I absolutely loved the concept of this book!! I am a huge fan of Italy and I felt like I was really immersed into the setting of this book. The author did a great job providing just the right amount of details without making it drag on. I really liked the story line too and felt like it was unique but also felt like it could be a hallmark movie! (which is a good thing!) the characters had amazing chemistry & i am a sucker for a slow burn and this was well done!!

This felt...very fictional.
Don't get me wrong. Romance is fictional, books are fictional, but it shouldn't be so obvious. It felt like a dream of a story with random details strewn together that could have been from any story.
The characters often felt disjointed. Olive felt like a caricature half the time and like a self-insert the other half. She was funny and depressed about her dad. And frankly, she was barely those two things. And Leo? I know he likes to cook and he's hot. Their dialogue was messy too. Sometimes they'd say a line and I'd think that this could not be the same character.
While the novel was humorous at times, it felt too orchestrated at others. I love a tropey novel, but maybe make sure it fits the novel and the characters and doesn't feel thrown in for the sake of it.
Roger's character was so stupid. I have no other words for it, it was just stupid. Why was he so obviously unlikable from the beginning? Do something interesting here, don't make characters plot devices. Olive's best friends had the same problem - one was the angel on her shoulder, the other the devil.
Olive's distrust of Leo nearing the end didn't make sense. Did she have trust issues? I did not see them. You can't just say Olive's mother felt betrayed because of her father and think that's enough. You have to implement these things into the characters. And then it didn't even matter because it was yet another thing casually thrown into the book that amounted to absolutely nothing.
There were so many times where it seemed like a line connecting one paragraph to the next had been deleted. I don't know what that was about, but it made this book messy to read.
The romance was fine, but, unfortunately, sexual tension does not last a whole novel just by saying two characters want to fuck if the author isn't going to add anything else to it. Staring at each other's mouths and bodies isn't good enough. I want fiery chemistry and longing, not the intro to a bad porn.
The plot twist with Nicky was not great. There was no set-up for it and it felt like a reason to forgive him for being a shitty person? I also did not have a grasp on who he was other than stubborn, refuses to listen to ANYONE, and likes to cook. I wanted more than a vague memory or anecdote every few chapters.
Lastly, why did Olive even want to run the restaurant? Because she loves food? So do I, that's not enough reason. Because she had fun in it growing up? Okay, then SHOW more of that other than just in the opening characters. As a whole, this novel said a lot without proving it.
I know Olive said the worst review is a 3 star because of mediocrity, but this book wasn't mediocre; it was bad. It started off great and it had potential, but it just kept faltering and then eventually just felt lazy.

I really enjoyed this one! The love story was sweet, but the best part was the place making. I truly felt like I was along on the trip with Leo and Olive in Italy. I definitely recommend.

Ok, I was expecting a light summer read and as usual, Dent wacks me in the head with my feels. If I knew this book was about a main character dealing with the death of estranged father, I honestly would not have picked it up. I went through the same thing this year and avoid my feelings about it with complete dilligence. And I’m so happy I read this when I did, I found it very healing and relatable. Easily my favorite aspect of the book.

Something else I enjoyed was how this was a love letter to food and Italy. The food descriptions literally had me salivating. However, I do think this was missing Dent’s usual sparkling wit and charm. The Summer Job still reigns supreme but I’ll continue to read everything Dent writes.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i thought the vivid descriptions of all the food and drinks were so well done. what i loved more was the banter when leo may present food and olive's suggestions on how to change or improve the food. i hated the plain fact of the contention between olive and leo on selling/keeping the restaurant, how many times can you try and change someone's mind? olive and leo had no chemistry and it was more like an arguing brother and sister.

note to publisher, i know it's a copy of a proof but the editing, line breaks and dashes separating words was so hard to want to keep reading.

a believably complicated parent-child relationship that is left unresolved by the former's death, plus discovering a latent attraction to the essentially adopted son, plus plenty of good food and gorgeous scenery... perfectly delicious

Just One Taste is my new favorite Lizzy Dent book! Her best yet! It’s enemies/strangers/rivals-to-lovers set in Italy. Olive Stone has recently lost her father with a larger-than-life personality, from whom she was estranged from after her parents divorce, and is left settling his estate. That includes selling off his restaurant - the one that cost him his family - and finishing his yet-to-be-published cookbook. In addition to dealing with all this alongside her grief, she’s forced to work along Leo, her father’s former sous chef and protégé, who he treated more like family than he did his employee. Olive and Leo get along like oil and vinegar to start, with Olive resentful of the close relationship Leo had with her father, and Leo frustrated by Olive’s intent to sell the restaurant without even hearing him out. But as the pair travel from Sicily to Tuscany to Liguria, revisiting her past trips with her father to familiar places with familiar faces, they find it harder and harder to resist their attraction to one another. But the fate of the restaurant and cookbook still hang over them, and Olive is still working to come to terms with who her father really was and how both he and her parent’s divorce influenced her life. The book is tender and heartwarming - both in the way it handled Olive’s family dynamics and her growing relationship with Leo, as well as the way she allowed herself to look at her past and feelings from both sides, opening herself up to accepting that she didn’t always have it right. This is just one more must-read standout book by Lizzy Dent!

Eeek! I wanted to love this. Maybe the setting wasn't for me? It felt like an average romance book, whereas I was looking for something with a bit more umph, a bit more creative, with higher level writing. I give this a solid 3/5.

I really loved this book -- it felt as close to traveling to Italy as I have experienced while reading. I loved Lizzy Dent's descriptions of all the places they visited and I loved the food descriptions -- all so vivid!

Olive has just found out that her recently deceased father, whom she has not had a close relationship in over a decade, has left her his restaurant. Along with this, he also wants her to travel to Italy with one of the people from the restaurant, whom her dad was writing a book with. Olive is reluctant about all of this and does not want to go on this trip with Leo.

As I said, I loved all the descriptions in this book -- I could picture it all so well. Italy is one of my favorite places and I will take every opportunity to be transported there!

I loved Olive -- she was so sweet and well meaning, and showed a lot of growth throughout the book as she's thrown in to situations she does not want to be in. I loved her friends too, it was a nice counterbalance. And everything about Leo was swoony -- he was so steady, supportive, and sweet. I loved their banter and interactions -- made me want to keep reading and seeing them together more.

This is the second book I've read by Lizzy Dent and I plan to read her backlist soon, and eagerly await what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

**Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.**

4.5 stars. Magical, flavorful, and sizzling. What a thrilling and enjoyable read! Foodies - this book was made for you, and I know this because I am one of you. The food descriptions are impeccable and the scenery is just gorgeous.

Not to mention - the romance is slow-burn and spicy! I need to book a trip to Italy ASAP!

Olive finds an enemy in her father’s sous chef upon gaining ownership of her late father’s legacy, a restaurant and his in-progress cook book. These enemies must embark on a summer getaway to Italy to complete her father’s cookbook. The descriptions of the food in this had be drooling the entire time and wishing I could be there with them tasting the food. On this adventure, she must also decide if she wants to keep and run her father’s restaurant. The tropes in this book are a perfect combination - forced proximity, enemies to lovers, with a side of mouth-watering foods. I very much enjoyed this book and would read other titles by this author.

Goodreads review is live. Instagram review will be live 15-Jul-2024.

Just One Taste took me about 20% to really get into, but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down!

I love love loved the setting of this book- I felt like I was transported to Italy and all the food descriptions were 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼. This book will make you crave a big bowl of pasta and a vacation to Italy as well.

I also really enjoyed the plot. It isn’t just focused on the romance between Olive and Leo but also about grief and family and friendships. The characters were great and I found myself laughing out loud a few times at Olive’s humor. I was definitely rooting for Leo and Olive and just so thankful there was no third act break up!

I really enjoy this author’s writing and will be exploring her backlist while I wait for her next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

This is a great premise and writer Lizzy Dent is skilled in writing about beautiful settings and delicious food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the characters and failed to become invested in Olive and Leo’s romance. Their attraction was clearly there but I personally didn’t find a lot of chemistry, tension, or heat in their scenes. The book overall was a decent read for me but it is possible that others may have a different and more enjoyable reading experience.

DNF at about 30%. Could not get into it and didn’t feel attached to the characters. The story line in general felt confusing and I didn’t understand the character’s motives for the way they felt about certain things.

What a fun story! Italy is one of my favorite places to visit, so reading this book was a pure joy. I can almost see and taste my way through their experience.
Olive and Leo had me from the very beginning. Im a sucker for “enemies” to lovers and forced proximity. We had it all in this book. Working through the grief of losing a parent can be a lot. I would have enjoyed knowing a little more about the restaurant, Nickies, but overall I enjoyed my time with these characters.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75⭐️

If you really enjoy reading about a trip throughout the Italian countryside, and eating all the delicious food while not leaving the comfort of your home this is your book. This is also for those that really enjoy a slow burn, but I mean really slow burn. Nothing exciting happened until 60% in and then at about 80% everything happens ahdbuts a rush to the ending I felt. It was too much of a slow burn for me. I was also hoping for more growth from Olive towards the ending, it just fell kind of flat to me.

Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

Very slighty spicy enemies to lovers forced proximity romance. I really enjoyed the premise (food + Italy especially). Though very well written I wasn't invested in the the leads and their relationship. I plan on reading more from this author though as I enjoy cozy reads which this was.

Lizzy Dent’s “Just One Taste” was a quick and enjoyable read. Traveling alongside Olive Stone and Leo Ricci throughout Italy made me wish I was spending my summer with them rather than working in an office. When Olive’s father, Nicky, dies his last wish is for his daughter and his sous-chef, Leo, to finish his cookbook together. Both Olive and Leo are dealing with grief while coming to terms with things they may not have known about Nicky. Watching Leo and Olive come together to write the cookbook and deal with their grief together was magical. The slow-burn made me kept saying “kiss already” but I enjoyed watching their love for each other grow! While also eating their way through the delicious foods of Italy. I’ve added Italy and going to Sicily, Tuscany and Liguria to my bucket list because of Lizzy!

I was excited about this romance when I read the summary on Netgalley. I love a good enemies-to-lovers, and these two characters seemed amazing. Olive is charming and loyal, sassy and opinionated. Feeling like she came in second in her father’s heart to a restaurant messed with her- especially when it seemed she was replaced with hot sous chef Leo. For his part, Leo loves the restaurant, and he loved Frankie, but he saw him clearly. He has ideas for the restaurant, whereas Olive just wants to sell. As the two tour Italy while finishing her late father’s cookbook, memories are reshaped- as well as relationships. They work well together, and there is an undeniable chemistry that I loved.

The story was interesting, and the writing had a good flow making this an easy book to lose oneself in. I will say, while there were some funny bits, this is not a romcom. There is pain and raw emotion, beautiful imagery and a real build up to a relationship. We also get a good amount of character growth. I loved it for this, but it is not a light and fluffy book. You want great characters, good descriptions and basically food porn? We got you! I loved eating my way through Italy via Olive and Leo. Five stars!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there is quite a bit. We have language, drinking, and sexual content. While it is geared towards adults I would say that it’s still appropriate for new adults as well.

I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley working with Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

When food critic Olive’s dad suddenly passes away, she’s left a restaurant she never asked for. Her father was just a few recipes away from publishing his cookbook, so Olive goes on the trip to Italy he had planned to make it happen — the only catch is she has to travel with her father’s right hand man and hot sous chef, Leo — all while trying to decide the future of the restaurant (and its chef).

Okay if you can’t travel to Italy this summer, this is the next best thing. This book was giving a mixture of Seven Year Slip and You With a View, with just a HINT of both Book Lovers and Beach Read.

I loved their banter and the small, family business highlight. The ending/conflict felt a bit rushed, but overall I loved the story and the atmosphere. I think I was more invested in the storyline than the romance, but enjoyed that aspect all the same!

This is a quick, easy read — perfect for vacation or when you want to FEEL like you’re on vacation.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the e-arc!