This was alright, though not exactly my new favorite. The writing was definitely a notch above most wlw adult romances, but it really lacked chemistry, perhaps because Sophie and Amy seemed to get together way too early in the story. Not every romance needs to be slow burn, but it felt like there's not a whole lot of anticipation left when the characters first have sex around the 20% mark. Aside from that, a lot of the non-romance drama is about Sophie and Amy being featured on a TV show, something which is built up for the whole book and then only happens off-page. Honestly, I was more confused than anything else about some of the narrative choices.

In theory, this was the perfect book for me. I loved Amy, I loved Sophie, I loved the setting. I love romances focused on restaurants, cooking, and baking, so I was hoping to have a lot of fun with this.

I didn't end up feeling as invested as I would have liked though, so ultimately this didn't completely work for me. I think that's partly a mood thing - I was looking for something fun and uplifting but this was pretty focused somewhat heavier things, like the restaurant struggling, Amy losing her mother in the past and having a bad relationship with her father, and Sophie recovering from a past break-up with an ex who didn't react as well as she'd hoped when she came out as bi.

I personally struggled a little with these things because I felt like the tone of the book didn't always match the content or there would be sudden shifts that took me by surprise a little. That's a very personal thing though, like sometimes a book's writing just doesn't really work for you.

I was kind of hoping we'd see more of the reality show the restaurant is featured in, but that was a much smaller part of the book than I would have expected. I think there was a lot of potential for this to be more fun than it was, as harsh as that sounds.

I was also glad to have read Hot Copy before this, because I feel like otherwise I would have been a little confused when it comes to Amy's characterization and background, and I would have felt like I was missing some context.

This was such a delight to read! Both Amy & Sophie were well developed characters, and I enjoyed their journey from pining to love. I loved the tension between them, simmering away until it boiled over. I really enjoyed seeing things from both of their perspectives, from their working relationship to their personal lives, and how each affected the other. While the drama does feel repetitive at times, I like how it challenged them & made them stronger. And those steamy scenes were hot!

This was a fun read and I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters even if it fell a little flat every once in a while. Overall it was lovely.

This book sounded so so good, and while it didn’t live up to my expectations, I’m still very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted so badly to love this, and at first I did! It starts out great with tons of mutual pining and a great premise, but unfortunately that’s just about where my enjoyment ended ..

I’m surprised I haven’t read any other negative reviews of this yet, cause honestly I had so many issues with it! Sloppy character work, far too much miscommunication, and a straight up unlikeable main character (yes, I’m referring to you Amy), just to name a few.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a questionable main character as much as the next person, but not in my romance books! One of the first things we learn about Amy, is that she ignored an act of workplace harassment between two employees to make life easier for herself … and throughout the book she continues to make selfish decisions again and again.

Despite the many flaws, this novel’s major downfall is the complete lack of chemistry between Amy and Sophie. They barely talk, so their entire relationship is instead built on constant sexual tension, and even that doesn’t feel truly believable.

It might be that I just prefer a bit less smut in my romance, but it just felt like an easy way out instead of building an actual connection between the two!

Long story short, I really didn’t love this, BUT, if you love sapphic smut and reality tv shows about cooking, this one might be right up your alley!

Smut level: 4/5🌶

- THE ROMANCE RECIPE is another entry in the mini boom of queer cooking romances AND queer reality show romances!
- I loved that Sophie was just coming out as bisexual at 30 years old. There's a little biphobia around it, but for the most part, it's treated as joyful and normal.
- I found Amy to be a bit of a frustrating character, given her need for control, but on the other hand, the fights and growth she and Sophie had because of that felt pretty real.
- Also, this book is mega spicy. I'm so glad we're moving past having only sapphic romances where the physical growth of the relationship hardly exists on the page.

Absolutely gorgeous and warm-hearted romance between two strong, complex women, with plenty of humor, heat, and delicious food along the way. A perfect book!

If you like slow-burn romance stories, then you just may enjoy this one. However, if you're like me and you aren't the biggest fan of slow-burn, then the overall gist of the story may interest you, but be prepared for that. I think I liked the idea of this book more than I actually connected with the book itself. I don't think there was enough emphasis on the actual romance. The individual characters were cool, but to be honest, I was more invested in what would happen with the restaurant than I was in the outcome of their relationship. Overall, there were pieces I liked, but this one wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

Just finished reading THE ROMANCE RECIPE By Ruby Barrett.

Food + Romance + Canadian Author 🇨🇦 = Where do I sign up?

This was a complete joy to read. The relationship building between the two main female characters, and the dual POV kept me hooked. l loved the F/F action it was so steamy 🔥🔥🥵, and I couldn't put it down. I also am a sucker for a good foodie romance and Barrett had me craving poutine while reading this one.

If you're looking for a steamy F/F romance this is it! Totally might be bi-curious after reading this one, I want more Barrett.

How do I review this in a coherent way without spilling out that every time i read some of the romance recipe my heart was set on fire? The dynamic gave me so many positive feelings. Amy and her anger with her father was so well done. Sophie's coming out to her mom and her exploring her attraction was so superb. I loved the tension that broke in a fabulously messy way. I loved how fraught their desperation for one another felt at times. I loved the love for food and their passion. I loved every time they argued then talked through the chaos. I loved Amy and Sophie so much and I'm so, so freaking excited for Barrett to give us more of that energy. Sign me up for life, please.

Searingly hot and touchingly sweet, this was an enjoyable book with two great characters. I adored the use of the shifting POVs to show us how both characters were longing for each other. It made the payoff delicious.

Just like in her debut, Ruby Barrett again manages to combine scorching hot sex scenes with tender understanding of the human condition to create a book that is both a blast to read and good for the heart. It feels like an oxymoron that Barrett's writing is so soft and so hot all at once. I don't know how she does it.

An ARC of this novel was sent to me by NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a quick, enjoyable read for me! There was definitely chemistry between the two main characters, and it was extremely heartwarming to read. I really liked that it dealt with a character coming out later in life, as that is a topic that isn't commonly explored.

It's only recently that I've realised I am a sucker for culinary romance books. The Romance Recipe definitely added to my love for novels set in professional kitchens.

Amy is a restaurant owner and Sophie is her head chef. Although these two don't often see eye to eye in the kitchen, their chemistry flew off the page. It was definitely heated between them, and their first sexual encounter was ridiculously hot. Their physical relationship is ridiculously strong in the novel throughout, which is great because at times I became frustrated with their antics outside the bedroom. There is a tonne of push/pull between them both, and neither feels comfortable with just being honest with their feelings. I found it tiring near the end, but thankfully there are other elements within that kept me engaged.

Overall, a compelling romance.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press / Carina Adores (Harlequin) for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I don’t usually connect with sapphic books, but this was an exception.

I am not a big fan of slow burn romances, and this was. I mean, there was lots of sparks and chemistry between the two MCs, Sophie and Amy, but it was so will-they-won’t-they, let’s do this, but wait, no let’s not. I found that fairly frustrating.

Initially I thought I would rate this 3.5 stars, but then I did enjoy the story, I enjoyed all the kitchen/restaurant stuff (myself and my partner have spent YEARS working both FOH and BOH in various restaurants).

I also liked that Sophie figured out her bisexuality later in life. Well, when she was 30. I also liked that whatever biphobia there was, it was challenged.

Overall, a fun read

I really enjoyed this book as a cute simple sapphic romance. I felt like this book was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read but I also wish that there was a little bit more going on to make me feel more connected to the characters. I also (and this is mostly my fault) thought that this book was going to be taking place during the cooking competition that is being talked about in this book, but at around 80% where the competition didn't even start I realized I spent the whole book waiting for an event to start, that wasn't ever going to be the main part of the novel. Other than that, I liked the book overall but found the characters to be a little bit bland and wish there was a little bit more going on in the plot. If you need a good and quick Sapphic love story I would definitely pick this one up.

This was so good right from the beginning. The premise and characters were so strong and the story unfolded in a very satisfying way. Sophie and Amy have a push and pull restaurant owner and head chef sort of rivalry in that they are pretty different people and butt heads fairly often. It felt more like a partnership even before they began their romantic/sexual relationship and it settled into both of them pining deliciously through the rest of the book. I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, meet The Romance Recipe, a perfect blend of ingredients resulting in a simmering, tension filled, and character driven romance full of heat and heart. And whew that 🌶 🥵

Restaurant owner and her head chef explore their mutual crush while trying to make their business stay afloat—hopefully by securing a spot on a new restaurant reality show.

The new on sale date for The Romance Recipe is July 12 - preorder now!

I truly adored how horny and steamy this was, and how the power dynamics between Amy and Sophie played out. While Amy owns the restaurant, Sophie is indispensable to its success (and eventually becomes a co-owner). The struggles of being a former reality TV star were excellently explored for Sophie including her initial reluctance to jump back into that world, as well as Sophie's newly out bi identity (the struggles and triumphs).

While this does exist in the world of Hot Copy (Amy is the sister to the hero of Hot Copy), you can read this as a stand-alone.

Content notes: biphobia (countered, apologized for), coming out, toxic parent, lingering grief from death of mother to cancer (in past).

ARC Review: The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is Ruby's second novel, and I read this ARC before I read the first one but now have read both. I was pleased to realize as I went back and read Hot Copy that one of the MCs in this sapphic romance was a side character in it. I'd advise reading them in publication order just to have an introduction and a bit of backstory on Amy, but you don't need to.

Amy owns a restaurant on her own after her business partner left. She has hired a celebrity chef who is not only a great cook and a draw to restaurant goers because of her previous experience on a cooking show, but is also a distraction because of how attractive she is. Little does she know that the chef, Sophie, is longing for her too even though they currently don't really get along. Sophie is just now exploring the fact that she is not straight like she always thought she was. They decide to call a truce and be a team when the opportunity to film a new food-based show presents itself, even though Sophie doesn't want to be back in the spotlight. As they spend more time together the tension grows, and so do feelings.

I really enjoyed this book, both for the LGBTQ+ rep and the careful exploration of sexuality in mid adulthood vs as a teen or young adult. I think Ruby did a very good job with these characters, and oh boy can she write a steamy scene! Ruby will definitely be a must-read for me moving forward and I already pre-ordered my own print copy of this book. Bonus: she is Canadian like me and a lovely person!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. Make sure to watch for this book when it is released July 12/22.

#BookReview #TheRomanceRecipe #SapphicRomance #ChefInLove #RainbowReads #HotInTheKitchen

👩🏻‍🍳 The Romance Recipe 👩🏻‍🍳
By: @rubybarrettwrite

Amy is a struggling restaurant owner when she hires a new head chef she saw on reality tv. She’s impressed with Sophie’s cooking, but can’t help notice she’s also beautiful. Amy hopes bringing in a famous chef will help increase business.

Sophie is a grumpy chef with a taste for incredible food. She’s also coming to terms with her sexuality after breaking up with her last boyfriend. Her boss is overbearing, but she’s also gorgeous. Sophie can’t help but develop a little crush.

One night in the kitchen, they kiss and then decide it’s not the best idea to mix business and please. Amy also has heard about this new reality cooking show that she thinks is what they need to help bring real business to the restaurant. They get chosen after the producer is none other than Sophie’s ex boyfriend.

This was a very cute novel. I love all the discussion about food and the restaurant business. It was interesting to see Amy show Sophie it was okay to not have your sexuality all figured out immediately. It’s not all one thing or something defined. It definitely is also very steamy. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I do wish we got got more of the cooking competition. We got very little and I think that would have added a little more to the plot.

Thank you so much to @harlequinbooks and @harlequinpublicityteam for my gifted copy. The Romance Recipe is out July 12!