There was alot of filler and the story could have been shorter but overall it was a fun little rom-com with relatable characters, good chemistry and a cute love story

Oh boy, do I wish this was the book for me! I actually did like it at the very beginning and thought it seemed promising, maybe even a four star read, but then the guys were introduced, Chelsea and Basil started their not-dating-but-kinda-dating thing and their back and forth with each other became exhausting.

Chelsea told Basil what she was like early on, and he just didn't listen. They're both stubborn, but in different ways. I often got annoyed with how Chelsea treated him, but also got annoyed at the expectations Basil placed on her, knowing she wouldn't be able to fulfil them, but asking her to anyway.

I don't think they're right for each other. I feel like Elizabeth and Evan are a more balanced couple, and their romance was more engaging to me than Chelsea and Basil's.

I also feel a bit bamboozled, because, based on the cover, I was expecting this book to be set in Greece, or at least half of it, but the Greece part doesn't come in until 80 something percent. The rest of it is set in the US which is okay, it's just not what I thought it would be.

Plot wise, not much happened, I felt as if I was reading the same thing over and over again. The biggest focus was definitely on the relationship and there didn't seem to be enough room to explore anything else.

But I liked the friendship crumbs we got at the start, Elizabeth and Chelsea function well together and I'm certain that, if this had been a book about their travelling adventures instead, my rating would be higher.

I also liked the Greek culture and food, the way Basil's family interacted with each other...it was sweet.

The ending was okay, but still frustrating, because these two CANNOT go a few days without arguing over commitment or lack thereof. Yes, they do eventually agree on something, and it seems like it's all sunshine and rainbows, but I just don't believe it, I'm sorry.

Now, I have to mention this one line that rubbed me the wrong way. Basil is talking to his family on the phone and saying how there was a reason he moved to Charlottesville despite his family's protests and "You'd think I moved to the most dangerous neighbourhood in Beirut by the way my mom fretted and nagged".

I want to know if that line was really necessary??? And why say Beirut, why not say an American city, since he's in America? I do wonder if the author has ever been to Lebanon, or has friends/family there, because they'd tell you - there are no dangerous neighbourhoods in Beirut!

There are less safe ones, sure, but outright dangerous, no. Literally any capital city has areas where you wouldn't wanna be at night, for one reason or another, so why was Beirut singled out?

This line made it into the final copy, as far as I'm aware, so that was certainly...a choice. I'm surprised no one else noticed it, to be honest.

The rest of the book was vetted by a Greek-American, so you can be sure things are correct. I liked that the author chose to write endearments in Greek, and then after in Latin script. I'm used to authors just using Latin script straight up for languages like Russian that use the Cyrillic alphabet, so I'm glad that some effort was put in to write it as it's actually written.

That's about it from me for this book, I really was hoping I'd like it, but it wasn't meant to be.

2.5

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I love the to do list- what a fun and quirky list it is! A man that can cook is the hottest thing ever. I dream of falling in love with a chef!

This was a super cute and quick read for me! I found the characters to be funny and Lovable

A super fun read! I'm a sucker for a good meet cute. Dual POV are my favorite type of romance novels, getting to see how both characters are thinking and falling for each other. A great read that I would recommend to anyone who needs a good romance!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this story, but maybe related to Chelsea’s stubbornness a bit too much!

Tropes: he fell first, he fell harder, grumpy/sunshine, miscommunication

TW: abuse and abandonment

When your therapist said challenge yourself everyday, she meant with dares? Right? For Chelsea, letting her walls down means defeat. So what does her best friend do? Challenge her to have an authentic conversation with a man at the bar. Who knew her refreshing honesty would capture the attention of a delicious Greek man, Basil Stavros. Watch Bas try to woo the commitment phobe Chelsea with promises to help complete dares, each completed dare equals money towards her dream getaway with her bestie. What’s the worst that could happen, a broken heart?

I really enjoyed the mix of fun and seriousness of this book, it was full of puns but also touched on trauma and the lifelong impact it makes. I hope to read more from this author soon!

I tried really hard with this one. Got to 55% and just couldn't do it anymore. This was my first book reading about a FMC named Chelsea. That's my name. I didn't know that going into it as no names were mentioned in the synopsis that I saw.

While her and I share a name and parental issues, that's where the similarities start and end. She was actually quite annoying after her and her best friend meet their men. I love the idea of a to do list or bucket list to do with your best friend. That's amazing and the idea behind it was great. However, the constant mention of therapy and Chelsea's therapist showed nowhere in her growth up to the point I got to. It seemed like it was just thrown in there ro try to add to the story but instead of trying to grow and push herself, Chelsea stayed stagnant and very stubborn in her decision to not date.

And then Evan, the best friends new man got mad when he found out about this list because it was what got Elizabeth to talk to him in the first place. But then turns out he was just jealous she was doing it with Chelsea and they end up creating their own list..... I don't know. Big huge red flags there for me.

Thank you so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Dual POV is my favorite way to read a romance book and because i feel like it gives you an all around experience with each of the characters. This was a travel romance that was really cute and the banter and Witt with the MCs was adorable.

SO CUTE. I thought this was adorable and a really sweet romance from start to finish. I grew up on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," so fans of that romantic comedy will definitely enjoy this. It's a great summer read and the characters were so adorable.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's funny and sweet. Had me laughing from the first chapter. The banter is on point and very witty, which I love.
I loved the list and the friendship between Chelsea and Elizabeth.
The way she met Basil is really good, such a funny moment.
I very much enjoyed this book, especially since it's duel POV.
If you enjoy romcoms this book is for you!

I am completely obsessed with “Holding Out for a Gyro” by Mary Ann Marlowe! This delightful rom-com had us hooked from the very first page. The story follows Chelsea, a commitment-phobe with a traumatic past, and Basil, a charming Greek chef who turns her world upside down. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the witty banter between them kept us laughing and swooning throughout.

Marlowe’s writing is engaging and full of heart, making it easy to fall in love with the characters and their journey. The blend of humor, romance, and a touch of drama is perfectly balanced, creating a story that’s both entertaining and deeply moving. If you love a good romantic comedy with relatable characters and a unique twist, “Holding Out for a Gyro” is a must-read!

Thanks so much to Mary Ann Marlowe and Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Teen for the eARC of this title. Love that this is a Dual POV, a Bar dare meet cute, and a travel romance. I loved reading the love and adventure between Chelsea and Basil. Loved the spice in this book. Definitely a good read if you love a good spicy dual pov novel.

This story has:


✓ Dual POV
✓ Bar dare meet-cute
✓ Found Family
✓ Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
✓ One-night stand to slowburn HEA
✓ Strangers to Lovers
✓ Opposites Attract
✓ Romance-phobe x Romance junkie
✓ Traveler x Greek-American

When a challenge, a list, a friendship, and a desire for adventure collide with love.

What are you willing to risk to have a lifetime filled with everything you ever wanted?

A spicy read that delves into fear, expectations, dreams,and family when a foodie meets a chef in this food adventure.

loved this romance and interesting that she meet him at the hotel . She ends up working with him with the airline. she is fighting her feelings for him. He is trying to not become attached to her too. They are slowly having a good working relationship and figuring out themselves and their heat.

"Holding Out for a Gyro" by Mary Ann Marlowe is a charming and witty romantic comedy that delivers a delightful mix of humor and heart. The story follows a commitment-phobic heroine who challenges herself to be emotionally vulnerable for just one night with a stranger, only to find herself drawn to a charming and irresistible Greek chef who has been a part of her life without her realizing it.

The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and the hero, with his sweet and caring nature, is utterly endearing. Beneath his rugged exterior lies a lovable teddy bear, making him the perfect romantic lead. The slow-burn romance is beautifully balanced with just the right amount of steam to keep things exciting without overwhelming the emotional depth of the story.

The book's humor and quirky challenges between the characters add a lighthearted touch, making it an enjoyable read for fans of light and funny romances. Overall, "Holding Out for a Gyro" is a fun, feel-good story that will leave readers smiling and craving both love and delicious Greek food!

I enjoyed the dynamic between Chelsea and Bas. This was a cute book with both main characters working on their own individual issues and becoming stronger together. I liked the story development but the end of the book felt kind of rushed to me.

Sometimes a book comes along that it think will be a cute read but then totally wrecks you when you find yourself in the main character. That was “Holding Out for a Gyro” for me. I really enjoyed this book but Chelsea connected with me from the first chapter. I didn’t realize how much I needed to go on this journey with her. I don’t want to spoil anything but this is a definite must read if you love, rom coms, romance, witty banter and gorgeous, sexy men! I hope you find a bit of yourself in this story too and if nothing else remember to keep hoping and let love in when it finds you.

I was interested in the premise of this book. You're pulled in from the beginning by the dynamics between the FMC, Chelsea and her best friend, Elizabeth. Chelsea is still recovering and learning how to let go after a traumatic childhood which has led to her creating a list with different tasks. One of these tasks leads her to Basil and what was suppose to be a short term romance. The story illustrates their growth and push and pull as they each learn what they want. I liked the insights into the characters and the banter between both. I would've liked more exploration into her childhood traumas and how Chelsea deals with it. We get to see brief windows but I feel we miss more in depth exploration. There is a significant scene which serves as a catalyst for other events but the issue is left open. I enjoyed the story overall.

I was originally drawn to Holding Out for a Gyro by its cleaver title and beautiful cover, there for fully going in this thinking the story was going to be a vacation romcom adventure set in Greece.

Holding Out for a Gyro takes place in Virginia and follows Chelsea (FMC) and her best friend Elizabeth as they work through their own traumas by completing a bucket list of items. While at a bar Chelsea decides to try and mark off an item on their bucket list, “talk to a stranger” that is when she meets Basil (MMC) a Chef and his best friend Evan. Basil and Chelsea seem to hit it off after having a great conversation and a greater night. He ultimately decides to help her complete her list all while using it as an opportunity get to know her better.

I found it challenging to connect with Chelsea and Basil’s characters. Their relationship came across very one sided as Basil definitely seemed to show more interest in Chelsea than she did of him. I thought the story was going to solely focus on Chelsea and Basil’s romance as there wasn’t mention in the description about Elizabeth and Evan’s romance being entwined within MC’s story. I did enjoy Elizabeth and Even’s journey however, I felt it took the focus away from Chelsea and Basil.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review..

I found this “meet cute” to be too cringe and honestly didn’t find myself liking our mmc more as this story went on. Both mcs came off immature and it just made me not like their romance/chemistry or this book.