Sweet, spicy, and yes, a dash of salty banter mingle in Cynthia Timoti's debut. I'm always here for a banter-filled second chance romance. This one's nestled into a small town where Ellie encounters her brother's best friend and childhood crush as she tries to open her bakery and achieve personal dreams (despite her family constantly getting in the way). This book does a wonderful job at delving into Ellie's diabetes, showing cultural/familial pressures, and aiming for independence. However, the moment Ellie encounters Alec, she degresses into an immature child, which makes most of my would-be beloved witty banter scenes silly and immature. Everything feels overdone and unrealistic. While a good attempt, there's still a lot of growth ahead.

🧁 Second Chance Romance
🧁 Contemporary
🧁 Brother's Best Friend / Young Crush
🧁 Small Town Romance
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Forced Proximity

Rating: 4.75

My Review: I love books with food and romance in them we have Ellie due to her health ( Type 1 diabetes) her family likes to control her life, and one day at a party her family business partner's son makes a proposal that she is shocked and it goes viral. She runways and moves to open a bakery and while there she meets her childhood crush Alec and helps him by fake dating him for work. I had fun reading this story Ellie is a wonderful character and you see her grow without her family by her side make close friendships and fall in love at the same time. The being of the story is kind of slow but does move at a good pace, the relationship between Ellie and Alec is good the banter is fun and you see how Alec cares for Ellie. This was interesting to read about a person who has diabetes I have some family who do have it and I learn more about it. I want to see more of the characters and how they are doing.

4/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️

A wonderfully easy read full of a strong FMC with fake dating with her childhood crush, lot of sweet moments, good plot and character development, and a sprinkle of spice.

It was soo easy to love and root for the FMC. Her friendships and brother were lovely. Her parents tho, especially her mom, made me very very irritated.

And MMC was a very thoughtful can’t-help-show-his-love/care kinda guy. EXCEPT I gotta say he was very very frustrating for me and I had a brief thought towards the end where I wouldn’t be pissed if FMC didn’t end up with MMC.

Listen it was a happy ending and I’m glad and I liked it!!! Buuuuut MMC was kinda repeating his mistake a bit tooo much for my interest. 🤷🏾‍♀️ (I’ve never wished/wanted anything but HEA in anything I watch and read - having said that, Alec was as thoughtful and caring as he was annoying to me.)

Either way great read, great diabetes rep, great fake dating trope done well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

You guys, this was So GOOD! Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is the kind of romance that hits all the right beats and then throws in a few surprises that make it even better.

We’ve got:
🧁A small-town move to open a bakery
🧁Forced proximity that had me feral
🧁Fake dating that spirals into REAL FEELINGS
🧁Second chance romance with genuine heart
🧁Brother’s best friend—but like, actually well done
🧁Fantastic Banter

AND THEN— This is a brother’s best friend romance, which I usually side-eye, but Cynthia Timoti pulled it off with such charm, I was straight up squealing. Like… the FMC realizes her lifelong crush is RECIPROCATED and I GIGGLED. OUT LOUD. She had her entire childhood validated in a single moment. I can’t.

There’s also thoughtful and well-done Type 1 Diabetes representation, with some really cool facts about natural sweeteners that I honestly had no idea about.

The Chinese Indonesian family dynamic added some conflict that I think really added to the novel, especially the subtle moments that spoke to growing up with migrant parents and the expectations that stem from that. And Kim and Jenna? Iconic. Five-star hype women.

Oh—and there’s a Jaws pun. I repeat: A. Jaws. Pun. ⛵️🦈

This one comes out June 4, just in time for beach reading.

#ARCReview #SaltySpicedAndALittleBitNice #RomComReads #BookstagramRecs #NetGalleyReads #BrothersBestFriend #FakeDatingTrope #SmallTownRomance #ForcedProximity #DiabetesRepresentation #ReadWithMe #BookishLove #RomanceReaders #BookstagramCommunity

🍰❤️ Book Review: "Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice" by Cynthia Timoti 🧁✨

Dive into a world where sweet, spicy, and salty collide in Cynthia Timoti’s debut novel, "Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice." A rom-com brimming with cultural richness and personal triumphs, this story offers a unique spin on the fake dating trope with a delicious blend of multicultural elements and the complexities of living with diabetes. 🇨🇳🇮🇩💑

Meet Ellie Pang, an endearingly salty heroine determined to take control of her life away from her overbearing family. After a disastrous viral proposal pushes her to her limits, Ellie escapes to chase her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery. But her plan hits a snag when she must team up with Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, to renovate the bakery while pretending to be in a relationship to help Alec secure a business deal. 🌟🔨

While the chemistry between Ellie and Alec is intense and adds spice to the narrative, some readers might find the progression from animosity to affection underdeveloped and rushed. The novel promises tension-filled fake dating scenarios, but often tells rather than shows, leaving a desire for more immersive romantic moments. 💞

Ellie’s relationship with her family, particularly regarding her diabetes, is at the forefront and is handled with care, offering insightful representation of managing a chronic illness. However, her being infantilized at times can be frustrating, though it provides a clear path for personal growth. The cultural elements enrich the story, weaving Chinese and Indonesian influences creatively into the plot. 🍜🩺

On the downside, some readers may find Ellie’s character occasionally bratty or mean-spirited, which can detract from her likability. Meanwhile, Alec’s character development stumbles at points, particularly toward the end when dramatic reveals cloud the resolution, affecting the emotional payoff. The narrative’s dramatic flair sometimes feels overdone, especially in the third act. 🌩️

Despite these hiccups, "Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice" offers touching insights and entertaining moments, making it worth checking out for fans of contemporary romance that blend romance and personal growth. The genuine portrayal of Ellie’s relationship with her mother adds a refreshing dose of realism amid the romantic escapades. 🌺

In conclusion, while the story might leave some longing for smoother romance and more consistent character arcs, it remains a commendable debut with its vibrant mix of humor, culture, and heart. A must-read for those who appreciate the complexities of love, family, and self-discovery. 🥰📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

⭐️3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice was a delightful debut rom com by author Cynthia Timoti. More sweet than spice but we're here for the angst and the diversity.

As someone who does not have or know someone who has Type 1 Diabetes, I thought her portrayal of living with Type 1 was on point for the bulk of her readers. I would be interested to hear what others who have experience think on this topic. I however enjoyed the juxtaposition between Ellie's family's response versus that of Alec and his desire to learn and care for her. We don't typically see FMC's with Type 1 diabetes and I found that to be refreshing.

The overall setting and structure of the book was one that those of us who consume romance and rom com movies would find comforting. Girl is unsatisfied with life, decides to follow her dream only to find out, her dream is in shambles....literally. Enter hunky developer dude. It's a tale we all know and love.

I will admit, I was thrilled when I saw the enemies to lovers AND fake dating tags. This story was a cute and quick read. I ate up every sweet crumb. But I felt like I was building and building just to...fizzle. An upcoming scene would be introduced, brunch for example, only for the chapter to end with the next one picking up after brunch. There were a lot of moments where I found myself disappointed because a funny scene that could've SHOWN us the angst and longing with fake dating, just telling us that yes they were still fake dating. A lot of telling, with not as much showing. It left the progression of their professed love feeling rushed and a little forced. I believe more scenes of them on fake dates and at fake dates, and less of them talking in the kitchen would have taken this read from a solid 3.5 stars to a 4-4.5. Overall, not a bad debut for Cynthia Timoti. I looked forward to seeing her continue to grow into the genre and will still be picking up later works of hers.

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. However, I still believe it's a great romance read and would probably buy it/recommend it to friends and family. It's well written and easy to get into, with a great depiction of living with diabetes. Plus, the hero is swoony.

The problem, for me, was the heroine. On top of being a bit oblivious, she was also quite rude to the hero even though he kept helping her out and despite her obvious feelings for him. And at times the banter was funny, but mostly I felt bad for the MMC.

Overall, though, it's well worth reading if you like contemporary romance, baking, second chance romance (sort of) and the "older brother's best friend" trope.

Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is a fun grumpy-sunshine rom-com. I loved the small town Hallmark setup and the second chance childhood crushes backstory. I felt like Ellie, our FMC, grew a lot throughout the book and I was happy to see her character develop. I also felt like Alec, our MMC, really matured in a significant way as well. There were a few side characters, especially Ellie's brother, Eric, who drove me a little bit crazy especially since he would continuously make things worse for Ellie by involving her parents (for literally no reason!), but overall the side characters were fun to read as well, if a little under-developed. Finally, I appreciated how Ellie dealt with her type-1 diabetes, but I found her family's, and at times, Alec's, reactions to her illness. I felt like she does a great job managing it, but she's often infantilized by everyone around her and it was frustrating to see play out so often. I realize it was convenient to give her a place to grow into, but it felt like there could have been a bit more going on for her. Overall, I felt like it was an easy and fun read, though a little too much grumpy and the kind of yearning that is fueled by a simple miscommunication, it was a good time!

Ellie Pang has had enough with her family’s micromanagement of her life, ranging from her type 1 diabetes (T1DM) to her career aspirations. When Ellie decides to pick up her life and move as far away across the country as she can, she lands in a small town with aspirations to open up a sugar free bakery. However, she runs into a snafu with her new building, and the only person who can help her turn things around is her brother’s best friend, Alec Mackenzie, who broke her teenage heart a decade ago and they’ve been rivals ever since. #EnemiesToLovers But Alec isn’t doing this solely to help out a friend, he needs Ellie to be in a #FakeRelationship with him so he can impress a potential business deal. Ellie has to make this work, to prove to her family that she can be independent, and to prove to herself that she can trust her heart.

Quite the definition of sweet and spicy! Ellie’s T1DM is almost its own character and a central plot point, and it was so refreshing (and realistic!) to see this used as a plot point without feeling overly didactic or exploitative. There’s so much chemistry between Ellie and Alec, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel - it had all the amazing qualities that #RomCom lovers will immediately gravitate toward it! I can’t wait to read more from Cynthia Timoti!

Reviewed as part of #ARC from @NetGalley. Many thanks to @brambleromance for the opportunity to read and review. Spice level: moderate

This review will be posted on/around the publication date on Instagram @AutobiographiCole.

Fake dating your brother's best friend who broke your teenage heart while trying to figure out your type 1 diabetes what could possibly go wrong. Apparently a lot. But even though Elle's life is chaos it does indeed make for a great rom com.

There’s always something about a bakery themed romance that gets me excited, add in fake dating and Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice had all the ingredients for success. Ellie Pang is tired of her family micromanaging her life since her type 1 diabetes, so she takes matters into her own hands, moving acrid the country to open her own bakery—only her storefront needs major renovations and the only person who can help her is her brother’s best friend that broke her heart ten years ago, Alec Mackenzie. And he needs a pretend girlfriend to close a business deal, so to help each other out, they pretend to date, but the line between love and hate blurs and Ellie has to trust her heart. Ellie is such a great character! She’s brave and snarky and funny and driven. And Alec is so sweet and generous. I will say there are a lot of moments of holding off on communication that felt frustrating and I did find some of the twists predictable. I did want more development to the romance but it’s a slow burn, “it’s always been you” kind of romance that I love. And I devoured this. I craved the treats Ellie was baking up, and I thought her journey was so well developed. There’s the type 1 diabetes representation too that felt really nicely done. And the family dynamics were so complex. I was really rooting for Ellie! It’s a heartwarming story with a wonderful, independent FMC!

Every great recipe needs the right ingredients and this book throws them all in the mix.
You get a heapful of miscommunication, a spoonful of fake dating, a sprinkle of unexpected twists, and to top it off, romcom charm.

In the synopsis alone I was invested! Ellie is ready to break free from her family business and do things her way. So what does she decide to do? Open up her very own bakery of course! But just when she thinks she has it all figured out, fate throws a big surprise... like running into a childhood crush, who is somehow more handsome.

Three things I loved the most about the book:
1. The steady pace kept me hooked, but the unexpected twist kept me coming back for more!
2. A relatable, realistic, well-rounded female main character with diabetes.
3. Resources at the end of the book for people with diabetes.

Overall, this book had me laughing, frustrated ( in the best way), and completely invested in Ellie’s journey. This book is sweet, spicy, and delightfully messy just the way I like it!

Ellie had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Alec. She was devastated when he left town after she told him she loved him 10 years ago. Ellie’s parents were rich, and their business was all they cared about. Her mother expected her to work with them, but Ellie was tired of her mother’s interference, took her savings and traveled 3,000 miles to open her own bakery that catered to those wanting to eat healthy. Ellie’s diabetes spurred her on to find delicious, healthy desserts for everyone. Ten years later, Alec came to her rescue when she arrived at her new bakery to find it damaged. In return for help in fixing up the bakery, Ellie agrees to be Alec’s girlfriend so he can land a lucrative merger. I loved learning about Ellie’s Indonesian culture and her Type 1 diabetes. I loved the fact that Ellie was strong and wanted to do things on her own. I also appreciated Alec’s devotion to his family. Wonderful characters and great romance.

AHHHHHH!!! Just finished Salty, Spiced and a Little Bit Nice, and I’m seriously in love with this debut romantic comedy!

The story follows Ellie, a young woman who’s trying to escape her overbearing conglomerate family and her micromanaging mother while dealing with a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

She moves across the country with hopes of opening her dream sugar-free bakery, but things don’t go quite as smoothly as she hopes.

Enter Alec Mackenzie, her childhood crush and her brother’s best friend, who has a plan of his own: asking Ellie to pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for helping her with her business.

Of course, Ellie and Alec can’t stand each other… or can they?

The chemistry between Ellie and Alec was off the charts. The tension and banter between them were some of my favorite parts of the book. I’m such a sucker for the “it’s always been you” trope, and Timoti really nailed it!

Very true to her blurb, if Crazy Rich Asians and Always Be My Maybe had a baby…it would be this book. I couldn’t put it down.

Ellie was such a great main character—tough, resilient, and 120% relatable, but still with that soft edge. She handled everything life threw at her, and I loved seeing her grow throughout the book.

The secondary characters were also fantastic and played an important role in pushing the story forward. I’m definitely hoping for more, maybe even a follow-up book about Kim’s story, as it seemed like there was a nice setup for it!

As a parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes, I really appreciated how well the diabetes representation was done. Ellie’s struggles with managing her condition felt so real, and Alec’s dedication to learning about it made him even more lovable. It was clear that Cynthia Timoti put a lot of care into this aspect, and it really made this debut stand out.

This book is the perfect rom-com for fans of Abby Jimenez, Mia Sosa, or Ali Hazelwood, with that extra multicultural twist.

If you love a great fake dating story with amazing chemistry and a touch of sweetness,m and even a bit of steam, you definitely need to add this to your TBR!

Thank you NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

♡ arc review! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bramble at Tor publishing group for this copy!

♡ This was such a heart-touching and sweet read. I absolutely loved Ellie, she was a strong character that was trying to find her own way in life without other's influences. Something I loved about her character was that while she was confident and independent, she also showed vulnerability and doubt, as most of us do in our life, and I loved the balance. I absolutely loved how she advocated for herself and took charge of her life despite everyone around her thinking that they knew better for her. I think that she'd be a great role model for readers and that a lot readers would resonate with her.

♡ This was a wonderful rom-com read! I was giggling at moments and was on the edge of my seat with some of the more intense scenes. Alec was written wonderfully, you could really notice his character development and I absolutely loved the grovel scene. This was a super enjoyable read and I found myself wanting to try all of the sweets highlighted in the book!

♡ read if you like: childhood friends to lovers, one bed trope, forced proximity, dislike to lovers, "to be loved is to be seen" type scenes

Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is a delightful rom-com that blends the rich family drama of Crazy Rich Asians with the humor and heart of Always Be My Maybe. In her debut novel, Cynthia Timoti offers a refreshing take on love, independence, and finding your own path amidst family expectations and past heartbreaks.

Ellie Pang is ready to break free from her overbearing family, who’ve been controlling her life ever since her type 1 diabetes diagnosis. When her parents stage a disastrous proposal that goes viral, Ellie escapes to the other side of the country to pursue her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery. But things don’t go as planned—her storefront is a fixer-upper, and the only person who can help her renovate it is Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and the guy who broke her teenage heart a decade ago.

What starts as an awkward, forced partnership turns into a hilarious and heartwarming fake-dating scenario when Alec proposes a deal: pretend to be his girlfriend to help him close a business deal, and in return, he’ll help her with her bakery. As the lines between fake love and real feelings begin to blur, Ellie is forced to confront her past, her heart, and her family’s expectations.

Timoti’s debut is packed with charm, humor, and a sweet (but sugar-free!) romance that will leave readers rooting for Ellie and Alec. Their witty banter and unresolved tension make for an engaging, page-turning romance, and the exploration of family dynamics and personal growth adds depth to the story. Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is a delicious treat for rom-com lovers who enjoy a balance of heart, humor, and a dash of spice.

Thank you so much to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice by Cynthia Timoti.

When Ellie’s parents attempt to further intrude on her life, both in work and her personal life, Ellie (who has type 1 diabetes) decides to follow her own dream of opening a sugar-free bakery. Alec, her brother’s best friend, steps in to help Ellie in getting the space up and running to make her dream a reality. In exchange, Alec asks for Ellie’s help pose as his girlfriend in order to get a business deal back on track.

This was such an adorable romance! I was sold on Ellie and Alec from the beginning. I love stories where they both secretly like each other but one or both characters are oblivious to the other. In this book, I loved all of the moments that show how much Alec likes Ellie, while she remains oblivious. In addition to the romance, I enjoyed Ellie’s journey to create her own path separate from her parents.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable easy read, definitely check out this fake dating, brother’s best friend romance!

I just finished Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice by Cynthia Timoti, and what an absolute delight!

This book serves up the perfect recipe of humor, heart, and a dash of spice that had me hooked from start to finish. The witty dialogue and vibrant characters brought so much life to the story—it’s impossible not to root for them. Timoti perfectly balances laugh-out-loud moments with heartfelt, tender scenes, making it a truly memorable read.

If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts fun and full of feels, Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is exactly what you need. You’ll be craving more from Cynthia Timoti in no time! 🌶️✨

A very sweet (pun intended!) romcom with great Type 1 Diabetes representation. The disease played a pivotal role in the plot, but it rarely felt preachy about what the experience of having T1D can be like. The progression of the relationship was well-paced and I loved how Ellie wasn't waiting around to be saved by anyone!

OMGGGGGG A CHINESE/INDONESIAN ROM-COM I'VE BEEN WANTING! IT DELIVERED!

Ellie (fmc) is over it. her parents have been running her life like they’re CEOs of Her, Inc.—picking her clothes, her career, and practically her every thought so, she flips the script and sets out to prove she can do something on her own—like opening a SUGAR-FREE BAKERY. why? because, fun fact, Ellie has type 1 diabetes, and she’s tired of sweet treats being landmines of doom. she wants desserts that won’t spike her blood sugar or send her straight to the ER.

but here’s the catch: running a bakery? turns out, not a solo sport. cue Alec: her brother’s obnoxiously charming, know-it-all best friend. AKA, the worst. Alec swoops in with an offer she can’t refuse: his business know-how in exchange for Ellie pretending to be his girlfriend. (yes yes i'm here for the fake-dating.) why does he need a fake girlfriend? oh, just to get his meddling family off his back. no biggie. it's a win-win, right? except for the part where they can’t stop bickering long enough to bake a cupcake. or the part where Alec is somehow annoyingly good at making her laugh. or that thing where the fake feelings might be turning real. Ellie is an absolute riot, and her story had me hooked from the first page. it's the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud chaos, heartwarming vulnerability, and sizzling chemistry. the way it dives into family expectations, self-discovery, and love feels so real and relatable, yet it’s all wrapped up in humor so sharp it should come with a warning label.

also, the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is pure gold! full of banter that had me grinning like an idiot and tension so thick you could cut it with a spatula. their journey isn’t just about finding each other; it’s about finding themselves, and that emotional depth hits hard in all the best ways. the balance of sweet and spicy is chef’s kiss, and let’s be honest: we all need more sugar-free baked goods and fake-dating disasters in our lives.

what could possibly go wrong when you mix fake dating, real sparks, and sugar-free cake?
spoiler: EVERYTHING! if you’re into rom-coms with big laughs, big feelings, and even bigger swoons, this one’s a must-read.

thank you so much Tor Publishing Group!
i enjoyed this WAY TOO MUCH. I MIGHT READ IT AGAIN.