First off, thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this in exchange for an honest review. This wasn’t my favorite enemies to lovers book and I couldn’t connect with the characters at all. Third person pov writing is not my favorite but I think it works sometimes. I don’t think it worked very well in this story because it made me feel even more disconnected from the story and characters.

Great sizzling culinary romance. Classic enemy's to lovers in a delicious rom com way. Perfect quick read to get lost in.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I love a good enemies-to-lovers scenario, and throw in some food and you've got yourself a winner!

This was fun! I love fake dating/enemies to lovers books and this was perfect! The food aspects were wonderful and it felt like I was actually at the LA food and wine festival! This was a sweet, steamy romance with a delicious twist!

Lots of sizzle and lots of good food. If you like the enemies to lovers trope and like books with lots of food this one is for you!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

It was a mostly fun reading experience but it definitely wasn’t memorable. I didn’t really see any chemistry between the characters and didn’t enjoy their ‘banter’. Overall, I felt the characters came off as too immature and I was not at all invested in the romance.

Erin's book is a total delight! I'm a sucker for foodie romances and this one really delivered... and made me hungry too! Erin's writing is relatable and so so funny!

Review will post week of the release date.

I’m pretty sure this pinged my radar when I saw it on some kind of 2022 most anticipated list on Twitter. Or something like that. So I looked it up and… Oh, hello there enemies to lovers, fake dating, rival cooking show judges romance. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

I’m writing this review in January if that’s any indication of my level of anticipation.

Nina Lyon and Leo O’Donnell work together on the hit cooking show The Next Cooking Champ!. Nina’s passion for food began in her childhood cooking with her mother and grew over the years. Now she’s an award-winning chef who owns her own restaurant. But after declining sales and having to close 2 of her sister locations, she jumped into the role as a judge on the show hoping to build up business and her image as a female chef in the male-dominated profession. But after three years working with Leo (who is the worst), being scrutinized on social media, and labeled “Nasty Nina”, she’s had just about enough. So she quits. On air.

Leo O’Donnell runs the family business, Vinny’s. He’s charming, funny, and knows how to capture an audience. He doesn’t have Nina’s resume in the kitchen, he’s a numbers guy after all, but he has built up his family’s Italian restaurant into multiple locations and has kept it going after his father’s untimely death. To say he’s a bit intimidated by Nina’s food credentials would be an understatement. He joined the show hoping to build up business as well, but after Nina’s on-air departure is now labeled the bad guy.

Now both of their businesses are suffering and after the press gets ahold of pictures of them embracing (hah!) social media fans start spreading the rumor that they are dating. So their publicist decides that’s exactly what they need to do. Date. This will keep the diners coming to their establishments and help them financially. Hopefully, this will also repair both of their images.

This couple and their back and forth jabs kept me smiling. They were able to get under each other’s skins so easily. Leo with his stupid jokes and Nina with her jagged verbal comebacks. They really do hate each other at first. And I could absolutely see why Nina was at her emotional and mental limit with Leo and the show. The pressure on her and the way social media tore down her personality to basically being an angry, nasty woman after Leo’s rude and disrespectful comment would be too much for anyone. After the first chapter, I was 100% on Nina’s side and convinced Leo couldn’t grovel enough to get back into either of our good graces.

Then the fake dating commenced and as I got to know Leo more I realized he is a bit clueless about his interactions with Nina and just how much of a bad guy he really is for how he treated her on the show. He also has issues with anxiety and panic attacks and tends to cover this up with forced positivity and bad jokes. He assumes she hates him because he’s doesn’t have her food resume, and just runs a mom-and-pop-style food chain. This assumption hangs over every interaction he has with her until their time together forces them to have actual conversations and get to know each other.

Nina on the other hand assumes he is just a smug, slick chauvinist. Her experiences in the cooking world and having to work twice as hard as everyone else, while still being vilified for every little facial expression or critique that comes out of her mouth has her on the defensive with Leo and their new “relationship”. That is until she begins to have fun with him, gets to know him, and realizes he’s just a big cinnamon roll.

I think what helped in this enemies-to-lovers romance full of miscommunication and early assumptions was the fact that readers get both main characters’ POVs. It’s easy to see why both Nina and Leo feel the way they do. Getting inside both of their heads also enables readers to watch their feelings slowly change and see how hard it is to let themselves trust each other with all those private insecurities and past traumas.

The supporting cast was pretty terrific. From Nina’s best friend Jasmine and her sister Sophie to Leo’s twin brother Gavin and his mother Donna. I loved them all and was so happy with their interactions and loving encouragement. Another thing I truly appreciated was when they gave Nina and Leo advice that they didn’t necessarily want to hear but needed. Especially in regards to Nina’s feelings on Leo not confiding in her about his mental health and Leo’s behavior toward Nina during the taping of the show. These things NEEDED to be said and accepted, and I was so happy that the people in their lives weren’t afraid to tell them the hard things.

This was a well-done, sexy romance. I will absolutely be keeping this author on my radar in the future. My only complaint is that because of all the delicious descriptions of food I spent most of my reading time either hungry, nibbling on something, or thinking about nibbling on something. This book will make you hungry.

CW: mentions of anxiety, panic attacks, prior death of a parent

Final grade- B+

Nina and Leo are cohosts of reality TV show "The Next Cooking Champ!" and do not get along. Nina is a chef who started her own restaurant and Leo is dealing with the business side of his family restaurant chain while his twin brother is the chef. Secretly, they've both been dealing with mental health issues. Nina's been dealing with people being nasty to her on the internet (a joke Leo made gave her the nickname "Nasty Nina") and Leo has anxiety with panic attacks. On a live season finale, Nina's had enough and quits. When Leo goes to talk to her at her restaurant because the show won't have him back without her, they're caught in what seems to be a compromising position and suddenly their names are trending together, which could help save both of their businesses.

I really enjoyed this book. Although you know how it will end, getting there was a lot of fun. I loved how they progressed from haters to lovers as they got to know each other off camera - it seemed much more realistic than most of these types of stories. There were some steamy scenes between Nina and Leo that showed their sizzling chemistry. I thought all but one of the single characters were really likable and could get their own book, but I especially loved Leo's mom and would have been happy with a few more appearances from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin publishing for proving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had its very good bits and it's also very not-good bits.

The Good:
- “Enemies to lovers,” “miscommunication,” and “fake dating” tropes.
- Background of food, who doesn't love yummy food?
- Representation of life with anxiety was handled well.
- Supporting characters were cute, clever and more than just foils for the plot.
- The sexy aspects were very much woman focused and didn't center penetrative sex.

The Not-Good
- Characters didn't seem to have actual chemistry, I just didn't see it.
- Resolution wraps up really conveniently given that caliber of knots left to untangle.
- The “banter.” The current trend of “banter” that is just “acting like snippy jerks to each other” is one that I will not miss. See above that this behavior also isn't “chemistry.”
- Unremarkable plot, yes we read tropey genres for the comfort factor, but there is a fine line between “favorite tropes” and “wait, which book is this again?”

All together an OK contemporary read that may appeal to some, but just missed the mark for me.

I've been obsessed with food-themed romantic comedies lately. For Butter or Worse did not disappoint! I love the pun title. I loved the enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and grump/sunshine dynamic tropes. I appreciated that the enemies-to-lovers was a progression, and not an immediate thing.

This was a really fun and easy read! I enjoyed the themes throughout this book; enemies to lovers, faking dating, etc. This book also did a good job of creating an atmosphere similar to some of my favorite cooking shows. I would love to see this one get made into a movie! The characters were likable and I felt that this book flew by when I was reading it. I would recommend it!

For Butter or Worse was a sizzling romance debut guaranteed to make the butter melt in the pan. It featured numerous tropes that I adore which combined into one big mixing bowl for a delicious romance novel. This book had enemies to lovers, fake dating, and opposites attract. Leo and Nina made a scintillating couple that I was rooting for them from the very beginning. They both struggled with real issues and their characters were very relatable. Leo struggled with anxiety and it was refreshing to see it portrayed so realistically as a reader who shares the same difficulty. Leo was also a trademark “Soft Boi” full of sensitivity, but he was definitely not skimping on the steam.

My favorite aspect of their initial relationship was the couple had to enter a fake relationship after they’re caught in a compromising position. I don’t see why characters are always so reluctant to give a few meaningless kisses or go on counterfeit dates for the sake of appearances. If I were in that situation, I’d be like, “Bing bong! Sign me up!”. I was completely caught off guard when their relationship became physical and a jalapeno bomb went off. It was ultra spicy and it wasn’t what I was expecting from the cute illustrated cover. Let’s say they got mathematical in the bedroom, if you catch my drift. I had to do a double take, but I was not upset by their choice of equations.

For Butter or Worse was a fun, new romance that was bubbling with flavor and the couple shared a great dynamic. They had opposite temperaments but were able to focus on their common interests. Leo and Nina showed that they made excellent cooking show hosts as well as great partners in a relationship. I hope to read more from this author to see what other scenarios she can concoct in her literary kitchen. Perhaps some puns about other ingredients like eggplant or carrots might make it to the plate, for “butter or worse.”

This review can also be found on my Goodreads
Review Posted January 18
Publish Date: July 26

First of all, a dude who's not perfect and has mental health issues. Thank you! I feel like it's always the woman is crazy and the guy is all perfect so this was a refreshing setup. Leo was still a great guy, super likeable and even though he was a beta, he wasn't at all unattractive as the male lead in any way.
Nina's backstory was amazing and totally understandable why other people didn't like her personality. I liked how she did become a better sister - that seemed worrisome at first but it all came together at the end.
My favorite trope ever is fake romance so I as already in love with this book from the beginning but it definitely didn't disappoint and who couldn't also love the food and the humor aspects thrown in. So overall A plus - loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin publishing for proving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A heart warming rom com with a cinnamon roll hero and strong leading lady.

Premise: A critically acclaimed chef, Nina Lyon, is hosting a food competition show with male co-host and restauranteur, Leo O’Donnell. They haven’t gotten along throughout the seasons of their show, and their conflict comes to an explosive climax during a live taping of a season finale. Now they are forced to work together to save their reputations, by FAKE DATING.

Plot: This book did grumpy sunshine romance so well. I especially love when the leading lady is the grumpy one and our hero is the sunshine. Leo was an absolute cinnamon roll of a guy, while her and Nina did have conflict this was totally due to miscommunication. They each made assumptions about the other then never bothered to get to know each other and just held onto those opinions and treated each other unkindly. Obviously as the story goes on and we follow them on their fake dating journey they open up to each other and question all their assumptions. Miscommunication is a major trope in this book, every conflict and bump in the road between Nina and Leo both before the events of the book as during is due to miscommunication. It was frustrating at times because we have dual POV, so as the reader we KNOW and it’s hard when they don’t talk. However, that being said the humor and fluff really sell this book.

Characters: I love the representation of a male lead with mental health issues. I also suffer from anxiety and we hardly see male characters in books with this issues, so I loved that. Leo was charming, caring and a hopeless romantic, but he was also a little obtuse. He didn’t realize when he was making a mistake or going too far until after he did. I appreciated that he owned up to and apologized, he had major growth there. I’m glad he became an ally. I just really wanted more from his character in the end, I felt like his arc wasn’t tied up as neatly as Nina’s. What happened to his chain? Did he ever get the prestige he was after? Did he have to close down more stores? Did he ever go back to work after his break, what was his career move? I just had more questions about his personal journey. Nina, she is a darling. Tragic backstory and loss that caused her to be a more reserved person. Unfortunately when a woman is reserved and also honest, she is labeled as a unapproachable bitch. I loved being in her head and seeing how big of a heart she has and her own struggles she goes through. I loved Nina’s story as she is trying to save her failing buisness. Her overall character arc was fantastic, she grew into a more attentive sister, a better friend, and better chef and woman throughout.

Romance: Fake dating and grump sunshine and food related rom com is a recipe for a hit. I loved their romance; there was so much humor, just enough fluff, jealousy, and steaminess. Leo and Nina have always found each other attractive but their assumptions about the others personality stopped them from ever giving each other a chance at even a friendship. Watching them get to know each other and being put into these ridiculous situations by their PR team setting up dates for them was absolutely hilarious. My only critique here is that the presence of Nina’s ex-boyfriend was a lot. He kept coming back up, while I get why he was important for Nina’s growth, it did get frustrating to keep having him show up. He was reason Leo flipped on Nina, again because they don’t communicate. Then Nina comparing Leo to her ex after certain of his actions, it just wasn’t my favorite thing to have included so much of the ex and I wish we could have used different plot devises to further the story. They both have my heart. Leo has some grand romantic gestures throughout the book and he made me fall in love with him too. There was no way Nina could have resisted. Leo did make some mistakes, but in the end he did what he could to win her back and apologize.

If you’re a foodie who liked cooking shows or reality TV and you’re a fan of books like The Fine Print, From Lukov With Love, The Love Hypothesis, and Take a Hint Dani Brown you’d like this book.

Loved this story! Both Nina and Leo grew so much throughout the story, and it felt like I was growing up alongside them.

4 stars

Enemies to lovers? Check!
Fake dating? Check!
Exposes sexism in media? Check!
Addresses mental health issues? Check!
Diverse cast of characters? Check!

On the surface, this seems like a typical romance novel - familiar tropes like enemies to lovers and fake dating. However, there's much more to this story.. The author exposes the rampant sexist treatment of women in the media. It delves into mental health issues such as panic attacks and anxiety disorders. My only frustration was that the main characters' were completely unable to communicate their feelings to each other. But, they both had issues that stood in the way. Thankfully, they were able to overcome them.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars. ARC received from Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nina and Leo, joint hosts of a cooking competition show, don't get along very well. They make jabs at each other both on and off screen. One of Leo's insults turns out to be Nina's last straw and she quits the show during the season's live finale. Leo, aware that the television network won't have one without the other, decides to visit Nina's restaurant to apologize, but the two are bombarded by paparazzi at an inopportune moment. For the sake of saving what remains of their careers, their publicist recommends that they go along with the tabloids narrative that they have secretly been dating the whole time.

This book plays off enemies to lovers and miscommunication tropes. I must admit that I wasn't a fan of the first three chapters, but I'm glad I pressed on to finish the book. I didn't particularly like the intimate scenes and found I preferred to skip over them after the second one. Leo suffers from anxiety, and sometimes his POV made my heart ache to the point that I had to take breaks. That aside, the book is amusing and overall enjoyable. It was fun to read about Nina and Leo. I also didn't mind the side-plots within.

I enjoyed this one, but I didn’t love it. I felt that the MCs were a little immature at times and came off as pompous. Other than that, it was a cute enemies-to-lovers/fake relationship romance. I particularly enjoyed the food aspect. I would recommend this to anyone who has a love for food and romance, because what could be a more perfect mix?!

This book was good but for me I feel as though it was missing something. I think part of the problem was I genuinely didn't like like Leo for the first part of the book. He obviously got better and I did end up liking him. The romance between Nina and Leo was cute and I really liked the use of the miscommunication trope. I loved that there was a three month break at the end that really let them grow as people before getting back together.

I received an arc through netgalley.