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Taste Test
If you can grill it, smoke it, or fry it, Nora Henderson knows all about it. Her father owns one of North Carolina’s most successful barbeque joints and she’s been shredding pork and basting baby back ribs since she could reach the counter. When Taste Test, a reality cooking show for teens, accepts her for their fifth season, it’s a chance for Nora to get out of her humble hometown and break into the big leagues of the culinary world. When she shows up on set at the North American Culinary Academy, however, it’s not just the New England weather that’s ice cold. Fights with her high-society roommate and run-ins with the son of a famous chef force Nora to work even harder to prove she’s a force to be reckoned with. But, despite winning challenges and falling for a fellow contestant, Nora can’t ignore the mysterious accidents that are plaguing the kitchen arena. It seems like someone is conducting eliminations of their own and Nora’s determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before she, or anyone else, is “86ed” for good.
322 pages
First published August 27, 2013
12 people are currently reading
2344 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
August 8, 2013
I was presently surprised by this book! I was pretty excited to read it, but was a little apprehensive, because it wasn't the kind of book I generally read. But, I really enjoyed!
I absolutely loved the narrator. Nora seemed really shy, and unconfident at first, but through out the book she became really quick witted, and sarcastic, which was a really fun POV to read! I felt like she was a character who was easy to relate to, without her having some crazy dramatic backstory. She was just a girl, far away from home, really out of her element. It was nice to read about someone who wasn't magically comfortable being away from home. Nora felt really out of place at first, and it was a refreshing change to have a female character who wasn't always confident, but was definitely 'strong'.
I also really enjoyed the cooking element. I was very unsure about it at first, I have no knowledge of cooking, so I figured I'd be uninterested. But I really wasn't! I loved how unique the idea was, and how it made the story so interactive, by including the actual recipes!
I give Taste Test 4.5 out of 5 stars! I REALLY hope to see a sequel!
Maddie
I absolutely loved the narrator. Nora seemed really shy, and unconfident at first, but through out the book she became really quick witted, and sarcastic, which was a really fun POV to read! I felt like she was a character who was easy to relate to, without her having some crazy dramatic backstory. She was just a girl, far away from home, really out of her element. It was nice to read about someone who wasn't magically comfortable being away from home. Nora felt really out of place at first, and it was a refreshing change to have a female character who wasn't always confident, but was definitely 'strong'.
I also really enjoyed the cooking element. I was very unsure about it at first, I have no knowledge of cooking, so I figured I'd be uninterested. But I really wasn't! I loved how unique the idea was, and how it made the story so interactive, by including the actual recipes!
I give Taste Test 4.5 out of 5 stars! I REALLY hope to see a sequel!
Maddie
March 27, 2017
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS
This was kind of an impulse read for me. I just recently found out about it and thought it looked like a fun read, so I picked it up! And it was a fun read! It was cute, shippable, with a little bit of mystery.
Nora knows how to cook. She's been helping her father out with his barbecue joint all her life, so when her favorite cooking reality show starts looking for new contestants, she signs up. She gets accepted and has to leave her hometown to participate in the competition. She has to prove herself against other chefs, including her snooty new roommate and the infuriating Christian Van Lorten. But in the mist of things, mysterious accidents in the kitchen are knocking out the competition, and they may not be accidents.
Going into this book, I was not expecting the mystery element, despite the fact that it's in the synopsis. I was expecting cooking, reality TV, ans shipping. I got all of that, but there was more to it. First of all, this is a fun read. I was really immersed in this book and finished it very quickly, not only because I wanted to know what would happen, but I was really enjoying it! This book definitely feels like a contemporary romance, but the mystery is there. The mystery element grows as the book goes on, until the very end, when it becomes more of a major part of the story. I liked the added mystery element because it did add something else to the book (besides romantic tension) and it didn't feel too overly done or dramatic.
I liked the characters in this book. Nora was a great MC, but I really liked her friendships in this book, both new and old. As well as her other interactions with characters. I thought it was well done.
As for romance, I very much enjoyed it. I shipped it. Of course, it's a hate-to-love romance, which is my favorite, so I had to ship it! My favorite part of these kinds of romances is the witty banter and yes, there is witty banter. Now, the romance is really predictable. Heck, a lot of this book is predictable, but it's still really fun!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book! It was enjoyable, with a fun idea, reality TV, cooking, ships, and an added mystery. It's predictable, but who cares, it was fun. It won't go on my all-time favs list, but it does get a spot on my "feel-good reads" shelf!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS
This was kind of an impulse read for me. I just recently found out about it and thought it looked like a fun read, so I picked it up! And it was a fun read! It was cute, shippable, with a little bit of mystery.
Nora knows how to cook. She's been helping her father out with his barbecue joint all her life, so when her favorite cooking reality show starts looking for new contestants, she signs up. She gets accepted and has to leave her hometown to participate in the competition. She has to prove herself against other chefs, including her snooty new roommate and the infuriating Christian Van Lorten. But in the mist of things, mysterious accidents in the kitchen are knocking out the competition, and they may not be accidents.
Going into this book, I was not expecting the mystery element, despite the fact that it's in the synopsis. I was expecting cooking, reality TV, ans shipping. I got all of that, but there was more to it. First of all, this is a fun read. I was really immersed in this book and finished it very quickly, not only because I wanted to know what would happen, but I was really enjoying it! This book definitely feels like a contemporary romance, but the mystery is there. The mystery element grows as the book goes on, until the very end, when it becomes more of a major part of the story. I liked the added mystery element because it did add something else to the book (besides romantic tension) and it didn't feel too overly done or dramatic.
I liked the characters in this book. Nora was a great MC, but I really liked her friendships in this book, both new and old. As well as her other interactions with characters. I thought it was well done.
As for romance, I very much enjoyed it. I shipped it. Of course, it's a hate-to-love romance, which is my favorite, so I had to ship it! My favorite part of these kinds of romances is the witty banter and yes, there is witty banter. Now, the romance is really predictable. Heck, a lot of this book is predictable, but it's still really fun!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book! It was enjoyable, with a fun idea, reality TV, cooking, ships, and an added mystery. It's predictable, but who cares, it was fun. It won't go on my all-time favs list, but it does get a spot on my "feel-good reads" shelf!
October 19, 2013
Taste Test was a delicious (I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it.) read that I enjoyed (and almost died laughing over.)
The number one thing that hit me was definitely the writing style. Or, rather, the other things included. We got "interviews" with all our characters that I definitely enjoyed and giggled over. It let us see what front some of them were putting up and how they felt about what was going on! It was both hilarious and sort of sad sometimes. In the way that I want to be "LET ME LOVE YOU" to them. And then we got recipes. That I really want to try but would probably burn (even if it's not burnable.) I really love how Fiore included these little extras to make our reading experience way more enjoyable (and for all you actually decent cooks out there--can you pretty please make a few of them then send the food to me? I will love you forever, because some of these look absolutely scrumptious.)
The relationships between these characters also took center stage. Whether it was the absolutely amazing father-daughter dynamic Nora and her dad had, the unrequited love between her and Billy (BFF), or her hate/love (literally. Mainly hate?) with Christian, all of them were wonderfully written! Nora's weren't the only relationships that played a role though--Gigi (the new BFF) and her friendships and familial ties, Joy's little trysts, and Christian's own relationship with his dad were also ones that were pretty fleshed out! I do wish we spent a little more time on them though, rather than spending a majority of the book focusing on Christian and Nora's chemistry.
Of course, that doesn't mean I like it. Trust me, I was cheering these two on from the start! They were absolutely HILARIOUS by themselves, but together? I think I died of laughter several times. Their witty banter was filled with snarky remarks that had me crawling around on the floor clutching my stomach. Kelly Fiore definitely played on the phrase "There's a thin line between love and hate" because that was definitely true here! I never knew whether they were going to end up kissing or if it would end with Nora slapping him.
I did love the pacing, though I couldn't help but wish we focused more on the show in the first half. We glossed over several of the "incidents" and we only really read/experienced a few and it wasn't really the main focus. The culprit was also pretty predictable, though I really didn't expect the reason why! The ending, I loved though. (But can we get an epilogue? I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE.)
The characters were probably the thing I liked the least. Nora wasn't really written well and seemed a little flat and she seemed to judge harshly and quickly. She definitely wasn't my favorite character and I can't help but wish she was a little less...impulsive sometimes.
Christian, I loved, though he did seem excessively cruel at times. But his snark was absolutely HILARIOUS and I'm pretty sure I fell in love with him by the second time we met him. He was absolutely adorable and a fun character to read about!
Taste Test is a cute and fun read I'd definitely recommend to people looking for an laugh out loud book that brings out their Giggle Monster. A perfect read for anyone who needs a break from the paranormal and dystopian!
The number one thing that hit me was definitely the writing style. Or, rather, the other things included. We got "interviews" with all our characters that I definitely enjoyed and giggled over. It let us see what front some of them were putting up and how they felt about what was going on! It was both hilarious and sort of sad sometimes. In the way that I want to be "LET ME LOVE YOU" to them. And then we got recipes. That I really want to try but would probably burn (even if it's not burnable.) I really love how Fiore included these little extras to make our reading experience way more enjoyable (and for all you actually decent cooks out there--can you pretty please make a few of them then send the food to me? I will love you forever, because some of these look absolutely scrumptious.)
The relationships between these characters also took center stage. Whether it was the absolutely amazing father-daughter dynamic Nora and her dad had, the unrequited love between her and Billy (BFF), or her hate/love (literally. Mainly hate?) with Christian, all of them were wonderfully written! Nora's weren't the only relationships that played a role though--Gigi (the new BFF) and her friendships and familial ties, Joy's little trysts, and Christian's own relationship with his dad were also ones that were pretty fleshed out! I do wish we spent a little more time on them though, rather than spending a majority of the book focusing on Christian and Nora's chemistry.
Of course, that doesn't mean I like it. Trust me, I was cheering these two on from the start! They were absolutely HILARIOUS by themselves, but together? I think I died of laughter several times. Their witty banter was filled with snarky remarks that had me crawling around on the floor clutching my stomach. Kelly Fiore definitely played on the phrase "There's a thin line between love and hate" because that was definitely true here! I never knew whether they were going to end up kissing or if it would end with Nora slapping him.
I did love the pacing, though I couldn't help but wish we focused more on the show in the first half. We glossed over several of the "incidents" and we only really read/experienced a few and it wasn't really the main focus. The culprit was also pretty predictable, though I really didn't expect the reason why! The ending, I loved though. (But can we get an epilogue? I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE.)
The characters were probably the thing I liked the least. Nora wasn't really written well and seemed a little flat and she seemed to judge harshly and quickly. She definitely wasn't my favorite character and I can't help but wish she was a little less...impulsive sometimes.
Christian, I loved, though he did seem excessively cruel at times. But his snark was absolutely HILARIOUS and I'm pretty sure I fell in love with him by the second time we met him. He was absolutely adorable and a fun character to read about!
Taste Test is a cute and fun read I'd definitely recommend to people looking for an laugh out loud book that brings out their Giggle Monster. A perfect read for anyone who needs a break from the paranormal and dystopian!
February 8, 2018
Last summer I read something exactly like this book and I think it was titled Pizza, Love, and Other Things That Make Me Famous by Kathryn Williams. This book was almost exactly like that book and I think I'm destined to read contemporary novels about reality food teen TV shows every summer or something, ha ha. But the positive aspect of this experience is that I enjoyed Taste Test significantly more. We have a small-town girl from the South who has an opportunity to make it big on a famous cooking show featuring teens that have exceptional talent and potential when it comes to food. Throughout her journey to stardom, she encounters good friends, enemies, betrayals, romance and total sabotage. The plot wasn't something I have never before been subject to, but the writing, romance and the characters completely won me over.
The main character Nora Henderson was perfect. She embodied everything I like in a heroine such as strength and humor. Although she doesn't come from big money or have a legacy, she still believed in herself and tried to get through the experience using what she knows best, how make people happy through her food. The biggest worry I had about her character was that she would somehow change while she was on the show and become self-righteous or deviate from her background but she stayed true to herself which I loved. She might have changed physically but she stayed the same mentally. Her relationship with her friends and family also plays a big role in this book considering the fact that there is a master-mind that is trying to sabotage the show and Nora doesn't know who to trust. The whole sabotage and mystery which is incorporated into the story was my favorite part because it had me guessing and getting shocks and surprises all throughout the book.
Another key relationship is the one between Nora and Christian Van Lorten. I guess you could compare their interactions with how a cat would regard a dog. It is constant bickering, pranking, ego-crushing and basically...good fun. I don't think I ever got tired of these two because they make a hilarious duo. Christian can charm girls' pants off, but he doesn't have the same luck with Nora. Nora underestimates him from the moment they meet because she thinks he's just another 'legacy loser' who's all talk but no game. As they fight both verbally and physically (through cooking, don't worry), they start to get closer and closer and soon, what's to stop those cupid's arrows from flying?
Overall, I thought this book was really fun and enjoyable for a light read on a hot summer day. It made me laugh but it also had me thinking as many aspects were conjoined in the story. A tasteful and hilarious romance with intriguing twists and turns that people devour faster than a piece of pie.
The main character Nora Henderson was perfect. She embodied everything I like in a heroine such as strength and humor. Although she doesn't come from big money or have a legacy, she still believed in herself and tried to get through the experience using what she knows best, how make people happy through her food. The biggest worry I had about her character was that she would somehow change while she was on the show and become self-righteous or deviate from her background but she stayed true to herself which I loved. She might have changed physically but she stayed the same mentally. Her relationship with her friends and family also plays a big role in this book considering the fact that there is a master-mind that is trying to sabotage the show and Nora doesn't know who to trust. The whole sabotage and mystery which is incorporated into the story was my favorite part because it had me guessing and getting shocks and surprises all throughout the book.
Another key relationship is the one between Nora and Christian Van Lorten. I guess you could compare their interactions with how a cat would regard a dog. It is constant bickering, pranking, ego-crushing and basically...good fun. I don't think I ever got tired of these two because they make a hilarious duo. Christian can charm girls' pants off, but he doesn't have the same luck with Nora. Nora underestimates him from the moment they meet because she thinks he's just another 'legacy loser' who's all talk but no game. As they fight both verbally and physically (through cooking, don't worry), they start to get closer and closer and soon, what's to stop those cupid's arrows from flying?
Overall, I thought this book was really fun and enjoyable for a light read on a hot summer day. It made me laugh but it also had me thinking as many aspects were conjoined in the story. A tasteful and hilarious romance with intriguing twists and turns that people devour faster than a piece of pie.
August 17, 2013
Don't write this book off as just a cute, fun read. Well, it was, but it was surprisingly really good.
Now I will be the first to admit that I'm not much of a cook, but Fiore's writing in her descriptions of the food and the emotions that consumed the chefs was so beautifully vivid that even I felt much appreciation for the dishes and the care that went into their preparation. And it has more of the "take the time to smell the roses" feel than the "omg why am I being bogged down with overwritten imagery." Fiore is such a talented, talented writer.
As for the story itself, yeah you have your typical sheltered girl entering a ruthless competition with your mean girls and arrogant boys. The story was pretty entertaining, and I usually like a good dialogue where a boy and girl bicker back and forth, although I will say, there were times I felt the chip on both of their shoulders were too much and I really had enough and wish I could knock their heads together and yell, "why can't you idiots just get it together." The conspiracy felt a bit ridiculous, but I liked how Fiore put enough justification into it that I actually sympathize, which was her intent.
Predicable? Absolutely. But still entertaining, nonetheless.
And so, I shall end my review with my favorite line in the book…
"Oh lordy. [covers face] See, now - this is why some fathers don't let their daughters out of the hoist till they're twenty-one!"
I can just picture it on TV. How adorable!
Now I will be the first to admit that I'm not much of a cook, but Fiore's writing in her descriptions of the food and the emotions that consumed the chefs was so beautifully vivid that even I felt much appreciation for the dishes and the care that went into their preparation. And it has more of the "take the time to smell the roses" feel than the "omg why am I being bogged down with overwritten imagery." Fiore is such a talented, talented writer.
As for the story itself, yeah you have your typical sheltered girl entering a ruthless competition with your mean girls and arrogant boys. The story was pretty entertaining, and I usually like a good dialogue where a boy and girl bicker back and forth, although I will say, there were times I felt the chip on both of their shoulders were too much and I really had enough and wish I could knock their heads together and yell, "why can't you idiots just get it together." The conspiracy felt a bit ridiculous, but I liked how Fiore put enough justification into it that I actually sympathize, which was her intent.
Predicable? Absolutely. But still entertaining, nonetheless.
And so, I shall end my review with my favorite line in the book…
"Oh lordy. [covers face] See, now - this is why some fathers don't let their daughters out of the hoist till they're twenty-one!"
I can just picture it on TV. How adorable!
August 21, 2018
4.5 Stars
Review to come!
Review to come!
August 11, 2013
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.
MasterChef is one my favorite shows on TV at the moment and when I learned that Taste Test was actually based on the show, I knew I had to read it. I've come to the conclusion that I should just stick to watching MasterChef on TV and not seek it in books.
Taste Test's main character is Nora. Nora lived with her widowed father and helped him run his barbeque joint. Food has always been her passion and when the chance to participate in a cooking contest for teenagers cropped up, she excitedly took up the opportunity. Nora was at first a likeable heroine. She was a driven and passionate character who knew exactly what she wanted out of her life. she was also the sort of person who was willing to sweat to achieve her goals. In addition, not only could she be witty, but she said some funny things too. However, Nora had a huge character flaw. She was judgmental. She judged every single person she met on the competition and made her own opinion on them without even conversing with them. She came across as rude and annoying to me. She was also prejudiced against those competitors who came from wealthy families and that bugged me so much. It was like if you were rich, then you MUST have had special contacts to actually have been selected to participate in the competition. Rich people don't have talent apparently, according to Nora. By the end, I just wasn't a fan of Nora.
One of the strongest competitors in the contest was Christian, the son of a well-known chef. He and Nora didn't hit it well when they first meet and throughout the book, the cycle was : they bickered, they fought and they became friends. It was frustrating. Christian was no better than Nora either. He was, at times, a complete jerk to her. I'm not even sure how he suddenly turned into a love interest, because he clearly wasn't love interest material. I honestly saw nothing attractive in his attitude. Throughout the book, he and Nora pulled stupid pranks on each other that made me want to cringe. I think they were supposed to come across as funny and entertaining, but to me they seemed childish and completely unnecessary.
According to me, too much attention was given to the antagonistic relationship between Christian and Nora than to the actual competition plot line of the book. I wanted to see more of the actual cooking and the different challenges on the contest rather than Christian and Nora indulging in silly and immature fights. If you watch MasterChef, you know how the competition runs with the additional entertaining drama that comes along with it, which makes the show so entertaining. With Taste Test, it's like Kelly Fiore concentrated too much on the main characters' competitive nature. I also thought the plot twist that came towards the end was just weird, unrealistic and it felt like the author was trying too hard to add some sort of drama to the plot-line.
Unfortunately, Taste Test was quite the disappointment according to me. I had hoped for a lighter and more adorable read.
September 4, 2013
There's something fascinating about cooking shows. Unlike a lot of scripted television, there's true talent involved. But unlike something like So You Think You Can Dance, there's little way for the viewer at home to judge the talent. There's no way to participate in the best part: eating the food. Still, it's strangely fun to watch.
Nora isn't a watcher, but a competitor in the teen cooking show Taste Test. She's worked in her father's barbeque restaurant all her life, and this is her chance to get a free ride to culinary school. She's certainly not going to be bested by someone like Christian, the son of a famous chef who has plenty of money and can always work in his father's respected restaurants. It doesn't help that the first time Nora meets Christian, he insults her background.
Nora is extremely competitive, and like most teenagers, quite judgmental. It's little wonder that she instantly dislikes Christian, especially since he doesn't appear to have made it past grade school when it comes to flirting techniques. But there is a real, obvious chemistry between the characters, particularly when they have moments alone. However, I would have liked a little more of the female friendships. Nora quickly makes friends with fellow contestants Angela and Gigi, but things happen. And honestly, one of those things makes sense from a narrative standpoint, but I don't think it worked that well with the character development.
In addition to the romance and cooking competition, there's a mystery. Someone is sabotaging the competition - the kind of sabotage that puts people in the hospital. (And the kind that requires you to suspend disbelief that they wouldn't halt production.) I'm not sure the mystery was the best move, as it pushes Nora's worst judge-y qualities to the fore. Not to mention there's little time to get into any real detecting. Perhaps I just miss the days of plain old teen contemporary romance. It's pretty thin on the ground.
I think TASTE TEST will appeal to fans of cooking shows (or just cooking!) looking for something light and funny to read. The show mechanics don't make complete sense, but the challenges are described well and the montage through the judge's score sheets is hilarious. As a bonus, there's a section of recipes in the back. TASTE TEST would do well paired with FLAVOR OF THE WEEK by Tucker Shaw.
Nora isn't a watcher, but a competitor in the teen cooking show Taste Test. She's worked in her father's barbeque restaurant all her life, and this is her chance to get a free ride to culinary school. She's certainly not going to be bested by someone like Christian, the son of a famous chef who has plenty of money and can always work in his father's respected restaurants. It doesn't help that the first time Nora meets Christian, he insults her background.
Nora is extremely competitive, and like most teenagers, quite judgmental. It's little wonder that she instantly dislikes Christian, especially since he doesn't appear to have made it past grade school when it comes to flirting techniques. But there is a real, obvious chemistry between the characters, particularly when they have moments alone. However, I would have liked a little more of the female friendships. Nora quickly makes friends with fellow contestants Angela and Gigi, but things happen. And honestly, one of those things makes sense from a narrative standpoint, but I don't think it worked that well with the character development.
In addition to the romance and cooking competition, there's a mystery. Someone is sabotaging the competition - the kind of sabotage that puts people in the hospital. (And the kind that requires you to suspend disbelief that they wouldn't halt production.) I'm not sure the mystery was the best move, as it pushes Nora's worst judge-y qualities to the fore. Not to mention there's little time to get into any real detecting. Perhaps I just miss the days of plain old teen contemporary romance. It's pretty thin on the ground.
I think TASTE TEST will appeal to fans of cooking shows (or just cooking!) looking for something light and funny to read. The show mechanics don't make complete sense, but the challenges are described well and the montage through the judge's score sheets is hilarious. As a bonus, there's a section of recipes in the back. TASTE TEST would do well paired with FLAVOR OF THE WEEK by Tucker Shaw.
April 8, 2013
I will be completely honest: When I picked up this book, I wasn't expecting much. I got an ARC without even a cover to go off of. The plot seemed interesting, but also like it could be written very half-assed and cheaply.
Fiore knows quality writing. Fiore HAS a quality writing style. Nora Henderson is a real person with real goals and real problems. There are strengths and weaknesses to Fiore's characters. Nora, to me, is written in a way that I can imagine interacting with her. I can easily see myself hitting it off with her, or becoming annoyed and disliking her. I LOVE that aspect of Fiore's writing. A main character should first and foremost be a person, and there is no person that exists whom everyone would always love and get along with.
I also enjoyed the depth of the story. An important function of this book is romance, but Fiore does not at all sacrifice the rounded-ness of her characters or the fullness of the plot for romance. There is humor, mystery, suspense, all evenly and wonderfully dispersed throughout the novel. Fiore really stressed the idea that you can't always take someone at face value or judge a book by it's cover. I believe that's why there are so many sides to every aspect of this story and no one is really who Nora expected them to be.
For some reason, I really feel like I am not raving effectively her. I adored this book, and I completely blew through it. I would recommend this to any- and everyone.
Fiore knows quality writing. Fiore HAS a quality writing style. Nora Henderson is a real person with real goals and real problems. There are strengths and weaknesses to Fiore's characters. Nora, to me, is written in a way that I can imagine interacting with her. I can easily see myself hitting it off with her, or becoming annoyed and disliking her. I LOVE that aspect of Fiore's writing. A main character should first and foremost be a person, and there is no person that exists whom everyone would always love and get along with.
I also enjoyed the depth of the story. An important function of this book is romance, but Fiore does not at all sacrifice the rounded-ness of her characters or the fullness of the plot for romance. There is humor, mystery, suspense, all evenly and wonderfully dispersed throughout the novel. Fiore really stressed the idea that you can't always take someone at face value or judge a book by it's cover. I believe that's why there are so many sides to every aspect of this story and no one is really who Nora expected them to be.
For some reason, I really feel like I am not raving effectively her. I adored this book, and I completely blew through it. I would recommend this to any- and everyone.
July 22, 2014
This is a Young Adult book, about a girl who is competing in a reality show cooking contest for her last semester of high school. Winning premise right there! Add to it the fact that the writing is so clean and readable and it has great conflict and characters, and add to that the fact that it is SO FUN to read, and you get a book that I completely loved. I read this as an ARC, and can't wait for it to be released!
March 13, 2015
Christian.. I cannot..
October 7, 2017
2.5 stars. It was really good, but I feel like the twist at the end of the story came a little too late. They started hinting at the twist with maybe 2 chapters left and it kind of got slightly confusing. Personally, I think it wrapped up too fast without going into detail and then the book just sort of ended.
January 7, 2018
Masterchef meets a YA mystery romance.
March 6, 2019
a magical, beautiful, perfect hidden gem!!!!!!!!!
July 27, 2013
This review was originally posted on aliceinreaderland.com:
Since this book is about a reality-television competition, I’ll be reviewing this book TV announcer/host style. Because, why not?
Over in this corner for the Pro-Taste Test Team, we have the recipes! The recipes, ladies and gentlemen, the recipes! The back of this book includes recipes that the characters cooked in the story, including Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub and Three-Chili Macaronic and Cheese, Red Peper Pasta, and Spicy Fajita Casserole! Doesn’t just the sound of those recipes make your mouth water?
Another factor keeping this book from being eliminated is the author’s fun writing style! What was a stand-out in the writing style, you ask? At the beginning or end of almost every chapter, the author either included a form or an TV interview (written out in dialogue/script form) which our audience found to be most entertaining! The writing style even went over big with one of our judges, who stated “The main character, Nora, had a fun, slightly sarcastic voice. She was also pretty grounded in that she knew who she was, knew where she came from, and she wasn’t going to change.”
In the Bonus Point Round, this book proved itself by bringing out that acting is hard work. There’s talk of endless adjustments, retakes, and of always having to hit your proper mark and remember your blocking. Finally! As someone who’s acted before, and ahem, is obviously hosting this show now, I’ve been waiting for a book to finally bring that point out! Thank you! There’s a ton of work onstage and offstage when putting on a show.
Now let’s hear from our most critical commenter, our most persnickety person, the girl who thinks Grumpy Cat is her kindred spirit: Cynical Cindyyyyyy
Cynical Cindy Says
The last sentence of the Taste Test synopsis advertises romance and intrigue. I was disappointed by both. Let’s start with the love interest, Christian. Within the first few chapters, he purposely let the door fly back to practically smash Nora on the forehead, right after bashing her home roots and right before insinuating that she was coming on to him. Christian continued to blow hot-and-cold throughout the whole book, which drove me nuts. I also expected more of a mystery with the “mysterious accidents.”
The end verdict, ladies and gentleman? This book definitely had it’s good and bad points. But: did it keep me entertained while reading it? Definitely. Am I planning on trying out the recipes in the back of the book? You betcha! So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for a light read, are a fan of books with recipes or books that talk about reality TV, then you should try out Taste Test!
This concludes out program. Goodnight and tune in next week!
*Cue applause*
See full review on ALICE IN READERLAND: aliceinreaderland.com
Since this book is about a reality-television competition, I’ll be reviewing this book TV announcer/host style. Because, why not?
Over in this corner for the Pro-Taste Test Team, we have the recipes! The recipes, ladies and gentlemen, the recipes! The back of this book includes recipes that the characters cooked in the story, including Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub and Three-Chili Macaronic and Cheese, Red Peper Pasta, and Spicy Fajita Casserole! Doesn’t just the sound of those recipes make your mouth water?
Another factor keeping this book from being eliminated is the author’s fun writing style! What was a stand-out in the writing style, you ask? At the beginning or end of almost every chapter, the author either included a form or an TV interview (written out in dialogue/script form) which our audience found to be most entertaining! The writing style even went over big with one of our judges, who stated “The main character, Nora, had a fun, slightly sarcastic voice. She was also pretty grounded in that she knew who she was, knew where she came from, and she wasn’t going to change.”
In the Bonus Point Round, this book proved itself by bringing out that acting is hard work. There’s talk of endless adjustments, retakes, and of always having to hit your proper mark and remember your blocking. Finally! As someone who’s acted before, and ahem, is obviously hosting this show now, I’ve been waiting for a book to finally bring that point out! Thank you! There’s a ton of work onstage and offstage when putting on a show.
Now let’s hear from our most critical commenter, our most persnickety person, the girl who thinks Grumpy Cat is her kindred spirit: Cynical Cindyyyyyy
Cynical Cindy Says
The last sentence of the Taste Test synopsis advertises romance and intrigue. I was disappointed by both. Let’s start with the love interest, Christian. Within the first few chapters, he purposely let the door fly back to practically smash Nora on the forehead, right after bashing her home roots and right before insinuating that she was coming on to him. Christian continued to blow hot-and-cold throughout the whole book, which drove me nuts. I also expected more of a mystery with the “mysterious accidents.”
The end verdict, ladies and gentleman? This book definitely had it’s good and bad points. But: did it keep me entertained while reading it? Definitely. Am I planning on trying out the recipes in the back of the book? You betcha! So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for a light read, are a fan of books with recipes or books that talk about reality TV, then you should try out Taste Test!
This concludes out program. Goodnight and tune in next week!
*Cue applause*
See full review on ALICE IN READERLAND: aliceinreaderland.com
July 19, 2013
*Book received for review via Netgalley*
I absolutely adored this book. I'm sure that had something to do with the fact that I haven't read a cute, fun read in a while (lots of angsty NA). This was in fact the ultimate cute, fun read. Just the concept of the story, shown via the blurb, was enough to make me want to grab this book up and gobble it down, much like with the recipes outlined during the cooking scenes in the book.
Fiore managed to make the story whole, which could have been difficult for many, considering all of the aspects that go into creating a complete reality show that's inventive, especially since it's only real in words.
I laughed at the areas that remind me of my favorite tv shows, and how in tune the author was with the stereotypes that go into reality television, cooking shows in particular.
What really worked was the fact that it was a spin on reality tv, a mix between the behind the scenes drama you get on reality drama and the formality of cooking shows.
I absolutely loved it all.
Character wise, I really liked the protagonist, Nora. She had a voice, a personality, and she was not afraid to use it. She was flawed and wrong at times, and she made the stupid mistakes we all see in our favorite novels and admonish and it was all spectacular.
While I liked Christian Van Lorten in all of his flawed wonderfulness, if any of you guys are like me, you'd have a small book crush not on him, but on Billy, Nora's best friend who doesn't even get much time. However, everything you know of him you like. I may be a bit biased on his character actually, because a lot of his dialogue reminded me of something one of my friends would say (and yes, I'm crushing on him a bit, sue me, lol). Not embarrassed to say so and he already knows, but back to the point...
His character is relatable and fun. Plus, he does something very valiant towards the end of the book that makes me like him more.
There's ths big mystery that goes throughout the entore novel and I must admit, I was just as fooled as Nora and most of the other characters. Christian is one smart cookie, though. One of his many good traits.
My one problem with this novel is more of a personal grudge but I KNOW that the story could have ended on a stronger note. The situation was perfect, I just feel as if a few important lines, the ones that make you feel all jittery and bubbly at the end of a really good YA romance were omitted. It's not enough of a deal to lower any rating because this book really is a great, lightweight read that left me with a small smile and a yawn since I stayed up all night reading Taste Test.
Now to find something else to read that gives me a similar good feeling.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves YA romance!
5 stars.
Review for Mera's YA Book List
http://merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/
I absolutely adored this book. I'm sure that had something to do with the fact that I haven't read a cute, fun read in a while (lots of angsty NA). This was in fact the ultimate cute, fun read. Just the concept of the story, shown via the blurb, was enough to make me want to grab this book up and gobble it down, much like with the recipes outlined during the cooking scenes in the book.
Fiore managed to make the story whole, which could have been difficult for many, considering all of the aspects that go into creating a complete reality show that's inventive, especially since it's only real in words.
I laughed at the areas that remind me of my favorite tv shows, and how in tune the author was with the stereotypes that go into reality television, cooking shows in particular.
What really worked was the fact that it was a spin on reality tv, a mix between the behind the scenes drama you get on reality drama and the formality of cooking shows.
I absolutely loved it all.
Character wise, I really liked the protagonist, Nora. She had a voice, a personality, and she was not afraid to use it. She was flawed and wrong at times, and she made the stupid mistakes we all see in our favorite novels and admonish and it was all spectacular.
While I liked Christian Van Lorten in all of his flawed wonderfulness, if any of you guys are like me, you'd have a small book crush not on him, but on Billy, Nora's best friend who doesn't even get much time. However, everything you know of him you like. I may be a bit biased on his character actually, because a lot of his dialogue reminded me of something one of my friends would say (and yes, I'm crushing on him a bit, sue me, lol). Not embarrassed to say so and he already knows, but back to the point...
His character is relatable and fun. Plus, he does something very valiant towards the end of the book that makes me like him more.
There's ths big mystery that goes throughout the entore novel and I must admit, I was just as fooled as Nora and most of the other characters. Christian is one smart cookie, though. One of his many good traits.
My one problem with this novel is more of a personal grudge but I KNOW that the story could have ended on a stronger note. The situation was perfect, I just feel as if a few important lines, the ones that make you feel all jittery and bubbly at the end of a really good YA romance were omitted. It's not enough of a deal to lower any rating because this book really is a great, lightweight read that left me with a small smile and a yawn since I stayed up all night reading Taste Test.
Now to find something else to read that gives me a similar good feeling.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves YA romance!
5 stars.
Review for Mera's YA Book List
http://merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/
August 13, 2013
My Thoughts:
I was looking forward to reading Taste Test, I knew that it was going to be exactly what I thought it would be an easy, fun read. It definitely was, I didn't love this one but, I did enjoy it. The plot didn't blow me away and there wasn't much that surprised me or any huge twist but, it was a great and light read and I had fun reading it.
Nora Henderson loves to cook for as long as she can remember, her Dad runs one of the most popular barbeque restaurants in their town and Nora has worked their her whole life. Her and her best friend Billy are addicted to the teen reality show Taste Test, where a group of teenagers compete against each other to cook the best dishes to win a chance to receive a scholarship and learn from the best chef's at a Paris culinary college. Billy finally convinces Nora to apply to be on the show and to her surprise she makes it onto the show. But, once she gets to the set of the show she finds out that it's not as easy as she thought it was going to be, from her rich roommate who believes she better than everyone else to the boy she has a love- hate relationship with Christian Van Lorten, who just happens to be the son of one of the most famous chef's in the world and thinks he is god's gift to the world. To add to the pressure there have been mysterious accidents happening in the kitchens during their challenges which is eliminating some of Nora's best friends from the competition and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Nora was such a strong character and she had the perfect personality for someone who was going to be on a reality show, she was strong and competitive. She wasn't afraid of confrontation and she wasn't going to let guys like Christian just slip by because of who they were. She wanted to show everyone how great she was at cooking and just because she made barbeque didn't mean she couldn't come up with new and inventive ideas for new recipes and she dreamed about being able to learn from the best in Paris.
My favorite part was getting to see bits and pieces behind the scenes of the reality show, it reminded me how staged they are that although they are supposed to be about real life, everything is still filmed done over and over sometimes. At the end of each chapter there was usually interviews with each of the contestants and the pushed the contestants to answer questions about how they felt about other contestants, their feelings and it made me realize that it's not a real as it feels sometimes.
Taste Test was a fun read, it kept my attention and it made me smile and I loved reading about all of the different recipes the contestants came up with, at the end of the book they had a bunch of the recipes for the dishes that were made in the book and I am definitely going to try a couple out myself for fun!
I was looking forward to reading Taste Test, I knew that it was going to be exactly what I thought it would be an easy, fun read. It definitely was, I didn't love this one but, I did enjoy it. The plot didn't blow me away and there wasn't much that surprised me or any huge twist but, it was a great and light read and I had fun reading it.
Nora Henderson loves to cook for as long as she can remember, her Dad runs one of the most popular barbeque restaurants in their town and Nora has worked their her whole life. Her and her best friend Billy are addicted to the teen reality show Taste Test, where a group of teenagers compete against each other to cook the best dishes to win a chance to receive a scholarship and learn from the best chef's at a Paris culinary college. Billy finally convinces Nora to apply to be on the show and to her surprise she makes it onto the show. But, once she gets to the set of the show she finds out that it's not as easy as she thought it was going to be, from her rich roommate who believes she better than everyone else to the boy she has a love- hate relationship with Christian Van Lorten, who just happens to be the son of one of the most famous chef's in the world and thinks he is god's gift to the world. To add to the pressure there have been mysterious accidents happening in the kitchens during their challenges which is eliminating some of Nora's best friends from the competition and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Nora was such a strong character and she had the perfect personality for someone who was going to be on a reality show, she was strong and competitive. She wasn't afraid of confrontation and she wasn't going to let guys like Christian just slip by because of who they were. She wanted to show everyone how great she was at cooking and just because she made barbeque didn't mean she couldn't come up with new and inventive ideas for new recipes and she dreamed about being able to learn from the best in Paris.
My favorite part was getting to see bits and pieces behind the scenes of the reality show, it reminded me how staged they are that although they are supposed to be about real life, everything is still filmed done over and over sometimes. At the end of each chapter there was usually interviews with each of the contestants and the pushed the contestants to answer questions about how they felt about other contestants, their feelings and it made me realize that it's not a real as it feels sometimes.
Taste Test was a fun read, it kept my attention and it made me smile and I loved reading about all of the different recipes the contestants came up with, at the end of the book they had a bunch of the recipes for the dishes that were made in the book and I am definitely going to try a couple out myself for fun!
July 30, 2013
* * * 1/2
Hello. My name is Nat and I am a Food Network addict. A recovering addict that is “recovering” only because I no longer have cable. I am not ashamed to say that I have fallen off the wagon. Without ever having to turn on a television.
Nora Henderson is a small town girl from South Carolina that has grown up in her father’s BBQ joint, Smoke Signals. She loves cooking and can’t imagine doing anything else. And now she has the chance to make cooking her life. Nora has been accepted onto the reality show, Taste Test, where she has the chance to win a scholarship to the International School of Cuisine in Paris, France AND $50,000 towards advancing her career in the food industry.
Nora has been a fan of Taste Test since it first aired. So she is no stranger to the drama the show fabricates in order to draw in viewers. But she isn’t quite ready to be the star of the drama. Taste Test has her rooming with her complete opposite - a diva princess with an instant disgust of Nora. On top of that, the producers have noticed the volatile relationship between Nora and Christian Van Lorten and are doing everything they can to produce a romance where there is none.
On top of the “normal” stress of being on a reality TV show, the studio kitchens are being plagued by disasters that Nora is convinced are the work of a saboteur. Someone that wants to win the grand prize at any cost.
I really enjoyed this book. And not just because I am a Food Network addict. I of course loved the food challenges. And there are even delicious recipes at the end of this (can’t wait to try the Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub). But I also loved the way Nora and the other characters tried to avoid the drama. I enjoyed the fact that you could feel everyone’s frustration with the producers steadily build through out the story. I really liked the relationships Nora had with her father; her father’s girlfriend; her best friend, Billy; and her newly made friends from the cast of Taste Test. And what I found most fascinating was how the relationship between Nora and Christian grew through out the story. There is a lot of push and pull between these two and they both do and say things that end most relationships before they have a chance to start. But Kelly Fiore manages to build their story in a very believable way.
As you can probably tell, I definitely recommend this book. It’s light and fun and perfect for the beach. And if you are anything like me, it will send you into your kitchen so you can pretend you are starring in your very own episode of Chopped.
Or was that just me?
Nat
Hello. My name is Nat and I am a Food Network addict. A recovering addict that is “recovering” only because I no longer have cable. I am not ashamed to say that I have fallen off the wagon. Without ever having to turn on a television.
Nora Henderson is a small town girl from South Carolina that has grown up in her father’s BBQ joint, Smoke Signals. She loves cooking and can’t imagine doing anything else. And now she has the chance to make cooking her life. Nora has been accepted onto the reality show, Taste Test, where she has the chance to win a scholarship to the International School of Cuisine in Paris, France AND $50,000 towards advancing her career in the food industry.
Nora has been a fan of Taste Test since it first aired. So she is no stranger to the drama the show fabricates in order to draw in viewers. But she isn’t quite ready to be the star of the drama. Taste Test has her rooming with her complete opposite - a diva princess with an instant disgust of Nora. On top of that, the producers have noticed the volatile relationship between Nora and Christian Van Lorten and are doing everything they can to produce a romance where there is none.
On top of the “normal” stress of being on a reality TV show, the studio kitchens are being plagued by disasters that Nora is convinced are the work of a saboteur. Someone that wants to win the grand prize at any cost.
I really enjoyed this book. And not just because I am a Food Network addict. I of course loved the food challenges. And there are even delicious recipes at the end of this (can’t wait to try the Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub). But I also loved the way Nora and the other characters tried to avoid the drama. I enjoyed the fact that you could feel everyone’s frustration with the producers steadily build through out the story. I really liked the relationships Nora had with her father; her father’s girlfriend; her best friend, Billy; and her newly made friends from the cast of Taste Test. And what I found most fascinating was how the relationship between Nora and Christian grew through out the story. There is a lot of push and pull between these two and they both do and say things that end most relationships before they have a chance to start. But Kelly Fiore manages to build their story in a very believable way.
As you can probably tell, I definitely recommend this book. It’s light and fun and perfect for the beach. And if you are anything like me, it will send you into your kitchen so you can pretend you are starring in your very own episode of Chopped.
Or was that just me?
Nat
March 26, 2014
I LOVED this book! It's about a Masterchef/Top Chef-like cooking competition reality show, and I am obsessed with all of them, so naturally I devoured this book. Come on, the cover quote is from Fabio Viviani from Top Chef...how can you go wrong with a book approved by Fabio? I love that guy! But seriously, Taste Test is a cute book about an ordinary girl named Nora who is accepted as a contestant on Taste Test, a televised cooking competition. She makes new friends and bitter rivals as she proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen. Nora's biggest competition is Christian Van Lorton, the son of a famous chef, and as the weeks pass, their fierce rivalry begins to evolve into a possible romance. But unfortunately, someone is trying to sabotage the show by causing dangerous "accidents". Nora is determined to uncover the culprit, but as she uncovers layers of corruption on the show, she may not like what she discovers along the way. Who can she trust and who will win the ultimate prize, a scholarship to study in Paris and $50,000, in this culinary clash of the teenaged Titans?...ok, maybe I watch too much Iron Chef...If you like cooking shows, you'll enjoy this book. It's like a backstage pass to the shows. A quick, fun read that even includes recipes. Mystery, romance, quirky characters and food. It's time to pack your knives and go...to a bookstore to get this book!
July 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this fun, sweet novel and look forward to whatever Kelly Fiore does next.
I wasn't sure about the mystery subplot (weird things are happening and people are getting hurt in freak accidents that may not be accidents at all) but it didn't really detract from what was going on. It wasn't horrible but it also didn't make the book any better or more interesting. Ultimately, I wish it hadn't been part of the book but again, it didn't make the book unreadable. (I was much more interested in the behind-the-scenes working of a reality TV competition and in the budding relationship between Nora and Christian.)
I don't watch much in the way of a reality competition, but I would probably watch this show. It's sort of Top Chef meets Big Brother, in that the competitors all live and study together when they're not competing. It makes for a very interesting dynamic.
Recommended.
I wasn't sure about the mystery subplot (weird things are happening and people are getting hurt in freak accidents that may not be accidents at all) but it didn't really detract from what was going on. It wasn't horrible but it also didn't make the book any better or more interesting. Ultimately, I wish it hadn't been part of the book but again, it didn't make the book unreadable. (I was much more interested in the behind-the-scenes working of a reality TV competition and in the budding relationship between Nora and Christian.)
I don't watch much in the way of a reality competition, but I would probably watch this show. It's sort of Top Chef meets Big Brother, in that the competitors all live and study together when they're not competing. It makes for a very interesting dynamic.
Recommended.
October 13, 2013
Actual Rating
1.5
DNF.
This book has been on my currently reading list for a while. Ive read a few HEA books that have, chef heroine on it and I realized I quite like that concept. I was so excited to read Taste Test hoping I would really like it and I guess the beautiful cover has also a major contribution on it.
Taste Test have a promising plot. I love the whole you'll be in a cooking contest, you'll live in this mansion with the other contestant concept. The only think I couldn't get into are the conversation/dialogues between the characters. Normally I don't have any qualms liking books that has "mean girls" in it but once again the author didn't pull this off nicely. It came out as annoying.
Over all I couldn't find the motivation to finish it. I can already predict my rating.
1.5
DNF.
This book has been on my currently reading list for a while. Ive read a few HEA books that have, chef heroine on it and I realized I quite like that concept. I was so excited to read Taste Test hoping I would really like it and I guess the beautiful cover has also a major contribution on it.
Taste Test have a promising plot. I love the whole you'll be in a cooking contest, you'll live in this mansion with the other contestant concept. The only think I couldn't get into are the conversation/dialogues between the characters. Normally I don't have any qualms liking books that has "mean girls" in it but once again the author didn't pull this off nicely. It came out as annoying.
Over all I couldn't find the motivation to finish it. I can already predict my rating.
February 5, 2014
Surprisingly good it had enough romance in it and it also had a lightness that I like to find in books also had a splash of comedy but barely there but still made me laugh I liked how the characters kinda each was on the show to win but I think that they did win in the end they found amazing friendships and I think they really grew so all in all I'm giving it five stars I have to say this was a good light hearted book
Read
January 23, 2013Totally delicious read that just about derailed my diet with all of it's irrestible food talk. It combined all the best ingredients of any good reality TV show-backstabbing participants, twisted eliminations,and combustible romances. A sweet escape!
May 19, 2020
EDIT:
A yummy read! Loved it :)
I WANT THIS BOOK NOWWWWWW!!!
A yummy read! Loved it :)
I WANT THIS BOOK NOWWWWWW!!!
August 26, 2013
cute and fluffy, fun, add some foodies goodies plus great writing...= i like this allot!
October 26, 2016
Humorous, and captivating. There were some plot twists, but toward the end especially the culprit was fairly clear. Still a great read!
July 29, 2018
If you can grill it, smoke it, or fry it, Nora Henderson knows all about it. She's been basting baby back ribs and pulling pork at her father's barbeque joint since she was tall enough to reach the counter. When she's accepted to Taste Test, a reality-television teen cooking competition, Nora can't wait to leave her humble hometown behind, even if it means saying good-bye to her dad and her best friend, Billy. Once she's on set, run-ins with her high-society roommate and the maddeningly handsome-not to mention talented-son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, mean Nora must work even harder to prove herself. But as mysterious accidents plague the kitchen arena, protecting her heart from one annoyingly charming fellow contestant in particular becomes the least of her concerns. Someone is conducting real-life eliminations, and if Nora doesn't figure out who, she could be next to get chopped for good.
With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.
This was the first book I read by KELLY FIORE STULTZ and when I picked it up, I didn’t know what to expect. I love books about cooking, food and anything that involves cooking competitions, even watched few on TV. I love the fact that this was about teen cooking competition and I had a feeling that TASTE TEST would be a book which I would enjoy. It ended up being a book that I read in one day, and that was due to fact because I didn’t want to put the book back down, I wanted to see how the story would end. Of course I couldn’t help but wonder who would win. I felt like I was watching this on TV, watching all the characters cooking and I rooting for my favorite one, Nora. It’s not like I didn’t like other characters, but I felt as if Nora worked the hardest to show to judges and the other contestants that she has it what it takes. Nora worked so hard, and not once did she give up. Not after the accidents and not all the drama between her and Christian. I couldn’t help but root for her. I loved the unique names for the show, Taste Test it’s unlike anything I heard of before when it comes to food competitions. I got admit, while reading this book I started to get hungry just by reading what they were making, I could imagine it all.
Nora and Christian, the two of them didn’t seem to have a great start. Every time that the two of them started to get along, something got in their way. I believe that what made it more interesting and more realistic is that they didn’t like each other right away. I do wish that Nora realized how she felt and let Christian more before his accident. I understand why she didn’t, because if she let the feelings get in way, he would been a distraction and she might not done as well in the competition. I know that she was attracted to him, mostly the way she acted when he was around, or anytime that he flirted with another girl. Even her friends noticed it before she did. I know that Christian wasn’t always the nicest guy, but despite their drama he always seemed be there for her when she needed him. I know that the only reason they fought way they did, was because they liked each other, but didn’t want admit it at first, or possibly didn’t want everyone else to. I am curious what will happen with two of them after. I am curious about most of characters and wonder where they would be after the show ends. If they still end up chef’s sometime in the future.
There were few twists, few surprises through the book. However the one which was most surprising was fact that Gigi was the one responsible for all those accidents. Like Nora, I was sure that it was Holden Prescott. I was in shock. I had a feeling that Gigi was hiding something, just way that she became distant lately but that wasn’t what I expected. I liked her. After that, I wasn’t sure what to think. I know that her mother made her do it, but she could stopped after Angela’s accident, she could said no. One twist that I didn’t see coming in TASTE TEST . There is still part of me that doesn’t want to believe it. She could killed them all. I wonder what would happen to her now, and if Nora would ever be able forgive her. I know that I wouldn’t. I loved that about the book, the mystery, the suspense. Moment that accidents started to happen, I couldn’t help but wonder Why? and who is responsible. I love books with mystery, makes the book more interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s why I read it in one day, just when I thought about putting down, KELLY FIORE STULTZ hooked me back in.
Astonishing, mysterious, unforgeable debut novel.
With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.
This was the first book I read by KELLY FIORE STULTZ and when I picked it up, I didn’t know what to expect. I love books about cooking, food and anything that involves cooking competitions, even watched few on TV. I love the fact that this was about teen cooking competition and I had a feeling that TASTE TEST would be a book which I would enjoy. It ended up being a book that I read in one day, and that was due to fact because I didn’t want to put the book back down, I wanted to see how the story would end. Of course I couldn’t help but wonder who would win. I felt like I was watching this on TV, watching all the characters cooking and I rooting for my favorite one, Nora. It’s not like I didn’t like other characters, but I felt as if Nora worked the hardest to show to judges and the other contestants that she has it what it takes. Nora worked so hard, and not once did she give up. Not after the accidents and not all the drama between her and Christian. I couldn’t help but root for her. I loved the unique names for the show, Taste Test it’s unlike anything I heard of before when it comes to food competitions. I got admit, while reading this book I started to get hungry just by reading what they were making, I could imagine it all.
Nora and Christian, the two of them didn’t seem to have a great start. Every time that the two of them started to get along, something got in their way. I believe that what made it more interesting and more realistic is that they didn’t like each other right away. I do wish that Nora realized how she felt and let Christian more before his accident. I understand why she didn’t, because if she let the feelings get in way, he would been a distraction and she might not done as well in the competition. I know that she was attracted to him, mostly the way she acted when he was around, or anytime that he flirted with another girl. Even her friends noticed it before she did. I know that Christian wasn’t always the nicest guy, but despite their drama he always seemed be there for her when she needed him. I know that the only reason they fought way they did, was because they liked each other, but didn’t want admit it at first, or possibly didn’t want everyone else to. I am curious what will happen with two of them after. I am curious about most of characters and wonder where they would be after the show ends. If they still end up chef’s sometime in the future.
There were few twists, few surprises through the book. However the one which was most surprising was fact that Gigi was the one responsible for all those accidents. Like Nora, I was sure that it was Holden Prescott. I was in shock. I had a feeling that Gigi was hiding something, just way that she became distant lately but that wasn’t what I expected. I liked her. After that, I wasn’t sure what to think. I know that her mother made her do it, but she could stopped after Angela’s accident, she could said no. One twist that I didn’t see coming in TASTE TEST . There is still part of me that doesn’t want to believe it. She could killed them all. I wonder what would happen to her now, and if Nora would ever be able forgive her. I know that I wouldn’t. I loved that about the book, the mystery, the suspense. Moment that accidents started to happen, I couldn’t help but wonder Why? and who is responsible. I love books with mystery, makes the book more interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s why I read it in one day, just when I thought about putting down, KELLY FIORE STULTZ hooked me back in.
Astonishing, mysterious, unforgeable debut novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2020
This is a pretty mediocre YA contemporary book. The characters are too immature and the banter and jokes fall flat. Additionally, I felt like the author was weirdly hostile toward other girls because Nora was always characterizing them as "ho-bags" or "bimbos" while she was a lackluster, boring main character. This author is miles behind the skill set of Robin Benway, Brigid Kemmerer, Jessi Kirby, or Julie Buxbaum, so in that sense, she is "not like the other girls."
I read Just Like the Movies a year or two ago and thought that it was frankly kind of terrible and stupid, but I gave this book a chance because I owned the hardcover and didn't want it to go to waste. While it was better than Just Like the Movies, it felt super juvenile (for example, after she kisses her enemy, she decides to slaps him, or during a photoshoot, she attempts to embarrass Christian by miming kneeing him in the balls). To be honest, I had no idea why Christian was attracted to her because she was a jealous, pathetic lead. The book tried to incorporate a bit of a mystery because the appliances keep exploding and hurting others, but it was pretty obvious who was behind it all along, so it was not particularly well-written or plotted. All in all, I am not surprised that this author hasn't published a book in the past five years because I can't imagine that this book or Just Like the Movies sold all that well. The YA world is not missing anything without more books by this author.
I will be donating this to my local Little Free Library as soon as I can because it's not worth holding on. I'm very relieved I won this copy in a giveaway instead of actually spending any money on it, though I did unfortunately spend $3.57 on the Kobo e-book back in 2014 because I used to be obsessed with owning all of my books in electronic format (lesson thankfully learned since then and I no longer do this!). If you want a good enemy-to-lovers high school YA rom book instead, I suggest Today Tonight Tomorrow instead.
I read Just Like the Movies a year or two ago and thought that it was frankly kind of terrible and stupid, but I gave this book a chance because I owned the hardcover and didn't want it to go to waste. While it was better than Just Like the Movies, it felt super juvenile (for example, after she kisses her enemy, she decides to slaps him, or during a photoshoot, she attempts to embarrass Christian by miming kneeing him in the balls). To be honest, I had no idea why Christian was attracted to her because she was a jealous, pathetic lead. The book tried to incorporate a bit of a mystery because the appliances keep exploding and hurting others, but it was pretty obvious who was behind it all along, so it was not particularly well-written or plotted. All in all, I am not surprised that this author hasn't published a book in the past five years because I can't imagine that this book or Just Like the Movies sold all that well. The YA world is not missing anything without more books by this author.
I will be donating this to my local Little Free Library as soon as I can because it's not worth holding on. I'm very relieved I won this copy in a giveaway instead of actually spending any money on it, though I did unfortunately spend $3.57 on the Kobo e-book back in 2014 because I used to be obsessed with owning all of my books in electronic format (lesson thankfully learned since then and I no longer do this!). If you want a good enemy-to-lovers high school YA rom book instead, I suggest Today Tonight Tomorrow instead.
July 3, 2017
I really liked this book. Liked it so much in fact, I read this book from dusk til dawn literally because I couldn't bear to put it down. I was intrigued and compelled to read more about the cooking competition, the mysterious person behind the Taste Test sabotages and, of course, the love-hate pull of Nora and Christian.
I only marked this book at 3 stars because I wish their was more growth in Nora and Christian's relationship. I feel like the momentum of their relationship stalled a bit in second half of the book and instead of growing, their relationship kept hitting the same brick wall. They were still cute, but the story would've been better if progression was made in that relationship and it was linked to the rest of the plot. The twist of who was behind the Taste Test sabotages was good. I mean, I saw it coming but I didn't have the whole picture. So when it was explained, I liked the twist and it threw me for a loop.
Overall, a cute YA read that was a great way to pass the time.
I only marked this book at 3 stars because I wish their was more growth in Nora and Christian's relationship. I feel like the momentum of their relationship stalled a bit in second half of the book and instead of growing, their relationship kept hitting the same brick wall. They were still cute, but the story would've been better if progression was made in that relationship and it was linked to the rest of the plot. The twist of who was behind the Taste Test sabotages was good. I mean, I saw it coming but I didn't have the whole picture. So when it was explained, I liked the twist and it threw me for a loop.
Overall, a cute YA read that was a great way to pass the time.
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