A Recipe for Disaster

by Kate Lauren

When you mix the two of them together...

For prestige chefs in America, nothing is more notable than The Art of Cooking competition. A cumulative battle that calls upon the three most decorated chefs in each state to compete for an ultimate cash prize of $100,000 and recognition of being named “America’s Ultimate Dining Experience.”

For Iris Hammond, winning The Art of Cooking competition is all she’s ever wanted for her restaurant—The Sweet Red. In fact, this season, it’s almost as if she can feel her invitation in the palm of her hand. That is until her new not-so-friendly neighbor Dakota Foster, opens up his own restaurant—The Closed Cook, just two blocks ahead.

The two hardly exchange a “hello” before it's decided that sworn-off enemies will be the only kind of relationship they’ll indulge in. What will happen when both of them receive an invitation to the competition? Will this be their chance to cook up a new start, or is this a recipe for disaster waiting to happen?

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn, He Falls First, Forced Proximity, Spicy

327 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2023

About the author

Kate Lauren is a “certified fangirl” whose passions include writing contemporary romance novels, using suggestive innuendos any chance she can, and subliminally tying Taylor Swift song titles into her books.

Based out of Toronto, Canada, when Kate’s not daydreaming about which fictional character she’ll create next, you’ll find her with her friends, family and husband—or nose-deep in her next novel.

Reviews

[yumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book didn't even come out yet but I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE SO GOOD 😭
...
Edit: I JUST FINISHED IT AND GOSH IT'S SUCH A CUTIE PATOOTIE ROMANCE 😭 I read this book so fast it's actually crazy! It reads so easily! The characters are so well written, the writing style is amazing! Thoroughly enjoyed this one fr! Now that i read both released books of kate lauren and enjoyed them equally as much, I'm definitely a loyal fan for life LMAO! Can't wait for the next release 🥹🧡 4 stars

[Loz🪐🤍 · Rating 5 out of 5]

•ARC REVIEW•

A Recipe For Disaster is indie author Kate Lauren’s second novel, set in Brooklyn, New York. FMC Iris Hammond is the proud chef and owner of restaurant ‘The Sweet Red’, located on the first of the fruit street triad - Pineapple Street. Iris and Lore, her best friend, have been competing in cooking competitions all over - making their restaurant one of the most decorated in Brooklyn - in the hopes of being invited to the most prestigious of them all, The Art Of Cooking. Only the three most decorated chefs in each state are invited to compete for the grand prize of $100,000… so how will Iris fare when brand new restaurant ‘The Closed Cook’ is opened by MMC Dakota Foster just two streets away on Cranberry Street? You know what to do…

Ok slaaaaay, I’ve read many many books in the last year and I can hand on heart say I have never read anything like this! Iris is sweet, ambitious and fiercely passionate about her craft. Dakota is kind of mysterious, but incredibly sexy and book-boyfriendy at the same time. The mutual jealousy of Iris and Sean, and Dakota with the receptionist girly, when they supposedly hated each other gave me life!! The grumpy x grumpy really had me giggling, they’re so alike they just clashed constantly, and when feelings started creeping up on them ooo damn it got hawt in there (get it). I loved these two together, the one bed trope had me laughing my butt off (the foreshadowing!!!), and the very ending scene of the competition had me shouting “I knew that was coming!!” at my kindle like a mad woman. Don’t even get me started on there always being two forms submitted that had me crying like a baby. Kotes is a secret sweetheart and I absolutely adored that - book boyfriend material!!!

Kate my girl you never miss!! Is there anything you can’t pull off? Thank you so much for blessing me with this ahead of release, I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this. I truly hope those who read it love it just as much as i did! You have a talent for writing books that I cannot seem to put down! Please continue blessing us all with your literature, you truly never fail to amaze me. Honoured to have been an ARC reader for you - once again, thank you so so much & I wish you all the success🧡👩🏻‍🍳🌉🥘🧡

[gie ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

AY THIS WAS SO CUTE PERO UN FUN ENEMIES TO LOVERS not exactly enemies to lovers bc he loved her all the time BUT STILL FUN the way they bickered with each other i want what they have

[Shanny ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ BOOK REVIEW✨


a recipe for disaster - this was such a fun read! oh my goodness, let me tell you, this book had me laughing my butt off within the first few chapters! Iris’ brother calling her “Cliffy” (comparing her to Clifford because of her red hair) had me cackling!

“Hey Shrek! Can you turn onto your side or something?” also got me. 😂 Kate should be a comedian on the side or something. This book is absolutely hilarious in the best way possible +++ it’s super freakin cute. I loveee the enemies to lovers trope and Kate did such an incredible job with it too!

Kate’s take on a enemies-to-lovers rom-com was absolutely incredible.
I enjoyed every single second that I spent reading this novel.

This one definitely is slow burn but I swear to you that it is worth picking up.
I loved it so much.
I am so eager to read more of Kate’s work.

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5

[H-e-l-e-n-a · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siento que los personajes fueron un tanto infantiles la primera mitad del libro. En la segunda mitad, mejoran.🧐

La historia es linda y tiene sus momentos divertidos.
El "villano" esta muy de cliché. 😂

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

In this love story, two rival New York City restaurant owners and passionate chefs go head to head in a cooking competition in Miami in an attempt to gain recognition and win the grand prize of $100 000. In typical rivals to lovers fashion, the two are forced to spend a significant amount of time together in close proximity, - ultimately, it’s a recipe for disaster.

This was such a quick and easy read, I ran through this book! Dakota and Iris are the epitome of grumpy and sassy as they constantly bicker with one another from the very start. They each make it obvious how much they love to torment and annoy each other, creating some good banter in this story. I especially loved that this book was in dual POV - we learn a lot about their pasts through their inner dialogues, and it especially pays off when major secrets and backstories are revealed. It’s such a good reminder that you never know what another person has been through in their lifetime, and that we can’t be so quick to judge.

Read this book if you love:
🧡 Rivals to lovers
🤍 He falls first (and harder)
🧡 Forced proximity
🤍 “I hate how much I want you”
🧡 Only one bed
🤍 Slow burn

Thank you so much to Kate Lauren for the eARC of A Recipe for Disaster!

[rumaysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book got me out of my 2 month book slump. i think that says a lot. this book was such a fun short story and i rlly loved characters they were likeable and you could almost feel the chemistry between them.
i loved how the author added in little flashbacks and the story just fit. some parts were cheesy but it all made sense and overall i would recommend this to someone who need a quick, fun book.
there’s also no third act breakup :)

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Recipe For Disaster ARC Review 👩‍🍳🧑‍🍳🧡

A recipe for disaster is Kate Lauren's second book which is set in Brooklyn, New York. The FMC, Iris Hammond is the owner of restaurant 'The Sweet Red' and together, with her best friend, Lore, they have been competing in many cooking competitions. This has made their restaurant really famous in their community. The three most prestigious chefs are invited to the most prestigious competition - The Art Of Cooking and Iris is one of them. But what happens when your biggest cooking rival is also invited and has just opened a brand new restaurant 'The Closed Cook' just two streets away from you?

I was in a huge reading slump in October but this was the book that got me out of it. I mean the author has done so well with this book and I'm absolutely in love with it. Someone asked me why they should read this book and all I said was enemies to lovers!! Rival chefs!! I think that's enough for you to read it!🥹🤍

Honestly I loved Dakota way more than Iris. He was so mysterious yet his humor and sarcasm were my two favorite things about him. The grumpy x grumpy trope made me laugh so many times. The jealousy and the pining. God, everything about this book was amazing. The way I loved both of them and the one bed trope?! I knew that was coming and I was so happy like I can't even explain it.🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Kate, this was the first book I've read by you and honestly, I was not disappointed. AT ALL. You really know how to paint a scene for a reader and I am in love with your writing style. Thank you for sending me this ARC because I know if you hadn't, I'd be missing out on this great book. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. Hope to read more books by you in the future!!🧡🧡🧡

Happy Release Week!!🫶🏻🫶🏻

A Recipe For Disaster comes out Nov 3rd, 2023.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- rival chefs
- one bed
- grumpy x grumpy
- He falls first
- Slow burn
- Forced Proximity

[katie ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

welcome to New York, the home of The Sweet Red & Closed Cook: these neighbouring chefs are not very friendly… 🗽🧡🍳👩‍🍳


𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 ~
instagram ~ @dazyreads

⭐️: 4
🌶️: 2.5
📖: kindle

tropes/themes:

- rival chefs
- grumpy x grumpy
- rivals to lovers
- forced proximity
- slow burn
- he falls first

plot:

what will stir up between a sassy FMC and a sarcastic MMC when they both enter a prestigious cooking competition? 🍝

Kate whipped us up a sweet, rom-com baked alongside a unique storyline. 🧡

characters:

Iris is such a badass. she is strong and determined, and always focusing on her a cooking dreams. while Dakota is secretly a lil sweetheart.

while both Dakota and Iris relationship feels stone cold, it was interesting to see how their relationship gradually heated up.❤️‍🔥

both characters were not afraid to dish out the sarcasm, while learning to navigate the competition together.

i loved how naturally both characters began to open up about their troubling past, and understand one another on a deeper level.

i absolutely adored the ending it was so sweet!!

the writing:

such an amazing read! when they hate how much they want each other >>>

i really enjoyed the dual pov and how both characters had their own sassy flare. i loved how the characters explored how the past impact their present actions.

i felt like the scenes could have had a little more world building and description of the scenery to help bring the story to life.

overall: this book is chef’s kiss!! filled with a balanced blend of sweet and spice, mixed with cheeky dialogue and steaming tension. after taking a shot for every cooking pun within this review, make sure you get your hands on this book! 🧡👩‍🍳

Arc Review: thank you for the early copy!

[jazlynnreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

when kate said she was writing our next book boyfriend she WAS NOT LYING!!🤭

words cannot describe how much i loved this book🧡 kate, you are beyond talented! her writing style makes the book so binge worthy! from the moment you start reading, you don’t want to stop!

the chemistry between iris and dakota was undeniable since the beginning. between the teasing and the banter they had, i couldn’t get enough🤭 and don’t get me started on the humor, i was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time!

one thing i really loved was the strong and determined fmc, iris hammond, who wouldn’t take anyone’s sh*t (as she should😉) no matter what got in the way, she without a doubt would go after her dreams!

don’t get me started on DAKOTA😏 i’m literally in love with that man! he may seem like the biggest grump, but when you get to his pov, you get to see how big of a softie he is (only when it comes to a certain redhead chef😉) omg and when called her “good girl”🫠🧎🏻‍♀️and the jealousy he had towards a certain someone had me giggling so hard!!

all the details coming down to the street and restaurant names were *chef’s kiss*😙🤌🏼✨(pun intended😉) just everything about this book was perfect!

𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞:
🧡enemies to lovers
🧑🏻‍🍳grumpy mcs
🧡he falls first & harder
🧑🏻‍🍳forced proximity
🧡dual pov
🧑🏻‍🍳grumpy x grumpy

[melissa roy | melissathebookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 - ★★★★

“ 𝑖’𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝． 𝑛𝑜．𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑．𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒 － 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒．“

after reading kate’s debut novel, ‘to you, iyla’, i knew i had to get my hands on ‘a recipe for disaster’! and let me tell you, kate did not disappoint!

i absolutely loved the main characters. dakota, even with him being sarcastic, he was actually so sweet (especially after finding out what he was doing for iris before cooking competitions 🥹). and iris, we LOVE a strong, sassy female! even sean was well written, even for a character who gives off “ick” vibes 😅 one of my fav tropes is grumpy x sunshine, but i think kate converted me to grumpy x grumpy 🤭

the overall story was so freaking good, i’ve never read anything like this before! honestly, i will read anything kate writes!

𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞:
👩🏻‍🍳 enemies to lovers
🧡 “i hate how much i want you”
👩🏻‍🍳 dual pov
🧡 slow burn
👩🏻‍🍳 forced proximity
🧡 he falls first (& harder)
👩🏻‍🍳 grumpy x grumpy
🧡 sarcastic mmc
👩🏻‍🍳 sassy fmc

thank you so much kate for letting me be apart of your arc team!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was one of the cutest books ever! we have rivals, enemies to lovers, jealous man- what a trio for a booook like this! you have iris hammond who is a red head, fiesty chef who owns her own restaurant and just next door there’s a new restaurant owned by no other than mr cocky dakota foster. they have a not so great meet and now she despises him and everything he does. they both get entered in this cooking competition out of state and off the rip they’re forced to stay in the same room together- forced proximity??? I THINK YES

overall this book was so freaking cute and the mouth on dakota foster?? we love a man with a mouth and a traumatic background.

give this book a read.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Super cute and easy read.

[iara ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

GUYS, KATE DID IT AGAIN!!! Early this year, i got lucky enough to be an arc reader for To You, Iyla, Kate’s debut novel and i fell in love with her writing. Then she announced A recipe for disaster and i was SO EXCITED to read it.

This book didn’t disappoint. Once you pick it up you just can’t put it down. Almost read it in one sitting (and that’s something because i haven’t been able to read as much as i wish so WOAH). Iris and Dakota were the perfect characters, their banter was everything!!! Enemies to lovers was done SO right here and i was so here for it!!!

The whole culinary competition was so good and such an original plot! It feel like i was watching a movie in the best way possible. Almost got hungry reading all the cooking scenes hahahha

Of course i absolutely ADORE Dakota and Iris, they’re such amazing characters that you can’t help but love. They were so good together and it was so so great to see them falling in love.

Thank you Kate for having me as one of your ARC readers, I’m so so thankful as always 🧡

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC—review to come! 🤭

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. I like the premise, I like the characters, and the cover is really stinking cute. There was just something that wasn’t quite right, and I think it may have come down to the pacing and my preference. The book is about rival chefs who have restaurants on the same block in Brooklyn, New York, and regularly enter culinary competitions. They were both invited to a prestigious competition in Florida and that’s when things started going wrong.
I really wanted more with the competition, or maybe even flashbacks to other competitions that they had been in together. It just didn’t feel like there was enough tension for them to be true enemies. Regardless, the book was really well written and I plan to give this author another go.

[Shannai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, tension fuelled read about two rival chefs, who fall helplessly in love!

4/5 stars ⭐️

This was a fun, tension fuelled read about two rival chefs, who are competing in the same competition. I love a good enemies to lovers trope, and Kate didn't disappoint with Dakota and Iris. Their successful restaurants are in neighbouring streets and are both acutely aware of each other's presence, and it's only amplified when they find themselves going head to head in Miami.

Their tension reaches a boiling point when the two find themselves in the predicament of having to share a room— because who doesn't love it when two rivals have a bit of forced proximity?

Dakota was a man fallen, I loved that despite how much he hated how much he wanted Iris, he still cared and looked out for her, even if was a bit unhinged about doing so (we like our men obsessed here)! 🤭

I would have liked to have seen more depth as individuals, they both had experienced something quite traumatic, and I would have liked to have learned more about how that shaped them into who they were today. Nonetheless, together, they were great— two chefs, who fall hard for each other and have great banter and all the chemistry!

Tropes

Forced proximity
grumpy x grumpy
He falls first
Only one bed
Rivals to lovers

[zilan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve come to learn that the best dreams aren’t the ones where you fall asleep. no. those always come to an end. the best dreams happen when you’re awake - when your living in one.”


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

as usual let’s start this arc review with some tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn
-forced proximity

for the rest u have to discover those by yourself 😁

a thing about kate’s writing it’s about the places where her stories took place, u can feel the vibes through her descriptions and feel the whole atmosphere added also by the playlists she includes in her books literally ✨✨✨✨. but let’s move on to the characters i loved both of them how they could be grumpy at first but then going on with the reading they showed their vulnerability in a really supportive and intimate way 🤏🏻. iris and dakota where so cute ✨ and a thing that i loved also was Dakota’s sarcasm i can be a sarcastic person so i was in when he showed that part too 😁. so what to say in conclusion? are u looking up for reading a story about two grumpy chefs? could those chefs maybe fall in love with each others? are u curios about how and when? if u are willing to learn about all the pieces of this story well this book it’s for u!
arc review

[Ally Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for such a cutey, quick read to finish off the year!! i really enjoyed this book to really no one’s surprise. if you’re looking for amazing writing, this might not be the best book for you because there are some typos and grammar mistakes but that’s what comes with indie published books so who am i to complain? there were so many things that contributed to me silently bawling my eyes out on the plane… mostly being trauma that the characters had which just broke me. i knew the peanut situation would come into play eventually but it was still very anxiety producing. DAKOTA??? with the allergy forms? are we kidding???? i would have married him on the spot, alas, he doesn’t exist. i also love that there was no miscommunication trope like she thought something and told him when she could but then instead of being offending and bolting, he just explained his situation and how much he loved her! and the epilogue??? brooklyn? k bye!

[Renee (aredheadwithbedhead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Recipe for Disaster is an adorable, laugh out loud, slow-burn romantic comedy that deserves a read! If you’re in the mood for a Hallmark-style love story with a little bit of spice, you can’t go wrong with Iris & Dakota’s story. Their witty banter, personal life stories and obvious chemistry will have you laughing, crying and warm your heart. A real feel good that sticks with you.

[Jenise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story with all the right tropes: enemies to lovers, he falls for her first, close proximity, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine. I enjoyed the whole food network/cooking competition vibe! Dakota and Iris’ love for cooking was the sweetest and fun. I enjoyed how this story had all real life elements and nothing so far fetch 😊

[lyza (bookish version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've learned that the best dreams aren't the ones when you fall asleep.

hi friends!🫶🏽 can I start this review off by saying how grateful I am to have been an ARC reviewer for Kate’s first AND second novels? it’s been a complete joy to be part of this journey with her & I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next for her🧡 with that aside - let us begin!

👩🏽‍🍳 Iris Hammond is the owner and head chef of The Sweet Red, one of New York’s busiest and most successful restaurants that resides on Pineapple Street. She fought her way to the top with tooth and nail; participating (and winning) in so many cooking competitions in an effort to get her restaurant’s name out there and prove that she deserves the recognition for all her hard work. All her life, it’s been her dream to get an invite to the most PRESTIGIOUS cooking competition there is - The Art of Cooking Competition. It’s been her one goal for as long as she can remember, but a stone is about to be thrown in her path…a very very hot and annoying stone…

🧑🏽‍🍳 Enter Dakota Foster - the owner of the new restaurant, The Closed Cook, that recently opened up on Cranberry Street. Upon their first meeting, Iris immediately despises him and thus, their rivalry was born. Dakota comes from Colorado and is in New York trying to reinvent himself and follow a life that makes him genuinely happy (🥲). From the moment he sets eyes on Iris, he knows he’s in trouble. What kind of trouble? You’ll have to read to find out😉

🌴So what happens when both their restaurants get invited to the competition & there’s a mixup with the hotel? What happens when a one of the judges gets a little too ‘personal’ with the contestants? & what will happen when these two realize that their chemistry isn’t what they thought it was?

Read to find out besties!

I absolutely adored this book - I devoured it in less than 24 hours. These characters are so funny and the storyline is just absolutely perfect for these two hard-headed lovers. The amount of times I giggled, gasped & teared up was TOO MANY - but Kate always finds that way to perfectly blend everything into one beautiful story🧡

[Rebecca (fictionallybecca) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was deliciously adorable and fun and such a quick read!

Thank you to the author, Kate, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. And for letting me join in on the book tour!

As soon as I saw the cover for this book, I knew I immediately had to request it. I mean, look at it?! I was sold by the cover art, tropes and blurb reveal, and it just sounded perfect!

Dakota and Iris were genuinely adorable as a couple. The enemies to lovers was really enemy-ing in this. Forced to work against each other in a rival cooking competition. Both stubborn, both great chefs. I had so much fun!
I’m generally a fan of grumpy-sunshine, and can’t say I’ve ever read a book where BOTH characters are grumpy, so this was unique and refreshing to me.
Dakota had a heart-breaking back story with his brother, Dallas, and Iris also did with her mother, abandoning her as a young child. Which added to the character depth and I felt was totally necessary and made you find them more lovable.
Dakota was stubborn, just like Iris, but also hot (of course).
Iris was also stubborn and I never read about enough female main characters with red hair!

The premise was SO intriguing! It was executed well although I’d have enjoyed some more development/depth.
My mouth was drooling over some of the things the contestants were cooking. But again, similarly, I wish there was more detail with regards to the competition. Maybe we could have seen who they were up against? Iris and Dakota’s rivals, what they were making!
I loved Lore, she was a special addition and Iris friend and colleague. I wish we got to know her more.
Travis, the fratboy younger brother of Iris. I wish we got to know the side characters more!

Overal this was a fun experience and read for me, with unique elements and also familiar ones! I generally just wished for more depth in terms of the characters and the competition and their rivals!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blurb:
•A cumulative battle that calls upon the three most decorated chefs in each state to compete for an ultimate cash prize of $100,000 and recognition of being named "America's Ultimate Dining Experience." For Iris Hammond, winning The Art of Cooking competition is all she's ever wanted for her restaurant-The Sweet Red. In fact, this season, it's almost as if she can feel her invitation in the palm of her hand. That is until her new not-so-friendly neighbor Dakota Foster, opens up his own restaurant-The Closed Cook, just two blocks ahead. The two hardly exchange a "hello" before it's decided that sworn-off enemies will be the only kind of relationship they'll indulge in. What will happen when both of them receive an invitation to the competition? Will this be their chance to cook up a new start, or is this a recipe for disaster waiting to happen?

Mini review:
•Omg Kate you’ve done it again! This book was amazing!! When you said you were writing our next book boyfriend…you MEANT it!! I loved Dakota! He is such a big grump unless it comes to Iris then he is so sweet!🤩

•The teasing and banter between Dakota and Iris was ah they were so cute!!🧡

•Read if you enjoy enemies to lovers, grumpy x grumpy, and forced proximity!! So excited to see what Kate writes next and I will definitely be reading it🧡🫶

•"It's you, Dakota," I admit. "It had always been you. You're the only person in this world that I could loathe while still finding a way to be entirely in love with. I love you, Dakota. I do."

[Carrie Strength · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

This was like a Hallmark movie with spice honestly! It was such a fun read! Dakota and Iris were just the perfect match! Rival chefs, cooking competition, the back stories…mixed in with the tension, banter and slow burn! It was just so good! 😍

I loved Iris! She was determined, head strong and so feisty! I loved that she went after what she wanted and how passionate she truly was! Watching her learn and grow throughout was such a delight!

And Dakota…grumpy yet sweet Dakota! I loved him from the very beginning! The way he just wanted to come off as so stand-offish but deep down was the kindest man. He’s the biggest behind the scenes golden retriever there is!

But the thing that stole the show for me was the tension and banter! Lord help me.. the internal jealousy Dakota was feeling before he admitted his feelings to himself was off the charts! The chemistry these 2 had was insane! Their back and forth was everything! Even Iris had her jealousy moments and I was living for it! Their rivals to lovers story was perfect! And that epilogue! 🥹🧡

Kate always has a way of writing that brings out all my emotions! And this one was no different!

🧑🏽‍🍳Rivals to lovers
🧡Slowburn
🧑🏽‍🍳grumpy/grumpy
🧡He falls first
🧑🏽‍🍳Forced proximity
🧡So much banter

Thank you so much @theauthorkatelauren for the arc! I am so thankful to be apart of your journey from the very beginning and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

[alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ 5 - 03/11/23

🧡 first of all, thank you a million times, kate lauren for the opportunity and this gift of a book, can’t wait to read all you end up writing! ✨💗 you can't even imagine how MUCH i enjoyed this book, i feel so so honoured to have been an ARC reader for this outstanding story! 🤩

wanna know the perfect mix this book has?

👩🏼🍳 rivals chefs to lovers
🔥 endless banter / slow burn
💥 grumpy x grumpy
💖 he falls first x harder
🛏 forced proximity
💕 DUAL POV
(🌶️.5)


👩🏼🍳 loved, LOVED the main characters individually, Iris is such a fierce strong woman, i love seeing this kind of people, women who know what they want and aren’t afraid to work for it and get it. and DAKOTA, DAKOTAAAA!!! the list of fictional boyfriends just got longer, how, HOW??? HOW IS HE SO GOOD??? HIS MOUTH??? (goes both gays 🤭) I'M IN AWE WITH THIS MAN 🥵🥵

👩🏼🍳 but as a couple OH MY MY! ❤️‍🔥 they have insane chemistry, outstanding interactions and burning hot moments, you are just drawn to them and can't stop wanting more! i found myself wishing it was longer because i couldn't get enough of them!

👨🏼🍳 their banter is just EXQUISITE. that back and forth since the beginning, i was sold a few pages in, it is that good! 💓 it has an amazing level that's maintained during the whole book 🔥

👩🏼‍🍳 also i love how this book treated more sensible topics, in this case grieve and (child) abandonment. it’s portrayed with such delicacy that’s amazing to read, considering the topics ❤️🩹

👨🏼‍🍳 THE. EPILOGUE.!!! I'M IN TEARS 🥺🥺🥺 YES, THANK YOU! 💖

👩🏼🍳 The book is out so GO GET IT AND READ A RECIPE FOR DISASTER! You won’t regret it! ✨✨ (you also can read it on ku!)

⚠️ tw: anxiety, grief & loss depiction, death of a familiar mentioned, child abandonment, explicit s3xual scenes.

[britishbovinexo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Recipe For Disaster by Kate Lauren

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

"𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫"
- 𝑫𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒕𝒂

I LOVED this book so so much. There was no messing around, we jumped straight into it and i loved that. This was a book that i could NOT put down. I may or may not have read the whole thing in one sitting 🤭

This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions and i loved itttt, chapter 28 had me in tearssss. Poor baby Iris

Oh and dont get me started on Dakota 😏 I literally need him in my life, he was tall, hot and so so funny. What more could you ask for in a man? 😂

Overall i deeply deeply loved this book, the writing was amazing and so was the plot. I absolutely loved all the characters (especially Dakota 😏). Iris was so confident and strong and we love that in a woman, and Dakota was caring and so sarcastic i loved him.

I want to say a massive massive thank you to @theauthorkatelauren for sending me a copy of this book 🥹 literally couldn’t believe it when i had been chosen for an arc 😩🤭 I officially need the physical now

Tropes:
~ Enemies to lovers
~ Sarcastic MMC
~ Grumpy x grumpy
~ Sassy FMC
~ Dual POV

Lots of love,
Lillie Xo

[Tired Mom Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Recipe For Disaster is always going to be special to me, as it is my very first ARC ever, but it is also just a special book in its own right. I am a sucker for a good cooking competition, so when I read the blurb for this book and realized it was Masterchef with a romance mixed in? I knew it would be everything my favorite shows have been missing! I was immediately invested in not only who would win the Art of Cooking Competition, but how and if Iris and Dakota would end up together. Iris was so fun and easy to root for, with her personality matching her fiery red hair. Dakota definitely made the book boyfriend list with his brooding (but secretly sweet) personality, I fell in love with him from his first POV. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t see the ending coming, and don’t be fooled: this book comes across as light and fun, but it’ll still bring tears! A Recipe For Disaster brings all those cozy fall vibes, perfect for this time of year (or any time of year, really). I always love Kate Lauren’s books and I can’t wait to read whatever she comes out with next.

[its_.bookaholic._me · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, @theauthorkatelauren you have done it yet again!!! And by that I mean she made me effortlessly race through her novel, yet again! The grumpy × grumpy thing worked out reallyyyy well!🤭🍁

One thing I love about this author is that her female characters are very strong and Iris Hammond was nothing less!👩🏻‍🍳🧡

I was a bit skeptical about a sarcastic and playful character rather than a sweet and romantic one as my next fav book bf but OMG, DAKOTA was just perfect!😭 You'll definitely love HIM! Such a green flag..🙈❤‍🔥👨🏻‍🍳

The chemistry between Dakota and Iris, even while they were fighting, was just adorable!🫣🤭Dual POV made it even more clearer so watching them fight knowing deep down that the feelings were real was something cute and adorable to read about! Also, keep an eye out for some surprise elements...🤫👀

You'll laugh, get nervous and emotional with them. At last, everything ends up getting even more better and beautiful!🫶🏻
.
This cutie releases on NOVEMBER 3, 2023 and please please don't miss it out!🥺🧡

[TaShae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Recipe For Disaster by Kate Lauren

♾️/5

I absolutely loved every second of reading this book. I could not out this book down and was obsessed with the MMC (Dakota)! (Also was a little obsessed with the FMC's brother but we're not gonna get into that🤭)

Kate has such a way with writing her books! She makes you feel all the emotions including tears. Dakota was hilarious and honestly such a mood!

I truly loved this book and I can't wait to see what more Kate had for us! Thank you so much @theauthorkatelauren fir sending me a copy of this masterpiece! I might just have to order the physical copy soon👀

Keep your eye out because the book will be released TOMORROW on November 3rd!

Tropes:
👩‍🍳Enemies to lovers
👨‍🍳Dual Pov
🧡Rival Chefs
👨‍🍳Slow Burn
👩‍🍳Grumpy x Grumpy
🧡he falls first x he falls harder
👩‍🍳ENEMIES TO LOVERS