I had high hopes for this one after hearing there were very positive reviews for it. While it was generally a cute rom com and a quick read, it fell a little flat for me. I think I’m not into the whole instalove trope much anymore, so it felt a little juvenile to me.

This was a pretty enjoyable debut novel but it wasn’t groundbreaking. Also insta love doesn’t really do it for me. Overall, it was fine.

Lexi is a culinary student and focusing on her studies is her main priority. She plans to graduate, find a job and work up the ladder to become an executive chef. On a rare night out with her friends, she meets Jake at a dive bar. He is a musician and plans to go to LA to cut a demo the following week. They have a weekend fling and Lexi doesn’t expect to see him again. Jake’s career quickly takes off, and his big hit is based on Lexi’s blueberry pancakes. She doesn’t tell anyone about the affair and goes on to get a restaurant job. One night, Jake unexpectedly appears at her door, completely distraught. Against her better judgement, Lexi lets him in and their earlier attraction takes over. Both of these characters are quite complex and it was quite interesting to see how they attempt to navigate the situation as their careers don’t exactly fit.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

This came across as a little too immature and YA for me, and very insta-love. It read a little too slow for me and ended up giving up at 35%.

This was a cute debut contemporary romance. Any book that starts with a Harry Styles’ lyric/quote will automatically get my heart. I loved Jake and Lexi’s story from the beginning. It had everything I enjoy in a romance (including more Harry and 1D references). I will be looking for more from this author.

Lexi and Jake meet at a dive bar and fall into a one-night stand, only for him to then ghost her. The next thing she knows, Jake is the biggest new popstar in the music scene, and his debut single is about her blueberry pancakes. When he shows up on her doorstep again, their connection is just enough to not slam the door in his face. Chaos ensues as they try to navigate the demanding pressures of the culinary world and fame. Most of the story takes place in NYC and within the entertainment world, and while I certainly don't know what it feels like to be in the center of the hurricane of fame, but Hameroff did get most of the location and entertainment details correct.
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The whole plot is a bit far-fetched, and the story dragged in the middle, causing me to put it down for a number of days. It took me over a week to finish, but the ending was cute. It all came together a bit fast for my taste, but I was satisfied with the growth of the characters. It was a fine read and I would consider future titles by the same author.

All is is fair I'm love and cooking. This is a light hearted cute rom com. It was cut and sweet and checked my boxes for what I was looking for.

Lindsay Hameroff's Till There Was You is a delightful blend of food, music, and second-chance love. The novel follows Lexi, a driven culinary student, and Jake, a rising music star, as they navigate their rekindled connection amidst the bustling energy of New York City.

Hameroff's writing is both appetizing and captivating. The vivid descriptions of food transport readers into the heart of the city's culinary scene, while the music-infused atmosphere adds a melodic rhythm to the story. Lexi's journey as an aspiring chef is inspiring, and her determination to honor her mother's legacy is heartwarming.

This was really cute. I found the chemistry pretty believable which I feel is tricky with the instalust type relationships.

DNF @10%

I will be withholding my full review until St. Martin’s Press addresses the behavior of their employee and how they are safeguarding influencer information. #SpeakUpSMP

suspicious possible plagirism? insta love? I didn't care for this at all - Nope, that's a DNF from me.

Great concept, had my favorite tropes and some fabulous moments, but it fell flat for me.

Pacing was uneven and it kept pulling me out of the story and made it difficult to connect with the characters and overall plot.

I feel like this was still in need of some further editing/refining, but I didn't hate my time with it. I would like to read a bit more of Hameroff, but deciding if she is for me or not!

First, I love the cover! It’s what drew me in!

However, after reading another review I realized that that the scene where Lexi meets Jake at the Pierre was plagiarized almost word for word in parts from the same scene in The Idea of You by Robinne Lee.

Maybe authors books need ran through plagiarism checkers. Just a thought.

Very cute romance between Lexi, a culinary student-turned-chef and Jake, a rising rock star. Their romance was unlikely but that’s one of the things that made it a lot of fun for me.

I also loved that Jake was Southern and I loved the way he was depicted. From his manners and love for family to his style and love of sweet tea, I feel like the author did a great job with him and with his family. The chapters that take place at Jake’s homeplace in Georgia were definitely my favorite.

The food aspect of this story was the best part for me and what drew me to this book in the first place. Lexi and Jake fell in love over homemade food and I loved that. Lexi and I are quite similar in how we show people love by cooking for them so, in this way, this story felt like home to me. The scenes in the restaurant’s kitchen were especially fun for me to read, as were the scenes in Lexi’s kitchen, which showcased her love for good quality ingredients and her joy for the process of creating something delicious.


Many thanks to the publisher, Griffin, for sending me a digital copy of this book to read via NetGalley.

Overly saccharine and too instalove for my liking, but it was a cute book, the leads were charming and I think the premise was good.

For those looking for a HEA that doesn't take much to get, this would perfect for you. Nothing at all problematic but also severely lacking in conflict and drama, which I do like when reading romcoms.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I truly loved this story! This is a rockstar romance meets "one night stand" and the story was great. His a great friends to lovers story and it is something i needed! This story hits all the marks when I am looking for a romance.

When Lexi and Jake first meet, they're both on a path to fulfilling their dreams. For her, it's to become a chef, and for him, it's to become a famous singer. They have one amazing and wonderful weekend together, and then don't see each other for over a year and a half. In that time, Lexi has gotten a job in a restaurant, and Jake has become a famous rock star, but they haven't forgotten about each other. When Jake comes back into her life, they try to be just friends because Lexi doesn't think their lives will mesh together, but love has other plans.

I thought this was so cute, and I'm so shocked this was a debut! It was a great, little binge that was funny, cute, romantic, and it even made me cry a little. I loved the main characters and the side characters. I feel like the characters were likable and relatable. The author also does a good job of making Lexi’s personal struggles real and relatable.

If you’re looking for a fast paced. fun read, you need to give this one a try!

My heart is bursting from the book! I picked it up as a light read and man am I ever glad I did - I binged within a couple hours, I could not put it down. The banter between the MCs and the side characters had me laughing out loud at times, and the chemistry and emotions between our MCs is spot on. The spice here is very emotion based and so even though it was fairly fade to black, there was still plenty of steam. The plot is engaging and while certain events were predictable, it didn’t feel like a rinse and repeat plot like some do. If you like angsty, emotional, feel good romances, definitely read this

I was sad to come across some plagiarism in this book. Had I not read the other book first I wouldn't habe known. But it happened to be my favorite book ever. Disappointed.

3.5 out of 5 stars!

I love a good rom-com. Lexi Berman and Jake Taylor were in the right place at the wrong time, in my opinion. They came into each other's lives on the cusp of living their dreams. So, it was human nature for them to choose themselves instead of each other. And when the time was finally right for them, the second chance love didn't quite feel right. Overall I enjoyed the book.