Pretty cute rom com, great for Bake Off fans. For me there could have been more of a progression in the relationship, it was a little abrupt and not much was expanded on post show. Nice to have romance leads in their 40s and not barely out of college or high school.

There's a teacher. There's a baking competition. There's a surly jaded chef. There's mystery. There's intrigue. There's a crush that is contractually not allowed...

This book is so fun- from the science/home-ec class to finding a group of people coming into their own, to baking competition to the matters of owning a restaurant, this book is a slow burn, ultra innocent romance that fits the way the characters were set up. It's kind of refreshing to have a book that doesn't swear, enjoys the slow crush of a possible relationship, people who enjoy their families, and noting the difference in "wow she's mean" and "there's no favors in sugarcoating big mistakes in a kitchen."

#arc
#netgalley
#loveat350

High school teacher, Tori Moore becomes a star of one the the most popular cooking shows in American where amateur bakers get their chance to prove themselves as Best Baker. Kendra Campbell is one of the celebrity judges on American Bake-o-Rama and has a reputation of being the ruthless judge on the show. Both women are at crossroads in their lives, Kendra trying to figure out how to keep her restaurant afloat and Tori starting her life as a divorcee and empty nester. When the two meet, sparks instantly fly, but the bake off competition means that anything beyond a judge/contestant relationship is off limits.

Overall this was an enjoyable read, but it was very different than what I had expected. I went into this thinking it would be a lot of romance and a little baking show, but it was the opposite. The romance between Tori and Kendra is a very slow build, almost to the point of this book not seeming like a romance at all. The dialogue and storyline was heavily centered on the baking show and we r into great detail about every dish and episode, a bit much for me. I really enjoyed both the characters of Tori and Kendra and liked the poring, but I feel like any relationship they had got overshadowed by the Bake-o-Rama. I did enjoy this book, it was just really different than what I expected. If you are a baking show fan and want a little romance tied in, this book is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Love at 350 is about Tori, a high school teacher who has taught a baking science class at a local high school for many years. She is recently divorced from her wife and her children are soon to leave for college. Unbeknownst to her, they enter her into a reality TV baking competition. Here Tori finds an undeniable attraction to one of the shows' judges - Kendra. A relationship between the two of them is strictly forbidden.

I love the reality baking show premise. I also loved how much detail went into describing each of the recipes throughout the competition. The cast of the show was quite lovable. As a relationship between Kendra and Tori is strictly off limits, the romance is bubbling under the surface. I enjoyed this book. It was a sweet read and I loved hearing about all of the recipes.

Know in advance that this is more a book about a cooking competition and finding confidence in yourself than a romance and you will find this a satisfying read. Tori's a teacher whose kids signed her up for the competition being judged by Kendra, who wants to get out of her rut and her comfort zone. Yes these two feel an attraction but that takes a back seat to the ins and outs of the competition (and boy do the treats sound yummy). Peers has written good characters who will make you smile (and you might chuckle once or twice as well.). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Light and fun.

📚: Love at 350° by Lisa Peers (@lisapeersauthor)
⭐️: 4/5

�How much fun was this book?

Taking place under the realm a 'la Great British Bake Off/Top Chef, Love at 350° is such a fun rom-com book where food is definitely the love language at hand. It's a feel-good & fun story, where the one major downside is craving a big pile of cookies (or cake, petit fours, rice pudding, creme brulee, or homemade bread) alongside for the read.

Minus one star for the reality show plot overshadowing the romance for so much of this book. This isn't a spicy read - but not to worry it doesn't feel less because of it. (But I want to hear what's next for Kendra and Tori - @lisapeersauthor, we need to know!)

So many thanks to @penguinrandomhouse for reaching out with this complimentary egalley. Love at 350° is out this week, October 10th!

Two women meet as judge and contestant on the set of a TV baking competition... but they'll have to decide if falling in love is worth breaking the rules? Tori Moore is a high school chemistry teacher and a dedicated home baker. She auditions for the American Bake-o-Rama competition at the urge of her twin kids and the prize money would enable her to finally open up her own bakery. Tori is unsure though, after her messy divorce, maybe the money isn't the real thing blocking her from her dreams. Kendra Campbell is the notoriously ruthless celebrity chef and a judge on Bake-o-Rama. The show would allow Kendra to be financial secure. Tori and Kendra are drawn to each other but the competition forbids dating, especially between judges and competitors. Can they keep their distance through this six week slow-burn competition?? This was essentially like mixing a hallmark movie with the great british bake off. Unfortunately though, it just felt slow and I found myself constantly drifting out of the story. I didn't really find myself invested in the romance, there barely was any romance to be honest. It just kind of missed the mark for me, which is unfortunate since it sounded so cute. If you are looking for a slow burn sapphic romance with cozy baking vibes, give this a go, maybe it'll work out for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A sweet, slow-burn sapphic story with major Bake-Off vibes! This was cute with a good balance of tension—Kendra and Tori are totally different characters but you can’t help loving them both and enjoying their arcs. It really goes into depth with the baking competition, the romance is low-spice and almost more of a side note but overall, a really enjoyable read!

I love queer TV show books, and this sweet and savory slow burn romance is no exception!

Tori is a chemistry teacher who loves baking. When her twin teenagers nominate her to go on a baking show, who is she to say no? Kendra is one of the show's celebrity chef judges and, according to her brother, needs to learn some compassion. Tori and Kendra definitely take notice of each other, but there's a no fraternization clause in their contract. Will they follow the rules or risk their dreams?

I think the author was going for a slight twist on grumpy x sunshine, but it didn't quite pan out. Regardless, I loved the contestants, the mystery, and resolution. This was an extreme slow burn but definitely believable and enjoyable. Be advised for those of you looking for Sapphic spice, this has no spice. Maybe half a chili pepper. Which I enjoyed, but others may not. I also loved that both MCs were in their 40s and looking at making distinct changes in their lives while staying true to themselves.

I will start at the ending of this book, which left me wanting more! It is so unusual for me to even like epilogues lately or to feel like something wasn't said in a book but I would LOVE just an extra bonus chapter or anything between Kendra and Tori! I have been thinking about this book nonstop despite finishing it days ago, which also is unusual for me. This book gave me all the feels plus had baking = WIN! Seriously, though, I definitely recommend this book if you want a slow burn, almost forbidden romance that focuses on the characters but you also love baking and/or GBBO!

Love at 350° comes out next week on October 10, 2023, and you can purchase HERE! I loved this book and can't wait for more from this author!

Tori Moore scanned her classroom, checking her fifth period Biochemistry of Baking students' progress. Three of Sequoia High's star football players were pulverizing dry ice in a blender ahead of mixing it into their strawberry and chocolate bases to fast freeze the ice cream. Another team hovered around a saucepan, willing a cup of caramel sauce into existence out of white sugar, water, kosher salt, and immense patience. Some students were candying walnuts; others were making marshmallow fluff. A pair of ambitious sophomores was attempting to make a homegrown version of M&Ms. Each student had already written a term paper describing the chemical reactions and biodiversity that conjured the magic of dessert. At the end of today's class-if all went well they'd get to eat their homework. All that stood between them and summer vacation was making ice cream sundaes. With all the ingredients made from scratch.

This book was fine but I was expecting more romance to it. This sapphic romance reads more like a hallmark movie where the main couple doesn't get together until the very end and even then its just one kiss. With this much of a slowburn, I think it needed more tension. That being said, baking show storyline was cute and fun. I enjoyed the friendships between the contestants. And each of the main characters own separate storylines were interesting. But the main characters really don't interact much besides some very short conversations, lingering looks, and very few notes passed back and forth. Again I think it could have benefited to focus more on the romantic tension between them to make the romance more believable. But overall it was enjoyablet, I just was left wanting more.

Chemistry teacher Tori enters a TV baking competition to achieve her dream of opening a bakery. Celebrity chef judge Kendra is warned to appear more encouraging to increase her audience appeal. Sparks fly amid kitchen chaos, but off-screen contact between contestants and judges is forbidden. Will the coveted prize shift from money to love?

This entertaining novel is more women's fiction than romance. There's little interaction between Tori and Kendra off-camera. The plot is engaging and well-paced, but more time is spent on baking than on the relationships. If you're looking for a low-heat sapphic novel, this book is for you.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Great British Bake-off. Sapphic.

Tori is a divorce home baker that lives by a certain routine until her kids sign her up for a Baking show just before they leave for collage. Kendra is a well know chef/baker and the judge of said baking show Tori is gonna be in. Both Tori and Kendra feel an attraction towards each other but can't act on it because of the shows contract, so there is very little romance in this book.

The book is more baking show heavy with little moments between Tori and Kendra. I wouldn't call this a romance first because you barely them on a date or going out or romantic moments between each other away from the show. I will say the way the whole backing show goes is very similar to GBBO. I assume this was the point. I would've given this a better rating if it had more romance, it was still cute and I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
As a lover of all things food and all things sapphic, Love at 350 was made for me. It’s not the first sapphic foodie romance ever, of course, but it’s quite likely the best in the food department. It’s just overloaded with descriptions of the preparation of baked goods, not to mention some cooking-show drama that is as juicy in fictional form as it is in its “real-life” counterpart.
The two leads are also really great, especially Tori. She’s a high school teacher who has always had a passion for cooking, who ends up entering a cooking competition, American Bake-O-Rama at her children’s behest. She’s very much at a transitional stage of her life, being a single parent to children who are about to leave for college, and contemplating if teaching is something she still loves, not to mention picking up the pieces after her messy divorce.
Kendra’s arc complement’s Tori’s pretty well, despite coming from a different background from her, and she’s struggling to navigate juggling her numerous businesses and other professional commitments, and is trying to switch up her image as a Bake-O-Rama judge to be softer and a bit less ruthless.
The romance shares page time with the reality-show drama, and whether that works for you will depend on your preferences. While I’m rather picky in this regard, I did feel like Lisa Peers managed to make Tori and Kendra’s attraction and chemistry apparent, and I particularly liked the notes that pass between them, adding a level of intimacy to contrast with the public nature of the competition.
While this is a case where your individual preferences will determine how much you will enjoy this book or not, I personally really liked this one. With that in mind, I recommend giving it a try if you love foodie romances or romances with fairly equal emphasis on the central couple and the external reality show plot.

This book was a star crossed telling of a baker and a judge falling for each other over the course of a baking competition (similar to the Great British Baking Show). The biggest problem is that per their contracts neither lead was allowed to fraternize with the other. I found the book had a good level of suspense as the baking competition show was a prime part of the story telling. There’s no steam or spice, but the slow burn and tension keep you rooting for Kendra and Tori. The note passing was also a cute touch.

This story was lighthearted, funny, and a little hopeful. I would class this as a medium pace book and found the story to be a good balance of plot and character driven. There was good character development and the cast was pretty diverse. I would rate this a 3.75 or 4/5.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great Sapphic romance with wonderful character development.
I love the difference between the two FMCs both I found so insipirational in their individual journeys.
I do think that this book is primarily marketed as romance and I did not get much of that, which can be confusing as that is something I was expecting as I started reading.
Once I switched my expectations to a women's lit/fiction read with some romance I was able to enjoy the story a bit more.

“Love at 350” is the debut novel from Lisa Peers. This book is perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and lovers of the Food Network who wants a dash of sapphic romance. This book primarily revolves around Tori, a divorced teacher and a mom of 2, and Kendra, a powerhouse restaurateur, chef, and baker. Meeting as a contestant and judge on a show called American Bake-o-Rama, they are not able to act on their attraction due to contractual obligations and accusations of favoritism but through secret notes, they have gotten to know each other a little bit better.

It was so well written I felt like I was behind the scenes at a real baking competition. I feel as though the romance and the bake off plot could’ve been balanced better without taking anything away from each other. 1/5 of this book is the romance and the remaining is the competition. My only real complaint about the story is that I wish we got to see more of Tori and Kendra interacting with one another and more development of their relationship progression. The circumstances made it difficult for there to be one-on-one scenes between the two of them. I do think it resulted in much of the story feeling like two parallel plot lines that occasionally intersect, not what you typically want out of a romance. I wish there was a bit more chemistry. I did love that it’s a dual POV. I enjoy romances that are dual POV because it allows the reader to get both perspectives, thoughts and feelings so you can see why the MCs fall for each other. I loved all the friendships that developed between the reality show contestants! Mel was by far my favorite contestant (besides Tori). The book ended too quickly for me. I would have learned to see even a few months in the future with them spending more than a couple of pages in their HEA. They spent the whole book building a friendship from afar but we barely got the chance to see Tori and Kendra in a relationship and I’d love to see more Tori & Kendra. Either way, I’ll definitely read Lisa Peers again! Thanks to Netgalley, Lisa Peers and Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts.

This lesbian romance revolves around a competitive baking television show. The two central characters are one of the competitors and a judge on the show. The food definitely takes prominence here, with the romance always on the edge.
Tori Moore is a high school chemistry teacher who has, along with another teacher at her school, taught a class combining chemistry and baking that considers the scientific aspects of baking while teaching the kids kitchen skills too. It actually sounds like a pretty cool course and reminds me of the recent novel Lessons in Chemistry. She is fairly recently divorced from her wife, after he wife left her to "pursue her dreams." She has twins who are in the senior year of high school and who worry about her being on her own after they leave for college. They have entered her in the competition to be on the reality television show Bake-O-Rama without her knowledge. When she finds that she's made it to the level of being asked to tryout for the show, she doesn't hesitate long.
Kendra Campbell is one of the two hosts on the show, and definitely the more critical one, with her ruthless critiques driving some previous contestants to tears. She owns a chain of upscale cookie outlets, and a high-end restaurant. Her agent (who is also her brother) has encouraged her to soften her approach as a way to make the show's producers more likely to keep her on as a judge.
When Tori makes it to the final selection of contestants who will appear on the upcoming season's shows, she is both excited and nervous. Her friends and children all are encouraging and supportive.
Both women notice a spark between them, but their contracts stipulate no fraternization for a year after the show airs, which means that they can't act on those nascent feelings without jeopardize Tori's spot in the competition, or Kendra's job. They do manage to find some ways to let each other know there is interest and hope for a future. While this limited the romantic aspect of the book, I found it realistic. The women are mature, and able to consider the pros and cons of reacting to their feelings on a more immediate basis.
I learned a lot about different kinds of baking, and there is a recipe included at the end of the book.
The characters are appealing and vulnerable and I really was captured by the book. A definite winner.

If you like slow-building romances, this book is perfect for you! Tori Moore joins a baking competition and meets Kendra Campbell, a famous chef and judge. They both feel a connection but have contracts that say they can't date. Which love that by the way. The only thing I thought this book lacked was the romance. I need MORE. I thought the little notes they exchanged were cute. It was a good book. It just lacked a few things

If you’re into slow burns…this is definitely the book for you! When Tori Moore becomes a contestant on a baking competition she meets Judge and renowned Chef, Kendra Campbell! Each are attracted to the other but their contracts include a clause against fraternization!

I was hoping to have more romance in this book! The little notes they passed each other were sweet but not entirely romantic. The book was almost entirely about filming the cooking show with a bit of romance at the end. I would have loved to have gone through the cooking show a bit faster and been given more romance after!

All in all it was a good read and one that I enjoyed…just wanted some more romance!