Lexi Berman is an aspiring chef, specifically aspiring to be an executive chef in a Michelin star restaurant. Nothing is going to stand in her way of that, which means no dating and no distractions whatsoever. Jake Taylor is a dive bar musician aspiring for the big leagues.
Their paths cross on a perfect, spicy weekend but then Jake disappears from Lexi’s life and she expects to never see him again. Especially not his face on billboards all across New York City. 15 months later, the now stunningly famous Jake Taylor ends up on Lexi’s doorstep again. But everything is different now and Lexi has no idea how to keep her life balanced. Will their love be the perfect recipe or will it go up in flames?

I DEVOURED this book (literally in like less than a day).
Two big indicators of how much I liked this book: 1. I LOVED Jake 2. I actually cried real tears. This really really surprised me!! There is far more depth in Till There Was You than I ever expected and I was so pleasantly surprised. Learning that this is a debut novel is also super surprising to me but makes me all the more impressed.

This book is perfect for you if you like:
- Insta love
- Second chance romances
- Cinnamon roll heros
- Cooking shows
- Strong female friendships
- New York City
- Blueberry pancakes specifically

Thank you to Lindsay Hameroff, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute! I really enjoyed the story and the authors writing style. My only complaint is the third act breakup, but I know that’s a classic trope in romance books these days. I also felt the pace was a bit slow and unclear.

Thank you so much to Lindsay Hameroff and St. Martian's Press for the ARC of this book. This is my first read by Lindsay and it was such a treat! I could not put this book down! Lexi and Jake's love story is addictive. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves romances.

This was a fast-paced, cute romance read. Always love a book set in New York City, and I enjoyed the main and the secondary characters. Lexi, the main character, could have used some therapy at some point to deal with her mom’s passing. At times, this particular aspect of the storyline was frustrating - but I know that without this character flaw, the story wouldn’t be what it is.

3 stars. Overall I liked this book. There was skimming for the open door romance parts, but the story was cute. I did have an issue with the premise of basically a one-weekend stand that could only be their one-and-only. But, ultimately the author pulled it out and made it work. Did it require some stretching of reality? Sure, but it’s a romance book and I’m usually not too mad about that.

Lexi is graduating from culinary school and then lands her first job at a restaurant. During this time she meets and falls for a budding musician. After a whirlwind weekend he disappears from her life and we then follow her as she overcomes the sadness of the loss and the struggles of juggling her new life. Until he returns… That’s the short and quick of it.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think the audience this was intended for is much younger than me. I think they would enjoy it more than me.

Till There Was You is an exciting debut novel from author Lindsay Hameroff is a must-read for anyone looking for a second chance romance.

Till There Was You follows the story of Jake and Lexi. Lexi has only one goal in life and that’s to make her late mother proud of her cooking career. Because of that goal, Lexi has sworn off men. All was going to plan until Jake entered her life. Lexi spends an incredible weekend with Jake and has hopes for a bright future with him. The only problem, Jake is a rising musician and his life is about to change in ways he never expected. As time passes, Lexi is finally finding her footing and moving on with her life, that is until one night when Jake shows up on her doorstep. Fate has stepped in to give these two a second chance. Is Lexi willing to risk it all for Jake? There’s only one way to find out….

Till There Was You is a well-written and refreshing novel. I was immediately intrigued by Jake and Lexi. I adored their meet-cute and their instant chemistry. I couldn’t help but have stars in my eyes as they got to know one another. I was so sad for Lexi when things didn’t turn out as planned in the beginning, but loved seeing her character grow and go after what she wanted. When Jake reentered the picture, I couldn’t help but be giddy with excitement. Jake and Lexi had something really special and I couldn’t help but root for these two to find their way to happily ever after.

I think the author did an amazing job showcasing the realities of the hardships both of these characters experienced. Both of them had taxing jobs and it takes a special sort of person to handle that. I also appreciated how the author rebuilt the romance between Lexi and Jake. Lexi was so hurt when Jake disappeared from her life and I loved that they didn’t immediately jump into something more after their time apart.

Overall, I thought this story was refreshing and original. I loved the characters and their story. Till There Was You is a smartly written second-chance romance that highlights the mistakes people make when they’re young and how fame can cloud everything. It’s a story of love, drama, and overcoming misunderstandings that threaten to destroy everything. In the end, this book was exactly the sweet romance I was looking for. As far as debut novels go, author Lindsay Hameroff knocked it out of the park with Till There Was You and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

I will be withholding all reviews and promotion for St. Martin's Press titles and their imprints until the publisher addresses the concerns of BIPOC and Muslim creators who are being stalked, harassed and feel unsafe due to the actions of a racist employee.

More of a YA genre but I did enjoy this charming romance. The celebrity problem wore on me towards the end but it was a fun read.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

My favorite parts of this sweet romcom were the bits behind the scenes of the restaurant and music industries, as both have always fascinated me. It’s a lovely story (with some admittedly slow sections) that shows the importance of finding and holding onto what truly brings you happiness. I’d call it a successful debut!

The first book of 2024 and it did not disappoint and I look forward to reading more from her int he future. Till There Was You is a fun second chance romance between a budding culinary student and a future superstar that gives you a peek at some of the less than great sides of being famous. For me, I would have liked more of the "after", see what Lexi and Mia do, the family relationships and more of Lexi and Jake (I'd give up some of the in between back and forth and unnecessary drama). Overall Till There Was You is an easy read that grabbed and kept my attention until the end.
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Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I actually really enjoyed this one, especially for a debut novel! Loved the trope, and there were some hilarious moments in this book. However, as the book went on, the pacing struggled and I just got a little...bored.

I really enjoyed this charming debut. The chemistry between Lexi and Jake was (pardon the pun) chef's kiss perfection and had me rooting for them all the way through. I also really enjoyed the secondary cast of characters and how they played into the main storyline.

I'll definitely be picking up Hameroff's next book.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advance reading copy.

I absolutely loved this book! There were so many sweet moments and the relationship between the two characters had me hooked. They had such a beautiful connection. I enjoyed all the pop culture references and it was definitely different from a lot of romances which really made it stand out. There were plenty of funny and swoon worthy moments along with a grand gesture.

Till There Was You is a fun rom-com. Jake and Lexi have an amazing weekend romance before Jake heads to California to record a demo record. He hits it big in California, leaving Lexi behind to finishing culinary school. After no contact for a time, Jake returns, hiding from fame and both realize they still have feelings for each other, but Lexi is hesitant because she's in NYC and he's not.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my review copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

After a whirlwind weekend romance, Jake heads to California to record a demo and ends up hitting it big, leaving Lexi behind, finishing culinary school and wondering if she imagined the feelings they shared. When Jake returns, hiding from fame, feelings are rekindled, but Lexi is hesitant to upend what she thinks is her dream chef life. As much as you'll enjoy the romantic line of the story, the jargon and descriptions of day-t0-day life of a chef were eye opening.

Till There Was You was honestly so cute and fun! I seriously could not put this down and loved every minute of it.

I would love to give this a full length review . I love and adore this author very much. However, SMP needs to take accountability for the harmful things that were said by an employee. I will still be reading this book and sharing it privately with those who want to read it

4-4.5 stars. Lexi Berman refuses to get sidetracked in her career path as a blossoming chef. She wants to be an executive chef and own a restaurant someday. She doesn't have time for a relationship because there's only room for one marriage and that's her job. Lexi always has a plan and knows the rules, she is not one to be flexible and go outside of the boundaries. Enter Jake Taylor, a guitarist with a beautiful singing voice, who shows are a weekend of fun and spontaneity. Their chemistry is off the charts, but neither of them are looking for a serious commitment even though they can't stay away from one another. I loved their playful dialogue and how easy going everything was between them, it was obvious they felt like they could be their real selves with one another and still be seen. So when Jake leaves for an audition and doesn't come back or get in touch with Lexi, it leaves a lasting imprint of hurt as she struggles to move and refocus on cooking. However, that is not the last of Jake and when they meet again, there's old wounds to rehash as they try friendship in their new roles. They resumed their cute banter and I was pleasantly surprised that underneath the fame, Jake was still the same guy as before who has hearts in his eyes for only one girl. This is a story about bending the rules and pursuing love and that creative passion that isn't boxed in a conventional package. Could Lexi and Jake really have it all between a relationship and 2 different jobs that require every bit of energy out of them? Although Jake was a perhaps a little too much golden retriever in his vibes in the latter part of the book, he did have the guts to tell Lexi what was holding her back and I applauded him for that. As for Lexi, she always handled everything so carefully, but when there aren't enough hours in a day and she has to choose what makes her happiest and most fulfilled, she takes that much needed leap of faith in discovering her new path. What I appreciated about this couple was how far they went to support one another and that these kinds of gestures is what romance is all about, showing up and being there.

2023 really solidified what I look for in a Romance genre…

🫐🥞🫐🥞🫐

Till There Was You kept checking my boxes!

Bits..
Ambitious Creatives
Young chef
Musician
Manhattan setting
Falls after one weekend
Blueberry pancakes
& other scrumptious food talk
Second chance
Celeb drama

I loved this book!!! Everything listed above is my weakness in a RomCom. It’s obviously a romance but I love reading about characters passions for work or even hobbies… whether it was Lexi chatting about the culinary lifestyle or Jake sharing his struggles with balancing fame and doing what he loves… I was here for it all!

Thank you St. Martins Griffin for the advanced e-copy!
Releases: 2/20