I got an ARC for this and was super excited about it because I love Mateo and have been watching his YouTube for a few years now. I expected this to be a cookbook, and as a non-cooker, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. But I was nicely surprised!

The personal anecdotes and stories from Mateo about growing up and his culture influencing his love of pasta really gave me a better understanding as to why it’s so important to him. And of course he’s hilarious so the little quips kept me laughing. But on the same hand, it is still a cookbook and quite frankly, it’s way more advanced than I am in the kitchen and most of the recipes require a real true passion for the food and art of cooking. So will I ever read this again? Probably not. Will I make any recipes from the book? God, no. (Nick and I will enjoy our simple meals just fine!) But did I enjoy it for what it was? Sure.

I received an ARC of this cookbook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great cookbook. It's full of delicious recipes that are interspersed with funny stories about the author's family!

I like this guy and follow him on Instagram. I figured his cookbook would be both amusing and filled with Italian recipes and I was right.
It’s funny, every recipe has a beautiful picture and lots of decisions are ones I’ll want to try. The ingredients are easy to find and the recipes aren’t overly complicated.
I saved these:
Pasta Della Momma
Eggplant parmigiana
Pasta carbonara
Pasta alla gricia
Aglio e olio


I got to read an early ebook edition on NetGalley. Thank you!

Ok, so I have been following Matteo for a long time across various platforms. So when I saw his cookbook I knew I immediately had to have it. Let me tell you this did not disappoint! I loved getting a taste of history for what inspired each recipe and that his humor and comedy still shined throughout.

My most favorite thing is that there was ZERO FISH OR SEAFOOD. I, like Matteo also swell up when graced with its presence. I don't think I have ever read a single pasta/Italian cookbook that doesn't have some form of seafood. So for me personally this was an absolute highlight because I don't have to go through and figure out what I need to leave out or wonder if I leave it out will it still turn out well, "Do I need to add more to make up for it?"...etc, etc, etc.

I am a basic bitch so I made the Cacio E Pepe and OMG it was the best recipe I have tried by far. Every step was incredibly easy to follow. Some other standout recipes I will be trying are Gram Grams Eggplant Parmesan, Pasta Della Mamma, Pistachio Pesto pasta and Pasta al Limone.

This cookbook was a delicious love letter to Matteos family, found family and of course PASTA. I can't wait to try more recipes and see what else Matteo has up his sleeves.

"Your Pasta Sucks" is a playful and campy take on a cookbook, perfectly suited for those who are just starting their culinary journey or looking for a lighthearted addition to their kitchen shelf. Comedian Matteo Lane, known for his wit, brings a humorous twist to pasta-making, while co-author J.J. Goode lends some solid structure to the recipes.

The book doesn't take itself too seriously, making it a fun read as much as it is a cooking guide. Lane’s comedic flair shines through in the casual tone and irreverent commentary, which keeps things entertaining even if you're not planning to make a meal. There are a few genuinely solid pasta recipes sprinkled throughout that are accessible and tasty, making it a nice option for beginners who want to learn the basics without getting overwhelmed.

However, for more advanced home cooks or serious pasta aficionados, "Your Pasta Sucks" might feel a bit too simplistic. The book focuses more on fun and personality than deep dives into complex techniques, which could leave experienced cooks craving something more substantial.

Overall, it’s a quirky, enjoyable read and a perfect fit for a starter cookbook collection, but if you’re already a pasta pro, you may want to look elsewhere for more depth.

Did I specifically request this arc because I have a deep rooted love for Matteo Lane? Yes. Did I think I’d fully love this? Iffy. I’m not a huge cooker. However, I loved every single second of this. There is humor, love, photos, and pasta! Plus, we had mentions of some of my favorite humans: bob, Monet, Patti, and Jacob! Plus, I actually got some recipes that I’m actually excited to try. Matteo can do no wrong on my eyes. His talent is truly unmatched.

Your Pasta Sucks was such an enjoyable reading experience. It is filled with Matteo's family and personal history, facts about Italy and Italian food, easy to follow recipes, and so so many laughs. I don't generally expect to laugh when reading a cookbook, but this achieved laughs in spades. I would definitely recommend this book for the cooks in your life!

Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this cookbook for an honest review!

This book was quite fun for this being a cookbook. I already follow Matteos comedy and I felt like his voice was really there in this book. It was really silly and raunchy at times. I don't think every recipe needs 1-2 full pages of description of what it means to him or his family but I see why some people would like that. It's just a good standard Italian family recipes to make good sauce essentially. I would recommend if someone was looking for this sort of thing but I probably wouldn't recommend as a cookbook I loved if that makes sense.

So many great recipes!! While I have a great sauce recipe from my parents for spaghetti, I am excited to try Matteo’s family recipe!! And the Mac and cheese recipe. And mostaccioli. And tiramisu. And just basically all of them! And having just watched some of this season of Love is Blind, I think Matteo should send a copy to Ramses and Nick from the show cause they don’t know how to make pasta!!

I love Matt’s comedy and loved watching reels where he’d talk about cooking and actually showing his pretty impressive knowledge of Italian cuisine. This is a fun book where he talks about his origins, his trips and the recipes are pretty good, too. I can’t wait to make the penne alla vodka!