Reviews

Off the Menu by Stacey Ballis

zennalei's review

4.0

It's an over all easy read. I'm in love with Dumpling even though he is just the weirdest looking dog I have ever read about. I love the story and how Alana manages to get everything she deserves in the end.

4/5

melissakuzma's review

4.0

I enjoyed this much more than the last few Stacey Ballis novels I've read. You have to get past the fact that everyone in her books are perfect, have the best jobs, the greatest apartments, the best friends, perfect families, make tons of money, etc. It's unrealistic but I guess you could insider it a bit of fun fantasy. This one was about a woman chef who works as an assistant to a Food TV chef. In that way it reminded me of the first Stacey Ballis book that I read and loved, the one about the woman who worked on the TV decorating show. Plot line is along the lines of "single gal finds perfect guy but will demanding job/crazy boss ruin it all?" Not terribly suspenseful or profound, but enjoyable. A good vacation read.

girlinacardigan's review

4.0

http://jennsbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/off-menu-by-stacey-ballis.html

jilljaracz's review

2.0

Meh. Not enough conflict; too much "life is so perfect" that was shoved down my throat. Alana was so perfect and so wonderful -- oh, sure, overweight with hair that sometimes got frizzy - and she didn't seem to grow at all. I had a hard time caring about her and her problems.

akuhlma03's review

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

saunnik's review

1.0

The incessant celebrity name dropping and brand whoring became annoying and made this book quite unbearable. I found myself skipping through it to get to the end. The in-depth detail in which mundane things were explained made this book way longer than it probably needed to be. Crap loads of talk about dog crap. The dog taking a crap in the back seat...BY FAR the MOST UNNECCESSARY thing I have ever read in a book. It helped nothing, didn't advance the plot, and just filled up space. I swear the author just needed to fill a word count and came up with the worst things to fill it.

The story wasn't really compelling. I kept waiting for something to happen. For something to come to a head but nothing ever did.

tamaralh7's review

4.0

Loved this book!

brianajae's review

4.0

Not my favorite Stacey Ballis book but I still enjoyed it. My only problem was the romantic lead. He seemed far too good to be true, her dog didn't like him and then... nothing. There wasn't a fight, tension, anything. She had plenty of conflict with her boss, yes, but I want some more realistic tension when it comes to her relationship. An argument about her working too much, something.

amisner's review

3.0

So the elements of this are very simple. Romance, cooking, pushy boss, nothing here is a surprise. Overall I liked it really well, the characters hit all the notes they should and I loved the cooking stuff.



Seriously the only thing keeping this book from a higher rating is the overly sappy romance between Alana and RJ. There's too many little cards and notes waxing poetic about how they are the best thing to have ever happened to each other.



Also I lied a little. The overly sappy nature is not the only con in this novel. There are a few spots here and there of conversation that is just worded very strangely. The way that Alana is supposedly phrasing things just comes off as unnatural.



Ultimately the recipes at the end of the book make up for a lot of this. I can't wait to try out that french toast.

historynerd04's review

3.0

Just a quintessential summertime beach read for foodies. Like your favorite mousse -- light, airy, and just the right amount of sugary fluff.