The blurb states that this is like Masterchef meets Anna and the French Kiss and I would say that's an accurate description. The sweet romance and the mouthwatering food scenes made this delicious to read! I loved how vital the food was to the story, the cooking classes were so much fun to read. I am a big Food Network fan so I was grinning from ear to ear picturing these teens cooking in a Masterchef style kitchen. The cast is diverse and fun. I was rooting for Rosie and Henry from the moment they met! They were powerfully written with distinct voices, families and backgrounds. I loved watching them grow during their time at the cooking school. Their romance starts off rocky due to cliche communication issues. However it ends strong and much of the focus remains on their classes and school which helps the story never feel stagnant. The ending was perfect and left me smiling. It's a great lighthearted, feel good romance.

Recommend for fans of:
- Anna and the French Kiss
- Food Network/Baking Shows
- Kasie West
- HEA/Feel Good contemporary romance

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an earc for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this teenager chefs where teenagers find love in Paris at Chef Laurent’s School. This book made me want to cook more and be better at cooking.  Also made me want to watch the cooking shows too. I loved how the author mentions Hermione from Harry Potter when describing the main character answering a question. 

I really enjoyed this book, I’m gave this a four out of five stars. I definitely recommend it especially if you like cooking or baking shows. Especially if you enjoy cook offs or bake offs, you’ll love this.

This was a very cute, light read that makes you hungry for some good food!  A high recommend for YA romance lovers as well as food lovers.... and for those of us who love Paris!

TL;DR – Loved the food aspect, but everything else (characters, drama) felt exaggerated and shallow.

I really, REALLY liked the premise of this book. I’m not an awesome cook or anything, but I can appreciate good food and I love watching Food Network. Honestly, this book read like it was written by somebody who also just enjoys watching Food Network and doesn’t know much about the culture of cooking, etc. The main characters were in awe of a chef who won Chopped four times…I just have a hard time believing that’s actually what Michelin star winning chefs actually care about. I also questioned teenagers being sent to Paris for high school? But I guess people send their kids to boarding schools all the time, so maybe it’s not that weird.

The characters were okay for me. They seemed relatively immature and there was a bit of an instalove component between Henry and Rosie. I thought the friend group had the potential to have a great dynamic, but in the end it fell kind of flat for me. I felt like each secondary character was a stereotype or caricature of their culture…they all just felt so exaggerated.

Plotwise, again, the book was just okay. The drama between Henry, Rosie, and Bodie felt SUPER fabricated. Henry and Rosie are pretty much with each other 24/7 and they can’t find two seconds to talk and clear the air? I also didn’t appreciate how angry Henry would get at Rosie doing things with Bodie. Henry and Rosie weren’t actually dating and Rosie doesn’t owe him ANYTHING. I mean, she does end up liking Henry, but even if she did like Bodie, Henry has NO RIGHT to be upset about that.

The last criticism I have is how the author treated Henry’s “tiger mom”. Henry is Korean and his mom is super involved with his academics–even going as far as to email his teachers in Paris. To me, it feels like an Asian tiger mom can really be portrayed in a bad light and I feel like Henry’s mom was mostly portrayed negatively in this book. I feel like the tiger mom thing was used as a plot device to inject more drama into the story. Henry’s mom felt like just another character exaggeration and I didn’t really appreciate that coming from a white author.

Overall, this book was just okay. I liked the descriptions of food (hard to go wrong there), but the book itself didn’t really have any weight or depth. I’d probably advise a pass on this one.

Overall Rating: 3
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: Mild

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Rosie has won every award for baking her small town offers, but that does not compare to being accepted at a prestigious year long study abroad school for teens in Paris- but can she really compete with these other basically professional chefs when all she wants to do is bake? Henry knows he belongs at the culinary school so he can live out his dreams, but his mom has other ideas about Henry's future. When these two American teens embark on an exciting, stressful adventure to Paris, they had no idea what the future would hold- or that love might be on the menu.

"He could just let her fall asleep. He should just let her fall asleep. And he definitely shouldn’t say, “Hey, there’s a chance I maybe might love you. Because of cakes.” No, that was not the thing to do. That was a thing a crazy person would do. And Henry was determined not to be a crazy person. Both in general and in this specific situation."

This is my current favorite read, it was so freaking cute and I did not want to stop reading- this is a binge book that can easily be consumed in one sitting if you are determined. Oh my gosh this book made me hungry. I felt like I was drooling the entire time I was reading- when I was not laughing at the antics of the characters (#MumiDoesParis- don't ask!). I am a stress baker so reading about all the cooking was fun, but the baking that Rosie was excited about made me happy (and dying to fly to Paris and eat at the little boulangerie). Make sure you have some sugary treats nearby like a cream puff (cookies will work in a pinch!) to combat the sugar cravings that are guaranteed to arise!

The story is dual narrated by Rosie and Henry, alternating at chapters. Rosie is the epitome of an American Girl/the Girl-next-door, with her friendly personality and down to earth ways. She was an easy character to get to know, so welcoming and with her Mama's manners ingrained. Rosie's family dynamic was such a great representation of a loving family, I completely enjoyed how they were a team, full of love and crazy banter that made me want to melt- I don't feel like we see this enough in YA. I really loved her brothers and how completely useless they were without Rosie- their messages made me laugh out loud at times. Henry was easy for me to love as a character because he was charming and knew and accepted himself completely. Henry was a total over-reactor when it came to Rosie and her feelings, but even when he doubted her feelings for him, he still rooted Rosie on and had full faith in her skills. It endeared him to me that much more. And I agree, potatoes are never a problem (spoken like a true potato maniac).

This was my first book by Stephanie and I completely loved everything about the experience. I will now grab any book by her, past or future, because I know that I will enjoy every morsel written. I feel like I had been in a little bit of a reading slump recently, but Love A La Mode fixed that problem. I highly recommend Love A La Mode for anyone who enjoys cute YA contemporary romances or has a sweet tooth and loves cooking shows!

What a delicious read! I always love reading Stephanie Kate Strohm’s books, and her most recent release is no exception. Her books are always sweet, and never fail to put a huge smile on my face.

Love à la Mode not only managed to make me smile, but also taught me so much about baking and French cooking. You absolutely should not read this book hungry, as Stephanie describes the student’s dishes in such wonderful detail that your mouth will water. This book made me want to go eat bread in Paris, and I loved the fun journey of getting to read this book!

A sweet teen romance that will make you crave a croissant. A light (but not too light) feel-good read.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

To me, this felt quite reminiscent (in a good way) of Anna and the French Kiss. Both feature a diverse group of friends who meet at a boarding school in Paris. Plus romance.

Thought AaTFK did have to do with food, there’s definitely more of a foodie element to Love a la Mode. The characters are teen chefs, and they both explore (and eat their way through) Paris and also have to measure up (ha!) in the kitchen.

There’s a bit of a love triangle going on between Rosie, Henry and Bodie (who’s the son of a famous chef and a semi-celebrity himself). Overall the romance is more sweet than steamy.

Most of the plot centers around the romance and also the struggles of Henry and Rosie in the kitchen – each doubts their talent and has some ups and downs as they try to (in the words of Chopped or Top Chef) “figure out who they are as a chef” and cook from their heart.

If you are looking for a cute book with a fun setting and a sweet romance, definitely check this one out!

Throughout the years, I’ve had ups and downs with Strohm’s books. With each one, I’ve liked the book a bit more, but there’s never been one I could unreservedly love. Until now. Love à la Mode melted my heart and served it up on a plate of happiness. I’ve been wanting a YA MasterChef for ages, and I finally have it!

Seriously, though, if you have also been wanting a YA take on MasterChef that also has a romance between competitors, this book is IT. The characters are all attending a fancy, incredibly competitive cooking school in Paris. Basically, on top of taking all of the usual classes, they also spend hours a day cooking.

The setup of the cooking portions of the school is so very MasterChef. The cooking spaces are laid out that way, and the challenges are often very reminiscent of the show. Each week, they learn new techniques, culminating on Fridays with the students being able to cook something of their choice in line with the week’s subject matter. Then, at the end of the semester, their final is cooking a full three course meal for their two judges. SO. VERY. MASTERCHEF.

There are two POV characters, Henry and Rosie, who first meet on their flight from Chicago to Paris, having by happenstance ended up seated across the aisle from one another. (Also, she’s next to a baby, and he’s next to an overly amorous newlywed couple, so that’s the worst row ever despite the attractive, interested person across the aisle. I would not be able to deal.) Henry’s reading a cooking magazine, and he catches Rosie staring at him reading said cooking magazine, and they end up talking about food.

Henry, very adorably, immediately instaloves on Rosie with what must be the cutest instalove quote of all time: “Hey, there’s a chance I maybe might love you. Because of cakes.” Though, to be fair, instacrush is the more accurate term, but Henry’s crush on Rosie is unshakable. Interestingly, the book even opens with Henry’s POV rather than Rosie’s, which is fairly rare in the heroine/love interest dual POV.

Prepare to be very busy trying to shove their faces together, shouting NOW KISS to these two. Or, more accurately, NOW COMMUNICATE, because omg they just will not. They both are seriously crushing on each other from that first plane ride, but neither will fully commit to making a move. In an adult novel that would annoy the shit out of me, but tbh it felt very believable here and not like pointless drama. They’re young and shy and also busy af. Learning to communicate takes time.

There IS a love triangle of sorts, which I know will frustrate some people, but personally I loved how Strohm handled it. <spoiler>Bodie Tal, son of a famous TV chef, has a crush on Rosie, and she thinks he’s hot and nice, but she’s never interested in actually dating him. In fact, she turns him down even though, at the time, Henry’s not being his best self at all. Even better, she and Bodie stay friends and there’s no macho posturing between Bodie and Henry either!</spoiler>

Both Henry and Rosie are super under stress during their first semester at the ėcole. The chef teaching them has indicated from day one that she doesn’t think Rosie deserves to be there and fully intends to kick her out after the first semester; Rosie’s a pastry chef, so she’s incredibly behind on cooking skills, the school’s focus. Henry’s technically skilled and not in danger of being kicked out by the school (though the chef does constantly accuse him of making dishes that aren’t “him,” until he makes Korean-inspired dishes, which I found very problematic of her but also super realistic to MasterChef), but his mom has promised to force him out if his grades aren’t high enough. AND she’s given him even more work to do, because she doesn’t think being a chef is a safe career path.

Henry’s mom annoyed the shit out of me tbh. She’s so dismissive of his dream, and she won’t stop pushing him to do things that she wants instead. It’s extra shitty considering that Henry’s dad’s a chef, and every time she goes off on Henry, she’s basically telling her husband she thinks he was a waste of her time. Ick. There’s not a lot of resolution to that, but that’s exactly the kind of adult drama that won’t have a pretty resolution in novel. Henry and his mom reach a detente of sorts, which is the most you can reasonably expect.

I sped through Love à la Mode in a single day because I couldn’t put it down. It’s pure literary marshmallow fluff, and I wish there were more of it tbh, because damn was it delicious.

*I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review - thank you so much, but it didn't affect my review at all. My love of Stephanie Kate Strohm books probably did, though.*

This book is everything that is amazing about contemporary: fluffy, fun, funnies, and cuteness. And then add some cooking and baking??? If you love cooking and baking, this has some of the best food descriptions that I've ever read and all foodies will forever rejoice.

Henry and Rosie were great main characters. I vibed a bit more with Henry, but they both easy to relate to and easy to root for. Henry had enormous pressures and stress placed on him to do fantastic in school - and in the kitchen. Rosie had adorable and funny brothers that she left behind, and the homesickness she was struggling with was real. I mean, yes, you're in gorgeous Paris, living the dream life, but it's hard to leave your old life - and especially your lovable family behind. I enjoyed reading both of their voices.

The rest of the characters were great as well. The diversity that Strohm brought was fantastic. Characters came from all different places and backgrounds. My favorite side characters was Yumi, because she brought allllllllll the funnies. I loved her, and Marquis, Priya, and my other love, Hampus were all fantastic. Seirously, Hampus was a gift, and I thanked Strohm every time he would appear.

It's been a whileeeeeeeee since I read a cute, fluffy, adorably cheesy book. When I first started it, I felt like I forgot how to read one??? But once the ship started kicking it, I was brought back to all the feels. Henry and Rosie was adorable. I felt like there was a little too much keeping them away from each other at certain points, but I was feeling the feels and the cutenesssss.

The setting and writing was great as well. I really felt Paris coming through the pages, and the cooking school vibes felt so realistic. Strohm's writing is always easy breezy and bringing the funnies. There was nothing different about this story either. The only issue I really had with the story was that it felt like it lost a bit of steam sometimes. Like, I know we were working toward the end of the semester and Rosie's and Henry's romance, but I never really felt any pressure or tensions that was really pushing me super super along. That was my only real issue I had with it. Also, I'm really not a big fan of intense food descriptions, but Strohm still made a non-believer enjoy them, and if you love them, this book is perfecttttttttttttt for you.

Overall, this was Strohm proving again that she is one of the best names in contemporaries. It's fun, cute, and quirky and brings perfectness for foodies. 4 crowns and an Ariel rating!

4.5 stars

I totally did not realize just how much I needed an adorable romance until I picked this up! But yes. I did need this book. And you probably do too.

Because not only was it absolutely adorable and swoon-worthy and filled with delicious baked goods + foods I couldn’t get enough of, it also was just a whole lot of fun and a perfect get-out-of-your-head read!

Sometimes you just need that light & enjoyable read to take away from some of the darkness + moodiness of life, and this book put me into such a good mood.

I am, admittedly, one of those people who do like watching cooking + baking shows even though my culinary talent only extends as far as following very basic recipes, but it was so atmospherically Parisian that I couldn’t help but enjoy. 

But seriously!!! If you are looking for a low-stress read (which is very important from time to time) feat. delicious foods and a happy, fluffy romance, you need to pick this up. 

Not only was I drooling the whole way through, I found both of the protagonists likeable and sweet and very well suited for each other. It was pleasantly romantic with a perfect dash of teenage angst that I sped through this book rather quickly.

And I mean, I love the sound of Paris. I’ve never been, but Paris books are so fun and magical to read–Paris anything is fun and magical. Europe anything sounds wonderful (aka anything that isn’t the trashfire of my country right now). 

So if you’re someone bothered by that tourist-y romanticism that I love so much, you might not want to pick this up. But if you’re someone like me who would be happy with even Canada, you need this book in your life! 

I thought it was very well paced and filled with an endearing cast of characters outside of the protagonists. Their friend group was endearing, and even the antagonists-who-weren’t-really-antagonists were enjoyable too. 

And the meet cutes were adorable and even the side characters’ smaller plots were enjoyable and well woven into the novel! Which is, admittedly, something you don’t see very often.

Honestly, I don’t have a lot of criticism for this book, or justification for the 4 stars. I guess I just felt like something was missing–although this was a really enjoyable couple of hours, I wanted a little bit more. Maybe a more tangible plotline, because I admit that a lot of the struggle was internal, and I kind of wanted more than that. 

But overall, I very thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and although it might not be one of my Most Moving Books of 2018, it was definitely worth the read and I wouldn’t want to unread it. 

I definitely hope to pick up Strohm’s earlier novel, Prince in Disguise as it’s been on my TBR for a while now, and this has cemented my enjoyment of her writing! 

I’d recommend Love á la Mode to anyone looking for a light + fluffy contemporary read full of atmospheric Parisian-ness, an enjoyable romance, and some sweet and savory treats that will get your stomach rumbling!

This book is pure sugar and spice.  Rosie and Henry meet on the airplane to Paris, and soon realize they are both heading to the same place, an exclusive cooking school founded by Chef Laurent.  They are both excited and overwhelmed with their experience—Rosie with her lackluster cooking skills since she’s a pastry chef and Henry with keeping up with his academics and the pressure by his overbearing mother—but as the semester continues on, they realize that their connection is more than just as friends.

Honestly, this book was predictable.  The cooking school part was interesting, along with the diverse mix of characters from all over the world—30 kids from America to Sweden to Germany to England—but the whole story seemed very fluffy.  I kept mentally yelling at the book, “Why don’t you just talk to him/her instead of saying it in your head?  Then all the tension and drama would be resolved.”  

Did I enjoy reading it?  Sure.  Would I be okay handing this off to a high schooler, or even a middle schooler?  Sure.  I just felt like the characters could have been developed more and the teen hormonal drama toned down a smidge.  

**This book was just published!  Thanks to Net Galley and Disney-Hyperion for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.**

A charming celebration of food, cooking, Paris and friendship, with hints of romance. This was so fun! I loved the characters, especially Henry and Rosie. The chemistry between them was great. At one level this is a romance, but deeper than that it's a friendship story about finding your place and your people. It's also about going all in with your passion - in this case, food - and not letting anything stand in your way. I am a huge fan of Stephanie Kate Strohm, and I thoroughly enjoyed her newest book!

Title:   Love à la Mode
Author:   Stephanie Kate Strohm
Genre:   YA, fiction
Rating:   4.5 out of 5

Rosie Radeke is from East Liberty, Ohio, a small town where winning local baking contests is a big deal. But now Rosie got into Chef Laurent’s prestigious cooking school in Paris, and she just knows she’s finally going to start living all her celebrity-cooking-show-inspired dreams. But a nightmare chef/instructor soon makes Rosie wonder if she has any talent at all.

Henry Yi was raised in his dad’s Chicago restaurant. Cooking is in his blood, and it’s all he wants to do. His mother, however, insists he do more—and gets him extra work from his instructors to prove it. Henry likes Rosie, but between his extra homework, his fear of being an uninspired cook, and Rosie’s growing friendship with famous model/chef Bodie, does he even stand a chance?

This was a sweet tale, in more than one way. First, don’t read this if you’re hungry. The pastry descriptions alone will have you drooling. And this is a clean book, which I appreciated, told from both Henry and Rosie’s point-of-views. Well-written, with quirky and entertaining characters (the secondary characters are a riot), this is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Stephanie Kate Strohm writes children’s and YA books. Love à la Mode is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.)

As a mother, I am always looking for a book that my daughter and I can read together and then come together later in the day to talk about the chapter and give each other our thoughts. I was so pleased with this book especially in that aspect. I would often times hear my daughter giggling from her room as she tore through this book. I'll admit it was a quick read for me as well. Phenomenally well written, this is a book adults and young adults can enjoy equally. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

One of my favorite evening pastimes is to curl up with my husband and watch Food Network. Our favorites are Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and the various holiday baking challenges. As someone who has read and loved Strohm's previous novels, I knew this one had to make it onto my reading list this fall. What's not to love? It's a story about two American teens attending a prestigious culinary school in Paris. It has all those Food Network elements I love with the added bonus of a city that thrives on romance and good eats.

Rosie is a slightly stereotypical girl from the Midwest - sweet, loyal, wholesome, and sheltered. Henry is also from the Midwest, but his Chicago upbringing makes him a bit more worldly than Rosie. The pair collide while on a flight to Paris when they both realize they share a love of the culinary arts and will be attending the same school in France. The pair strikes up an instant connection as romance swirls in the air, but the stresses of school and pressure from home keeps the pair apart.

As Rosie and Henry attempt to navigate the competitive culinary world and maintain a solid academic GPA, they must also learn to deal with new friends, new cultures, and new crushes. The pair must decide if they are meant to remain in the friend zone or if something more lurks beneath the surface. In addition to the main characters, there are also a lovable bunch of supporting characters who I loved just as much as Rosie and Henry.

Full of food, fun, and sweetness, Love a la Mode was the perfect read for this hectic time of year. As stress at work and with the holidays began to bear down on me, I loved the moments when I could escape into Rosie and Henry's story. There is something about a contemporary romance that will heal what ails you and I always have such fun with Strohm's characters. If you're in the mood for more sweetness than steam and you have a Food Network obsession, I highly recommend giving this a read. I would suggest having snacks at hand! My sweet tooth has been seriously clamoring for attention since I read about all the delectable desserts.

One Last Gripe: I thought some of the relationships glossed the surface rather than having a lot of depth to them.

Favorite Thing About This Book: It's a tie between the setting and the culinary aspects.

First Sentence: The girl across the aisle was staring at him.

Favorite Character: Rosie

Least Favorite Character: Henry's mom kind of stressed me out.

If you love food and cute romance, this is the book for you!  Love a la Mode tells the sweet (literally and figuratively) story of Henry and Rosie and their adventures in Paris at a famous cooking school.  Along the way, they meet an eclectic and eccentric group of friends, explore the city, and deal with the highs and lows of perfecting their cooking and baking skills.

As someone who loves to eat and try new things, every description of every dish had my mouth watering.  The food all sounded amazing and the cast of characters were so joyous and fun to read about.  There were definitely some areas of the story that were quite predictable and some characters made a few choices that I wanted to shake them for, but overall, this was quite an enjoyable read with pop culture references to some of the best shows on Food Network.  

Grab some hot cocoa and cookie, because this is the perfect novel to snuggle up with on a cold day!

*Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I"m really feeling the foodie trend in YA lately. It's cute and fun, fresh and worth diving into. I think this one is good for anyone who loves a good YA contemp.  Writing quality, plot, character development, all were decently done. I'd read this one again, for sure.

FOODIES REJOICE!!! 

This book was absolutely adorable ((one of the best 'Meet Cutes' I have ever read!!)) and reminded me that sometimes it is okay to just read something that makes your heart happy. There was nothing complicated, no horrible hidden secrets or murders or deceptions, just love, reflection and growth...oh and a heck of a lot of fun, food and friends!

"There's no one else I'd rather eat with."

As a romance-heavy YA Contemporary will do, this book is replete with the angsty sort of romance tropes that you would typically find in a YA but, that being said, they were really well done here. It never felt cheesy to me or overplayed, just nice, steady and sweet. I loved watching the evolution of the relationship between Rosie and Henry, even through the miscommunications that made me want to scream, I just truly felt filled to the brim with warmth from this story.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback and I look forward to hearing what other readers think of this one! Well done, Ms. Strohm. Very well done.

Rose and Henry have connected quickly since their first meeting, finding that they are in the same teen cooking school, the connection only increases. Amidst challenges, new friendships and great rivalries, this couple will see their friendship tested.
I liked the way the writer built the plot wrapped around the recipe created at school and how each one reacts to the pressure they have suffered. I found  cute the friendship of Rose and Henry,  I do not understand much his behavior and jealousy exaggerated, since he began to send contradictory signals to the girl. I understand he was under great pressure from his mother, but Rose had already shown who she liked.
Loved the cover and loved the friends they made and especially loved the ending. Now Want a book for Bodie.
The reading was so delicious that left me very hungry even being fed. LOL