This story has a lot of promise. I could feel a strong sense of the characters’ selves in their voices. Some of the passages felt a bit bulky, but overall the setting was well-researched and the characters have an emotional journey ahead of them.

Thank you Netgalley for the first five Chapters.

The first few chapters are great and really get you hooked. Loving the dynamic between Amy and Sophie can't wait too see what may happen.

Meet Amy, Sophie, and the fight to save a struggling restaurant that ties them together. In the first five chapters of The Romance Recipe, author Ruby Barrett brings us into the restaurant world. The owner and head chef tiptoe around their attraction to each other as they try to advocate for themselves and survive in the restaurant industry.

As a queer woman with relatives in the restaurant industry, I can say that I loved seeing queer women represented in an otherwise overwhelmingly male dominated space. The alternating first person point of view chapters voiced so much of my inner dialogue when I was first navigating my identity. I can’t wait to read more of this book that is oh-so-captivating in the very first few chapters!

FIVE CHAPTERS IS NOT ENOUGH! This is cruel, netgalley. Give me the rest! (Please and thank you).

I loved Amy from her appearances in HOT COPY and I devoured this delightful, delicious amuse bouche. It's unfair that I only got to read this snippet when I was ready to devour the whole meal.

THIS LOOKS SO GREAT!!! Loved the first few chapters, and am anxiously awaiting the upload of the entire book. Thank you for the sneak peak!!

What a tease! After reading Hot Copy, I knew I was going to love Amy’s story. She seemed so tough and brash on the exterior but she’s really a bit of a marshmallow on the inside, especially for her chef. But she’s trying to keep it in her pants, as to not scare her off. Sophie is new to the whole being-attracted-to-girls thing, so she’s not sure what to do with her feelings for her boss. They’ve been like oil and water since they started working together, but now that they’ve entered a televised reality show, they’re going to be working a lot closer together and their chemistry is bound to set off a few smoke detectors in the kitchen… cannot wait to get my hands on more than just the first 5 chapters!

I was able to read the first 5 chapters thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

It was everything I hoped it would be. Amy and Sophie work together in Amy's restaurant with Sophie as the head chef. They both like each other but are unable to express this towards each other. They simply can't even communicate like normal human beings and it makes for great comedy how both of them think the other one hates them.

The story drew me in and after only a few pages I was already disappointed knowing I would only be able to read 5 chapters. I cannot wait to read this book and am already counting down till June!

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina for the preview.

I am absolutely feral for these to idiots in close-proximity at work who are just PINING for each other. I need the rest of the book immediately I cannot wait for the rest it is going to be spectacular.

I need all of this book NOW. Since this is only the first five chapters of THE ROMANCE RECIPE, a full review with all of my thoughts is to come! However, this preview made me incredibly excited and I cannot wait to be back in this world. Ruby Barrett’s spice and tension are unmatched, so I’m greatly anticipating this sapphic romance from her.

I was able to read a preview of "The Romance Recipe" thanks to an ARC from Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) - I got to read the first five chapters and Oh my Gosh - I AM HOOKED!!!!
I love the dynamic between Amy and Sophie - They seem to bump heads but are secretly crushing for each other.. Hello subtle enemies to lovers haha. Amy was bothering me a little between pages 23-27 because she kept poking at Sophie's social media following and pretty much using her to get on the foodie tv show haha. From that moment I knew I was already emotionally invested in these characters. I also love books (and movies) based around chef life, so this book was already right up my alley. Add in a dash of romance and oh boy, you got me hooked!
All in all, an amazing preview and I can't wait for the book to release to read more and find out what happens next.

OVERALL RATING 4/5 stars

WoW! Ok Ruby Barrett, I seriously need a copy of The Romamce Recipe... ummmm any day now would be fabulous 👌
I started the preview and all it did was upset me because I wanted to continue this story and couldn't.
What I can say about what little I did read is TRR is going to be steller. I haven't read writing like this in awhile. Ruby's storytelling is fantastic and I wanted more of it. These characters are phenomenal and I need them in my life!
I hope for the opportunity to read the full book.
It's going to be one heck of read.

I am a huge Carina Adores fan, so when I saw this on netgalley I immediately put down what I was doing to read these chapters. And I was not dissapointed!!!!! I literally am buzzing in excitement over this book. I am genuinely obsessed, I cannot wait for this to come out.

Let me paint you a picture: a high stakes, required unrequited love story about a micromanaging restaurant owner and her grumpy, worn out, reality star head chef. The dynamic between these two is so unique, and genuinely intriguing. I read a lot of romance and in the past couple of years the genre has been flooded with “enemies to lovers,” stories. I love that this book seems to be taking a much more realistic and unique approach to the trope. Amy and Sophie feel like real people with real emotions. And a reality show plot line??? And very relatable social media stress??? I love it!!! Plus there is a bevy of awkward, accidental flirting. Just incredible.

Also, as someone who has worked in the restaurant industry it’s clear to me that the author either has worked restaurant jobs or is amazing at research because all the references and situations are very relatable! Sophie hiding out/potentially crying in the walk in (freezer)???? So true! Using 86 out of context in conversation/internal monologue??? So true!

cw for the excerpt: mention of sexual harassment (off page), meal skipping (unintentional), death of a parent, fatphobia (brief), homophobia (specifically in an interpersonal relationship), injury, unsolicited nude photos,

(not to the publisher/netgalley: I tried to automatically post this to goodreads by clicking the button but it said the isbn could not be found).

I finished HOT COPY yesterday and I loved it so much. I need Amy's book right nowwwwwww! This preview was so perfect. I need the full book right now like I need AIR!!!!