Truly a love letter to Italy and the regional differences that make it beautiful. Olive inherits her dad’s restaurant and the job of finishing his cookbook. The catch, she’ll be traveling through Italy for a month with Leo, the sous chef at her dad’s restaurant. Beautifully done, kept me interested the whole way through.

I really like the premise of Just One Taste because who doesn’t like a book based mostly on Italy and is about finishing an Italian cookbook?? The food descriptions through out the book were so detailed and sometimes I could really picture what they were eating/making. There is the theme of grief due to parent death (off page) and I think it did go through a lot of the stages of grief throughout the story and handled it well.

As for the main characters, their relationship was a real slow burn, but then it went on so fast. A little too fast in my opinion, almost rushed at the end. I don’t mind a slow burn, in fact I love them, but the aftermath of the slow burn has to be worth it.

I generally liked the story and you might too if you’re looking for a quick vacation read!

Wow! This made me immediately want to hop on a plane to Italy and find my own "hot chef." The chemistry between Olive and Leo was off the charts. This is the second Lizzy Dent book that I've read and enjoyed it even more than the first. She tackled the hard topic of grief really well. Highly recommend.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start by saying that: this book is not necessarily bad and my rating was based solely on my experience while reading it.

The author did not violate any human rights, that's a positive point, however the beginning is very simple and lacked emotion, which left the story dull, the couple had no chemistry, the narrative construction does not create expectations, the romance is weak, the characters are forgettable and so is the ending, and that made the book bad to me.

Of course, this was my perception of the book, I saw many positive reviews and that is precisely why I advise you not to get so carried away by the reviews. Most of the time, what doesn't work for me will work for someone else and vice-versa.

Holy smokes. Loved this. Adorable. Leo. *chef’s kiss* pun intended.

I need all of the pasta now please and thank you so much.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this!
I loved EVERYTHING about this. Blame the Bear: I'm obsessed with anything food and chefs. This story, of a chef and a food critic going to Italy to finish her late father's cookbook, is absolute perfection. Its sweet and really packed for such a simple concept.
This has a great slow burn relationship between the male and female leads. A greek chorus of best friends that are so realistic. Beautiful Italian scenery. Incredible food descriptions. I want to pack my bags today and go to Italy and eat the 'highlighted' ingredients. I also loved how it dealt with familial issues, death, trauma, grief, and finding one's space in their career. I also really loved that the third act drama had nothing to do with the simmering relationship between Olive and Leo: that it was JUST about Olive.
This surprised me so much and I just adored it.

3.75/5 ⭐️ - Rounded to 4
This book was not the run of the mill romance book. Instead of the same structure and linear pathway that most romance heavy books are leaning towards these days, this book provides a new, refreshing look on a fluffy romance. The romance felt as if it were happening in the background of this incredible story of a woman trying to learn herself, and her recently deceased father, while still holding a strong plot line. Learning about the food and culture throughout Italy was intriguing and really provided a great background to the book. The characters were all authentic and fun to watch their growth.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was another cute palate cleanser of a romance. Fun banter between Leo and Olive in this rapid romance. The descriptions about the food and Italy were right up my alley, so it added that something extra to the book for me as well. I feel like the romance and brief problem for Olive were rushed, but that's just the type of book it is. It's not a drawn out show burn romance, but it will give you your romance fill.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this advanced copy! #netgalley #justonetaste. Coming July 16, 2024!

"Just One Taste" by Lizzy Dent left me feeling underwhelmed. While the premise held promise, the execution fell short. The characters lacked depth, and their motivations often felt contrived. Additionally, the plot felt predictable, lacking the surprise or intrigue I had hoped for. Although the writing style was easy to follow, it failed to captivate me or evoke strong emotions. Overall, while it may appeal to some readers looking for a light read, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

I loved this book! It makes you want to be I. Italy with the MCs. You can really see and taste their experience through the words on the page!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Given the blurb, I thought this would be a super cute and fun book, along with missing my vacation in Italy. I saw this book and just had to read it. The book felt authentic, like I was back in Italy, along with the characters. The struggles each went through made them feel real; however, the book did feel like it was longer than it needed to be/felt a little slow, especially with the MMC and FMC relationship. It's a cute beach read for someone nostalgic about Italy or wants to go, but it wasn't my favorite.


Tropes:
Forced proximity
Just one bed
Enemies to lovers

This is the first Lizzy Dent book I've read, I loved the cover, and when I read the plot I found it really captivating. I didn't find the story very flowing, the dialogues seemed a bit forced, but the setting is really interesting, spending a summer in Italy, tasting good food, who wouldn't want to experience a story like that?
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

I mean…Italy, food, Lizzy Dent, what more could I want?
The tropes are:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity (one bed)
Italy, i repeat, ITALY!
As soon as I read the plot of this story, and read that the setting is in Italy, I couldn't wait to read it. I loved these vibes,
The story also has a really captivating flirty vibe, as if we were perpetually tipsy. It's not the first book I've read by Lizzy Dent, I read her first story, and I have to admit that I'm starting to appreciate these stories that have a vibe inherent to cooking, and to chefs.
The story is definitely a light beach read, to be read for a few hours of lightheartedness.
If you dream of spending a summer traveling around Italy, eating good food and drinking good books, grab this book.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read and review this ebook arc!

"Just One Taste" takes us on a food journey of Italy. I loved the descriptions of the food, as well as the setting. Italy is fully realized in both the larger than life characters and the beautiful descriptions of rural life and city scape. Oranges, pasta, beans, spices, olives all come to life on the page.

With this as the backdrop, Dent explores topics of grief, belonging, self-discovery, child of divorce, and relationships. Yes, this is a romance, but as with many romance novels, it tackles a lot of big topics within that span. There are certainly sparks, and we watch Olive and Leo's relationship develop and grow.

I docked one star because the ending feels rushed. There is something of a twist near the end, and after that it seemed we sped to wrapping things up neatly. So one star for pacing, but that won't stop me from recommending. Highly enjoyed!

4.5 stars

Books with lots of food descriptions tend to be really hit or miss for me but this book did it so well! All of the food sounded so delicious and really added to both the setting and the emotional journey the characters were on.
I was expecting a romcom about two people in Italy trying to finish a cookbook but this book had so much more depth. It’s about grief and loss and learning to forgive. It’s about the main character reconnecting with her past and learning how to move on. The romance was also really fun and believable and I thought the characters had great chemistry.
The one thing I didn’t really get was why they hated each other so much right off the bat. In their first meeting it seemed like they had some kind of past with how much they disliked each other but apparently they only knew of each other? That part felt kind of forced to me but their banter and tension (almost) made up for it

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC!

This is the first book that I’ve read by Lizzy Dent and it’s safe to say that I really enjoyed it! It did take me until about the 40% mark to really get into it, but after that I couldn’t stop reading. The scenery described throughout was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book! It was just so perfect and had me ready to book a trip to Italy for the Summer. Leo was just the sweetest thing and I loved seeing him get Olive to open up to him. I definitely think the two of them make so much sense together and see them lasting forever and ever! 🫶🏻

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

A lovely combination of travel, food, romance, and family. This book transported me to the small villages of Italy. It felt like you were tasting and exploring right alongside the characters. I couldn’t help but root for Olive and Leo. While there were moments that felt a little bit slow pacing wise, it ended up being a delightful read. I definitely wasn’t expecting the twist at the end.

This book gave me all the feels. The idea of an estranged daughter finishing the project her father started touched my heart and there wasn't a thing about this book that I didn't like. The twist to the story was 100% unexpected, and the way that Olive came to terms with it may have been fast, but it was also well thought out. In a weird twist of fate, I actually lost my own father when I was about 2/3 of the way through the book, so this was book also helped me along the way as well.

3.5 ⭐️

I'll start by saying, I did really enjoy the story. And loved how it wrapped up and ended. Plus it's got some great tropes!

Forced proximity
Enemies-to-lovers
One bed
Italian vibes
Foooood

The beginning was a bit slow and stiff in my opinion. I was having trouble getting into it, but was intrigued enough to keep reading. Once she realized she had feelings for Leo, I felt like it was a whole new book with new characters. It felt like it really started to flow better. The dialog opened up, and the communication between them obviously changed.

The setting sounded so magical. It made me long to travel and try new foods! (I'm the type to order the same thing everytime lol) It's got all the Italian vibes one could want. I liked how, whenever they were speaking Italian, it was clear what they were saying. You don't need to look it up or translate.

The characters.
Olive was a little hard to connect with. Her reluctance to talk about the restaurant with Leo in the beginning, when it clearly effected him as well, bugged me. I do understand it was hard for her. The author did a good job of navigating the grief of losing a parent. I think she definitely had a lot of character growth as they traveled around Italy. It was good to see her reconnect with her dad, even though he was gone, through his friends and passion for food while she finished the book.

Leo! Oooh Leo. What a sweet, caring, thoughtful, respectful man. He truly wants her to make the best decision for herself and he would be OK with it. He showed that he was there for her in all the right ways without being overbearing. He listened to her when she needed to do things on her own and he was there for her when she was ready. He was so patient with her through everything. Even when it was clearly a big, important, life changing decision for him.

All in all, it was a good book! And I would recommend it ❤️

July 16th, 2024!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read and review this ebook arc!

This book has so many great tropes, and I love the travel from London to Italy. As someone who likes to cook and travel and read romance this book really checked a lot of boxes.
The situation of losing faith in a family member because they put work first is very real, and holding on to that hurt is also very relatable. So, when Olive’s dad passes and leaves her Nicky’s I totally understood why she didn’t want the restaurant. Nicky’s was not even successful, and yet it tore her family apart. There was too much bad history, and she had no idea how to run a restaurant.
The other thing her dad left her was his request for her to finish his cookbook with Leo’s help. That would mean spending a lot of one-on-one time with a man she didn’t even know. All these things felt too much for her to take on.
The trip to Italy for me was the best part. She learned some life-changing things about her dad, and she also learned she may like Leo wasn’t so bad after all. Their travel through Italy eating and drinking and getting close was fun and all the food sounded amazing. The storyline was fun and flirty and I was proud of Olive for taking steps to go with her feelings.
If you enjoy a love when you least expect it story mixed with travel and food and acceptance you will love this quick read that will having you booking a trip to Tuscany ASAP!