How to dodge all the foodie metaphors when writing about this cooking driven novel? It goes off the boil, it doesn’t have much flavor. Etc. it’s a pleasant enough read, though excessively long and repetitive. Its paens to various cookery writers and their books should have been edited down hard. Ditto the repetitive characterizations - Jeannie and her rotten food, Molly and her predictably unpredictable behavior. The author doesn’t have the lightest of hands when setting up a swerve in the plot. Usually we can see these coming a mile away.
Overall, I’m surprised to see this generic offering under the Knopf imprint. It’s mild, not especially literary and lacking polish.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Knopf for providing me an advance copy of Adam Roberts’s #debut novel, Food Person, in exchange for an honest review.

#FoodPerson is a #contemporaryfiction novel about two women who must learn to navigate their clashing personalities in an attempt to save their careers and bolster each other's reputations, set against the fiery backdrop of the #NYC food scene.

Former food staff writer, Isabella Pasternack, is seeking re-employment in the industry after being terminated and publicly humiliated when she suffers a souffle snafu during her live-streamed demonstration. Desperate for a paycheck and a job that will help launch her dream career, she reluctantly accepts a ghostwriting project to pen a cookbook for a celebrity who has fallen from Hollywood's good graces.

Molly Babcock, tabloid queen and agent of chaos, is a washed-up, egotistical television actress whose career is floundering. Publishing a celebrity #cookbook is a last ditch attempt to rehabilitate her image. Although the rights to her cookbook sold, she has yet to write a single page for the project that was due yesterday, which is when her talent manager advises using a ghostwriter.

Upon meeting Molly, Isabella soon discovers that the starlet is a nightmare collaborator. Between her wild mood swings and her apathetic attitude towards food, the book, along with her dream career, seem destined to fail. To worsen matters, Molly is barely around to help test recipes or provide input, and on the rare occasions when she is around, she is either hungover from partying with her bad-boy, former co-star or evades Isabella's questions. Translation: Isabella has bitten off more than she can chew (no pun intended).

Much like the protagonist, the novel appears to suffer an identity crisis; often indecisive about which themes to tackle, the tone, and overall genre. At times, the characters, chapters, and even subplots feel as if they were written by different authors or were the result of combining separate versions with distinct aims. While there are glimmers of a strong plot with solid characters, the story is in dire need of editing.

The one silver lining is that it is clear the author is well-versed in the industry, which makes the passages about the history of famous food writers and their recipe books interesting. With some tightening of the passages and omissions of the heavier material, this book could make for a whimsical #romcom debut. Final verdict: 2.5 stars.

Zero interest in reading a book about someone with so little self confidence that they have pity sex. Clearly written by a man.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Food Person.

First, great cover!

Second, I love to eat and the descriptions of the mouthwatering dishes in the narrative made me salivate.

Third, the premise about an inspiring food writer named Isabella Pasternack who is tasked to ghostwrite a cookbook with a Lindsay Lohan-like celebrity sounded intriguing.

There are vibes of The Devil Wears Prada since Isabella is socially awkward, not into gossip blogs and fashion, but she loves to eat and her passion is cooking and food.

Her only ambition; to be a famous food writer a la Ruth Reichl and she'll do almost anything to achieve her goal.

I didn't like or dislike Isabella; I could relate to some of her qualities and feelings but at times I was frustrated by her meek and mildness.

Also, the tone of the narrative feels off; at times it reads as biting and dark, than it becomes campy and rom-com-ish.

That was my biggest gripe; the narrative quickly turned romantic and corny too fast.

Isabella finds the love of her life with a great guy who is also a chef!

She and her mom have resolved their differences and all is well.

Isabella and Molly are BFFs.

I won't lie and say I didn't roll my eyes. It was too corny to be believed.

Everything is resolved and tied up with a neat bow at the end.

I liked the writing and the descriptions of the food and dishes but the narrative was too sappy by the end.

Interesting read…. the characters were all kind of unlikable and the main character especially was insufferable. Made for an entertaining story though! This book was easy to get into and a light easy read. It was exactly what I needed at the time. This is a great brain candy book that’s not a romance. 3.75 stars.

Thank you net galley for the e arc! Calling all foodies!!! This one is for you. This book follows Isabela who recently got a job ghostwriting a cookbook for a famous actress Molly who is an absolute hot mess I'm talking drinking, drugs and an absolute trash boyfriend. Molly is so mean and unlikable I just couldn't even deal with it and was rooting for Isabela the whole time. This book was so fun and different from any I've read before. I loved all the famous chef and cookbooks that were named in this book and I also loved how Isabela collected cookbooks (I felt so seen as a cookbook collector) just an over fun book with a happy ending.

I very rarely give five stars for a book; it has to make a strong social statement. That said, I'm giving FOOD PERSON four stars.

I'm not a foodie, I didn't get many of the references to "famous" chefs or haute cuisine dishes, New York top restaurants. But that did not detract one bit from my enjoyment of this story. It's about a lot more than food: it's about relationships, do-overs, second chances. Even "bad guys" can have a change of heart.

Do yourself a flavor: pop up a bucket of popcorn, put your feet up and sink into this charming tale.

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

The ingredients are all here, Food Person makes my mouth waters with its detailed description of dishes, the New York food scene, the encyclopedic knowledge of cook books, as well as sprinkles of publishing musing—overall a very pleasant, charming reading experience.

It is in the plotting and characterization where traces of debut rough edges are still present: the balance between earnest drama and breezy comedy doesn't always feel dialed in, intense mental health issues seem to be resolved in the blink of an eye, and while the moments of levity are effective on their own, they sometimes clash tonally with what's surrounding them (the romance is so, so cute, but feels like it belongs in a totally different book). The protagonist is intentionally set up as a flawed individual, but the writing decision in certain scenes makes her character more frustrating and irrational than perhaps what the author has originally intended.

Food Person's highbrow cover art (which I love!) had me anticipating a biting, attitude-filled narrative in the flavor of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but the story turns out to be more of a conventional dramedy similar to The Devil Wears Prada. Still, I had a good time reading it, and would be curious to see what fictional culinary adventure Adam Roberts will cook up next!

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. I love food novels and thought this would be a love letter to food. While there are references to cooking, what grabbed my attention was the drama between friends, family, and a frenemy turned friend. Each character was complex and multifaceted with varying personalities. I’m interested to see if there’s a sequel. What happens to Isabella?

I had a feeling I would love this book from the plot description alone—and I was right! An utterly charming comedy of manners about ambition, friendship, and (of course) cooking, FOOD PERSON follows Isabella Pasternak and Molly Babcock, who couldn't be more different. Isabella is a bona fide "food person," who gets unceremoniously fired from her job as a writer for a digital food magazine after a disastrous live-streamed recipe demonstration. Molly is a once-beloved TV actress whose thriving career is now tarnished by scandal...and she couldn't care less about food. Isabella and Molly's worlds collide when Isabella is offered the opportunity to help Molly ghost-write a cookbook. While the two get off to a rocky start, they soon begin to realize that there's more to each other that meets the eye—and that they might have found true friendship in the most unexpected place of all. Can Isabella get Molly out of the gossip magazines and into the kitchen? Or will this cookbook collaboration end up in flames?

I could not put this book down! I tried to savor it, like one of the delicious dishes discussed in the story, but I ended up devouring it in just a couple of sittings. Adam Roberts's writing style is so witty and engaging, and he does a fantastic job of developing each character, making you want to root for them even in their most frustrating moments. The side characters were a blast to read about, from Isabella's ambitious roommate and best friend Owen and her well-meaning yet sometimes misguided mother Jeannie, to the swoon-worthy Gabe and Molly's seemingly acerbic sister Fiona. However, the true heart of the story is definitely Isabella and Molly's dynamic, and their respective journeys. Both of them are vastly different as characters—Isabella prefers to stay behind the camera, while Molly's grown up in front of it; Isabella loves to cook, while Molly can barely chop up kale correctly. Yet somehow, they bring out the best in each other.

I also loved how Roberts explores the uncertainty both women feel in regards to figuring out their careers and what kind of people they want to be, and takes readers into the world of food writing and celebrity culture (and where the two might intersect). He perfectly balances the humorous, lighthearted tone of the story with some deeper topics, and the result is a truly heartwarming concoction! Whether you are a diehard foodie or not a "food person" at all, there's no doubt you'll find something to enjoy in FOOD PERSON. I would highly recommend it—it may be too early to say so, but I think it will be one of my favorites of the year! Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

I found the main character to be very annoying and difficult to like. I stopped reading at 32% DNF.


*******************I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.*************************

Isabella’s passion for food leaps off the page—her vivid musings are enough to make any reader’s mouth water. Yet, her struggles as a jobless food writer bring a relatable undercurrent to her otherwise enviable life steeped in gastronomy. Her sharp humor and neurotic tendencies make her endearing, even as she stumbles her way into a ghostwriting gig for Molly Babcock, a woman who couldn’t be more her opposite.

Molly is a train wreck in the best possible way—her chaos and indifference to food make her the perfect foil for Isabella’s disciplined obsession. What begins as a seemingly doomed partnership transforms into an unexpectedly heartfelt dynamic. Their clashing personalities and unlikely camaraderie make for delicious drama, spiced with laugh-out-loud moments and touching revelations.

The novel excels in its ability to balance humor and heart and its keen insight into the world of food writing, celebrity culture, and personal growth. The stakes feel real, the characters are multidimensional, and the tension builds toward an unpredictable but thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

This was a smart read that celebrated the messiness of creativity, the complexities of relationships, and the joy of food. I knew I would love it, and it did not disappoint.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Isabella just got fired but she stumbles upon an opportunity to ghostwrite a cookbook for a celebrity. Unfortunately, her client seems to hate cooking and food in general. Still, Isabella is determined to make the best of the situation and create a cookbook that she can be proud of (and if it gets her a James Beard win, even better!).

This was so much fun to read. The characters are an intriguing combination of delusional, likable, and annoying yet charming! Recommended for anyone interested in food writing, delicious meals, and a delightful story of finding your voice.

Thank you very much to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I really liked this book! I would highly recommend this book if you like to watch cooking shows and even reality TV. It was entertaining and fun to read. I liked it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

A behind the scenes story about food writers and cookbooks that celebs produce... fascinating topic. Roberts crafted a very entertaining book. I loved it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the copy of Food Person by Adam Roberts. If you remember the heyday of food blogs about twenty years ago you might have read and loved The Amateur Gourmet, which is obviously where Roberts honed his writing skills. I loved how he brought his food expertise and humor to Isabella, and while she wasn’t likeable she was interesting and complicated. Then, about 50% through, I started to appreciate her relationship with food and started to like her despite her flaws. The first half of the book was funny, and the last half was more serious; in fact I might have shed a tear or two. You won’t be disappointed if you love great writing, an engaging, surprising story, and three-dimensional characters. You might even feel like revisiting some old food blogs. 5 stars

TBQH, I hate cooking and baking; I’m more of a frozen pizza person than a foodie. That being said, I cannot fully express just how much I enjoyed *Food Person* by Adam Roberts.

This novel is a fun, sarcastic comedy about two young women trying to get ahead. One is a foodie and a struggling writer, while the other, Molly, is an actress whose reckless past has made her a target for going viral, potentially jeopardizing her career. These two are like oil and water.

When Isabella lands a job to ghostwrite Molly’s cookbook and help relaunch her career, she hopes it will also launch her own. Thus begins a nightmarish but hilarious collaboration.

This novel is laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has a sincere vibe. Readers who enjoyed Alison Espach’s *The Wedding People*, Steven Rowley’s *The Guncle*, Samantha Allen’s *Roland Rogers Isn't Dead*, and Swan Huntley’s *I Want You More* may find this work appealing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate this read. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC.