“Food Person”, about Isabella, a food writer and aspiring cookbook author who is hired to ghostwrite a cookbook for former celebrity wild child child star Molly, is the debut novel from Adam Roberts and it’s clear in reading it that he himself is a food person. The way he writes makes it pretty clear that Isabella’s love for cooking, cookbooks, food, and food culture, content, and writing, is his love for those things. As someone who also loves those things, I can attest that this book is the perfect summer read for foodie readers and fans of Ruth Reichl and Anthony Bourdain, for people (like me) who like to curl up in bed with a new cookbook, popping in sticky notes to mark which recipes they’d most like to try.

Aside from all the incredibly specific and niche foodie references, my favorite part of the book was the subplot involving Isabella’s mother. I thought it was an interesting and sensitive subject and relationship that was handled well. The rollercoaster of a relationship between Isabella and Molly was also fun and kept me on my toes, never knowing where it was going next.

The pacing and character development was a little uneven and repetitive at times, and the romantic subplot felt a little like it was just tossed in there without being fully earned, but still this was overall an impressive showing from a debut author, I think readers who are foodies or like celebrity/normal person stories will love it, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does next!

Food Person is a solid 4. First of all, that cover! The colors are eye catching and vibrant and what it symbolizes with the delicate grooming of something impossible to groom. Let's dive in. Isabella loves food in every aspect. Her heart lies within a cookbook, so much so that she would like to write her own. She is let go from her online food magazine job when she completely fails at a live demonstration. She doesn't know where to turn when an offer to ghostwrite a cookbook for the celebrity Molly Babcock appears. That sounds exciting and glamorous. As it turns out, it's anything but that. Molly is terrible at communicating and Isabella can't squeeze Molly's vision from her for the book. She contradicts everything in a person interested in this endeavor. Does she even eat? She is an infuriating, condescending, hot mess.

I loved the many food portions of the book. Isabella was a wishy-washy character without a hard drive and when Molly was introduced the book took on a chick lit feel. Overall, I enjoyed Food Person and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for an advance copy.

Isabella loves food. She dreams of eating at Chez Panisse and loves cookbooks. She is offered a job as a ghostwriter for a cookbook by one of her idols.a fun, insiders look at the food world.

Initially I read a shorter synopsis and the book sounded interesting, then I got it and realized it was much more than I thought. I was expecting a milliennial whine fest, but what I got was a book that was so enrapting, I just about read it all in one night! What do you do when settling has been good enough, but life decides to hand you something totally DIFFERENT and send you off in a direction you weren't expecting? For Isabella, working with Molly is both a dream come true and a nightmare- she gets a writing experience, but no credit. When she finally sees a way to make it work, life throws another curveball and takes her out of the game entirely. with a great mother-daughter dysfunctional dynamic, and a redemption story you aren't expecting, this book will win your heart!

Food Person serves up a deliciously sharp and surprisingly heartfelt story about what happens when a true food lover is hired to ghostwrite a cookbook for someone who... doesn’t actually eat.

Enter Isabella, a recently fired food writer with a deep passion for cooking, and Molly Babcock, a slightly tarnished Hollywood starlet hoping to revive her career through a glamorous, brand-savvy cookbook. What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, it turns out, but that’s half the fun.

The contrast between Isabella’s genuine reverence for food and Molly’s performative approach to eating fuels much of the humor and tension in the book. Shenanigans abound as the two women clash over everything from recipe tone to artistic vision, all while navigating their own personal baggage. The result is both chaotic and charming.

Adam Roberts’ background as a food writer shines through. The food scenes are vivid and mouthwatering, and the story is sprinkled with clever cookbook and chef references that food lovers like me will appreciate. But you don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy it.
The book thoughtfully explores friendship, family, grief, and personal reinvention, all while poking fun at celebrity culture. If you're a food person, you’ll feel seen. If you're not, you might become one by the final chapter.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

This cover is so intriguing, and I was very curious about this book because it overlaps with my day job (I’m a non-fiction and cookbook editor and interact with ghostwriters frequently). In the beginning, I enjoyed this fast-paced romp and all of the food references.

After a disastrous end to her job at a food magazine, Isabella needs a job and hesitantly takes on the role of a cookbook ghostwriter for semi-washed up celebrity, Molly, who’s writing a cookbook to build up her brand again.

However I ended up DNFing this book 50% in because I didn’t truly care about the characters. They often felt like caricatures, with only a few character traits (insecure young professional, jaded celebrity, etc.), and I wanted more from them. I wanted to feel Isabella’s love for food, rather than be told about it.

I also got a bit frustrated by the constant food and pop culture references—it felt like a need to prove the validity of this setting and the larger food world.

While I think readers will enjoyed this light read with its New York City and food references, it ultimately wasn’t quite right for me at this time!

Isabella dreams of being a famous cookbook author and food writer. When she is asked to ghostwrite a cookbook for a celebrity, she isn't expecting the celebrity to be as big of a mess as she turns out to be. There's a lot going on in this book, and I didn't love it, but at its heart, there is a good story. This solidly new adult book should appeal to readers in their late teens and 20s, so my rating is based on that audience, who will probably like it more than I did.

This was a book I had to grow into. At first, I was firmly on Team Isabella—her ambition, her struggle to become a food writer, her determination to carve out a space for herself in the industry—I saw so much of myself in her. I was ready to ride or die for her, to champion her journey.

Then came the shift.

Isabella’s first big food-writing opportunity—a ghostwriting job for Molly, a TV actress looking to reignite her career—wasn’t what she wanted. Writing in the voice of a self-proclaimed non-food person felt like a detour, not a milestone. I understood her frustration. But as the story deepened, Roberts complicated Isabella in ways I wasn’t expecting. Molly and Isabella, seemingly at odds, were each curating an identity—one crafting an image that fit the tabloid appetite, the other shaping herself through the lens of nostalgia-meets-avant-garde gastronomy. Different approaches, but both deeply intentional. And as their stories intertwined, food—rather than being just a career goal—became a way of storytelling, of shared experience, of self-discovery.

Then the third act arrived—and everything I thought I knew was thrown into conflict. The book took flight, shifting dramatically in ways I didn’t see coming. And yet, while the twists pulled the narrative together, my relationship with Isabella felt fractured.

I took a break halfway through the second act—Isabella and I had a falling out. Her stubbornness, unwillingness to compromise, and increasing self-centeredness tested my patience. Her behavior toward Molly? Unkind. Her dynamic with her boyfriend? Maddening. I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. But curiosity—hope that she might find her way back—kept me going.

By the end, I appreciated the journey, but I never fully returned to that I want to be her friend place. Isabella redeemed herself in some ways, but not entirely.

This book felt like a true three-act drama, each section distinct and transformative, tracking Isabella’s growth—or resistance to it. And that resistance tested me. Did I love this book? At times. Did I struggle with it? Absolutely. Do I think others will feel the same? Without question.

I enjoyed the book, but my feelings remain complicated. I won’t dive into every reason here—some are best left for readers to discover. But know this: it’s a book that will challenge how much patience you have for a character’s growth

As someone who enjoys reading cookbooks I was excited to get an advanced copy of Food Person. I was excited to read this book, I loved the description of food. However, it was hard to connect with several of the unlikable characters, Overall it's an enjoyable book for a quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced review copy.

This book was a very fun debut from Adam Roberts. This is a great book for any food/ restaurant/ cookbook lover. Best served on the beach with a snack and spritz. As others have pointed out, it feels similar to The Devil Wears Prada but in the food world.

Some parts didn't feel fully fleshed out or complete, but were perhaps edited for length. It was hard to believe that Isabella's mom's hoarder ways could be 'cured' with one confrontation, or that Molly was a suddenly changed woman after a tragic accident. But if these had been pursued further, then it definitely could have distracted from the main plot.

Isabella, though sometimes unlikeable, was a realistically flawed character with an interesting personal growth arc. Ultimately, I was rooting for her and happy with the ending.

A fun amuse-bouche for the summer.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The food lover in me was immediately drawn to this book and this debut did not disappoint.

I liked Isabella and Molly’s dynamic, and all the supporting characters in the story (Jeannie!!). The food descriptions were amazing and how this author described landmarks and tidbits about the restaurant and food industries.

Very entertained by this one and I loved the cover!

3.5 ⭐️

This was a fun book. I think it was an homage to food, and it met that requirement. I thought both main characters grew in a healthy way! While I understand the main character's (Isabella's) ambition, she thankfully never lost her humanity throughout this book and her interactions with Molly, although there was a time she was close to being a bit more of a brat. I'm happy I read this, and it was quite enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Having read Adam Robert’s blog for a long time, I knew that the food details would be spot on. Loved all the behind the scenes info about ghostwriting, and loved the shout out to my favorite local cookbook store Omnivore Books. Isabella, a striving food writer, is tasked with helping an up and coming actress write a cookbook. Neither one is fully on board with the project, and their contentious relationship is funny and uncomfortable. A wildly dangerous and intense accident causes the main characters to reassess and reconsider almost everything. Fun debut novel by Adam Roberts, I hope he writes more food related fiction.

Isabella Pasternack (a food person through and through!) is desperate for a job to kickstart her culinary career when she lands the opportunity to ghostwrite actress Molly Babcock’s cookbook. The problem? Molly is a disaster in the kitchen, shows no passion for food, and barely gives Isabella the time of day.

FOOD PERSON is my ideal type of fun, smart reading. The writing is imbued with humor, warmth, and pitch perfect pop culture references. And the quirky details and clever turns of phrase make it stand out in a sea of coming-of-age stories. I felt such tenderness for the characters, flawed as they may be.

Things go over-the-top at times, but always with a wink—you can tell the author is in on the joke. In a scene towards the beginning of the book, there’s a cocktail party, caviar emergency and a catering company called The One Percent. These are exactly the types of details I want to be chuckling over while reading by the pool this summer!

Unsurprisingly, the food writing here is also excellent. I was craving chocolate soufflé from chapter one!! FOOD PERSON delves into the deeper emotions that food and cooking often elicit, too, in a way that felt heartwarming, but never trite. AND the cover will look quite eye-catching sticking out of your beach bag this summer! 🍝

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

This was such a fun, foodie lover book! Isabella and Molly are complete opposites which makes the best duo of characters. They were like Andy Sachs and Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada but instead of fashion, it was all about food! Isabella is invisible and doesn't like to "people". She gets the opportunity to ghostwrite a cookbook for a celebrity she loved growing up, Molly. They are the definition of those who eat to live and those who live to eat. Isabella learns to find her voice and her real dream. Molly faces her past and relationship to food. Loved loved loved it!

Twenty-five year old food writer Isabella Pasternak is at a crossroads. Fired from her job at online magazine Comestibles for not having enough personality during a live internet demo and in her columns, she is hoping her next opportunity that will allow her to break out to be seen.

When she is offered a chance to ghostwrite a cookbook for, fiery, well known starlet Molly Babcock, she initially balks but is convinced to take the job by roommate and best friend Owen. Now she, the food lover, is faced with writing a book with Molly, someone who seems to abhor food. Through trial, error and lots of recipes the Isabella is convinced she can find a way through. Will she succeed or have to give up her dream?

Though, at first glance, Isabella and Molly are complete opposites, the two women have similar fears. Both have been driven by their relationship to food, are extremely sensitive (though Molly tries desperate to hide it), and driven by a fear of rejection. Molly has to avoid many foods to fit into Hollywood standards and it colors her relationship to food, and others. Isabella has a deep fear of rejection and it makes it difficult for her to put herself out there, preferring instead to cook through her feelings.

Forced to work together, they clash, though their interactions are often heartwarming. These characters are so vividly drawn and are incredibly interesting to watch.

This quirky, sweet, funny, often mouthwatering book was such a joy to read. Its deliciously detailed recipes and descriptions of food kept me wanting to stop and make a meal. Like watching a food network show unfold with a side of personal introspection and drama. I found Food Person to be a quick fun read with a lot of heart. 4 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Food Person is a novel about mismatched friendships and a love of food. Several elements of the book were really charming, and all-in-all it was a more lighthearted read than I was expecting. Our main character, Isabella, has doormat tendencies, and therefore ends up in a number of precarious situations she is forced to confront with her employers, mother, roommate, and ultimately Molly Babcock who she agrees to ghost write a cookbook for. I really enjoyed how the ending of the novel brought several plotlines together into a satisfying packing. In general, I do think the book could have been cut down quite a bit in length. With the exception of the ending, the book lacked a bit of snap and suspense needed to make it a more propelling read – something that could have been fixed with a bit of editing down.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review! Food Person comes out on May 20th!

I would like to thank Knopf and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I love to read . I also love to cook. If you are like me, this is a book for you! It is the story of 2 women. Isabella is a food writer for an online food blog. She stays in the background, bringing cookies to her coworkers daily, even those who don't acknowledge her. When she gets a chance to do a live Instagram demonstration, it is a spectacular disaster. She loses her job. Molly is an actress who was very popular in a tv show 10 years ago. Now she is famous for being famous and bad behavior. Molly has signed to write a cookbook, as a last chance for fame. Molly and Isabella come together, so Isabella can ghostwrite the cookbook for Molly. Molly is erratic, with complicated feelings and behaviors towards her family, Isabella, food and life. Isabella needs a job, has a mother who is a borderline hoarder, (and possibly the worst cook in NY), a gay best friend who is also Molly's agent and a fledging romance with a sous-chef.The plot is a little overstuffed, but the characters are great. No one is all bad or all good, and the food descriptions are wonderful. It is a debut novel and I look forward to more by this writer!

Isabella loves to cook. She loves old cookbooks and reads them like novels. Currently a writer at a digital food magazine, she keeps a low profile, providing small articles and making baked goods for her co-workers. After being pushed into a live demo and failing spectacularly, Isabella is fired.

Through her roommate, she is hired to ghostwrite a cookbook for Molly Babcock, a celebrity known more for her antics than acting. Molly runs hot and cold. One day, she hugs Isabella; the next day, she growls about Isabella bringing fish into her apartment. It's fairly obvious how this writing project will go.

There's also a little romance, friendship crisis, and mother-daughter drama, as most books do. Where I think this book is the strongest is the descriptions of food, deep with rich details, you can almost taste the herbs on a fish filet. The weakness of Isabella's wet noodle of a backbone kind of drags this on longer than necessary.

However, this was still an enjoyable book. Adam Roberts captured a woman's voice, which is hard. I do feel like women authors are best suited to explore the inner turmoil and body issues. However, Roberts does a fine job.

The end is a bit rushed, and I do worry about Isabella's and her mother's living situations; however, it still ties most things together. I would have LOVED a recipe or two thrown in, just to add a bit more to the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.