Very enjoyable read about Olive as she faces her father's death, her inheritance, and the project he left behind that she must complete with his sous chef. I loved following her on her journey, metaphorically and through Italy, to finish her dad's cook book. Learning about her childhood memories through food and locations was fun and an interesting way to see her work through her grief. She didn't have an easy relationship with her dad and this was a great method for giving the reader insight into that as well. I liked Leo as the male lead and the parts he played as Olive had so much to work though. I really enjoyed this story and wanted to taste all the flavors that were discussed, that always adds so much to a story!!

Thank you Putnam Books and Netgalley for my e-arc! Just One Taste is out now!

3.5 Stars (Rounded Up)


In Just One Taste, food journalist and restaurant critic Olive Stone unexpectedly inherits her estranged father's Italian restaurant, Nicky’s, along with the building it’s in. Though they haven’t been in touch much since her parents’ divorce years ago, he’s left her the business on one condition: she must travel to Italy with his protege and complete his cookbook. Olive plans to sell the restaurant, but as she and chef Leo work together on the project, they start to connect on a deeper level.

The premise is intriguing, and Lizzy Dent does a great job depicting beautiful settings and mouthwatering food. However, I struggled to connect with the characters and didn’t find myself invested in Olive and Leo’s romance. Their chemistry was apparent, but their interactions lacked the tension and heat I was hoping for. While the book was a decent read, others might have a different, more enjoyable experience. Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book: Just One Taste
Author: Lizzy Dent
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Food & Wine
Places Featured: Sicily, Liguria, Tuscany, Italy
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Who doesn’t love a good trip through Italy focused on food with a little romance on the side? That’s exactly what this book is–it’s about Olive Stone, a New York food critic, whose estranged father has just died and left her the family’s (failing) Italian restaurant with one request: finish writing his cookbook with the help of his sous chef, the attractive (but opinionated) Leo…and the two of them must go on a trip to Italy to do so.

It was a fun trip through Italy (I especially loved the section set in Sicily as I used to live there and some of the descriptions took me right back), with some enticing descriptions of food and drink from around the country (and some fun facts about the cuisine of the different regions), and characters that are flawed and real.

I wasn’t quite as invested in the characters as I was in Lizzy Dent’s other book (I really enjoyed “The Sweetest Revenge”) as they lacked some chemistry, but if you’re a fan of Italy–or Italian food–I definitely recommend this one!

Reviews posted on Instagram (@travelbooksandmovies) and some posted on blog (www.travelbooksandmovies.com)

Just One Taste
By: Lizzy Dent
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•I felt alllll of the feels as Olive dealt with the loss of her Dad.

•Olive and Leo’s enemies to lovers journey was so well done.

•Their trip to Italy made me want to book a plane ticket ASAP.

•Dent dropped one of the best plot twists that I did NOT see coming.

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Just One Taste was provided by NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

In “Just One Taste” we meet Olive, a girl who just lost her Dad, and is planning to sell the family restaurant that he left to her. But before that, she and Leo, the chef her Dad mentored, have to go to Italy to finish the cookbook he started before he passed.

Obviously, there are so many layers to this. Love, loss, family, duty, and grief. You really feel every emotion that Olive and Leo have (especially as Leo doesn’t want her to sell the restaurant).

I loved the evolution of Olive and Leo’s relationship! It was just so well done, and really covered how complex a relationship can be, even when there is chemistry.

On top of all that, Dent pulled out one of the best plot twists ever, and I did not see it coming. So well done there.

I really enjoyed this book! If you are in the mood to visit Italy in your mind, check this one out.

This book was enjoyable especially in the descriptions of the food. I found Olive’s girlfriends and confidents to be clever and fun. I really liked Leo but did not care for Olive at all. She always seems to have to be the boss and have the last word. But an enjoyable story.

Listen, I wanted to love this. I love the idea of this so much. But the characters just didn't have that zest I expected them to, and the chemistry was just blah.

Will make you want pasta. The author did a good job setting the scene in Italy and making you hungry. Unfortunately the rest was a bit of a slog for me. It was a solid 3 stars but unfortunately didnt make a lasting impression.

My favorite Lizzy Dent yet! Just One Taste had me turning the pages, as I dreamed of traveling in Italy! I couldn’t get enough of the setting in Italy filled with restaurant and food descriptions.

Olive loses her dad, a famous chef, and he leaves her his restaurant. Leo, her dad’s sous chef goes to Italy with Olive to help complete her dad’s cookbook manuscript.

Love! Food! Italy! There is no better summer reading combination. If any of those interest you, be sure to pick up Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnum’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Food, travel, a slow burn romance. I loved the scenes of Italy and was hungry while reading all the descriptions of food, cooking, and restaurant life. I wasn't that invested in Olive or Leo and the slow burn romance isn't my favorite. I am sure others will enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.


Thank you Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced reader copy.

Absolutely delicious!! Marvelous characters and a fast-paced storyline tempt you to finish it in one sitting. Even though I've never been to Italy, I feel as if I have had a personal tour. Lizzy Dent does and excellent job of bringing all of your senses alive, from the scenery to the food itself.

What is a food critic supposed to do with a restaurant? And especially one that has steadily gone downhill for years. Harsh food critic Olive Stone is about to find out. After receiving notice that her father has died, she learns that she not only inherited the restaurant that was the demise of her parents' marriage and the cause of her 10-year estrangement with him, but has also been left to finish the cookbook that was his life's dream. There is yet another catch - she is to complete this book alongside his sous chef that he loved like a son. Armed with an itinerary and a pre-booked trip to Italy that includes Leo, Olive resigns herself to finish this as soon as possible and sell the restaurant before she gets in any deeper. She arrives in Italy to find that her suitcase has been lost and the only thing she has with her is the tote bag with her father's ashes that she is supposed to scatter. The tension between Olive and Leo mounts as he tries to make suggestions and she halts him at every turn. Eventually, they call a truce and attempt to work together to finish the task. As time passes, they each learn more about the other and a tentative relationship starts to bud. Can Leo convince her to reconsider selling the restaurant and listen to his ideas for changes? Each stop on their tour includes stays with old friends and a revelation that Olive did not see coming. Is this something she can overcome or will she bow out altogether?

I gave this book 5 stars because there was not a higher rating! I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more from Lizzy Dent!!

This is for everyone who dreams about vacations roaming the Italian countryside, want to eat allll the pasta, and fantasize about a slow burn turn hot and heavy romance with a hot guy!

When our FMC’s estranged father dies and leaves Nicky’s, his pride and joy restaurant that kept him from being a better father, to her with a final request she finish writing the cookbook he had been working on – which she must do by traveling to the final three destinations of Sicily, Catania and Liguria with Leo, the restaurants sous chef – she has to deal with not only the grieving process, but whether to sell/not sell the restaurant and some unexpected feelings she finds herself catching for Leo.

I absolutely adored this and it was the perfect summer romance while I’m sitting at home dreaming of getting away from work and traveling!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

I was excited with a chance to review “Just One Taste” based on its premise of taking place in Italy (I have been twice and want to go again) and (Italian) food. I also enjoyed “Summer Job” (which takes place in Scotland), so was excited to see what the Lizzy Dent could do with one of my most favorite destinations.

Olive, a food critic, has been estranged from her dad for several years. Hence, she is surprised when he wills her his (failing) restaurant. Yet, the gift has one stipulation: Olive must travel to Italy with his protégé, Leo, and finish researching and writing his cookbook. As any rom-com reader can predict, Olive and Leo cannot agree (even to disagree). Olive wants to sell the restaurant and move on, while Leo hopes to revamp the restaurant and make it successful.

I love the novel’s rich descriptions and gorgeous setting but could not relate to Olive in particular the way I wanted to. Her eventual connection with Leo felt forced and not organic. Overall, I did like the book, but felt like it did not realize its full potential.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read “Just One Taste.”

I'm of fan of Dent's books for light and entertaining rom-coms. This story doesn't disappoint, delivering a delightful mix of romance and culinary passion as it follows a determined chef working to revive a struggling restaurant. Dent yet again delivers witty writing and charming characters, now alongside vivid descriptions of food that will leave you hungry! At times the plot can feel predictable and the pacing inconsistent; however, there are heartwarming moments and a satisfying ending.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, & G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Olive’s estranged father suddenly dies and leaves her his Italian restaurant she just wants to move on from all the unpleasant and conflicting memories that go along with it. Olive also needs to finish the cookbook her father was working on and that includes going to Italy with his soups chef Leo in order to complete it. Leo has a hard time understanding Olive and her father’s estrangement and therefore has a negative attitude towards Olive. Olive has a hard time not feeling jealous of her father and Leo’s relationship. As Olive and Leo slowly move on from their first impressions they use food, friends and Italy to learn about each other.

This destination romance not only encompasses the beauty and food of Italy but the personal journey of embracing our deepest and most complicated emotions. I absolutely loved this book!

Lizzie Dent is one of my favorite authors. She did not disappoint me with Just One Taste! I loved it!

I have really enjoyed most of Dent’s books and I am happy to say I loved Just One Taste! This is the perfect travel read for foodies and winos. The romance was very sweet and I especially loved the wedding/the stay at Leo’s aunt’s. All in all, a fun summer read!

*3.5

This was cute. I liked her journey of learning about her father and getting close to Leo. I kind of wish that it a little bit more happened but I had a good time.

I received an arc through netgalley.

The story of Olive and Leo who meet when she is left her dad's restaurant and Leo.is the sous chef. A trip around Italy to finish a book is the main part of the book and it makes you want to visit there yourself.

Olive Stone’s estranged father suddenly and unexpectedly passed away, and left her his restaurant. But she left that restaurant when her parents separated years ago, and never looked back until now - and her father’s last wish is for her to complete the cookbook he had been working on, which requires her to travel through Italy with the (extremely good looking) chef he had been training as his successor.

This book is an utter delight that will absolutely make you want to book the next flight to Italy. The way it immerses you in each setting is so good, the characters make you wish you were a part of their community, and the food! Oh, the food. Just as you’d expect from a book all about chefs and restaurants and recipes and travel, the food is not only the main focus of the story, but the descriptions are done so well, and it’s clear the author has a vast amount of experience with cooking and eating the food of Italy. This was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year!

This journey was an absolute delight! And one that made me really, really hungry while reading it. The characters were delightful, the setting superb, the food descriptions out of this world. I truly loved every second of this book! It was incredibly well done and was so fun to read. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.