3.75/5
Eat Post Like was a fun lit fic/romance with tons of talks of food and stunning scenery. Cassie experiences a big loss and is feeling confused in her corporate lifestyle. After she discovers her boyfriend’s secret food review account, she embarks on a journey to honor him and explore the culinary world.

At times, the writing felt a little choppy, but hopefully after editing it will flow just fine. Sometimes Cassie felt a little immature, which bothered me because I really liked her through most of the book. Once she gained some more confidence in her writing and in her self, she was able to learn that even if she wasn’t exactly like her late bf, she can still make an impact through food.

3.75⭐️ Foodies! This is the book for you! This is a sumptuous journey that spans from NYC, Italy, France, Denmark, and Spain. The descriptions of the food in this book are mouthwatering. You can smell and almost taste what the characters are eating. You can imagine the setting of these beautiful restaurants as you’re sitting in your own living room. What a fabulous debut journey. This book is about Cassie. She is a lawyer who unexpectedly loses her fiancée. As she’s going through his belongings, she finds fake IDs, disguises, and lots of cash. He had been living a double life in secret from her for years. He was secretly the world’s number one food critic and food reviewer. She accesses his instagram account and accepts on his behalf to go on a food journey in Europe. She works tirelessly trying to learn cuisine-where it’s from and how it’s made and she stumbles her way through content creation. This is where the book lost some points from me. At times it was slow, but it became slightly unrealistic how successful she was at the content creation and writing aspect. Also, dining at Michelin star restaurants and being about to write about all the nuances of the foods without prior knowledge is unrealistic. However, this is the perfect book for someone who loves food and travel!

This was sadly a book I DNF at 25%, while this book had a great synopsis and when I first saw this book I was like “wow I’m going to cry aren’t I?” I just couldn’t feel any authenticity for the FMC. It felt very distant to me and I couldn’t connect with her the way I wanted to. Also the writing was a little weird to me. I couldn’t get behind how clunky and awkward it came across to me, sadly.

*Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Emily Arden Wells, the author, for the ARC!*

2.5 stars.

This book was sadly not for me. I wanted to like it, and the premise was a good one, but I honestly felt like two different authors wrote this one. The details about the food and the tourist attractions were so vivid and well-written, but all the human interactions were written horribly. I know that’s harsh, and I feel guilty for saying that. However, there were a few moments that should have been emotionally charged that were not…at all. To the point, that the lack of emotion and depth made me feel uncomfortable. Examples: the phone call when Cassie found out her boyfriend had died, an altercation Cassie was in later in the book, and when Cassie said goodbye to another character at the book’s end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I devoured this book! Absolutely loved the unique premise, the characters and the details!
This is guaranteed to be a favorite for travel lovers and foodies enraptured by social media!

Career obsessed Cassie is blindsided by a life-twist, prompted by grief she steps out of her comfort zone seeking consolation and fulfillment. She wants more from life and bravely risks everything to search for it.

This debut novel has me looking forward to more from Emily Arden Wells! Well done!! This is a great read to kick off your summer reading and just might inspire you to search for more!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 rounded up. The book has an interesting concept, but in the end it just didn’t keep my interest very well.

The most interesting parts were probably the early deep dives into how James maintained his identity. I loved the idea that he went so far to keep his secret.

The biggest issue was the writing felt dense and lacked some needed spark to brighten it up. It was strangely formal, like a story from a bygone era. It just made the book a bit hard to get into.

Thank you to Avon for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

I just did not vibe with this book. The story telling was a bit underwhelming and over telling at the same time.
A bit too straight forward and also told in third point of view.
I've seen positive reviews, so I think it's just not my cup of tea.

This book was fun to read! It had a good storyline and great execution in the writing. This was a quick and easy read for me.

Influencing and influences must be the current trend in books now because I am seeing a lot of books with stories based on these things. This book has these subjects and they were written about in a very interesting and realistic way. I felt like I had a behind the scenes glimpse at the world of influencing.

I loved all of the descriptions of the places and food. It made me feel like I was on the trip with the group. I actually stopped reading to Google the restaurant that is in the Eiffel Tower. I love it when books make me want to research things.

This was a good book and one I would recommend to friends. I can see myself reading it again in the future. A well done debut novel!!

I had such high hopes for this book, especially as a foodie and a fine dining enthusiast! I was eager to dive into a romance that intertwined culinary delights with heartfelt emotions. Unfortunately, it just didn’t ignite a spark for me. While the story touched on romance, it wasn’t in the way I had envisioned.

I appreciated how Cassie discovered a new passion for food while navigating her grief over James—that was a beautiful aspect of the narrative. However, the almost-romance with Eamon fell flat for me; I was really craving a more traditional happily ever after.

In the end, I wouldn’t truly categorize this as a romance—it feels more like women’s fiction to me. A huge thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really wanted to like this one but it fell pretty flat for me. The writing felt pretty stiff and over complicated with unnecessary details.

The whole secret food blogger is such an interesting concept to me but the way our FMC Cassie fell into it just kind of felt wrong. They wanted us to believe that Cassie was carrying on her bow deceased boyfriend’s legacy but there relationship wasn’t even that strong of a connection in the first place? Cassie and James seemed to almost be on the rocks and not even able to agree on a trip after multiple years in a relationship ship. I think the book would’ve benefitted greatly from some relationship development between the two. That way it would’ve provoked some emotion and really made us feel for Cassie her navigating post James’ death.

I loved the trip and the other characters she ran into along the way. That being said, I thought the details were a little overdone and I just wasn’t into it. It also seemed a little far fetched that she was able to suddenly pull all of this culinary knowledge and perfectly crafted reviews out of nowhere. It would’ve been more authentic had she maybe made mistakes along the way or she had some previous background though James?

Overall, it was just okay for me. It would probably be a pretty fun read while traveling abroad for something light. Thanks a bunch to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Eat Post Like is a tender, uplifting debut that blends grief, love, and the sensory magic of food into a journey of rediscovery. When Cassie loses her boyfriend James, her carefully structured life crumbles—until she finds his hidden foodie diary and learns he ran a secret viral food account. What begins as a tentative step into James’s world soon transforms into a personal voyage across cities, cuisines, and a reawakening of self.

Cassie’s emotional evolution is handled with care, her grief is never rushed, and her healing feels authentic. The descriptions of food are mouthwatering, but it’s the quiet reflections, grappling with loss, redefining ambition, and choosing joy, that truly shine. With warmth, wit, and a generous helping of heart, Eat Post Like is perfect for fans of One Italian Summer or The Hundred-Foot Journey. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected detours serve up the richest flavors of life.

Following her boyfriend's death, Cassie reflects on her life and searches for her own passion.

First and foremost, I found Eat Post Like to be a lovely exploration of grief. James' sudden death erased the future Cassie saw for herself, one spent by his side. It also exposed a whole side of James she never knew existed. Cassie was shocked when she discovered James had been living a double life as a food critic. Feeling a bit betrayed, she also wanted to learn more about this other world he inhabited which pushed her on her own path of self-discovery and search for her passion. With that, I am warning non-foodies, that there is a LOT of food talk.

Cassie's personal journey was accomplished via a physical journey when she accepted an invitation to be part of a tour reviewing starred restaurants in Europe. I loved all the descriptions of where she was and what she ate. These passages were vivid, making my mouth water while transporting me to Rome, Copenhagen, Venice, and Paris. I am a foodie with wanderlust, and therefore, enjoyed this part of the story immensely.

Filled with amazing locals, incredible food descriptions, and interesting characters, Eat Post Like was an entertaining grief, healing, and finding your passion.

Hmmm, I don't know this one, just missed the mark majorly with me. From the blurb, I was expecting more. I thought going into it, I would get a great story of self-discovery through healing and grief. What I got instead was an annoying travel and food blogging book. I was disappointed.

I really loved the premise of this but struggled to get into the writing. It felt like the author dumped a lot of back story at the beginning. The characters seemed a little flat and I struggled to really get into it. The food descriptions were amazing but didn’t love the execution of this particular story. Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick easy read with many heartfelt moments. I thought the writing style was nice and the author did a great job of developing the characters. Overall I would recommend.

Eat Post Like
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“They remind me of home. Food is so powerful; the aromas and flavors tap into a part of your brain that contains visceral memories. I think it’s incredible how food is a kind of time machine, a vessel that can move us through space and time instantly.”
🥂🥟🧳🩵
Warning! Do not read when hungry, I’m surprised you didn’t hear my belly grumbling! This is for my foodie and travel friends 🫶🏼 It was giving a tiny bit of Eat Pray Love and PS I Love You. It started off strong, I can always enjoy a story of rediscovery, getting out of our comfort zones, just trying something new and Cassie did just that. This read will push you to book that trip you’ve been yapping about, take yourself out to dinner, or go to that museum, we all need a little nudge once in awhile! Unfortunately it kinda fizzled out for me. The plot was a little weak and the food descriptions really overpowered the book. Don’t get me wrong I felt like I could taste the food through the pages and imagined I was sipping a decedent glass of champagne the whole time, and you will fall in love with all seven cities we travel to, it just kinda read like a fictional tour guide book. There’s a tiny bit of romance sprinkled in and the mention of social media didn’t really bother me, I just didn’t fully connect with it. I did enjoy the food critique angle and can totally see someone sitting outside a coffee shop and leisurely enjoying this read. I also think the cover is gorgeous! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
“Food is the fastest way to understand a culture, its traditions, heritage, and history.”
🌏
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Arden Wells, and Avon for this debut e-arc, it comes out June 3rd!
•
Shout to @sixshootercoffee for the olive oil infused citrus pistachio latte 😋

I loved the catchy title and the fun whimsical cover. I though the premise sounded interesting as I am always drawn to books about food and travel. But I found myself frustrated with the characters and felt like the grief was glossed over. Overall, this one wasn't for me.

2.5 stars but rounding up.

Thank you Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the advanced reader copy.

I honestly wasn’t sure going in whether I would enjoy this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by every page! This debut was a breath of fresh air and a testament to seizing life by the lapels. When you’re feeling stuck in your situation the only thing you can do sometimes is completely shake up your life, and that’s exactly what Cassie did. She seized the opportunity presented to her and took the trip of a lifetime (if someone would like to offer me a similar trip—without anyone passing away—my inbox is open).

I had a really hard time getting into this book, so much so that I had to put it down and DNF it. The writing felt a bit lackluster, and I could not seem to bring myself to care about James and Cassie, especially with the emotional whiplash you have to wade through in the first few chapters. Also, kisses being described as "wet" give me the ick, apparently.

Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Eat Post Like is a wonderful debut novel. An utterly delightful read exploring topics of grief, love, growth, and self discovery.

Cassie, a lawyer in NYC, loses her long-term boyfriend, James, in a tragic accident. When she goes through his belongings, she discovers that he ran a well-known, anonymous Instagram food review account. Experiencing grief due to the loss of her boyfriend and feeling dissatisfied in her job, Cassie accepts a trip on behalf of James to review restaurants across Europe. As she travels across Europe, visiting luxurious hotels and restaurants, she goes on a life-changing trip full of delicious foods, incredible architecture, and self-realization that transforms her deeply.

One of the best things about this one is the detail at which the food and settings are described. It certainly feels like the reader is transported to an entirely different place. While there was some romance in this one, the topics of grief, self-discovery, growth are examined more closely throughout the entirety of the plot. Overall, this is a compelling debut novel full of heart, growth, and introspection!