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hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship
mstormodolge's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
I might change this as I update this review (don’t have time to do it all rn) but let’s start-
I really liked this book. I thought the humor and back and forth was really strong and made me laugh quite a few times. I do think that some of the deeper moments too were well done, and sometimes that can be hard to manage. The sex was interesting too lmao and I appreciate not every scene was included. But like, include the tree sex yeah? lol
Anyway, I still think it’s dumb they had dead parents. Like why is that always a thing? His dad easily coulda been retired and her mom just living a retired life in Florida and the plot woulda been the same imo bc their goals would have stayed the same- honoring their parents. And you can honor parents without them being dead.
Anyway again- I liked the ups and downs. While I guessed a few things (Charlie) and Leo was a dumbass quite a lot, I did still really like that it was a real book. And while I at first hated that Lyons shut down… reading the last few chapters it did feel like the best option for the most character growth which is the real goal in the end right? So I’m more okay with it than I was.
Overall, I really liked the book and got into it when reading it. Points off for dead parents lmao
I really liked this book. I thought the humor and back and forth was really strong and made me laugh quite a few times. I do think that some of the deeper moments too were well done, and sometimes that can be hard to manage. The sex was interesting too lmao and I appreciate not every scene was included. But like, include the tree sex yeah? lol
Anyway, I still think it’s dumb they had dead parents. Like why is that always a thing? His dad easily coulda been retired and her mom just living a retired life in Florida and the plot woulda been the same imo bc their goals would have stayed the same- honoring their parents. And you can honor parents without them being dead.
Anyway again- I liked the ups and downs. While I guessed a few things (Charlie) and Leo was a dumbass quite a lot, I did still really like that it was a real book. And while I at first hated that Lyons shut down… reading the last few chapters it did feel like the best option for the most character growth which is the real goal in the end right? So I’m more okay with it than I was.
Overall, I really liked the book and got into it when reading it. Points off for dead parents lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
sar_lion's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
As someone who loves Food Network, it was really good. The plot was interesting all the way through. The characters were three dimensional and likable with flaws.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexism
Minor: Stalking
ccmata's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
lindsm94's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked this book, but I wasn't drawn into the story. It sort of felt like a combination of a bunch of other books I've read before. I am going to read the second book though to give it a try!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexism, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
madalyn_reading's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was cute. They went from enemies to lovers really fast though. I would have liked to see more inner turmoil of liking your “enemy”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Medical content, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Bullying
3readingcircus's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
gondorgirl's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
noellelovesbooks's review
4.0
Content Warnings: sexual content, anxiety attacks, sexism, toxic relationships, and grief.
Mention of: gaslighting, abusive/toxic relationships, and loss of parent[s]
11/12/2023
Ahh just as much fun the 2nd read as it was the first 🥰
Wanted to get a reread in before Plot Twist releases in a few days 🥰
1/8/2022
Posted to my blog first...
About a month ago, I stumbled on Erin’s Tiktok page and saw this video advertising her debut novel. Fake dating, enemies to lovers, food, essentially I felt this book calling to me and even jokingly left a comment saying “Gimme!” I quickly jumped on the PC, headed over to Netgalley to see if an ARC was listed, and hit that request button as fast as I could.
Luck was on my side and about a week ago I received an email saying I was approved, through Netgalley, to download the ARC. As I was already 1/3 of the way through “Lies We Bury”, by Elle Marr, I quickly devoured that thriller/mystery so I could crack this new ARC open. As the book doesn’t release until the end of July I almost waited to read it closer to release but it just had too many tropes I love to put aside and wait. Patience has never been one of my virtues *insert nervous laugh here*.
When this book is described as enemies to lover…Erin wasn’t joking. For the last three years, Nina and Leo have worked as co-hosts to the reality show “The Next Cooking Champ!” and for all three of those years, they’ve disliked one another. Jabs and rude comments lobbed back and forth between each other, both assuming the other looks down on them. One interaction even created a hashtag when Leo essentially named her “nasty Nina.” From season one Nina has been seen as the villain and Leo as the sweetheart and comic relief, which has just fueled the dislike further and further along.
If you hate the miscommunication trope…you may get a little frustrated as there were quite a few times where I was yelling at the book “JUST TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL!” I don’t feel that the miscommunication/lack of communication lasted as long as some romances drag it out and when all the cards are out there it is so sweet, in my opinion, it was worth the wait.
Leo is aware he has issues with anxiety and has struggled for a while with preventing, or getting through, panic attacks that can hit out of nowhere. Although aware of what he faces he chooses not to share his struggles with anyone, not even his close family. I really appreciated how we were able to be there on Leo’s journey of self-acceptance as he start to take necessary steps towards improving his mental health and overall life in general. That might seem a bit spoilery but I feel like a lot of times when mental health is brought up in romance it’s either something the characters have already completely addressed or it’s something they’re just now recognizing. For a lot of us, we can be aware of our battle with anxiety/depression/etc, for a long time before we’re finally at the point where we feel like we can reach out for help. It can take time for you to realize you aren’t a burden if you ask for help.
I do wish there would have been a conversation between Nina and Leo where they both opened up about their misconceptions from the start which lead them to be enemies those first three years. Although they fall for each other and open up in other ways, I feel like this kind of conversation would heal all, or at least a lot of, the wounds from the past so they really are starting fresh. Granted I feel like this is a conversation that definitely happened between these two characters, I just wish it wouldn’t have happened …what’s the book way of saying “off-screen?”
This was a great debut to read and I look forward to seeing more of Erin’s work in the future! I’m also really hoping she writes more books set in this universe so we can get to know more about all the awesome friends and family we met in this book!
Mention of: gaslighting, abusive/toxic relationships, and loss of parent[s]
11/12/2023
Ahh just as much fun the 2nd read as it was the first 🥰
Wanted to get a reread in before Plot Twist releases in a few days 🥰
1/8/2022
Posted to my blog first...
About a month ago, I stumbled on Erin’s Tiktok page and saw this video advertising her debut novel. Fake dating, enemies to lovers, food, essentially I felt this book calling to me and even jokingly left a comment saying “Gimme!” I quickly jumped on the PC, headed over to Netgalley to see if an ARC was listed, and hit that request button as fast as I could.
Luck was on my side and about a week ago I received an email saying I was approved, through Netgalley, to download the ARC. As I was already 1/3 of the way through “Lies We Bury”, by Elle Marr, I quickly devoured that thriller/mystery so I could crack this new ARC open. As the book doesn’t release until the end of July I almost waited to read it closer to release but it just had too many tropes I love to put aside and wait. Patience has never been one of my virtues *insert nervous laugh here*.
When this book is described as enemies to lover…Erin wasn’t joking. For the last three years, Nina and Leo have worked as co-hosts to the reality show “The Next Cooking Champ!” and for all three of those years, they’ve disliked one another. Jabs and rude comments lobbed back and forth between each other, both assuming the other looks down on them. One interaction even created a hashtag when Leo essentially named her “nasty Nina.” From season one Nina has been seen as the villain and Leo as the sweetheart and comic relief, which has just fueled the dislike further and further along.
If you hate the miscommunication trope…you may get a little frustrated as there were quite a few times where I was yelling at the book “JUST TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL!” I don’t feel that the miscommunication/lack of communication lasted as long as some romances drag it out and when all the cards are out there it is so sweet, in my opinion, it was worth the wait.
Leo is aware he has issues with anxiety and has struggled for a while with preventing, or getting through, panic attacks that can hit out of nowhere. Although aware of what he faces he chooses not to share his struggles with anyone, not even his close family. I really appreciated how we were able to be there on Leo’s journey of self-acceptance as he start to take necessary steps towards improving his mental health and overall life in general. That might seem a bit spoilery but I feel like a lot of times when mental health is brought up in romance it’s either something the characters have already completely addressed or it’s something they’re just now recognizing. For a lot of us, we can be aware of our battle with anxiety/depression/etc, for a long time before we’re finally at the point where we feel like we can reach out for help. It can take time for you to realize you aren’t a burden if you ask for help.
I do wish there would have been a conversation between Nina and Leo where they both opened up about their misconceptions from the start which lead them to be enemies those first three years. Although they fall for each other and open up in other ways, I feel like this kind of conversation would heal all, or at least a lot of, the wounds from the past so they really are starting fresh. Granted I feel like this is a conversation that definitely happened between these two characters, I just wish it wouldn’t have happened …what’s the book way of saying “off-screen?”
This was a great debut to read and I look forward to seeing more of Erin’s work in the future! I’m also really hoping she writes more books set in this universe so we can get to know more about all the awesome friends and family we met in this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent