Loved this enemies to lovers fake dating romance foodie book. Couldn't put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own

For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa is a delicious book set in the world of reality cooking shows and it was so much fun.

Chef Nina Lyon works hard in the culinary world to make a name for herself. She’s a co-host of a cooking show named The Next Cooking Champ! In order to help grow some buzz about her culinary skills. But, her new co-host is also her arch enemy and he knows how to push her buttons on stage and off.

Leo O’Donnell is a restauranteur but doesn’t have the culinary background that Nina has. For some reason, he can’t help himself from the snarky comments he makes while on stage with Nina. Leo is surprised when one of his jokes on air forces Nina to quit.

When the paparazzi take a photo of Nina and Leo that appears as if they are dating, the fans go wild. They decide to start fake dating in order to salvage both their careers. And we all know what happens when a couple decides to fake date! :)

I enjoyed this light-hearted romance with the enemies to lovers, fake dating trope. I also enjoyed all the food descriptions as I almost always enjoy a book with delicious food in it!

Both Nina and Leo are dealing with some pretty tough issues of their own. Leo has fairly severe anxiety and Nina is dealing with grief. Although the book is mostly lighthearted, I did like the way the author handled these tough topics.

The enemies to lovers trope were mostly done well, however, some of the comments made early in the book toward each other were a bit harsh. Especially Leo’s comments. But, once past that, the banter between Leo and Nina was pretty fun.

I recommend For Butter or Worse to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For Butter or Worse was such a great read! This would be a perfect rom com movie. Erin La Rosa is a new to me author, and I’ll definitely be reading more from her!

Leo and Nina are judges for a cooking competition. They have quite a bit of rivalry between them, with Nina being seen as the “mean” judge, and Leo as the charmer. Their banter back and forth on a live taping gets a little too hostile, which results in Nina quitting the show.

What comes next is a media storm, and with their reputations and personal businesses in trouble, they decide to enter a fake dating scheme.

I love a good foodie romance!! Add the top tier banter and the great mental health rep, and this was truly a great read. Nina and Leo were such great characters, and I appreciated their flaws as well as their strengths. Leo was such a cinnamon roll, and I loved that!

If you like…
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Fake dating
✨Food descriptions that are guaranteed to make you hungry
✨Top bants
✨Cinnamon roll hero
✨A sassy peacock named Reginald who is out for Nina’s blood

Then this book is for you!

*thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review*

Enemies-to-lovers. Fake dating. Reality TV.

Not being a fan of reality TV, I wasn’t sure how I would like this one. However the reality TV part was really only at the very beginning so I was ok with it.

Enemies-to-lovers is sometimes a hard trope for me to get into depending on how it plays out. I really wasn’t a fan of of Leo at first (name calling… really?) but as the POV changed and you could read what he was thinking, that helped me see the possibilities for them.

Once they started fake dating and actually getting to know each other, I started rooting for them. They found common interests and their attraction grew. Also enjoyed the secondary characters, who were funny and supportive. I’m hoping for books about Jasmine, Sophie or Gavin down the road?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out July 26th.

I was beyond excited when I was able to do this book as a buddy read with my favorite, @kerosene.lit. I absolutely love doing buddy reads with her and am so very grateful for her in my life.

Anyhow, I had high doubts as to whether the enemies-to-lovers trope was going to work in this one when we start out knowing that Nina and Leo are hot for each other's bodies. I however should not have doubted because this incredible author was still able to make this fake dating, enemies-to-lovers food-based romance absolutely sing. The scene on the mountain, iykyk!!!

I love how Nina and Leo are able to bond over their love of food, even with them coming at it from different directions. I really felt that Leo should've had more confidence about his family-style restaurants. Sometimes that's what the diner is looking for!

I also really loved how this book was about family. Nina missing her mom and Leo missing his dad, Nina's relationship with her sister and Leo's with his mom and brother and the central theme that food was for both of these families.

I genuinely loved this book and would have to give it a 4.25/5 stars and hope to goodness that the author writes a romance for Gavin next!!

This book was SO good!! I think a lot of times books are wrongly marketed as enemies to lovers but the tension just isn't present in the writing, however this was not the case here. The tension between Leo and Nina was INCREDIBLE. I loved how each character had so much depth and development. The banter, the spice, and the romance were all written really well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you like easy read romance books? Do you like cozy cooking books? Want some food porn to go with your light smut?

Pre-reading:
Very ready to read something light. Enemies to lovers-my fave.

Thick of it:
Always the appearance reveals by a mirror.

Loud and spunky bff-check.

Oh c’mon, his name is Leo and hers is Lyon. Is the author a Leo?

Genuinely don’t like cake, sorry babe.

Girl, that’s an Olive Garden.

Is there a homecoming king in college? I don’t remember one.

He goes to therapy? Sexy.

Okay, but that’s literally Olive Garden.

Ooo a twin.

This book’s random details are like weirdly pertinent to my current life. All the names and the restaurant dish even. Universe funny like that.

The tweet interrupters are cute.

This book is making me hungry.

Aesthetic is a great word.

I’ve never seen Bridget Jones. I really need to.

Love Kimmy.

Love matcha ice cream.

I don’t really see the sexism here. I think that’s a stretch. Also if you genuinely think someone is sexist and that they’re stealing your will to live-don’t date them? Wild concept.

I know it’s a cozy, cheesy cooking rom-com, but some of these descriptions are really over the top.

1/4 in and we’re cruising at a 3.

Not for nothing is one of my trigger phrases lmao. Like shut up.

How do you get sick on an inflatable slide?

So many dead parents in rom coms.

That’s a cute voice message.

Their meal sounds gross.

This man is so submissive, that I’m turned off.

Green leather is hot.

Cleaning for her is hot.

Oh ew, right in the mommy issues.

Oh the ex-boyfriend is so gonna be there and bid on her, and then he’s gonna save her from the bidding, and then they’re gonna have to cook together. I love cliches. (This does not happen, and it’s disappointing.)

Scorpio season bay-bee. Horny season, please.

I feel like takeout in Cali is still very much organic.

I have never heard of a Dopp kit before.

Scorpio season never fails.

We love some author insert insecurities.

Never mind I don’t want it anymore. It gave me the ick.

Man, he must have a long tongue then.

Nestling does not belong here ughhhh.

I appreciate how hard it is to write something that appeals to the masses when everyone’s tastes are so very different, but also this one squicks me out. And the irony is I read Tiffany Reisz without batting an eye 😂.

OK bestie, but that would take like five minutes. I’m not here for what’s going to be a time jump. How do we fill in the blanks? This is lazy writing. Also five minutes-not enough. I would be cranky.

See, a time jump. You disappoint me, book. I was rooting for you. I really was. Solid two star territory. We will see if you can save it, but I don’t believe in you anymore.

I’m so sick of the no make-up superiority in rom-com books. Fuck off, please.

Why did I think he was gonna add a hickey? Spot my Scorpio.

This book has no stakes.

Girls supporting girls. ✌🏻

I feel like this book could be so much better with a heavy edit. I feel like she got a yes-man for an editor who was just like oh my god, it all works. It’s all cute. No one like sat her down and was like this is cringe. This gives people the ick. Take it out.

This chapter has gone completely off the rails and should’ve been cut.

How do you get sweaty in the middle of October in like a 10 minute activity?

Is literally every person I know’s name in this book, jesus christ. This is weird. I don’t like it. Universe not funny anymore. They’re like obscure names too, okay? It’s freaky that they’re all relevant to my life right now and all in this book.

There’s a lot of licking in this book.

Spot the Virgo. Also, if you tell me the man with anxiety, and who’s a neat freak, and who gets horny for numbers isn’t a Virgo…

Not a table. Delve?!? Delve. Nooooo.

And a time skip again. C’mon now, that’s not how this works.

I’m not convinced this man has worked this entire book. Doesn’t he get carsick? Wouldn’t a road trip be bad?

You’re outside in a family-friendly environment. Do not. Cease-and-desist.

The hooligans just fucked in a family-friendly Apple Orchard, and all I can think about is what they did with the condom because it’s getting carried around in somebody’s pocket and that’s disgusting, or they’re awful people and left a used condom in an Apple Orchard where like you just know a toddler is gonna find it and put it in his mouth like ooo, mommy, balloon. My darling romance writers, please include the logistics because my brain doesn’t shut up. Tell me you put it in like, I don’t know, the doughnut bag or something, and now it’s all sticky with cinnamon sugar. What a visual.

Male privilege is running with your phone off bc you don’t expect to be murdered.

The gay came out of nowhere on this one tbh, but love that for him. Get you a doctor, boy.

Ha, suggestive chapter opening lines are my fave.

I truly wonder what it would be like to hook me up to a heart monitor while I read books because I think it would be hilarious to watch my heart rate go off the charts because I stress myself out over them

Yeah, I’m sorry, that’s such a bullshit thing. He doesn’t have to disclose his entire medical history after four dates. What the fuck. Oh good, healthy sister.

I hate karaoke.

Do not air personal relationship business on the gram. I would be so angry.

Time skipping like this should be illegal.

It’s getting very buzzwordy in these later chapters.

I dislike the ending.


Post-reading:
Look it’s an easy read, we knew that going in. I like my smooth brain material with less cringe and sex scenes that don’t give me the ick. The dialogue is zippy enough, but it’s familiar. The book never really had stakes for me to get invested in. It tipped too outlandish in points and everyone had too much money despite complaining that they had no money. The book isn’t offensive. It’s a fine read. I wouldn’t recommend it as it is. I think if the book had a massive overhaul with a much harsher editor, it would be in more three or four star territory. It’s a step above Wattpad, but I don’t know if that’s really a compliment because it’s a low bar, and Wattpad is usually spicier. The editor allowing her to leave in the peacocks is awful. There’s no way that should’ve made it past a first draft. I love this book’s cover.


Who should read this:
Easy read rom-com fans
Cozy cooking romance fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee-cooking industry enemies to lovers
* The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee-cooking adjacent romance
* When in Rome by Sarah Adams-celebrity dating
* Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec-cooking adjacent romance

I’ve never been more conflicted on how to rate a book. For butter or worse is a rom-com and its two main characters are both in the food world – which is what intrigued me enough to request it as I’ve never read anything involving chefs. It’s also marketed as enemies to lovers and it definitely fit that vibe. However, I really dislike how that trope was handled.

They’re enemies because Leo couldn’t handle feeling inferior to Nina because she’s a “real chef” and he owns a chain restaurant, so, obviously, he’s very mean to her. Most of his comments towards Nina were very sexist, he gave her this nickname that everyone started using for her online – Nasty Nina and he basically ruined her career. The hate Nina received online was awful – it got to the point of receiving death threats and he still couldn’t grasp what he did was wrong for a good portion of the book. That’s annoying and I truly didn’t like how late he truly understood how bad things were for Nina.

There’s also a scene where someone recognized him because he’s a judge alongside Nina and said person asked if he’s a comedian or something and he got SO HURT. It was annoying, that’s like 0.5% of what Nina deals with and the thought that maybe how he treated Nina was wrong didn’t cross his mind until he got to know her better and fall for it. I disliked him for a good portion of the book.

The romance in itself was okay, it evolved properly and I liked that the author took the time to make them friends, besides maybe not touching on the Nasty Nina thing sooner. I also really appreciated how it ended, but I’m not going to say anything about that since I don’t want to give spoilers. Some scenes I could tell they had chemistry, but the banter was a bit forced at first, when they were still hating each other. It wasn’t even banter, to be honest, they were just mean.

Jasmine definitely stole the show for me and I think she’s the character I liked the most. Leo’s family is a close second – the familiar relationships here were well done. I also liked how the book dealt with grief and the mental health conversation.

I absolutely didn’t enjoy the miscommunication added towards the end just to add a bit of conflict. It didn’t feel genuine, and I was kind of iffy about the pace of the story. I’m not sure which route the story should’ve gone, but this one wasn’t my favourite.

Overall, not a bad book, but one that would definitely be better with a bit of editing here and there as I think the pacing was slightly off with a lot of things added for one moment that made everything feel scattered. It’s an enjoyable read for when you’re in the mood for a rom-com.

For Butter or Worse is a perfect book for anyone who likes rom-coms set in the culinary world.

Short synopsis: Nina, a celebrity chef, and Leo, owner of a restaurant franchise, have been co-hosts of a food-based reality TV show for three years, yet they do not get along. During their first ever live show, and current season finale, the two cannot even pretend to like each other and mid episode, post bickering on air, Nina quits the show. With their restaurants and reputations both taking a toll, they are convinced that the best option to take is to fake-date. Of course, as Nina and Leo get to know and understand each other, real feelings begin to develop but will they fully let their guards down? 

What I loved:
-I am picky when it comes to the enemies to lovers trope, and while there was definitely some great dislike between the two main characters at the start of the story, I felt that their relationship was handled maturely and made sense.  
-All the media headlines, Instagram posts and comments, texts and pop culture references made the celebrity component of the story come to life
-All the foodie references from the exotic dishes, to donuts to wine pairings and more!  
-The fake dating and orchestrated dates they went on!! 
-There was some good mental health representation integrated throughout the story and I loved seeing a male character struggle and open up about his anxiety-All the secondary characters, especially Leo's brother and mom and Nina's sister. 
-The grand gesture at the end :) 

What I did not love;
-While I liked Jasmine, Nina's best friend, I do not think we needed chapters that focused on her personal life with her parents! Honestly, that could have been a whole different book and it took away from Nina/ Leo! 

Thank you so much HTP for a copy of this ARC. Pub date: 7/26/22

Can we appreciate how beautifully the enemies-to-lovers trope was done? Like these two actually hated each other's gut!!! I absolutely loved this book. The plot was great. We see these two as enemies and not just some weird misunderstanding where one of them was secretly pining on the other. The fake dating was good. Them slowly becoming friends was great. I'm happy there wasn't any third-act breakup (ish).

Overall, great story with great characters. And it's about chefs too!!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Erin La Rosa for the arc!

People are saying this is "The Hating Game" meets The Great British Bake-Off, but it starts off a little more vicious than that (but the put-downs are hilarious). It's what kicks off the plot (Nina quitting on camera at the end of the season's final, and live, episode), but might be a deal-breaker for some. Leo may have never hated Nina, but he should've realized (if he did indeed follow his own social media) that his comments and chemistry with Nina on camera could lead to harassment, even death threats (because for misogynist trolls, death threats are a reflex, like Pavlov's Dog). Even if the show always edited the worst of it out, he should've learned some self control when it came to a live show, and definitely should've foreseen the long game of it all, that if she ultimately quits, he's gone from the show, too. (It's that too little too late epiphany that has him going to Nina's restaurant trying to make up, and instead botches it into a paparazzi moment.)

I liked how they were both deeply flawed characters--struggling with their own insecurities (over their respective restaurants and how they're viewed professionally), mental health, and fallout from past relationships. Despite Nina and Leo's ultimate growing chemistry (thankfully not-too-fast, as some lovers-to-enemies books do sometimes), both do ultimately acknowledge Leo's past behavior wasn't forgivable, try as he might to make amends. But all they could do is move forward, with Nina knowing that underneath it all Leo really is a good (and hot) guy. Nice steam factor. I felt like Sophie and Jasmine were being set up for their own books, and an author question confirmed it! I'm definitely there!

Deeper Than Usual Rom-Com. This is one of those rom-coms that starts out light and fluffy and fun - even in an "I'm gonna kill you for that!" way - and then hits on several more substantive issues along the way. And yet, it never feels overly weighed down by any of them, though as with the comedy itself it is very likely that your mileage will vary there. For me, I loved the "behind the scenes" look at the "real-life" stresses of being a TV food show host/ judge... while also running your own restaurant empire off camera. And the constant twitter / google/ other social media feeds were an interesting spin as well, particularly used how they were. Great for foodies or really anyone just looking for a good time - though on *that* note... maybe not so much for the "clean" / "sweet" romance crowd. Very much recommended.

The synopsis of this book sold me on requesting it but unfortunately this one just did not live up to what it promised. Billed as an enemies to lovers story the two main characters who have hosted a cooking competition show for several years and “despise” each other are forced into “fake dating” and honestly I never saw or felt their chemistry not at all. Perhaps that’s because I could not connect to either character, I just flat out didn’t like either one of them and because of that I really didn’t care about them or their situation or their “relationship.” The idea was good, so good that’s why this book gets two stars along with decent portrayal of anxiety issues, but the execution was off.
In addition to unlikeable characters, the story was boring it was over 50% before I felt like anything really happened that was somewhat interesting and even then it was just okay. The thing is Nina is a chef at her own restaurant and they talk about what a big deal that is and she laments many times over how her business is in trouble yet she is NEVER there. I mean seriously if you are having money issues you’d be there so you didn’t have to pay additional staff, it just made no sense. Leo was supposed to be this charming man but I saw an insecure mama’s boy. Their “banter” wasn’t funny or even smart, most of the time it was just mean which again is why I didn’t feel their supposed chemistry.
I should have DNF’d this one at 50% because it just wasn’t working for me but I kept slogging through it only to become more enraged when Nina violated Leo’s privacy and then tried to make it about her, ugh!
While others might find this book enjoyable, it wasn’t for me. Not at all, not one little bit.

A steamy enemies-to-lovers, fake dating romance between two celebrity restaurateurs. This one dived immediately into the banter, which I always appreciate!

When a conflict between Nina and Leo is broadcasted live during the filming of their reality TV cooking show, their PR team rushes in to save their image, convincing the two to fake a relationship. With sprinkles of orchestrated dates throughout, I loved the tension that builds between them, slowly shifting their connection from fake to real.

I really liked the contrast of their careers, with Nina the owner of an upscale restaurant and Leo the owner of a family restaurant chain. While Leo had an outward suave cockiness about him, it was endearing to see his confidence fumble at times, often due to his hidden anxiety.

There is some ex-boyfriend drama that added an irritating miscommunication to the story, but overall this was a fun read. Reginald the peacock was a definite highlight!

This was an entertaining foodie romance. I don’t recommend reading it on an empty stomach though because it will definitely make you hungry!

Things to look forward to:
- I’m always a fan of foodie romances and this one was extra special because it takes place in Los Angeles. I’ve visited/eaten at some of the locations mentioned and that added another layer to the story for me.
- This book was filled with tropes galore - enemies to lovers, fake dating, celebrity romance, workplace-ish romance, friends with benefits, slow burn, etc. I thought the transition from enemies to more was really well done. It’s a slow burn with a stop at friends with benefits, but I liked that they had time to get there and reconcile their feelings. Leo and Nina are both dealing with different stressors and their shared history is a lot to overcome.
- A great cast of secondary characters. I loved Leo’s twin brother Gavin. He brought a lot of comic relief to the story and the 98 Degrees song had me laughing so hard!
- I both read and listened to the audiobook and the narration by Mela Lee was fantastic! She conveyed so much emotion in her performance and I had no problem differentiating between characters.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ex drama and the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope, but I appreciated that the characters both took the time they needed to take care of their mental health and figure out what they truly wanted. The epilogue was so perfectly Nina and Leo and it made my heart so happy to see them come full circle.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3.5 stars

CW: death of parent (past), grief, abusive and manipulative ex, anxiety, panic attacks (on page), online bullying, FMC is kissed by ex

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

As a diehard lover of cooking shows, For Butter or Worse was a delight to read! Nina and Leo had fiery banter and chemistry from the very beginning, and this was one of the best executed enemies to lovers / fake dating books I've read in a while.

Nina and Leo are both from opposite ends of the restaurant world - Nina's an accomplished chef of a fancy French restaurant, while Leo owns a chain of family-friendly Italian restaurants - but both are struggling to keep their restaurants alive. Through the book, they fall into a fake dating situation, which soon becomes more, and it was gratifying to see them begin to lean on each other when they'd been so positive that they hated one another! Their dynamic is so fun and both had some great one-liners. The side-characters in this were also a blast!

(There's also great anxiety rep in this, which I appreciated!)

This book was a sweet little snack!

Nina and Leo are co-hosts on a popular reality cooking show who come together as both of their careers are hitting a make-or-break moment. As with any good fake dating trope, these enemies to lovers catch feelings and things heat up.

As the title suggests, there were lots of food metaphors and analogies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn't the best start for me - the immaturity and insecurity was almost too cringe-y - but the second half redeemed it for sure. The book also deals a bit with grieving the loss of a parent, which grounds the characters and makes you wonder why they bothered with the immature nonsense at the beginning.

Overall, this is a sweet and spicy book that's a perfect summery beach read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy!

An enemies to lovers story about two former hosts of a cooking show? Sign me up. There’s something gratifying about watching two people who used to hate each other fall in love.

I always love when enemies to lovers stories switch perspectives between the two main characters, and From Butter to Worse does just that. This ensures that the reader doesn’t write either of them as unlikeable. In Leo’s case, it could have been easy to see him that way at the beginning when he perpetuates calling Nina by a sexist nickname.

Nina and Leo’s story is sweet. Early in their fake relationship, Nina is able to open up to Leo about her mom, and Nina is one of few people Leo feels comfortable telling Nina about his anxiety. The third act break up was expected, of course, but the reasoing felt a little thin. I did appreciate that the reconciliation didn’t feel rushed.

I also appreciated the celebration of Nina’s curves by Leo through the story. It was lovely to see a woman who is not stick thin whose partner is eager to make her feel desired. It was also nice to see that Nina is comfortable in her body.

I value mental health rep in romance novels a lot, and For Butter or Worse handled Leo’s anxiety and panic beautifully. Sadly, Leo’s hesitation to share the truth of his mental health struggles felt very realistic to me. It is important that those around him remain there for him when he ends up in the hospital after a panic attack and that he ends up getting the help he needs.

La Rosa also addresses the sexism and villification that women on TV can face. It is important to remind people to think before they post on social media. Leo gained even more respect from me when he stands up for Nina against online bullies.

For Butter or Worse is a fun and compelling romance that also addresses important and serious issues.

What I Liked: I was hoping a book that combines two of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, would be good and I wasn’t let down by this clever and entertaining romance. I love a romance with great banter and this book, while not having the best banter I’ve ever read, has a lot of cute back and forth that I enjoyed. Nina and Leo both have reasons to not like each other but neither are willing to admit that the reasons may not be real or that a simple conversation would clear up any issues they’ve had over 3 years of co-hosting. That’s not to say this is a book with conflicts that would quickly be resolved if they sat down and talked to each other; on the contrary, there are so many things they don’t understand about each other that a lot of the joy in this book comes from finding out how wrong they are. I loved how this book handled Leo’s anxiety and panic attacks and his struggles with opening up to his family about his mental health. This book also addressed the very real issue of sexism in the entertainment business and the restaurant world. It was so easy for the world to view Nina as “Nasty Nina” and so hard for them to see her as anything else once the nickname went viral. Leo’s obliviousness to the difficulties women face in the industry was authentic and his turn around from going along with the “Nasty Nina” trend to taking a stand against it was wonderful.

What I Didn’t Like: The problems Leo and Nina face towards the end of the book seem to have been written just to give the book some angst and a reason for them to have conflict in their relationship. THIS is where one simple conversation would change everything; instead, a small miscommunication becomes a huge mess. I also had an issue with what seemed to be a last minute attempt to add diversity to a book that probably didn’t have much (or any) to begin with. When a non-white, non-cis character was introduced, it was in a clunky manner.

Who Should Read It: Fans of enemies-to-lovers romances will like this book; I would compare it to “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne and “Meet Cute” by Helena Hunting.

Review Wrap Up: Is this the greatest fake dating, enemies-to-lovers romance I’ve ever read? No. But was it a fun, witty, romance that handled some serious topics well? Absolutely. This isn’t one I would recommend you HAVE to buy on release day but if you find yourself needing an escape from the world for a day or two, this book will help you do that.

Favorite Quote: “He felt like at any moment a record would scratch to a halt, and the dramatic movie voice over of his life would start. I bet you’re wondering how I got here…. Because he’d been on a TV show with someone who hated him, only to then fall in love with that person, and subsequently push them away. And now? He was in a onesie, about to binge-eat malt balls and cry his eyes out to Bridget Jones’s Diary.”

So…

What I couldn’t get past is that Leo inspired viewers to give his co-host the nickname Nasty Nina and three years later he still doesn’t understand how that harmed her. For Butter or Worse is one of those rare books where I think the dual point of view made me dislike the character more. I dislike Leo when we first see him from Nina’s perspective, and then I grew to dislike him even more when we get his perspective. It bothered me a lot that he felt like they had been equally bad to each other. It seemed like Nina’s crime was not being charmed by him. I don’t think that’s as bad as making her work life hell and encouraging online harassment.

Leo does apologize and he does, eventually, make a statement against the misogynist online bullying. But, it wasn’t enough for me to want Nina and Leo to work things out. Leo reminded me too much of the men I’ve worked with who thought it was ok to harass and bad mouth women because we – didn’t laugh at their jokes? Wanted to do our jobs? Leo tries to provoke Nina, and Nina lashes out, making the dynamic between them more toxic than tense and sexy. At one point early in the book, Nina realizes that she doesn’t like the person she is around Leo, and I didn’t either. Does it get better? Yes. Does it get better enough – that’s going to vary a lot from reader to reader. It wasn’t enough for me.

What I did like was Nina’s friendships with her best friend and her sister. The Nina we see around Jasmine and Sophie is the Nina I wanted to spend the book with.

CW: Off page deaths of parents, grief, anxiety, on page anxiety attack, misogyny, internet harassment.

I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.