Very cute story. I was unsure of the flashback to previous generations at the beginning, but I enjoyed it in the end.

I tried to love this book but I just didn't fall in love with it. I didn't vibe with the characters and the storyline was okay.

This book was unexpected because it quickly became more than an enemies to lovers rom-com. At its heart it is a story about two families several generations and their lives and loves.

I enjoyed it.

As already established I m a sucker for rom-com revolving around food. This was no exception. I loved it. No other way of saying it. The two timelines were so nicely written. I knew there was a revelation coming and I guessed I spotted it early but that was not a mystery and in the end I went awwwwww.. The grief and parental pressure was so well handled by the author. So safe to say I loved the book.
I recommend it to anyone who loves a good rom com and delicious baked goods.

I'm on a roll with baking novels and thoroughly enjoying them! This was a fun and cute read. A bit of angst mixed in to keep it interesting.

Love a reality show, love enemies to lovers, love fake flirting/dating, love a baking trope. This had a lot of things I really like in it, and overall I enjoyed it.
I didn't love the characters and didn't connect too deeply to it, but it was a quick fun read. 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for this ARC of ‘Time to Rise’ by Heléne Holmström.

The story unfolds across two timelines: the present, where Nora and Henrik navigate an intense enemies-to-lovers romance, and the past (1945), which delves into Tuula and Nils' relationship—how they met, fell in love, and the events that shaped their connection. Though it starts off slow and its purpose isn’t immediately clear, by the time it concludes, its significance in Henrik and Nora’s present-day story becomes evident.

I just couldn’t get into this one and unfortunately had to DNF. I found it cheesy and wasn’t sucked in by the writing, nor did I connect with the bakery setting and stakes. So, this is likely a me thing. I’m sure many other romance lovers will enjoy this one!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I wasn't expecting to be so taken by the setting, and so present in it! The characters and their families were also fun to learn about, including the cultural aspects. I always enjoy when a rom-com is more than just a rom-com, and this one definitely brought more to the table.

Finished my first book of 2025. This book started out alright but the further I read, the harder it was to continue bc it got cheesier and cheesier. I’m not a big fan on jumping back and forth in time either. I only finished it because I wanted to know if my theories were right. This book was originally written in Swedish, so maybe some things were just lost in translation.

This book took me by surprise in the best way. I originally picked it up expecting a classic enemies-to-lovers rom-com, but instead, I got a rich, generational story about two families and their intertwined lives.

The story follows two timelines: one in the present with Nora and Henrik’s enemies-to-lovers romance, and one in the past, exploring the relationship between Tuula and Niels—how they met and what led to their connection.
This book does a beautiful job of capturing the essence of Swedish life, especially through its emphasis on food and everyday moments. The setting truly enhanced the story.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and a refreshing take on romance. If you're looking for something different that blends history, culture, and love, I highly recommend this book!

#ARC #netgalley

Thank you to netgalley and Amazon Crossing for this ARC of ‘Time to Rise’ by Heléne Holmström. I apologize for the late review, I have been extremely unwell these past few months.

Now onto my review, I’ll keep it short and sweet. A caprivating romance 100% worth the read.

A solid 3 for me. I got this as an arc thanks to NetGalley, and I didn’t realize it was a romantic comedy at first. When I saw that, I was a bit leery because that’s not my preference. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This was less cheesy than others of this genre that I’ve read (until the very end).

I mostly found the characters lovable, other than Henrik sometimes being a bit too much of a prick and Nora being annoyingly unwilling to accept help or change anything. I figured out pretty early that they were using the same sourdough starter, and I was nervous the whole book because I thought they might be related. That didn’t end up being the case, and instead it was just a lost love left with nothing but the starter as a goodbye. I was relieved.

I also didn’t like reading the parts with Henrik’s family because his dad was so awful. Overall, I enjoyed this one quite a bit!

I went into Time to Rise expecting a fun and funny romance novel. But I was pleasantly surprised when the story was much more than superficial. The dual storylines gives you a greater appreciation for the evolution of the relationship.

I am excited to read more of Holmstrom's work.

Thank you for a copy of this lovely book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Amazon Crossing, NetGalley and Helene Holmstrom for the ARC of Time to Rise.

4.5 rounded down to 4.

SURPRISE! Time to Rise is setting during the holiday season! I was so excited to get an unexpected bit of Christmas from this one. I had no idea what this book was about when I started it. I actually started two other times and put it down almost immediately, it didn't hook me those first few times. But it was the very last 2024 ARC I needed to read, so I needed to get it done. And third time is a charm! (It must have been a me problem, not the book!) I was also surprised to find out that it's a translated book from Sweden.

I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed it! The title was so clever; the central plot of the book was a baking show. Nora has a failing bakery. Henrik is a famous baker with a baking show that could make all the difference for her. The only problem. She can't stand him. There was so much slow burn tension, realistic family issues, loss of family and loneliness, and the most meaningful family sourdough starter.

There was a secondary timeline, set near the end of WWII, that shows Henrik's family origin. It was pretty slow in the beginning. I didn't fully understand the purpose. But as that storyline comes to an end, you understand its importance in Henrik and Nora's present day story.

Time to Rise is such a cute romance, that included baking and baked goods, friendships, family relationships, and a little bit of historical fiction. I'm so happy that I read this one!

Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Realmente intenté terminarlo porque la descripción del libro me había llamado mucho la atención pero se me hizo interminable. Estuvo meses en mi liista de libros empezados y no pude encontrar las ganas de terminarlo, simplemente no era el libro para mi.

In Time to Rise, Heléne Holmström serves up a delightful enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, blending the heat of the kitchen with the simmering tension of reality TV. The novel centers on Nora Jansson, a determined baker fighting to save her family’s struggling bakery. When a popular but arrogant celebrity pastry chef, Henrik Eklund, is brought in to boost ratings for a reality cooking show, sparks fly—both in the kitchen and between the two of them.

Nora, a woman with a fierce passion for her craft and a no-nonsense attitude, finds herself reluctantly opening her doors to Henrik and his film crew. The abrasive celebrity chef’s critiques are as sharp as his temper, and the constant tension makes for excellent drama on screen, but off-camera, Nora begins to see a different side to Henrik. As they navigate the chaos of the bakery and the TV show, their initially prickly relationship slowly gives way to unexpected chemistry.

Holmström’s writing is both warm and witty, capturing the charm of the bakery setting and the underlying sweetness of the romance. The slow-burn dynamic between Nora and Henrik is delightful to watch unfold, with the backdrop of bakery chaos and TV production adding an extra layer of fun and tension. What starts as a fake flirtation for the cameras gradually becomes something more real—and the stakes rise beyond just the survival of the bakery or Henrik’s fading fame.

Time to Rise is a heartwarming, humorous take on the classic opposites-attract trope, with a perfect mix of sweetness, spice, and delicious moments. Fans of feel-good rom-coms and enemies-to-lovers romances will find themselves devouring this book—just like the bakery’s irresistible pastries.

Time to Rise by Heléne Holmström is a charming, opposites-attract romantic comedy that perfectly blends humor, heart, and a touch of sweetness—much like the baked goods at the center of the story. Nora Jansson, determined to save her parents' struggling bakery, reluctantly agrees to let a TV reality crew film in her kitchen. Enter Henrik Eklund, the arrogant celebrity pastry chef whose rude behavior stirs up all of Nora’s frustration. Despite their fiery clashes, the two are forced to play along with a fake flirtation for the sake of the show, which sets the stage for both comedic tension and surprising chemistry.

Holmström’s writing is sharp and fun, capturing the fiery rivalry and eventual softening of both characters in a way that feels genuine. The enemies-to-friends romance feels refreshing, with the bakery's challenges and Henrik's public persona adding layers to their budding relationship. The setting, complete with Nora’s delicious pastries and cozy social gatherings, adds a warm, inviting atmosphere to the story.

As the lines between fake and real blur, Time to Rise delivers a heartwarming and deliciously entertaining read, ideal for fans of feel-good rom-coms and those who appreciate a dash of culinary charm mixed with romance.

This book read as a behind the scenes peek to a reality show. This is a grumpy sunshine read. I believe some of the nuances of this book were lost in translation and didn't come through. Still, not a bad read.
We follow two timelines and it can get a bit confusing at times. The generational differences made for a great storyline. It is a good morsel to read.

It’s her struggling bakery. But it’s his reality show. More than tempers will flare in a warmhearted and positively delicious opposites-attract romantic comedy.

Nora Jansson will do anything to save her parents’ beloved bakery from bankruptcy, even if it means allowing a TV reality crew into her kitchen and her life. Not to mention celebrity pastry chef Henrik Eklund, its impossibly rude host who’s happy to point out Nora’s baking missteps—on cue. It’s bringing out her feisty side.

Nora’s sourdough starter isn’t exactly Henrik’s biggest worry. His popularity is slipping, and his production team has an idea for making this a blockbuster fake flirt. A spicy enemies-to-friends romance will be good for the show and a boon to Nora’s business. So, for the cameras, let the sparks fly.

Somewhere between saffron buns and after-hours mulled wine socials, Nora’s seeing a gentler side to the charismatic star. And Henrik is getting closer to Nora—not just on-screen. What’s pretend and what’s getting real? Soon there will be more on the line than high ratings and the bakery’s survival.

Loved it