I had never read anything by Lisa Peers, but I am a new fan and I already know I’ll read anything she puts out after this one! I was reading this book at night before bed and found myself staying up later than expected, just swooning over Tori and Kendra’s adorable, slow burn romance! I don’t watch a ton of baking shows, but I felt myself being excited to read the book as it felt like a behind the scenes baking show, an actual baking show (and yes, I’d totally watch America’s Bake-O-Rama any day if it was a real show!), and a cute love story all at once. The characters were absolutely amazing and we all need supportive kids like Tori’s and a hot chef like Kendra! If you haven’t read this one, do yourself the favor and read it!

As the easiest of marks for a queer cooking show romance novel, there was no question that i would read this book immediately. The question was much more: will this book be trash in a bad way? And i am happy to report, no! It was not trash in a bad way!

It's worth noting this is a romance novel about women who are about 40, which is shockingly rare! I am always up for reading about people in my general age range finding happiness, and this offered that both romantically and professionally. It had "midlife crisis" as a sort of underpinning theme i think which tracks.

I will warn you that if you are very easily stressed by people taking totally ridiculous risks (like, idk, violating network contracts), you will feel stress during this book! It's a romance novel, so obviously there's payoff for it, but that "OH NO THAT'S A REALLY BAD CHOICE" feeling that comes up for me during new adult books appeared on several occasions.

So fun, and worth reading!

NetGalley ARC.

I liked this. For fans of Love and Other Disasters, and Chef's Kiss. Gay baking dramas are great. My main critique is that Kendra and Tori don't actually interact that much directly through the book... it is a little strange.

I thought this was very cute and very relatable - as a divorced, single mom in her forties still hoping for love. I loved how this book was about both Tori and Kendra improving their lives, their romance more of a backstory.

Netgalley review in link. Thank you for the book!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it reminded me of the Great British Baking Show with the characters and the way they acted and the way the competition was formatted.

From the description of the book, I thought it was going to include more romance however this was not the case. It is about a teacher, Tori who loves cooking and dreams of opening her own bakery. Her kids enter her into a cooking competition on a tv show. Kendra is a famous chef and also the judge of the cooking show. Tori is a bright light for the show and is a natural on tv. Everyone on the show truly loves her for how genuine she is, including Kendra.

This book went really in depth about the cooking competition each week and the dishes they created for the judges. It also has a mystery plot imbedded at the end that intrigues the reader. However, the reason I am giving it a low rating is because of the lack of romance. I never felt the two characters make a romantic connection. They never got to spend any time together and relied on notes for their romantic communication and even when the show was wrapped up, they still couldn't because of their contract. If you love a baking contest plot, then you will love this book but if you're looking for more romance, looking elsewhere.

Chef Kendra Campbell would rather not return to her role as a judge on American Bake-o-rama, where she’s known for her harsh critiques, but she needs the show to build her brand. High school chemistry teacher and home baker Tori Moore never dreamed of competing on Bake-o-rama until her twin teenagers applied on her behalf, but she just might have what it takes to win. Can Tori keep her eyes on the prize when things heat up between her and Kendra?

This grumpy/sunshine romance is a delightful treat from start to finish. In addition to Tori and Kendra’s love story, Love at 350° is also a love letter to food, to friendship, and to pursuing your dreams even when they scare you. For anyone who likes to destress with a rom-com or a TV baking competition, this book is sure to hit the spot.

What I enjoyed the most about Tori is that she cooked her dishes as an inspiration for those she loves to show them to the audience of the reality show. They don't need to be the most extravagant to really epitomize the story she was telling. She saw her dream and was willing to pursuit despite the challenges which is why Natalie and Mel stood beside her. I was so impressed by Natalie's character. Tori and Kendra truly loved and respected each other and through baking, their story grew. A heartfelt story about how in pursuing a dream and knowing what you want and deserve, all decisions are correct.

Tori is a high school chemistry teacher who has put her dreams of owning a bakery aside for many reasons, including her ex-wife, her twins, and the chemistry of baking class that she co-teaches. Her kids secretly submit an application for her to be a contestant on a baking show.. and she’s selected! The show is already stressful enough before she falls for one of the judges, Kendra. Is a potential relationship worth potentially losing the show?

What I loved:
-cooking show romance (my favourite oddly specific trope)
-friendships amongst other members of the show/side characters
-the competition scenes

This was a cute read with one of my absolute favourite settings. I liked the characters of both Tori and Kendra although their attraction to each other did feel a bit insta-love to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the complementary E-ARC! I was actually sadly dissapointed with this book. The characters annoyed me and the plot was so boring. I would eventually try another book from this author though.

I really like that this book felt different. A cooking show is definitely not common (although not unique), but it was executed very well and I love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
However, insta love is not my favorite trope, which did affect my general enjoyment of the book, as my favorite part is always the build up.
All in all, I’m not sure if I’m craving love of food at this point, but this book definitely serves chemistry!

DNF I was expecting a silly little queer romance but there was barely any but if you go into this without the idea that it's a silly little romance it could be highly enjoyable but it wasn't for me. Therefore, I wish to not be giving it a star rating.

3.5 stars- sometimes you just need a feel good, lighthearted book and this is the one for you. i enjoyed how the book wasn't full romance and showed elements of the baking show. fun read! thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute book! Love at 350° had the perfect balance of actual plot and romance. I’m not a fan of multiple perspectives, but it really helped this story along and added depth to the characters. I can’t wait to reread this one!

This was such a charming, mature romance! I love foodie romances and this one delivered (at 350!). I also loved that there was almost equal focus on savoury and sweet baking because it's good to have balance, right?

Tori and Kendra meet at Tori's audition for a reality baking show, except that Tori knows all about Kendra's reputation as the Tough Cookie - the critic of the judging duo.

Kendra is taken with Tori and vice versa. And yet, that nasty non-fraternization clause gets in their way - neither of them can afford to lose this gig! So they keep it all discreet and coy and it's super sweet and actually really uplifting - something we maybe don't see enough of in romance novels.

And as they work through this, alongside other major life decisions and challenges, they find their way together (because of course they do!)....sans third act break up (!!!!). Well done - I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this ARC.
What a fun read! Fans of the food network or any baking show will love reading this story. Our plot centers around a televised baking completion. The subplot is a baker and a judge who fall for each other. Dual POVs depict each main character’s thoughts and feelings as the tv show filming progresses. Our main characters are both in their 40s, females who have had love life’s before that have ended. Tori’s wife divorced her and she shares custody of her teenage twins. Kendra has always been career driven and has never given love a chance.

I will say that this book isn’t a strong Romance read. The characters have limited interactions and communicate mostly through notes.

It’s a story very much focused on growth and character development.

Very quick and fun.

I thought this was very cute and very relatable - as a divorced, single mom in her forties still hoping for love. I loved how this book was about both Tori and Kendra improving their lives, their romance more of a backstory.
Tori's life has been stable - minus the divorce following her wife's affair; after more than a decade together, Tori's ex can't help but tell Tori how boring she is. Her twins are starting college in the fall - entering Tori in a baking reality show.
Kendra has no time for people - running her many businesses, her restaurant sucking up the majority of her time. Though she's determined to be nicer on her baking reality show.
Tori and Kendra circle around each other - attraction combined with the hint of breaking contract rules.

This was cute and modern read. I kept waiting for something to happen to set it apart from all the other rom coms.

Mood: You’re looking for a romance that’s all sugar and no spice.

As a mood reader, sometimes I need a syrupy sweet romance to get lost in and make me feel like all is right with the world.

Love at 350 fits that bill. We learn the story of Tori, a high-school science teacher, mom to twins, and recently(ish) divorcee struggling with her impending empty nester status and Kendra, a no-nonsense baking competition show judge, restaurateur, and serial bachelorette.

The two meet at crossroads in their personal journeys and at a stage of great opportunity in their professional careers. I was on the edge of my seat figuring out what would come next. This story has a healthy dose of angst (it is a competition show!), a bit of a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, kids with main character energy, and a personal growth story for both of the heroines.

There actually was a lot of spice in this book, by way of all the lovely confectionary treats shared throughout the pages. I love food in romance books and this one inspires me to hop in the kitchen and experiment!

If you’re looking for hot and heavy scenes, there aren’t any, but it makes sense for the storyline as the story exists. It’s an excellent palette cleanser in between high heat romances.

If I have to give any criticism it’s that it ended too quickly for me. I would have learned to see even a few months in the future with them spending more than a couple of pages in their HEA. They spent the whole book building a friendship from afar but we barely got the chance to see Tori and Kendra in a relationship. It feels more like a HFN than a HEA but I’d love to see more Tori & Kendra. Either way, I’ll definitely read Lisa Peers again!

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC!

I absolutely loved reading this book. The storyline was unique and I loved all of the characters. I love that the main characters weren’t super young like most romance stories. Kendra’s character development was so nicely done and portrayed. The challenge/competition aspect of this story had me waiting to see each result! This book also made me hungry! I really enjoyed reading this.