Chelsea and Elizabeth are best friends who every year put together a challenge list of things to accomplish. For everything they check off, they add points and pick a vacation destination based on how many points they tally. When Chelsea challenges Elizabeth to flirt with a random man at the bar, she doesn’t expect to hit it off with his best friend, Bas. But Chelsea has commitment issues and a strong sense of wanderlust, so falling for Bas isn’t what she’s ready for, but maybe he’s the one who can make her finally want love and happiness.

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the list and challenges and how every chapter was titled with one. Marlowe did a great job of incorporating the list items into each chapter. The dual perspectives worked perfectly to get a good understanding of how both Chelsea and Bas were feeling as their relationship progressed. The pacing worked well, and I adored Bas’s character. What’s not to love? He was sweet, charming, a chef, and Greek! While both characters showed growth as the story progressed, I really struggled with Chelsea.

Chelsea. Chelsea. Chelsea. Oh how I wanted to shake you while reading this! I know her character was dealing with past trauma, but I really wanted her to get over herself. She was extremely self absorbed, and the way she handled their time in Greece made me so mad. Bas was a saint for sticking around as long as he did!

I loved the cover of this book, and I thought it was going to be set in Greece based off of it. I love books set in Greece, so I was a little disappointed it was set in Virginia, but was happy when Bas and Chelsea finally made it to Greece. The banter between Bas and Chelsea was great, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. There were definitely some spicy scenes, but my favorite part of this book was how Marlowe described the foods prepared by Bas and his family. My mouth was watering as I was reading it!

Thank you TLC Book Tours, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I just HAVE to start out by saying this best friend bucket list idea is SO good and SO fun. I've already texted my bestie asking if we can make one together. The female friendship is probably my favorite part o the whole book and I really enjoyed getting to see Chelsea and Elizabeth navigate life and love together. Unfortunately, I was less of a fan of the romance in this book and often felt annoyed when the MMCs were brought up. It was almost like they didn't bring out the best in the girls and the girls didn't bring out the best in them.

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Hi Book Besties!💕🌻
I am so excited to share my review for Holding Out for a Gyro😍 By the lovely @mary_ann_marlowe
A Giant thank you to @entangled_publishing for the gifted ARC! This is a stand alone novel and I loved it! It does have some tricky themes so you should absolutely check out those trigger warnings before jumping in! Your mental health is always more important than a book.
The Dual POV in this was great, I enjoyed being able to keep up with everyone's emotions and to get that inside look on their perspectives. That best friend bond was also fantastic and so realistic! I loved that they could be real and push each other out of their comfort zones, so they can get out there and enjoy life . The Greek references were also top notch!

4 ⭐️/5
3 🌶️/5

A sweet love story between commitment-phobe Chelsea and catches-feelings-fast Bas. Their besties Elizabeth and Evan have a subplot romance with each other, which felt both fun and indulgent to have a two for one romance. If you’re into puns, you’ll enjoy the banter.

I loved how Chelsea took chance after chance with practicing her new honest and open self. I loved how Bas was so thoughtful and caring about Chelsea. Then came the major stumbling block between them - and Chelsea and Bas both have to face their default settings to decide if their relationship is worth nurturing. The ending wrapped up quicker than I would have preferred, but overall it was a good read.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts are my own and my review is voluntary.

I was pulled into this book by the description. I enjoyed the book though some of the parts fell flat.

I really liked the dual POVs and the list that Elizabeth and Chelsea have together. Basil was a good character but Chelsea left a little to be desired. I totally got where she was coming from with her family issues and I like that she is straight honest to Bas(as she needs to be). Everything ended well with Chelsea being able to open up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

Funny, feel good book. I am not usually a fan of romance however the title of this book lured me in with how funny and quirky it was. And the rest of the book definitely did not disappoint. An absolute must read for any romcom lovers.

There was a lot to love about this book.
I adored Chelsea's journey with overcoming her past and I love how Bas didn't push her.
However, I found it weirdly hard to connect with the characters and sometimes I'd forget Chelsea's name.
It was definitely a good way to pass the time, though!
Oh, also I loved all the puns

I loved the way this book started with a best friends bucket list. And what really kept me going was the first challenge Chelsea and her best friend chose to do. Talk about jumping right in.
Chelsea and Elizabeth push each other to come out of their respective comfort zones and that is where the list comes in. Little did they know that one of the items would lead them to meet Bas and Evan and the story goes on from there. Chelsea has some trauma from her past that keeps her from going all in with Bas and they both work through their baggage throughout the book. Bas isn't completely sure if he's where he needs to be in life and this new thing with Chelsea is making it harder for him to decide what the next step is.
Chelsea is sure she can't ever be in a committed relationship, but she has to figure out whether Bas is the one she wants to give it a shot with.
I liked they way the characters developed throughout, the dual POV (I'm a sucker), and the friends relationships with each other.

Holding Out for a Gyro by Mary Ann Marlowe was a super fun, spicy, and humorous story.
This story does not disappoint.
This couple was so much fun watching them together. Chelsea and Basil are realistic, relatable and endearing individuals.
They were so loveable, their relationship and dynamic is entertaining and adorable.
I honestly didn't want to say goodbye to them at the end.
I smiled so much while reading this book. It was the kind of book that just makes you happy to read.

Huge thanks to Entangled: Amara, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Holding Out for a Gyro!!

Holding Out for a Gyro by Mary Ann Marlowe
Contemporary romance. Alternating 1st person POV’s.
Chelsea Abbott and her best friend have a list of goals. Some of it is easy, some is stuff that scares you. Each crossed out line item gets points for vacations and traveling which Chelsea loves to do. Visit a museum, take a class, double date, forgive someone, have an authentic and open conversation with a stranger. Out for a drink, the two women approach a couple of men at the bar where Chelsea is going to be totally honest even if it terrifies here. She surprised when they hit it off and she ends up going home with him. But Chelsea is a one-time and done woman. No ties. No commitments. Even if it was the best night of her life, she’ll walk away.
Basil Stavros feels that he and Chelsea really connect and he sees a long term relationship between them. They live close to each other and between her coffee shop and picking up meals everyday where he works, they been crossing paths for months. He’s ready for more.

Chelsea has family issues and while she’s working on them with her therapist, it’s slow going. Bas wins her over with his food, his family, his enthusiasm and his heart. But she’s lived with her heart behind walls since she was young.
There is a lot of heat as they date and there is also a lot of angst as she struggles with her growing feelings, knowing she can’t trust him to stay. So very slow relationship building.

Confirmed romance guaranteed ending but you’ll have to wait until the very end. It is awesome when she figures out that love opens a lot of doors.

There are occasional humorous moments but I would not call it a comedy or romcom.
The below line though, had me chuckling and immediately marking it for sharing. He’s a chef.
“From 2pm to 3pm, I cut the faces off crabs and drenched them through cornmeal, contemplating the horrors that awaited me in hell if these guys were there, too.”

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

🇬🇷 Book Review 🇬🇷

Holding Out for a Gyro by Mary Ann Marlowe
🇬🇷
This book had a lot of potential. But there were some things I just didn’t love. There was a lot of telling and not enough showing. I want the dialogue and to be there when things happen, don’t just tell me about it later. I didn’t love the time jumps and the way she summarized what happened each day of their 30 day dating trial; just write it all out and let me experience it. And finally, there’s a huge miscommunication that leads to a silly breakup, and that trope is one of my pet peeves. All of that aside, I loved Basil. He’s a chef, he’s Greek, he’s sweet and he made a great romantic lead.
🇬🇷
My rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
🇬🇷
Read if you like:
▫️hookup to friends to lovers
▫️she’s damaged
▫️he’s a chef
▫️he falls first and harder
▫️dual POV
🇬🇷
Thank you to Entangled, NetGalley, and Mary Ann Marlowe for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Content Note: abusive parents

Dear Mary Ann Marlowe,

I was hooked by the blurb and intrigued by the heroine being the committment-phobe of the relationship. I do like a hero in pursuit.

Chelsea Abbott had a difficult home life growing up. Her father was abusive (mostly emotionally but there was some hitting and even more throwing things) to both her mother and herself. Her mother developed alcohol problems after her dad eventually left, and blamed Chelsea for the leaving. Her dad came back from time to time and her mother took him back but each time it got worse. Naturally, Chelsea has a lot of trauma about this. She’s been getting therapy and is self-aware but she does not wish to be emotionally vulnerable in a romantic relationship. She doesn’t believe that lasting love, caring love, really exists and if it does, she’s sure it’s not for her.

Chelsea loves to travel but there’s a large element of “running away” to this; her therapist has challenged her to be present and enjoy the here and now.

“Adventure is always right around the corner.” Instead of running away, she’d challenged me to live every day authentically.

Part of this is a list of things which are outside of her comfort zone. Her best friend, Elizabeth, is, in many ways the opposite of Chelsea so between the two of them, they come up with a list of things which would challenge each of them. They have a points system for each successfully completed challenge – the higher the points the better their next holiday and the further away they will travel. Each has collateral on the other; for Elizabeth is the manuscript of her first novel to be sent to a publisher for Chelsea is a letter her therapist had her write to her father. If one of them refuses a challenge, the other can send the manuscript/letter. Which means they never refuse a challenge.

As the book opens, Elizabeth is challenged to have a 100% bullshit conversation with a stranger she’d be DTF and Chelsea to have a 100% honest and authentic conversation with a stranger she’d be DTF. And the stranger she chooses is chef Basil Stavros. Bas is gorgeous and in the looks department he is entirely Chelsea’s catnip. However, he’s a local and the idea of hooking up with him is risky. Chelsea likes sex and has meaningless one-night stands regularly – preferably with someone she’s unlikely to see again.

After their deep and meaningful conversation, Bas is deeply smitten. His friend, Evan, calls Bas “Easy Lover” because he has a reputation of falling in and out of infatuation quickly. Will Chelsea be different? Will Chelsea give Bas something she’s never given anyone else before – a chance with her heart?

Bas is going through some things of his own around his career and pressure from his family to stick with something and succeed. Bas loves cooking but his current job as a chef behind the scenes at an organic market is unfulfilling. What he really likes it to see people enjoy his food. But roles at restaurants are hard to come by. The one he had before the market ended when the restaurant had to close due to the economy. Bas’s uncle in Greece has a restaurant and has offered for Bas to run it for him but Bas has been reluctant to even consider it. (It’s still not clear to me why.)

Chelsea, as it happens, loves the food at the market and via his cooking, Bas is able to find a way into Chelsea’s orbit.

The tension in the book and the entirety of the conflict is Chelsea’s fear of being hurt. It factored into the entire book. I admit I got a bit tired of the “will she or won’t she” – it just felt like it went on too long. There were times I wondered why Bas put up with it. Then Bas would do something stupid (like propose (!) to prove he’s serious about her) and my sympathies would shift. I felt for Chelsea’s trauma but she fell hard for Bas from the start. To push him away out of fear only brought the kind of heartbreak she wanted to avoid. Nobody really pointed that out to her either.

Chelsea realised the no-win situation Bas was in and, by extension, the no-win situation she was in in Chapter 9:

When he lost interest, he moved on. Why wouldn’t that apply to women, too? His casual answer reinforced my certainty that he’d leave me if I didn’t yeet him first. And if I let him charm me with his easy warmth, I’d be the fool with the broken heart.

On the other hand, what if I was wrong? Would he pass muster only if he showed he could pursue me until we were both dead? Wouldn’t that be the saddest of victories?

And wouldn’t it be stalkerish as hell if he promised to stick around through round after round of rejection? Shouldn’t I laud him for his self-respect?

What did I want from this poor guy?

Dear Chelsea: I had the same question. Unfortunately, this realisation did not lead to any decisive action until Chapter 21 and even then, it came from Basil. (I don’t count the proposal as “decisive action”.)

There were some choices in the book I didn’t understand – either in terms of authorial choice or character (the proposal!). At times they felt like a “something needs to happen here” prompt rather than organic to the story.

Evan and Elizabeth’s relationship took up a larger amount of real estate than I expected. This was unsatisfying because there was too much time taken from Bas and Chelsea and not enough given to Evan and Elizabeth. (Also Evan was a real jerk when he found out about the girls’ challenge list and made some wildly misogynistic assumptions and I don’t feel he groveled anywhere near enough. It was around this point that Chelsea also acted in an out-of-character way in her response which had me puzzled, given her – very reasonable – fear of loud angry men.)

There were some sentences/paragraphs were phrased in such a way I had to read them multiple times to get it. Maybe that’s on me.

“I can’t lie and say I don’t want a future with you, if that’s what you ultimately want, but you say you don’t, and I trust you mean it.”

Holding Out For A Gyro had promise but ultimately it was just okay for me.

Grade: C

Regards,
Kaetrin

If you love RomComs you need to add this to your TBR immediately! I read this book in less than 4 days which is very fast if you know me so you know Ivatevthis one up!!

There are non-stop dad jokes and it's the best!! I was laughing the whole time reading this book.

The list that Chelsea and her best friend Elizabeth had throughout the book was such a fun element! I loved this concept so much.

Chelsea and Bas had all the right tention between each other throughout. It made me want to throw my kindle across the room at times but for the right reasons. I COULD NOT put this book down besties!!

If you're a fellow food and love to laugh at punny jokes this book is for you!! 💙💙💙

The cover is gorgeous and it's what attracted me to the book in the first place.
I wanted to like the book so much more but I couldn't. Honestly, I didn't like the FMC.
Chelsea had had a very tough childhood and no child deserves that. That trauma carried into her adulthood and defined her whole life. The thing is she expected everyone to make sacrifices for her without her lifting a finger or giving anything up. That I couldn't get past. She expected him to be always at her back and call and to always love her but wasn't willing to give him the same courtesy. I know it was very hard for her to open up to people and let them in, and I understand that perfectly, but she really expected him to wait for her forever without giving him any kind of commitment. That's just messed up. The poor man loved her so much and she barely fed him crumbs.
Basil was not perfect too and maybe he was a little pushy sometimes but that man TRIED SO HARD for her. He did everything in their "relationship" and it just wasn't fair. She didn't appreciate that and when he finally found a job that brougt him joy, she expected him to give it up for her and return to Charlottesville and continue being stuck in a dead end job when she was the one who encourage him to take the job in Greece in the first place.
She elevated my opinion of her in the end a little bit by being the one who went after him for a change, I mean it was necessary. But still, I couldn't like her, she made it impossible for me.

This story was a lot of fun, but there were definitely things I didn't love about this book.

The Good:
1. I enjoyed this story. It was fun, and while it was very predictable, I did smile quite a few times while reading this.
2. The food descriptions. I walked away from this book craving some greek food.
3. The pacing. I never found myself bored during this read. The story was fast paced without rushing and I was able to read this book quickly as it really kept my interest.
4. The portrayal of trauma recovery. I feel like this was handled really way and I loved getting to go with Chelsea on her road to finding herself again.

What I didn't enjoy:
1. The side plot with Evan and Elizabeth. This relationship felt really forced. It was also weird to me that Chelsea and Bas were so involved in trying to force their friends together.
2. The side characters as a whole. The only characters that were fleshed out were the main couple of Chelsea and Bas. They would mention their friends and family, but these characters all fell flat for me. Bas brings us his roommate so many times but the reader knows nothing about this character. He mentions being close with his family, but we see them interact so little and all of their interactions feel forced.
3. I think I personally liked the idea of this book more than the execution of this book. I love the idea of a woman who is afraid of commitment finding love, but through this story she wasn't necessarily afraid of the commitment as much as she was afraid of labeling her commitment. I also was confused with Bas, because he is a guy that jumps into love too fast, but also has never been hurt which just didn't work.
4. The spice. I love spice in a romance book, but this book specifically had me wishing it would have been left out. It felt like the spice was added because the author felt they had to, so all of the spicy scenes felt somewhat forced (And not in like a dubcon kinda way). I found myself wanting the spice to end during spicy scenes and that has never happened to me while reading a romance book before.

I think there was a lot of potential for this story, but for me it just fell flat overall.

4 stars

I enjoyed reading this as a quick palette cleanser between crime books. Holding out for a gyro is a spicy rom-com following two best friends who have created a list to encourage them to get out of their comfort zone. I really enjoyed this concept and it was fun to see both girls do things that they would usually shy away from. This list then leads them to meeting the male main character (Basil) and his friend Evan. I liked both male characters and Basil’s love of dad jokes was funny for me as I think they are portrayed in a silly way and I find them entertaining.
It ends up being a dual love story as both the girls experience new love at the same time. Reading about strong girl friendships is something I enjoy so this was a good addition to the book.
Towards the end of the book the main girl Chelsea did start to annoy me as her attitude towards Basil and her lack of communication was frustrating to read. However, I do understand why it played out like that in the story so I can look past it.

Overall this is a summer vibes, spicy quick read that you should try !

🇬🇷ARC Review🇬🇷

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book (thanks to Entangled Publishing). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book! Firstly, the title alone was so clever and cute. That got me right away. Using the “gyro” in place of hero was so cute.

I like how Chelsea was actively trying to work through things and go to therapy. She wasn’t an easy character to like but she had these points about her which showed effort and growth. I do agree with other reviews I’ve seen, however, that state the two main characters had no business being together until they have worked on themselves. Personal growth before growth with a partner.

Loved the whole big Greek family part of it! Reminds me of my own big Italian family. Though, yes, it can be a stereotype at times, it was done well and relatably.

I also enjoyed the concept of the two friends having this list of things to check off each year. I like that idea a lot! A way to get out of your comfort zone and experience things.

Overall, the writing was good, the story was cute. A good one but not a fave!

📚Holding Out for a Gyro by Mary Ann Marlowe: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ~ 3.5 stars (3 on Goodreads)

3.5 stars rounded up!

This book was a blend of fun, wit, and heartfelt moments. This contemporary romance dives deeper than the typical light-hearted love story, tackling themes of fear, trauma, and personal growth in a way that feels both relatable and refreshing.

Chelsea and Bas are the main characters of this story. Watching Chelsea navigate her fears and trauma, and ultimately reclaim a life she truly desired, was lovely. Bas, stands out as the kind of partner we all hope for—patient, kind, and supportive. The dynamic between Chelsea and Bas was compelling, and I enjoyed seeing how they developed both as individuals and as a couple.

That said, the miscommunication between Chelsea and Bas occasionally became a bit frustrating, as it felt like it could have been resolved more easily. However, I was relieved that they eventually managed to work through their issues and come to a deeper understanding of each other.

Overall, "Holding Out for a Gyro" is an enjoyable read with a good balance of humor and emotion. While it has its minor flaws, the book's strengths lie in its characters' growth and the genuine connection between them. If you're looking for a romance with depth and a touch of fun, this book is worth checking out.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC and the author for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review. <3

Chelsea and her best friend Elizabeth are always pushing each other outside their comfort zones, checking fun things off on lists like taking a hike, or talking to a stranger. They’re out in a bar together one night and meet two men and decide to check another off the list. Elizabeth has to fabricate everything she says and Chelsea has to speak only the truth. When a fun night out turns into the possibility of a relationship, Chelsea puts on the breaks. She doesn’t do relationships and she’s very upfront with Basil. He, however, is very persistent and struggles to overcome all of her objections.

I so wanted to like these characters more than I did. Chelsea had an interesting but pretty dark back story and her path to happiness led through her needing to overcome all of her insecurities. Basil was an open book but for some reason he found something in Chelsea that he wanted to shine a light on and love. Both things that aren’t unusual in a romance novel but it was the length of time (literally to the end of the book) that it took for them to work things out was exhausting for me. The cover and title which are so cute and fun, kind of misled me into thinking the story would be light-hearted and funny- it just wasn’t that book for me. I love this author and her other books, but I just didn’t click with these characters.

A woman who avoids love at all costs decides to take a risk one night. She bares her soul to a stranger with dark, mischievous eyes, admitting her fear of commitment and belief in mind-blowing sex over soul mates. Instead of being scared off, the charming Greek man is intrigued, making her want more than just a fleeting connection.

What was meant to be a one-time encounter turns complicated when she discovers he's the talented chef at her favorite restaurant—the one who's been keeping her satisfied for months. While he seems like the perfect hero, she fears she might be the perfect villain when it comes to romance.

Okay, this review was hard for me to write because I don't have strong impressions of this book. The book initially seemed very appealing, interesting, and like it would be fun, but honestly, it disappointed me. From the very beginning, it was difficult for me to read. Chelsea has relatable childhood traumas, but in some scenes, it doesn't make sense at all. I appreciate the focus on therapy and self-growth. At times, Bas seems like a very sweet character, but of course, he has his flaws. Considering Chelsea's traumas and Bas's flaws, they don't mix well, and it ends up being really strange, especially with the miscommunication trope involved. I wouldn't say I can recommend this book. It definitely has some fun parts, a great portrayal of friendship, trauma, a yearly friends challenge checklist...