For Butter or Worse was a quick romance that I would recommend to fans of enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and reality TV/cooking shows. It takes place around fall/Halloween, so I think it would be a perfect read for fall!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of parent (past), grief, anxiety, panic attacks (on-page), online bullying, sexism

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f frenemies ot lovers
-fake dating
-celebrity romance
-food as a love language
-this is just a hookup
-denial

I could not put this one down, it had such a readable quality Nina and Leo were such a fit for each other. inspired by their parents in their professions, Family important to both of them, and of course some innocent misunderstandings.

I'm becoming a big fan of celebrity fake dating and this was a perfect read. Lots of oh of course we need to kiss because we're fake dating, and is this real or is it fake all of my fake dating catnip. they had such great banter and flirting and I enjoyed every moment and just wanted more and more of them. Have snacks ready when reading this one as you watch these two fumble through falling for each other.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

Steam: 3.25

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (very descriptive/erotic sex scenes)
Trigger Warning: panic attacks, brief mentions of death of a parent

Nina Lyon and Leo O'Donnell have hosted The Next Cooking Champ! for three seasons, but Nina is tired of being known as "Nasty Nina" and having a bad reputation thanks to Leo. So when she quits the show, Leo's job is put at risk. When he goes to beg her to come back, they get caught in a compromising position by paparazzi and end up being pressured by their agents to fake date in order to save their careers as television personalities and within the culinary industry. With both of their restaurants on the line, these two enemies find themselves pretending to enjoy each others' company. But soon the line between real and fake becomes blurred as they both realize they actually enjoy spending time together. Will their publicity stunt end up as true love?

From the very beginning of this book, I enjoyed the snarky banter between Leo and Nina. I liked their chemistry and enjoyed seeing them on both their fake dates and the ones that just happened organically. I especially liked the text conversations and social media headlines scattered throughout the book. While this was much spicier than I personally like, the steamy moments definitely added to the tension as Leo and Nina tried to sort through their feelings. This book did have kind of a lot going on between the cooking show, their struggling restaurants, Leo's anxiety, and Nina's friend's parent issues. My main complaint, though, was the big conflict at the end. It was based on a lot of miscommunication, as well as the cooking show drama that Leo had already tried to make amends for. Honestly, it just didn't sit right with me. The end was cute, though, so that made up for it a little bit. If you're looking for a steamy fake dating book, then you'll enjoy this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

no pun intended but books like these are my bread and butter—i read them so often though that it takes More to impress me with such a familiar plot layout, and this one was just a bit too predictable, even with such lovable characters. i’d read something else by the author for sure, though.

This is a better than average enemies to lovers romance. Chef Nina Lyon and Leo O’Donnell, a businessman who runs a family restaurant chain are co-hosts of The Next Cooking Champ. They hate each other. Nina quits during a live tv broadcast because of his continued rudeness. To his surprise they don’t want him to host without her and she finds that her restaurant drops off because of the bad press. When caught together by paparazzi interest in both their restaurants picks up and a fake dating situation begins.

Leo for his part never realizes how miserable the social media and press have been for her because of his quips. She never knew that is has anxiety issues. I really like when the two are genuinely talking and getting to know each other. The steaminess is very, very well done. And I love Nina’s sister for pointing out that his anxiety is his to deal with and talk about when and if he wants. So much of this is positive and well done.

But unfortunately the author made me really truly hate Leo and the pain he has caused Nina. Even she admits she can’t forgive him but she can move forward. He is apologetic. But to me it is too much and far too late. And even when they are dating he is still making some low comments. I don’t believe in their HEA even though the author does a good job of presenting it. It is really hard to redeem a bully. I did like that he gets some therapy but he uses to deal with his mother and not to talk about Nina. My feelings about Leo are reflected in my average rating for what is a better than average book.

Thank you to NetGalley and harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨3.5 Stars✨

Enemies-to-Lovers/Rivals-to-Lovers ✔️
Fake Dating ✔️
Grump FMC/Sunshine MMC ✔️
Duel POV ✔️

They go together like water and oil…

Nina Lyons and Leo O'Donnell are public figures in the culinary world - a celebrated Chef and a successful CEO of chain restaurants - that also co-host a reality TV show The Next Cooking Camp! They may seem like they get along, but after a series of events Nina quits during a Live Taping of the season finale. They really don’t like each other, things are said that are truly hurtful and mean (might be Trigger Warning). Fake dating is the plan to save their careers

Overall, I enjoyed the tropes and enjoyed the “realness” of their relationship. They really don’t like each other based on assumptions and preconceived notions, and it was nice to see them grow to understand and get to know one another. However, I’m not the biggest fan of the Miscommunication trope playing a huge role - with the duel POV - you understand their perspectives and misunderstandings and you just KNOW things would be better if they just talked.

**Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.**

So so cute! Nina and Leo start off as enemies on a food competition show. They then start to fake date because obviously that would help their business/image. I have mixed emotions about both of the main characters- they weren’t perfect, which I think is why I enjoyed this book a lot. There were times when the miscommunication drove me nuts! However, I appreciate that the author didn’t have them forgive each other in the next page. I also really liked that Leo realized he wasn’t at his best and went to see a therapist and really worked on his mental health before starting a relationship.

This was a fun read - easy, mostly light - full of really good things like: witty banter, bad jokes, cute dates for our leading couple and sooo much food!

Nina and Leo are sworn enemies on the brink of something disastrous and Leo pushes them over the edge by calling Nina "Nasty" on a live taping of the show they co-host. She takes no prisoners, letting him and the rest of the world know what she thinks. Yet it's not enough to save either of their restaurants. And so, they allow her publicist to strong-arm them into a fake dating arrangement that any reader of romance knows so well.

This is an enemies to lovers, fake-dating, celeb angle mash up and it's done really well. Erin La Rosa has written some strong main characters with a generous helping of best friends and siblings who come through for our MCs when they need to be steered in the right direction.

For fans of Sadie on a Plate or Donut Fall in Love!

This was an absolutely hilarious enemies to lovers story with the backdrop of a televised cooking competition.

I really enjoyed that Nina and Leo were forced to work together as a fake couple to help support their restaurants.

My main problem with their relationship, but it worked because it was a story was the lack of communication. Because of Nina and Leo's animosity from the get go, I was surprised that the producers for the show even let them be cohosts to begin with.

I also enjoyed cute little moments like learning that Nina's sister Sophie's goldfish is named Rain Boots. (I want an entire book about Sophie, so I can learn more about Rain Boots.) Another being Gavin and Leo's onesie sleep over to cheer Leo up in twin solidarity.

*SPOILER*

I especially liked that Nina got her own show and was helping other female cooks. That was one of the most redeeming moments of the story for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

For Butter or Worse is the perfect book for the cooking show fan. It shows the strain of the spotlight on the individual. It also shows us what happens when you and co-host don’t always blend well together.
Leo and Nina, cohost a national cooking TV show, Nina is a successful chef and restraint owner who has built her reputation by working hard and tackling the obstacles in front of her. Leo is a restaurateur. He owns a successful chain of restaurants based on his father’s restaurant and recipes.
Both are hiding from each other under the façade of show. They have settled into their roles, Nina as the tough judge and Leo is the nice guy. Things change when they have to get to know more about each other by faking their on-again, off-again relationship in front of the TV.

There was so much in this story, but it was an excellent debut novel. Nina was working so hard to save what she had built. She was not afraid of the hard work and fought valiantly against the sexism that comes with being a female chef and restaurant owner. Nina is a hard character to love in the beginning I was all team Nina but the later half of the book she made some choices that really annoyed me.
Leo comes off as a bit of prick, playing into the audience that he is the good guy but honestly there was so much more to him. He used his persona as a shield to hide what he was dealing with. I was having issues with his sexist comments at the beginning, but he does redeem himself by the end.
I would recommend For Butter or Worse if you are looking for a fun campy read. The story is fun and flirty and tackles some tough topics in a lighthearted manner. This is Erin La Rosa debut novel and I am excited to see what is next.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent book, but it wasn't awesome.

A fun and heartfelt enemies to lovers romance. Nina and Leo are cohosts of a popular cooking competition show. When Nina resigns on-air, she's delighted never to have to see Leo again. Until the two are caught in what appears to be a compromising photo, the internet goes crazy, and business gets better for both their struggling restaurants. Faking a relationship may be the answer to all their problems (except that pesky mutual attraction).

I would have rated this higher, but I had a hard time getting past Leo's early behavior toward Nina. The romance trend of men who turn out to be less toxic and terrible than their actions would suggest is not my favorite. He's still a jerk to her, even if he redeems himself later. But otherwise these two have crackling chemistry and the book was a lot of fun.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I read 8% of this book and then stopped reading it for 3 days. I had no interest whatsoever in these characters and their story. It did not grab my attention in the slightest way.

I like the enemies-to-lovers trope. The fake romance trope is not one of my favorites, but I was willing to go along with the set-up. However I thought that Leo was just too obnoxious with how he was always trying to undercut Nina on the cooking show where they were co-hosts. Sure he had his own problems, but enemies who are going to eventually fall in love shouldn’t try to ruin the other person’s career. We’re told in the beginning that two of her three restaurants have had to close at least partially due to how Leo has made her seem like the mean judge on their show. Well, obviously, part of that is her fault, but he bears some of the blame and I just didn’t like him. And she wasn't that great either.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Nina Lyon and Leo O’Donnell, co-hosts of The Next Cooking Champ! (and mortal enemies) need each other. 🧈 She needs a reputation overhaul and he needs an “in” to the food world. Not to mention, they both have restaurants that need saving. 🥣 Their fates all hang on the whether they can convince the public that they’re happily dating and undoubtedly in love. 💋

I liked that this book covered both the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. I always enjoy a dual POV, and Nina and Leo’s quick banter was also fun to read. Unpopular opinion: I didn’t love Nina’s character. 😬 Like how could she leave Leo (whom she was in love with) when he was in a hospital bed? This one had a LOT of spice 🌶 but not much swoon, and I just wish there had been more swoon-worthy moments.

Lovely book!! I adored all that characters and the development was great throughout. Kept me wanting more. The push and pull between Nina and Leo was addictive and so fun to read. The internal dialogue was so nice to read and helped the progression of the relationship. I would definitely recommend!

Nina and Leo are frenemies hosting a cooking competition show until Nina has had enough… and quits on live television. Both of their lives blow up and the only way to save their careers is to fake date. I was obsessed with the banter in this book. I also really enjoyed the narrative of a male main character with anxiety. I definitely recommend this book!

2.5

The first half of the book was interesting and showed promised. The characters were nuanced and had potential to make a great pair. However the second half of the book was a feat to get through. Things just started slowing down and repeating… they would do the same exact things and feel the same way over and over again and it just got boring to read about. The last 20% of the book was just ridiculous to me to be honest.

** This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**

3.5 stars. I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book had a lot of potential. It’s got my favorite trope of all time, enemies to lovers, so I was ecstatic to give it a try. That being said, unfortunately I feel like it fell a little flat. I enjoyed the premise and the setup between the characters but I think the actual romance aspect is as lacking especially when you take a step back and see what little happened between the characters and how everything was paced. I think Leo was a great character and I was rooting for him, but Nina just kind of made me roll my eyes the entire time. I think if the romance and chemistry between them has been paced better and was stronger I would have liked it more. That being said, I didn’t hate it, it definitely had its good moments, and I could see a lot of people enjoying it.

Loved the concept in theory, felt like the execution left a lot to be desired. The writing was fine but I think the plot could have been fleshed out a lot more.