or had more conflicts because at some points I would lose interest with the repeated scenes. Overall it was an amazing book which I recommend checking out especially during this upcoming summer time.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

emilyseim25's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

michellekmartin's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

vlaniganfoffimreading's review

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5.0

It’s been said you can’t go home again but what if you can? Effie left her tiny island after high school and barely looked back. She lost her best friend after a friendship ending fight and had her goal set on becoming a chef.

When she returns home sixteen years later she promises herself it’s just for the summer. Lucky for her, her hometown now is the home of the one of the most famous restaurants in the country and they are in need of a sous chef. Everything is falling into place, including reconnecting with her best friend Ernie and allowing them to make peace. She soon finds herself drawn to Ernie like she never was before and everything she ever thought she wanted is suddenly a giant question mark.

I loved this one. I got sucked into the story, loved the setting, the cast of characters and oh my goodness did this book make me so hungry! This is a fun one for some summer reading!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

thebookjunkee's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring lighthearted

5.0

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