Joe sees Bella one time when she comes into his pizza shop and is smitten. Bella is having some family hardships, and trouble at work. When Joe's world implodes, Bella is there for him. But is it just a fling, or is this something that can last?

It was sort of just... bland. I didn't care about any of the characters, and the story didn't really draw me in at all. They seemed like teenagers going through adult things, and it was annoying often. There were many times where I was just confused at why the character was doing what they were doing or thinking what they were thinking.

The narration was fine. Both narrators did a good job of having different voices for all the characters.
I rated it 1.5/5 stars rounded up to 2. Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the advanced listeners' copy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Eddy Twice, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, for an ALC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

The Pizza Man had a bold, chaotic energy and a quirky premise that initially grabbed my attention. I was genuinely curious to see how Bella and Joe’s worlds would collide and whether their chemistry would spark something truly fun or heartfelt.

Unfortunately, the romance didn’t quite hit for me. The connection between the characters felt rushed, and the emotional depth never really settled in. Moments that should have had more weight breezed by, and the pacing made it hard to connect with either Bella or Joe on a deeper level. Their chemistry felt a bit forced, like the story was telling me they were falling in love without really showing why or how.

Listening to the audiobook also made it tougher to engage. The narrators’ performances felt flat and monotone, lacking the inflection and character-driven emotion that might have brought the story to life. I often found my mind wandering, and I honestly think I might’ve liked the book more if I had read it instead of listened to it. I had to really push myself to finish—had it not been an audiobook, I likely would’ve DNF’d.

Will post to Goodreads shortly

Rating: 3/5
Bella is super focused on her work at a marketing agent. She works hard to fund her mother's treatments. Joe is the owner and main chef of Joe's Eatery and the son of a billionaire CEO. They meet serendipitously several times in the book before Joe becomes a client of Bella in an effort to promote his restaurant. Their relationship strengthens and their connection is undeniable.

I thought this was a cute, short love story. It was predictable and it felt rushed. One minute they're on their first date, the next, they're saying "I love you"s. I wish it was a slower burn. However, it was still adorable and a fun listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Short and sweet, this was a perfect mix of heat and heart. The secret billionaire and strangers-to-lovers elements gave off a thrilling, forbidden vibe I really enjoyed. Both characters felt real because of their detailed backstories — they weren’t just typical romantic leads.
Their chemistry grew naturally, and while I wished for a bit more about how their feelings developed, the moments they shared felt genuine and warm. The balance between passionate and tender scenes worked well, keeping me fully engaged.

I liked how the pace allowed emotions to breathe instead of rushing everything. Even with its length, it pulled me in and made me care. This kind of romance, with a touch of mystery, is exactly what I enjoy when I want something fun and satisfying.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I found it really hard to get into the story, it kept moving around and I didn’t feel like it sat with the important things long enough to give nuance to them. I had to force myself to keep going with it and if it hadn’t been an ALC I would have DNF’d because it felt like a mess written by someone who wasn’t sure how to clean it up.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Joe runs a pizza shop and it is his pride and joy. He becomes a client of Bella, who works at an advertisement agency. Despite the inconveniences of life, they manage to schedule a date together. I wish Bella wouldn't have answered the phone while she was on a date even if it was her best friend trying to get the details of her date. She could've just texted her or responded later.

Joe is such a kind person. He makes pancakes for breakfast before she wakes up. He seems to have a genuine concern and care for Bella. I liked when Bella comforted Joe when he was going through a difficult time with his father. The ending was perfect, I giggled when Joe delivered her pizza personally and they played it off so casually. Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op, and Eddy Twice for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

I’m sorry to say this was not for me. The writing was hard for me to get into and so was the narration. I found it hard to stay focused on the story. The bouncing of the povs also wasn’t my favourite.

I liked Bella though. She was quite relatable

Not your typical slice of romance. The Pizza Man by Eddy Twice is quirky, kind of bizarre, and honestly, weirdly charming. It leans hard into the offbeat vibes, and while not everything landed for me, I was entertained enough to keep flipping pages. Much of the book focused on the main characters past and present struggles while never truly honing in on their connection. The relationship felt like an afterthought I was never truly able to buy into.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars — Rated R for language, sexual content, and overall chaotic energy. 🍕

Cute wee story which had really lovely character growth and emotions. The narration was fun and really sold the story, thank you NetGalley for letting me listen and review.

I'm so glad that I had the ALC version of this book because I would have DNF'd it if I was reading the e-book version. I was bored out of my mind, though I did try to keep an open mind throughout my listen.

I also wish there was a trigger warning at the beginning of the audiobook for the death of a parent, as this is a massive trigger for me. The death of Joe's dad struck me really hard, as my father passed away in a VERY similar manner. I had flashbacks to that time of my life and that is NOT okay.

I will admit, though, that I did like Bella. She was not the kind of FMC that I normally can't stand in this type of book. I also like how socially awkward Joe was throughout the book. It lent a lot of credibility to him in my eyes.

I do also relate to Bella's experience in her job under Grayson Evans. I have a boss like this currently and it's hard to work under someone like that. I will admit that the end to that situation tickled me quite a bit. lol I won't reveal what happened to avoid posting more serious spoilers.

All in all, this was not my cup of tea and I didn't enjoy the book because of that. This is my opinion in particular and I know people won't share in this opinion. That is perfectly alright. If you're looking for a shorter contemporary romance novel, this should be right up your alley.

Dual Narration - David Hoskins & A.J Wilder

Steamy start turns sweet and cute.

Enjoyable quick read.

Joe had opened his own business with a mission to make the best pizza in town.

Bella works for a commercial company. She gets over looked by her coworkers.

Fun flirty cute story. 4/5
Could have used a tad bit more character development but I did enjoy the story.

This book was fine, nothing particularly memorable. Just a run of the mill billionaire romance. I did think both narrators of the audiobook did a good job narrating.

The idea for the book was cute, but the relationship jumped from 1 date straight into relationship/I love yous category without any build up. which is a very different take in insta-love.
The male narrator is great, but the dialog between characters is un-relatable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC

I feel like this had potential but it didn’t do it for me. I was excited because the cover was cute and so was the description, but it didn’t do anything for me.

While a light & interesting read, the narrators make it difficult to stay engaged. Both lack connection to the personalities of the characters. The narration is flat & monotone with little changing inflection. Pass on the audiobook & just read the book.

The Pizza Man by Eddy Twice had a quirky premise and a bold, chaotic energy that initially grabbed my attention—but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver.

The story tries to straddle absurdity and social commentary, but ends up wobbling all over the place. Characters pop in and out with little development, and while the surreal humor has its moments, it often feels more random than intentional. The pacing is erratic—dragging in places where it should speed up and speeding through moments that could’ve used some depth.

Eddy Twice clearly has a unique voice and a vivid imagination, but The Pizza Man feels like a first draft of something that could’ve been great with tighter editing and a clearer focus. It’s as if the story wanted to say something profound beneath the greasy chaos, but forgot to actually say it.

A cute and short strangers to lovers book. It's perfect for someone who wants a cute palate cleanser before diving into another series or someone looking for a shorter read.

The book is on the shorter side, but it doesn't lack anything! The story dives into complex issues such as loss of a parent, struggling with paying for your parent's medical expenses, a crappy job, and diving into a new relationship. It is delivered with a well done dual narration.

This book felt like I was looking into the mind of my younger self. I got frustrated reading about the FMC spiraling that the MMC left her apartment that morning and hadn't responded to her texts or calls. It was only noon. But then I thought back, and yes. I was absolutely like that when I was in my early twenties. The struggles were relatable. Troubled relationship with parents, the thrill and nervous energy of a potential new relationship, and the questioning of your career choices. I think everyone can relate with the FMC having a bad boss who makes everything unnecessarily harder.

My only complaint is that the relationship between the main characters seemed to move quite quickly. In the context of the story, it makes sense. I just wish we had a bit more time before they were in love. Before that, I thought their relationship progressed very organically. I enjoyed that.

Okay sooo The Pizza Man by Eddy Twice… it was fine 🤷‍♀️

I liked the setup—Bella works at an ad agency, Joe’s a pizza guy in a ridiculous costume, and somehow he becomes her client?? It had that quirky rom-com energy, and I did enjoy the little moments of warmth and the soft, romantic vibes sprinkled in.

But overall… it just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted. The concept was fun, but the execution felt a little surface-level. The writing was light and easy to fly through, but I didn’t feel super invested in the characters or the romance. It was cute, but not super memorable for me.

If you’re in the mood for a low-stakes, lighthearted read with a little pizza-flavored charm, this might be a good palate cleanser. Just don’t expect deep dish.

The Pizza Man delivers a fun, spicy, and heartwarming romance centered on a charming mix‑up. This book is perfect for fans of lighthearted foodie love stories. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I picked this book because I thought the cover was cute. I had no idea what I was in for. I was honestly speechless at how relatable this book was. I'm not sure if I can convey how I feel. But I feel like this was one of those stories you didn't know you needed but definitely should be on your radar.