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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Thank you Netgalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the ARC in return for an honest review.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Listen - I'm going to be 100% honest - do I think there are there some things that could be improved upon? Sure. At times it felt a little choppy - almost as though the author repeated herself one too many times, or jumped back and forth between things that felt a little unnecessary (and this is not a bash, it could totally just be me) - BUT....
The FEELINGS I got reading this book. I am giddy with them
I LOVE LOVE LOVE both Claire and James.
Claire is getting herself back on track - the focus is her, living in Paris, cooking the best food she can, and getting her first star.
James Sullivan - a star chef from the States shows up as her Head Chef and gives her *the* feelings. But she reminds herself of what she is doing in Paris - and although she welcomes friendship - she isn't ready for anything else.
And James Sullivan (I don't know why, but I feel like his entire name needs to be used when talking about him) is the perfect "grumpy-sunshine, you know he's pining for her, wants to champion her but also doesn't want to mess anything up" type of guy. And I LOVE HIM FOR IT ALL.
Waitlyn Andrews's "authors note" states that she loves Nancy Meyers films, HEA, a 90s rom-com and strong female characters chasing goals - and that is what you get. This is a story about Claire. The fact that James Sullivan is there is a bonus - but it's really about Claire finding her shine again after a couple of life changing events.
This is a closed door, slow burn romance - but it didn't feel like it. I usually get really annoyed with slow burn - but in this case it worked so well for our characters. Our side characters were also so entertaining - I REALLY want a book about Lucy and/or Evie Sullivan (perhaps with Martin Jr the fifth???) - I feel like there could be a little series in this. And then we could go back to Claire and James and bask in their love again.
This gave me all the feels. Like I said - it might read a little choppy - BUT the FEELINGS are all there.
Plus - it mostly takes place in Paris. And in a professional kitchen. And we get to go to the market almost every single day. And talk about cheese. And wine. Just the chapter titles - which are a description of a food/ recipe/ technique - will make you giddy.
Love this and can`t wait to read whatever else Waitlyn Andrews writes.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Listen - I'm going to be 100% honest - do I think there are there some things that could be improved upon? Sure. At times it felt a little choppy - almost as though the author repeated herself one too many times, or jumped back and forth between things that felt a little unnecessary (and this is not a bash, it could totally just be me) - BUT....
The FEELINGS I got reading this book. I am giddy with them
I LOVE LOVE LOVE both Claire and James.
Claire is getting herself back on track - the focus is her, living in Paris, cooking the best food she can, and getting her first star.
James Sullivan - a star chef from the States shows up as her Head Chef and gives her *the* feelings. But she reminds herself of what she is doing in Paris - and although she welcomes friendship - she isn't ready for anything else.
And James Sullivan (I don't know why, but I feel like his entire name needs to be used when talking about him) is the perfect "grumpy-sunshine, you know he's pining for her, wants to champion her but also doesn't want to mess anything up" type of guy. And I LOVE HIM FOR IT ALL.
Waitlyn Andrews's "authors note" states that she loves Nancy Meyers films, HEA, a 90s rom-com and strong female characters chasing goals - and that is what you get. This is a story about Claire. The fact that James Sullivan is there is a bonus - but it's really about Claire finding her shine again after a couple of life changing events.
This is a closed door, slow burn romance - but it didn't feel like it. I usually get really annoyed with slow burn - but in this case it worked so well for our characters. Our side characters were also so entertaining - I REALLY want a book about Lucy and/or Evie Sullivan (perhaps with Martin Jr the fifth???) - I feel like there could be a little series in this. And then we could go back to Claire and James and bask in their love again.
This gave me all the feels. Like I said - it might read a little choppy - BUT the FEELINGS are all there.
Plus - it mostly takes place in Paris. And in a professional kitchen. And we get to go to the market almost every single day. And talk about cheese. And wine. Just the chapter titles - which are a description of a food/ recipe/ technique - will make you giddy.
Love this and can`t wait to read whatever else Waitlyn Andrews writes.
Took me a while to get into the book but once I grasped the story, this book was a great read. The female lead was strong willed and independent and did not allow the opinions of others to deter her from her dreams. The story was well written and the author did a great job building character arcs.
Cute easy read. This book felt like slipping into a classic 90s romcom where you know the guy will get the girl, but you live for the banter the whole way through. I loved that this was a clean romance, and it was still an enjoyable read, even without spice.
I liked the characters, especially the band of chefs at Teaks, but the best characters are the vendors at the small French market, and the two little sisters.
Clair, our main character, is a bit much for me. She’s an Intensely focused American chef in Paris, who has a goal to earn a Michelin star, all while avoiding family drama back in the states, and trying hard not to fall in love with her hot new American head chef. She loves to read. And she never lets you forget it. The constant references to romance tropes had me rolling me eyes.
James the male lead’s main personality traits were being intensely type A, and being obsessed with Clair. Nothing wrong with that, but he didn’t seem like a well flushed out character to me. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t fun, just not a ton of substance.
The main conflict of this story was left as kind of a mystery for most of the book, something she was ashamed to talk about, and I actually loved how the handled it. The lack of 3rd act breakup made this one a very enjoyable read for me. Nothing ground breaking but a solid workplace romance romcom. I read it quickly and had a lot of fun.
I liked the characters, especially the band of chefs at Teaks, but the best characters are the vendors at the small French market, and the two little sisters.
Clair, our main character, is a bit much for me. She’s an Intensely focused American chef in Paris, who has a goal to earn a Michelin star, all while avoiding family drama back in the states, and trying hard not to fall in love with her hot new American head chef. She loves to read. And she never lets you forget it. The constant references to romance tropes had me rolling me eyes.
James the male lead’s main personality traits were being intensely type A, and being obsessed with Clair. Nothing wrong with that, but he didn’t seem like a well flushed out character to me. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t fun, just not a ton of substance.
The main conflict of this story was left as kind of a mystery for most of the book, something she was ashamed to talk about, and I actually loved how the handled it. The lack of 3rd act breakup made this one a very enjoyable read for me. Nothing ground breaking but a solid workplace romance romcom. I read it quickly and had a lot of fun.
This was such a cute read and I loved the chef vibes. The tension between the two love interests was great and I liked how they ultimately ended up connecting. I couldn’t put the book down. I just kept wanting to see what would happen next. My biggest issue was the ending. Everything seemed to fall into place too easily. I liked how Claire had this one specific boundary but then in the end there was a quick solution to that boundary. The end felt a bit rushed. I definitely wanted more growth between the two main characters.
This was a very sweet romance novel with a fun connection to the culinary world. I absolutely loved the food definitions at the beginning of each chapter and the level of detail that was at times used to describe the food featured throughout the novel. The plot is simple and predictable, in a comforting way, like a warm croissant. Claire was a more than decent leading lady, although some of her "character flaws" are such repeated tropes that it felt a little stale. In contrast James was even less intriguing, with little to no backstory or driving force. A lot of the plot hinged on a level of privilege that Claire and James seem to enjoy with little concern for the reality of working in the high end culinary world, lending this to be a rom-com, missing some of the comedy elements that would have created another layer of depth to the novel, I enjoyed this as a break between a heavier thriller and before diving back into some fantasy. The romance in the book would be appropriate for older young adult readers and there is absolutely nothing graphic mentioned at all.
Claire had sworn off romantic relationships, stifling family expectations and self-doubt. Returning home to run the family business was inevitable, but she decided to carve out her own path in Paris, working in a chic up-and-coming restaurant. It was a dream come true, until the new Head Chef of Teaks and fellow American, James Sullivan, came into the scene.
There's was a love-hate relationship from the beginning. He only acknowledged her when critiquing her work, and she had sworn off workplace romances so she was fighting off her growing attraction for him.
I loved that even when they were at odds, he still walked her home, albeit from a distance. It was interesting to finally get a read on his thoughts, as this was in single POV. The ending was a bit rushed, and I would've loved a glimpse into their life back in France once they were a couple, but I enjoyed this debut.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There's was a love-hate relationship from the beginning. He only acknowledged her when critiquing her work, and she had sworn off workplace romances so she was fighting off her growing attraction for him.
I loved that even when they were at odds, he still walked her home, albeit from a distance. It was interesting to finally get a read on his thoughts, as this was in single POV. The ending was a bit rushed, and I would've loved a glimpse into their life back in France once they were a couple, but I enjoyed this debut.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Being a lover of the food network and master chef, the characters love for food was relatable and I enjoyed this book! I think the relationship was a little rushed between the main characters and I would have preferred to enjoy more of their journey into their relationship. Overall, would recommend this story to anyone looking for romance with the main ingredient of love!
Is cooking dinner for my family for the first time in weeks directly correlated with reading a book about chefs in France falling in love? Why, yes. I do believe it is. Begging the author to write a rom com set in foodie Italy next!!!