❝I love you, you weirdo.❞
❝I love you too, Chef.❞

If the author's husband is anything like James Sullivan then she needs to share.

I'm not a big fan of these romance books with cartoony covers and cliche scenes but this was so good. And it was well-written.

There are so many categories of fictional men. There's the sweet guy, the cute guy, the nerdy guy, the bad boy, the hotheaded guy who hates everyone but her, and many others. But what tops them all is the respectful guy.

❝...if you need time, then you need time. Just know that I don't need time, but I'm willing to wait.❞

This man is unreal. (Yes author, I know he's your husband, but still.) The entire time I read this book, all I could think of was "me and who?" And I now believe that such romances do exist and now I'm going to go cry because I'm not Claire.

Thank you NetGalley, and thank you Waitlyn Andrews, for this book and the opportunity to be able to write this review.

This was such a fun, foodie romance. I loved the slow burn and the development of feelings on Claire’s part. I wish we had James’ POV. While the ending was very rushed, and had a lot going on, I was still satisfied with the HEA. A great debut!

Rich with likable, believable characters and an engaging plot

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc of this book

Yes, Chef
By: Waitlyn Andrews
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Spice: 1.5 out if 5

Well after reading Yes, Chef I have made the decision that a trip to Paris is in the near future for me. I have never wanted to curl up in a cafe, sip espresso while simultaneously eating a croissant more than I do after reading this book. After a terrible breakup Claire leaves the comfort of her Michelin star restaurant and the family winery in pursuit of her own star in beautiful Paris. James, a well known American chef, invades Claire’s perfect Paris bubble when he is hired on at her new restaurant. Tensions begin to boil as these two are forced to work and live side by side. Will Claire’s past come back to haunt her or will she make a clean break from the life she left behind?

This Grumpy/Sunshine Rom Com really drew the reader into the fine dining world behind the kitchen doors. Firstly, I just want to give a big congratulations to Andrew’s on their debut novel. Secondly I will say this story left me with mixed feelings. I so desperately wanted to love this however, I do feel some parts dragged on a just a tiny bit. This is a closed door romance, but some of the pet names were a bit much although I really loved Claire and James connection. Overall, Waitlyn was able to create a love story that really had me intrigued from the start. I immediately went to my kitchen after finishing this feeling renewed and inspired to cook again!

*Thank you to NetGally for the free e-copy*

Between this book and MasterChef, I have spent the past week constantly hungry.

SUPER cute - although I wish that James explained why he was so standoffish with Claire in the beginning because that was never explained, I loved how easily they transitioned into friends and more. It was like that myth(?) about how frogs won't notice they're boiling if you're slowly turning up the heat - they were friends and growing more comfortable with each other, and then boom, they're basically dating.

I will say it became a bit too cheesy for me near the end and in the last chunk, their relationship was extremely rushed.

But the dynamics between them and how constantly they were talking about food/in the restaurant - so the chef/Michelin star dream isn't just a random plotline to throw the two together - clicked so well that it was fun to read.

thank you Netgalley for the free copy

I was provided with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Waitlyn Andrews.

If you are in search of a quick, sweet romance read, look no further. The burn was slow, the backdrop of Paris was romantic, and the characters were likable.

For me, the characters fell a little flat, but they were still enjoyable to read. I normally read dual-POV romance and would have liked to read some in

Loved this book!! This was such a good and fun read.
Totally fell in love with Claire and James❤️
They have such an amazing bonding 💗

I loved the buildup of their friendship before they went further. I enjoyed how supportive Josh was of her. They way he called her 'baby' is one of my favorite minor tropes.

Claire loves her job at a one Michelin star restaurant, and her family-owned winery but needs to get away from her family and her ex-boyfriend ASAP. She decides to move to Paris with the main goal of turning Teaks into a one Michelin star restaurant. When not working she experiments with new recipes with a side of running and reading. She enjoys her job and loves her perfect little Paris apartment, and then everything changes when James Sullivan comes to work at Teaks as her boss.
James and his family are well known in the culinary world, and he already has a star under his belt. Yes, he’s intimidating, but he is also tall and handsome and throws Claire for a loop. They have a bit of a rough start, but they slowly develop the sweetest friendship and work together well in the kitchen. James is her biggest supporter and will do anything he needs to help her achieve her goal. But they also have undeniable feelings for each other. The question is will they let their feelings get in the way of getting the star?

The description and the cover of this book had me intrigued. I thought I was about to start a really wonderful read. Sadly, this book was merely passable. It was long and it just seemed to dragged on. I kept expecting something intriguing and thrilling to occur, but it never actually happened. I thought the character development was lacking. It seemed strange how quickly the main male character fell in love. It was a strange shift and It was weird when he called her "baby" all of a sudden. It felt forced and unnatural. The entire conclusion felt unnatural and rushed. 2.5 ⭐

Book Releases August 3, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I found it very readable and compelling, the storyline and characters made me want to know what was going to happen next. I liked the way the author chose to reveal information organically, instead of infusing all the backstory through exposition. I find that usually creates a more interesting storyline, and it did here.
Two main things kept this from being a five star read for me: One, I personally enjoy spice in my romance. Here there is none. For some people that’s going to be a draw, but for me it’s not. Two, I’m not a huge fan of using psychological diagnoses offhandedly as a shorthand for certain behaviors. For example, James is referenced many, many times throughout the book as being “a little bit OCD”, or “having OCD tendencies”. I find this annoying, as it was an opportunity to provide representation, but instead it just perpetuates stereotypes.

This is a slow burn, grumpy sunshine, workplace romance. James & Claire had a really good chemistry and I liked how their relationship went from being friends first and then lovers. This was the typical, he secretly likes her but she thinks he dislikes her story. While I liked both James & Claire, the ending felt rushed tbh. I didn't like how fast they got married. It was like the author wanted to give them a very quick HEA. So I enjoyed the book but it wasn't really extraordinary tbh.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Yes, Chef by Waitlyn Andrews is a somewhat sweet and heartfelt romantic story about two Americans in Paris, It’s not a boring read and it is easy and light, so you can sit and enjoy this book.

This is absolutely one of the best books I’ve read this year. I was interested “Yes, Chef” based on the setting alone — high-end Parisian restaurant? I’m in! I was sucked in by the incredible characters, witty banter, and the deep care the two MCs showed each other. I was truly blushing and kicking my feet the entire read.

This book is PERFECT for:
- Cooking enthusiasts
- Emily Henry lovers
- Someone looking for a sweet love story
- People who need a bit of escapism

Congratulations, Waitlyn, on a FANTASTIC debut novel. I’ll be anxiously waiting to see what you do next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I really enjoyed this cute romance story by a debut author!

Claire Richards comes from a family famous for their wine, but is trying to pursue her dream of working in a restaurant while earning a Michelin star in Paris. James Sullivan has just took over as head chef at Teaks, with a Michelin star under his belt, he is just what the restaurant needs, as well as, what Claire needs.

I loved everything about this book. I loved Claire, how independent and determined she was as a character, I loved how she moved throughout Paris. I loved the dynamic between her and James and the walls he was able to break down. I loved the family dynamics, and the way their love story blossomed, I also loved the little tidbits/good descriptions at the top of the chapters. I finished the book in one day, and will be looking out for Waitlyn Andrews next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for this ARC!

Yes, Chef is a delightful romance novel by debut author, Waitlyn Andrews! Needing an escape from her life back home in Napa, Claire Richards hopes to find culinary success at an up-and-coming restaurant in Paris going for a Michelin star. When the restaurant hires new head chef James Sullivan, Claire doesn’t understand his coldness towards her. Through many hours together at the market, working in tight quarters, and walks home to their shared apartment building, a friendship develops between Claire and James and feelings begin to simmer. While trying to work through past physical, emotional, and relational pain, Claire must decide if takings things further with James is worth risking her goals and newfound independence.

Yes, Chef had really likable characters, both major and minor! Claire had a healthy confidence in herself and never wavered from who she was. James was extremely supportive and patient, and he was a great compliment to Claire. Even though there was instant attraction, I really liked that Claire and James really built their relationship over time. It seemed much more realistic and authentic this way, especially how they kind of just invaded one anothers’ lives. However, I still am a little confused why he ignored her so much at the beginning, and the end of book timeline was very fast. Even with that, this bug was warm and fuzzy, just like watching a classic romcom, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

This was a cute palate cleanser of a book. If you want a lighthearted romance and are a fan of The Bear, I would recommend this book. However, the ending of this book felt super rushed. The romance went from 0-100 soooooo fast. It felt way too fast for me and definitely impacted my overall rating.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
***

Yes, Chef is the debut novel of Waitlyn Andrews, and it is DELIGHTFUL. This novel follows Claire Richards, who has moved to Paris to chase a Michelin star but ends up with more than she bargained for with new head chef James Sullivan. This book is impossible to put down, and the tension between the two main characters is incredible. The only drawback for me was rushed and unrealistic ending, especially for a character like Claire, who has so much relationship trauma. Lovers of romcoms and fade to black romances will be a big fan of this one!

I can see why Yes, Chef was given some harsh reviews but as someone who was looking for a light fun good hearted read I was NOT disappointed. I just finished the second episode of The Bear on Hulu and felt like this book paired well with my love of chef movies and shows but it added a romatic comedy appeal to it as well. If you are looking for a light read that is fun and makes you relax and enjoy then I recommend this story.

There were a lot of things that were incredibly charming about this story. The Paris setting, the food (I WANT that mousse), Theo (who low-key was my favorite character), and the friendship that James and Claire formed before they were officially together was really special.

While I have no idea what actually goes into getting a Michelin star - it was fun watching James and Claire work through that process. I loved all the food and cooking conversations and would not have minded if there had been more of that in the story.

There were some things that threw me off, but weren't dealbreakers. Claire's internal monologue was repetitive and some of there was a phrase she uses consistently when describing things that that felt really jarring and completely took me out of the story. I could tell it was meant to be a callback to something she most likely picked up from her Grandma, but it felt out of place for me.

The other thing I didn't totally love was how James treated Claire at times. There were moments when he was so kind and caring and then could turn on a dime for seemingly no reason and turn cold. We never got a great explanation from him as to why and his reasoning was annoying.

The ending is what sealed the deal for me in not totally loving this book. I have no problem with people having their own boundaries when it comes to sex, and building an emotional connection before a physical one is totally valid if that's what you want to do. That said, it felt like they ended up getting married just so they could have sex and to "prove" that James wouldn't leave her after being intimate and it just didn't sit right with me.

Overall, I think the book was written well and I totally see how people would really enjoy it. For me, I liked a lot of aspects of the story, but how the story wrapped up was not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.