title: Till There Was You

author: Lindsay Hameroff

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: February 20, 2024

pages: 320

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: dead parent (before the book), cut fingers/blood, burns

summary: New Yorker Lexi doesn't have time for dating while she's in culinary school pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a chef, but when she goes out one night and meets singer Jake, her no-boys rule goes out the window during the whole weekend they spend together. After their brief affair, he goes to California to make his demo recording and hits it big...and busy. They don't talk with each other for a long time, until he appears back in town to record his second album.

tropes:

love at first sight
famous boyfriend
evil manager
life in the spotlight
she's his muse
great friends who tell the truth
visit home to the parents
dead mother, distant father

what I liked:

they're true to each other
he's a genuinely good guy
great side characters
insider scenes in the restaurant's kitchen
descriptions of food that sounds yummy

what I didn’t like:

She thinks, "We're from different worlds" and "We just don't work together because I'm not a celebrity" too many times despite what he says and how he acts. I didn't buy it over and over.
The other woman seems too evil first then too good second. I didn't buy her transformation (maybe because it's off-page).

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

*ARC Review*

4 stars

Till There Was You was action packed! It had an early meet cute, a second chance romance, a strong female character with determination and drive, a cinnamon roll of a MMC and so much more.

A one night stand (that turns into a long adventure of a weekend) seems to be the end for chef Lexi and up and coming musician Jake. That is until Jake creates a hit song about Lexi's blueberry pancakes. The only issue with this Billboard Hit song is that Jake ghosted Lexi after the weekend together. He tries to make amends a year later when he is a massive celebrity, and thus our story continues.

The reader is taken on a journey of two people trying to make things work, even though their lives are very different. Beyond the awesome chemistry of the two main characters - I like the healing of the familial trauma and the supportive friends.

Really sweet easy read. Recommend for sure.

Calling all rom com lovers! this is the new must read of the year! Till There Was you it has everything you could want in a celebrity romance book- tension build up, sugar & spice, sassy banter and the quintessential romcom moments. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a feel-good warm and fuzzy read. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for granting me the privilege of ereading this book in advance.

This book is a foodie/ Swiftie/ Twihard/ Broadway lover's dream. And I just happen to be all of the above. It's pop star regular person romance but they met before he was famous, so it's sort of second chance. Theres so many good, funny lines (fans of twilight will get big kicks out of things). And its very Taylor Swift coded, they even play her songs in the car.

The pop culture references are poignant without being awkward. The romance is typical but no less swoon worthy.

Thanks @netgalley @lindsayhameroff and @smpromance for the chance to read an early copy of Till There Was You. It’s out on 2/20/2024.

Culinary student Lexi is just blowing off some steam when she meets swoony struggling musician named Jake. Their weekend-long hookup was amazing—until he ghosts her. Months later, she hears a hit song he wrote about her blueberry pancakes, and it’s like she can’t escape her ill-fated hookup. But when he shows up and wants back in her life, can she forgive and forget?

I loved this take on the celebrity-normal person romance where both of their careers are important. It had serious The Happy Ever After Playlist vibes in the best way. Also, it’s basically impossible not to want to try those magical pancakes! 🥞

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: celebrity-normal person, chef, roommance

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for an adorably funny second-chance romance, seriously look no further than Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff!! This book had me giggling and crying with our main characters Lexi and Jake and I adore them so so much.

“This isn’t goodbye. It’s just ‘see you later.’ Besides, I could never, in a million years, forget you, Alexa Berman.”

Lexi is working towards her goal of being a head chef, and she meets Jake in a dive bar he’s performing at. Their whirlwind weekend inspires his hit song that catapults him to fame and Jake disappears from Lexi’s life, only to reappear months later trying to win her back. I loved how real the characters were and how much you’re truly rooting for both of them the whole time. Lexi and her friends are so sweet and hilarious and Jake is just *SWOON*!! I typically don’t go crazy for insta-love, but Hameroff made me love and believe it here. If you like Taylor Swift, grand gestures, a sweet southern man, and good food, I think you’ll love this book!! 4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I know routine makes you feel safe, but maybe it’s time to go off script for once. Take a risk and see where it leads.”

Celebrity romances are my favorite! Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff doesn't disappoint! We have a hard-working female main character and a swoony mail main character. Both of them are just starting their careers with very different expectations and schedules. How will they ever make it work? This is a very cute story. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

OMG… I really enjoyed this book! This book was so heartwarming and delightful. It left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling, and I can't help but recommend it to anyone in search of a charming and heartwarming romance. 📖❤️ Also, her relationship with her dad and the way it was so portrayed was so heartbreaking… i’m so glad they became close at the end again.

OH EM GEE.
This book had me enraptured. It was like a breath of fresh air. As someone named Lexi, I was really able to connect with the story which made it all the more fun.

The plot in this story is something I feel every little girl has thought about, being with a rockstar that is. Lexi and Jakes chemistry was unmatched. Following them through the ups and downs of their budding relationship was so fun.

This story had a great balance of chaos to romance with other small tropes I really enjoyed.

Bonus points to the totally adorable cover.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very cute book that immediately hooked me. The story felt familiar, like a movie almost, and while it was predictable, it was still very enjoyable.

Lexie and Jake meet one night and spend a hot & heavy weekend together. Jake heads to L.A. to try to jump-start his music career, and Lexie doesn't hear from him again.

A year later, guess who shows up, totally unannounced, on her doorstep? What transpires felt like a familiar trope, but the author did a great job making it believable.

Lexie and Jake both have big plans for their future, plans that don't mesh well with relationships. The author didn't mince words in the hard parts which I appreciate. It may be a romance but everything doesn't have to be easy and pretty.

I would recommend this book.

Holy cow! This book sent me on a rockstar romance reading binge and I have yet to find one I love as much as I loved this book. It had the perfect mix of romance and drama, so that I was thoroughly entertained the entire time I read this book! As soon as Lexi and Jake met, I knew I was going to be hooked on this book. I could not put it down. Many of the rockstar books I read were more dark, and I loved how light and fun this one was. It still had the deep character motivations that I loved, but it managed to do it while still keeping the book fun. Lexi and Jake had so much chemistry - and it wasn't just one of those books where the author just kept telling us they had so much chemistry, it really showed in the way they interacted.

After a long day at culinary school, Lexi and her friends decide to go out. That night, Lexi meets Jake, one of the singers performing that. They go back to Lexi’s place and the next morning, Lexi makes blueberry pancakes. A few months after that, Jake gets incredibly famous and his song “Blueberry” goes viral. The two of them haven’t talked in months, and eventually Jake reappears in her life.
This book was so much fun! It was a totally different spin on the ‘one of them is famous’ trope and I loved reading it. Watching Jake’s rise to fame made the book that much more enjoyable in my opinion. I also loved reading about the relationships and character development throughout the book, it was done exceptionally well.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin Publishing for a eARC of this book.

I just have to say that I loved everything about this book!! I love how hilarious it was and how the characters connected and actually had chemistry. The love story of Lexi and Jake was told perfectly and it was so sweet. Such an amazing and enjoyable romcom!!

Lexi and Jake meet happenstance and have one whirlwind weekend, right before both their careers were going to take off. Lexi, out of culinary school goes off stake her claim in the kitchens of Manhattan's restaurants, and Jake, off to LA to begin a fast paced musical career to stardom, his muse being Lexi that inspired his first hit single, "Blueberry".

What I loved about this book was both their careers seemed so realistic, we saw the work that goes into being a chef and service life in the kitchen to the rise of talent spotted in a bar to record label life. The ups and downs in this book was a roller coaster of emotions with the tug and pull of what they both wanted out of their careers and the safety of what they found in eachother.

Blueberry pancakes. That's the key to Jake's heart and are very delicious. Lexi's first mastered recipe was blueberry pancakes, and the secret to them is lemon juice…which my husband makes the best blueberry pancakes too, and that is one of the ingredients! Who knew about lemon juice?!

This was a romance where at one point I really didn't know how it was going to end, which was great for the reader! As much realistic this book seemed throughout, I did think the ending was kinda cheesy. Overall this was a fantastic book, if you love romances set in the music scene, this is a must!

This review will be posted on my instagram the first week of February, 2024.

This book was sweet, and the characters made for a rom-com. That being said, the book itself was well written, but predictable. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but i also wasn’t memorable.

This book for me was just okay so I am giving it 3 stars. For me it started off super insta-lovey and I was like oof okay but y'know some times it is worth it to just push through and continue reading the book so I did that. The hardest part for me was pretty much from the beginning I could've guessed the entire plot and for some people that might be the draw of a book like this and there is definitely a way too do it without it feeling entirely cliche but for me it just fell flat. It felt a bit like the FMC could not see anyones perspective but her own and that she was constantly in the right which annoyed me a bit. I also personally think when it comes to spice and open door scenes either go full send or just don't include them, the weird in between did not work.

Celebrity romances and insta love typically aren’t my thing but this was a very enjoyable read!! I did not expect this to be as emotional as it was!

book review 🧸🩷🪩✨🧁

Till There Was You by lindsay hameroff (arc) | 02.20.24 - pub date

🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞/ 5

5 ✰

· rock star x chef · strangers to lovers · slow burn · second chance romance · found family · forced proximity · music references· roommates · golden girls references · Taylor Swift references

"I know, it’s a real champagne problem.”

"I like the way you feel like home.”

This book was the perfect melody and the made my tastebuds water. Lexi and Jake had my heart from the moment they met and I was rooting for them the whole time. They fit in each other’s lives even though they were from completely different worlds. Also the Golden Girls references had me dying! I love the friendship Lexi shared with Chloe & Ali. The struggles they shared were so real and how Jake was always willing to listen to Lexi. The end seriously had me wanting more. I seriously need a book about Chloe & Ali!

Thank you netgalley & Lindsay Hameroff for the arc! I absolutely loved it 🫶🏼

This was such a cute book! Just what I needed after a reading slump thanks to the stress of being an adult. Just the cute and mostly light read I needed. Though now I’m craving blueberry pancakes big time.

Lexi has big dreams of being a head chef and running a restaurant, and she wasn’t going to let anything get in the way, especially a relationship. That is until she meets Jake, who she spent an entire weekend with after meeting him at a bar and seeing him take the stage, singing one of her favorite songs. But life got in the way after Jake became famous overnight, thanks to a song he wrote about Lexi’s life changing blueberry pancakes.

I really enjoyed this book, I love when a romance book is centered around food. It’s just very comforting to me and reminds me of my family. I look forward to more books by Lindsay Hameroff!

This book is hard to rate, as I liked the plot quite a bit, but it was a somewhat clumsy throughout. Some editing and formatting issues, and sometimes a little too repetitive. I will say the ending was hilarious (very romcom meets hallmark). The spice was minimal, which is totally fine by me, just wasn't expecting the fade to black. The characters were likable. It almost read like a YA novel, as I probably would've LOVED this book at 17, but it's marketed as adult. Overall, this author has great potential and I liked it, but if your TBR is long, maybe don't add this to it?

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review!