Scan barcode
kyeruhh's review against another edition
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
The beginning of this book felt very abrupt to the point I thought I’d missed something. That said, I love a reformed rake and Alice’s character development throughout the story was fun to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
Minor: Death of parent
cheypreston's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
iamamyyyyy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
tigtig686's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying and Death
sarahamuller1's review
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Okay THIS is what I expect from Joanna! Seduction lessons? A reformed rake (scoundrel since we are in Gilded Age America)? Oops I caught feelings? Tension? Intrigue? Food?! Chef’s Kiss. Pun intended.
Best of all? The absolutely garbage mom gets what is coming to her and it comes from our lovely FMC, Alice.
Best of all? The absolutely garbage mom gets what is coming to her and it comes from our lovely FMC, Alice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
4 stars only because I didn’t get that giddy feeling.
This book was AMAZING!! I like how Alice slowly grew to be braver and it wasn’t her relationship with Kit that did that but with her newfound friends!
I did love seeing Kit speak up for her in front of her mother and try to make social situations for her better while Alice’s mother was doing her very best to be awful to her.
I don’t think I’ve read many books where the fmc is a baker/cook (the only one I can remember is Act Your Age Eve Brown) and I really enjoyed this aspect of it. Especially any scene that took place in the kitchen because it showed Alice in her natural habitat and not under any stress like she may be in other places. My favorite scene in the kitchen probably has to be the second babka making though. I thought it was so cute for Kit to cook something for her specifically that.
Two small things I didn’t like: 1. A what seemed like an almost non-consensual situation where I thought Alice was going to force Kit to do something he’d specifically said he didn’t want to (because he didn’t want to make her life worse with Mrs Lusk). It did however turn out to be consensual but it made me very nervous. 2. Anytime Kit said anything gross relating to Alice being a virgin or him not having sex with virgins. It put me off and took me out of the book.
This book was AMAZING!! I like how Alice slowly grew to be braver and it wasn’t her relationship with Kit that did that but with her newfound friends!
I did love seeing Kit speak up for her in front of her mother and try to make social situations for her better while Alice’s mother was doing her very best to be awful to her.
I don’t think I’ve read many books where the fmc is a baker/cook (the only one I can remember is Act Your Age Eve Brown) and I really enjoyed this aspect of it. Especially any scene that took place in the kitchen because it showed Alice in her natural habitat and not under any stress like she may be in other places. My favorite scene in the kitchen probably has to be the second babka making though. I thought it was so cute for Kit to cook something for her specifically that.
Two small things I didn’t like: 1. A what seemed like an almost non-consensual situation where I thought Alice was going to force Kit to do something he’d specifically said he didn’t want to (because he didn’t want to make her life worse with Mrs Lusk). It did however turn out to be consensual but it made me very nervous. 2. Anytime Kit said anything gross relating to Alice being a virgin or him not having sex with virgins. It put me off and took me out of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Death
kabrahams's review against another edition
4.25
I'm a sucker for romances with baking and this did not disappoint. This book overlaps with the previous book in the series. Alice learns of Kit's reputation for turning ladies into vixens and approaches him for lessons at Maddie's house party. He agrees as long as he gives her recipes for his supper club. Things quickly get a bit steamy but Alice has begun to attract the attentions of a duke (the very same one that Maddie recently broke her engagement with) and so they try to break it off multiple times but keep getting drawn back together.
While this book had another bad boy who blames it on his bad dad, we see Kit working to find his place in the world and proving to himself and others that he isn't living in the shadow of his past. Alice also learns how to stand up to her overbearing and often mean-spirited mother. There is a rather dark subplot where a friend of Kit and Preston's has become a drunk and ends up dying a gruesome death. This was a bit jarring for me considering the relative lightness of the rest of the story. I get that it helped move the plot along, but it did feel a bit out of place.
Overall, really loved this (especially the spice) and felt like I could relate to Alice as a shy woman finding her place in the world. I'm also super excited for Nellie's book because she's quickly becoming a favorite!
While this book had another bad boy who blames it on his bad dad, we see Kit working to find his place in the world and proving to himself and others that he isn't living in the shadow of his past. Alice also learns how to stand up to her overbearing and often mean-spirited mother. There is a rather dark subplot where a friend of Kit and Preston's has become a drunk and ends up dying a gruesome death. This was a bit jarring for me considering the relative lightness of the rest of the story. I get that it helped move the plot along, but it did feel a bit out of place.
Overall, really loved this (especially the spice) and felt like I could relate to Alice as a shy woman finding her place in the world. I'm also super excited for Nellie's book because she's quickly becoming a favorite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death
ladysadiereads's review
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I adored this follow-up to The Heiress Hunt! Much of this takes place during the same house party that HH starts in but this can be read as a standalone! This has some great kissing lessons - initiated by a delightful heroine - who completely stole my heart. Alice is sunshine wrapped around steel and full of love and light and delightful cooking. Also, there is nothing like a young woman learning to love herself and stand up to bullies - especially when it is her own mother. I loved the theme of food in this book - not only that but the inherent sexism of the restaurant industry (that continues to this day!) and how "women's cooking" is somehow different. I liked Kit too - I wish he had been a bit bolder but did love him in the end learning to manage his own emotional trauma from his philandering father. I do wish there was more of the male friendship in this book - there is a devastating loss (please see content warnings) but I wish I had more basis for the friends' connection.
TL/DR Review
Stars: four solid stars
Steam: build up to intimacy scenes, slow burn, lots of couches involved…
Tropes: kissing lessons, friends to lovers, opposites attract, food
For Fans Of: I mean it is Joanna Shupe…
Theme Song: Terrible Love by the National
Subgenre: Historic Romance - Guilded Era
CW/ TW: death of friend on page, suspected suicide of friend, graphic portrayal of alcoholism, references to grief of parent death, toxic family
TL/DR Review
Stars: four solid stars
Steam: build up to intimacy scenes, slow burn, lots of couches involved…
Tropes: kissing lessons, friends to lovers, opposites attract, food
For Fans Of: I mean it is Joanna Shupe…
Theme Song: Terrible Love by the National
Subgenre: Historic Romance - Guilded Era
CW/ TW: death of friend on page, suspected suicide of friend, graphic portrayal of alcoholism, references to grief of parent death, toxic family
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
aqtbenz's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content