This book was a sweet little snack!

Nina and Leo are co-hosts on a popular reality cooking show who come together as both of their careers are hitting a make-or-break moment. As with any good fake dating trope, these enemies to lovers catch feelings and things heat up.

As the title suggests, there were lots of food metaphors and analogies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn't the best start for me - the immaturity and insecurity was almost too cringe-y - but the second half redeemed it for sure. The book also deals a bit with grieving the loss of a parent, which grounds the characters and makes you wonder why they bothered with the immature nonsense at the beginning.

Overall, this is a sweet and spicy book that's a perfect summery beach read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy!

An enemies to lovers story about two former hosts of a cooking show? Sign me up. There’s something gratifying about watching two people who used to hate each other fall in love.

I always love when enemies to lovers stories switch perspectives between the two main characters, and From Butter to Worse does just that. This ensures that the reader doesn’t write either of them as unlikeable. In Leo’s case, it could have been easy to see him that way at the beginning when he perpetuates calling Nina by a sexist nickname.

Nina and Leo’s story is sweet. Early in their fake relationship, Nina is able to open up to Leo about her mom, and Nina is one of few people Leo feels comfortable telling Nina about his anxiety. The third act break up was expected, of course, but the reasoing felt a little thin. I did appreciate that the reconciliation didn’t feel rushed.

I also appreciated the celebration of Nina’s curves by Leo through the story. It was lovely to see a woman who is not stick thin whose partner is eager to make her feel desired. It was also nice to see that Nina is comfortable in her body.

I value mental health rep in romance novels a lot, and For Butter or Worse handled Leo’s anxiety and panic beautifully. Sadly, Leo’s hesitation to share the truth of his mental health struggles felt very realistic to me. It is important that those around him remain there for him when he ends up in the hospital after a panic attack and that he ends up getting the help he needs.

La Rosa also addresses the sexism and villification that women on TV can face. It is important to remind people to think before they post on social media. Leo gained even more respect from me when he stands up for Nina against online bullies.

For Butter or Worse is a fun and compelling romance that also addresses important and serious issues.

What I Liked: I was hoping a book that combines two of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, would be good and I wasn’t let down by this clever and entertaining romance. I love a romance with great banter and this book, while not having the best banter I’ve ever read, has a lot of cute back and forth that I enjoyed. Nina and Leo both have reasons to not like each other but neither are willing to admit that the reasons may not be real or that a simple conversation would clear up any issues they’ve had over 3 years of co-hosting. That’s not to say this is a book with conflicts that would quickly be resolved if they sat down and talked to each other; on the contrary, there are so many things they don’t understand about each other that a lot of the joy in this book comes from finding out how wrong they are. I loved how this book handled Leo’s anxiety and panic attacks and his struggles with opening up to his family about his mental health. This book also addressed the very real issue of sexism in the entertainment business and the restaurant world. It was so easy for the world to view Nina as “Nasty Nina” and so hard for them to see her as anything else once the nickname went viral. Leo’s obliviousness to the difficulties women face in the industry was authentic and his turn around from going along with the “Nasty Nina” trend to taking a stand against it was wonderful.

What I Didn’t Like: The problems Leo and Nina face towards the end of the book seem to have been written just to give the book some angst and a reason for them to have conflict in their relationship. THIS is where one simple conversation would change everything; instead, a small miscommunication becomes a huge mess. I also had an issue with what seemed to be a last minute attempt to add diversity to a book that probably didn’t have much (or any) to begin with. When a non-white, non-cis character was introduced, it was in a clunky manner.

Who Should Read It: Fans of enemies-to-lovers romances will like this book; I would compare it to “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne and “Meet Cute” by Helena Hunting.

Review Wrap Up: Is this the greatest fake dating, enemies-to-lovers romance I’ve ever read? No. But was it a fun, witty, romance that handled some serious topics well? Absolutely. This isn’t one I would recommend you HAVE to buy on release day but if you find yourself needing an escape from the world for a day or two, this book will help you do that.

Favorite Quote: “He felt like at any moment a record would scratch to a halt, and the dramatic movie voice over of his life would start. I bet you’re wondering how I got here…. Because he’d been on a TV show with someone who hated him, only to then fall in love with that person, and subsequently push them away. And now? He was in a onesie, about to binge-eat malt balls and cry his eyes out to Bridget Jones’s Diary.”

So…

What I couldn’t get past is that Leo inspired viewers to give his co-host the nickname Nasty Nina and three years later he still doesn’t understand how that harmed her. For Butter or Worse is one of those rare books where I think the dual point of view made me dislike the character more. I dislike Leo when we first see him from Nina’s perspective, and then I grew to dislike him even more when we get his perspective. It bothered me a lot that he felt like they had been equally bad to each other. It seemed like Nina’s crime was not being charmed by him. I don’t think that’s as bad as making her work life hell and encouraging online harassment.

Leo does apologize and he does, eventually, make a statement against the misogynist online bullying. But, it wasn’t enough for me to want Nina and Leo to work things out. Leo reminded me too much of the men I’ve worked with who thought it was ok to harass and bad mouth women because we – didn’t laugh at their jokes? Wanted to do our jobs? Leo tries to provoke Nina, and Nina lashes out, making the dynamic between them more toxic than tense and sexy. At one point early in the book, Nina realizes that she doesn’t like the person she is around Leo, and I didn’t either. Does it get better? Yes. Does it get better enough – that’s going to vary a lot from reader to reader. It wasn’t enough for me.

What I did like was Nina’s friendships with her best friend and her sister. The Nina we see around Jasmine and Sophie is the Nina I wanted to spend the book with.

CW: Off page deaths of parents, grief, anxiety, on page anxiety attack, misogyny, internet harassment.

I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

This pun is fully intended because I ate this book UP.

Banter. Banter. Banter.

I think it takes a special skill to hit the perfect balance of snarky and sincere, but not outright mean. Erin La Rosa achieves this with flying colors.

This is delectable, delicious, and I’m ready to read it again.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I totally feel for Nina. She's misrepresented and attacked by social media while her co-host, Leo, seemingly blithely goes on. Their banter is quite fun, but going to the sexist comments made it an uphill battle for me to like Leo.

Nina grows to trust herself. Yay! I was truly rooting for her.
Leo has a longer journey to figure out what he did wrong. Once he became repentant, I could cheer for him too.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for adult romance readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies to lovers and fake dating? Two of my favorite troupes both done really well in this book. I got supper invested and could not put this book down. Loved it!

This review will be published in Goodreads and NetGalley, on July 12th, 2022.
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me this ARC. This does not influence my review. This was a great read! This book consisted of: fake dating trope, slow burn, hate to love, and rivals to lovers, all in the chef/cooking field. These are some of my favorite tropes. The best part of this book was the <spoiler> popular google news search and IG comments, it was so different from other books and genuinely made me laugh! Additionally, her manager Tom was so hilarious </spoiler>. This book was hilarious and melting, and I loved the family bonds of both MCs. This book was told in both perspectives, which I don't like.

This is a great enemies to lovers romance and I think anyone who loves a good romcom will enjoy this!

Nina and Leo hate one another but they also need each other. Co-hosts of an LA based baking competition, they've built their reputation on their spirited back and forth. But Nina's had enough. She's tired, her restaurant needs an infusion of cash,. and Leo's just been mean. So, what does she do - she walks out and right into a storm because their fans think they're dating. Can they sustain a fake romance that might save both their restaurants? Leo might be hot and he might have a smart mouth but he's also dealing with anxiety. Fans of this genre know that these two will fight their way to love in, in this case, quite a steamy fashion. They're good characters, as are their friends and families, and the whole scenario made for a fun read. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A guilty pleasure.

I wanted to get into this book so badly, but I couldn't connect with the characters! I didn't love Nina as a protagonist and definitely didn't love Leo. Every time I picked it back up to read I felt like something was missing--I honestly didn't realize Leo even was the protagonist at the beginning, because he got under my skin too much. I guess that's kinda part of the book, because enemies to lovers etc, but even while they're being enemies there has to be something redeemable with the characters, for me.

This was a very cute Rom-com! Leo and Nina were very loveable and you find yourself rooting for them to work out. This is a very good enemies to lovers trope.

Enemies to lovers?? reality show? fake dating ?? sign me up any time!!! It was such a fun and quick read perfect to get you out of a reading slump, it has amazing humor great chemistry and some good spice that will have you turning the pages on a rainy day.

Heat Factor: It’s a nice amount of heat…think spice in chocolate.

Character Chemistry: Dead serious, this is the BEST enemies to lovers set up I’ve read in a long time. Meticulously done.

Plot: Nina and Leo are co stars on a culinary reality show–when Nina reaches her breaking point in dealing with Leos’ crap and quits. In order to save their respective restaurants after the messy episode airs, Nina and Leo decide to embark on a fake relationship to stir up good press. Only, it gets REAL. Real juicy.

Overall: The second I saw the tiniest hint that these enemies were actually going to fall for each other, my jaw dropped. It was just deliciously done–and honestly, extra points for the bold and punny title.

This book opens with Nina and Leo getting ready for a live episode of their show, and with the way it starts off I honestly thought Leo was going to be the counterpoint for a really stand up guy. Seriously. His intro seems a bit fake and smarmy, and he does Nina really dirty. But you know how sometimes the set up is so neatly done, and the hints are so subtle and stirring, that you just KNOW however it happens is going to blow your socks right off? That’s this book.

Nina gets the nickname of “Nasty Nina” from comments Leo makes on the show they’re on–and because of his behavior, fans of the show are relentless in picking on Nina, even though she’s an acclaimed chef. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, the way Nina’s experience unfolds illustrates how subtle and unbearable the thousand little cuts can be before the only option is to leave. And that’s what Nina ends up having to do.

Only both her and Leo’s restaurants begin to fail. Leo is, at first, only focused on what Nina’s exit has done to HIM. He’s sensitive about inheriting his father’s simple Italian eats franchise (because he isn’t a chef, and it’s not his restaurant–so he feels like an interloper), and he craves the legitimacy Nina has. Nina, on the other hand, has just exited a relationship with a real tool bag and because of the harsh and unfair criticism of her on the show, she’s had to close two of three locations of her fine dining restaurant. She’s barely holding on to the original location. But some photos leaked by happenstance suggest there’s a romance brewing and when business spikes for both of them, they decide to go for the fake relationship. Naturally.

What I loved about this book is that it’s complicated and messy, but it makes complete sense. Leo struggles with panic attacks and has been hiding it since the death of his father, and is palpably lost and searching for meaning. Nina presents initially as kind of stiff and rude, but it becomes clear that she’s been holding her own in a pretty misogynistic field and is “closed off” because it helps her stay focused. Leo is also kind of sensitive and neurotic, which isn’t something I think we usually see in a hero, and zero apologies are made for it. (Good–dudes struggle with this stuff, too.) And Nina never really softens, she just opens up. (Also good–women don’t need to be softer to be worthy of love.)

Plus, let’s be real–the banter between Leo and Nina starts a smolder that, thank heaven, results in the best kind of heat. They’re vicious. They go for the jugular. It’s often punny. It’s FANTASTIC.

For Butter or Worse is decadent, delicious, and leaves you wanting more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report

I loved this book!!! It was so sharp and witty and well-written! I can't believe it's a debut. Super excited to see what Erin writes next!

Thank you NetGalley, Erin La Rosa and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of For Butter or Worse. This is my personal review.
A book about fake dating is a book I will read every time I see one.
This one was a book that should have had everything I want from a romance- comedy book but I could not feel any connection between the two main characters – Leo and Nina. I wanted a bit of a spark to convince me there was a little chemistry between the two.
It was gave me something to read but is not one I would read again.

Monica: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Tie a napkin around your necks, my dears, and Erin La Rosa will do the rest — because this book is the epitome of a *chefs kiss*

For Butter or Worse serves up a sweet, sexy, sizzling and sa-wooon worthy enemies to lovers story executed to golden perrrrrfection.

Erin’s combination of writing, plot and characters is DELECTABLE. I adored the vibrant characters, the fabulous tension, the banter, the personal journeys of self discovery, the sweet moments, and the uniquely relatable insecurities combine to create a fantastic story for all romcom tastes.

As a butter-lover I adored the moment Nina reflects on the moment a love for food and cooking was sparked in her heart when her family observing her love for butter dipped in sugar told her she better learn to make something everyone can eat. Same girl. I take a spoonful of creamed butter and sugar every time I bake. 🤭

I devoured this ARC with interminable glee and a permanent grin. For fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne — this treat of a romcom is for you!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed the story it was a quick and fun read and you’ll enjoy it if you like enemies to lovers, fake dating.

Nina Lyons is a professional chef who wants nothing more than to inspire other young girls to cook. She co-hosts a popular cooking reality show with Leo O’Donnell, a restaurateur who takes every opportunity to push Nina's buttons. When one of Leo's jokes goes a little too far while filming, Nina decides to quit the show on-air. Leo doesn't mean to be a jerk, but his anxieties often make him come across that way, and he feels bad for how he acted towards Nina. To make matters worse, paparazzi photos surface of the two in what appears to be a compromising situation, causing the internet to go wild. Despite the animosity simmering between them, neither can deny a fake relationship may be the only way to get their careers back on track. But what happens when the feelings start to turn real?

Oh, how I wanted to love this. I'm not a huge fan of cooking shows (unless we're talking The Great British Bake Off), but I am a fan of a fake dating scenario, but this didn't work for me. The book felt like it started in the middle. You don't get any background on the characters or the tension between them. You're just dropped into a scene and have to figure it out yourself. If it had started with them working together for a bit, it would've helped establish their relationship, rather than have it start right at Leo insulting Nina causing her to quit. I could also take or leave Nina and Leo. Neither one of them made much of an impression on me. Maybe Nina did slightly more, but only because I found her pretentious at times. Their relationship was very meh and almost felt forced at times, so I had a hard time getting invested in it. Sadly, this whole thing felt like a rough draft that didn't have enough time to bake.

I really enjoy food romcoms! Women as chefs in power positions and I loved how she discussed how difficult her job is as a woman. While it’s so stereotypical that women ar eat home cooking and taking care of their family, when she does this for a living suddenly she is always under scrutiny. I loved that she was self assured enough to leave a toxic job, though I wish our male MC had realized his actions regarding the TV show so much sooner than the very end. I love celebrity fake dating at as well, you get a little bit of that here. I loved the romantic moments alone in their home, learning about their pasts. Over all it was an enjoyable read of love, women impowerment, and learning that your dreams can change as you grow up and that’s okay.