Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff is a cute rom com. It’s perfect for those who love this genre. The romance was lovely if not a bit predictable. The musician and chef worked so well in this book. This is definitely not a clean romance. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house for the ARC. This is my honest review of this book.*

The chemistry between Jake and Lexi is so, so, so good!! I really thought this was just the cutest book. I did yell out loud when Lexi was ghosted but then the story unfolds and you find out what happened and it just makes it all so much more worth it. Who doesn't want a swoon worthy guy to sing a song or 2 about them?!

This feels like a perfect beach read to me.

3.75 stars


Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this one. It took me a while to read, but every time I came back to it I was fully drawn into the story again.
I’m not a big fan of time jumps in romance books, but I didn’t hate it in this book. I thought it was written well, and it actually served a purpose instead of just to cause drama.
I liked Lexi most of the book. Towards the end I was frustrated with her for not communicating with Jake, but I could also understand her thoughts and emotions. I really liked Jake’s character and I thought he was so sweet. He truly cared for Lexi and was willing to fight for her.
The pacing was a bit off at times for me. One moment we could have one day span several chapters and then the next we would have a couple months in a page with no warning. It felt a bit disconnected at times.
I also felt that some things were touched on but never really developed. The Madison and Jake thing was hinted at, but it felt really rushed. The Ethan and Lexi thing was barely any part of the story.
Overall this was a cute and enjoyable romance that touched on some heavier topics.

Lexi has a meticulous plan for her life which includes working in a Michelin star restaurant like she promised her mom before she died. When Lexi meets Jake, a hot dive bar musician one night, they share an incredible weekend. Jake is headed to LA to record his demo and promises to connect with Lexi when he's back in town but things begin to take off in LA and eventually, their communication dies.

After falling out with Jake, Lexi finally is ready to start her career and has even found a restaurant to work in and a hot coworker she connects with. Just as life starts to settle, Jake shows up disheveled on her doorstep and Lexi has no idea what to do. She agrees they can be friends and he can stay with her but their chemistry is not something they can deny. Eventually, Lexi has to decide if she can take the life in the spotlight with Jake and balance her career together without losing herself.

This was great! The setting in New York felt genuine and so was her life in the restaurant. The added stress of restaurant life and Jake's fame created a world of celebrity drama I liked ready. Both Lexi and Jake were so likable and with a second chance, you can't help but root for them. Also, not that this wasn't lighthearted, but the cover made it look like it would be an "easy" read. There was a little more darkness that I didn't anticipate but that I did like reading.

A book I'll be recommending!

I loved how Lexi and Jake met and how it was insta-love, but he's leaving town to cut a demo and that seems to be the end of that. Suddenly Lexi hears a song that references their time together, which also launches Jake to instant stardom. Needless to say they both have things to deal with, like Lexi stuck in time due to her mother's death. I've read some reviews that say this should be YA or NA, but I don't agree, NA maybe, but I'm way beyond those age groups and I didn't get that feeling at all. I loved this book from beginning to end.

Thank you to St Martin's Press, St Martin's Griffin for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Set both in the chaos of fame and the high stakes world of New York City restaurants, this novel sprinkles in a second chance at love and a dollop of celebrity drama to create a romantic romp that will make even the most jaded reader smile. If you are looking for a sweet rom-com that will have you craving delicious food, then check this one out. Overall a delightful second chance romance.

This was a completely unputdownable read. It was fun, joyful, and I was completely invested in the love story AND the characters. Some were just overall amazing humans, some stepped up when they needed to, and some were straight trash.

I loved all of the pop culture references—growing up as an elder millennial, this story tracked my adulthood in so many ways (well, minus the part where I had a wealthy dad and a brownstone lol). I also loved seeing how the characters each worked through their issues as either an introvert or an extrovert.

I would have loved to see more from Jake’s POV. The book worked well as-written, but I think it would have added a lot more depth to an already-engrossing story.

It was cute…but ultimately was not for me

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review before publication

Would recommend for fans of…
🫐 The Bear
🫐 Harry Styles’ ‘Carolina’
🫐 Broadway

I’ve personally been feeling a little down on rom coms lately, just because of how repetitive some of them can feel. I understand (and love!) that tropes are an essential part of the genre, but sometimes it can feel like these books are missing a little bit of individuality.

That’s not the case with Till There Was You! While the book incorporates many elements of the celebrity trope, Lindsay Hameroff manages to do that in an incredibly fresh and fun way!

Main character Lexi is a culinary student dealing with family issues as she navigates her romance-free existence in NYC…until she meets musician Jake. After a weekend together, Jake becomes a star and leaves Lexi behind. She expects to never hear from him again, until she realizes that she inspired the song that made him famous!

There were two things that really stood out for me: the characters and the pacing.

Hameroff does a great job of fleshing out the backgrounds of all characters, not just Lexi and Jake, which really made the story come alive. As I was reading, I was already planning out sequels and thinking about what supporting characters I’d like to see star in their own story.

I also really loved how the story was paced. I feel like a lot of the celebrity romances I read end when the couple actually gets together, but Till There Was You allows Lexi and Jake time to be together, and allows the reader to see the challenges that arise as a result of their relationship. This created some really organic conflicts between characters and helped ground the story in reality.

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a great combination of light and fluffy with just a dash of angst and emotion. Till There Was You is out now. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi and Jake meet at a bar and their one night stand turns into a weekend. Timing could not have been worse as he was due to fly to the west coast to record an album and she was committed to her culinary school program. What should have been a slow burn, long distance romance floundered due to busyness and interference. When they finally reconnect Lexi cannot trust him. Since this is a romance, things eventually get better. However, the barriers to romance were predictable and did not keep me engaged. I enjoyed the ending and was glad I read it, but was left wanting. This is Lindsay Hameroff's first book and I look forward to reading the next one that is due in February of 2025.

"Till There Was You" is a sweet exploration of figuring out what matters most in life.

Lexi Berman is a culinary student who is pursuing a career as a chef because she knows it would have made her mom proud. The problem is, Lexi much prefers cooking for friends and family at home than she does working in a restaurant.

Jake Taylor is pursuing a music career against the wishes of his father. But performing music on stage has been his passion for as long as he can remember.

When these two meet, we're treated to all their ups and downs of figuring out what their dreams really are, what they're willing to sacrifice to get there, and whether it will really even matter to them once they do (especially considering the sacrifices they need to make).

While their romance seems burdened by too many obstacles, when love wins out, it does so spectacularly!

Thank you to Lindsay Hameroff, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I LOVED the start of Jake and Lexi's romance with the weekend they spent together but once Jake became famous I didn't like him at all. I was also really annoyed at how bad of an employee Lexi ended up being because she had to constantly take time off to go see Jake at his events and the way Jake was really needy and selfish for making her feel bad so that she'd have to go was really frustrating. I personally couldn't forgive Jake for some of the things he said to Lexi especially about living in the past with her home never changing after her mom died. I just felt like he didn't end up being the sweet guy we met in the beginning. I feel like he let fame change him and never fixed his issues.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for na honest review!

This book was just ok for me. The “insta-love” trope is not one of my favorites, and this book was no different. It was difficult to believe that one steamy weekend would create the feelings to propel the rest of what happened in the book. The characters are a bit juvenile, particularly Jake, who really grated on my nerves with his spineless and inconsiderate behavior in several instances. If you like the “insta-love” trope, maybe give this one a try as it’s a quick read that does have some fun moments, but overall this isn’t one I’ll be remembering or recommending. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book had me craving blueberry pancakes (and a fan for my face!!). I adored Lexi and Jake from their first night. I'm not always a fan of insta-love, but this was more like insta-connection with a "I'm feeling the love but I'm holding back from saying it" love. Both characters were in their early 20s and, at times, they felt older, but other times, it definitely gave off a YA vibe. Despite their ages, I was rooting for both Lexi and Jake to succeed at their dreams, both with work and in love.

Things I absolutely adored: Jake bringing Lexi to meet his family (and watching the stars!), Mia telling Lexi that she has green M&M energy, and the 10 Things quote. Jake is a unicorn and I love love loved the ending. Such a cute, fun debut!

Thought I did really enjoy this story overall, I felt it was hard to connect with Lexi and Jake. Which kind of killed me. It was fun and easy to read just couldn't connect with he main characters.

Lexi Berman is single minded in her quest to become a professional chef, fulfilling a promise she made to her deceased mother. It leaves her little time for fun or relaxation. On a rare night out, listening to music at a dive bar, she meets Jake Taylor, one of the bars musicians. Their chemistry is instantaneous. Like Lexi, though, Jake’s energy is on making it in the music business. After a weekend together, Jack heads to the bright lights and disappears.

Months later, Jake is back in New York. Lexi doesn’t know what to think when he unexpectedly shows up at her door. Completely worn out, disillusioned and tired of everyone else controlling his life, he came back looking for a friend. Lexi has her hands full with her first professional kitchen job, but the chemistry between them is still there and she wants their closeness back. Is she willing to take a chance?

I really liked the development of the relationship between Lexi and Jake. I liked that Lexi was who Jake went looking for when he needed to be himself. It was then that each of them began to realize they weren't living their best dreams, but maybe needed to take those dreams in a slightly different direction.

I also thought the characters in the kitchen in which Lexi was working were fun. Were they kind of a caricature? Well, yes. They were also Lexi's friends and, sometimes her nemesis, providing a background that served to illustrate Lexi's frustration and disillusionment with her chosen field.

I enjoyed this story. Unlike a lot of the reviews I've seen, I wasn't put off by the age of the characters or the statement the story was making. It provided some food for thought, even though I'm old enough to be the parent of Lexi and/or Jake. We're never too old to redirect our goals, or even set new ones. That's what makes life fun.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: several suggestive mildly open-door spicy scenes (not fade to black but also not very descriptive)
TWs: death of a parent (past, recounted), cancer, sexual harassment (recounted), OW drama, manipulation, mild cyber bullying, misogyny
standalone: yes
final thoughts: this book felt like a rollercoaster of emotions- it was sweet and insta-lovey but also extremely angsty and dealt with some hard-hitting topics (see TWs).
There was a lot about this book I enjoyed- their meet-cute, their passions, the song writing, the female friendships, the banter
The things that didn’t work for me personally- this felt like a YA novel with some moderately open-door scenes which was confusing, I don’t mind insta-love but I felt like the FMC’s personality did a complete 180 after meeting the MMC and it was confusing, the unnecessary OW drama, the miscommunication overall
I liked the writing style which was easy to read and this was a fast-paced book, but overall it fell a little off the mark for me preferences but I didn’t dislike it- definitely worth a read if you lean more toward the YA/NA border for content and style. And I’ve been wanting pancakes since I saw this front cover (which is SO CUTE).

read this book if you love

😬 angst
🍪cinnamon roll MMC
🤐 miscommunication
🎸 musician
💌 moderately clean romance
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family
2️⃣ 2nd chance romance

I enjoyed this book! I am a big fan of the author online and was excited to learn about her first release. This book was cute, and I enjoyed the book alot. I like this author and will read more by her!

Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff is a cute romcom of a book. It is about Lexi Berman, a culinary student out to make her late mother proud of her and Jake Taylor, whom she meets as a struggling bar singer that makes it huge. Lexi and Jake have an instant connection, but due to some misunderstandings and his new fame, the two of them lose contact. They end up meeting up again about a year later, but his lifestyle seems to be too much for Lexi and it seems like they'll end up drifting apart again. The two of them have a lot to work through and I enjoyed their journey of deciding if being friends or more is how they'll end up. I know one thing, being a chef or even working in a kitchen seems like way more than I would ever be interested in.

Till There Was You was a heart warming one night stand turns into something more rom com and as much as I wanted to love this, i just didnt. I did enjoy a lot of the story but it all got lost as soon as the story dragged. It was still enjoyable and I was able to finish the book, but it did leave me hungry for more.