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flyingryndeer's review against another edition
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
In the end this wasn't quite the romance for me, but I think overall it did what it set out to do very well. It's about a sort of celebrity chef and her restaurant owner, both of whom are already pining for each other when the book begins. I've realized this romance set up doesn't interest me much compared to a enemies to lovers or something where we get to see the people developing feelings, not just overcoming obstacles to their relationship.
But there are a few things this romance does very well. The chef, Sophie, is a newly out bi woman who's just come out at 30 and the depiction of her coming out, encountering biphobia, and exploring her new queer identity was excellent, so thoughtfully done. Also, if you like steamy sapphic sex scenes, Sophie and Amy will not let you down!! Also, the setting of wintery Boston was nicely integrated into the story, as was Sophie's francophone Montrealer background.
Some downsides: the ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic and I wanted Paul's biphobia to be explicitly addressed and not for him to be narratively rewarded in the epilogue!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Death of parent
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Natalie Naudus and Chelsie Stephens together are the spices needed to make the romance recipe HOT! I loved their chemistry even though they read opposite chapters it was palpable. 10/10😍🥵
The story follows Amy, a restaurant owner, and Sophie her head chef and former Hollywood chef, as they navigate running a kitchen together. In the heat of the kitchen emotions run high, and so does the tension between the two. But the restaurant is slowly but surely failing, so Amy and Sophie start looking for opportunities to bring new life to the place. With luck on their side they are offered a spot on a cooking show, but will this grumpy sunshine duo be able to navigate their feelings inside and outside of the kitchen?
I loved this book so much! The story, THE SPICE! The food. It was all*chefs kiss* perfection and what I wanted out of a cooking romance.
Cw
Sexual content
Death of a parent
Grief
Biphobia
Alcohol
Sexual harassment
Blood
The story follows Amy, a restaurant owner, and Sophie her head chef and former Hollywood chef, as they navigate running a kitchen together. In the heat of the kitchen emotions run high, and so does the tension between the two. But the restaurant is slowly but surely failing, so Amy and Sophie start looking for opportunities to bring new life to the place. With luck on their side they are offered a spot on a cooking show, but will this grumpy sunshine duo be able to navigate their feelings inside and outside of the kitchen?
I loved this book so much! The story, THE SPICE! The food. It was all*chefs kiss* perfection and what I wanted out of a cooking romance.
Cw
Sexual content
Death of a parent
Grief
Biphobia
Alcohol
Sexual harassment
Blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Biphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
inkiereads's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
I’m so happy I picked up The Romance Recipe. I loved it! Amy and Sophie push each other to be their best selves, and their chemistry is so clear. And I spent the entire time reading so hungry! I wish they could come over to cook for me!
Steam: steamy open door
Steam: steamy open door
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Injury/Injury detail
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sweet sapphic romance with an a-hole verbally abusive father, I did really enjoy this, the dad was a lot like my own, a bully, but overall it was a funny, sweet book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wish they'd gotten into the mom more though. I'm glad they didn't really try to redeem the dad and give him so excuse. The narrators were great but I wish they'd had more distinctive voices, it was a bit confusing at parts who's POV you were in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
Infidelity is in past with the parents not with the MCs.duckyreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Biphobia
instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.25
**Thank you to HCCFrenzy for a free phyiscal copy for a honest review. All opinions my own.**
The Romance Recipe is a fun book about two queer women who are trying to keep this restaurant alive, and help their own blooming relationship become something more than just hooking up.
This book is 282 pages, and I still felt like it was too long. There were some content that by the last 80 pages I just did not care anymore. It isn't a bad book - it has all the features you want from a romance, but I just stopped caring and wanted it to end - but I was close to the ending, so I just pushed through to get the HEA.
I did like the banter between the two women, and also liked how their problems at the start of the book continued to bite them at the end of the story but it wasn't like this whole big thing, and then once it was resolved everything was fine and dandy and they could live happily ever after. It was more realistic of an actual blooming relationship which I enjoyed way more than I thought I would.
I will say reading it physically and through the audiobook was good. I did have a earc and a physical book, and got the audiobook through my local library, because I am on a slump, and here I am now.
I am glad I did finish it - and if this is what you're looking to read, I think it's a cute summer read.
The Romance Recipe is a fun book about two queer women who are trying to keep this restaurant alive, and help their own blooming relationship become something more than just hooking up.
This book is 282 pages, and I still felt like it was too long. There were some content that by the last 80 pages I just did not care anymore. It isn't a bad book - it has all the features you want from a romance, but I just stopped caring and wanted it to end - but I was close to the ending, so I just pushed through to get the HEA.
I did like the banter between the two women, and also liked how their problems at the start of the book continued to bite them at the end of the story but it wasn't like this whole big thing, and then once it was resolved everything was fine and dandy and they could live happily ever after. It was more realistic of an actual blooming relationship which I enjoyed way more than I thought I would.
I will say reading it physically and through the audiobook was good. I did have a earc and a physical book, and got the audiobook through my local library, because I am on a slump, and here I am now.
I am glad I did finish it - and if this is what you're looking to read, I think it's a cute summer read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
onceandfuturereaders's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Queer romance between an owner of a struggling restaurant and the celebrity chef she brought in to run the kitchen. These two women were messy, but also perfect for each other. Once I got a feel for the characters, I enjoyed the book a lot.
One of the best parts of this book, in my opinion, was really that it felt like a love letter in a lot of ways to bisexual women. There are so many beautiful moments not only between the two main characters (like Amy is so validating of Sophie’s bisexual identity and Sophie’s own journey to explore her queerness is so relatable and beautiful to read), but also between Sophie and her mom. Honestly, her mom’s reaction was such a mom reaction that it made me laugh.
The book is a really quick read. It’s a little spicy, has a lot of miscommunication (or lack of honest communication), and both the leads have a lot going on. But both of them grow beautifully and I just really enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Adores for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One of the best parts of this book, in my opinion, was really that it felt like a love letter in a lot of ways to bisexual women. There are so many beautiful moments not only between the two main characters (like Amy is so validating of Sophie’s bisexual identity and Sophie’s own journey to explore her queerness is so relatable and beautiful to read), but also between Sophie and her mom. Honestly, her mom’s reaction was such a mom reaction that it made me laugh.
The book is a really quick read. It’s a little spicy, has a lot of miscommunication (or lack of honest communication), and both the leads have a lot going on. But both of them grow beautifully and I just really enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Adores for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
kbairbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
3.75
This was a fun read. It hit on some heavy topics and the asshole dad/certain restaurant moments were a bit tough for me to listen to but it was a really lovely realization of self/sexy WLW/romance. Sophie was pretty patient with her woman’s issues and her coming out scene was not too bad! I do feel like maybe a little bit too much was packed into the story? Or maybe it’s just because of my brain at the time of reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cancer, Grief, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Biphobia, Bullying, Alcoholism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism and Sexual harassment