Love at 350º was a bit different than I had anticipated when i first started, but it actually turned out to be a good thing!

I fully expected it to be a Sapphic romcom that just so happened to be set against a baking competition show. But really, the book turned out to be more about a baking competition show that just so happened to have a Sapphic romance plot along with it. It has a Forbidden Romance trope, along with what I think would be classified as a slow burn.

I am not sure I liked the romance aspect of the book, but I loved Tori and Kendra individually. I do like how the author handled the power imbalance between the two, where it never felt like Tori was being taken advantage of.

I also really liked the LGBTQ+ representation in the book and how the story was without shame or homophobia written in. I fully recognize that homophobia is a very real and serious issue, but I will admit it was nice to see a Sapphic book portrayed as though it's normal (because it 1000% is!!)

The book is marketed as a romance, which in a sense it is, but I would label it as a contemporary instead. If you are looking for a fully developed romance, this book may not be for you. But if you enjoy baking and food competition shows, then you need to pick this up ASAP!

If you’re into Great British Baking Show with a hint of forbidden love, this book is for you!

Tori is a teacher with a talent for baking, so her twins enter her in a baking competition - that happens to be on national television and has a very hot celebrity chef host. As the show progresses and their attraction to each other strengthens, how will the cookies crumble?!

This book was cute! I liked the baking competition aspects a lot. But I honestly wasn’t sold on the love story and didn’t feel like the leads had any chemistry! I needed more banter and tension and hand flexing, ya know?

3/5 yummy little stars!

This is a fair warning do not go into this book hungry! I was so hungry reading this and everything sounded so good! Anyway, a contestant on a baking show and the judge are drawn to each other but it goes against all the rules. Love really has no rules though, does it? This was a fun one!
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Huge thank you #randomhouse and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Tori and Kendra are so cute. This is a very adorable book especially if you like reading about LGBTQ plus type of stories I highly recommend this author I’ve read her books before and will continue to do so 4 1/2 stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Random House Publishing Group for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual pov, LGBTQ representation, cooking show

This was a good debut. I do wish it focused more on the romance. There is such thing as too much extra story. The author focuses so much on the food and competition that the romance gets lost a bit. I recommend it.

🍰𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪🍰
#partner @thedialpress @prhaudio

📖𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘁 𝟯𝟱𝟬°
🖊️Lisa Peers
🗓️10.10.23
💘RomCom
★★★★

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘛𝘝 𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵.

💭𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
This debut was such a fun delight to read, taking one of my favorite things, a baking competition, and pairing it with a sapphic foodie romance.

Tori Moore is a high school chemistry teacher, and avid baker who enters a baking competition at the urging of her teenaged twins. Here she meets Kendra Campbell, celebrity chef and judge of the competition, and their attraction is mutual.

This slow building love story was so charming and sweet, and I loved all of the yummy recipes and food descriptions, along with the great cast of characters. I found myself laughing and smiling the whole time while reading.

🎧I paired the physical book with the audiobook and really enjoyed this dual format. It’s become one of my favorite ways to really immerse myself. The narration by Barrie Kreinik was so good, and my mouth was watering when I finished reading.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🧁forbidden romance
💘a queer love story
🍰slow burn
🧁more baking competition than romance

*many thanks to PRH, prh audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This book bounced around too much for me and it felt like connections between different plot points were lacking. It felt like it was trying to do too much and be too cute. There was no depth to the relationships and I kept forgetting who characters were because they would jump in and out.

Tori is still reeling from her divorce and is a bit stuck. She loves her job as a teacher and adores her students, but her unrealized and potentially unrealistic (for financial reasons) dream is to open her own bakery. With her twins readying to leave for college they are worried for what is next for her so behind her back, they submit her application for a new reality baking show. Unsurprising to everyone except Tori, she makes the cut. The instant connection she makes with Kendra, one of the hosts is off the charts, but both do everything they can to ignore their feelings due to their contractual requirements, restrictions and guidelines The cast is an interesting mix of personalities both behind and in front of the camera, the baking so much fun and sounded delicious. I’m not sure I’d call this a romcom, but more women contemporary fiction, but it’s a fun road to Tori’s obvious and eventual life changing happily ever after.

This book did not disappoint. What a fun story, entertaining from start to finish. Thank you for my copy in exchange for a review.

Love at 350 Degrees is a Food Network watchers dream - a judge and contestant on a baking competition fall into an unexpected and forbidden slow burn romance as their show films. The high stakes baking and their high stakes romance unfolds as both Tori and Kendra find a balance between their hopes and dreams for their lives, and their realities.

What I absolutely loved about this story were the characters - these two women were powerhouses, established, and at a fork in the road in their lives. They aren’t your normal rom com protagonists - they’ve lived life, had wins and loses, and are trying to figure out their next act. Tori had an incredible compassion and empathy for everyone she encounters, and Kendra’s assertive and direct personality brought her to peaks in her careers. Both women were inspirational and they complimented each other so well - I was rooting for them from the start.

The baking show aspect of this book was so fun as well - it was a fun take on a baking competition, and the big twist of sabotage was stressful but kept me turning the pages. The entire cast of characters on the show was fantastic as well - the representation of various walks of life felt very true to how a show and I would love to have been a viewer.

Overall, this book was a true five star read for me and I cannot wait to see what Lisa Peers brings us next.

I really enjoyed this! I love the baking challenge tv show concept. There was one moment towards the end that I found to be a bit too over the top for my taste. But overall, this was a fun take on a romance.

This book goes no further than kissing, but it's ok, because the protagonists are adorable! 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. There were some ridiculous "risks" the characters took that stressed me out but still an overall good read.

Lisa Peers' "Love at 350°" is a heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a baking competition. Tori Moore, a high school chemistry teacher and aspiring baker, takes a leap by auditioning for the American Bake-o-Rama TV competition at the urging of her twin teenagers. The narrative unfolds as Tori captures the attention of Kendra Campbell, a celebrity chef and Bake-o-Rama judge known for her tough exterior.

The characters, particularly Tori and Kendra, are beautifully crafted with layers of depth and relatable struggles. This was thanks to Peers's choice of putting the spotlight on protagonists in their forties, a refreshing departure from the typical youth-centric focus of many romance novels. The baking competition adds a delightful touch to the story, providing an engaging backdrop for the characters' personal growth.

However, the romantic elements might not be as featured as expected. While the connection between Tori and Kendra is palpable, those seeking a more intense focus on romance might find it lacking. Nevertheless, "Love at 350°" offers a solid and enjoyable read, especially for those who appreciate a blend of personal growth and the reality show romance trope. If you're a fan of romance novels like "Love and Other Disasters" and "Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble," this book is worth adding to your reading list.

I love a good game show rom com, and nothing is better than when they involve dessert! Love this slow burn, definitely recommend it!

I have no idea why this is listed as a romance. This is literally just a book about a baking show and I feel like I already read this same exact book - Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly. At least that book was actually good and gave me some romance. If I have to read about Kendra and Tori making another flirty glance I'm gonna puke. Maybe I just expected more romance. Not the book for me.

What a cute rom-com! I absolutely love watching baking competition shows and this book is that with some added romance, mystery and a bit of sabotage.

Loved the characters and the fact that they were finding love again later in life. Starting new careers or new career paths as well.

The baked goods made me so hungry! I loved how Tori was a science teacher but used that in applying it towards baking with her students. I think if I had a teacher like that I might have enjoyed science more. That aspect reminded me of the book Lessons in Chemistry.

Cute romance. I love all the baking reference, especially using baking terms as swear words. A cute book to read, especially around the holidays.

Trigger Warnings: past cheating, cursing, sabotage, side character mentions past dead wife

Representation: twins, Lesbian

Love at 350 is a lesbian rom com about an unexpected and forbidden attraction that starts to simmer between judge and contestant on the set of a TV baking competition.

Tori Moore, popular high school chemistry teacher, avid home baker, and soon-to-be empty nester, auditions for the American Bake-o-Rama TV competition at the urging of her twin teenagers. If she somehow makes it all the way, the prize money could allow her to finally open her own bakery. Still reeling from her divorce and being naturally risk-averse, it’s not just money that’s standing between Tori and her dreams.

Once on set, Tori catches the eye of Kendra Campbell, the notoriously ruthless celebrity chef and Bake-o-Rama judge. Kendra is desperate to save her restaurant and expand her Chippy Chunk cookie empire, and the show is her ticket to financial security. She’s already been told to soften her approach in order to appease viewers seeking feel-good entertainment. After years spent fighting for space in a male-dominated industry, Kendra finds it challenging—and surprisingly rewarding—to make the shift from harsh critique to encouragement.

Tori, drawn to the uncompromising way Kendra moves through the world, senses a tenderness beneath her tough exterior. She and Kendra find it increasingly hard to keep their distance amid six weeks of cooking challenges and kitchen disasters. For both of them, the best prize of all might just be love.

This is another great example of a foodie romance with all of the best parts of a book wrapped in one! Perfect for fans of Anita Kelly and TJ Alexander! The story is funny and swoony with some angsty slow burn. A great read for anyone who prefers closed door romance! I do wish the story was a bit longer so we could see the relationship develop more! The story is very food centric, which is awesome but made me so hungry while reading! It was a ton of fun to be behind the scenes of a reality cooking show, especially since I love them so much in real life!

This one was just lovely! This book made me feel the way I do when I watch Great British Bake Off... warm, cozy, and content. It was a sweet, slow burn that had a very satisfying pay off in the end.

I couldn't guess what was going to occur in each "episode" but the story itself was well developed and I loved the leads. Kendra, the prickly celebrity chef, and Tori, the sweet at-home baker with a dream, were as good of a match as peanut butter and chocolate!

This book was an absolute delight, though readers should know the main dish was the reality TV baking competition, and the romance is a slow burn side dish.

I blew through this book. Peers's writing is fun and fresh, and she immerses the reader in the life of the reality TV baking competition. The food descriptions were droolworthy and I Googled more than one dish while reading. The drama on the set kept the book moving at a good pace.

I absolutely loved having two adult woman MCs in their 40s. Love after a messy divorce and while simultaneously becoming an empty nester? Perfection. Love after realizing you're a workaholic who refuses to open herself to others because vulnerability is the most terrifying thing on Earth? Iconic.

I love a solid queer romance with no queer angst!!! While angsty stories have their time and place, so do stories of queer joy with no homophobia, biphobia, and microaggressions. These women just got to be their best sapphic selves.

This book is a fabulous addition to the new subgenre of queer reality TV baking romances & any queer romance shelf! I can't wait to see what sumptuous story Peers offers us a taste of next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC, all thoughts my own.