DNF at 35%
I just couldn’t get into this book. The "enemies" aspect was extremely dramatic to create conflict and I don’t understand why Callum was such a jerk right from the beginning. Nikki and Callum conveniently keep running into each other around town - a finance whiz turned food truck owner also volunteers at the vet? I stopped when they just so happened to have neighboring seats on a random flight.

Well, this was fun! Summer Down was the fun book romp I needed today—yep, you read that right. I read it in a day! This was a breezy read and I enjoyed the way that the main character's relationships with her friends and parents were written. At times, the main character was kind of childish, but I enjoyed the book a lot.

Nikki relocates to Maui after her father's death to help her mother run a food truck serving Filipino food, and has an encounter with the new (hot, English) food truck owner who parks in her space.

I like the foodie elements and the location, the tension between the characters, but sometimes it's like the author gets sidetracked (random trip to London! Luxury resort!) and adds elements to the story that actually detract from the central romance. I also do not like epilogues especially in romance. Give me my happy ending and walk away!

Still when I needed something to read during election week insomnia, this was a fair distraction.

Uh… well… the idea was cute?

Nikki runs a food truck with her mom in Hawaii. Callum parks his food truck next to hers one day. When Nikki goes to tell him that it’s an unwritten rule to park that close to another truck, he goes off on her and they immediately become rivals. Their rivalry comes to a head with the Maui Food Truck wars to determine who gets to keep their truck on that spot. Of course, in the midst of that they fight their attraction to each other.

Like I said, the idea was cute, but the execution was very lacking. The writing and character development was… not great. When Nikki meets Callum he’s all nice and has “kind eyes”. The minute she says that he’s not supposed to park next to her he turns into a raging ball of fire who immediately slams doors. The change of character gave me whiplash. Then, just ask quickly, they’re friends with benefits and in love with each other. Because of all of this back and forth it made the chemistry between the two main characters a little hard.

Since I liked the story itself I was able to finish the book. I liked the rivalry between food trucks and I liked Nikki’s family drama. I want to say I liked the characters but they really didn’t have much substance. Nikki was pretty decent but sometimes her attraction to Callum confused me. I also didn’t like the problem that splits them up partway through the book. It just seemed a little lazy.

While this isn’t the worst book I’ve read, the writing was just too poor to get over. I was interested enough to finish the book, though I will admit I skimmed bits of it. I would recommend skipping this one, even if you are looking for a light read. There are much better ones out there.

Since the number of romances I’ve read featuring Filipinx lead characters is few, just by existing Simmer Down makes the world a better place. I adore the loving food and family references, the idea that there has never been a bad lumpia and agree that a Filipino food truck is always a good idea.

There were some things that I didn’t love. For instance, I was annoyed that at her most angry, and when she first meets Callum, Nikki was thinking lustful thoughts. I’d prefer a little more build up! On the whole, this was an enjoyable romp and a quality addition to the genre.

If you’re a fan of the “hate you, love you” trope, and like a good mental vacation on Maui, this is an excellent choice.

This was such a fun read! I enjoy foodie books, especially in November and this was the perfect blend of contemporary smuttiness and food love! Nikki was a character with definite flaws and she struggles to make attachments with anyone after the death of her father. Callum comes off as a jerk but you can just tell that he is a great guy at heart.

I love all things food trucks and really enjoyed the storyline. I highly recommend picking this book up if you are in the mood for a sexy, foodie book.

What an enjoyable read! I've been telling my patrons about this title if they're in the mood for a fast paced, feel good romance. This book has just the right balance of characterizations, setting, and tension. The writing and the storylines didn't feel overly forced. There is the right panache of humor, sadness, and desire for belonging. A real treat!

Food truck romance set on Maui!!??? Yes, please! This book was cute. An enjoyable, quick, low-stakes read. Just was people are looking for in this weird time in our world.

DNF @ 75%

I haven’t disliked the two main characters in a book in quite a while, but man, these two... talk about whiplash! Also, I’m quite irritated and real tired of the lack of communication (trope?) the romance genre has decided to lean on. I get it, sometimes it works, but most times I refuse to believe that two grown ass adults would just keep running circles around each other. Plus, sex doesn’t solve everything even IF he is a hottie with an English accent!!!

Anyway, I don’t care to see how this ends and I’ve read enough.

Simmer Down sounds so promising - enemies-to-lovers food truck romance in Maui, which sounds like the perfect summer read. It's also VERY steamy, which I really enjoyed. However, it felt like Nikki was just constantly being incredibly hurtful to Callum, throwing his feelings in his face and repeatedly acting as though she could never fall in love with him. It hurt to read her reject him over and over again, and Callum just takes it and lets her hurt him. It really ruined this book's vibe.

Simmer Down was really enjoyable and binge-worthy! This is the first book that I picked up from Sarah Smith, and I absolutely loved how she crafted the story for Simmer Down. Nikki and Callum were really HAWT together and I loved their chemistry to the fullest. I did think that the enemies-to-lovers part of the romance was resolved a bit too easily, but the story developed in the best way after the first 40 percent.

I’ve read a lot of books featuring food – I think Simmer Down is the best one from the “Books and Food” category for me so far. I loved loved loved the descriptions of different types of items that Callum and Nikki served in their respective food trucks. I wanted to visit their trucks so badly while reading the book. Since we’re talking about food, I want to mention that Nikki and Callum’s relationship towards the end of the book was *CHEF’S KISS* I loved how they expressed their feelings towards each other. Also, I swooned over Callum endlessly. He’s British, so London Boy was always playing on my mind.

I really appreciated how the author chose to address some family issues in the book. It was refreshing to read a romance novel where the couple faced realistic problems and fought through them together. Simmer Down could have a solid 5 star read, but Nikki did some really unlikable stuff throughout the story. I also think the book demanded some chapters from Callum’s side of the story.

Simmer Down is definitely one of my favorite romance books of 2020. GO READ IT.

I was so excited to read this one but in the end it didn't live up to my expectations, hence my 2.5 rating. I didn't feel any chemistry between the main characters. The truce in the airplane came out of nowhere and it didn't help that they played a game of 20 questions to get to know one another after hating each other's guts for a freaking stupid reason to begin with.

Her friendship with the influencer was random and it made no sense whatsoever that they suddenly became best friends.

The only good thing about this book is the food and the protagonist's mother.

This was okay- cute & steamy. I've read her previous book too and I think maybe this author just isn't for me. Solid romance writer but I just don't get a "wow'" factor when I read her books - there's just always something a little lacking. I did think this one was better than her former novel, but wasn't a fave of the year.

So.....now I just want to fly to Hawaii and eat all of the delicious food. I mean, if we're honest, I always want to do that, but this book really put me in the mood for a culinary adventure mixed with a little romance.

Nikki and Callum are the epitome of enemies-to-lovers. Their bitter feud covers up a really intense attraction....for awhile. When they find themselves thrown together they discover that they can really heat things up in the kitchen and the bedroom. And, the reader is lucky to be along for the ride.

Callum is a terrific Hero. He's caring and reasonable and lets Nikki know how special she is. Nikki is complicated. She listens to Callum but doesn't always hear him. She gets in her own way, a lot. But, you will still root for her and Callum to figure their s@#$ out!

I adore Nikki's mom and Callum's brother. They add depth and spice to the story. But, I can't forget about the real star of the story - the food! Oh the food! The description of countless dishes and their preparation will make your mouth water and have you searching for local restaurants to devour these delicacies. You will literally want to lick up every last drop of this story!

An advance copy of this book was received. The reviewer purchased the audiobook copy. Receipt of the advance copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: supporting characters, world creation, tension, hero, character development, and romance.

This was a cute enemies to lovers romance all centering on The Food Truck industry. Taking place in Maui two food truck competitors battle over the same spot. After one of their fights goes viral they agree to a wager. Whoever wins the Maui Food Truck festival can keep the spot and the other has to move somewhere else. Nikki can't imagine trying to find a new spot since her food truck is already struggling to make ends meet. After her Father died she had moved to Maui to help her mom keep the food truck going. This wager could mean the end for them. But a chance encounter between the two have them starting to feel differently.

The story was sweet and much better than the authors previous story Faker. She clearly improved. It still however had a bit of a lull in the middle that had me slowly working through it. I liked it and would recommend it as a romance novel with a POC main character because it did have positive representation.

I was initially attracted to this book because of the food truck angle (I think food-truck romance is one of my favorite subgenres) and the multicultural relationship (Filipina-American woman & British man). However, I found the female character to be a bit naive and immature for my tastes. I can't stand when characters in romance novels insist the other person must not be attracted to them when THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE, so that was hard for me to get past. This book was medium-steamy, but the audiobook narrator kicked it up a notch! ;) So if you want to read this book, I think audio is the way to go.

➽ Enemies to lovers
➽ Food truck war
➽ Maui/London setting

➽ Loved the banter between Nikki and Callum
➽ Callum sounded scrumptious. Comes off cold because he's shy but is actually a sweetheart. D'aaaaw! 💕
➽ Nikki is a proud independent woman. She don't need NO man to make her happy! Except when Callum comes strolling in...
➽ There's also a cat named Lemon because c'mon how can I not mention that?

➽ I found it hard to like Nikki. The way she responded to certain situations was questionable (ie. when the L word is mentioned). She avoided every issue that seemed too difficult to handle. We were running in circles here 🤦🏻‍♀️
➽ To be honest, the book fell short for me after their London trip. I wasn't as invested to the story or the characters.

I'm all for no-brainer choices when it comes to picking my next book. Having read and loved Faker, I knew I couldn't pass up on Simmer Down. Sarah Smith brought that same effortless and whimsical flair to her second novel and threw in some amazing food, and what I got was a mouth-watering romance in what sounds like idyllic paradise.

Nikki runs a popular food truck with her mom of whom she's fiercely protective. It was her father's dream to own one but that never came to fruition until after his passed away. The food truck's success is a way to keep her father's legacy alive and be close to her mother so she can keep an eye on her. As she's pulling up to her usual spot one morning, she sees another food truck in their vicinity. One of the silent rules of food truck vendor etiquette is you don't infringe on someone else's turf. Callum, the owner, doesn't take Nikki's attempt at a welcome or her guidance seriously and so ensues one of the most ridiculous turf wars. They do silly things to sabotage each other - nothing harmful, just annoying enough to grate on the other's nerves. The locals eventually catch on when one of their very pubic blowouts goes viral. Callum rebuffs any attempt at civility from Nikki. In the midst of this, they both enter the Maui Food Festival where recognition and a massive amount of money are on the line. They also strike up a private agreement that the winner has the right to permanently keep their food truck in the coveted spot.

I'm a sucker for rivals who become lovers and Simmer Down absolutely delivers on that. I like the process of uncovering the reasons why initial meetings don't go off well, and it's usually because of misconceptions. Nikki and Callum are adorable once they start flirting freely, and let's not forget the food! Oh my god...the descriptions made me so hungry! I really just wanted to be there and taste all the Filipino cuisine that Nikki and her mom were cooking up. I also loved when Nikki and Callum started to work together, melding their experiences to create some exquisite meals. Their different styles in action showed how simpatico they could be.

The story hits a bump for me toward the end when Nikki's tendency to self-sabotage by jumping to conclusions and making rash decisions becomes a redundant occurrence. It felt a bit irksome to read it happening repeatedly in a short span of time. At least they're resolved quickly.

Simmer Down is warm and delightful, and ultimately it's a loving story about families healing and coming through difficult times together. The food truck world is equally fascinating as are the vendors who live the life 24/7, it seems like. And what's not to like about the setting of Hawaii? There's plenty to love in this so don't miss out!

I loved Faker and was so excited when Sarah released her second novel. It was just as wonderful as her debut. She has a knack for setting, and I truly felt like I was there in Hawaii with the delicious smells of the food trucks. The romance is enemies to lovers with the guy not being an alpha.

Nikki and her mom are just scraping by running their food truck, when Callum and Finn arrive with their truck. When Nikki goes to talk with them about island food truck etiquette, Callum refuses to listen, leading to a bit of fierce-turned-friendly competition leading up to the big Maui Food Festival. Is all friendly in love and war?
Again, I love romances that center around food and cooking. I liked the fun competition between the trucks and the role social media played in the story--it felt very now and relevant. I liked the depths each character's story reached. An enjoyable read, and now I want to go to Hawaii.