Lizzy Dent's "Just One Taste" is as much an ode to delicious food and Italy as it is a love story between Leo and Olive. Anyone who has traveled abroad or wishes they could will revel in the descriptions of Italy, the restaurants, and the many dishes they share. Even though I would not consider myself a foodie, there is a really clear audience for this book and they will love the many pages dedicated to different dishes, ingredients, and the love of eating.

While a sweet love story does brew between Leo and Olive, it's not always smooth and the undertone is quite bitter. This is mostly due to Olive and her inability to separate Leo from her feelings about her dad, despite his kindness, patience, and repeated efforts to empathize with her. To be quite honest, Olive is insufferable at times and her negativity and behavior is a harsh contrast to the beautiful backdrop of Italy and what I would consider to be a dream trip that most people could only imagine embarking on. It is difficult to believe that Leo would be interested in her at all with the way she treats him and the many harsh and rude things she says (repeatedly telling him to eff off when he hasn't said anything that deserves it).

She must be quite beautiful to get away with acting the way she does, but we never really get details on what she looks like and the image I created evaporated when I hit the bombshell near the end of the book. The way she treated Leo and handled that situation was quite odd for a grown woman. I've known several people who have experienced a similar situation and their responses were very different, so I struggled with her over-the-top reaction and the way she treated everyone involved. Yet, Leo continues to be steadfast, dedicated, and saccharine sweet. I couldn't help but think he deserved better.

There are a couple of inconsistencies in the story that may want to be addressed before final publication. There's a disconnect between Leo as this Hot Chef who can cook literally anything and then the facts that trickle out throughout the book: how the restaurant would only book 4 people a night, that Nicky didn't allow for his input at all, and that he learned on the job (no culinary education) and went from dishwasher to master chef making parmesan cheese cages. You don't learn how to cook like that if you're not actually cooking new things or working in a restaurant that's turning tables. If he was just preparing the same things over and over, but for a restaurant that is empty and failing...it just doesn't make sense that he would become this master chef. Since I"m married to a classically trained chef - this just stood out to me.

In the end, I liked how things were resolved and the ending fits what I think most readers would hope for from these characters. Finally, we see some expression of sincere, positive emotions from Olive toward Leo and we all get a much deserved, and hard fought for, happy ending.

I always enjoy the humor and charm Lizzy Dent brings to her book. I am always invested in the characters in she writes. And adding in Italy and pasta to the mix was a delight! I loved how understanding and supportive Leo is overall, especially to whatever decision Olive makes regarding the restaurant her deceased father left her that Leo is the sous-chef at. Their connection felt genuine and real which is something I always appreciate and look for. I really enjoyed the twist at the end and finding out why Olive's father had started his cookbook in the first place. JUST ONE TASTE was a joy to read. You may start craving some pasta while you're reading!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ah! I loved this one. I want to run off to Italy and eat a lot of pasta. What a beautiful story of love and family. Leo and Olive were sexy and funny. This is a great read.

A cute romance between a food critic and a sous-chef.

After Olive’s estranged father passes away, she is shocked to find out he bequeathed his beloved restaurant to her. The one Leo is now running. Now, Olive and Leo must travel to Italy to complete the cookbook that Olive’s father didn’t get to finish.

While I would have loved for Olive and Leo to have more chemistry, I thought Leo was a sweetheart and, of course, it is always delightful to read about people having a great time eating their way across Italy. Overall, this has plenty of charm. 3.5 stars,

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a wonderful read! I loved the Italy setting and the authors writing makes it feel like you are right there with the characters experiencing the sights and smells and vibes.

I also appreciated the nuance and careful handling of tough emotional situations which added complexity and depth to the characters and the plot. Well done!

A charming summer romance from Lizzy Dent!! While this wasn’t my favorite from her, it definitely did make me want to visit Italy.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of Just One Taste.

I read The Sweetest Revenge last year and enjoyed it alot so I was super excited when I saw the email that I was approved for the ARC. This was exactly what I had hoped for in a rom com, it had all the right tropes and the characters were very likable.

With Italy as the setting I could totally picture this turning into a Netflix film!

This is genuinely one of the most incredible books I've ever read. "Just One Taste" is about Olive, who just inherited her *somewhat* estranged fathers Italian Restaurant (that she has beef with because she believes it ruined her parents marriage) upon his death, and ALSO now she has to go on a month long Italy Adventure with the "hot" Sous Chef from the restaurant, in order to finish her dad's cookbook.

From start to finish, I found myself smiling on every page, even at times with tears streaming down my face. It's amazing how well Lizzy Dent tackled the complexity of losing a parent that you had a complicated relationship with, while also making me fall in love and laugh *literally* out loud.

The writing of this book is so well done, that while Olive and Leo were traveling around Italy, I felt like I was really there, drinking an Aperol spritz on a patio with fairy lights over my head.

The romance is slow-burn, but the chemistry is there from the VERYYYY BEGINNING.

Each of the relationships in this book were so special and something I will cherish!!!!!!

"I just want you to see clearly that the most important truth in all of this is that you are loved, Olive. By us and your mum and dad. Loved so much."

"The pain is so hollow I find myself desperate for breath. There is nothing there. No way to tell him I love him. No way to thank him. He's gone. My love has nowhere to go, and my regret can never be atoned for."

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I’ve willingly read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

JUST ONE TASTE, Lizzy Dent’s newest novel, is the perfect summer read for those of us still firmly situated in our “Yes, Chef” era. Or those of us who might be, possibly, permanently there.

Olive Stone is a ruthless food critic who unexpectedly inherits her estranged father’s restaurant, his unfinished cookbook and the attractive Sous chef that has been tasked with completing it with her. Olive, though immediately set on selling the restaurant and the building it’s housed in to repay her mother the money Olive believes her owed, promises Leo to think it through while they spend weeks together in Italy, tracing her father’s footsteps, meeting up with his old friends to hear stories that change how Olive ultimately sees her relationship with her dad, and learning more about herself and what she wants out of her life in the process.

Lizzy Dent absolutely made Italy and all the food described in the book come to life. But while this could have just been a sweet romance where two people fall in love over the course of a summer spent being forced to work together, JUST ONE TASTE was so much more. I’ll be the first to admit that it takes a lot to make me cry when it comes to novels, but JUST ONE TASTE had me shedding tears. Olive is not only dealing with the grief of losing her father and losing him unexpectedly, but also the psychological issues their estrangement caused.

I loved Leo and how sweet he was. He truly wanted what was best for Olive, no matter what she ended up choosing to do with the restaurant and supported her throughout her emotionally charged trip. Their relationship, which was truly enviable, is full of banter, attraction, and a love of food. I was also thrilled that there wasn’t a third-act breakup between these characters!

JUST ONE TASTE is filled with colorful imagery and an exploration of some pretty widespread topics like grief, “daddy issues,” and family dynamics, but I would take that trip over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. It was a sweet romance, but not predictable enough to be boring. Lizzy Dent is a good author and similar in style to other authors that I enjoy. I will likely read other books by her!

Olive, the main character, has unexpectedly inherited her somewhat estranged father's restaurant after his death. She has not desire to be a part of the restaurant as she feels that it destroyed her parents relationship. That being said, she has been tasked with finishing her father's cookbook, which involves going to Italy to come up with recipe ideas accompanied by her father's sous chef, Leo. She thinks that it will be a quick trip and then she will sell the restaurant and benefit from the profits. Of course, she gets more than she bargained for when she begins to have feelings for Leo. She also navigates some complicated emotions/grief related to the death of her father. This was a good book. Readers of people such as Emily Henry, Emily Giffin, Abby Jimenez, etc would enjoy it. Thanks for the opportunity to read it and review it!

LIKE: *the setting *so much yummy food talk *the main character dealing with her daddy issues made me cry (in a good way) *there was some enjoyable banter between the two main characters

DISLIKE: Everything about the story felt rushed. I wish we could have slowed down and seen more of the blossoming romance. They liked each other because they were both hot and knew how to cook. But... What else?

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

What a sweet book. So light and easy to read. It’s such a pleasure to be able to follow a story without needing to go back and check/ remind yourself what is going on. Not too many characters to follow. No annoying and unnecessary drama. Just a simple and happy story. If you are a foodie than this is definitely for you. I feel like I gained 10 lbs. just reading about all,of the delicious Italian delicacies. There is a twist (isn’t there always) and I did shed a tear or two at one point. It’s a love story in many different ways. A love story with Italy. A father/daughter love story and a man/woman love story. This book was such a treat in so many ways (no pun intended ;)..

This was sweet and charming. I loved meeting Olive and Leo and seeing Italy through the lens of their life story. Highly recommended.

I read the first 7 chapters of this book and could not finish it. Detailed explanation on why with suggestions on how to improve is listed below.

Things I Liked:

• The story concept about redeeming the relationship between a daughter and her late father.
• The setting is captivating, with vivid descriptions of the culinary delights and the picturesque Italian coastline. The premise itself is intriguing and rich in cultural detail.

Things I Didn’t Like:

• The file download suffers from poor formatting, along with numerous grammar and spelling errors.
• The romantic dynamics lack clarity. The protagonist’s simultaneous attraction and hatred towards the male lead create conflicting emotions, resulting in a lack of tangible chemistry.
• The use of the term “Sicilian Cava” in Chapter 6 is geographically inaccurate, as ‘Cava’ is specific to Spain, not Italy.

Suggestions for Improvement:

• A prologue could significantly enhance the narrative by shedding light on the origins of the characters’ mutual disdain and the backstory of the estranged father-daughter relationship. Simply stating “things were good until they were bad” falls short in creating an emotional connection with Olive and her father. And just by stating Olive hates Leo in the beginning is not enough to believe it.
• The book might best appeal to readers with a culinary background. However, the use of specific culinary terms, such as ‘Semolina Bread’, could be alienating for those less familiar. Describing the texture and taste of such items instead of just naming them would make the content more accessible.
• The reference to ‘White Lotus’ (chapter 6) feels misplaced and does little to enhance the setting’s description. A more immersive approach would be to liken Olive’s experience to Daphne, a character from ‘White Lotus’, illustrating how the breathtaking scenery momentarily makes her oblivious to her troubles.

Overall Review:
The novel offers a promising blend of familial redemption and culinary escapism set against the backdrop of the Italian coast. However, refinements in character development, geographical accuracy, and approachable culinary descriptions could elevate the reader’s experience, making the story resonate more profoundly with a wider audience.


Would love to do a re-read in later iterations of this story if available, the concept appeals to my taste in books (romance, travel, food, wine, etc).

Leaving five stars. Didn’t read, as the formatting for the kindle was broken.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me an advance copy of Lizzy Dent’s latest #fiction novel, Just One Taste, in exchange for an honest review.

#JustOneTaste is Lizzy Dent’s fourth standalone novel. After having read and reviewed all four, it is evident her books exhibit two commonalities: first, the stories are #romcoms, and second, the author has a knack for writing descriptions that readers can envision as movie scenes. Given the renewed interest in restaurant plotlines thanks to #TheBear and the alluring Italian backdrop, I would not be surprised if this #beachread was repurposed for streaming.

Despite the stellar opening and a book blurb that contained the seemingly perfect ingredients, neither the execution nor the characters resonated with me. I typically do not enjoy reading character backstories and tend to appreciate when the action begins immediately, however, the manner in which this particular plot was constructed requires some backstory to ensure readers grasp the circumstances and are invested in the characters—especially, if the audience is supposed to feel the tension and root for the characters’ romantic relationship.

Not until the book is nearly finished can the reader understand why Olive Stone would have such an aversion to Leo Ricci. The setup of the strained relationship is not convincing because it lacks support. They barely know each other. The same can be said about the familial connections to Rocco and Luca. Additionally, Olive’s best friends, Kate and Ginny, appeared to be vehicles to move the story along and provide slight comic relief. Yet, there was no tonal balance between something as serious as grieving over an estranged father and a throwaway sex joke.

It was also difficult to orient the characters’ individual professional status. For instance, Olive is so despised as a restaurant critic that she has gained a reputation, pejorative nicknames, and even conceals her face when she frequents a bar in chapter one. Then the reader discovers she is a critic for TripAdvisor, which is not an esteemed publication, but rather a site similar to Yelp! Assuming this fact can be ignored, the façade completely crumbles after she causes a scene and assigns a five-star rating to a restaurant, which we are just told is something she never does and is the reason for her reputation.

Leo’s career was also puzzling. On one hand, the opening leads us to believe this a hot shot chef on the London dining scene who is as talented as he is attractive. On the other hand, it is revealed he was only a sous chef, has no references, and Olive initially did not know if he possessed impressive let alone any cooking skills. Confusing, to say the least.

Finally, the chemistry between the characters in a romcom should be sizzling. At bare minimum, witty banter should carry the interactions. The infatuation felt one-sided for most of the novel and it was done more through telling than showing. It was hard to believe they wanted to rip each other’s clothes off until it actually happened.

The story might work for other readers and fans of the author, so I would not discount the book entirely. It just didn’t work for me personally. Though I still consider the author’s debut novel to be her best when other reviewers disagreed. Use that metric as a guide.

Cute and tasty rom-com touring Italy and all the lush scenery and foods while reconciling the past and discovering the present. And yes, rivals to lovers simmers along with the variety of food. Wouldn't have minded recipes at the end, LOL! A fun read anytime.

Olive Stone's journey in Just One Taste is not just a love story. It is a story of letting go of what's weighing you down and becoming a version of yourself that embraces family, food, and yes, love.

I have enjoyed Den't books in the past, but this one was particularly enjoyable to me. While it was fun to explore the MTB love story of Olive & Leo, it was more fun to see how Olive rediscovered her childhood passions and reconnected with an estranged, and now deceased, father.

One thought - this is a July release, and I could see this causing a few misty eyes while poolside.