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!

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || JUST ONE TASTE [thank you to @putnambooks and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent
Genre: romance
Format: digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Would Recommend: 👍🏻

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
After inheriting her estranged father's failing restaurant, Olive Stone must spend four weeks in Italy completing his cookbook with Leo Ricci, her father's surrogate son and her childhood rival. Despite her plans to sell the restaurant and Leo's determination to save it, their journey through Sicily, Tuscany, and Liguria brings them closer and forces Olive to confront her true feelings about the restaurant, Leo, and herself.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
There’s just something about Lizzy Dent’s writing that always works for me. And when I saw the cover, I knew this would contain one of my all time favorite things - an MC who’s a chef! Between the deeper topics, banter, and overall snark - it just hits the perfect note. I loved watching Olive and Leo get to know (and appreciate) each other. And all of the food was a definite bonus! Do not read when hungry (or when feeling a particularly huge sense of wanderlust).

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Chef MMC
Enemies-to-Lovers
Forced Proximity
Love Through Food
Pasta
An FMC who doesn’t have it all put together

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.84
# of Pages: 335
Pub Date: July 16, 2024

Olive Stone inherits her fathers run down Italian restaurant in London. She was estranged from her father for the last several years and has been making a living as an online food critic. The only condition is that she must finish a cookbook he had been writing. This entails her going with handsome sous chef Leo Ricci on a trip to Italy that her father had planned on taking. Olive isn’t thrilled that Leo needs to come but she is willing to return to Italy where she spent a lot of happy days with her parents. The book becomes a wonderful, food descriptive trip through parts of Italy. Her father was traditional when it comes to food and Leo wants to enhance it. Olive is also forced to reconcile some of the memories she has of her dad before her parents divorced and she left the restaurant. Will she sell the restaurant as she plans? Will she and Leo become more than co-writers?

I’ve read all four of Lizzy Dent’s novels and I always like them but never love them. This one is my favorite of her books. Italy and food are a good combination. If you’ve enjoyed her previous books you’ll like this one. And if you want to give the author a try this is a good one to start with.

****Publishing July 16, 2024*****

Olive hadn’t seen her dad in 10 years. When her dad dies suddenly, she is left with his restaurant. He was also in the middle of writing a cookbook, so Olive felt the need to finish it. He was supposed to take a trip to Sicily in order to put the finishing touches on it, so she would go in his place with Leo, the sexy sous chef. Olive has many regrets and although is thankful for the generous inheritance, she doesn’t feel like she deserves it. Olive is looking to sell the restaurant, but will Leo change her mind? This book will have you cheering on Olive as she figures out what to do next!

This book will transport you to London and Italy! A great escape for those who aren’t traveling anytime soon! Just a fun and entertaining read with characters that will have you cheering them on as they figure out what’s next after life-changing events! A great read for your beach or pool bag! Also, a great read for your next book club as it will spark great discussions.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons), I was provided an ARC of Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a good story. Olive was complicated but relatable. Leo was a nice sexy addition. The background between Olive and her father was somewhat vague, but I think that might have been intentional. Olive's friends were fun and a good balance for her. The setting was amazing and makes me want to go to Italy right now. The foods mentioned made me hungry. Overall a solid read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I fully want to live inside this book. I have never wanted to go to Italy or eat pasta more than while I was reading, which is a true testament to Lizzy’s writing.

There are just so many things about this book that I love: Olive’s strong female friendships, her complicated relationship with her dad (been there), Leo’s genuine kindness and support of Olive, and that there is drama toward the end, but it does not revolve around the couple.

I’m really excited for this to be published and think readers will eat it up!

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Just One Taste! I thought Dent did an incredible job weaving in the Italian setting with the story. Dent's writing transported me back to my time in Italy. I liked how Dent used the setting to further Leo and Olive's relationship. The relationship progression between Leo and Olive was chef's kiss (ha!). The slow burn was done fabulously. I thought the tension and chemistry between Leo and Olive was done perfectly. Olive was a great FMC and Leo was a wonderful book boyfriend. Dent did a great job describing Olive's grief. I liked Olive's best friends and the various Italian side characters. I thought the plot of the story was interesting. The added depth with Nicky made the plot feel more elevated. I wish there was a bit more closure at the end with the dad storyline. For how fast that plot line came on, there could have been more details in further chapters. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

I thought this book was cute. It was a typical Lizzy Dent romance book. I feel like this is a good one to read if you like to travel.

In 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦, food journalist and restaurant critic Olive Stone receives an unexpected inheritance from her estranged father—his Italian restaurant, Nicky’s, and the building it occupies. She has not spoken with him much since her parents’ divorce over a decade ago, but he has given her the business and property on one condition. She must go to Italy with his protege and finish researching and writing his cookbook. Olive intends to sell the place, but complications arise as she and chef Leo work on the project together, get to know each other, and deepen their bond.
Lizzy Dent's "Just One Taste" is a fast-paced, quick read that will leave you yearning to travel to Italy. It's not entirely lighthearted, but rather a balance of light and darker topics (involving death, grief, family, purpose, etc). 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.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book— food journalist and restaurant critic Olive receives her estranged father’s Italian restaurant after his passing. She can have the business and property if she goes to Italy and finishes researching and writing his Italian cookbook with his protege, Leo.

If you love traveling and eating, this book is for you! The way Lizzy describes food— I was seriously dreaming about booking a trip asap. The book felt like an ode to Italy and its cuisine.

I will say the romance aspect felt like a sub-plot to the food research, eating and writing, which felt like a miss for me. I loved both Olive and Leo, but wish there was more angst, chemistry and heat shown between them.

I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ll start with a trigger warning for the death of a parent. I’m sure it was hinted to in the description, but I judged a book by its cover and just dove in blind. I’d lost my own father a few years ago and like the MC, I was in a weird place with him relationship wise when it happened with a lot left unsaid I would never be able to talk through with him, so this hit home which was both a little too much but also therapeutic in a way to see someone experience something similar. I liked the story. I liked the Italy experience through dishes and yes, this book will make you super hungry. Where I was a bit bummed is that the author went out of her way to mock books and movies about restaurants and how they’re romanticized and then went and did the same thing. It’s one thing to describe a trope and then dismantle it, but it’s a bit weird to mock it and then do it yourself. This alluded to works like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun like it was going to parody them and then take a sharp detour but it landed in the same camp with a bit of No Reservations tied in. I enjoyed the read, but I don’t see myself reaching for it for a second read or anxiously awaiting another read from the author.