Really quick read, I was really interested in the first half but the ending came too quickly. It could’ve done with being a teeny bit longer. For reference, I had 10 minutes left in the book by the time the actual ‘drama’ happened at the end lol

Reminded me of a Freida McFadden story. Loved the twist at the end. Having former restaurant experience it gave me some flashbacks. I think Sadie’s character was interesting, but it shows what someone with her past goes threw afterwards trying to live in the world

I gave this book 5 stars. I do not normally read books about vampires. This one was fun from page one. It was well-written and just an overall good story!

One Last Bite is a delightful blend of suspense and culinary immersion that quickly becomes hard to put down. With vivid descriptions of the kitchen and restaurant atmosphere, Cupps brings to life a world where readers can almost taste and smell the cuisine.

The story follows Sadie Jackson, who secures a job at Thistle, a prestigious restaurant run by renowned chefs Norah and Devon Winthrop. Despite starting as a dishwasher, Sadie is thrilled to be in the kitchen of such a high-profile establishment. However, she soon realizes that not everything is as idyllic as it appears. Behind Thistle’s kitchen doors, she uncovers a labyrinth of dark secrets and possible illegal activities. Determined to discover what’s happening in a mysterious cabin across the lake, Sadie is drawn into a sinister and dangerous reality as she digs deeper into the Winthrops' secrets.

While not quite Michelin Star-worthy, <b>One Last Bite</b> is an enjoyable read, serving all the expected elements of a well-crafted thriller. Cupps begins the pacing at a slow simmer, gradually building the suspense with meticulous detail. Once the stage is set, the story rapidly escalates, reaching a boiling point in the second half. Sadie is a compelling protagonist whose flaws and moral ambiguity inject unpredictability into her reactions to the dark characters and ominous environment around her.

Overall, Cupps masterfully weaves a thrilling narrative full of flavor and atmosphere, painting a world where ambition and danger intertwine. The book captivates with twists that draw readers deeper into Sadie Jackson's world of high-stakes gastronomy and shadowy secrets. Despite minor imperfections, the novel offers a gripping story that blends suspense with the allure of mystery. Recommended for anyone seeking a fascinating culinary adventure filled with dark secrets and a thriller that lingers long after the final page.

<b>Disclaimer:</b> I received this ARC from NetGalley. Many thanks to Leah Cupps and Inkubator Books for this copy. All opinions are my own.

Great writing, but I wasn’t really invested in the character. I don’t feel like I had a lot of backstory. I didn’t really like the characters. It was kind of predictable.

I felt this was a little lacking for a really excellent thriller. It seemed to lack substance but I can't really put my finger on why that is.

I enjoyed this glimpse into the competitive restaurant world. This thriller entertained and gripped me from start to finish. There was a twist that changed the direction of the plot that completely took me by surprise.

The Last Bite was a fast paced read that left me wanting a little bit more. While I loved the mystery of the story and how the story line moved quickly, I was not a fan of the main character. There was nothing really appealing to her and the ending fell flat for me. Overall it was an okay read.

I devoured this book. I loved how atmospheric it was, but also accurate in portraying the obsessive, manic, brilliant, and cut-throat personalities that fine dining and professional kitchens can have. It took me back through memory lane of times I experienced in culinary school and in several professional kitchens thereafter. Combining my love for culinary arts and a thriller, this book was perfect.

However, I was craving more backstory from Sadie and wonder if some flashback memory chapters about her childhood leading up to the night that haunts her would have been more impactful.

This was a cozy read overall, but it fell a bit short as a thriller.
The first 60% of the book is pretty slow, with little happening.

I think the main issue is that it reads like the author has little to no idea of how kitchens and restaurants work, and since the book's strong suit is supposed to be its restaurant setting... well.
At some point, the protagonist lands a job as the head chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant despite having zero qualifications. Her recipes are super bland and unconvincing, and I rolled my eyes every time she came up with a new dish. People around her treat her cooking like it's pure genius, when it really isn't...

I get that this is supposed to be an easy, no-pretenses read, but what makes this book stand out is its restaurant setting. As other reviewers mentioned, One Last Bite reads just like Frida McLadden, so the new setting is nice. But if the setting is totally unconvincing, then what’s the point?

The book does pick up eventually but is still ruined by the forgettable writing (so many repetitions!)

Featured quote:
Did I put on deodorant this morning? Apparently I didn't use enough, because the sweat rings are growing under my arms.

Girl what you're looking for is an antiperspirant

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Title: One Last Bite by Leah Cupps
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: April 28, 2024

⭐️ 4/5

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞.

✨️ Dual POV + Timelines
✨️ Struggling Chef
✨️ Dark Secrets
✨️ Twisty Thriller
✨️ Loan Sharks
✨️ Short Chapters

Sadie's dream has always been to be the head chef at her own restaurant.
After her stint in prison, she fears she will never get closer to her dream than her current job waitressing at a local diner. Sadie's prospects finally look up when she receives a phone call from Norah, the head chef at a michelin star restaurant, with a job opportunity. Sadie soon notices some strange activities and realizes this opportunity may not be what it's cut out to be.

My Review:

This was a great thriller. Fast paced with short chapters and a writing style comparable to Freida McFadden. Sadie is a fighter, and doesn't mind doing whatever it takes to make her dreams come true, so overall a likeable character. There were several unexpected twists and I couldn't put it down! Definitely recommend.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the digital review copy ❣️

This book was amazing! If you like Freida McFadden's books, this is definitely up your alley.

The plot and characters were well written. But I felt the part where a character killed another character was not really necessary. It felt as if it was done because a murder had to happen because psychology thriller.

Overall, it was a good read and kept me turning the pages.

Not at all what I was expecting! It took a bit to hook me but I'm so glad I didn't give up on this book. I especially loved the twisty ending.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'One Last Bite' by Leah Cupps.

OMG!!! MIND ABSOLUTELY BLOWN!!!! A GRIPPING, DARK AND SUSPENSE FILLED PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN!!!

I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolute page turner!! If you are a fan of Shalini Boland, Kiersten Modglin and/or Freida McFadden and just explosive psychological thrillers in general then this is a book for you!! This book is extremely fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It was one of those true gems where if you had to put it down you had to race back as soon as you could to find out what was going to happen next. The plot is unique which is always a bonus after reading so many psychological thrillers. The storyline is absolutely ram packed with mystery, deceit, secrets, food, lies, tension, suspense and OMG the twists just kept on coming again and again!!! Just when I thought everything that could happen had happened BOOM there was another shocker around the corner. Every time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! I WAS absolutely blown away and considering I read approximately 30 books a month that is certainly no easy feat so a HUGE congratulations on that Leah!! I absolutely loved the delicious restaurant setting, which, again, is something that is unique for me when it comes to books!! Leah does an absolutely amazing job of weaving the multiple protagonists and multiple timelines together to drip feed the reader just about the right amount of information that she wants us to until she absolutely spins everything around again!! The fantastic descriptions really made me feel like I was in the storyline along with Sadie and Naomi and my heart was pounding while I was biting my nails in suspense, I have not got much of my nails left now so thanks for that Leah!!! This is one of those fantastic books that have a small amount of characters but those characters you are constantly left doubting and questioning as you have no idea who has done what, who is hiding what and what they are really after. I just did not want to put this book down as I just had to know what was really going on and I never could have come anywhere near to working this one out!!! In fact I just couldn't put it down and ended up absolutely devouring it in one sitting of several hours, completely sucked into the heart racing plot!! I absolutely LOVED how it ended and I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book by this fantastic author!! I really could not recommend this book any more. If you are looking for something unique, filled with suspense that will leave you guessing and that will blow your mind then this is definitely the book for you!!

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!

I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Each and every one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. Leah wove their chapters together perfectly in a way to give us the bigger picture of their personalities while only drip feeding us the information she wants us to see and when she sees it. Her fantastic descriptions ensures the reader sees, feels and hears everything that the characters are seeing and feeling which leaves their heart racing along with them. It really brings the storyline and the characters to life, for better or worse!! It is one of those books that leaves you questioning who to trust, who is telling the truth and who is playing a game. Needless to say they all worked perfectly together to make this page turner as amazing as it is!!! Congratulations Leah on creating such a group of well defined, realistic and in some cases unnerving characters. I am really looking forward to meeting more of your characters in your previous and future books!!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Leah on what promises to be a massive best seller!!! I WAS absolutely shocked by so many explosive twists!!! This is why I would like to welcome you to my favourite author list Leah and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!

Overall an absolutely addictive, mind blowing page turner that will keep you up with a racing heart until you've finished!!!

#OneLastBite #LeahCupps #leahcuppsauthor #InkubatorBooks #Inkubator #ZooLoosBT #ZooloosBookTours
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I enjoyed this one! A little slow to start but once things started moving along it was hard to put down! The twists just kept coming.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars.
One Last Bite is an immersive thriller that will leave your mouth watering from all the mouthwatering dishes featured within it.
Sadie is homeless, living between her car and her tent. When a job opportunity arises to work within the kitchen of a prestigious restaurant called Thistle, she can't believe her luck. But not everything is as wonderful as she'd hoped. She gets placed as a pot washer instead of a cook, her prickly boss Norah Winthrop seems to be always in a mood, and the longer Sadie works there, the more she detects things aren't all above board. As Sadie digs further into Norah and her co-owner husband Devons secrets, is she placing herself in danger as it seems the Winthrops will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.
The start of this book drew me in straight away with its opening chapter, and the twist that threw the direction of the book was one I didn't see coming.

This book was pretty slow up until about halfway through, but builds the storyline up for a twist of an ending. If you're a foodie, you'll love all of the descriptive way the food is talked about. I found Sadie kind of unlikeable and not having a ton of common sense, and the mafia-like angle wasn't exactly necessary. However, this was a fun and quick read and I enjoyed twists and multiple POVs toward the end.

One Last Bite - by Leah Cupps

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow I absolutely LOVED this book! This deliciously delectable thriller gripped me from the very first chapter!

This story was set in a restaurant setting which is so unique. The authors descriptive writing was exceptional, I could visualise each culinary masterpiece as if I was there in person. I was salivating just reading it!

I really enjoyed this authors writing style so much so that I’ve added all her books to my immediate TBR!

It had a lot of my favourite tropes; domestic thriller, rich people drama, mixed media, dual timeline/POVs, the list goes on…

It was so fast paced with plot twist after plot twist. my jaw was on the floor the whole time reading it. I wasn’t able to guess any of the plot twists!

If you enjoyed the lies and deceit in ‘The Housemaid’, the eerie vibes in ‘Verity’ and the culinary dynamic in the TV show ‘The Bear’ then you will love this! Highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator and the fabulous author Leah Cupps for this free ARC in return for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily

I will also be posting my review on Instagram, Goodreads and Amazon on publication

This was such an enjoyable read, it kept me on the edge of my seat with the twists and turns. The characters were great, the story itself was very suspenseful along with the brilliant ending and the style of writing was perfect.
This is the first book that I have read by this author.. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more in the future. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

One Last Bite, by Leah Cupps, is a psychological thriller about the dangers of confusing passion and ambition with success. The book is separated into three parts. Part I: Sadie introduces the aforementioned Sadie, an aspiring chef trying to escape her past. She gets accepted, albeit as a dishwasher, to Thistle, an up-and-coming restaurant muddled with financial issues. Part II: Namoi details the background behind Thistle and how Devon’s ego had gotten in the way of Norah’s health and sanity. Finally, Part III: Present unveils what Sadie and Namoi are to do with Devon’s ambition and how to free themselves from his mistakes. 

Sadie is not perfect. She’s got a past, living out of her car, and if push comes to shove, will take advantage of anything to get ahead. But she’s also resourceful, and she was able to get Namoi and herself out of a situation she didn’t ask to be in. You could say she did the same thing for Norah, even though she’s never met the woman. So many people want the protagonist to be this goody-two-shoes who ended up in a bad situation, and if they did some shady shit in the past, for them to have a redemption arc. But a lot of times, when someone’s about to screw you over, you can’t afford to “kill them with kindness.” No one’s the hero here, and that’s completely fine. I also like how much of an asshat Devon is. Cupps pulled out all the stops to try and make Devon as charismatic as she could, without the charisma. The man cannot handle the pressure. He wants to be the next Anthony Bello, but if he has to bully and abuse women to get where he is now, I’m not sure if he’ll ever make it. 

I want to point out how common Sadie’s situation is, especially for people recently released from prison. She doesn’t have much of a support system - aside from Sally - and I would even argue that she’s more fortunate than most; she’s got a car and a job, even if it’s not the most stable. There’s a reason why she tries to blackmail Naomi into getting her stuff on the menu; after all, when you have next to nothing, you’d do whatever it takes to feel safe. Devon was able to take advantage of her desperation, but I’ll admit, if I was in her shoes, I’d do the same thing.

I enjoyed this book. While I wish there were more tense moments between Devon and Sadie, and Naomi’s perspective was more fleshed out, I like the plot progression and how meaningful Sadie’s actions are. As such, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.