Meet Cute, Helena Hunting's last novel, was far and away my favorite romance novel of 2019. I just couldn't get enough of the snappy dialogue, the dreamy male love interest, or the fresh, original plot. (And yes, I'm still salty af that it didn't win the Goodreads Choice Award for Romance last year--there's no accounting for other people's shitty taste, unfortunately. *deep sigh*) Ever since I learned that Hunting had a new book, Kiss My Cupcake, coming out in August 2020 that promised more of what I loved so much about Meet Cute but with all new characters, I've been counting down the days to its publication. And from what I've read of the book so far (courtesy of an advance preview), I think there's a good chance Hunting will earn my vote for best romance novel two years in a row. Although I only have the first few chapters to judge from, the main characters seem just as likable and intriguing as they were in Meet Cute, with palpable chemistry from the get-go. I was already so invested in the story after the very first few pages, and I was devastated when I finished the sample. I can't wait to pick up where I left off in only a few weeks!

*This review is based on the four chapter preview available.*

That being said I am excited to read the rest of this book already. This enemies to lovers novel I feel will have everyone swooning. Cupcakes, ax throwing, and competition...what else can you ask for. I only read four chapters, which was definitely not enough I was ready to keep reading until the sun came up, I can't stop thinking about the main characters. I do plan to update my review when I finish the story but I can already tell it's going to be a rave.

This is just an excerpt from the book.
But it looks like interesting.
I'll leave a full review on my social medias as soon as I finish the full story.
I can't really write a review just with the first chapters.
But I'm looking forward for this one.

**This is a review of the NetGalley preview of the first 4 chapters, NOT the complete book**

Thank you NetGalley, Forever, and Helena Hunting for the chance to get a sneak peek at this book, which comes out in two weeks!

I've heard wonderful things about Helena Hunting's rom-coms, but based on the preview I think this one might not be for me. It made me feel positively ancient with all its talk of social media buzz and unicorn martini glasses. Also, the heroine got really offended that the hero called her business a cupcake shop but she wants to call it a cupcake and cocktail cafe and I don't understand why she was upset (I will keep calling it a cupcake shop in this review, because I amuse myself). And even though we don't get the hero's point of view (which is structurally confusing, as we have the first four chapters and all are labeled "Blaire," implying that at some point there will be a "Ronan" -- why is his character not important enough to get any say in a good chunk of the book's opening?), I sympathize with him way more than our irritating heroine.

Some aspects are particular bugaboos of mine -- the heroine is klutzy and impulsive, two of my least favorite "make the character relatable" tropes. And there's a lot of talk about dog poop, which I would expect in a book for ten year olds more than a book that's theoretically for adults? (The humor is absurdly juvenile in places, but we also get talk of orgasmic moans, so...) Finally, our introduction to the heroine is her complaining about how high-handed her family is. Which makes sense, fine, but then she talks about how she found her independence from them while living in Paris on their dime and that's when I got really tired of her "poor little rich girl" routine really fast.

Finally, I had a lot of trouble buying into the internal logic. The cupcake owners next door to a building under construction don't notice that it's under construction, and haven't seen any notices about it? And this just randomly starts in the middle of the day? (I know nothing about this, but doesn't it seem like a safety thing for the city to be like "heavy machinery and vibrations will be happening during business hours"?) And even though they're in Seattle, which I understand is um a big city, and a cupcake shop and axe-throwing bar are pretty significantly different businesses, somehow they're fighting over the exact same pool of customers?

I wish that we'd gotten a chance to see Ronan's POV, because I'm hoping he's way more chill than Blaire, who whips herself up into a frenzy every other minute, and she annoyed me so much that SOME of his pranks (obviously, none of the ones that involved dog poop) kind of amused me. I also wish that we'd seen more of the conflict hinted at in the cover copy ("When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they're forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together") -- the conflict that comes up here is a contest to win attention from a social media influencer (ugh I can't believe I just typed that word), which holds NEGATIVE interest for me, whereas something like small businesses teaming up against giant corporation would be more intriguing. (Maybe the social media person is stealing everyone's recipes?)

And I did enjoy the food descriptions, which seem like they'll be a highlight of the book, even if neither lemon drop nor maple bacon bourbon (the two we've heard the most about so far) are flavors that make my mouth water.

So, yeah. While there were many, many reasons this sample was not working for me, I can see where this would be fun for someone who wants to read a silly, fluffy rom-com about Instagrammable cupcakes and battle of the sexes hijinks, and to daydream about cupcakes and hot hipsters. (Do people still complain about plaid-wearing hipsters? Because this book does.) (Also I really really really want a cupcake right now.)

I love Helena Hunting’s books, but this one was a little different than what I’ve come to expect! By centering the beginning of the book around the economic reliance on her father, I also wasn’t sure my mentees would be able to relate from a DEI perspective.

I liked these chapters and I think it has potential, it got me interested in read the rest of the book, can't wait!

Rating 5 Stars, HJ Top Pick!


Evie's dream for owning her own cupcake shop is finally becoming a reality and all without any meddling from her over powering family. With her entire family being in the restaurant business all Evie wanted to do was something of her own without having to follow anyone else’s demands, and this was finally coming true all that was left were a few last minute touches. Everything was going smooth sailing that is until the dreadful loud banging coming from the store next door that shook her unicorn martini glasses right of their shelf. Determined to give this annoying noise maker a piece of her mind Evie stomps next door to find the most annoyingly hot hipster lumberjack, with an axe in hand and everything. Turns out Buttercream and Booze are getting a new neighbour.

What Ronan had planned for being a simple renovations of his grandfather’s bar The Knight Cap, goes right out the window when the fiery pinup look alike cupcake queen comes barrelling into his bar to give him hell for all the noise he is causing. Finding her furry over a broken unicorn martini glass hilarious, Ronan and Blaire soon begin their contest of one upping the other and so their rivalry is born. Things heat up even more when a viral contest for best bar in the Midwest comes up and both Blaire and Ronan are hoping for top spot. With their plans to one up each other at their weekly events, the pair soon begin to see that there is more to their love hate relationship and a friendship is blossoms between the two.

When big chain restaurant Dick and Bill opens up right opposite their stores, with its ridiculously low prices and big media advertising, threatens to put both Blaire and Ronan out of business they decide it’s best to pool their resources and fight the big chain restaurant instead of each other. With this new motivation driving them they plan a big new years eve bash which changes everything between these once rivals.

This book is super cute and funny! Kiss My Cupcake is the perfect enemies to lovers romance and any fan of this trope is in for a true treat with this latest offering by Ms. Hunting. From the moment we meet Blaire and Ronan you can feel their electric chemistry, their instant hate for each other only fuels their steamy insta attraction and let me tell you when they finally go give into that attraction it is explosive!

I loved that Blaire was such a girl boss, that even though she comes from a family well connected in the food industry she was hell bent on doing this on her own. Now her family, well they are a strange bunch but I guess it works for them so, all is well. They do definitely add an element of entertainment especially when Ronan joins them for Thanksgiving lunch. As for Ronan, well this axe wheedling hottie was just that a total hottie! I loved his love for Blaire’s cupcakes and that he did not even try to hide it. Another thing I absolutely loved was the detail that went into describing the cupcakes, made me crave one or two myself. Back to Ronan, I think one of the things that made him so loveable was the relationship that he had with his grandfather.

Ms. Hunting has done a standout job with Kiss My Cupcake, I loved the amount of detail that she added throughout the story as well as that each chapter ended with a quirky saying from either Butrercream and Booze or The Knight Cap's twitter handle. I have to say what really won me over was the cute back story that came with The Knight Cap and that in away history repeated itself with Ronan and Blaire’s love story.

Overall this enemies to lovers romance by Hunting is hands down one that I would read again. Blaire and Ronan will have you laughing out loud at their hilarious antics and falling hopelessly in love right long with them.

I absolutely loved this little preview of Kiss My Cupcake! I can already feel that it's going to be amazing after reading the first 4 chapters. Cupcakes and axe throwing? Enemy to lovers? Sign me up please! I cannot wait to finish this when it comes out in August.

What a fun preview, I can't wait to read the whole thing. The only problem I have is that all this cupcake and pub talk was making me so hungry, who wants to make me some cupcakes??

LOVED the preview and now I want to know how it ends. Does Blair and Lumberjack get together? It's officially on my to-read list. I even went ahead and purchased the kindle edition on amazon cause I want to know the ending asap. Thanks for the advance reader copy preview.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to preview the first 4 chapters of this book for free in exchange for a honest review. Let me just say that I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of this book! Super fun and witty with just a little angsty tension thrown in makes for the perfect light, easy read. I want to be chowing down on some bourbon bacon cupcakes while sipping lemon drop martinis in adorable unicorn martini glasses with a frustratingly handsome lumberjerk thrown in for eye candy!

I need this book right now! In just 4 chapters, Helena Hunting left me completely engrossed in this story. All this enemies dynamic it's amazing, The characters are funny and hate each other as soon as they meet. I'm sure that I will love reading this book.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to receive a preview copy of Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting through Netgalley and to say I'm excited for the release of the full book is an understatement!

The first few chapters of Kiss My Cupcake were incredibly fun. They set the scene for what is going to be a wild and hilarious contemporary romance based on a hero with an axe-throwing bar and the heroine who owns a cupcake and cocktails shop. As someone who personally loves relaxed, laidback-styled bars and baking/baked goods, both of these businesses really appealed to me before I'd even met the characters!

Enemies to lovers is one of my all-time favourite tropes and with the sparks already flying between Ronan and Blaire, I can't wait to see the rest of the relationship between these next door business neighbours develop.

I'm a huge Helena Hunting fan and was SUPER excited to have a chance to read just a preview of her newest, Kiss my Cupcake. As a follower of Helena on social media, she mentioned that the main character male was a bit player in her last book when the couple visited his axe throwing bar. Just a glimpse of sexy Ronan was enough for me!

The premise of the book is two warring neighbor businesses, the axe bar owned by Ronan and the cupcake and cocktails shop owned by Blaire. Sparks fly immediately when construction on the bar side shatters a precious unicorn martini glass and Blaire pays a visit to her new neighbor. This visit set the tone for what I'm sure is going to be a fun ride with these two!

I know it was just a preview but I can't wait for more, specifically to hear some of the story from Ronan's perspective!

The beginning chapters of Kiss My Cupcake were fun to read and I found myself chuckling at times as Blaire interacted with Ronan, the seemingly hot bar owner next door to Blaire’s cupcake shop. I personally love to bake, so the setting of this story was interesting to me. This story seems like a great read and I would wedge it between more serious novels in my TBR stack. Hoping to find out how Blaire and Ronan continue their relationship in August!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the book preview. All opinions are my own.

The book is not supporting so I cant review it.
Please pardon me but do look in the issue!!!

accesible- 1☆

This one is gonna be cute!! Enemies to lovers with cupcakes and axe throwing? anticipating the release.

Given that this was only a preview (albeit a generous one) of the book, I can not give a definitive review. I will say that Helena Hunting's books have always been a great mixture of sassy, witty, funny,and steamy encounters and this seems to not be different PLUS Cupcakes!! Baked good and good books are my number 1 weakness :)

Blaire having worked so hard to open her shop and Ronan with his sports bar engage in the sort of hijinks that sometimes get too cringe-y but are mostly very funny.

They both so far seem to have that kind of chemistry that makes me look forward eagerly to seeing how their journey ultimately ends

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

I really enjoy this authors books, so I was excited to see this excerpt available for her upcoming. release. First if all, the formatting is horrible, which made it difficult to read, but i got through it. The story itself is true to this authors writing, funny and a bit neurotic with the main character Blaire. Love Lumberberjerks attitude towards her and the humorous pranks he plays on her. Overall a good start to this story, I look forward to reading it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy if this book.

Blaire has a cupcake shop. Her dad wants her to move home and open up a shop there. Blaires best friend Daphne has helped with the cupcake shop. I couldn't get interested in the characters or story.