I really loved this book, but at times, it felt like I was reading gender-swapped Taylor Swift/Jake Gyllenhaal fanfic. The main character's name is even Jake Taylor. Every once in a while, it just felt a bit like a creepy intrusion into real people's lives. When I was able to really get lost in the story, though, I loved it. As much as I hate to say how unrealistic it is that a guy who became famous would want to stay with someone he dated before. I know it happens, but...not often. My only real issue was that we never got any reasonable explanation for Jake ghosting Lexi after their weekend together. He thought she told him to leave her alone, sure, but only after like a week. He still was basically a total jerk at first. I also wish he hadn't been so ridiculously oblivious to the other pop star's interest in him. Jake never came across as a dumb guy, except when she was mentioned. Minor quibbles. I'll read it again.

Till There Was You is a sweet romance that takes readers on a journey filled with love, loss, and second chances. Lindsay Hameroff’s characters are relatable and the chemistry between MCs feels genuine. The way they confront their pasts and find a way forward is both realistic and inspiring.

That said, I did find that the pacing felt a bit uneven, with some parts dragging on while others wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, Till There Was You is a great read for romance lovers who love a second-chance story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lindsay Hameroff for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

This deliciously sweet romance whisks together culinary ambition, celebrity chaos, and just the right amount of sizzle! Lexi Berman is focused on one thing—becoming a Michelin-star chef—until Jake Taylor, a charming dive bar musician, sings his way into her life (and possibly writes a hit song about her pancakes). As Lexi juggles her perfectly planned future with Jake’s rising fame, sparks fly, drama simmers, and her love life starts heating up faster than her matzah ball soup. Set in the mouthwatering world of NYC’s restaurant scene, this book serves up laughs, love, and second chances—it’s a recipe you won’t want to miss! Thank you to the NetGalley Peeps and the publishers for letting me read this sweet book

A year and a half after spending a weekend together Jake comes back into Lexi’s life. She has moved on with a possible new love interest, has a new job at a kitchen, these scenes were fun to read as I’ve just recently watched The Bear, the yelling in the kitchen was fun.
She accepts him back as a friend only, they get to know each other until it turns to more.
There was a little tension in the second half now that Jake is famous Lexi is self conscious about not being beautiful or attractive enough for him. Jake tried to assure her many times he was not leaving. Really enjoyed this book, it had humor and high stakes and the ending was fun.

A cutesy romcom, full of a sugar!
I enjoyed this one a lot. It was a quick and easy read!
If you're looking for something to just bring some happiness into your life scoop this up!

I thought the romance was lots of insta-love, not much depth. Safe to say, this book was just not for me.

I had high hopes for this one after hearing there were very positive reviews for it. While it was generally a cute rom com and a quick read, it fell a little flat for me. I think I’m not into the whole instalove trope much anymore, so it felt a little juvenile to me.

This was a pretty enjoyable debut novel but it wasn’t groundbreaking. Also insta love doesn’t really do it for me. Overall, it was fine.

Lexi is a culinary student and focusing on her studies is her main priority. She plans to graduate, find a job and work up the ladder to become an executive chef. On a rare night out with her friends, she meets Jake at a dive bar. He is a musician and plans to go to LA to cut a demo the following week. They have a weekend fling and Lexi doesn’t expect to see him again. Jake’s career quickly takes off, and his big hit is based on Lexi’s blueberry pancakes. She doesn’t tell anyone about the affair and goes on to get a restaurant job. One night, Jake unexpectedly appears at her door, completely distraught. Against her better judgement, Lexi lets him in and their earlier attraction takes over. Both of these characters are quite complex and it was quite interesting to see how they attempt to navigate the situation as their careers don’t exactly fit.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

This came across as a little too immature and YA for me, and very insta-love. It read a little too slow for me and ended up giving up at 35%.

This was a cute debut contemporary romance. Any book that starts with a Harry Styles’ lyric/quote will automatically get my heart. I loved Jake and Lexi’s story from the beginning. It had everything I enjoy in a romance (including more Harry and 1D references). I will be looking for more from this author.

Lexi and Jake meet at a dive bar and fall into a one-night stand, only for him to then ghost her. The next thing she knows, Jake is the biggest new popstar in the music scene, and his debut single is about her blueberry pancakes. When he shows up on her doorstep again, their connection is just enough to not slam the door in his face. Chaos ensues as they try to navigate the demanding pressures of the culinary world and fame. Most of the story takes place in NYC and within the entertainment world, and while I certainly don't know what it feels like to be in the center of the hurricane of fame, but Hameroff did get most of the location and entertainment details correct.
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The whole plot is a bit far-fetched, and the story dragged in the middle, causing me to put it down for a number of days. It took me over a week to finish, but the ending was cute. It all came together a bit fast for my taste, but I was satisfied with the growth of the characters. It was a fine read and I would consider future titles by the same author.

All is is fair I'm love and cooking. This is a light hearted cute rom com. It was cut and sweet and checked my boxes for what I was looking for.

Lindsay Hameroff's Till There Was You is a delightful blend of food, music, and second-chance love. The novel follows Lexi, a driven culinary student, and Jake, a rising music star, as they navigate their rekindled connection amidst the bustling energy of New York City.

Hameroff's writing is both appetizing and captivating. The vivid descriptions of food transport readers into the heart of the city's culinary scene, while the music-infused atmosphere adds a melodic rhythm to the story. Lexi's journey as an aspiring chef is inspiring, and her determination to honor her mother's legacy is heartwarming.

This was really cute. I found the chemistry pretty believable which I feel is tricky with the instalust type relationships.

DNF @10%

I will be withholding my full review until St. Martin’s Press addresses the behavior of their employee and how they are safeguarding influencer information. #SpeakUpSMP

suspicious possible plagirism? insta love? I didn't care for this at all - Nope, that's a DNF from me.

Great concept, had my favorite tropes and some fabulous moments, but it fell flat for me.

Pacing was uneven and it kept pulling me out of the story and made it difficult to connect with the characters and overall plot.

I feel like this was still in need of some further editing/refining, but I didn't hate my time with it. I would like to read a bit more of Hameroff, but deciding if she is for me or not!

First, I love the cover! It’s what drew me in!

However, after reading another review I realized that that the scene where Lexi meets Jake at the Pierre was plagiarized almost word for word in parts from the same scene in The Idea of You by Robinne Lee.

Maybe authors books need ran through plagiarism checkers. Just a thought.

Very cute romance between Lexi, a culinary student-turned-chef and Jake, a rising rock star. Their romance was unlikely but that’s one of the things that made it a lot of fun for me.

I also loved that Jake was Southern and I loved the way he was depicted. From his manners and love for family to his style and love of sweet tea, I feel like the author did a great job with him and with his family. The chapters that take place at Jake’s homeplace in Georgia were definitely my favorite.

The food aspect of this story was the best part for me and what drew me to this book in the first place. Lexi and Jake fell in love over homemade food and I loved that. Lexi and I are quite similar in how we show people love by cooking for them so, in this way, this story felt like home to me. The scenes in the restaurant’s kitchen were especially fun for me to read, as were the scenes in Lexi’s kitchen, which showcased her love for good quality ingredients and her joy for the process of creating something delicious.


Many thanks to the publisher, Griffin, for sending me a digital copy of this book to read via NetGalley.