This book was a perfect read. Light, romance and contemporary fiction. Throw in a baking competition, mouth watering descriptions of food, and a happy ending. Will be recommending.

With two Korean-American MCs, I’m definitely disappointed the publisher didn’t take the opportunity to make their race clear on the illustrated cover for this first edition (American edition, I’ve just seen an Australian edition where they do actually look non-white). This couple look way too white. However, I’ve just heard that apparently this is going to be a movie starring Daniel Dae Kim, so maybe we’ll get a lovely cover with him and a Korean co-star on a second edition, which would be fabulous. I’ll live in hope.

This is yet another book being billed as a rom-com that is not actually a comedy. It’s a contemporary romance, specifically a foodie romance between a chef and a restaurant critic, but it’s not really as fun and light-hearted as a rom-com should be. In fact, it’s pretty high-angst and high drama, some of it manufactured and not really making sense, such as the bit towards the end where Aubrey and Landon reunite and she basically tells him he broke her heart and she doesn’t want to risk it again. She doesn’t even mention what to me would be a massive issue, which was that he’d known she was pregnant for WEEKS and… did absolutely nothing about it? There’s a weird time skip in there and we never really get an explanation why or what Landon was thinking and doing during that time.

This isn’t terrible. Aubrey’s charming and her romance with Landon was believable; yes, insta-lust does happen but it takes a while to grow into something more. Having the two of them thrown into forced proximity and unable to act on their feelings was nicely done. Their sex scenes were very hot.

But there’s too much I didn’t like. Aubrey hiding a pregnancy test in a bottle of decorative stones instead of actually TELLING Landon about it? The weird subplot with Aubrey’s rich, controlling dad which was just… dropped? These were things which needed focussing on, not several pages of description of every meal the two ate. It needed some stern editing, and a lot more humour and less angst in order to live up to the rom-com billing. I’m giving it three stars, because it was just OK for me… but I’m going to hope the screenplay of the movie adds in some more comedy and tones down on the angst.

Food and books are my favorite combination. I'll fight people on this, nothing gets better than food and books together. So, when I saw A Sweet Mess on bookstagram and realized it's a book about baking and romance, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. Many thanks to the publisher for sending a free review copy my way! It's A Sweet Mess' Book Birthday today as well, so make sure you order it ASAP. I loved reading it a lot, and I hope you guys will too.
Oh, did I mention that the book follows a second-chance romance trope? Makes things even better, no? ( I have been loving second-chance romances a lot lately, hence the excitement)
ALSO, A Sweet Mess will be getting a movie adaptation. How cool is that???
: I love rom-coms as much as I love food, which I why I'm so glad that A Sweet Mess has taken a place in my favorite rom-coms shelf. This book was highly entertaining and I enjoyed reading it to the fullest. Along with a plotline sure to make romance readers like me swoon, A Sweet Mess also surprised me with how realistic it was.
The characters in A Sweet Mess were so thoughtfully written as well. Aubrey's down-to-earth attitude, and her passion for baking made me fall in love the very moment I started reading about her. We need more strong female leads like her in romantic comedies, I tell you. I liked Landon a lot too, but he ended up saying a lot of wrong stuff throughout the story, so yeah, I was kinda disappointed in him. Honestly though, I love it when the male leads in rom-coms are sweet and adorable all the time, so my disappointment might be based on my high expectations, haha. (insert awkward emoji here)
Now about the romance between Aubrey and Landon : It was written with the perfect balance of angst, chemistry and AWWWWs. I loved seeing their relationship develop through the ups and downs in the story. And boy, there were many rocks along their path , but my heart was full when the story ended. Also, I loved how both the characters were Korean, that totally made me love the book even more. I wish there were more chapters about their families, cause Asian families = LOVE.
Don't even get me started on all the food talk that happened in the book. It made me sad and happy at the same time. I miss my favorite restaurants amidst this pandemic, okay? But yeah, I should say this, if you're a big fan of cooking shows like I am, this is the book for you.
4/5 stars. Highly recommend. Can't wait to read more books from Jayci Lee!

A Sweet Mess is a fun bit of romantic comedy with likable characters and terrific banter - I'm always a fan of the banter. The premise for this romance is great except that the whole time I was reading, I felt like I needed either a glass of wine or some baked good or other. Maybe both? Yeah, both would just about do it. Needless to say, this book was so not good for my diet. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story from start to finish. There is a bit of angst by way of a trope I'm not all that crazy about, but even that was okay with me since I enjoyed everything else so much. The book is well written, the characters are likable and have great chemistry, and the romance is a good combination of sweet and sexy. I read a book by Jayci Lee a few months ago and enjoyed it, so I was glad to see more of her, and I'll be looking forward to even more of that in the future.

3.5 Stars




A story as sweet as the desserts listed among the pages.




A Sweet Mess by, new to me author, Jayci Lee is a sweet romantic comedy with wonderful characters and a good dose of juicy drama. From beginning to end there is something weaved within the story that will make you want to keep the pages turning.




Aubrey is making her dream come true. Owning her own bakery and doing it on her own. Her talent is outstanding and her imagination for sweets is endless. She’s a strong woman who holds her head high and her determination is endless.




Landon has made a huge name for himself as a food critic. Having trained for his education at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America), his reviews are highly respected and influence his many readers culinary destinations. His critique could make or break a business. He’s a man that stands by his word, will do anything for his family and will admit when he’s wrong.







Who knew an accidental cake mix up would lead to the biggest roller coaster ride of your life. Aubrey and Landon knew from the moment they met their chemistry with something intense. Acting on their attraction and chemistry gave them both at night they will never forget. Yet when they find out who each other really is, a passionate memory gets tainted with anger and loathing. Aubrey just wants her dream to thrive. Landon can’t take back his words but he does try to help. Along the way that loathing fades and that attraction puts itself right at centerstage. Aubrey and Landon complement each other wonderfully. Their ride is bumpy but there are laughs and good wine along the way. From the Beautiful settings, the delectable eats and wines to the likable characters Jayci Lee pulls the reader in and gives them a laugh out loud, enjoyable story.

A Sweet Mess was amazing, romantic, and delightful. I had an amazing time reading this story and couldn't put it down.

Aubrey loves her job as a small-town baker. One night she meets sexy food critic Landon Kim and they have some very sexy times. The next time she hears from him she sees his review of her bakery over a bunt mishap. Over a month goes by and Aubrey's cashier seeks out Landon because the review is causing Aubrey's business to fail. In an attempt to help her save her store, Landon signs her on as a guest baker for his best friend's cooking show.

I loved this story. It was so cute. Aubrey and Landon were adorable, both together and separately. I loved Aubrey's sassiness and her ability to grow. She was such a strong character who suffered a lot growing up but came out stronger. Her relationship with Landon was just cute. They definitely shared an instant connection that grew into something beyond physical attraction.

Landon has had a rough life trying to never become his dead beat father. He gave up his dream of being a chef to become a food critic. I loved reading about his journey of finally finding a home, not just with Aubrey, but with food again.

A Sweet Mess is an adorable read. It's my first read by author Jayci Lee and she did not disappoint. I adored the characters, the unique storyline, the pacing, the food mentions, and the fact that the main characters were POC. This is a very cute story and I loved every second of it.

Title: A Sweet Mess
Author: Jayci Lee
Genre: Romantic comedy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see the gorgeous Korean hunk again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.

When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three
weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible...by sharing a villa.

When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a
choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.

This book made me laugh. Because of course Aubrey’s one-night stand would also be the critic who almost destroyed her livelihood. It also made me hungry. I’m craving at least a cupcake right now just thinking about it.
The characters really made this novel a joy—all the characters. I related to Aubrey’s mishaps and I loved her relationship with her best friend. Her struggles with her attraction to Landon were totally relatable, and it was fun to see how both of them grew and changed throughout the novel.

Jayci Lee lives in California. A Sweet Mess is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee was a fun and delightful read. Aubrey is happily living her life when a mistake at her bakery threatens to destroy all her hard work. Imagine her mortification when such threat includes her one-night stand, Landon? Suddenly she finds herself spending three weeks with Landon in hopes of fixing things. As they spend more time together, the sparks begin to fly. This was truly a charming read, with some light angst and a lot of fun to read!

Ahh! I took my time with this book, a little bit more than I expected actually, lol! But what I read was this bite of sweet, savory, some spice if you know what I mean infused with strong family bonds, groveling, best support friendships and of course LOTS of food! No, seriously, this book will make you hungry, because it's centered around Aubrey who runs her late grandmother's cafe that is bustling. But after a bad review from a famous food blogger it dries up and she heads to the bar to drown out her sorrows and maybe a one night stand. But after a sizzling stand she doesn't think that she'll see him again. But she quickly finds out that Landon Kim is the same food blogger who sucked her restaurant dry is the one and the same. WELP.

After realizing his grave mistake, he decides to enlist the help of his oldest friend and to retract his review which is something he doesn't ever do. And he decides to reverse the damage he's done by giving her restaurant exposure and doing a cooking show. They have to make sure rules and avoid crossing the line since both of their careers are at stake. But, because of their chemistry that they both want to continue, but can't because of other reasons. Alas, of course the more they pushed those feelings down , the more the attraction grows. I really love both Aubrey and Landon's character development. Also, I lovesome good groveling (could've done a little bit more) but I really enjoyed SO MUCH!

As rom-com’s go this book is full of second chances. The characters are so incredibly likable. The background on the characters really helps you connect to them. Over all I would have to say I’d give it 3 stars. I received ARC of this book from netgalley and St.Martins Griffin in exchange for my honest review.

4 Delightful Stars!!!

This was my first book by Ms. Lee and what a great introduction to her writing! I loved this charming romance that’s set in the wine country of California. It has the right amount of heat as well as a story that is engaging and interesting. Aubrey is a girl after my own heart with her baking skills… I can only dream about being as good at it as she is. Just when Aubrey thinks she’s going to get to the next level up in her business, one bad review and her dreams may be forever gone and by the man she had a steamy night with too!!!

I absolutely loved that Landon tried to make up for his mistake by offering Aubrey the chance of a lifetime…but can they keep their burgeoning attraction to each other at bay while filming the reality show that’s supposed to right Landon’s wrongs? This is what this story is all about and I devoured every single word and page.

I so enjoyed Ms. Lee’s attention to detail about the Korean culture and the foods that are an intrinsic part of their lives. Add in Aubrey’s sweet concoctions and it’s a romance and partnership made in heaven. There’s some very light angst but for the most part this is a cute and witty book that I’m so glad I took a chance on. I’ll definitely be reading more of Ms. Lee’s books!

This book was a very delightful read with the well written storyline and characters that were so well defined that I was totally enthralled until the very last page!

I could say that A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee is a lovely romance Korean style but really it is a lovely romance any style. The two main characters are Americans of Korean descent so the cultural aspect was wonderfully enlightening for me, a Southern US small town girl. But then again, California as a whole would be far out of my experience range. The is much to like about this story. The setting, the bakery, the culture, the characters, the sassy dialogue, the working to solve the review problem which lead to the bakery problem.

My only conflict after reading the review of the bakery I couldn’t decide who I was mad at Lily or Landon. I needed to be mad at one of them because I was totally siding with Aubrey Choi by that point.

The perfect beach read or sheltering at home read or anytime read. This new to me author is now on my hunt for more list. A rising star in the light-hearted, feel good, glad that you read genre.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderfully uplifting summer read. Deliciously romantic and cooly comedic, A beautiful story of cooking and second chances with great friendship and family elements.
Aubrey Choi is running her bakery yet dreams of building her reputation and her storefront into something more.
When her surprise gummy worm cake falls into the wrong hands (and mouth) she receives a scathing review, purely by chance. Landon Kim would not have written his review if his plans had not gone astray. Wrong place, wrong time, everything seemed out of his control.
To make amends, he offers Aubrey a spot on a television cooking show. Forced to spend time under the same roof and working on a project together, can they resist the temptation that continues to call and pull them together?

If you enjoy reality television cooking shows or Hallmark movies, you will love this book!

I really wanted to like this book. It has all the things that should make it absolutely adorable. It is intended to be a sweet, happily ever after, fun, steamy romp with lots of chemistry, mistakes, misunderstandings where the intimately figure it all out and live happily ever after. And yet overall it didn’t work for me. What is was for me was a formulaic tale with no surprises or originality set against a reality show and a very unlikable main character. Landon came off as a very unlikable from the moment we are introduced to him and truly never got better. Selfish, egomaniacal, pompous and the maturity level of a toddler. He made a mistake and rather than own up to it because it would ruin his reputation and to him that was all that mattered. That he almost destroyed all that Aubrey had worked for was irrelevant. Then he threw her a bone by getting her on a reality show, which seems to be the new very overused trite go to in romance novels, had an affair with her which he went through great pains to keep hidden, even outwardly telling people she meant nothing to him and then treating her like garbage to protect himself personally and professionally. So basically a big JERK. I liked Aubrey. She started out strong, smart, spunky, talented and incredibly passionate about her work. She was an artist and one of the lucky ones who managed to make her living doing what she loved. She stood up to her family when she chose her own path. I didn’t like that she allowed herself to be treated like a dirty little secret, but then when she stood up for herself and left I thought good for you. I knew they’d eventually get back together for this is a happily ever after rom com, and yet when in a few short paragraphs all is forgiven because he sheds a few tears I was done. It wasn’t true to her character and ruined the book for me. Id have liked a little pushback, her showing some of backbone, but to just hop into his friends car and go to him because he beckoned..well just no. I love a good fun romance and usually cheer when the 2 involved figure it all out, but this one was not my cup of tea. Or slice of cake. Sorry. Well intentioned, but totally dropped the ball at the end.

‘A Sweet Mess‘ captured my imagination from the start, and while I did have some questions, maybe issues with parts of the book, that didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment factor of one mistake, one scathing review, and two people discovering that love happens when it feels like it, fast or slow, there is no denying when attraction turns into so much more.

Landon’s flat tire brought him to Aubrey’s bakery – and to that mistake of the wrong cake being served to a food critic. And maybe because he’d had a crap day so far that (unknown to him) mistake earned a cutting review from this well-known food critic that practically ruins Aubrey’s pride and joy – her bakery. Then to add fuel to an already explosive situation they manage to meet at a local bar, have sparks fly, and a one time, one unbelievably sensuous night together before they discover exactly who the other is. Awkward, to say the least. And each has their own idea of why and how that one night came to be… which, of course, were the wrong ideas.

Although Landon does realize his mistake, he cannot do a second review to make up for his part in the troubles Aubrey faces with her business now. But… he can and does offer her the chance of a lifetime to take part in a reality show that would make her a household name… should she do well.

And the rest — well, you’ll need to discover for yourself.

I had fun with ‘A Sweet Mess‘, for the most part, and since I read an e-ARC I don’t know (yet) if those things that kept this from being a total winner for me have been edited. Yet, in the end, it really is a good book with a delightfully wicked sense of humor and characters who come across as real with their own issues that connect in unusual circumstances.

To be frank, I do wish the cover had been different, perhaps real people for from that cover no one can instantly tell that this is a Korean couple. I’ve read this author before and that book (and the next one out) is beyond sexy with real people and conveyed so much about the couple just by the picture… I wish this book had that type of cover – it’s an opinion, obviously, but then any review is just an opinion as well. I’d recommend ‘A Sweet Mess’ for those who love Rom-Com and a good love story to give this one a try. It’s a good romance, one you don’t want to miss.

**as an addition after this review had been written** I did learn last night through the author’s Twitter that “A Sweet Mess” has been picked up as a movie! Which is beyond exciting for the author, I’m sure. I will watch that movie, for it will be fascinating to see how the written word is transformed by the digital camera into breathing people and facial expressions. Looking forward to that.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A cute and enjoyable romance, A SWEET MESS by Jayci Lee is the perfect story to relax and unwind with.

​Aubrey's passion is baking and her successful bakery, Comfort Zone. Baking is so much more than a bunch of ingredients and a decent cake to her - she truly lives for her creations and her business so it's no wonder that she doesn't have much time for relationships. But there's nothing wrong with one steamy night with a handsome stranger, Landon! But when a scathing review puts everything she cares for in jeopardy, Aubrey will do whatever it takes to fix it. Even if that means facing the man who has caused all of her heartache, who just happens to be Landon, the man that she cannot forget.

Sure to make you smile and a sweet romance that will warm your heart, A SWEET MESS by Jayci Lee was just what I needed after a long, hard day. The characters are interesting and relatable, the setting works well, and the baking will have you breaking out the kitchen utensils and whipping up your own cakes to eat while you read. With plenty of misunderstandings, setbacks, and sizzling tension between Aubrey and Landon, this romance works really well and is sure to please romance fans everywhere. I look forward to reading more from Jayci Lee.

Looking for a easy romance read? Then A Sweet Mess is the one to read.

It’s a cute romance story that will cozy up your week. It starts off with Aubrey suffering from a bad review but guess who wrote that review? That’s right, her one-night stand. That’s a small world for you. But that won’t stop Landon from fixing his mistake. It’s really sweet that Landon and Aubrey are trying to fix her bakery business. But it also give them time to develop their relationship together.

This was a hit and miss for me. I have just so much romance that I kinda expected this. I wish it has a little more depth to it.

A Sweet Mess is the first book I've read from Jayci Lee and I have been missing out! While this isn't my typical romance read, I was swept away by the strong characters and yearning. The touch of the forbidden between Aubrey and Landon only made me more eager to see how everything would turn out for them.

I really liked Aubrey. She was kind and creative. Strong and sensitive. Brave. Willing to take a risk on herself, for herself. Too bad one of those risks landed her in the middle of a disaster. Enter Landon. He comes off as arrogant, and he is, for sure. But as you get to know more about him, he's a good guy. Does his best to take care of those he loves, even at the detriment of his own happiness. And when he makes a mistake, he does what he can to fix it. Maybe not in the way some would expect, but in his own way.

It was that olive branch extended to Aubrey that had her second guessing herself, again. She couldn't deny she was attracted to Landon but there was too much at stake for them to be anything more than friends. But Landon went after what he wanted relentlessly, and he wanted Aubrey. Even if it was conflict of interest, even if there was a clock running on their time together. Even if he wanted more, he knew he couldn't give that to her.

Ugh my heart just ached with the angst! These two belonged together if only they would get out of their own way. And in the middle of this budding romance, Jayci Lee went threw some big life lessons into the mix. Finding yourself. Obligation and duty. Family. Chasing your dreams and following your heart. Not doing what is easy but what is right. And that ending...cue the happy flutters, it was the sweet icing on top of the cake!

I loved this premise and Jayci’s previous book, so I was really excited to jump into this one.

I liked Aubrey and Landon well enough. They’re both passionate about food and the cooking scenes were some of the best parts. They also both have some daddy issues and that really impacts their relationship. I will say BFFs Tara and Aria were both delightful and I would read either of their books.

Plot wise it was sort of meh. There are a lot of POV changes without an indication that there’s a switch. Instead of their hot and cold, push and pull coming across as flirty banter, it was boring and repetitive. And I’m rarely a fan of an accidental pregnancy, so if I would have known that was going to be a plot point, I likely wouldn’t have requested.

Overall, I liked the idea, but neither the characters nor the story had the spark I was hoping for.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for providing the arc free of charge**