A new chef, a sexy musician, and a second chance at love? Yes, please!

I received a copy of TILL THERE WAS YOU by Lindsay Hammeroff from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which is that I absolutely loved it!!

I had so much fun reading Lexi and Jake’s journey. Lexi, a stressed out culinary student, spends a mind-blowing weekend with struggling musician, Jake. Afterwards, they lose touch, until he pops up on her radio singing a song clearly inspired by her! When Jake shows up on her doorstep, overwhelmed by fame and seeking the genuine connection they experienced that weekend, Lexi will have to decide what she’s willing to risk in her already high-stress life.

Lindsay does an amazing job building up the love between Lexi and Jake. We get to see their instant connection, which makes it hit harder when he leaves and shows back up. They are equal parts cute, sweet, and seriously sexy! There’s a hilarious supporting cast of characters, especially in Lexi’s best friends and an epically douchey ex-Bachelor star.

Such a great read, and I can’t wait to see more from Lindsay!

This book was one of the most impossible-to-put-down books I've read (in any genre) this year. Considering I've read 130+ books in 2023, that's really saying something.

I adored everything about this contemporary romance. Both Lexi and Jake are wonderful characters with real development throughout the story both individually and as a couple. I usually don't go for insta-love but it was done to perfection here and I *bought* it hook, line, and sinker. For my trope lovers out there, the blurb mentions the celebrity bit but the second-chance is done so well and so inventively that I think it's the real star of the show. All of these are tropes I don't usually go for but they are so so good that I can't help but love them here.

I was rooting so hard for these characters and so invested in them that I just couldn't bring myself to stop reading the ENITRE time. It's a really well-written book, the pacing is structured beautifully, and the pay-off at the end is perfection.

I totally recommend this to my other contemporary romance readers out there. This one is an absolute gem and I guarantee you won't be able to set it down once you start.


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an emotional read for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! You’ll love the charm, witty banter, and intrinsic strength of the FMC.

Lexi strives toward becoming a chef, which takes grit and entails dedicating your life to the craft, spending many hours each day in the kitchen. It’s what she’s wanted since she was young, and Lexi is definitely headstrong, focused, and thrives when she’s in control.

But when she meets Georgia-boy Jake at a bar he is performing at, she realizes they have a special connection. Lexi explores that connection by going “off book” and spending the weekend with him. She doesn’t expect much more from Jake after that since he heads across the country to record his demo.

He quickly rises to stardom and reappears in Lexi’s life suddenly, right when she is just establishing herself as a working professional in a new restaurant. Jake is a successful, new artist in the music industry, and a multitude of issues ensue, especially when it comes to being in a relationship with a person not in the public eye.

Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions because there will be angst and anticipation, levity and laughter, and—best of all—humor and a happy ending. This story was well-written, and I certainly look forward to more works by the author.

Loved this one!! 🫐🥞🌃💛🎶👩🏼‍🍳
A chef and a musician fall in love over blueberry pancakes in this second-chance romance debut. “Till There Was You” features lots of cooking, Broadway music, New York living, and the journey to achieve your dreams. This was such a fun read, lighthearted with depth - I loved every minute of it!

Thank you Lindsay Hameroff for this story. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was wonderful.

Lexi, aspiring chef, meets Jake, aspiring musician, and sparks fly. The two enjoy a steamy weekend fling, and then they are catapulted into reality. Jake gets signed to a label and his career takes off immediately, while Lexi pushes herself through culinary school and secures a job in a restaurant kitchen.

I love that we get to follow Lexi and Jake as they follow their dreams and then realize that maybe they should rethink the way they want their lives to go. I admire Lexi’s ability to move on with her life, even though the evidence of her short-lived past with Jake plays on the radio everywhere she goes.

This book highlights the fact that it is not easy being in a relationship with someone who in constantly stuck in the public eye. It causes Lexi to constantly question herself and the relationship, which, I assume, is the reality when you’re in a position like that. Instead of just calling it quits, Jake continues to fight for her and refuses to give up.

The ending scene was something out of my dreams. It was so sweet and romantic. I can’t wait to see more from this author!

I want to extend a huge thank you to Lindsay Hameroff, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book!

Oh. My. Sweet. Southern. Heart.

I picked this one up on a whim when St. Martin’s Press sent me an email for NetGalley access. It has pancakes on the cover….PANCAKES y’all. I didn’t read the synopsis, just snatched it up out of the email and immediately began to read.

So at first I thought, we’ll shit, this is an insta-love rockstar-ish romance. To my surprise this was NOT that. After a few chapters it became clear this was going to be a shifting will they-won’t they tug on my heart.

Lexi and Jake are both chasing dreams, big, big dreams and eventually fall apart. They weren’t anything serious to begin with, but that singular weekend they spent together really packed a punch. I was worried at first that the emotion wouldn’t make an impact, but holy smokes it does.

When they get a second chance life happens and everything the experience felt genuine and real. It’s hard to explain honestly. The balance of stardom and normality was executed splendidly.

I enjoyed this book so much, it was exactly what I needed. A mix between southern comfort and celebrity drama. Thank you again St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy! My review was written voluntarily, all opinions are my own.

-4.5 Stars-
I was so excited to snag this book when it was a Read Now on NetGalley and it didn’t disappoint. Especially because I read it with my favorite @and.a.good.book

Here’s what loved:
• second chance romance
• all the yummy food
• celebrity/chef love story
• soulmates feels
• so unputdownable

I loved the connection between Jake and Lexi. They were just meant to be and watching their connection grow as they fell more in love was utter perfection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆/5
Steam: open door
Out February 20, 2024
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TW: past death of a parent, sexual harassment in the workplace described in the past

Getting an early copy of this book on NetGalley was a fantastic summer bonus!

Till There Was You is full of lighthearted humor and both big and small romantic gestures. It has all the necessary ingredients for a romcom, with a dash of emotional familial baggage. Hameroff takes you on a journey with Lexi and Jake that you are sad to say goodbye to when you turn the last page.

4.5⭐️
1.5 🌶️

Till There Was You is a debut novel by Lindsay Hameroff. I knew I would love this book when page 1 had a quote from a Harry Styles song 🫶

This story follows Lexi and Jake. A one-night stand turns into a steamy weekend and insta-love vibes. However, Lexi is an aspiring chef and Jake is trying to make his break as a musician. With big goals and career plans, Lexi and Jake run into many obstacles to make their relationship work.

Jake and Lexi are both super lovable characters with their own flaws and baggage. While the heart of the story is in NYC, you still get a bit of southern charm because Jake is a Georgia boy at heart. This story explores what can happen when overnight fame steps in and how an everyday average person manages to date someone in the spotlight.

This was a super enjoyable read for romcom lovers who also like an emotional experience.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this quick-witted, heartfelt romance from Lindsay Hameroff! Till There Was You brought all the goods: humor, heart, steam, originality, and mouth-watering food descriptions! I laughed out loud, and surprised myself when I cried. Hameroff is a debut to watch!

Truly, truly, truly loved Till There Was You! I am a sucker for a food romance, and TTWY was nothing short of excellent.
Lexi is a hardworking culinary student who is just trying to live up to her late mothers wishes. Upon meeting Jake Taylor, she can easily see how easy love is. They spend their first few days together watching Golden Girls and eating Lexi's favorite blueberry pancakes. When Jake leaves and becomes a big star, Lexi realizes that the song is about her, and that maybe she does really love him.
I so much enjoyed this. The food descriptions were unmatched and left me wanting to keep reading. TTWY read like a simple, free flowing romance that I have been chasing for a while. I loved how easy Lexi and Jake got along and how simple their relationship felt. For me, it was a very easy romance and I loved the themes of it.
While I adored this book, the ending was a little too cutie for me. NYE party and the whole jumbotron was a little bit much for me, but it was just like a rom com movie that I would eat up.
Over all, 5 stars from me! Fun, enjoyable, and such a good read. I will be reading everything Linsday Hameroff writes.

Till There Was You is a swoon-worthy romance featuring a rising pop star and an up-and-coming chef. Lexi and Jake will quickly become a new bookish couple you root for!

Lexi hopes to fulfill her late mother's dream of becoming a chef in Manhattan. She has a great group of friends and dating is the last thing on her mind. When she meets a charming musician at a dive bar, she gives in for just one weekend. She never knew that one steamy weekend with Jake would open up her heart so quickly.

Jake is a sweetheart and has dreamt of making music for a living. He performs and meets Lexi and they hit it off. After a weekend together, he can't help but feel like they are soulmates. Their connection is everything and he wants more. He just has to make a quick trip to finish his demo and then they can spend all the time they want together. Jake didn't plan to become an overnight sensation and miss out on a whole year with Lexi.

Lexi always had hope that she would hear from Jake after he left. He wrote a song about her and it went viral. How could he not call her.? Even after everyone told her to move on, she knew what they had was too special to just last for one weekend. But the call never came. So, she decided to close up her heart once again. And that's when Jake is back in town and front of her door.

This is an emotional and charming romance about second chances, dating a celebrity, and going after what you want. I was glued to the pages and couldn't wait to see how it all played out quickly enough! I swooned so hard and rooted for Jake & Lexi like a diehard fangirl. This is a must-read for any contemporary romance reader!

What a fun, swoony romance! This is a perfect quick beach read. It’s fun, flirty, and has a lot of heart. What a fun romcom!