When I saw this book was a rivals to lovers culinary journey through Italy, I was SO excited! And it lived up to all of my foodie/romance lover dreams! Olive (adorable food name) and Leo are so easy to cheer on throughout their journey. Through loss, meddling friends and family, and so much delicious food these two meet and learn about themselves and each other. They joke, taste, and explore throughout Italy in this emotionally touching read!

I highly recommend this for and romance reading foodies out there!

I believe that this book would be the perfect short vacation read. It has some strong personalities from the characters, beautiful imagery for the setting, and a new take on a traditional rom-com book. With that being said, I found myself in a lull while reading it. I was never eager to reach for it. I was trying to pinpoint what kind of trope this book would classify under... felt like enemies but maybe not enough hatred? maybe close proximity? but they were separated many times through the first half which brings me to my biggest concern. I didn't know that a book this short could be a slow burn! I'm assuming that the author didn't want to go for an insta love situation because of the shortness of the novel but the beginning felt a bit dragged because of that avoidance. With a short book I sort of want them to come together quickly so that we have more time with them in a relationship. I think that is largely the only thing that I struggled with because beyond that I enjoyed the integration of current trends which has been difficult to nail down effectively. A lot of readers go to books to escape real life so when current trends, apps, and common phrases are brought up, it tends to put some audiences off. This book brings up references that current Gen Z and millennials would get in a smooth and nuanced way that brings a sense of relatability. You feel like you're at the dinner table with them right now just having a chat. Lastly, I will give kudos to the third-act conflict/plot twist that I definitely did not see coming. I'm not sure if any crumbs of that being a possibility just blew over my head but it warranted a gasp. congrats to this author and publisher for creating a fun book and I look upward to reading more :)

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for the eARC of Just One Taste by @lizzie.dent in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Welcome to the perfect Italian escape! Olive is still fresh in grief after her father’s recent death. She hates her job and has inherited her father’s beloved restaurant. She has no idea if she wants to keep the doors open but wonders if there is a way to have the business fund her dreams of writing her great novel. After all, her dad’s wish before he died was to write the next great cookbook. Perhaps she can jumpstart her dreams and resolve some regret surrounding their relationship by taking the booked trip to Italy and honor his memory with this lasting legacy. The trip just happens to be with Leo, her dad’s sous-chef protege, who she is not a fan of. A trip to Italy is always a good idea, but a trip to Italy with Olive and Leo is just what I needed in my life! Lizzy Dent creates a magical trip through regions of Italy, where the food is delectable and the chemistry between Olive and Leo is on fire. Just One Taste is the perfect combination of dealing with grief and using the emotions to reexamine dreams for the future, a heartwarming and wonderful read!

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on instagram ahead of the publication date!

This story will transport you straight to Italy, and make you extremely hungry. I loved learning about the different regions of Italy and each of their traditional foods. I enjoyed how the story developed, but it really only focused on the two characters. There was also a twist at the end that I’m not sure was necessary. I liked this one overall but for context, I loved The summer job also by Dent! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this e-ARC for my honest review.

Just One Taste is a delectable treat for readers looking for a heartwarming romance with a side of culinary delights!
When Olive Stone unexpectedly inherits her father's failing restaurant, she's determined to sell it and move on with her life. But her plans hit a snag when her father's dying wish involves completing his cookbook with the help of Leo Ricci, her father's former sous-chef and now a charming Italian chef.
What follows is a delightful journey through Italy as Olive and Leo travel from Sicily to Tuscany to Liguria, testing recipes and their patience with each other along the way. The author serves up a delicious blend of food, romance, and self-discovery as Olive and Leo navigate their complicated pasts and undeniable attraction.
The chemistry between Olive and Leo sizzles on the page, making their banter and blossoming romance a joy to read. The author's vivid descriptions of Italian cuisine and picturesque landscapes transport readers to the heart of Italy, making them feel like they're right there alongside Olive and Leo.
With its engaging storyline, lovable characters, and mouthwatering food descriptions, Just One Taste is a delightful read that will leave you hungry for more. Whether you're a foodie, a romance enthusiast, or simply looking for a charming story to escape into, this book is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I did love this story, it focuses around a lot of food though. Italian food that is. Some of this book, the characters talk in Italian, which I think can be good but if you don't know any Italian I feel it can be tough. The story focuses around Olive, who has a separation from her father after he basically chose the restaurant over her and her mum. Leo her dad's sous chef has been by his side since Olive left. When her dad passed, he left the restaurant to her. Right away her first thought is to sell. Tasked to finish his cookbook together, Leo and Olive set off to Italy. Bumps along the road, togetherness, getting to know each other; feelings start to evolve. We find out things along that way that will be very surprising. I do feel Olive was hard of harsh at times, she was a food critic and rarely gave good reviews but she was also rather mean to Leo in the beginning. She did come around though. I do think it would have been sweet to have Leo's point of view as well but the book did turn out great with just Olive's POV as well.

Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

(Out July 16!!)

Lizzy Dent knows how to write about food!! I loved the setting of The Summer Job so when I saw she wrote a book about a restaurant owner’s daughter going to Italy for the summer I was immediately sold.

After Olive’s dad passes away she inherits her father’s restaurant and cookbook deal- the only catch is she has to finish the cookbook with Leo, her father’s sous-chef.

This book is the perfect summer read! The Italian setting had me wanting to book a plane ticket immediately. Plus this slow burn romance felt super sweet as both the main characters are processing such a big loss in their lives and what that means for own journey. I had the biggest smile on my face while reading and after I finished I already had a list of people I wanted to recommend it to! This is truly some of Lizzy Dent’s best work!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

This was a fun engaging romance book that quite frankly makes me want to book a flight to Italy ASAP! Focused on family relationships, parental death, food, cooking, and great chemistry between the characters this is the perfect add to your summer reading list.

thank you to netgalley and Putnam for my ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc. I enjoyed reading this story about Olive Stone, who just lost the father she hadn't talked to in over ten years, and has just inherited the restaurant that was the cause of her parents' divorce ten years ago, and is tasked with completing the cookbook her father was working on prior to his death. Olive is a restaurant and bar critic, known for her acerbic reviews, whereby she prides herself on never giving stars to any establishment, believing there's always room for improvement. But, Olive has a lot of baggage to work on regarding her guilt about her relationship with her father, and how she was not able to salvage this relationship before her father's death. And now, she's responsible for her father's Italian restaurant, and its staff, plus, she's expected to travel to Italy to complete the cookbook her father was writing about the different regions in Italy. She's traveling with her father's sous chef, Leo Ricci, who Olive is instantly attracted to, all while tasting the delicious offerings Italy has to offer.

If you love travel and foodie stories, you will love this book. The descriptions of the regions visited by Olive and Leo, especially Sicily and Portofino, are beautifully detailed so you can the regions unfold before your eyes. And the food! Mamma Mia! This book made me crave Italian food so much! But, I felt the pacing was off throughout the book, primarily when Olive was attempting to resolve her emotions regarding her father, her father's death, and her burgeoning relationship with Leo. Otherwise, it was fun reading about Italy and it's amazing locales and food.

I solemnly swear that I will stop requesting books that are centered around food as their main plot point, because they never ever hit for me. Flowery passages about food just do nothing for me, and the entire time I'm left wishing for exposition on the characters and less about the sensation of eating a dish. THAT BEING SAID, I also found the both main characters to be annoying in their own ways and I wasn't really feeling their chemistry, either. The friendship between the FMC and her girlfriends felt more authentic to me than the romantic relationship that was happening.

I don't think the writing in this book was bad, and I'm certain that some people will love it.

If you are looking for a delectable romance, look no further than Lizzy Dent's 'Just One Taste'! Every page offered up a blend of romance, humor, and, of course, mouthwatering Italian cuisine. As Olive and Leo journey through Italy, their chemistry sizzles hotter and hotter, and I found it impossible to put down. Whether you're a foodie or simply craving a heartwarming romance, 'Just One Taste' is sure to satisfy you. Thank to to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

firstly, thank you to PENGUIN GROUP putnam for approving me for this eARC and to lizzy dent for writing it.

aside from books, the second biggest hobby in my life is food and cooking. i am by no means a gourmet level chef but i have a huge appreciation for the craft and really love learning about it. when i read the description for this book, i knew it was right up my alley!

“just one taste” follows food critic olive stone on a journey of italy, courtesy of her deceased father’s last wishes to finish a cookbook he was in the process of. hopefully, she can do it as fast as possible and be done with his legacy. the catch? she has to spend the trip with his restaurant’s sous chef, leo ricci, helping her. as they travel, they try foods, reconnect with old friends, learn about ingredients…and even about each other. it has her thinking maybe saving a legacy with someone by your side wouldn’t be too bad…

having lost a parent, especially one i was estranged from just like olive, i related a lot to her process of grief and i really appreciated that coming through in the writing style. and though i’ve never been to italy, the descriptions were so beautiful, and my mouth was watering pretty much the whole way through this book. (some of that could have been about leo, though! whew.) and olive’s struggle with wanting to sell the restaurant or take a leap and run it with leo felt really fleshed out - it was a decision she couldn’t make lightly and i felt that. also, Y’ALL. the last 20% of this book?! god. that bombshell was something i definitely wasn’t expecting. but i’m really glad for the ending and how it all tied up as nicely as possible.

this book comes out in july, be sure to add it to your tbr so you can pretend you’re going to an italian riviera with a hot guy who will just cook you food and compliment you the whole time. buona lettura!

This is a delightfully engaging, romantic and flirty, deeply heart-warming book perfect for summer reading! Or when you need a taste of an Italian summer, which if you’re like me, is at least once a month.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s wonderfully immersive, Lizzy Dent brings you along to every restaurant, every location through Italy that Olive and Leo visit, and makes sure you experience every bite and every glass of wine.

Olive goes on quite the journey of self-discovery after the passing of her father to finish his cookbook, and must bring along with her the sous chef from her father’s restaurant, (very flirty, very hot, very swoon-worthy) Leo. I just loved the chemistry between these two, and I giggled along with them as they cooked with banter across Italy. We meet so many colorful characters in the book, dialogue swirled with a few lines of Italian, honestly this book almost tricked me into believing I did in fact travel Europe!!

If you’re looking for a fun, charming, romantic book to add to your summer reading plans, definitely add this one, you won’t regret it!

This is my first Lizzy Dent, and I plan to read more. I will be recommending this to everyone for the summer, and be rereading it myself!!

— Thank you the NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Publishing for this ARC.

"Just One Taste" offers an enticing premise that evokes nostalgia for Italy, skillfully capturing the essence of its diverse regions. The blend of romance and culinary delights, set against a backdrop of family drama, adds depth to the narrative. However, the repetitive use of descriptive language becomes noticeable, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the slow pace of the romance between Leo and Olive, the book still holds appeal for those fond of Italian culture and cuisine, making it a suitable read for leisurely moments, such as beach vacations.

I felt like I went on a trip to Italy in this one. The description of the food and landscapes definitely make a romantic setting for a food critic and “hot chef”. I enjoyed this one! It’s out in July!

Lizzy Dent's writing is one of my favorites when it comes to romantic comedies. Her characters are always fun and easy to follow. This one got me craving a trip to Italy and a dream of opening my own modern Italian restaurant. I loved the plot, the family aspect, the food, the steamy build up of a romance and the closure that came from this read. It truly shows, from end to beginning, all the time, family, and want it takes to grow as a person to a place of happiness and forgiveness.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing company for allowing to me to read and review!

I loved this book. It’s the perfect story about falling in love with food, remembering a loved one and hopefully finding yourself along the backroads of Italy

Just One Taste is the story of Olive, who is finishing up her recently deceased father’s final project (a cookbook about Italy) with the will-they won’t-they romantic interest (her dad’s sous chef from the family restaurant). If Emily Henry ever wrote a book about a food critic, it would read something like this. It covered grief, guilt, love, and food. There were lots of flirty comments and obvious longing - which was enjoyable but did become somewhat repetitive. I think that there was a lot of talking around the past, which meant that the book felt as though it jumped right into the middle of a story. I liked this book, even though every time I put it down I craved pasta.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I think this may be my favorite book from this author, especially after ;last year's The Sweetest Revenge. Our FMC, Olive, is a notoriously stern food critic in London who has a rule to never give a 5 star review because there is always room for improvement.. She has recently inherited the failing restaurant from her father who recently passed away. She had an estranged relationship with him and the restaurant symbolizes the demise of her parents marriage. The other catch is her father wants her to finish his cookbook that spans various regions of Italy with the restaurant's sous chef, Leo. I guess this would be considered slightly enemies to lovers as Olive has made it clear that she wants to sell the restaurant, but Leo sees great possibilities in it.

The author did a wonderful job describing the various regions of Italy, and the food and wine descriptions were top notch and delicious. It's always great to see an author just get better and better in their craft.

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s for the ARC for my honest review.