I will first like to start this review thanking netgalley and the publishers for this opportunity to read this novel.

Listen I wanted to like this book guys, but it just didn't do it for me. This book was marketed as enemies-to-lovers but it is not. They are basically in love by chapter 5. This book suffered greatly with the insta-love. There was no tension ever, and very little bickering (before they released they were in love). The plot moved very quickly and at times I was shocked to learn how many weeks have passed since the previous paragraph. Many of the problems came quickly and were solved even quicker. I would have dnfed this book if not it being an arc.

This book was just what I needed right now. It was such a cute story but at the same time talked about some serious subjects and I just loved it.

se fui triste eu não lembro, eu só sei que desfrutei cada segundo desse livro

nesse livro temos uma querida sem mãe com trust issues e impostora educacional, um homem alto sarado e gostoso que se vendeu pra industria, uma mulher empoderada, um casal de gays felizes e dois vilões fio da mãe, tudo isso enquanto eles cozinham e podem jogar agua fervendo (ou óleo) um no outro.

mas resumo da ópera ou da receita, Alexander parou de ser feliz em cozinhar já que o La Rouge suga toda a vida dele até aparecer a querida da Eden, ele finalemente sente que pode confiar a cozinha a alguem. como se ela devolvesse leveza pra vida dele. oq começa como um "eu sei que você não fez no passado" terminar em um workplace romance e depois eu "vamos jogar tudo pro alto e fazer a nossa vida" e eu ameeeeeeeeei!

1000/10 >> opiniao sincera para o NetGalley em troca de um cópia avançada,

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Canada for this arc!

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Enjoyed the concept of the story. Two chefs with immense talent and difficult pasts coming together to not only be a great team at work but also as real life partners.

My dislikes were the dialogue did not feel natural. It felt like too charactery as opposed to feeling like natural conversations. What was meant as cute banter fell very flat. I also feel that the main two characters did things that felt out of character? Their actions didn’t line up to what we the reader knew about them. The whole time we are led to believe how important this job is to our FMC but when she gets fired/quits she’s so flippant about it. The resolution of her missing parents was given one chapter even though we are told how important this is to her. Our MMC is supposed to be a disciplined renowned top chef but when he discovers our FMC lied about finishing culinary school he covers for her even though on the previous chapter he fired another employee for the exact same thing! Make it make sense?

Now clearly I still finished the book, and gave it 3 stars. There were some cute moments! I love the found family with the other restaurant employees (humor was strong with the side characters) and the spice scenes were good (now some of the pillow talk could’ve been better here too). The story felt strongest during the MMC reunion with his family. I felt the connection and I really cared about the outcome. It didn’t feel forced and you felt the love from his parents in those scenes. Overall this was a strong debut and with just a few tweaks I could see this author putting out even better work!

I had mixed emotions about this book. It started off really strong. Loved the strong characters and the bit of mystery but I think it needed a longer burn. The characters resolved their issues far too soon and it lead to some boredom in the middle of the book. The end was ok, not necessarily the resolution I was looking for with Eden’s family cut nice wrap up with Shangs family. Overall a decent read.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

An adorably cute book that I had trouble putting down. Perfect when not feeling good.

We love a grumpy/sunshine trope! This was a very fun read, and I felt like it hit all the markers I want in a romance, workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine romance! I really enjoyed the characters and felt they were fully developed, flawed people just trying to do their best and be their best. I also really loved this one as a fellow Rat - so good on ya for making me love my Reylo feels once again, but absolutely in a way that people not in the know wouldn't know.

Overall a pretty good quick romance read, it had aspects that reminded me of the bear, which I really liked, but I don’t know why so much of their relationship reminded me of the reylo dynamic, which normally I like but in this book due to the romance being so rushed with the insta love trope, it felt kinda forced instead of natural. I enjoyed the side characters who were quite fun to listen to as well as the detective subplot, made for quite an interesting motivation for the fmc.

If you're a fan of workplace romance, the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope blending with the "Bear" series concept, and want to scream with me "Yes, Chef!", this book is a great match for you!

Brooding, perfectionist, critical, moody Alexander Chen (a.k.a. Shang) and sunshiny, gold-hearted, easy-going, always-sees-good-in-people Eden Monroe seem like total opposites, but I loved their palpable chemistry and undeniably magnetic attraction. They're incredibly sweet together and great partners in the kitchen.

Their paths cross once again at French haute cuisine restaurant La Rouge, where Shang has changed his name to Alexander Chang. He's one of the top chefs in the industry leading the kitchen, and Eden is the brand new sauce chef, hired urgently after her predecessor quit. Eden has a big secret: she lied about her previous experience and references on her resume. She also didn't finish culinary school, where she met Alexander 9 years ago. Thankfully, Alexander doesn't recognize her, and he intends to test her capabilities in her position, which she's adamant not to lose. She needs to collect enough money for an important mission and is thick-skinned enough to fight against mean, critical people in the kitchen while keeping a smile on her face.

But she doesn't expect to become friends with the brooding chef who needs her help to create a new menu to satisfy the demanding owner Sebastian, who watches their every move like a hawk. Meanwhile, her colleague Hector is trying to replace her as sauce chef, bullying his way to get what he wants.

As Eden tries to find her way in the industry and searches for a big mystery about her past, she realizes her blooming friendship with Alexander is turning into something more intimate. Could they help each other heal from past burdens, becoming the best partners not just in the kitchen but in a relationship, and find their own paths?

Overall: This is a sweet, angsty, steamy romance you can easily get addicted to! Especially if you're a foodie who enjoys the romance-in-workplace concept, your name is written all over this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sharing this lovely romance book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I love a food/restaurant-based book and this was no exception. Parts of this felt very ReyLo coded, but it's possible I've read too much fanfic. The pacing felt a bit fast in my opinion but I liked that there wasn't a second half break up. The plot felt relatively predictable but the characters really sparkled. I loved the cast of friends, the MMC's parents and all the food details.

RIYL The Love Hypothesis (It felt like the characters in this book would 100% be friends with the characters in that one somehow)

Fun and flirty and not afraid of the spice! I thought that the parts in the kitchen (think Bear) were the most effective. The romance happened a little fast and could've done without the two epilogues. Overall, a good read, 3.5 stars.

An adorable read! I started it thinking it would be another cute romance book (and it was) but i couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in one sitting and that's how you know that a book is good (becuase I just couldn't put it down, needing to read what happens next).

Lovely read!

This book kind of felt like two stories mashed together. The beginning had a very different feel to the latter half and I much preferred the beginning.
I did read to the end but I had lost some interest by the finish.

I absolutely loved this book! Katrina Kwan's writing style flows so beautifully that I didn't want the story to end. It was impossible not to fall in love with both main characters, and even the side characters were a lot of fun. This book was steamy both in and out of the kitchen.
A spicy rom-com perfect for fans of The Bear :) A great debut novel!

This was so cute?!

I loved the banter and the communication.. the whole friendship group was just so adorable and i loved how they wasn't any unnecessary 3 act break up.

Just a book of fluff and fun and laughs..

My heart broke for Eden, when she found her dream.. but i also thought it was pretty realistic and amazingly written that sometimes dreams dont work out .. and that is fine!

Thank you netgalley for giving me this arc!

A rom com set in a kitchen. I didn't think I would love this one as much as I did. But who would have thought a restaurant kitchen would be a great setting for a rom com.

This was a fun romantic story that I didn't realize was Reylo fanfic. I found that out after reading the book, but it did not change my experience of enjoying the story.really enjoyed the devoured this book in a weekend

I loved this book! This was perfect for my recent vacation. A fun and romantic read with great character depth.
Also perfect for fans of the tv series "the bear" who wish it would come with just "a dash of" spice!
Now I need to practice my kitchen skills.
This will be an easy summer sell.

This book is a charming romantic comedy with a focus on the culinary arts. It's like a love story involving Gordon Ramsay - except he's a bit kinder and more eloquent Overall, it's a good read and I would definitely check out more books by this author. The ending tied up the story nicely and I was satisfied with how it all came together.

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.