The character dynamics in "Just One Taste" are captivating. Olive is a complex protagonist, grappling with past resentments, familial expectations, and her growing attraction to Leo. Leo, on the other hand, is not just a charming chef but a multifaceted character with his own vulnerabilities and aspirations. Their banter crackles with tension, fueled by unresolved emotions and shared memories, making their journey both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Overall the story is a captivating read that blends grief, romance, and gastronomic delights into a satisfying narrative. While the romantic chemistry between the main characters may not resonate equally with all readers, the novel's strengths lie in its authentic portrayal of grief, vibrant setting, and mouthwatering descriptions of Italian cuisine.

“Time and bravery will get you through anything.”

I absolutely adored this beautiful story! A trip to amazing Italy, delicious Italian food, a hot chef and love… what more could you ask for?

Leo and Olive head to Italy to finish the cook book Olive’s dad started. The way Dent takes us through Italy via taste testing recipes, is deliciously perfect and absolutely mouth watering!

As they work through the cook book, their feelings for eachother grow and it just warmed my heart. It was perfect and sweet, filled with banter and chemistry. A shocking secret is revealed but the ending was beautifully written.

I loved everything about this book, I giggled, I cried, my heart was full and it made me happy.

*chefs kiss*
Bellissimo!

Thank you so much @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for this copy.

While Just One Taste starts in London, where Olive Stone has just learned that she’s inherited her estranged father’s run-down restaurant, the bulk of this story takes place in Italy. Olive and restaurant chef Leo Ricci have been tasked to complete the final three chapters of her father’s recipe book, which is sorted by the various regions of that country. Olive and Leo start off at loggerheads; she wants to sell the restaurant, while he wants to make a go of it. They’re fabulous characters and their dialogue sparkles. It’s clear they’re attracted to each other and that thread certainly carries through the book, but it’s the way they interact in the kitchen, testing and tasting the various regional dishes that appealed to me most. I love Italian food, and whilethere are no recipes as such, I still had a great sense of each dish both visually and tastewise. Along with that is the gorgeous Italian countryside spanning from Sicily in the south to Tuscany and on to Liguria in the north west. The imagery is superb. Aside from the joy of vicariously travelling through one of my favourite countries, I just loved this story. It has been a feast for my senses and is a book for the keeper shelf.