This was a cute book published by Christian romance publisher Revell. I love a good chef love story and this didn't disappoint.

"Hadley Beckett's Next Dish" by Bethany Turner is a delectable romantic comedy that serves up a delightful blend of humor, heart, and culinary passion. The novel introduces readers to the vibrant world of celebrity chefs, with the charming and witty Hadley Beckett at the forefront. Turner's writing is both clever and engaging, infusing the story with a perfect balance of banter and emotional depth. The characters are endearing, and their dynamics, both in and out of the kitchen, contribute to the novel's irresistible charm. As a romantic comedy with a culinary twist, "Hadley Beckett's Next Dish" is a highly satisfying and entertaining read that leaves readers craving both love and a good meal.

4.5 stars

The authoress is slowly stepping the ladder up to my Pantheon of quality Christian chick-lit writers. This is really good! Mostly because of well-fleshed characters of recovering bad boy Max (his recovery covers hus anger issues, not his hotness:)) and relatable Hadley with strong trust issues. These two work together well; even when really working together (as the chefs in the reality TV program), the sparks are in the air. These two can fight like cats and dogs, yet in these fights the truth comes out of them. They can shed a light exactly where the other one has issues - and while this is infuriating, it also offers a huge possibility to grow. Max and Hadley are both open to growth, which is so important for their (or any) relationship. And it is fun! This is authentic, smart and engaging rom-com on pages and I can recommend it for readers looking for a nurturing food for thought!

Super super cute! Loved the food focus and all the chef talk. Unique storyline that kept me wanting to do nothing but read. I wasn’t too keen on the voices jumping back and forth. I wanted some more of their inner thoughts. There was a lot of dialogue. Maybe that was what made it a slower read than normal. Loved spending time with these characters though.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I wanted something light to read but this book also had a lot of added depth to it (a bonus for something that already sounded adorable).

This isn’t a book where two characters hate each other at first sight and then start falling for each other with no good reason. You’ve read those books or seen those movies before right? Where your scratching your head wondering how they went from hating each other to falling in love with no real change.

This book gives us real reasons why these two might not have gotten off on the right foot but may fall in love by the end. I really appreciated that!

Hadley and Max are both accomplished chefs. They are now on the same cooking competition. Hadley has a reputation for being sweet, Max has a reputation for being a bad boy ladies man type of personality.
Max absolutely flips out when Hadley wins and makes a scene on television. It’s bad enough to ruin even his reputation. It certainly makes Hadley uncomfortable.

But Hadley actually is the sweetheart she appears to be on tv.
She’s not going to use someone’s public downfall to her benefit and she’d also rather forgive than hold a grudge.

After Max spends some time away, he’s given the opportunity to be on an incredibly well respected culinary show. But Hadley has also been offered a chance on the show. This is normally a show where only one chef is featured. Both Hadley and Max see what’s happening, the network is trying to cash in on their “drama”. But they both decide to try to make it work for their careers’ benefit.

Hadley has an open heart and as she gets to know Max, she wants to know what led to his tantrum in the kitchen.

I love Hadley’s character and I love Max’s growth. This was a very enjoyable read. You’ll finish this book with a smile and probably be hungry for a fancy dinner too.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!

Hadley Beckett is a celebrity chef who is known for her charming Southern personality and her delicious meals. Her competition on America's Fiercest Chef, however, is known for his temper tantrums in addition to his Michelin stars. Maxwell Cavanaugh may have the highest-rated show on the network, but they give him an ultimatum: go to rehab and learn to manage his anger, or lose his show. Maxwell seems on his way out, and Hadley's star is on the rise. When she is invited to appear on the show Renowned, she is thrilled. But there's a catch: the producers want to feature both Hadley and Max. Can the two chefs find a way to get along or will the show be a swan song for them both?

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish is a fun romance. The two chefs want nothing to do with each other, which of course means they are destined to fall for each other. You will feel as if you are actually on the set of a cooking show, Hadley is a delightful character, and the book moves quickly. The line between charming and cheesy is not always easy to walk, but Bethany Turner does a great job of it here. If you love watching Food Network and are searching for the perfect read for your weekend, this book is for you.

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish
By Bethany Turner
Revell May 2020
336 pages
Read via Netgalley

I liked elements of this story, but I also felt bad for Hadley and the way that people walk all over her. So, some of this story didn't work for me.

A Temper To Remember.....
A celebrity chef, Michelin stars, a top Culinary Channel show and.....a temper to remember. A light, humorous and fully entertaining read with a side of romance. Great fun.

As an enemies to friends to lovers kind of romance novel, this was a fun read with foodie themes and a reality TV show.

As a Christian fiction novel, I wish it had focused more on the transformative power of Christ when a character was trying to change their habits.

(I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

A Christian Rom Com that was pretty good. I liked this one better than the author's previous novels. The story line, the plot and the characters are well developed it just seems that there's something about the writers writing style that doesn't mess with me. But other Rom Com fans will no doubt enjoy this one.

Truly a fantastic and delightful romantic comedy. Max and Hadley are unforgettable. I hope someone makes a movie version of this book.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via JustReads Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Celebrity Chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show to the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.


When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.


As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of pubic persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.


I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book, but it just didn't click with me. I've never been one to enjoy cooking shows, so maybe the whole topic just didn't spark my interest enough. I could not connect with the characters and I could not get into the storyline. I really had high expectations. I thought it would be a fun and quirky read, but it just didn't happen.


Everyone is different though and just because I couldn't get into the book, doesn't mean it wouldn't be a perfect read for you! If you like modern day books, with an opposites attract type romance go ahead and give it a try.


***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a lot of fun! I loved that its about cooking! This was cute and the characters were super well developed!

Hadley and Max’s story was absolutely delicious! I cannot even begin to express how delighted I was by their saucy banter, the deep friendship that blossomed from a flat out disgrace, and the underlying themes of forgiveness and taking a chance on each other. The more readers get to know #HadMax and the people in their lives (for better or worse) the easier it is to be totally charmed by their chemistry and the sparks flying everywhere. The spiritual aspect of the book is very subtle, but the comic relief is a force to be reckoned with! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

I love Bethany Turner's writing so I was looking forward to reading this book about two chefs who appear on television together. I really didn't like Maxwell for the first half of the book but thankfully his attitude changed and by the end of the book I was happy that he and Hadley got together. This book has humour, romance, cooking, and spunkiness. When is Bethany's next book out?

This book is so much fun! There’s lots of talk about cooking, but you don’t have to be a “foodie” to enjoy the sparks that fly between the two renown chefs, Hadley Beckett and Max Cavanagh.

Hadley is a delightful character. She’s a Southern girl who loves to cook; takes good care of her feisty grandmother; has a great sense of humor; tries to live out her faith; and wants to show respect to everyone. However, Max had made that almost impossible for Hadley as she had been the target of his sarcastic remarks and explosive temper. However improbable it may seem to Hadley, she agreed to give Max another chance and work with him on another cooking show. Their story is both surprising and sweet. This book had me smiling all the way through, and wishing I could sample some of Hadley’s fabulous recipes. I’ve read all of Bethany Turner’s books, and this one is now my new favorite.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Turner's unique voice gets me in each of her books. Her pairing of wit with pop culture is unbelievably good. Even if you don't get all of the references it is still fun (trust me!)

This book is an enemies to more trope and for fans of this they won't be disappointed. The enemies part was very cutthroat. For a while I wondered how Turner was going to turn it into a romance!

I'll be honest the TV show parts of this weren't my favorite because I couldn't really relate, but the moments of self discovery and the romance were fabulous.

Turner writes more of her great kissing scenes and makes you laugh out loud more than once.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I would consider this book to be a little bit or romance, drama and non-fiction reality tv. When Celebrity Chef Maxwell and Culinary channel star Hadley go head to head in competition it is more than Hadley ever expected. She meets her challenge to keep her cool and move forward, no matter what Chef Max throws at her. Cheif Max has a heated temper and a big ego, until the two come together, he realizes he just may have met his match. After the competition is over, things take a turn, is it for the worse or better for both chefs? Can they keep their status of television stars and their fans while going head to head or will they decide it is better to work together.

I found this book slow to my reading, it seemed like it dragged on. It was a good book, but I wasn't tempted to keep reading it. I would read, put down, and then pick up again when I had time. It was not big on faith as my usual readings, but I am a fan of reality cooking shows, so that was what kept my interest. I would recommend to anyone that wants just a light read for a lazy afternoon and a read where you don't have to concentrate. I think my big problem was, I was so excited to read this book and then it was not as interesting to me as I thought it would be.

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is a fictional contemporary romance novel written by Bethany Turner.

Summary: Hadley Beckett just wants to be respected as a successful chef. She has restaurants, a TV show, and has just launched a magazine.

But an ugly encounter with Chef Max Cavanagh on a competition cooking show, shows her that not everyone respects her skills.

When news breaks that she has received a coveted slot on her favorite show Renowned, she is ecstatic-until she hears she will be sharing the spotlight with none other than Chef Max Cavanagh.

Can she manage to work with him in order to achieve her dreams, or will this time be an even bigger disaster than the first?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was attention-grabbing, the characters were well-developed, and I really wondered how the two of them would ever learn to get along.

I liked it so much, I was actually disappointed when the book ended and the prologue was a whole six years later. I wouldn’t have minded knowing what happened during that entire time-the sign of a good book, I’d say!

Anyway, if you enjoy contemporary romance, and/or cooking, this one will be right up your alley. It was definitely an enjoyable read, and now I am looking forward to picking up some of Bethany Turner’s other books to read as well.

I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Lovers of food shows will delight in this novel. It's a wonderful combination of fun settings, scenes that will leave you hungry, and complex relationships that have you hoping for better connections for the characters.