I love forced proximity. I love Italy. I love a chef ((especially a hot one)). Therefore, I loved this book! Olive and Leo were such a fun duo to follow throughout their travels while they navigate every emotion from loss to love. Such a fun setting, such a fun pairing, such a fun book. Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

In Lizzy Dent’s Just One Taste, Olive Stone is a fierce food critic, who never gives a five fork, top rating, to any restaurant that she reviews. Olive grew up in the food industry, the only daughter of Nicky Stone, the owner and head chef of Nicky’s, a staple in East London that serves traditional Italian cuisine. However, an argument over a decade ago made Nicky and Olive more like strangers than father and daughter. Until one day when Olive receives the heartbreaking phone call that her father has passed away. In his will, Nicky leaves Olive his beloved restaurant, on the condition that she finishes his cookbook with assistance from Leo Ricci, the current head chef at Nicky’s. Now Olive must spend a month touring Italy with the man that her father considered a son, trying to find the perfect recipes to complete Nicky’s lifelong dream of writing a cookbook.

If you aren’t starving after reading Just One Taste, I would be shocked. The novel lovingly describes a variety of Italian ingredients and cuisines in mouthwatering detail. The descriptions of the lush countryside and colorful towns made me long to journey through Italy. I would go as far as to say that the characters played second fiddle to the food and country of Italy. Olive and Leo have nice chemistry, and they work as a couple. However, their interactions never seem as interesting as the food they are eating. Just One Taste is a quick, enjoyable love letter to all things Italy and the role that food plays in one’s life.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENQUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

The formatting of this book was strange and had the entire book formatted as essentially one chapter. It was frustrating at times.

I had a hard time connecting to these characters and didn't really feel a love connection between them. It felt forced.

Do not read this book while you’re hungry. The descriptions of food and wine are so detailed and so good that I couldn’t help craving every delicious sounding pasta and seafood and dessert Olive and Leo sampled in their trip around Italy. If the story handle been great, the food porn alone would have been worth reading.

But the story WAS great, All of Olive and Leo’s worries felt so grounded in real life. Her pain and stress at trying to finish the final work of her estranged late father was so beautifully rendered. Olive and Leo don’t start as enemies, but there’s a definite journey from goals that are at odds to trying to achieve the same success. I loved watching how their relationship changed so naturally and gracefully. Leo was utterly swoony - a gorgeous man who can cook and is emotionally intelligent is like, the dream, right?

There’s a small twist at the end I did not see coming, but it didn’t feel jarring at all. The whole book was so well done, I can’t recommend it enough.

There is just something about a book set in Italy that is going to do something to my heart. And when it's all about a food critic and a chef coming together to carry out a father's cookbook? Hello. Sign! Me! Up! to read that one!!!

When Olive's estranged father passes away suddenly, she is shocked to learn that he has left her his restaurant in the will. She's also shocked to learn that he has asked she finish out writing his last cookbook alongside his protegee, a very grumpy but handsome chef named Leo. Olive knows she wants to sell the restaurant, especially because she believes its what caused the downfall of her parents marriage, but she's cautious knowing its going to crush Leo's soul.

As the two set off on the trip of a lifetime to explore different regions of Italy and finish her father's work, Olive is forced to grapple with difficult feelings and a decision on whether or not the restaurant is worth keeping around.

Definitely don't read this one while hungry. And if you're not hungry, expect to be. I was literally salivating over the descriptions of food, and I am REALLY hoping that there's some sort of appendix in the official publication of this book that has recipes for some of the dishes described.

This definitely leans towards the cheesy side of romance, but in the best way possible. There's a tiiiiny bit of spice sprinkled in, but for the most part this is a story of two people denying their genuine attraction for each other. I was seriously rooting for Olive and Leo to end up together, considering that tension was sooo thick you could cut it with a knife.

I feel like any book about restaurants and Italy is going to be an automatic great read for me, no matter the plot, but Just One Taste was the sweet, heartwarming romance I wanted it to be!

Do you love Italian food? Do you love forced proximity? Do you love heartbreak but then your heart getting put back together by a hot Sous chef that you don't really like but kind of do like?

Read this book.

I really enjoyed Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent. The food alone was worth the read as I could just imagine each dish and it had me drooling!

Overall a 3.75 rating, rounded up to 4 stars.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this novel.

I have so many conflicting feelings about this book so let’s start with the best parts. This book feels like a love letter to Italy and its food. Lizzy Dent did a fantastic job bringing us to Italy with the main characters and every time I picked up this book I was left hungry and craving Italian food. She did such a great job describing the country and the food.

What I didn’t love was the main character. I found Olive a little whiny and over the top. I enjoyed her relationship with Leo but she did get on my nerves through most of the book.

With all that being said her journey of forgiveness with her father really spoke to me and I felt that was very well done.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was 3.5/5 star read rounded up to 4.

I absolutely adored this book. It’s got two of my favorite things, Italy and food! I think I cooked Italian food every night for a solid week.
And the romance was perfect. They’re determined not to fall for each other but can’t help themselves. I was so disappointed that this one had to end, 5 enthusiastic stars.

Synopsis:
When Olive Stone and her Italian pseudo-celebrity chef father fell out fourteen years ago, annoyingly handsome Leo Ricci slipped right in as his surrogate son and sous-chef. No one is more surprised than Olive when her father wills her his beloved (and now failing) restaurant. Or that his dying wish was for Olive and Leo to complete his cookbook…together.

She’s determined to sell the restaurant. Leo is determined to convince her not to. As they embark on four weeks in Italy, traveling from Sicily to Tuscany to Liguria, they’ll test each other as often as they test recipes. But the more time Olive and Leo spend together the more undeniable their attraction grows. Olive finds herself wondering whether selling the restaurant might be running away, and what it might be like to try Just One Taste of Leo Ricci. Because he isn’t who she expected, and this trip might reveal more about who Olive is than she’s ready for.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The only traveling I’ve done this is has been through books I’ve read set in Europe and I’ve had a great time. Olive and Leo travel through Italy to finish her dad’s cookbook after he unexpectedly passes. Lots of food talk that had me frothing at the mouth because it sounded really good. Olive’s character arc was really good, she had to engage with the guy who her dad spent hours a day with, she was jealous but also angry and was difficult not to fall in love with him.

I really enjoyed this book. It made me feeling like 8 was in Italy myself drinking a glass of champagne. I loved the main characters and how Leo was always so patient with Olive.

This was an eat your way through Italy book if there ever was one. 🤤

I spent most of the story drooling, thinking about the scenery and the dishes Leo and Olive were eating and creating.

This was a close proximity, not fully enemies to lovers but the true plot was the finishing of the cook book her father had started and wanted her and Leo to finish on his behalf after he passed. As Leo and Olive venture around Italy with thr goal of picking the last few dishes for the remaining regions, I enjoyed so many things about this story, minus, uh, the romance 🫢. Their connection really didn't bloom and I didn't really get butterflies rooting for Olive and Leo to *finally* get together. I loved being immersed in Italy through this book but I really wanted more from the romance.

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I really enjoyed this. We have two mature main characters (no absurd second act breakup) and most of the book takes place in Italy where Olive and Leo are writing a cookbook. Beautiful setting and amazing food. The romance is sweet and there is a compelling subplot involving Olive and her recently deceased estranged father. I thought the emotional vulnerability that Olive was experiencing and the added stressor of dealing with her inheritance took this book to the next level. I even got a little teary-eyed at a few parts! It ticked all my boxes.

I wanted to jump into the pages of this book. The setting all over Italy is incredible. The descriptions transported me directly into Italy. The food descriptions made me hungry. Dent has an incredible gift of describing things so vividly that you are transported to the location or to tasting the meal. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell flat for me. I did not love the characters and was not invested in their story. Although there was clearly a spark between the main characters, it did not seem strong or one of those "I can't look away" type of situations. It was just meh. If you are looking for banter, chemistry and an adorable romance, this may not be the right book. However, it was a quick read and if you want to be transported to another place or a delicious meal, it is definitely worth reading.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC of ”Just One Taste” by Lizzy Dent! This was a great summer read with a mix of adventure, emotion and love.

This story follows Olive, whose estranged father recently passed away and left her his restaurant and a mission to finish his cookbook. The only probably is she will have to work with his sous chef Leo in Italy to finish the cookbook so she can move on and sell the restaurant. The journey to Italy is one of discovery and love that will change Olive’s life forever.

I enjoyed this book. I think it had a lot of potential, but the Italian food and imagery made for a dreamy summer read. I do wish we got more for the main characters. Olive hates her job, but she comes to the realization so quickly. Leo was a good book boyfriend and I got the attraction, but I also wasn’t wowed by it. I think many people will enjoy this book and parts of ending still made me cry.

When Olive and her Italian chef father fell out years ago, annoyingly handsome Leo slipped right in as his surrogate son and sous-chef. No one is more surprised than Olive when her father wills her his beloved (and now failing) restaurant. Or that his dying wish was for Olive and Leo to complete his cookbook…together.

Lizzy's books have always been joyful, funny, & a comfort read for me. They always involve train-wreck heroines & are more focused on women's fiction. So no one was more surprised and amused when this was more high on romance, featured a less train-wreck heroine. Gosh, this is definitely my favorite by her.

I cried, I laughed, & I swooned throughout this book. Olive & Leo's banter was everything. The perfect black cat & golden retriever energy going on between them! I loved loved their journey throughout Italy - writing a cookbook, making memories, seeing each other in another light, discovering so much along the way.

Apart from the romance, Olive's self journey was wonderful. There was so much to unpack & boy, did everything end up for the best.

I think the eastern egg was in the cover, & I should've realized that it was more of a romance than a women's fiction because this is her first book that contained both MCs on the cover!! Gahh. Simply loved it so much!

<i>Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.<i>

Plan this reading around meals because this book made me HUNGRY!!

This sweet little book was a perfect lighthearted summer read with a little more emotional depth. Olive Stone’s father died suddenly- leaving her his restaurant, an unfinished manuscript, and his trip to Italy to finish writing. The catch is that she’s joined by his sous chef, Leo, who is making her rethink all her plans.

The romance in this story was cute, the little banter moments, the tension- but the real star of the show was the FOOD! The decadent descriptions of foods across Sicily, Tuscany, and Liguria were mouth watering and also provided great insight to regional cuisine!!

Thank you so much to Lizzy Dent and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

A feel-good story about the joy of Italian food, grieving over the death of a parent, finding love in unexpected places and traveling around Italy. I absolutely LOVED this latest from Lizzy Dent who is an auto-read author for me. It was also great on audio narrated by Sarah Sampino and perfect for fans of authors like Amanda Elliot. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Don’t read this book on an empty stomach ! This book has me craving everything. The characters were adorable. What a cute story

There was nothing about this book that I hated, but nothing in it that I particularly loved, either. It was fine, I guess, but I got bored FAST. I didn’t really want to finish it and almost DNF’d, but I felt like I was just too far into it to give up. Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC copy!

Olive is estranged from her Italian father, Nicolo. He’s the chef of the restaurant Nicky’s in her hometown of London. He dies and leaves the restaurant to Olive, who wants nothing to do with it. However, his dying wish was that she take a 4-week trip around Italy with his sous chef, who also happens to be an attractive man from Italy so they can co-write the last three chapters of a cookbook Nicolo had been working on in his dying days.

Everything is set up to play out exactly how you expect it. I will admit, the plot twist at the end caught me a little off guard, so kudos to Lizzy Dent for that, but it didn’t knock my socks off and I definitely don’t feel like the resolution felt authentic.

This story takes the reader to Italy for what turns in to both a journey of food exploration and and the possibilities between Olive and Leo. I enjoyed the journey these two embarked on and am pleased with the book as a whole. Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the early copy of this read! I will definitely read more from this author in the future!