Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“And I just worry,” Lizzie went on now, “that they might have told you some inaccurate things about me.” Except Lizzie didn’t say they. Dahlia’s eyes popped open.
Recently finished Heartwaves and absolutely adored it. Anita Kelly's debut novel has all the ingredients of what Heartwaves will become: soft love, sultry lust and a novel that is as much about coming home to yourself as each other. A great atmospheric read, too. A little under edited: sometimes characters get repetitive in their various anxious ruminations (which is realistic, but a bit of a drag to read) and some of the bigger growing pains are not as fleshed out as with later works. But then some clever writing catches your eye, which is both technically savvy and so authentic to the character, and it is forgiven.
hopeful
slow-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:
Complicated
This was cute but it did take me a full month to read 😭
I thought Dahlia and London made a great couple just certain decisions that were made by the author relating to the cooking competition show I couldn’t get behind.
The premise is really cute tho, and the way that they fall for each other is so sweet 🥹
I absolutely loved the queer rep!
Dahlia identifies as queer and London is Pansexual & Non-binary! 💛
I thought Dahlia and London made a great couple just certain decisions that were made by the author relating to the cooking competition show I couldn’t get behind.
The premise is really cute tho, and the way that they fall for each other is so sweet 🥹
I absolutely loved the queer rep!
Dahlia identifies as queer and London is Pansexual & Non-binary! 💛
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
Making out immediately after eating BBQ ribs is not cute imo.
As someone who loves the bake off, I feel like I could have been a lot more invested in the cooking show aspect. Also they kind of teased me when Dahlia says at the beginning that she mostly makes vegetarian recipes but then the rest of the book is meat central. Similarly to something wild and wonderful, the relationship conflict largely comes down to "we don't live in the same place" which I like because the author isn't just forcing one of the characters to do something dumb to cause conflict. Very nice overall.
As someone who loves the bake off, I feel like I could have been a lot more invested in the cooking show aspect. Also they kind of teased me when Dahlia says at the beginning that she mostly makes vegetarian recipes but then the rest of the book is meat central. Similarly to something wild and wonderful, the relationship conflict largely comes down to "we don't live in the same place" which I like because the author isn't just forcing one of the characters to do something dumb to cause conflict. Very nice overall.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Such a fun read! I loved the dynamic of the cooking show, and Dahlia and London were so sweet together!
