2.5 stars rounded down
so sorry did not enjoy this at all
i finished it tho
it’s probably because i’m reading a book about another grant who is well,alive.
anyway jae is nice to an extent but like i did not get the romance aspect at all.
anyway thank you netgalley and the publisher this review is my own (obviously)

I simply think this book was not for me. I tried to get through it but ended up DNFing it at around half way through. Maybe later on I can give it another try, as maybe I wasn't in the right mood.

Riley is a painter who lives in NYC, She is grieving the loss of her fiancé and is unsure whether it's time to move on when she gets a proposal to paint a mural for a new restaurant owned by Jae. Jae also now is the new owner of Riley and her fiancé's house (rent hike caused Riley to have to move out) and now her neighbor.
It's been 3 years since the loss of Riley's fiancé, is she ready for someone and something new?

When I read the synopsis for this I knew I had to read it. The book started a little rough with Riley but I was happy to see her character develop more through out the book. The pacing for the book was a bit off and left something to be desired. The depth of the characters was there but felt off because of the pacing of the story. The emotions portrayed by the characters are so raw that it felt like they were my own at some points. Overall, a good read by Cate Summers.

Firstly thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I feel this review may be a bit harsh but this story has good premise with poor execution. There’s lots about dealing with grief and the FMC has a lot of anxiety to work through but some of the writing just didn’t flow. It felt awkward and sometimes disjointed.
With some good editing this story could improve.

This was a very sweet read which a big emphasis on learning how love after grief. There were a few minor things I didn't resonate with/slight plot holes but I didn't really look to far into it. Overall, I think the way Cate Summers writes about grief is so real and raw.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A widow finds love again in this charming story of loss and friendship and finding yourself along the way.

I love books where one (or both) of the MCs love language is cooking, so I really, really liked how that aspect was thrown in here. It had my mouth watering for Jae to cook something up for myself!
 
Although too fast-paced for me, the romance was sweet and tender, and I rooted for the MCs throughout the whole thing! They clicked perfectly, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their romance bloom.

What I didn’t like, however, was the dialogue; at times, it could be really cringey and questionable to the point where I often found myself getting the ick.
 
I also believe that if this book were a slow burn, it would have been a great read! It felt very insta-lovey, and I really don’t like that trope.
 
The plot genuinely grabbed my interest, and if executed better, it could’ve been more enjoyable. I hope one day we get a revised edition because this had so much potential!
 
But all this to say, I did like most of this book! Even though it was not the best, it certainly wasn’t horrible in any way. I strongly encourage people to give it a try! It is worth a read.
 
No hate to the author!!! I truly liked the writing at times, and I am really looking forward to more from her.

Tropes/micro tropes:
Friends to lovers
They’re neighbors
He’s her dating coach
He fell first
Insta love

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Did not read for not downloading the ARC before the archive date. Which breaks my heart because I was incredibly excited to read this book. Nevertheless, here's a 5 star rating for compensation. I apologise for the inconvenience and best of luck.

This was such a cute read!! The way she wrote the story, and the grief was so beautiful. I really loved Jae and Riley’s story. I think it was super cute. I relate to Riley’s anxiety a lot too which was nice to feel represented in a book. Jae was adorable and so willing to meet her where she was at. And I think that’s something we all hope for. This was a cute quick read while still navigating a heavy topic. I think Cate did an amazing job balancing it. I’m super lucky and thankful I was chosen to read this as an Arc from Netgalley!!

This was a soft DNF at 30% in. I might pick it up again in the future, but right now it is putting me into a reading slump and I have picked it up so many times over the last few days, only to lose interest after a few pages.

What it is about: Riley lost her fiancé Grant 3 years ago and is now forced to move out of their previously shared apartment. The new inhabitant is Jae, who also happens to own a restaurant that hires Riley to paint a mural. Additionally, she asks him for "dating lessons", since she never did the whole dating app thing.

I felt like the grief part was well done. Riley feels shame for being physically attracted to Jae, since she is still mourning Grant. But beyond that, I just could not connect to the characters and I could feel them start to get on my nerves a little bit, which is never a good thing this early on in a book. So, for now I will put it down, but might pick it up again at another time.

Thank God for Stuart’s interference. He “chooses” Jae as the new renter for Riley’s former apartment, and they have a meet-cute on the day that she moves out.

Fate brings them together in closer proximity when Jae hires her to paint a mural for the restaurant which he is opening soon. In exchange for painting, he gives her dating lessons.

Soon, they realise that they are attracted to each other and I loved Jae for allowing her to grief when she needs to, and patiently listens to her when she talks about Grant, her dead fiancé. Similarly, I liked how Riley is so supportive of Jae’s career.

There is a mix of sweet and spicy scenes but overall, this book felt less of a romance and more of a journey for Riley to leave with her grief while still moving forward in life.

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the E-ARC. Im not gonna lie at the beginning the FMC was getting on my nerves but as the book progressed I started to see her grow and got into it. Jae was a really good MMC who took care of Riley and was really patient with her. This one of the first books that Ive read where the story really centered around the MMC and FMC and I was glad to see that they really good carrying the whole book themselves.

Cate Summers’ Take All The Time You Need offers a heartfelt, if somewhat predictable, exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of moving on after grief. The novel follows Riley Chase, a New York City painter still grieving the death of her fiancé, Grant, three years after his passing. The story has the makings of an emotional journey, but while there are moments of charm and genuine connection, the execution leaves the reader with a somewhat lukewarm experience.

Riley’s grief and reluctance to move forward in life are immediately relatable. Summers portrays her as someone stuck in time, unsure how to let go of her old life, until a rent hike forces her out of the apartment she once shared with Grant. This change, paired with encouragement from her therapist, sets up a promising arc for Riley as she slowly takes steps toward healing.

Enter Jae Cho, the charismatic chef who now lives in Riley’s old apartment and hires her to paint a mural for his new restaurant, The Red Kettle. Jae’s introduction brings a spark to the story—he’s witty, supportive, and offers the kind of easy banter that readers expect in a light romance. The chemistry between Riley and Jae is enjoyable, though it feels underdeveloped at times. Their "practice dating" plotline, where Jae helps Riley get back into the dating scene, is fun but predictable. It's the kind of rom-com scenario that could have been deeper but instead stays mostly on the surface.

One of the novel's strengths is the setting. Summers paints a vivid picture of New York City, with its winding streets, cozy restaurants, and vibrant culture. The long walks through the city that Riley and Jae share add warmth to the story, giving readers a sense of place that enhances their connection. Jae’s culinary skills and the food scenes involving dumplings are another nice touch, bringing some sensory delight to their interactions.

Where Take All The Time You Need falls short is in the pacing and emotional depth. Riley’s struggle to move on from Grant is central to the plot, but her grief never feels fully explored. The internal conflict of balancing past love with new possibilities is glossed over at times, making her emotional journey feel incomplete. The practice dating setup, while cute, doesn’t allow for the deeper exploration of Riley’s feelings that could have made the story more resonant.

Similarly, Jae’s character, though charming, lacks significant depth. He serves primarily as a supportive figure to Riley’s growth, but we don’t get much insight into his own backstory or motivations, which would have added another layer to their relationship. While there’s chemistry between the two, their relationship follows a very predictable path, lacking the tension or emotional stakes that could have made it more compelling.

The novel also struggles with some pacing issues. The early chapters take time setting up Riley’s grief and new life, but the middle section drags as the focus shifts to the more lighthearted practice dating, and the conclusion feels rushed. The resolution, where Riley finally begins to move on and consider a future with Jae, happens too quickly to feel fully earned, leaving the reader wanting more depth from the characters and their journey.

Final Thoughts:
Take All The Time You Need is a sweet, if somewhat formulaic, romance that touches on themes of grief, healing, and new beginnings. Riley and Jae’s budding relationship provides a pleasant distraction, but the story lacks the emotional complexity needed to truly stand out. While the setting and charming moments make for an enjoyable read, the novel ultimately feels too light to fully deliver on its premise. A solid 2.5-star read that may appeal to fans of cozy romance, but falls short of making a lasting impact.

I thought that this was a cute read about working on coming to terms with losing a loved one. Riley has trouble accepting that she deserves to find love again and be happy after losing her fiancé Grant as quickly as she did. Jae just so happens to be the one that's moving into her old apartment and hires Riley to paint a mural in his new restaurant. I love that she was able to develop a friendship with Jae though and he was so understanding with her feelings and helped her with her guilt. He becomes protective over her at the start because she's still unsure of getting back out there into the dating scene again and Jae makes a deal that he'll help her by doing practice dates. It was at this point I knew Jae was already falling for Riley, but he didn't want to pressure her which was really sweet. He knew she needed a friend first and that's exactly what he did until she was ready.

I did find some grammar issues throughout my copy of the book as well that I had to take a second to reread at some spots so hopefully those can be fixed.

OBSESSED. I read through this book so incredibly quickly because I was absolutely HOOKED. I loved this story so much and it gave me everything I wished for.
Work romance, grief therapy, slow-burn, strangers to coworkers/friends to lovers, banter, second chance at love, and MORE!
Highly recommend as a buffer read, or if you're just really craving a feel good romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cate Summers for the opportunity to read and review Take All The Time You Need!

e-ARC from NetGalley.

Some books just work for me, and this is one of them.

This is a story about grief and healing. Our protagonist lost her fiance to an abrupt and brutal kind of cancer just three years ago. Since then, she's been both drowning in grief and guilting herself out of trying to find even a modicum of happiness. Now, rising rent has forced her out of the apartment she shared with her fiance. On the way out, she meets the new tenant: Handsome Korean-American chef, Jae Cho.

From the moment they meet, there's some very obvious chemistry. And, as the story continues, I fell in love with their dynamic. Riley felt so relatable to me, and Jae was so sweet. Their interactions were funny, and the way Jae would randomly act like a middle school boy talking to his crush absolutely sent me. There were moments they had together where the constant synonyms and metaphors were a bit much, but the things these two made me feel? Let's just say I was grinning like an idiot.

This isn't a perfect book. There were elements of Jae's story that were introduced but never explored, chief among them being his mother's lack of support. There were also a few very obvious inconsistencies in the story - despite Jae knowing about Riley's loss before they even meet, there are times when it seems like he isn't aware of it - and we had three separate conversations about where he learned to cook with three different answers. While distracting, though, these did not pull me out of the story enough for it to truly bother me.

In the end, this is a wonderful story about learning to love again. If you love strangers to friends to lovers as much as I do, this will be a hit. And, if the love interested uttering the line "I'm her best friend" does something to your heart? Prepare accordingly.

This book beautifully combined the processing of grief and guilt with a sweet love story that had me smiling as I read (and pumping my fist in the air at one point). Jae and Riley are so lovable which is a huge factor for me. A new restaurant owner and a painter, and they’re so much more. I read this book in less than 48 hours, I loved it!

Overall, this was a sweet story of a woman finding love after loss, However, some of the pacing and style felt a little bit clunky. I felt that this book was entertaining and had some great elements, but it didn't 100% do it for me. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for honest feedback/

Take All the Time You Need has great bones for a wonderful story. Starting out, I really loved the voice of the character as she navigated grief after losing her partner three years prior. I just found the pacing from there to be pretty wonky. She was unbelievably rude and hateful to the new neighbor for no real reason. It didn’t make sense why he cared so much in return. Then the fell in love alarmingly fast? Some parts dragged on while I felt like a lot of the important points could have used more texture and development. Overall, I felt like this book has what it takes to be a great read, it just needs a bit more editing.