Reviews with content warning for Biphobia - The Romance Recipe

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

booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition

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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

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duckyreads's review against another edition

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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

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readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

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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

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onceandfuturereaders's review

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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.

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kbairbooks's review against another edition

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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.

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