Two rival chefs in love, marriage of convenience and a dream land to save.

Everyone thought Sullivan and Kia hated each other in culinary school, but they shocked them all by sharing a kiss in the graduation ceremony. After that, they went in separate ways and never saw each other again. Until Kia finds herself buying the land Sullivan has promised her family she’d save, to build a place for food truck owners.

When a fast food company also tries to buy the land, Sullivan and Kia decide to marry to ensure they are the ones getting it first. Kia is the lesser of two devils, but it’s still breaking Sullivan’s heart. Especially because Sullivan is starting to fall in love with the woman who is about to destroy her heart.

Taste the Love was, on paper, the perfect book. But the execution didn’t manage to live up to the amazing premise. First, I loved how Sullivan and Kia met. I adored the idea of two rivals who don’t hate each other, but love to compete to be the best, while also helping each other get better-it made me want to read that story instead.

The premise of Kia and Sullivan not being able to fall in love because they both wanted the same land for different purposes, while having to work together to ensure at least they were the ones getting the land, and not the fast food chain, could have worked as an obstacle if it didn’t have so many plot holes.

Firstly, it was very frustrating that Sullivan always blamed Kia for buying the land, when the fast food company would have bought it if it wasn’t for Kia’s help. Sullivan didn’t have the money to buy the land, so blaming the person who was buying the land when she wouldn’t be able to afford it didn’t make sense to me.

On top of that, if Sullivan’s dream was to ensure the land her grandfather loved was safe, it didn’t make sense that she, being a responsible thirty something year old, decided not to open the letters of the association who owned the land.

Because of that, I was frustrated about Kia spending the whole book apologizing and blaming herself when, in a way, was half-saving the land. Kia could have let the fast food chain buy the land and find another place for food trucks, leaving Sullivan to fix it herself (and she didn’t have the money to stop the deal). While Kia wouldn’t have preserved it, at least she would have made a better space than a fast food company would, and they could figure out a way to preserve part of the green places and use the others for the food trucks.

The most annoying part was that I figured out the solution at the beginning of the book. It was completely out of character that Sullivan hadn’t figured it out. I felt Sullivan spent the whole book pitying herself because Kia was destroying her dream and there was nothing she could do to preserve their love and her beloved land, but taking no action to save it herself.

Lastly, the whole fight with the food company felt unrealistic. Of course a big company can use its money and power to buy the judges and destroy the main character’s lives. But they weren’t being subtle, they used flat villains to blackmail the main characters outside court. They could have recorded the whole thing and make it viral, taking into account Kia was an influencer.

Premise aside, the book was too slow and the inner monologues were repetitive, they kept going through the same feelings for so long. The pacing of the romance was all over the place. Basically they were in love from the beginning, only that it took Sullivan some time to realize it, and then they couldn’t be together because of the whole land thing. I wanted to see why they were so obsessed with each other and see the progression in their feelings, instead of repetitive monologues and a sudden change of heart.

Also, it was mentioned several times that Sullivan had a masculine lesbian vibe that made all the guys fall for her back at school. Like, what?

Finally, I didn’t quite enjoy the audiobook. It didn’t really bring the characters to life and I kept losing attention and having to go back and relistening to it.

I could get going but I think it’s more than enough. I loved the idea of the book and I enjoyed the beginning, but the execution could have been better. I couldn’t stand Sullivan, the pacing was off, the drama wasn’t realistic and the story had way more pages than it needed to be.

Overall, I’m annoyed because I loved the premise and the cover but the story didn’t live up to them. I would have rather read the story of them falling in love while being rivals in culinary school.


🎧Read as an audiobook


I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nice voice overs. Thought that the banter between the two main characters could be a little bit more. Sometimes the chemistry felt forced.

This book was so adorable!! I do love that there was longing from both ends, but I do wish I could've seen more over the years apart from both of them! I enjoyed the fact that they got married in order to save the area, and that they ended up working together in the end. The tropes were troping and I wish I could keep reading about them. I loved the voices!! Love hearing both characters when there are different POVs! Altogether, I enjoyed reading it and wish I had the physical book to put on my shelf! Giving it a solid 4.5 stars!

To be published July 15, 2025.

Taste the Love is a cute, sapphic second chance where Alice and Kia, rivals since culinary school, enter a marriage of convenience so Alice can buy the forest area near her family home and her local restaurant. Alice has been working for years to get to a place where she can forever preserve the forest that she loved so much as a kid and that her grandfather worked hard to save when Kia, who she hasn't seen since culinary school and who has become a food truck driving, social media influencer, shows up and wants to turn it into a food truck haven. They enter into a fake marriage since the town charter allows a legacy member of their town to buy the land at fair value and they're up against a conglomerate willing to push them out.

Both Kia and Sullivan were well developed characters and complimented each other without seeming like there is no way they would ever work. Their banter and food related convos were digestible and honestly downright adorable.

I agree that the end felt a little rushed but I wouldn't have gotten rid of anything in the middle to make up for it so, I guess it's fine?

Listened to the audiobook as read by Je Nie Fleming and Jordan Cobb, and I really enjoyed it. There was an ease to the banter that flew off the page and I love a quick paced read.

Taste the love by Fay and Karelia Stetz-Waters follows the story of Alice Sullivan or ‘Sullivan’ and Kia Jackson who went to culinary school together and were rivals in the sense that they were both the best in the class and often competed to try and be the best but also used this as an excuse to flirt with one another. After graduating they both go off in different directions Sullivan trying to cook and live sustainably in order to protect/preserve the planet and wildlife and Kia has a massive social media following and is involved in greasy food trucks and weird food combos. They reunite unexpectedly when Kia tries to put down permanent roots by wanting to build a food truck port in an urban green space in Portland which just happens to belong to her culinary school rival Alice Sullivan.

I really enjoyed this book I loved the idea and the cover is absolutely stunning. This book was so binge able I managed to listen to it in two days it was was so good. Great LGBTQ+ representation throughout. I also loved that this was dual narrated as most of the audiobooks I’ve listened to have been solo narrated I definitely prefer dual narration. However as much as I don’t mind a book being in third person because I’ve read plenty of them think for me this would’ve been even better had it been it first person especially with the dual narration that would’ve elevated the experience even more for me. But I still enjoyed it regardless great read would definitely recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me early access to this book 🫶🏻

Taste the Love is a beautiful story of two driven women with different visions of their futures. The one thing they remember from their shared past is how the other brought out the best in themselves and drove them to be better. When Alice and Kia run into each other years after graduating culinary school together, they find themselves at opposite sides of a conflict that is close to both of their hearts. Until a greater threat to their dreams comes into play. They quickly scheme that a marraige of convience could solve their problems. As they become closer they are forced to reflect on what is most important to them and what they want their futures to look like. Je Nie Fleming and Jordan Cobb deliver moving performances and really brought this sweet love story of self discovery to life. I can't wait to read more from Karelia Stetz-Waters.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC of Taste the love. This has not altered my opinion of the book.

Read if you like:
- influencers
- marriage of convenience
- cooking
- nature preservation
- fighting million-dollar franchises

This book didn't hit the spot for me, even though I love a marriage of convenience. I liked the relationship, but I didn't fully feel connected to the characters, especially Kia.

The characters in this story to me weren’t likeable and I wasn’t connecting with them. I was bored and the only reason I finished it was because it was an arc and I really did want to like it, but sadly it just wasn’t for me.

This one should have been right up my alley. Food based fake dating lesbians? Checks all the boxes. There was something just... off though. Maybe some the environmental stuff was too preachy (and that's from a hybrid driving vegetarian) or that the "food truck influencer" angle felt like too many things happening at once. This was still cute and I enjoyed it, but it didn't hit with me as hard as I thought it would.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters for the Audiobook ARC of Taste the Love!

Taste the Love is a fun, unique sapphic romance novel that follows two ex-classmates from culinary school. When development ambitions brings Kia into Sullivan's back yard, their reunion is far from magical. However, a major corporation's play at domination quickly shifts their relationship and priorities.

With a unique marriage of convenience and a focus on food and environmentalism, Taste the Love brings a lot to the table. (heh) It takes a little bit to get rolling, but once it does, the plot picks up as well as the chemistry.

The plot is a little on the silly side, so I wouldn't go in expecting the most realism ever, but it was definitely entertaining and I was really pleased with how everything ended. Also no third act breakup, just some tension - thank you so much! I'm so sick of third act breakups just for the sake of it!

I listened to the audiobook and loved both of the narrators - Je Nie Fleming and Jordan Cobb - and their unique style. It really helped me picture each of them and just how different they are through vocal tone alone.

Overall loved this and glad I got to listen. Thank you again to Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters and Hachette Audio for the ARC Audiobook.

It's a modern marriage of convenience! Taste the Love is a cute contemporary sapphic romance about rival chefs from culinary school who meet again years later and get married to stop a big food corporation from buying a developing a piece of land with a rich ecosystem and endangered species. One of them is a chef at a fancy but sustainable restaurant, the other runs an award winning food truck, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Despite the quick wedding, this is more of a slow burn and while it's a bit sexy it's also very sweet with characters who genuinely like and respect each other. And winning against a giant corporation with illegal intimidation tactics is super satisfying! I do love a romance where a lot of the conflict is external to the couple and that's the case here. I enjoyed it and would recommend it! The audio narration is good with distinct voices for characters that make sense. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the story but the dialogue and the narration were a bit stiff. The story was a bit slow to develop. I liked the love of conservation and the conflict with big corporate.

✨ Everything was complicated. Beautiful things hurt the world, and were still beautiful. ✨

Gosh, this book. It made me feel like that 'girl who is going to be okay' meme. Hands clasped, looking up, smiling wistfully. This was SO cute. Not perfect in every way, but so good in every way that counted. I COULD NOT stop smiling while reading this.

This is a chef/foodie romance, second chance, between two women who were rivals at a prestigious culinary school. Beneath their rivalry was a lot of good-natured camaraderie, respect, and an attraction that led to a few kisses at the end of their time in school. But in the years since, they've lost touch. Sullivan owns an eco-conscious restaurant near her family's land in Portland, and Kia has gone on to be a food truck enthusiast and food influencer. Now, years later, Kia's plans to build a food truck haven clashes with Sullivan's determination to conserve the green, forested area near her family's land. And when an even bigger problem pops up for both of them, the most expedient solution seem to be a fake marriage and relationship. Look, I'm someone who can get really picky about arranged/fake marriages in contemporary setting, because I want it to be at least a little bit believable. And not only did this all seem pretty plausible, the entire situation and how it came together was so so FUN. I loved this.

The characters are so so good. I'm IN LOVE with Kia; she's cute and sweet and funny and an absolute whirlwind of charm and energy and good intentions. When she makes mistakes and inadvertently causes harm in the beginning, I sort of expected her to be stubborn and double down? But her immediate contrition and her resolve to apologise and do better was SO sweet, and made me like her even more. And I was pretty much in love from the moment she was described as dressing like a Fresh Prince rerun. LOL. That's so cute. I really liked Sullivan as well. She's a little bit older, a little more stern and strict, and she takes her values about the environment and her family land really seriously. They sorta have a grumpy/sunshine dynamic? But Sullivan does have a sense of humour, and she's completely susceptible to Kia's vibrant energy. It was so lovely to watch her fall for it. (And in the beginning, when she still couldn't forgive Kia for a few things, it was a little agonising. HOW CAN YOU BE MEAN OR COLD TO KIA, IT'S LIKE KICKING A BUNNY.)

I really liked the foodie aspects of this, and all of conversations about conservation, waste, all the great things and not so great things about food trucks, the things they offer and the type of waste they generate. And I'm glad we got a little into how difficult and expensive it can be to be eco-conscious in the food industry. Like I said before, the fake marriage/dating aspect was perfect for me; I really liked all the little moments they spent getting to know each other, planning how to be around each other, the few moments where they had to lay it on for the public. Like in any good fake marriage romance, it felt genuine the whole time, especially when they started arranging thoughtful little dates and outings for each other. I even liked the courtroom aspect, and all the little hurdles they had to jump. We also had a lot of conversation about influencing, and the toll it can take if you're constantly curating your life. I really enjoyed that, though it did get a teensy bit preachy.

This could have easily lost me, and almost did lose me, in the third act conflict. It was just the kind of drama that had me thinking 'oh god, I'm over it' practically as soon as it had started. There was sooooorta an element of 'a friend trying to get between the couple', which is something that I really don't enjoy reading in romance. But I love the way it was resolved, and by the time it ended, I was actually glad that the couple went through those exact circumstances, because it made their relationship feel stronger and more genuine in the end. Which is exactly what you want from a third act conflict!

Other things I loved: Kia's assistant (she was hilarious), every time a snake appeared, Sullivan's friend-group. I have to emphasise how much I just adore Kia as a character. I'm on my knees. Sullivan is the tall, sexy butch of my dreams, and somehow my favourite character was STILL the cutesy femme. Kia's power...

One thing I wish had been different: (slight spoilers) Sullivan's ex-girlfriend played a huge part in her current feelings about social media and influencing, and I like that they had a conversation about it in the end, but I wish it had ended a little bit differently. Idk, I think Sullivan could have been a bit more gracious, but that's just me. And I think I had other little nitpicks, but... I don't remember! Reading this made me super happy, and that's what I'm taking away from it.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Je Nie Fleming and Jordan Cobb, and I really really enjoyed it. This is something of a rom-com, and the narrators really added to the quips and the comedic timing. I probably liked Sullivan's narrator a teensy bit more, but only because I thought her voice for Kia was cuter. Lol. CAN YOU TELL I LOVE KIA. I'm really happy I read this. I bought the author duo's first book together a while back and never got around to reading it, and this invigorated me to do so ASAP. Definitely recommended, if you want something light and funny and foodie-focused.

☆ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an audio review copy! I am voluntarily leaving a review.

✨ “At first, love makes you look at each other; then it makes you look out together.” ✨

DNF @ 37%
Was really looking forward to immersive reading this book since I was so fortunate to get the ARC and ALC. I’ve never read anything by this author and I am sure the rest of the story is pretty good, but references to AUI usage are a hard line for me as it is extremely damaging to the environment. That being said, it doesn’t make sense for her to use AI when Sullivan is such an environmental warrior.

I enjoyed the narrators and thought they did well. I did not find the same issues with not being able to tell them apart like other people did. The audiobook production was great!!

Overall I liked the premise of the story but I had to DNF at 37%.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, Hachette Audio & Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The premise is great. The bones of this story are solid. The cover is exquisite. But the execution of the novel just has my brain all over the place. So much going on.

I do like the progressive messaging about waste and mess created by mega restaurants, and even our beloved food trucks and really everything we are doing to our environment.

There were definitely multiple elements of the story I enjoyed- but overall- with so much going on- I wasn't able to get invested.

Narration was done well- but the voices between the two narrators weren't distinct enough for me to register who's POV we were in. It might only be my brain that struggled with this.

Thank you for this arc!

I was allowed to listen to the Taste the Love audiobook, both Je Nie Fleming and Jordan Cobb did an amazing job narrating Sullivan and Kia.

I got through half of Taste the Love before I needed to stop because the plot was just not it for me….I didn’t really understand why they were rivals in culinary school since Sullivan would work at a restaurant and Kia with food trucks, was it about grades? I also found their kiss at graduation in the first chapter was kind of random.

I also think the marrying plot in order to buy the land by Sullivan’s restaurant/residence was sort of odd to me. In the first few chapters we learn how attached and protective Sullivan is of this property and also firmly against foodtrucks and other environmental issues like plastic forks and metals which is what food trucks would use, plus cutting down trees in order to make space for foodtrucks I don’t see why she would agree just because Kia’s ideas are “slightly” better than a big corporation wanting to buy it.

I don’t know why but I just didn’t really Kia’s character that much…like how can you not even research where you want to buy property for your food truck thing and then get upset when Sullivan gets upset about the land being sold.

I did like Sullivan’s character more, serving mother lowkey.

Thank you to Hatchett Audio for the ALC of Taste the Love by Karella Stetz-Waters and Fay Stetz-Waters. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartfelt and beautifully written romance about two ambitious, confident women reconnecting with their past—and each other.

Kia and Sullivan were rivals in cooking school, but fate brings them together again years later when Kia tries to buy land that Sullivan’s family has ties to. When a third party threatens their claim, the only solution is a marriage of convenience—one of my favorite tropes. Unlike many contemporary romances, this one avoids the dreaded third-act breakup, which made for a refreshing and emotionally satisfying read.

The dual POV was wonderfully executed and translated seamlessly in audio with two talented narrators. I appreciated the strong, well-developed character arcs for both Kia and Sullivan. Kia’s past with her ex, who is still her manager, could’ve used a little more depth, but Sullivan’s emotional journey and growth were especially well-crafted.

Their relationship felt real—built on mutual respect, open communication, and compromise. No one gave more than the other, and that balance made the romance feel incredibly grounded. There’s spice, but it’s tasteful and purposeful, with scenes that focus more on emotional connection than explicit detail.

If you love a good marriage of convenience story with smart, driven women and meaningful emotional depth, Taste the Love is one to pick up. ★★★★☆

I liked this and thought that it was really cute and enjoyable. I do think that the influencer aspect was a little bit annoying but not so much that it made it unreadable. I do love the characters, i think they are very well fleshed out and have amazing chemistry.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced listen of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love anything and everything about the culinary world, so a sapphic romance about former culinary school rivals sounded right up my alley. Overall, I feel like my main thought about the book was "that was cute." There wasn't any part of it that particularly dazzled, I wasn't putting on my headphones any chance I got to see what happened next. It was an even-keeled romance that was nice to listen to.

It's billed as a rivals-to-lovers story, but I wouldn't call it that. Both characters say repeatedly that their rivalry in culinary school was more about being inspired by the other, not because they disliked each other. I never really understood why they kept referring to the rivalry when the characters themselves didn't seem to believe in it. The story is honestly more instalove than anything else.

At points, I felt like Sullivan's character started to feel like a caricature of a stereotypical masc lesbian (or pansexual, in Sullivan's case). Her motivations for saving the planet almost felt contrived, as well.

I really liked both narrators, although at times I would forget which character was speaking. I don't know if that's because I wasn't particularly dialed in, because the narrators sounded too alike, or both. I'd eventually figure it out and it was fine, but I did spend half the book thinking Kia was pan and Sully was a lesbian because I'd misheard which narrator was speaking.

This was amazing. The narrator took me on an emotional journey. I could feel the emotions in her words. Plus the writing and storyline was fantastic as well. This was the first book I’ve listened to by the author but it definitely won’t be the last. I was pleasantly impressed.