Olive Stone is particular and it serves her well in her job as a food critic. After her father’s death, she learns that she has been given his restaurant and the manuscript to his unfinished cookbook. Her dad had a wish that Olive, along with Leo, his sous chef, would journey to Italy to complete his cookbook and return home to run the restaurant. Begrudgingly, Olive decides to give it a try. While Olive and Leo make their way through the last cities needed to complete the cookbook, they form a friendship in which Leo offers Olive understanding but doesn’t let her go unchallenged.

Following Olive on her path to understanding herself is heartwarming. Through her struggles in trying to understand her relationship with her estranged father, Olive grows into someone that learns how to make decisions based on her own dreams. Her relationships with her best friends, Ginny and Kate, provide a look into strong female friendships and how they can lift you up in the most trying of times. While Ginny and Kate are important to Olive, their relationship is not the only significant one throughout Just One Taste. Although the story progressed slowly, Lizzy Dent does a great job of exploring the impact of relationships with those closest to us while simultaneously exploring what can happen when relationships don’t look the way we think they should as life takes a different path than we expect.

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy!

In 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦, food journalist and restaurant critic Olive Stone receives an unexpected inheritance from her estranged father—his Italian restaurant, Nicky’s, and the building it occupies. She has not spoken with him much since her parents’ divorce over a decade ago, but he has given her the business and property on one condition. She must go to Italy with his protege and finish researching and writing his cookbook. Olive intends to sell the place, but complications arise as she and chef Leo work on the project together, get to know each other, and deepen their bond.

This is a great premise and writer Lizzy Dent is skilled in writing about beautiful settings and delicious food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the characters and failed to become invested in Olive and Leo’s romance. Their attraction was clearly there but I personally didn’t find a lot of chemistry, tension, or heat in their scenes. The book overall was a decent read for me but it is possible that others may have a different and more enjoyable reading experience. Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Releases: 7/16/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

This is the perfect book for beach reading, but more specifically traipsing around Italian beaches on a European summer! It's truly a love letter to Italy and THE FOOD, it had me flashing right back to my Italian exchange trip in high school getting drunk on limoncello and eating copious amounts of pasta.

The "Yes, chef" banter was (pun intended) *chef's kiss* and I don't know if I've watched too many episodes of The Bear, but I am INTO IT. (I wanna lil chefy bf asap)

I do think that the adoption reveal could have happened earlier in the book and that would have left us with more of a resolution arc. Specifically her speaking again with Rocco and his wife and explaining her feelings more to Leo.

Also, as a failed Italian student, I loved the addition of the dialogue in Italian!

Overall... I think it's time I went back to Italy this summer!

Oh my gosh, I am in love with this book! This has been on my TBR for quite some time and I am so happy that it exceeded my expectations.

There were so many things to love about this book:
* A summer in Italy, where the author wrote so beautifully describing the different parts that I felt like I was right there.
* All the delicious food!
*Our lead Olive, who was so relatable and really had me rooting for her.
* The father/daughter relationship that was so endearing to follow.
* LEO. Leo Ricci. That’s all I need to say. Talk about my new favorite leading man.
* The wonderful friendships that Olive had.

Please pick up this book if you are looking for a wonderful story set in Italy; a perfect romance in my eyes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review; all opinions are my own.

I had high hopes, but I thought that there wasn’t enough chemistry between characters. Though I love stories where it’s surrounding food, I guess I just anticipated too much. And wanted it to be a certain way.

This book is a delightful concoction of humor, romance, and culinary adventure, making it a truly irresistible read. A story that's not only entertaining but also heartwarming, filled with quirky characters and unexpected turns. The protagonist, with her dreams and culinary aspirations, instantly won me over with her charm and relatability. Her journey is a blend of self-discovery and romance, set against the vibrant backdrop of the food industry. I thoroughly enjoyed the culinary aspects of the story; they added a unique flavor that set this romance apart from others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of “Just One Taste”!

This is the perfect summer read that will transport you to Italy! All of the descriptions of food and tiny towns in Italy made me wish I was there for the summer!

I appreciate when romance novels have more meat to them than just the romantic relationship, and Lizzy’s relationship with her dad, dealing with grief, and finishing the cookbook checked all of those boxes.

Overall good plot however it was too dry for me. DNF at 18%.



******************I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion***********

This is my first Lizzy Dent book and I was pleasantly surprised! It started off a bit slow for me - I found Olive to be a bit annoying and rude in the beginning but after some much admired character development (and copious amounts of pasta and drinks) I fell in love with her and Leo and the way food is used to express their wants and desires. Anyone who loves food will love this book. Those looking for a bit more dialogue might be disappointed as Dent really hones in on descriptions but the dialogue and texts between friends is written so very well. Solid 4 stars with those tropes everyone loves - forced proximity, one bed, shared bathroom…definitely recommend if you want a summer romance, love food and want to be transported to Italy. Just have a glass of rosé ready as you jump in!

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for the aARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book offers a savory concoction of romance, family dynamics, and culinary delights.

It starts like this: Olive Stone's estranged father passes away, and she has inherited his Italian restaurant—in Italy. There, she meets his sous chef, Leo, and the two go on a journey around Italy in order to complete her father's cookbook.

The description of Italy was so beautiful, as was the slow-burn romance! Don't even get me started on how mouth-watering all of the food sounded, too...!

With its charming setting, engaging characters, and heartfelt moments, "Just One Taste" is sure to leave readers hungry for more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book from the very first book. It was fun but still had a lot of depth.

Perfect summer romance read to take on vacation or anywhere. I am a big fan of Lizzy Dent's writing and have enjoyed all of her books this was no exception and may be one of my favorites from her. I loved the setting of Italy for the story and all the talk of food made we want to start cooking whenever I picked it up. Giving this one 4 stars I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was originally drawn to this book based off the cover & the Emily Henry blurb but I am so glad I read this!! Binged this book in one sitting it was that fun! Such a perfect short summery read!!

Olive and Leo are forced to travel to Italy to finish the cookbook Olive’s father was working on before he passed. Throw in some forced proximity and only one bed & you have the perfect setup for these two “enemies”. The setting of this book was genuinely so immersive, I need my own trip to Italy now!! If you’ve read The Seven Year Slip, you’ll definitely enjoy this book as it gave me similar vibes with all the food talk & the banter between the 2 MC’s. I really loved all the characters in this, even the minor characters had their time to shine and really added to the story.

While this book was definitely fun and light hearted, there is a deeper emotional level to it as Olive is learning to deal with the loss of her dad. I definitely will be reading more Lizzy Dent in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book!

First off, this book should have a disclaimer in BIG BOLD LETTERS right on the front page that you will develop a serious craving for authentic Italian food and that the author will not be held liable for any hangry attitudes or actions developed while reading her story.
Now let’s dive in! This was a fun story and will bring you behind the counter of all the special ingredients that go into making an Italian restaurant and family cookbook. Lizzy Dent is a master at her prose and I found myself immersed in the foods and flavors of the story. This was my first book from Dent and I look forward to reading her other books!
This story cooks a sweet aroma of family dynamics, friendships and love stories. Although the story is not all sweet and savory, Dent tackles some heavy topics such as sudden death, dealing with grief, and the complexities of missed parent relationships.
Our main characters, Olive Stone and Leo Ricci, help bring the Italian flavors and scenes to life as they explore the Italian countryside in search of the perfect ingredients. I loved their slow burn relationship and there are definitely some forced proximity tropes in this story that are the chief’s kiss! Also I love Olive’s close friends who spark laughter for this reader in each interaction. I hope their friendship stays solid and continues for life!

Just One Taste is the perfect summer read that will transport you to the heart of Italy.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the digital ARC of Just One Taste.

I will admit that it took me a while to get into the plot of the story. Once I did though, I couldn’t stop reading. I have always wanted to travel around Europe, and I loved reading the descriptions of the food and locations Olive and Leo travelled to while trying to finish Olive’s dad’s cookbook. I connected with Olive in so many different ways, the biggest one was not having a true relationship with my dad. I loved how Lizzy Dent showed the realities of trying to love a parent when they have caused the family pain. I will definitely be adding this book to my bookshelf this summer and will be recommending this book to my friends who love a good romance.

Me gustó la idea, estuvo entretenido y disfrute las escenas de Italia y la comida.

Olive carga con culpa que no le corresponde. Lo del papá fue un tema difícil por lo que se reveló en los capítulos fianles, pero eso no justifica que desapareciera de su vida. Me choca cuando intentan justificar las acciones de un muerto por el simple hecho de que está muerto.

No me gustó como Olive se volvía tonta por Leo desde el principio; nos presentan a una Olive inteligente, trabajadora y calculadora, pero cuando se trata de Leo y de su padre se vuelve una bola de nervios.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Honestly, I have been longing for a chef book since ‘The Bear’ and this definitely hit the spot.

First off, this book made me HUNGRY. I felt like I was in Italy and traveling along with the characters and wanted to buy a plane ticket to Italy IMMEDIATELY!

Romance wise, Olive and Leo had great chemistry. Checkmarks for slow burn, forced proximity, and one bed. The two balanced eachother out well and I never felt like one was more invested than the other in the relationship.

It’s definitely a light read, perfect for summer with one plot twist just a little too late in the story in my opinion. BUT I definitely recommend,

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC! 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lovely, sweet, romantic. Made me want to eat buckets of Italian food. ❤️
This was my first lizzy dent book and I don’t think it will be my last! I enjoyed all of the family dynamics, friendships and the love stories. As well as the cast of characters met along the way. This was just sweet and lovely and so fun

"Just One Taste" is about Olive, who just inherited her *somewhat* estranged fathers Italian Restaurant (that she has beef with because she believes it ruined her parents marriage) upon his death, and ALSO now she has to go on a month long Italy Adventure with the "hot" Sous Chef from the restaurant, in order to finish her dad's cookbook.

From start to finish, I found myself smiling on every page, even at times with tears streaming down my face. It's amazing how well Lizzy Dent tackled the complexity of losing a parent that you had a complicated relationship with, while also making me fall in love and laugh *literally* out loud.

The writing of this book is so well done, that while Olive and Leo were traveling around Italy, I felt like I was really there, drinking an Aperol spritz on a patio with fairy lights over my head.

The romance is slow-burn, but the chemistry is there from the VERYYYY BEGINNING.

Each of the relationships in this book were so special and something I will cherish!!!!!!

exactly what i would expect from miss lizzy dent. the banter was 10/10 and that comes as no surprise. i loved her previous novel and had high hopes for this one! women’s fiction with a side plot of romance will always be my bread and butter so i highly recommend checking this one out!