The Hollywood Series, Book 1
From the publisher:
A FEMINIST BOOK CLUB CHOICE AWARD WINNER!
They go together like water and oil…
All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. For too long, she’s been held back and underestimated by the male-dominated sphere of professional kitchens, and she’s had enough. Now, as co-host of the competitive reality TV series The Next Cooking Champ!, she finally has a real shot at being top tier in the foodie scene.
Too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk.Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell never means to get under Nina’s skin. It just seems to happen, especially when the cameras are rolling. It’s part of the anxiety and stress he has come to know all too well in this line of work. So nothing prepares him for the fallout after he takes one joke a smidge too far and Nina up and quits—on live TV.
To make matters worse, the two are caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi…and fans of the show go absolutely nuts. Turns out, a “secret romance” between Nina and Leo may just be what their careers need most.
Now all they have to do is play along, without killing each other…and without catching feelings. Easy as artisanal shepherd’s pie. Right?
Food Network meets The Hating Game!
“[A] sparkling romance…witty and lighthearted, with plenty of tender moments to keep readers invested, this work gets the enemies-to-lovers trope right.”—Publishers Weekly
“This sexy, steamy contemporary romance, told from both Leo’s and Nina’s points of view, is well written and engaging. Descriptions of food and food metaphors are lightly laced throughout the novel, bringing humor to the story, and delightful secondary characters provide support and counterbalance to the protagonists. Issues of sexism and mental health are handled gently but realistically and add emotional depth to the well-developed characters..—Library Journal
https://amzn.to/41M9vrh
So I did actually read the second book in this series first, but then immediately sought out the first. I cannot believe I actually missed reading this one – it was on my Kindle, and it’s a romance set in the food world, definitely one of my favorites. Although the second book is set in book world, so hard to make a choice there. Let’s just say I’m very happy I read both!
Nina Lyon is a classically trained chef trying to make a name for herself in what is still a man’s world. Yes, there are dozens of well-known female chefs now, but it still seems like the patriarchy is hard at work in the restaurant industry. Anyway, when Nina is tapped to judge a cooking show, she’s thrilled. She’s a tough judge but fair – unlike her co-host, Leo. He owns a chain of family-style Italian restaurants, and he brings the charm to the TV show. They really don’t get along, and things come to a head when he makes fun of her on live TV, and she walks off the show. Makes for great television, but they both really need the show to build their credibility. Nina’s restaurants are in trouble, and so are Leo’s.
While they can’t stand one another, they need one another, so we delve into enemies to lovers, fake relationship territory here, and I loved it. Leo has some mental health challenges, which add depth to his character and the story. Food is always in the background, so don’t read this while hungry! This was a delicious read, and I enjoyed every morsel.
1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FOR BUTTER OR WORSE by Erin La Rosa. HQN; Original edition (July 26, 2022). ISBN: 978-1335506344. 368p.
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