I love stories about food. Books, movies, documentaries. So when I saw this short Book I jumped at the chance to review it. The Cook is the story of a young chef as he finds his way in the culinary world. Trying different cuisines, working in kitchens, and even opening a restaurant of his own. While reading this book the life of a chef came alive. It was like a documentary in a book form. My only wish was there was more read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful and surprisingly quick read about the coming-of-age of a young chef. I was drawn first by the book cover and then by the mouth-watering descriptions of the dishes that Mauro has mastered throughout his journey . The only issue I have is that I wish it's longer so we can enjoy Mauro's journey more!

This was a quick little read but I must say de Kerangal has a gift with written word. Penned beautifully and with such a lyrical translation from Taylor, I was blown away by the impact the prose had on me whilst reading.

Having grown up in the hospitality industry nothing in Mauro's story surprised me. I know the tough slog it requires to be a chef, the sheer dedication it takes to live your dream and the deep love of food you're required to possess if you don't want the industry to grind you down. I would have loved for this to be five times the length that it was. The use of language and the structure of the narrative would have entertained me for days.

A quick read, awesome cover to cover. In The Cook, we tag along Mauro as he wanders through life. At the end he rediscovers his hunger for cooking and his appetite for life. In the beginning as a child begins his career by baking cakes. Along the way as a teenager he cooks for his friends. He is employed at a number of places, experiences love, travels, has a successful business, and a nervous meltdown. This book is well written with awesome characters. Advance reader copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I did not expect to finish this novel in one sitting, but here I am at midnight writing a review.

I love food (I expect most people do) but I don't consider myself a 'foodie', however, even I could appreciate the nuances and subtleties of food as presented in this work. 'The Cook' follows the intense life of Mauro, an economics student turned chef who flits between jobs and school, never settling down for long. His social life and health deteriorate as he works 70 hour weeks but he can't stop for long.

If this novel taught me anything, it's that I myself never want to enter the restaurant business. The fast-paced work, the long shifts, the intense competition between colleagues... I think I'll just stick to enjoying food.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a light, easy read about life in various kitchens in Paris. A quick summer read that the author wrote very well.

"The Cook" reads more like an uncut profile on a fictional young chef on the rise in an issue of "New Yorker" magazine than a novel. A quick read with a gorgeous book cover that has been beautifully translated from its original French language,"The Cook" is filled with ripe, descriptive sentences that create a concisely, woven story. De Kerangal truely shines when describing all of the cuisines that Mauro masters in various restaurants. Do not read this on an empty stomach.

I received this book in exchange for a review from the publisher.