The Romance Recipe - PREVIEW

I finished HOT COPY yesterday and I loved it so much. I need Amy's book right nowwwwwww! This preview was so perfect. I need the full book right now like I need AIR!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina for the preview.

I am absolutely feral for these to idiots in close-proximity at work who are just PINING for each other. I need the rest of the book immediately I cannot wait for the rest it is going to be spectacular.

I need all of this book NOW. Since this is only the first five chapters of THE ROMANCE RECIPE, a full review with all of my thoughts is to come! However, this preview made me incredibly excited and I cannot wait to be back in this world. Ruby Barrett’s spice and tension are unmatched, so I’m greatly anticipating this sapphic romance from her.

I am a huge Carina Adores fan, so when I saw this on netgalley I immediately put down what I was doing to read these chapters. And I was not dissapointed!!!!! I literally am buzzing in excitement over this book. I am genuinely obsessed, I cannot wait for this to come out.

Let me paint you a picture: a high stakes, required unrequited love story about a micromanaging restaurant owner and her grumpy, worn out, reality star head chef. The dynamic between these two is so unique, and genuinely intriguing. I read a lot of romance and in the past couple of years the genre has been flooded with “enemies to lovers,” stories. I love that this book seems to be taking a much more realistic and unique approach to the trope. Amy and Sophie feel like real people with real emotions. And a reality show plot line??? And very relatable social media stress??? I love it!!! Plus there is a bevy of awkward, accidental flirting. Just incredible.

Also, as someone who has worked in the restaurant industry it’s clear to me that the author either has worked restaurant jobs or is amazing at research because all the references and situations are very relatable! Sophie hiding out/potentially crying in the walk in (freezer)???? So true! Using 86 out of context in conversation/internal monologue??? So true!

cw for the excerpt: mention of sexual harassment (off page), meal skipping (unintentional), death of a parent, fatphobia (brief), homophobia (specifically in an interpersonal relationship), injury, unsolicited nude photos,

(not to the publisher/netgalley: I tried to automatically post this to goodreads by clicking the button but it said the isbn could not be found).

The Romance Recipe gripped me from the first page until the last (of this preview)! With strong LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS vibes, The Romance Recipe is just the right blend of snark, romance, humor, and heavy.

I LOVED this preview of the first 5 chapters! I just read it and I already want more & I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the whole book. The dynamic between the two characters is so perfect and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

This was so adorable and had me wanting more. I loved the dynamic of chef and restaurant owner, both of whom are strong and amazing women. Both characters were super relatable and their chemistry was evident from the beginning. Definitely need to get my hands on this when it comes out.

This story hooked me from page 1. The beginning was perfect! Barrett effortlessly includes so many important details without it feeling like boring background. We get the restaurant name (Amy & May’s), set in Boston, her brother Wes and some background on Sophie. The first chapter also contains lots of sexual tension at least from Amy’s perspective and great physical descriptions of Sophie. I also love that Sophie is a caretaker and does sweet things for the restaurant staff and Amy. Chapter 2 and we discover they are both secretly pining for each other. Mutual pining, I am obsessed. The language and descriptions are so beautiful. “Miniature alpine skiers could jump off her eyelashes and land safely on the plump pink cushion of her lower limp. She’s a beautiful witch.” The first 5 chapters of this book are perfect. Dual POV, mutual pining, secret crushes, a steamy romance, lots of tension and chemistry, does it get any better? Barrett has absolutely nailed this one.

I just finished the preview for this book and I pre-ordered the paperback the moment I was done. This sample is not enough, I need the whole thing in my hands immediately. I'm so excited to see where this story goes. The characters drew me in from the very first pages, the chemistry and p-i-n-i-n-g, and did I mention CHEMISTRY? Somehow I missed HOT COPY when it was released, but I'm adding it to my must-buy list based on this preview, as well.

This teaser is just delicious! I would love to have more than this delightful sample. Ruby hooks readers quite quickly with these opening scenes; there’s no way anyone could walk away without filling their plate with more of this delectable romance!