ecravens's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
edrater0726's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Vomit
brgntteva's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you St. Martin’s griffin and EdelWeiss+]
Aubrey is an extraordinary baker, Landon is a popular food critic. I think I didn’t need anything more than this to be sucked into this romance. What happens next is she makes a cake meant for a 6-year-old girl with gummy inside, which ends up in Landon’s mouth (to his horrified surprise). And that’s how doom starts. Oh, did I mention she’s a feisty romance-lover sunshine and he’s a smug growling grumpy?
I love how food is not treated lightly in this book, it’s clear enough either the writer is a chef or baker herself or she got some serious research. The descriptions are freaking mouth-watering, and not just pastry or cookies, or sweet pies, but Korean food, Pad Thai, you can genuinely find any flavour on the pages and die of craving afterwards. And I am here for it! (THERE ARE EVEN TWO RECIPES AT THE END!)(just mildly saying)
This romance has depth and layers. The characters do not only pine for each other, and there’s not just lol banter (I laughed, like really did). There are family issues, and also family support, for both sides, there are real friendships, and owning one’s mistakes and one’s dreams, and growing up.
Steam level is pretty low (closed door, basically), and I am more into steam, but I genuinely loved the chemistry between these two characters, and how vivid and lively and real they both are. I would have loved to see more of Aria and Lucien, to be perfectly honest, and there’s a thing I’m not especially fond which I’m not going to spoil here, but I’d eagerly wait for next Jayci Lee’s romance about Tara (Aubrey’s best friend) and Seth (Landon’s brother) story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
More...