The beginning was really lovely and I enjoyed ut till the back and forth became repetitive and it felt like the characters were just not it for each other. I personally enjoyed more the side couple than them.

First of all, the cover on this book is adorable and instantly makes me want to pick it up! Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. Ultimately it fell a little short for me, though I loved the idea of a bucket list and also loved the friendships in the story.

This book is a wonderful cozy rom-com escape. It gives sizzling chemistry, foodie vibes, emotional growth, and just the right amount of steamy romance. I really enjoyed this book and found myself craving Greek food immediately after. The banter between the main characters is adorable and the romance is heartfelt without being too cheesy. Overall this book is messy in the best and most relatable ways.
If you enjoy slow-burn romance and books that sneak emotional depth in between flirty lines, this book should be on your list. It’s sweet, spicy, and satisfying.

I requested it because I’m Greek and upon seeing this is I got excited but I did not really like it. I could connect with the characters or the story!

Not going to lie, I picked this book because of its incredibly puny title. Does the writing seem promising, not exactly. It isn't the best written book. Was it funny and entertaining - absolutely.

Was hoping for a little more from it, but this was not the worst book I have ever read. Not even remotely close. If you want a fun, quick read filled with romance and food - I would give this one a look.

I am sad, I am disappointed, I am... confused? And I DNFed at 53%.

I picked this book up because I wanted Greek vibes - as a celebration of the anniversary of when I traveled to Greece myself - only to discover that by the time I gave up on this book, there was not even a plan to go to Greece yet, despite the cover suggesting the country itself would come into play in a major way.

Bas is a hot Greek chef - that's essentially his whole personality. Chelsea is a complicated, (understandably) trauma-ridden woman who struggles to healthily process her experiences in an abusive household - so she self-sabotages as a result. Together, they are a hot mess - hot, yes, but the relationship is so convoluted and I slowly stopped caring. Greek food, though? Yeah, I am down for that.

Evan and Elizabeth are the two best friends who also get together so we have a fun double dating kind of vibe for a while - but around halfway, they start fighting and there was an entire chapter that was so confusing on who was mad at who and why - this is where the book lost me. I am not kidding when I say I do not know what anyone was talking about for a solid 5-6 pages because the plot was lost for a while.

I think this had a lot of promise, but there was a lot of repetitive conversation regarding Chelsea's mental health and counseling - which was valid and good, but ultimately no progress was made and she kept sabotaging her own happiness as well as pretty much everyone else around her. Bas was down BAD for her, but he also didn't want to accept that she did tell him up front that she didn't do long term relationships. He managed to wiggle his way into her heart, but then continued to be upset by her constant whiplash of emotions. Valid, but he shouldn't have been surprised.

Overall, my expectations for this were VERY far from what I got out of it and I eventually just realized that this was not for me - I ended up not liking any of the characters, and the wishy washy emotions were giving ME whiplash too. And on top of that, characters felt so flat and stilted.

A best friend dare, a one-night stand of soul-baring confessions (seriously, who does this??), and a Greek hero who’s hotter than a fresh pita straight out of the oven. Oh, and guess what? He’s also the chef who’s been feeding her foodie soul for months. The tension? Chef’s kiss.

If you’re into witty banter, swoony kisses in the kitchen, and a heroine who’s basically trying (and failing) to sabotage her own happiness, you’re in for a treat. It’s fast-paced and steamy but with heart — a Greek romance that’s more than just feta and fun.

Let’s just say there’s enough heat here to make the kitchen scenes downright delicious. From accidental run-ins to those “oh no, he’s actually perfect” moments, this book is a messy, heartfelt whirlwind.

This book was a little difficult to get into for me, because the FMC was super frustrating but I did love the way the romance develops in this book and it was extremely sweet! I also loved how the MMC cared for her and how dreamy he was! Overall a good read!

This was cute, and definitely made me hungry reading it because all the meals sounded awesome. But it didn't really captivate me and started dragging somewhat in the middle. I also think that the more interesting relationship in the book was the friendship between Chelsea and Elizabeth, rather than the A-plot romance between Chelsea and Basil. I did enjoy all the funny dad jokes and puns, though, always good for a chuckle.

I enjoyed the characters, and story but it wasn’t my cup of tea. Idk I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it,

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I initially thought I would like this, but it didn’t hold my attention and I didn’t feel a connection to the characters.

If you're into witty humor, clever banter, and some serious steam, this book is for you. Chelsea, struggling with family baggage, is urged by her therapist to tackle a list of challenges for the year. Along with her best friend, Elizabeth, they make it a fun competition—with some serious consequences for the loser. When Chelsea meets two strangers at a bar, she sees the perfect opportunity to check something off her list: being brutally honest with a stranger, while Elizabeth lies to hers.

What starts as a simple challenge turns into a deep connection between Chelsea and Bas, but her trust issues from a painful past make things complicated. Can she overcome her fears and trust Bas, or will she fall into the trap of her own self-doubt?

The one thing I liked about this book was the friendship between the two best friends. I love the idea of a list to get yourself out of your comfort zone. But the romantic relationship in this book screamed toxic relationship- so much hot and cold, touch and go energy from the main characters. She wanted him but didn't want him and half of the book was just her being indecisive and him trying to convince her that he was good for her. The other half of the book was sex- which wasn't bad. Also, the epilogue had me ticked off- they hadn't been together long enough for that next step!!

"Holding Out for a Gyro" by Mary Ann Marlowe is a delightful romantic comedy that brings humor and heart to the forefront. The story follows the journey of a quirky protagonist navigating love, friendship, and self-discovery in a vibrant setting.

Marlowe's writing is witty and engaging, filled with charming dialogue and relatable situations. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own unique quirks and challenges to the narrative, making their interactions both entertaining and genuine. The exploration of love in unexpected places adds a light-hearted yet meaningful touch to the plot.

Overall, "Holding Out for a Gyro" is a fun and uplifting read, perfect for those looking for a heartwarming romance infused with humor. Marlowe's talent for storytelling shines through, making it a delightful escape for readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Holding Out For a Gyro by Mary Ann Marlowe!

Chelsea and Elizabeth are best friends who keep each other on their toes with what is basically a best friend bucket list. For every crazy thing one person adds, the other adds a safer version. But either way, they are trying to get each other out of into the dating world.

Their relationship is a perfect Galentine’s read, and we end up getting to watch two couples fall in love, although the majority of the story focuses on Chelsea and Basil— and I highly dislike the nickname Bas so I refuse to use it.

This contemporary romance has fun and friendly banter, but not really a romcom. I’d label it more of just a romance or a women’s contemporary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amara/Entangled publishing for the #giftedcopy. All views are my own.

This was a fast read by a new to me author. The title is what made me pick this one!

Thanks so much for the digital copy of this one in exchange for an honest review!

It was cute! For a light and fun read, this is the one. I loved the atmosphere and vibes and wanted so much more. Still a fun time.

This gave me major sisterhood vibes, and while I absolutely loved Chelsea and Elizabeth and their friendship, the ending of this novel fell flat.

The emotional growth was there and very well written but this book just simply did not do it for me. It unfortunately did not hook me in and I ended up DNFing it. This book looked really promising and heck — that’s disappointing even for myself who loves, lives and breathes romance novels.

Hoping to give this author a second chance with a new release later on.

This had a lot of potential and I liked the leads mostly but it sort of petered out in the end and lost me.