I liked the intro to this book and am looking forward to its release so that I can read the whole title!

I wanted to love this but just from this preview i won't be reading the book. the dialogue was awkward and i didn't find myself connecting to the characters.

A sapphic work romance.
What else do I have to say for you to read it?
The tension between the characters is there, and you can feel it since chapter one.
I've read five chapters, and I'm already hooked on, I can't wait to June!
It is a fun and cute romance that I'm eager to read

CHICXS, un libro wlw de romance en el trabajo, no se que mas necesitan que diga para convencerlos de leerlo.
La tensión entre los personajes se siente desde el capítulo Uno.
Solo leí cinco capítulos y ya me enganche y no veo la hora de que llegue Junio.
Es un romance lindo y divertido que me muero por leer

The Romance Recipe is a dual POV workplace romance. I saw the grumpy/sunshine trope being thrown around and I don't think it applies here. This borders more on the line between friends and enemies because even though they like each other, they work as well oil and water.

Both Amy and Sophie have complex backstories, which goes to show that there is more to their characters then being aggressive and passive. We get to see what a non-toxic ex-fiancé looks like for a change and it does discuss the pressure of fame and social media, biphobia, and misogyny.

Until the second chapter, where we get Sophie's POV, I didn't really like Amy. She seemed far too stubborn for her own good, but she does acknowledge her fear of change and losing control. I hope to see further development in future chapters because I will be continuing this novel.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview of the Romance Recipe.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the first 5 chapters of this book. I already knew I would be interested in this story based on the description but after those first 5 chapters, I’m definitely hooked and cannot wait to get and read the rest of this story. I love that both characters are majorly attracted to each other but as they’re both adults with plenty of issues each, they are slowly learning how to open up and let someone else in. They’re both already fierce, independent women who are learning that it’s okay to share the burden and that you can be just as strong, if not stronger, as a team. I’m also a fan of the alternating points of view, allowing us to get good insight into both characters and making them feel like genuine, complicated people.

The first five chapters of The Romance Recipe brim with fun, wit, tension and chemistry. I’m definitely left wanting to read the rest of the book! It is so refreshing to read a budding romance novel with strong, feminist characters who are generally quite likeable! I found their stories to be extremely relatable with the search for self-confidence, pressures of social media and the overall reminder that we are not alone in our thoughts or feelings.

Can’t wait for the release of this book!

The Romance Recipe;
📌 Grumpy/Sunshine
📌 Kitchen Spice
📌 Sapphic Romance
📌 Bi Rep

I got this preview from NetGalley and it may have only been the first 5 chapters but already I know I need to read the rest of it! I inhaled those first 5 chapters, Amy and Sophie have incredible chemistry and I just know the spice is going to be good!

⚠️Content Warnings:
Sexual content, Homophobia/Biphobia, toxic relationship, death of a parent
*these are only ones that I caught please do not take this as the end all be all, please check other sources*

The first 5 chapters of The Romance Recipe were so good. It was just enough information about the characters and their lives to get me hooked and wanting more. I loved the dynamic of the 2 main characters, very relatable. This book will be published on June 28th, 2022. Rating it 4 stars, but I'm sure once I read the rest of the book, it will be 5 stars.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Carina Press, and Carina Adores (Harlequin) for the ARC Preview of the first 5 chapters.

I really liked the first 5 chapters. I've never read a restaurant romance book before and it looks like there will be a reality TV element which will be the best of both worlds. I am excited to see how being on a TV show will help the Amy and Sophie get closer so that was a nice cliffhanger. Also I'm sure food will somehow be involved in their love scenes 😅Sophie exploring her sexuality with a more experienced Amy is also a plot point I'm looking forward to.

This was such a great start to the book!! I can't wait to read the rest of it!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First I would like to thank Net Galley for a preview of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm disappointed to say that this was not what I was expecting when I started this book. I was super excited because I work at a restaurant and am part of the LGBTQ+ community. I thought that this would be a book that I could really relate to. I was ready for a strong wlw queer book, however, there were a couple of inconsistencies and parts that made me a bit uncomfortable.

My main issue with the book was the sexualization of the main characters within the first chapters. Don't get me wrong, I love romance and flirting but this came out of left field. The character that we were following would be saying something and then the book would go into details about how the love interests nipples were hard while they stood in the freezer. It was just a bit bazaar how random the comments came and frankly made me uncomfortable. There is a way to make (steamy/sexual) comments attractive and in ones mind but unfortunately this book missed the mark on that.

The romance between these two characters also had me struggling. From the start they were both SOO attracted to the other person yet couldn't say it. So instead they made comments on the others body internally. It just didn't feel believable to be so into the love interest. As the reader, we weren't exposed to the love interest enough to fall in love with them with the character. Or at the very least meet them. It just felt a forced.

Amy (the restaurant owner) created a safe space for queer people in the restaurant industry (which I love!!) and yet she called her head chef a nickname she hated...constantly. She also had a sous chef sexually harassing her staff in which she gave a second chance to (even with a no tolerance policy). It just didn't make sense to create a safe space only to constantly violate it.

My final problem was the lack of backbone that Sophie had after her fiancé left. I can understand the challenges of not being accepted for who one is. It is hard to come out and takes a lot of courage. But after her fiancé left, she became this weak character who could barely stand up for herself/ideas. She crumpled like a house of cards. It just didn't sit right with me.

Things I did enjoy:
That it was f/f book
- though this book wasn't my cup of tea its important to have queer representation. I would like to see more LGBTQ+ books coming out.
The dual perspective that the book had
- I love being in the mind of both characters in order to watch the two fall in love.
Sophies Hobby
- I liked that she was more than just a head chef

I really wanted a strong queer/wlw romance but this book unfortunately was not that.

From what I’ve read so far, The Romance Recipe is an amazing book, I love how Ruby Barrett goes into great detail to allow us to understand how Amy and Sophie feel, not only about certain things in their lives, but about each other too.

Whenever they describe their feelings for one another It’s like I can feel what they feel too, I can feel my heart pounding, eyes casting over a body I imagine to be theirs, it’s like I can feel their emotions just by reading words on a screen.

I love how Ruby Barrett built up backgrounds for the characters that sort of allow us an insider view of how both characters feel about things they’re going through and how deal with these experiences. I feel like I’m the character’s best friend and they’re talking to me about how they have this big crush on each other, and I’m the only one that knows.

The Romance Recipe shows a very non-toxic relationship between ex-fiancée’s as well, and I’m very happy to see that, as many books show only negative things. I’m glad that Paul and Sophie can still be civil and admit their faults in a relationship. But I’m also glad that they broke up, because we all deserve someone who accepts us from the beginning and continues to love us and give us space if needed, especially when coming to terms with sexuality. So, although Paul messed up in the beginning, I’m glad that neither of them held a grudge and can show a positive relationship between exes.

Overall, the first 5 chapters of the book have definitely piqued my interest, and I would 100% read the entire book when it comes out. So, I can say I definitely recommend reading the book, whether you get the first five chapters from Net-Galley or whatever, read all that you can, cause it’s an amazing story. Definitely deserves 5/5.

I devoured this sample and can't wait for the rest of the book! I adored Hot Copy and couldn't wait for Amy's story. Barrett's writing style is so full of joy and empathy, and her steam is top-notch. I'm so looking forward to Amy and Sophie's continued journey toward their HEA. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC sample.

SO SO SO PERFECT! CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK. I JUST KNOW IT'LL BE MY FAVOURITE!!!

ALL HAIL TO THIS SAPPHIC ROMANCE

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for an advanced PREVIEW (Chapters 1-5) copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I emphasize that what I've read is a preview because I'm sure I'm missing critical elements that will appear past Chapter Five.

First off, I appreciate the alternating POV on the two main characters. It's always a positive to me to have the two perspectives in a Romance novel.

Now, I kind of hoped we hadn't started off with the infatuation trope from both MCs but hopefully it weans itself out in exchange for the growing romance between them in the later chapters.

The preview cuts off just as Sophie has conceded and agreed to apply for the Cooking show that her ex-fiancé is producing. Amy is thrilled to have a chance at reviving the restaurant through the fame of the show but I loved that she did apologize to Sophie for being overbearing initially when she demanded Sophie to apply to have the restaurant be on the show.

I'm intrigued enough to give this Preview four stars and interested to read the rest later this year.

Firstly, I fell in love with this cover and so I HAD to read it. The first few chapters were NOT ENOUGH!! They were amaze-balls. I need to see the rest of this book. I have to see what is next for Amy and Sophie.

This teaser was just enough to make me set up a calendar to count down the days until the full novel is available. It promises to be a fun and sexy F/F story, and I'm always happy to read more of those!

This teaser is just delicious! I would love to have more than this delightful sample. Ruby hooks readers quite quickly with these opening scenes; there’s no way anyone could walk away without filling their plate with more of this delectable romance!

Ahhaa can't wait to read more
I really like the storyline and writing style and it's F/F book so ofc I'm gonna read it
Thank you netgalley for the preview copy

Though I’ve read several queer romances lately featuring cooking and/or reality shows, Barrett’s THE ROMANCE RECIPE promises to stand out from the crowd. The story follows Amy, a hard-headed restaurant owner determined to succeed, and Sophie, a former reality cooking show star looking to regain her spark in the kitchen (and the current head chef at Amy’s restaurant). They have an opportunity to apply for their restaurant to be featured on a new show, which they desperately need for the attention and boost in income. From the start, there’s fantastic chemistry between them and my favorite kind of oblivious-idiots-to-lovers mutual pining. Amy is an out lesbian and Sophie is a baby bisexual, still figuring out what that means to her and when to be more public given her minor fame. I love that Amy has made creating a safe space in her restaurant a priority, cracking down on the all-to-common sexual harassment in the restaurant industry and hiring a bunch of queer staff. I found both Amy and Sophie very compelling, and I’m really excited to see how their individual character arcs and their relationship evolves. Thanks to Carina Adores for the free preview!