ARC Review: Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff
10:00
Series: None
Author: Lindsay Hameroff
Published February 20th 2024 by St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads Synopsis
Culinary student Lexi Berman, 24, has one goal: to make her late mother proud by becoming an executive chef in a Michelin-star restaurant. And she isn’t going to let anything–or anyone–get in the way. But when she meets Jake Taylor, a dive bar musician who charms her with show tunes, she makes a rare exception to her no-dating rule. After a steamy weekend together, Jake leaves for L.A. to record his demo, and Lexi never expects to see him again. And she definitely doesn’t expect him to become an overnight celebrity, with a breakout single that’s almost certainly about her famous blueberry pancake recipe.
As Jake’s star rises and the world speculates about the subject of his song, Lexi keeps the affair to herself. After all, she’s finally found her footing at her new restaurant job, and even has a prospective romance with her coworker. But when a distraught Jake turns up on her doorstep late one night, her carefully-laid plans are thrown for a loop. Though she and Jake try to be friends, things between them soon reheat faster than a bowl of Lexi's matzah ball soup. But a relationship with Jake means risking her face in tabloids, withstanding cruel internet comments, and worst of all, jeopardizing her career. As Jake’s upcoming tour approaches, and rumors swirl about him and another pop star, Lexi has to decide if holding onto her meticulously-planned future is worth walking away from what could be the perfect recipe for love.
Set both in the chaos of fame and the high stakes world of New York City restaurants, this novel sprinkles in a second chance at love and a dollop of celebrity drama to create a romantic romp that will make even the most jaded reader smile.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After a hot and heavy weekend with musician Jake, Lexi decides to focus on her passion for cooking, and keeps her promise to her late mother to become an executive chef. She never expected that Jake, who was performing in a dive bar when they met, would ever make it big, and especially not to be the subject of his hit single. And then Jake returns, distraught and on her doorstep, and she can't refuse him. But is she willing to risk it all to be with him, or is the romance even better than her dreams could be?
I was hooked with this book, and was actually gutted that I read it so early because then I had no one else to talk to about it. Lexi and Jake were so down to earth and real, which considering their careers, was unexpected. The way they initially got together was so on brand for them, and even when they were apart, it gave us a true understanding into what made them tick. Jake was a proper southern gentleman, who wanted a career in music, but even the way he skyrocketed to fame was a surprise for him. They both really struggled with the public gaze being on them, and let it affect the way they felt for each other a bit too much. Even so, I was fully invested in their relationship, and they more than made up for any pain or suffering there was.
Dates Read:
June 28-30, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
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