glassesgirl79's review
4.0
“Flavor of the Week” is at its core about a nice guy (Cyril) who is in love with a pretty girl (Rose) however, Rose view Cyril as a friend although he wants to be more to her. When the book begins, Cyril has just finished making his famous “kitchen sink cookies” at his house when Rose arrives. Since Cyril is such a nice guy (and as a way to spend time with Rose,) Cyril is holding a birthday party at his house for Rose’s best friend Jamie.
During Jamie’s party, Cyril receives a visit from his childhood best friend Nick. Although Cyril is happy to see Nick again, he’s upset that Nick abruptly left two years ago without saying goodbye. In addition, Cyril is upset that Nick and Rose seem interested in each other and he feels powerless to stop whatever romantic relationship is blossoming between them.
While on a shopping trip to Walmart, Nick expresses his interest in Rose to Cyril. As Cyril is shopping for cooking ingredients, he is trying to prevent himself from helping Nick win Rose over with food. After Nick comes to Cyril’s rescue from a rude Walmart employee, Cyril feels he owes Nick. With each meal she eats, Rose loves you the food meanwhile, Cyril hates lying to her and worries how she will react once she discovers the truth.
Overall, this book was very quick and light read. This book minded me of the play Cyrano de Bergerac except instead of woo a woman with words, she is wooed with food. I liked the chapter layout which consists of a recipe title followed by the chapter and ending with a recipe. I especially liked that although Cyril is very self conscious about his weight, I feel like those closest to him don’t see the weight but rather they see the cooking gifts her has to offer.
During Jamie’s party, Cyril receives a visit from his childhood best friend Nick. Although Cyril is happy to see Nick again, he’s upset that Nick abruptly left two years ago without saying goodbye. In addition, Cyril is upset that Nick and Rose seem interested in each other and he feels powerless to stop whatever romantic relationship is blossoming between them.
While on a shopping trip to Walmart, Nick expresses his interest in Rose to Cyril. As Cyril is shopping for cooking ingredients, he is trying to prevent himself from helping Nick win Rose over with food. After Nick comes to Cyril’s rescue from a rude Walmart employee, Cyril feels he owes Nick. With each meal she eats, Rose loves you the food meanwhile, Cyril hates lying to her and worries how she will react once she discovers the truth.
Overall, this book was very quick and light read. This book minded me of the play Cyrano de Bergerac except instead of woo a woman with words, she is wooed with food. I liked the chapter layout which consists of a recipe title followed by the chapter and ending with a recipe. I especially liked that although Cyril is very self conscious about his weight, I feel like those closest to him don’t see the weight but rather they see the cooking gifts her has to offer.
msjenne's review
2.0
A Cyrano de Bergerac story with cooking instead of letters--it should have been awesome.
It was not.
It was not.
weatherforsweaters's review
3.0
If we’re supposed to be taking this seriously then the ending didn’t make sense. Personally, I wouldn’t excuse that kind of behavior in a guy, no matter how much I liked him. But if you just wanted a light-hearted, food romance take on Cyrano de Bergerac, then it’s pretty enjoyable.
Though the aphrodisiac scene bothered me. First of all, yeah, Nick is being entitled and don’t encourage him, even if you “don’t think aphrodisiacs work.” That aside, if a guy ever set something like that up for me, I’d probably faint and then melt into a puddle on the floor, and I’m acespec. But I’d only like it because I’m south asian. These characters are white, and the use of Arabian culture to create an “exotic”and “seductive” aesthetic doesn’t sit right with me.
The food sounds really good though. I’m probably gonna end up using the recipes.
Though the aphrodisiac scene bothered me. First of all, yeah, Nick is being entitled and don’t encourage him, even if you “don’t think aphrodisiacs work.” That aside, if a guy ever set something like that up for me, I’d probably faint and then melt into a puddle on the floor, and I’m acespec. But I’d only like it because I’m south asian. These characters are white, and the use of Arabian culture to create an “exotic”and “seductive” aesthetic doesn’t sit right with me.
The food sounds really good though. I’m probably gonna end up using the recipes.
lilli_a's review
5.0
Ok so I'm such a sucker for love and what do I love more than love? FOOD! This story was a mixture of sweet and fresh with a dash of perfection! Ok so I'm no cook, I bake for fun, meaning I know nothing close to Cyril, but more than Nick. If I could add this to my favorite book section I would, but that would require buying it or stealing it from the library... I love the cute touch the author did by adding in the recipes discussed in the chapter❤️❤️❤️ ahhh I'm totally gonna try those "Kitchen-Sink Cookies" soon!
librandian's review
3.0
Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw is a present-day adaption of Edmund Rostand's play, Cyrano de Bergerac. In the original play, the main character, Cyrano, has a large nose and writes poems for a girl he admires but signs them as his best friend.
Flavor of the Week is slightly different. Cyril is an overweight boy who loves to cook. In fact, he hopes to get into the American Institute of Culinary Arts and then become a famous chef; that is if he can pass the strict audition. But few people know of his cooking skills. Not even his best friend and crush, Rose, knows his talent in the kitchen. One day, his old best friend Nick moves back to town. Nick has a crush on Rose and wins her over by telling her he made Cyril's famous kitchen sink cookies. That is the jumping off point. Now Nick has Cyril cooking entire meals to call his own in order to impress Rose. It's quite a pickle!
Will Cyril get into the AICA? Will Nick continue to pretend he can cook? Will Rose realize who really has feelings for her?
Flavor of the Week is slightly different. Cyril is an overweight boy who loves to cook. In fact, he hopes to get into the American Institute of Culinary Arts and then become a famous chef; that is if he can pass the strict audition. But few people know of his cooking skills. Not even his best friend and crush, Rose, knows his talent in the kitchen. One day, his old best friend Nick moves back to town. Nick has a crush on Rose and wins her over by telling her he made Cyril's famous kitchen sink cookies. That is the jumping off point. Now Nick has Cyril cooking entire meals to call his own in order to impress Rose. It's quite a pickle!
Will Cyril get into the AICA? Will Nick continue to pretend he can cook? Will Rose realize who really has feelings for her?
littlecornerreads's review
2.0
2/2.5 stars.
I grabbed this on my way out of the library because the title and cover were intriguing. I expected the book to be somewhat corny, but this was rather disappointing. I think the concept was good, but the actual story wasn't quite as great.
I grabbed this on my way out of the library because the title and cover were intriguing. I expected the book to be somewhat corny, but this was rather disappointing. I think the concept was good, but the actual story wasn't quite as great.
lisamquinn's review
3.0
I read this because it's a Book with Bite that came up on YALSA book...I think I liked it because I like food.
sandyd's review
3.0
YA romance a la Cyrano de Bergerac, except the boy cooks like a dream instead of speaking poetically. The recipes at the end of every chapter look really good, and the descriptions of food are droolworthy, but the romance is a bit flat and predictable. And I didn't really want to know any of the characters better.
jenne's review
2.0
A Cyrano de Bergerac story with cooking instead of letters--it should have been awesome.
It was not.
It was not.
jennc's review
3.0
I didn’t really love the love interest in this. Actually a lot of the characters were just kinda blah. But I did love the food and the recipes.
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