I really wanted to like this book and there are definitely parts of it that I enjoyed but overall the plot was not well conceived and I desired so much more from it.

Till There Was You was such a sweet second chance romance, and I'm so glad I finally read it. It's perfect for anyone who is a fan of celebrity romances and chef shows--it's a perfect balance of swoony, spicy, and sweet.

Lexi Berman is in the middle of culinary school when she meets Jake Taylor at a bar--and they share one amazingly hot weekend together before he travels to LA to record his demo. He never calls her back, and she moves on with her life--until one day she hears his hot single on the radio--a song she's 99.9% sure is about her.

She graduates and lands her first job working in a real kitchen...and one day, out of the blue, Jake shows up on her doorstep. She's naturally cautious after the way he ghosted her before--but there's just something about their connection that neither one of them can deny. He's in New York for two months to record his next album, and before long, she's invited him to stay with her. They work on building a friendship but it's obvious they're destined to be more than just friends. But can their genuine love for one another survive the distance and the fame?

I loved all the small Jewish details Lindsay Hameroff included in the book--a reflection of her own Jewish experience. I love seeing representation like this in romance books. Everyone deserves love and happily ever afters. And now I want matzo ball soup!

CW: death of a parent (off page), cancer, grief

Overall, I thought this was a fine debut. It had some cute moments.

That said, I did wish there was a bit more romance and banter. I didn’t really feel the love or sparks between the characters and I felt this teetered a bit between too much backstory drama and not enough character development.

There were some cute moments but I didn’t feel like either character stood on their own, and the FMC especially felt overpowered by her parental drama instead of feeling like she had her own personality. The resolution with her dad was far too quick and simplistic and I didn’t really understand the whole ghosting in the beginning honestly. The ending especially felt very abrupt and unfinished, it definitely would have benefited from an epilogue.

As a debut, I can understand why the spicy scenes went back and forth between fade to black and some more vivid scenes, but the uncertainty showed. It will be interesting to see what the author lands on in terms of comfortability in future books.

The storyline was a typical rockstar romance, and unfortunately, it lacked any originality for me. I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. There was one scene that I felt I had already read in another book. Like a déjà vu. I realized it was almost identical to a scene from the book. The idea of you by Robinne Lee. This missed the mark for me.

An early DNF, I found the characters very cringey and. childish. I did not think it would get better if I continued

I really loved this book, but at times, it felt like I was reading gender-swapped Taylor Swift/Jake Gyllenhaal fanfic. The main character's name is even Jake Taylor. Every once in a while, it just felt a bit like a creepy intrusion into real people's lives. When I was able to really get lost in the story, though, I loved it. As much as I hate to say how unrealistic it is that a guy who became famous would want to stay with someone he dated before. I know it happens, but...not often. My only real issue was that we never got any reasonable explanation for Jake ghosting Lexi after their weekend together. He thought she told him to leave her alone, sure, but only after like a week. He still was basically a total jerk at first. I also wish he hadn't been so ridiculously oblivious to the other pop star's interest in him. Jake never came across as a dumb guy, except when she was mentioned. Minor quibbles. I'll read it again.

Till There Was You is a sweet romance that takes readers on a journey filled with love, loss, and second chances. Lindsay Hameroff’s characters are relatable and the chemistry between MCs feels genuine. The way they confront their pasts and find a way forward is both realistic and inspiring.

That said, I did find that the pacing felt a bit uneven, with some parts dragging on while others wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, Till There Was You is a great read for romance lovers who love a second-chance story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lindsay Hameroff for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

This deliciously sweet romance whisks together culinary ambition, celebrity chaos, and just the right amount of sizzle! Lexi Berman is focused on one thing—becoming a Michelin-star chef—until Jake Taylor, a charming dive bar musician, sings his way into her life (and possibly writes a hit song about her pancakes). As Lexi juggles her perfectly planned future with Jake’s rising fame, sparks fly, drama simmers, and her love life starts heating up faster than her matzah ball soup. Set in the mouthwatering world of NYC’s restaurant scene, this book serves up laughs, love, and second chances—it’s a recipe you won’t want to miss! Thank you to the NetGalley Peeps and the publishers for letting me read this sweet book

A year and a half after spending a weekend together Jake comes back into Lexi’s life. She has moved on with a possible new love interest, has a new job at a kitchen, these scenes were fun to read as I’ve just recently watched The Bear, the yelling in the kitchen was fun.
She accepts him back as a friend only, they get to know each other until it turns to more.
There was a little tension in the second half now that Jake is famous Lexi is self conscious about not being beautiful or attractive enough for him. Jake tried to assure her many times he was not leaving. Really enjoyed this book, it had humor and high stakes and the ending was fun.

A cutesy romcom, full of a sugar!
I enjoyed this one a lot. It was a quick and easy read!
If you're looking for something to just bring some happiness into your life scoop this up!

I thought the romance was lots of insta-love, not much depth. Safe to say, this book was just not for me.

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.