Your Pasta Sucks

I have been following Matteo on socials for a while now so when I saw he was coming out with this book I knew I had to read it. And it was not only funny but heartfelt and very well thought out. The pictures were vibrant and had a homey feeling. I liked that he included like an anecdote or origin before every recipe, his family has big part in a lot of them and you can feel that food brings them together. One of my favorite parts was the found family chapter, it was funny and it showed that sometimes we can choose our own family and the play an integral part in the things we enjoy. The recipes look delicious and I can't wait to make some and try them myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the recipes of this book and how it worked in this genre. It had that concept that I was looking for and had that humorous element that I wanted from Matteo Lane and J. J. Goode.

Loved this!! I have heard of some of the dishes in this book, but was surprised to discover new pasta recipes. I am someone who can eat pasta everyday so finding out new dishes is such a win for me. I do tend to lean towards eating vegetarian and luckily most of these dishes can be turned veggie friendly. Definitely looking forward to trying out more dishes!

I received an ARC of this cookbook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great cookbook. It's full of delicious recipes that are interspersed with funny stories about the author's family!

Your Pasta Sucks A “Cookbook” is a fun and funny take on making pasta. The author uses his unique experiences and his own recipe to show readers how pasta should be made. The book is a journey of both learning to make pasta and learning about the author. I love this approach because it makes the recipes seem more personal and authentic and also helps connect the reader to the author. The authors sense of humor and quirky style made this a really enjoyable read. The recipes were great. Some were more unique then others. All of them were well explained with amazing photos to accompany them. This would be a great book for anyone to add to their collection. It would also make a wonderful gift as well. I definitely recommend this book.

I got an ARC for this and was super excited about it because I love Mateo and have been watching his YouTube for a few years now. I expected this to be a cookbook, and as a non-cooker, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. But I was nicely surprised!

The personal anecdotes and stories from Mateo about growing up and his culture influencing his love of pasta really gave me a better understanding as to why it’s so important to him. And of course he’s hilarious so the little quips kept me laughing. But on the same hand, it is still a cookbook and quite frankly, it’s way more advanced than I am in the kitchen and most of the recipes require a real true passion for the food and art of cooking. So will I ever read this again? Probably not. Will I make any recipes from the book? God, no. (Nick and I will enjoy our simple meals just fine!) But did I enjoy it for what it was? Sure.

I like this guy and follow him on Instagram. I figured his cookbook would be both amusing and filled with Italian recipes and I was right.
It’s funny, every recipe has a beautiful picture and lots of decisions are ones I’ll want to try. The ingredients are easy to find and the recipes aren’t overly complicated.
I saved these:
Pasta Della Momma
Eggplant parmigiana
Pasta carbonara
Pasta alla gricia
Aglio e olio


I got to read an early ebook edition on NetGalley. Thank you!

Ok, so I have been following Matteo for a long time across various platforms. So when I saw his cookbook I knew I immediately had to have it. Let me tell you this did not disappoint! I loved getting a taste of history for what inspired each recipe and that his humor and comedy still shined throughout.

My most favorite thing is that there was ZERO FISH OR SEAFOOD. I, like Matteo also swell up when graced with its presence. I don't think I have ever read a single pasta/Italian cookbook that doesn't have some form of seafood. So for me personally this was an absolute highlight because I don't have to go through and figure out what I need to leave out or wonder if I leave it out will it still turn out well, "Do I need to add more to make up for it?"...etc, etc, etc.

I am a basic bitch so I made the Cacio E Pepe and OMG it was the best recipe I have tried by far. Every step was incredibly easy to follow. Some other standout recipes I will be trying are Gram Grams Eggplant Parmesan, Pasta Della Mamma, Pistachio Pesto pasta and Pasta al Limone.

This cookbook was a delicious love letter to Matteos family, found family and of course PASTA. I can't wait to try more recipes and see what else Matteo has up his sleeves.

"Your Pasta Sucks" is a playful and campy take on a cookbook, perfectly suited for those who are just starting their culinary journey or looking for a lighthearted addition to their kitchen shelf. Comedian Matteo Lane, known for his wit, brings a humorous twist to pasta-making, while co-author J.J. Goode lends some solid structure to the recipes.

The book doesn't take itself too seriously, making it a fun read as much as it is a cooking guide. Lane’s comedic flair shines through in the casual tone and irreverent commentary, which keeps things entertaining even if you're not planning to make a meal. There are a few genuinely solid pasta recipes sprinkled throughout that are accessible and tasty, making it a nice option for beginners who want to learn the basics without getting overwhelmed.

However, for more advanced home cooks or serious pasta aficionados, "Your Pasta Sucks" might feel a bit too simplistic. The book focuses more on fun and personality than deep dives into complex techniques, which could leave experienced cooks craving something more substantial.

Overall, it’s a quirky, enjoyable read and a perfect fit for a starter cookbook collection, but if you’re already a pasta pro, you may want to look elsewhere for more depth.

Did I specifically request this arc because I have a deep rooted love for Matteo Lane? Yes. Did I think I’d fully love this? Iffy. I’m not a huge cooker. However, I loved every single second of this. There is humor, love, photos, and pasta! Plus, we had mentions of some of my favorite humans: bob, Monet, Patti, and Jacob! Plus, I actually got some recipes that I’m actually excited to try. Matteo can do no wrong on my eyes. His talent is truly unmatched.

Your Pasta Sucks was such an enjoyable reading experience. It is filled with Matteo's family and personal history, facts about Italy and Italian food, easy to follow recipes, and so so many laughs. I don't generally expect to laugh when reading a cookbook, but this achieved laughs in spades. I would definitely recommend this book for the cooks in your life!

Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this cookbook for an honest review!

So many great recipes!! While I have a great sauce recipe from my parents for spaghetti, I am excited to try Matteo’s family recipe!! And the Mac and cheese recipe. And mostaccioli. And tiramisu. And just basically all of them! And having just watched some of this season of Love is Blind, I think Matteo should send a copy to Ramses and Nick from the show cause they don’t know how to make pasta!!

This book was quite fun for this being a cookbook. I already follow Matteos comedy and I felt like his voice was really there in this book. It was really silly and raunchy at times. I don't think every recipe needs 1-2 full pages of description of what it means to him or his family but I see why some people would like that. It's just a good standard Italian family recipes to make good sauce essentially. I would recommend if someone was looking for this sort of thing but I probably wouldn't recommend as a cookbook I loved if that makes sense.

I love Matt’s comedy and loved watching reels where he’d talk about cooking and actually showing his pretty impressive knowledge of Italian cuisine. This is a fun book where he talks about his origins, his trips and the recipes are pretty good, too. I can’t wait to make the penne alla vodka!

I'm a terrible cook, so why do I read cookbooks? Because I hope to come across a book like this that not only has great recipes, but explains the process well enough that even I can do it.
But as you can see from the cover, this is so much more than a cookbook. The author had so much personality I wanted to meet him more than I wanted to try the tasty dishes, and I loved his stories about his family.
I feel like I'm going to be better at cooking because of the advice he gives throughout the book. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this gorgeously illustrated cookbook

Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook”
Matteo Lane

My apologies to the author: I’ve never heard of you. I am so glad I am not familiar with your name because it means I am looking at this book with fresh eyes. I have no connection to you in judging the contents of “Your Pasta Sucks.”
After reading this book, I wish I knew you. Your personality shines through in each personal anecdote and story. “Your Pasta Sucks” is so much more than a cookbook; it is humor, hilarious tales. I love the recipes although many are out of my skill level. However, there are a couple I may try.
Kudos to author, comedienne and chef Matteo Lane. I’m glad I’ve met you.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. My reviews are my personal opinions.

I wish I could give you 10 stars!

Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a side-splitting, delicious dive into Italian cuisine, served with a heaping side of wit and heart. Known for his stand-up comedy, Lane brings the same humor to this cookbook, mixing mouthwatering pasta recipes with wildly entertaining stories from his Italian-Irish-Mexican American upbringing. Each recipe is not just a guide to perfect pasta but also a slice of Lane’s life—hilarious tales of family quirks, cultural mix-ups, and his own coming-of-age journey, all seasoned with an unmistakable Italian zest.

I absolutely loved this book! I laughed from cover to cover and felt like I was sitting at the dinner table with Matteo and his family, soaking in every ridiculous, heartwarming story. I can’t wait to cook my way through these recipes, but honestly, even if I never pick up a pot, this book has already nourished me plenty. It’s not just a cookbook; it’s an experience—equal parts memoir, comedy, and culinary magic.

Another reason why I am obsessed with this book is its gorgeous visual design and sometime a sole reason why I buy cookbooks- to revel in the beautiful and well staged photos. The photos in Lane's book greately add to the feel and vibe of the story and its accompanying recipes.

Just delicious...

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for the pleasure of reading and cooking this book!

This was an enjoyable book and I loved the stories interwoven. I have followed the author since he started making videos and I was even inspired to make carbonara for the first time. I love how simple a lot of the recipes are with a focus on the ingredients. It was a bit hard to read a cookbook digitally so I look forward to the hardcover so I can see the layout with the photos better

Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a lovely cookbook that seamlessly combines humor, heart, and delicious food. I was charmed by Matteo’s witty storytelling and his warm, relatable anecdotes, his tone really comes through in his cookbook!

As cute as the stories are, the recipes are the real star here. Each one is simple, straightforward, and designed to make you crave pasta in the best way possible. I love how the ingredients are accessible, and easy to adjust based on what you need. Nothing feels overly complicated—just good, honest food that’s both satisfying and achievable for home cooks of any skill level.

Overall, Your Pasta Sucks is a delightful read and a fantastic resource for anyone who loves pasta, family stories, or just cooking with a lot of heart. I can’t wait to try more recipes out of this book!

I was worried this would be heavily ghost written but I was wrong. I could hear Matteo in every word I read. I learned, I laughed, I linguinied, I LOVED!!

Very much enjoyed it. Loved the family stories that accompanied the recipes. And the recipes that I was able to get into the kitchen to try were easy to follow and very delicious. Can't wait to continue trying the rest of these recipes!

Wow, what a breath of fresh air. I loved the storytelling in this cookbook. I also enjoyed the recipes I tried. I am not Italian but I felt this might be what an Italian grandmother would cook. Matteo is fantastic.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Great little cookbook! Simple but delicious recipes, I tried a few and can’t wait to make the rest! I loved the layout of the book and the food photography was excellent. Thank you for making Italian cooking accessible!

I absolutely love Matteo. He is hilarious. He says in the book he probably shouldn’t write a cook book but I think that he’s the best person to write one. I can’t wait to make these recipes, they all look so good, and I might even get my own pasta maker to make my own homemade pasta. His stories are great as well. I wish I could meet his whole family and spend a weeekend cooking with them. If you love pasta definitely pick up this book I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

I LOVE seeing Matteo on my socials and did not realize he had a cookbook coming out and I am 100% here for it!!!!!!

This is filled with his voice, and I read it with his inflections and mannerisms in my head. I’m stoked to try out the Italian recipes and how to cook like an Italian….as told by an Italian Irish Mexican Homosexual

LOL

This book was super cute and made me unbelievably hungry.

The stories of Matteo's family were so adorable and heartwarming, but then the receipes followed those stories and I went from "Awwww" to "Feed me" in about two seconds.

The recipes are very straightforward and easy to follow. Most don't even require a lot of ingredients, though some to require larger quantities of the ingredients which all can be easily halved or quartered.

I really enjoyed this cookbook and the personal stories inside. I will be making the lasagna recipe to see if it rivals my own.

I never thought I’d be calling a cookbook hilarious, but here we are. This cookbook feels like cooking at your grandmother’s house with your siblings/cousins in the best way! The recipes are great, the anecdotes are even better, + I think this is just an overall winner of a book, not just a cookbook.

I genuinely can’t recommend this one enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy!

This book is amazing! An Italian cookbook written by a comedian who jokes that he has no business writing a book. I would have to disagree, sir! Laugh-out-loud funny with recipes I am dying to try. Every recipe has a mouthwatering picture. I wish I had been able to read this book 15 years ago before I studied abroad in Rome! A must read for those with an Italian vacation coming up. I want a copy of this for my shelves! A perfect book to gift!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley!

I've been a fan of Matteo Lane for a while now, so of course I was interested when I discovered he was coming out with a cookbook.

This cookbook won't give you all the ins and outs and techniques of how to cook, as Matteo isn't a trained professional. What it will offer you is delightful commentary amongst some wonderful Italian based recipes. Growing up in an Italian-American family myself, I relate to much of what Matteo says Italian culture and all the particulars involved in the cuisine.

The recipes are easy to follow along and more importantly delicious. I cook an abundance of elaborate meals myself, but I made my parents the Pasta della Mama and my father asked for seconds. Can't wait until this cookbook hits the shelves!

This was fun and funny, and I really enjoyed it. While I personally won't be making a lot of the recipes, I think this would make a perfect gift for a pasta lover in your life. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a rare cookbook that entertains as much as it educates, blending sharp humor, heartfelt anecdotes, and genuinely stellar recipes. This isn’t your typical culinary guide—it’s a chaotic, hilarious celebration of Italian food, culture, and unapologetic sass. Lane’s voice leaps off the page with the same charisma that’s made him a standout comedian, but don’t let his jokes fool you: this book is packed with serious culinary chops.

This book is so Matteo! It’s essentially a recipe (pun intended!) for what brings him joy and highlights what matters most in his life.

The no-fuss recipes are sprinkled with delightful stories about his Italian-American family and his travels to Italy, all delivered in the comedic style his fans know and love. Metric measurements are included which benefits the European readers.

I would’ve loved to see more vegetarian recipes, though I wasn’t really expecting them. :)

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the digital review copy!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Interesting title, might turn some people off. However, I found some good recipes that I would like his family meat sauce. There's also lots of family and personal stories about his journey.

This genre-defying cookbook: part memoir, part cultural heritage commentary is a fun way to think about preparing pasta. And, okay, I'll stop breaking up my spaghetti when adding it to the pot.

This was a great intro cookbook for making simple but good pasta. I love how Goode covers just about every form of pasta and recipe you could really want and the recipes were easy to follow.

Despite saying himself that he has no business writing a cookbook, I felt like this one was really fun. It was part cookbook, part family story, and part comedy. I really like Matteo’s stand up and crowd work, and felt like his voice came through very clearly. I particularly enjoyed the bits about his family, as well as the photographs included. It didn’t necessarily give me new recipes but there were some tips I’ll integrate.

Thank you Chronicle Books and Netgalley for this ARC copy of this cookbook.

I have seen Matteo out and about on social media, and I never fail to laugh at his stand-up videos... please watch the Oprah's Horcruxes video and that alone will convince you to buy this cookbook. That being said, I knew I needed to snag this arc while I could, and it did not disappoint. Not only is it packed with tips and tricks for pasta making--please listen to this book and don't break your pasta to boil it--and delicious recipes, but it also has a sprinkling of comedic relief, so if you get frustrated with a recipe just flip through the cookbook and you'll be laughing through your tears.

Definitely suggest this book whether you have experience cooking or not!

Read if you love:
🍝 Pasta
🎙️ Comedy shows
🥘 Cookbooks
📚 Learning How to Cook

I first fell in love with Matteo through his comedy online. One day I saw a video he made of his Italian cooking, and he did such a nice job explaining the recipe I felt I could do it just from the video. I only watched it once, and he gave me the confidence to make this. I made it for my husband and I, and we LOVED it. Do yourself a favor and buy this book just for the Cacio e Pepe recipe. That would make this worth it alone. This whole cookbook is just as amazing, and I cannot wait to make every recipe. If you like Italian food and comedy this book is absolutely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy!

I’ll be honest, youtube isn’t something I watch on my own - my older teens and husband love it, andI appreciate it from that aspect in that people share their talent / creativity / knowledge and share that with viewers. Whether to learn something, to laugh, etc., but I watch it if someone in my family puts it on and I’m sitting by the television. That was my first introduction-ish to Matteo Lane.

When I first saw this cookbook cover and read the author’s name, I checked to make sure it was the same Matteo Lane and upon realizing it was, I decided to read an early copy with my family.

As a New Jersey-shore Italian, I was interested from a family and food standpoint, as a mom and wife, I was also interested because it was written by someone that they all very much like and appreciate. And having read this, I can now say that I like the author as well 🙂

The cookbook is very visually appealing - the layout, and the photos - gorgeous. The stories introducing chapters and recipes are laugh out loud funny - even if you’re not familiar or a fan. The recipes are enticing and the photos accompanying the recipes will likely easily be tempting enough to try your hand at a few or more (I’m not a great cook, my baking yields far better results, but none of the recipes seemed overly difficult, imho). You may also finish reading this book with an intensely strong desire to visit and eat your way though Italy.


Recommended for fans and (non-vegan) pasta lovers alike.



Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the PDF

And now I want pasta…
I saw author Matteo’s infamous Alfredo video on social media months (or maybe a year) ago and have enjoyed much of his content since. Matteo is funny. He’s irreverent and isn’t afraid to say the “weird thing” which always makes me laugh. So when I saw that he now had a cook book, I immediately grabbed it to explore. At the ripe old age of 42, I’ve started learning how to actually cook after growing up in a household where black pepper is considered “spicy.”

Thankfully my tastebuds have matured past my mother’s fondness for all things bland, but that had left me lacking in imagination and skill to really cook well. Over the past year, I’ve attained some comfort in the kitchen, and while I am no longer a novice I would never claim expertise. This book is perfect for my skill level. The recipes are authentic and relatively simple with explanation from the nuances of pasta types to basic Italian cooking skills all wrapped up with stories that are completely worth reading. So many cook books add prose to their recipes that fall flat and aren’t worth reading. Matteo, on the other-hand, relates the recipes to peeks into his childhood, historical or anecdotal stories, tales from his trips to Italy, and so much more all written with his unique humor and whit. The pictures feature a stunning cooked dishes or humorous glimpses of real life. His book inspired not only my hunger but also a desire to try some of these. I can’t wait to figure out where I can get fresh pasta and real parmigiano-reggiano. I feel like as an American, we’ve been cheated out of having really good pasta, but I can’t wait to try out some of these recipes.

I love how much personality this cookbook has! I’ve enjoyed Matteo Lane for many years now, so I was super excited to see he made a cookbook. Some recipes are super easy, some are more complex, but many look good. I’m going to try the cacio e Pepe, the tiramasu, and pistachio pesto. Fantastic book if you love pasta or are a beginner cook.

FANTASTIC!!
"How to Cook Pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican Homosexual"
The writing is humorous and relatable, the photos gorgeous, and the recipes look delicious (I haven't tried to make them YET but definitely will). I highly recommend this book.

There is nothing i love more than carbohydrates, reading, and laughing. This cookbook is a home chef’s delight! If you need me I will be cooking every recipe in this book, sopping up all the sauce with a fat chunk of bread!!!!

Yummmmmmm!!!!

Thanks Netgalley and Chronicle Books for allowing me to read this early. Now tell me who I need to olive oil up to get a physical copy!!!!

This book is everything. I was not expecting it to be as funny as it was and I was just as interested in reading the stories and background of the dishes and I was in reading the recipes. Usually with cookbooks, there are recipes that I would not even want to try, but every recipe is appealing and true to the Italian culture. A+

This cookbook is a humorous, heartfelt cookbook that combines Italian recipes with Lane’s trademark wit. Lane brings a fresh, comedic perspective to the cookbook world, debunking pasta myths while sharing his Italian-American family traditions. His “no-filter” approach makes for a uniquely entertaining read, one that’s less about perfection and more about enjoying the cooking process.

100/100 or 5.0 stars

This was fantastic. The stories, the recipes, the photography, the humor. All so well done and fun! I haven't cooked anything...yet. The recipes all seem easy to follow and look delicious! I will definitely try some of these dishes in the future!

Tried the cacio e pepe and it was pretty good! The book is full of various recipes that are relatively easy to make and the steps are outlined in a very simple way.

This book is big, honest, fun, and yummy. I feel so inspired to cook more pasta just from reading this book. Thank you for sharing your humor, love, family, history, and so much more.

Let’s be honest: your pasta probably sucks. But fear not, because comedian Matteo Lane is here to teach you how to fix that with 30 delicious recipes, hilarious stories, and his signature sass.

In Your Pasta Sucks, Matteo brings his A-game with recipes that are both full of flavor and hilarious. Whether he’s dishing out his version of Mac and Cheese with his bestie Nick Smith or giving you a rant about the “alfredo” disaster that turns into an incredible Penna alla Vodka, this book is packed with laughs and real Italian kitchen wisdom. Plus, there’s a foolproof homemade pasta recipe that'll have you saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

It’s not your typical cookbook. Matteo isn’t pretending to be a chef—he’s your funny, slightly chaotic friend who knows his pasta and isn’t afraid to mess things up in the best way. Expect tips on how not to mess up your pasta, guides to ordering coffee in Rome, and even a tongue-in-cheek love letter to Italian culture.

If you’re a fan of Matteo’s comedy or just someone who wants to cook pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican homosexual (yep, he said it), this book is a must. It’s more than a cookbook—it’s a snarky, hilarious, pasta-filled adventure. Grab it, laugh, and start cooking! 🍝