G. Bianco, 2019
I coincidentally started reading Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff on a day when I ate blueberry pancakes. Considering there are blueberry pancakes on the cover and there’s a whole plot line about it, I think it was a good sign that this book was going to be a good one! Culinary student Lexi Berman, 24, has one goal: to make her late mother proud by becoming an executive chef in a Michelin-star restaurant. And she isn’t going to let anything–or anyone–get in the way. But when she meets Jake Taylor, a dive bar musician who charms her with show tunes, she makes a rare exception to her no-dating rule. After a steamy weekend together, Jake leaves for L.A. to record his demo, and Lexi never expects to see him again. And she definitely doesn’t expect him to become an overnight celebrity, with a breakout single that’s almost certainly about her famous blueberry pancake recipe. As Jake’s star rises and the world speculates about the subject of his song, Lexi keeps the affair to herself. After all, she’s finally found her footing at her new restaurant job, and even has a prospective romance with her coworker. But when a distraught Jake turns up on her doorstep late one night, her carefully-laid plans are thrown for a loop. Though she and Jake try to be friends, things between them soon reheat faster than a bowl of Lexi's matzah ball soup. But a relationship with Jake means risking her face in tabloids, withstanding cruel internet comments, and worst of all, jeopardizing her career. As Jake’s upcoming tour approaches, and rumors swirl about him and another pop star, Lexi has to decide if holding onto her meticulously-planned future is worth walking away from what could be the perfect recipe for love. I binge read this book in one day and I do not regret it! Not only were the food descriptions in this book making me hungry, but I loved the references to actual NYC landmarks and spots. I also loved the Broadway/musical references sprinkled throughout the plot. This book was super descriptive overall while not taking away from the actual romance. Both Lexi and Jake have to learn how to adapt and change their dreams to fit their dream careers and it was so nice to see both of them grow throughout the novel. Seeing an inside look at what it’s like being in culinary school and working in a kitchen juxtaposed with what it’s like to be famous and in the public eye at all times really showcased how similar and different these high-pressure careers are and how the characters cope with it. Additionally, we see these characters grapple with grief, finding a home, and learning to trust each other after a span of time away from each other. Seeing these real life emotions play out made these characters that much more relatable and the love story that much sweeter! If you like rockstar romances, insta-love/second chance romances, or books that highlight iconic geography, definitely check this debut novel!! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
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AuthorHi! My name is Elisa and my bookshelf is quite literally overflowing! Join me in my journey of reading as many books as humanly possible! Archives
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