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.

Adorable! It took me a couple chapters to start getting into this book but once I did, oh my gosh, it was so cute! I do think the ending was very rushed, which was why I gave four, not five, stars. This was the first closed door romance that I have read in a while. I forgot how much the author needs to rely on banter, brushed hands, and longing looks to build tension between the two main characters when they dont write explicit scenes. This author did a great job of that! I really loved the entire cast of characters in this book and the setting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, flirty, rom-com novel!

4.5 stars

"He doesn't want to control me; he just wants to smash the brains of anyone who wants to step in my way. And I don't mind that one bit." - "Yes, Chef"

This is the ideal read for fans of FX's "The Bear" that are obsessed with Carmen Berzatto; specifically - those of us that want to see Carmy and Syd get together! Honestly James has such Carmy vibes it's swoonworthy. I can not wait for James Sullivan to become BookTok's newest obsession. This is a slow burn, angsty, workplace romance. The slow burn isn't painfully long, but it does take a while for James and Claire to get together. I love that there's no annoying third act breakup and that both characters are focused on their careers. One of my favorite quotes describing their relationship is when Claire says: "It's maddening. It's empowering. It's respectful. It's just what I need." The buildup of James meeting Henry was well worth it too. Reading about James getting angry in Claire's defense was honestly so attractive. I appreciated how Waitlyn Andrews didn't shy away from describing the cruelty of gaslighting and emotional abuse when it came to the characterization of Henry. Claire's backstory, while tragic, is overtly normalized in society and I loved how James helped her realize that she deserves better. The only plot line that threw me was the speedy elopement at the end of the novel, but this didn't deter my enjoyment of the novel overall. "Yes, Chef" is one of my favorite romances that I've read this year.

I got the chance to read this prerelease in exchange for an honest review. The slow burn of this book was so enticing. Not to mention that the setting, a sous chef in Paris was incredibly interesting. This book checked all my boxes. I loved this book; it was an easy and enjoyable read.

I don’t like to leave bad reviews, particularly for a debut author… but while the premise of this book was appealing, it ultimately fell flat for me. There’s not enough character development and I really was not crazy about how often the author threw around the term “OCD” or “OCD tendencies.” OCD is real, and it’s not what was being described. Some of the word choice was at best awkward, at worst cringey. “Dadgum” was one of the most perplexing to me. But also, and most importantly, there is very little actual romance in it- just a lot of the main male character acting jealous and calling the female character baby. Also, the main female character acts sort of helpless, and the mother is a two dimensional villain who never gets told off in the way she deserves. All in all, not for me.

3.5 stars leaning towards 4

To be completely honest I haven’t read a book that wasn’t for school in a long while. This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I couldn’t be happier. I love the food and kitchen aspect of this book because I was so hungry while reading this book because of all the amazing food featured throughout. Every chapter starts by explaining a wine or a certain dish that is featured in to chapter which is a nice touch. The atmosphere generated by this book was comforting and made me really enjoy my time reading this book. Claire was an amazing FMC. I loved watching her journey of really finding herself in Paris and recovering from her past trauma. The usage of James (MMC) as a helper in her journey and not the savior in her story is different from some books I’ve read where the girl is sort of a damsel of sorts and the MMC comes to rescue her.

Some things I dint like were the seeming over use of the term OCD in relation to cleanliness and type A personality. I couldn’t quite tell if it wa used fir description or it was a poor representation of the mental disorder. The relationship between the two MC’s felt it went really quickly at points especially at the last third of the book. Im not going to spoil anything but the speed felt unnatural but I could get over it for the most part.

I would recommend this books to foodies and a lover of a good strangers to friends to lovers romance.
3.5 stars leaning towards 4

To be completely honest I haven’t read a book that wasn’t for school in a long while. This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I couldn’t be happier. I love the food and kitchen aspect of this book because I was so hungry while reading this book because of all the amazing food featured throughout. Every chapter starts by explaining a wine or a certain dish that is featured in to chapter which is a nice touch. The atmosphere generated by this book was comforting and made me really enjoy my time reading this book. Claire was an amazing FMC. I loved watching her journey of really finding herself in Paris and recovering from her past trauma. The usage of James (MMC) as a helper in her journey and not the savior in her story is different from some books I’ve read where the girl is sort of a damsel of sorts and the MMC comes to rescue her.

Some things I dint like were the seeming over use of the term OCD in relation to cleanliness and type A personality. I couldn’t quite tell if it wa used fir description or it was a poor representation of the mental disorder. The relationship between the two MC’s felt it went really quickly at points especially at the last third of the book. Im not going to spoil anything but the speed felt unnatural but I could get over it for the most part.

I would recommend this books to foodies and a lover of a good strangers to friends to lovers romance.
3.5 stars leaning towards 4

To be completely honest I haven’t read a book that wasn’t for school in a long while. This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I couldn’t be happier. I love the food and kitchen aspect of this book because I was so hungry while reading this book because of all the amazing food featured throughout. Every chapter starts by explaining a wine or a certain dish that is featured in to chapter which is a nice touch. The atmosphere generated by this book was comforting and made me really enjoy my time reading this book. Claire was an amazing FMC. I loved watching her journey of really finding herself in Paris and recovering from her past trauma. The usage of James (MMC) as a helper in her journey and not the savior in her story is different from some books I’ve read where the girl is sort of a damsel of sorts and the MMC comes to rescue her.

Some things I dint like were the seeming over use of the term OCD in relation to cleanliness and type A personality. I couldn’t quite tell if it wa used fir description or it was a poor representation of the mental disorder. The relationship between the two MC’s felt it went really quickly at points especially at the last third of the book. Im not going to spoil anything but the speed felt unnatural but I could get over it for the most part.

I would recommend this books to foodies and a lover of a good strangers to friends to lovers romance.
3.5 stars leaning towards 4

To be completely honest I haven’t read a book that wasn’t for school in a long while. This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I couldn’t be happier. I love the food and kitchen aspect of this book because I was so hungry while reading this book because of all the amazing food featured throughout. Every chapter starts by explaining a wine or a certain dish that is featured in to chapter which is a nice touch. The atmosphere generated by this book was comforting and made me really enjoy my time reading this book. Claire was an amazing FMC. I loved watching her journey of really finding herself in Paris and recovering from her past trauma. The usage of James (MMC) as a helper in her journey and not the savior in her story is different from some books I’ve read where the girl is sort of a damsel of sorts and the MMC comes to rescue her.

Some things I dint like were the seeming over use of the term OCD in relation to cleanliness and type A personality. I couldn’t quite tell if it wa used fir description or it was a poor representation of the mental disorder. The relationship between the two MC’s felt it went really quickly at points especially at the last third of the book. Im not going to spoil anything but the speed felt unnatural but I could get over it for the most part.

I would recommend this books to foodies and a lover of a good strangers to friends to lovers romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.75 stars 🌟 this was promising until it wasn’t 😭💔 i have been obsessed with the bear (sydcarmy), and i figured that this would be something that i enjoyed…BUT i was sadly mistaken. the entire set up for this story was solid but i just couldn’t really believe the feelings that james had ?? he said he’d been deeply in love with her for so long but his attitude was so stoic for no reason 🤨 and he never really explained it which didn’t help either lolll. ALSO THEM GETTING MARRIED AFTER BEING TOGETHER FOR NOT EVEN A MONTH??? all of the ending felt entirely too rushed and unnatural ✌️ clairejames were nothing special tbh

a special thank you to netgalley and waitlyn andrews for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up/5

A clean romance, "Yes, Chef" was a fun read. Although the author had hinted at Claire's trauma, the reveal closer to the end was aptly timed. The romance between Claire and James was cute, and his respect for her boundaries was *chef's kiss.*

“It suits me. Adventure always has: independence always has. I just forgot for a while.”

Our FMC has established a life for herself in France. She knows her stuff, is skilled as well as dedicated to her craft, not to mention she is passionate. Almost everyone is impressed by her work until the new head chef nitpicks at everything she does.

There are a lot of things Claire Richards finds in Paris - a new head chef, a new neighbor, a fellow American in the kitchen and someone who also comes from a well-known family. What are the chances this all happens when she tries to escape her life and work at a restaurant in Paris? It’s more likely than you think.

Nothing better than a somewhat enemies to lovers trope that ends with them pushing each other to be even better than they were when they started. There's a grumpiness/sunshine attitude, small misunderstandings, single bed problem, forced proximity (they could be roommates) and a happy ending. Add in all these and more and Waitlyn Andrews demonstrates to be a master herself. Call me a critic, five Michelin stars from me.

(This will also be posted on my Bookstagram as well.)

A delightful surprise! This is the first I've read from the author, and from the first page, it is dripping with the character's voice. It's a fun read with strong character interactions and vivid descriptions that made me hungry at 2am.

First thought: Love, Love, Loved it!!!!

Claire moved to Paris to escape her past and get a clean start away from her family name and her ex. She is a chef who loves to improvise and she’s hoping that she can help her new restaurant earn their first Michelin star. Her past has different ideas and she soon realizes even moving across the world won’t change things and the only way forward is through. She is not looking for love and even if she was she just simply isn’t ready.

James comes from the a line of celebrity chefs and at a young age he has already earned his first Michelin star. He moved to Paris to help a new restaurant do the same. Little did he know he run into the women of his dreams. James is not one to mix business and pleasure so even though he is falling for Claire he won’t let her know that. Instead he puts up a wall where she’s concerned. He’s a stickler to following the plan, and oh boy does Claire through a wrench in it.

These two have to learn to work together as a team if their restaurant has any chance at that Michelin star. Along the way there will be bumps and roadblocks but with enough time, patience maybe they can become friends or even more.

I absolutely loved this book once I started it, I literally could not put it down and I read it in one sitting. It was just cute and sweet and made me feel back in my teens with the classic romcom movies of the late 90s early 2000s. I could easily see this being turned into a movie, as it makes you fall in love. Run and preorder this 5 star read now!

Such a sweet, satisfying summer romance! I found myself smiling and gleefully rooting for Claire and James throughout the entire book. It felt like a comfort read and a big adventure at the same time. This is one of the rare books that really makes you feel like you are in the setting with the characters, following them throughout their day, and doing what they do. I loved journeying with Claire and James through Paris, and watching the slow-burn, delicious pining blossom into love! The descriptions of and attention paid to food and its role in the love story were also fun to read. James is the most caring, protective, and supportive hero, and it was so wonderful to read Claire’s journey of realizing who she was and what she wanted, walking away from the parts of her life that brought her down, and just going for it. I literally could not put this book down, and can’t wait to read more from Waitlyn Andrews.