Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC! (Even though I'm just now posting this today, the day the book is released...) I ADORED this book and already want to read it again. I was immediately drawn to it by the cover and the premise - a cooking competition show and a romance between a queer woman and her nonbinary competitor? Yes please. This book is incredibly charming and the chemistry between the two main characters is immediate and palpable. Their POV chapters felt distinct and let the reader get to know each of them as individuals. It's impossible not to feel for them as they both struggle with changes in their lives and how to navigate this newfound attraction when their fates on the show are so constantly uncertain. Amazing representation, a fun and heartfelt story, and I highly recommend picking it up!
This one wasn’t for me. I got about halfway through after a few days and put it down. I finally picked it back up today to finish. I LOVED the concept of a queer couple coming together on a cooking show!! And the first few chapters were really enjoyable. But I found the pacing to be slow and hard to make it through to the end. London didn’t feel as fully developed as a character. Despite high stakes of winning the show and $100,000, Dahlia seemed pretty nonchalant about the challenges and winning. Some other reviewer pointed out that the characters always seemed to be on an emotional rollercoaster- they were either super happy or super anxious and sad. I wish I had liked it more.
funny
inspiring
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
LGBTQ
Cooking contest
Two contestants
Ups and downs of their relationship during the show
Cooking contest
Two contestants
Ups and downs of their relationship during the show
DNF halfway in…I loved the characters but just couldn’t get into it. Maybe because I couldn’t self-insert into the romance? Idk
I really loved the first few chapters of the book! However I started to loose interest in parts of the story. I felt the Lizzy vs London parts were tacky and unrealistic . I did enjoy smaller details like Dahlias and Hank’s relationship and their lists of things. I found the family dynamics enjoyable as well. However the actual TV show parts of the book were rushed and not as enjoyable.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was fine, but ultimately extremely forgettable and a little too drawn out in terms of the plot. The characters were generally like able and I enjoyed the dynamics that the cooking show brought to the story. I just felt that it got a bit boring and the third act break up felt frustrating because the miscommunication felt totally resolvable in the moment it was happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Fun quick read. Kind of wish the competition aspect was fleshed out a bit more, but the romance was very sweet, spicy scenes were great. Third act breakup was a bit silly. but overall I enjoyed it. Also, the mc's fav LA ice cream was Jeni's? they do not get to claim Jeni's lol when will Ohio get the ice cream respect it deserves?! haha
hopeful
relaxing
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:
No