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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
qraveline's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia, Death of parent, and Cancer
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you so much to Carina Press and Netgalley for the arc of this book.
This is an absolutely adorable and introspective adult romance about a chef and a restaurant owner who put aside their differences to work together to save their restaurant, and end up falling for each other along the way.
I love the dual povs in this story! Amy is the grumpy to Sophie's sunshine but they are both so much deeper than that. I particularly loved Sophie's story with discovering her bisexuality and how much it is a part of herself! This part of the story was really meaningful to me and I thought it was dealt with gracefully and with the gravity it deserved.
This is also a super cute romance story with a little bit of spice. Sophie and Amy work really well together and watching them develop from co-workers to lovers to partners and equals was magical. I absolutely love this one and can't wait to have a physical copy!
This is an absolutely adorable and introspective adult romance about a chef and a restaurant owner who put aside their differences to work together to save their restaurant, and end up falling for each other along the way.
I love the dual povs in this story! Amy is the grumpy to Sophie's sunshine but they are both so much deeper than that. I particularly loved Sophie's story with discovering her bisexuality and how much it is a part of herself! This part of the story was really meaningful to me and I thought it was dealt with gracefully and with the gravity it deserved.
This is also a super cute romance story with a little bit of spice. Sophie and Amy work really well together and watching them develop from co-workers to lovers to partners and equals was magical. I absolutely love this one and can't wait to have a physical copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood and Cancer
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
You tell me queer grumpy sunshine and I'm in. And The Romance Recipe is entirely precious and also sizzling. The chemistry between Sophie and Amy is off the charts. But even more so, I loved that both Amy and Sophie see each other. They try to protect each other - and end up making mistakes - but they're both struggling with vulnerability. With not only accepting help, but seeing themselves as worthy enough. That's probably the number one reason I enjoyed The Romance Recipe.
You tell me queer grumpy sunshine and I'm in. And The Romance Recipe is entirely precious and also sizzling. The chemistry between Sophie and Amy is off the charts. But even more so, I loved that both Amy and Sophie see each other. They try to protect each other - and end up making mistakes - but they're both struggling with vulnerability. With not only accepting help, but seeing themselves as worthy enough. That's probably the number one reason I enjoyed The Romance Recipe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Emotional abuse
fromjuliereads's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
**Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
I enjoyed this book! I really liked the characters and some of the elements that it dealt with. I think the characters were the strongest part of the story. There were a lot more sex scenes than I was expecting and they started fairly quickly in the story - I think based on the premise and the title I had expected a bit more of a build up in the romance. But I loved the sapphic love and the really cute moments that Amy and Sophie had! And I liked the references to grief, dealing with your emotions, and dealing with biphobia. They are all important topics and discussions - I wish some of them had been a bit more central to the plot. I also liked the scenes about family and friends and how they were integral to the story.
I read this really quick and really enjoyed it! If you're looking for a sapphic romance with lots of spice, this is the book for you!
I enjoyed this book! I really liked the characters and some of the elements that it dealt with. I think the characters were the strongest part of the story. There were a lot more sex scenes than I was expecting and they started fairly quickly in the story - I think based on the premise and the title I had expected a bit more of a build up in the romance. But I loved the sapphic love and the really cute moments that Amy and Sophie had! And I liked the references to grief, dealing with your emotions, and dealing with biphobia. They are all important topics and discussions - I wish some of them had been a bit more central to the plot. I also liked the scenes about family and friends and how they were integral to the story.
I read this really quick and really enjoyed it! If you're looking for a sapphic romance with lots of spice, this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
caseythereader's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Thanks to Harlequin Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- THE ROMANCE RECIPE is another entry in the mini boom of queer cooking romances AND queer reality show romances!
- I loved that Sophie was just coming out as bisexual at 30 years old. There's a little biphobia around it, but for the most part, it's treated as joyful and normal.
- I found Amy to be a bit of a frustrating character, given her need for control, but on the other hand, the fights and growth she and Sophie had because of that felt pretty real.
- Also, this book is mega spicy. I'm so glad we're moving past having only sapphic romances where the physical growth of the relationship hardly exists on the page.
- THE ROMANCE RECIPE is another entry in the mini boom of queer cooking romances AND queer reality show romances!
- I loved that Sophie was just coming out as bisexual at 30 years old. There's a little biphobia around it, but for the most part, it's treated as joyful and normal.
- I found Amy to be a bit of a frustrating character, given her need for control, but on the other hand, the fights and growth she and Sophie had because of that felt pretty real.
- Also, this book is mega spicy. I'm so glad we're moving past having only sapphic romances where the physical growth of the relationship hardly exists on the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
trigger warnings: biphobia, emotional abuse, death of parent mention, sexual content, alcohol,
This book..idk how to express how emo and soft this book made me. Sophie and Amy both dumping for each other and then simping even harder while hooking up but pretending it’s casual except EVERY ACTION INDICATED OFHERWISE!!! I’m soft. Worst third act break up ever though this shit was ROUGH. Thank god it was quick and actually made sense for their arc. They needed the time to heal. Love love loveeeee
This book..idk how to express how emo and soft this book made me. Sophie and Amy both dumping for each other and then simping even harder while hooking up but pretending it’s casual except EVERY ACTION INDICATED OFHERWISE!!! I’m soft. Worst third act break up ever though this shit was ROUGH. Thank god it was quick and actually made sense for their arc. They needed the time to heal. Love love loveeeee
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Biphobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
sophieissapphhic's review against another edition
“Ever since I first watched her on the final episode of Pop-Up Kitchen, I’ve wanted to kiss Sophie Brunet.”
Content Warnings: Sexual Harassment (unsolicited explicit pictures, verbal harassment), death of a parent (cancer, off-page), biphobia, meal skipping (unintentional)
NOTE: My review is based on a PREVIEW of the first five chapters!
The micromanaging owner of a restaurant and her head chef try to save their struggling restaurant while resisting their attraction to each other in the process.
The thing I liked most about The Romance Recipe was how it was realistic. Amy and Sophie were relatable. Similarly, the characters’ reactions and the circumstances they were placed in felt natural and true to life. Amy, the dedicated owner of Amy & May’s, is under a lot of stress to keep her business afloat, cope with her mother’s death, and navigate her relationships. Hiring Sophie, a former reality TV star, was supposed to help her restaurant gain exposure and bring in revenue. Unfortunately, Sophie hates posting on social media and has been bringing in less and less patrons since she broke up with her ex-fiance.
When Sophie came out to her ex-fiance as bisexual, he suggested that she keep it a secret. Crushed by the person she thought she could trust, she left him behind. In doing so, she cuts off the majority of her connections and loses fame. Being pressured to post consistently on social media stresses Sophie out and she’s been losing her passion for cooking ever since she turned it into a job. Sophie has no plans to return to the glaring public spotlight, but when a potential opportunity for Amy & May’s to go on a foodie TV show run by her ex-fiance arises, it may be the only solution to keep the restaurant open.
Another thing the author does well is introducing background information about the characters seamlessly without interfering with the current narrative. This book is also full of awkward flirting (which I enjoyed).
Despite the characters feeling relatable, there wasn’t as much character development as I would have preferred. There’s definitely development later on in the book that I didn’t get to experience, but I’m not invested in the characters at the current point I’m at. Also, some of the physical descriptions of the characters weirded me out. They weren’t uncomfortable, per se, but the wording felt unnatural. However, I’m looking forward to seeing how the story plays out when it comes out in June 2022.
Rating: 3.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for this preview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
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