This was fun I preferred reading it over the audio it truly was a mix of crazy Rich Asians and always be my baby I wish we got a pov for Alec

Type 1 diabetes rep? Asian rep? Brother's best friend and then they were roommates + forced proximity tropes? YES PLEASE! I absolutely loved Ellie and Alec's story! I was rooting for them from the get go, I connected the two main characters equally and just wanted only good things for them both (the main one being each other). Also, I learned so much about Type 1 diabetes which is great because that never happens, especially in a romcom. This book had so much heart, was so fun I could not put it down, and the audiobook narrator did such a great job! Summer is just around the corner and this is a perfect summer read.

Salty, Spiced And a Little Bit Nice by Cynthia Timoti is an adorable romcom where the title tells it all with humor, heart, struggles, growth, swoons & just a dash of spice for the absolute sweetest treat. This is billed as Crazy Rich Asians meets Always Be My Maybe & I can totally see that. I loved both of those & I really enjoyed this.

Salty, Spiced And a Little Bit Nice is great for those looking to read…
🩷 Fake Dating
🩷 Brother’s Best Friend x Best Friend’s Little Sister
🩷 Chronic Illness Representation (Type 1 Diabetes)

I am always ecstatic to see chronic illness/disability rep. I was swooning over the fact he was researching her illness even when they were fake dating. He was such a fantastic hero & I love watching their relationship blossom as well as their personal growth.

I was fortunate enough to listen to the audiobook of this & it was so good! The narrator did a great job. I listened at 2x & it was the perfect speed for my ADHD brain.

If you are looking for a treat, I highly recommend Salty, Spiced And a Little Bit Nice.

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Bramble & Spotify Audiobooks for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

After an embarrassing proposal she denies goes viral (and finding out her parents helped orchestrate it), Ellie is packs up and leaves her old life behind to create a sugar-free bakery on the other side of the country. Unfortunately for her, the rent being low means there's a big catch, big as in a giant tree crashing through the roof of her new store. Even worse, the person there to help her is the guy who broke her heart ten years ago and she hasn't seen since. That's the setup for Salty, Spice and a Little Bit Nice.
This book had its fair share of moments that were sweet as well as some that left me feeling very salty. I'm glad that Ellie takes back control of her life, but there are definitely a lot of moments in the book when she acts very immaturely and I thought to myself 'is it that they treat you like a child, or that you ACT like one?' Honestly, it could be both. But Alec was equally insufferable at points, ESPECIALLY near the end (no spoilers, but I'm definitely not as forgiving as Ellie) so they made sense t0gether. A lot of problems in this book could have been solved if either character was a bit more mature about their communication with each other and with others (maybe lets not leave 22 missed phone calls hanging to let small problems snowball). All those critiques aside, there's a lot that this book did really well. Ellie's living with type 1 diabetes and I thought her character thriving despite the complications and misunderstandings from people who as misinformed about her diagnosis made for a really interesting narrative that I'm sure a lot of people who live with it will be able to relate to. It was nice to see that type of medical diversity in a rom-com. I also do think that Ellie and Alec had great chemistry, especially in the more heated scenes in the book. I'm also always really happy to see romantic books where the culture of the characters is woven into the story, and this story did a great job of doing that in a really authentic way.
This was a fun debut and I'd be interested to read another book by the author in the future.

3.75 rounded up What a fun romance with diabetes rep, a realistic and funny predicament, forced proximity, brothers best friend, fake dating story! That had tons of food p0rn. I actually expected more bakery treat talk so it was a pleasant surprise all the food descriptions as the FMC moves to a new city and we get to eat our way through it with her. Solid romance and I’m so glad I listened to it! Will look forward to more from the author.

I only rocked it half a star because it is a slow burn which isn’t my favorite. Even though it was still entertaining to listen to!

Ahhh I loved this book so much! I loved the characters, the second-chance-y vibe of the story, and the banter. It was so much fun, and I can't wait to read more by Cynthia.

Cynthia Timoti delivers a heartfelt and engaging multicultural romance in Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice. Set against the backdrop of Chinese Indonesian culture, this story centers on Ellie, a fierce and quietly resilient fmc living with type 1 diabetes. The author handles Ellie’s chronic illness with nuance and care, showing not just the physical realities but also the emotional toll it can take.

At its core, this is a story of self-reliance. After fleeing a humiliating failed proposal and breaking free from the grip of an overbearing, manipulative mother, Ellie begins carving out a life on her own terms. Her journey is empowering. She learns to listen to her own voice, even when doubt creeps in.

Things take a turn when she crosses paths with her childhood crush which happens to be her brother’s childhood best friend. What follows is a deliciously complicated push and pull of love and hate, tension and tenderness. Their dynamic feels raw and real, layered with history and longing.

One of the standout strengths of this novel is Ellie’s growth. From starting her own business to finally trusting herself, her evolution is deeply satisfying. Timoti balances romance, family drama, and personal empowerment beautifully. This book is a rich blend of heartache, humor, and hope—salty, spiced, and, yes, a little bit nice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
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I enjoyed this contemporary romance. My one peeve was the extreme emphasis that Ellie's family put on her Diabetes diagnosis. I think I was as annoyed as poor Ellie. Given my family's own experience with the condition, I could relate - yes it is serious and can be life threatening but if managed, people live fulfilling, normal lives.

I love a enemies to lover. It's a trope, yes-and its a trope that works for me nearly every time. I love when characters have conflict beyond the initial romance ( like immigrant parents and Type I diabetes). Cynthia Timoti- I cannot wait to see what's next for you!

A slice of fluffy perfection and sugar-free sweetness! When Ellie ventures out into the world to start a bakery on her own (and outrun a public scandal), the last thing she expects or wants is to have her business tied to her childhood crush and present nemesis, Alec Mackenzie. Chocked full of classic romcom tropes (enemies-to-lovers, found family, and fake dating to name a few!), this book is the perfect light read to get you out of a slump. Every page had me laughing or crying or screaming at the main characters to JUST KISS, but I enjoyed every tension-filled second. The family drama was both delicious and heartbreaking, and seeing Ellie's journey of self-discovery as she carves a path away from her family's empire and her mother's control was beautiful. The diabetes representation felt authentic and handled with the care it deserves, while also showing how people can still thrive and live full, normal lives after a diagnosis. With hilarious dialogue, sharply entertaining prose, baked goods so good you wanna rip them off the page, and a smutty romance at its heart, Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is a rom-com to remember.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advance audio recording of this title.

First, Eunice Wong was an excellent narrator. I was never in doubt as to which character was speaking.

This book had a lot going on-overbearing parents, a failed marriage proposal that went viral on the internet, a young businesswoman who secretly wants to be a baker, a fake romance, and more!

I loved the main character, Ellie Pang, and I want to go and visit her sugar free bakery! I am fascinated by the care her nemesis, Alec, takes to learn about her diabetes. Is it a good idea for them to pretend they are romantically involved in order to protect him from the advances of his potential business partner? What could go wrong? What could go right?

Sorry that there were no recipes included--I really wanted to try some of those brookies!

4.5 stars

This was an excellent example of a contemporary rom-com that gets everything right. The romantic tension, the plot pacing, the humour is all perfectly balanced making this a thoroughly enjoyable read. Hate to love, childhood crush and fake dating; this book somehow included all the best tropes without feeling overdone or cliche.

I know from the author's note that the inclusion of Ellie's type 2 diabetes was very personal to the author and I think it was handled really well. Ellie's struggles with managing her type 2 diabetes didn't define her, but through her experience the book showcased her resilience. There were lots of great conversations and moments where Ellie challenged people's expectations of her or their ignorance about what it is like living with type 2 diabetes.

Ellie has been micromanaged by her parents since she was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic as a child. When her boyfriend, a setup from her parents, proposes publicly, she cannot help but turn him down, because it has only been two months. Quickly, due to her parents' interference, she loses her job and faces being cut off. Instead, she moves herself across the country, to a fake PNW town to open a sugar-free bakery. Her brother's best friend happens to live there and is asked to help out. Quickly, their history bubbles up, and they begin a fake dating scheme for his work. But can they overcome their past?

This is a pretty cute romance. I was very annoyed by the idea of an actual adult never doing routine maintenance on their car. An oil change is super fast! However, it was still enjoyable.

The narrator was fantastic and really brought the story to life.

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Eunice Wong is a great narrator! I listened to 2 books by this narrator recently and I've really enjoyed them. Great production quality as well!

I always love a foodie related romance, and this one had a unique twist of the MC Ellie having type 1 diabetes, and I love how it showed that she can still eat sweets, and also mentioned the ways she managed it. I don't have T1D myself, but from what I've seen the rep is very realistic and well-done.

The other things I really enjoyed were the Chinese x Indonesian rep, and Ellie and Alec (the love interests) themselves. It was a cute and funny book with a nice slow-burn.

When it comes to the romance, it did feel a bit packed with tropes and I had a hard time connecting the MCs. This could be because they've known and pined over each other for so long that the development wasn't really there. I also didn't love the use of "guilt-free" language surrounding the diabetic-friendly sweets.

So this book follows Ellie, who has type 1 diabetes, something my sister has and caught my interest. Her parents are overbearing and control freaks (in particular, her mother), which is blamed on the diabetes but really, her mother is just a horrendous person. Ellie is a grown woman, and her condition is under control, she understands it and its managed with a pump.
She breaks out on her own to start a diabetes friendly bakery. This is where our MMC comes in, Alec. It's a single POV, so we never hear Alecs POV, which i feel would have added a lot to the book. He's a great character, and we soon end up in a fake dating situation.
It's obvious from the start that these two are not enemies/don't dislike each other, and the feelings are already well and truly in place. They have a past, but other than some reference from Ellie for me it was not enough to explain the instant feelings on both sides.
This is a really easy read. The romance was pretty slow going though even with instant attraction/feelings, and I was not really invested in it sadly.
I feel this is more a book about Ellie's personal journey and growth. If focused here it's an enjoyable read of self-discovery with a side of romance. I enjoyed all the content about the baking and recipes, I love baking myself! It was marked as a rom com, but I did not find it particularly funny. I listened to the audio clip before requesting which is the proposal mentioned in the synopsis. That was what really caught me and set up my expectations for the book.
That's not to be negative as this was a debut that was well written and a quick, enjoyable read. It just wasn't quite what I was expecting going in from the audio snippet/synopsis.
I am buying this book for my mum however who I know will absolutely love it!

Narrator Eunice Wong
I enjoyed the audio and narration, it was well done and with all the inner monologue and pro/con lists the reader did it well!

Audio Rating
🎧🎧🎧

Thank you netgalley and Spotify Audio for the ALC

This rom-com delivers all the charm, heart, and cultural richness you want. Plus a lineup of beloved tropes: forced proximity, fake dating, second chance romance, childhood friends-to-lovers, and of course, the iconic grumpy x sunshine dynamic. It's a delicious feast for the foodies too! Our heroine, a fierce and fabulous entrepreneur with diabetes, opens her own low-sugar bakery (we love a resilient girl boss). At the same time, our leading man is the definition of thoughtful, gentle, caring, and wholly devoted to her happiness. If you're a fan of Crazy Rich Asians or can’t get enough of baking shows, you’ll devour this book.

I enjoyed this one, with all the tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating, one bed, childhood sweethearts, etc. I also liked the independent fmc, who had the gumption to leave her controlling family and chase her own dreams. And of course i loved the baking talk (wish there’d been more, tbh). I kind of hated the third act breakup (he gave her up to her mother because he “couldn’t protect her from her diabetes” ….um, what? But they worked through it when he came to his senses, and overall it was a cute romance.

This was enjoyable, although the abusive mother and the dysfunctional family dynamic felt almost too real at times. The romantic relationship was cute, and the depiction of people’s ignorance about diabetes was so frustrating; that felt real as well. The author’s note revealing that she wanted to write about T1D after her son was diagnosed added important authenticity, I think. There’s increasingly concern about inaccurate representation/appropriation of illness and disability, and it’s reassuring to know that it’s based on experience with the condition.

The audiobook performance was excellent, although I did raise my eyebrows at the Australian character’s accent. I appreciate that nobody seems to be able to do that one but it was … interesting.

This was cute! Cynthia has great writing, it’s easy and fun. The audiobook was great, and captured a lot of diversity, a slow burn romance, a little bit of steam and overall really great for a debut!

I REALLY enjoyed this! Awesome writing, fun characters, wonderful T1D rep, etc. Ellie walks away from her uber overprotective parents and starts her own bakery. Honestly, I loved the backbone she had here in standing up for herself. Bravo!!! Anywho, when she gets the keys to her bakery and tries to move in, she finds substantial damage to the roof. Her brothers childhood best friend shows up to save the day (much to her dismay). Ellie has had a crush on Alec foreverrrrr, and while she doesn't want to be saved, she knows she has no choice. Que the fake dating to make this bargain work in both of their favor. Alec was a bit cold and standoffish, but once you find out why, it makes all the sense in the world!

Seriously, it's one of my favorite romances of the year!