What do you think?
Rate this book
Cakes for the Grump: A Fake Dating Slow-Burn Romantic Comedy
How did I find myself fake dating the world’s grumpiest billionaire? Blame it on the cake…
I’m an aspiring chef from Mumbai, who dreams of opening up my own restaurant. Until then, I meal prep food for rich people. I’m great at my job except when I accidentally leave chocolate cake in the wrong kitchen and face the wrath of Luke Abbot, a sugar hating billionaire. He’s health-crazed with perfect abs… perfectly tailored business suits… glaring at me with those smouldering blue eyes.
This grump really knows how to push my buttons and just when I’m gearing up to fight, he offers me a deal — play his pretend fiancé so he can secure the biggest deal of his career! But what do I get out of it? His large, hard, shockingly well-proportioned… kitchen. And a luxury penthouse!
There’s a catch. Luke’s my new roommate. So how will I possibly survive living with a man harder to melt than brown sugar? Even if it seems like Luke is starting to break all his rules for me, I’d be a fool to fall someone this merciless. Even if he’s the only one who seems to see through my pretend cheerfulness and understand the real me, I have to remind myself it’s all for show, right?
Love is not supposed to be part of this recipe. We are oil and water—not meant to mix!
I’m an aspiring chef from Mumbai, who dreams of opening up my own restaurant. Until then, I meal prep food for rich people. I’m great at my job except when I accidentally leave chocolate cake in the wrong kitchen and face the wrath of Luke Abbot, a sugar hating billionaire. He’s health-crazed with perfect abs… perfectly tailored business suits… glaring at me with those smouldering blue eyes.
This grump really knows how to push my buttons and just when I’m gearing up to fight, he offers me a deal — play his pretend fiancé so he can secure the biggest deal of his career! But what do I get out of it? His large, hard, shockingly well-proportioned… kitchen. And a luxury penthouse!
There’s a catch. Luke’s my new roommate. So how will I possibly survive living with a man harder to melt than brown sugar? Even if it seems like Luke is starting to break all his rules for me, I’d be a fool to fall someone this merciless. Even if he’s the only one who seems to see through my pretend cheerfulness and understand the real me, I have to remind myself it’s all for show, right?
Love is not supposed to be part of this recipe. We are oil and water—not meant to mix!
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2023
492 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
June 6, 2024
𝐂𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️
💜𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍰𝙱𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚡 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚎
💜𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
🍰𝙵𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐
💜𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
🍰𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜 𝚂𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
💜𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
Her books are so underrated, more people should read from Sookh Kaur! Her writing is so funny and witty and she always features an absolute simp for her woman hero and utterly flawed and real heroine! Single POV is always a struggle for me, but for some reason, I don’t have any issue with her books (most are single POV), am I desperate for Luke’s POV? 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬, but I survived and still had a bloody good time.
Rita is so funny and refreshing, her banter with Luke, both via text and verbally was freakin’ hilarious, I can read them all day. Luke is so socially awkward, he was raised by a terrible father who taught him to be an arrogant rich prick, so he doesn’t know how to be a friend. He was so adorable in his attempt to befriend Rita, and I find it so endearing! The slow burn in this book from them being a boss and employee, to being friends and eventually fake dating worked so well. By the time they give up on their attraction, the smut is HAWT🔥.
And of course, Luke has to be so perfect and give me my favorite kind of grand gesture, it will always won my heart! Highly recommend this for romcom lovers!
⚠️𝗖𝗪/𝗧𝗪/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀⚠️
- Alcoholic Parent
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️
💜𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍰𝙱𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚡 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚎
💜𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
🍰𝙵𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐
💜𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
🍰𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜 𝚂𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
💜𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
Her books are so underrated, more people should read from Sookh Kaur! Her writing is so funny and witty and she always features an absolute simp for her woman hero and utterly flawed and real heroine! Single POV is always a struggle for me, but for some reason, I don’t have any issue with her books (most are single POV), am I desperate for Luke’s POV? 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬, but I survived and still had a bloody good time.
Rita is so funny and refreshing, her banter with Luke, both via text and verbally was freakin’ hilarious, I can read them all day. Luke is so socially awkward, he was raised by a terrible father who taught him to be an arrogant rich prick, so he doesn’t know how to be a friend. He was so adorable in his attempt to befriend Rita, and I find it so endearing! The slow burn in this book from them being a boss and employee, to being friends and eventually fake dating worked so well. By the time they give up on their attraction, the smut is HAWT🔥.
And of course, Luke has to be so perfect and give me my favorite kind of grand gesture, it will always won my heart! Highly recommend this for romcom lovers!
⚠️𝗖𝗪/𝗧𝗪/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀⚠️
- Alcoholic Parent
November 24, 2023
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
I’m so thankful for the author reaching out to me and giving me a copy of this arc!
Rita has recently been fired from her job which she desperately needed to fund her work visa and her dad’s rehab.
Luke is the well known billionaire responsible for the corrupt Abbot industries.
When Luke is in need of Rita’s baking skills to impress his clients he offers Rita a well needed job.
Two worlds combine in this amazing rom-com.
I loved hearing more about the Punjabi culture in all aspects of Rita’s life. I loved Luke and Rita’s relationship, especially Luke he was an amazing character with so much depth and personality.
I felt as if the beginning writing wasn’t as developed as the second half which really improved. Rita’s character at the beginning was so argumentative which I understand was supposed to be like the trope but she could of literally just been fired, I wish they were fake dating from the beginning to give her a reason to be able to act like that without being fired.
I really enjoyed the ending as it was a fresh concept as opposed to the typical billionaire romances.
Can’t wait to read more from this author, dare I say maybe even a sequel for some of the other characters to get their own story.
I’m so thankful for the author reaching out to me and giving me a copy of this arc!
Rita has recently been fired from her job which she desperately needed to fund her work visa and her dad’s rehab.
Luke is the well known billionaire responsible for the corrupt Abbot industries.
When Luke is in need of Rita’s baking skills to impress his clients he offers Rita a well needed job.
Two worlds combine in this amazing rom-com.
I loved hearing more about the Punjabi culture in all aspects of Rita’s life. I loved Luke and Rita’s relationship, especially Luke he was an amazing character with so much depth and personality.
I felt as if the beginning writing wasn’t as developed as the second half which really improved. Rita’s character at the beginning was so argumentative which I understand was supposed to be like the trope but she could of literally just been fired, I wish they were fake dating from the beginning to give her a reason to be able to act like that without being fired.
I really enjoyed the ending as it was a fresh concept as opposed to the typical billionaire romances.
Can’t wait to read more from this author, dare I say maybe even a sequel for some of the other characters to get their own story.
November 12, 2023
Saw the tropes for this book and I immediately knew this was going to be a winner for me. I love everything to do with a slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine and forced proximity - with all of that set in Barcelona?? Love it!!
I read this book in a day, and did not want to put it down! There was constantly something going on with these characters but it all flowed with he plot so well. Between the individual journeys of both of these characters the slow burn of their romance spanned the book so well. The tension between Rita and Luke had me hooked.
100% recommended this book if you are in need of a cute romance, that will definitely make you hungry with Rita’s chef skills.
Thank you to Sookh Kaur for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book in a day, and did not want to put it down! There was constantly something going on with these characters but it all flowed with he plot so well. Between the individual journeys of both of these characters the slow burn of their romance spanned the book so well. The tension between Rita and Luke had me hooked.
100% recommended this book if you are in need of a cute romance, that will definitely make you hungry with Rita’s chef skills.
Thank you to Sookh Kaur for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2023
Such a perfect, light, but still emotional and deep book. Absolutely addictive, I burned through it very quickly. Definitely would recommend.
September 20, 2025
I really enjoyed Rita and Luke and the vast cast of characters, but mostly Rita and Luke. The fact that he was so wealthy didn't make him a jerk, which I appreciated. (I read too many Harlequins back in the day.) This was a pleasure, even when it made me cry. Highly recommended!
December 17, 2023
I must start by saying thank you to @sookhkaur for the chance to dive into Cakes for the Grump. Unfortunately, this story didn't quite hit the sweet spot for me. 😕
The premise of a chef caught up in a fake dating situation with a billionaire had potential, but the execution left me craving a different flavour. Rita is a talented chef facing eviction and a peculiar proposal from Luke Abbot.
The narrative dives into a blend of clichés and predictable moments, making it hard for me to savour the story. The fake dating trope, while popular, felt a bit stale in this context. Rita's internal monologues about Luke's mysterious side and the constant push-pull between attraction and loathing became repetitive, leaving me wanting more substance.
The attempt at humour and the quirky relationship dynamics fell flat for me. The constant emphasis on Luke's "large, throbbing with heat, perfectly proportionate… kitchen" started feeling forced rather than adding the intended spice to the plot.
While the story promises a deeper look into Luke's character, the pacing left me feeling unsatisfied. The revelations about his true nature seemed rushed and lacked the depth needed to make me invest emotionally in the characters.
Despite my reservations, I appreciate the effort and creativity put into the storyline. It's clear that the author has a passion for storytelling and a unique perspective. Although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure it will find an audience that appreciates its particular blend of ingredients. 🍰✨
The premise of a chef caught up in a fake dating situation with a billionaire had potential, but the execution left me craving a different flavour. Rita is a talented chef facing eviction and a peculiar proposal from Luke Abbot.
The narrative dives into a blend of clichés and predictable moments, making it hard for me to savour the story. The fake dating trope, while popular, felt a bit stale in this context. Rita's internal monologues about Luke's mysterious side and the constant push-pull between attraction and loathing became repetitive, leaving me wanting more substance.
The attempt at humour and the quirky relationship dynamics fell flat for me. The constant emphasis on Luke's "large, throbbing with heat, perfectly proportionate… kitchen" started feeling forced rather than adding the intended spice to the plot.
While the story promises a deeper look into Luke's character, the pacing left me feeling unsatisfied. The revelations about his true nature seemed rushed and lacked the depth needed to make me invest emotionally in the characters.
Despite my reservations, I appreciate the effort and creativity put into the storyline. It's clear that the author has a passion for storytelling and a unique perspective. Although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure it will find an audience that appreciates its particular blend of ingredients. 🍰✨
November 15, 2023
Cakes for the Grump⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A slow burn rom com that will have you laughing out loud!
Rita is an aspiring chef who has plans to open up a restaurant. She moved away from home, to a different country, and is currently a meal plan chef to a grumpy billionaire. One day when she accidentally leaves a cake in his kitchen, he calls her into his office to fire her. Luke Abbot is a health-crazed billionaire that always gets his way. He also knows how to push Rita’s buttons on the daily but when he offers her a deal, she can’t turn him down. She likes things with spice and he can’t stand but a little bit of salt. Will they mix?
I loved Rita! She was a sassy FMC who loves her curves. There were moments she had me laughing out loud with her comments towards Luke. Speaking of Luke, he’s a grumpy but heart of gold kinda guy. “I’ll hurt anyone you hurts you.” I loved their banter and them together.
Overall, I enjoyed this slow burn romcom. There were some spicy scenes (FYI- if that’s not your thing, you can pass those parts and not miss anything really important) and their chemistry was so good. The author really did a good job of the slow burn build up. This book does deal with alcohol addiction, but the topic is handled with care.
If you like romcoms, then I suggest you give this one a try! It launches on November 13, 2023. Be sure to add it to your TBR list!
Thank you for giving me an arc copy. This is my honest, voluntary review.
A slow burn rom com that will have you laughing out loud!
Rita is an aspiring chef who has plans to open up a restaurant. She moved away from home, to a different country, and is currently a meal plan chef to a grumpy billionaire. One day when she accidentally leaves a cake in his kitchen, he calls her into his office to fire her. Luke Abbot is a health-crazed billionaire that always gets his way. He also knows how to push Rita’s buttons on the daily but when he offers her a deal, she can’t turn him down. She likes things with spice and he can’t stand but a little bit of salt. Will they mix?
I loved Rita! She was a sassy FMC who loves her curves. There were moments she had me laughing out loud with her comments towards Luke. Speaking of Luke, he’s a grumpy but heart of gold kinda guy. “I’ll hurt anyone you hurts you.” I loved their banter and them together.
Overall, I enjoyed this slow burn romcom. There were some spicy scenes (FYI- if that’s not your thing, you can pass those parts and not miss anything really important) and their chemistry was so good. The author really did a good job of the slow burn build up. This book does deal with alcohol addiction, but the topic is handled with care.
If you like romcoms, then I suggest you give this one a try! It launches on November 13, 2023. Be sure to add it to your TBR list!
Thank you for giving me an arc copy. This is my honest, voluntary review.
November 19, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much for the ARC.
I very much enjoyed this book. the title of this book had me so intrigued because i could not picture what i was getting myself into but, what i did not expect was that, this book talked about deep topics like, addiction and trying to navigate different cultures while also being true to yourself. It made me relate to the fmc so much cause i'm also south asian and i understood rita so much and i loved reading about her struggles because it made her so damn realistic and her fear of failure just hit too close. Luke was an amazing guy who tried helping rita in his own way and i loved reading about their little moments alone, it was so damn adorable.
I also adored the way luke treated her and made her feel seen in the way he cooked for her and supported her. They are just so damn adorable and fit so surprisingly good together.
Even thought this is my first book of her's i really liked it and will definitely check out her future books cause this one was definitely a pleasant surprise.
Thank you so much for the ARC.
I very much enjoyed this book. the title of this book had me so intrigued because i could not picture what i was getting myself into but, what i did not expect was that, this book talked about deep topics like, addiction and trying to navigate different cultures while also being true to yourself. It made me relate to the fmc so much cause i'm also south asian and i understood rita so much and i loved reading about her struggles because it made her so damn realistic and her fear of failure just hit too close. Luke was an amazing guy who tried helping rita in his own way and i loved reading about their little moments alone, it was so damn adorable.
I also adored the way luke treated her and made her feel seen in the way he cooked for her and supported her. They are just so damn adorable and fit so surprisingly good together.
Even thought this is my first book of her's i really liked it and will definitely check out her future books cause this one was definitely a pleasant surprise.
January 29, 2024
Luke and Rita are a couple that I adored and rooted for so hard! Luke is a billionaire grumpy head of his father's company and Rita is an aspiring chef with a very big heart.
This is a slow burn that was so well done! The way they slowly go from tiptoeing around each other, to starting a tentative friendship, to really becoming good friends, and having a fake relationship to becoming a REAL relationship... It was just super fun.
Rita struggles with a father that's an alcoholic and didn't have a great relationship with. Luke is trying to show that while he does head this huge money making company, he is not like his tyrant father and had a good heart. These two really helped balance each other out.
Both Rita and Luke's best friends are such comic relief and I loved every single scene with them too.
This is a slow burn that was so well done! The way they slowly go from tiptoeing around each other, to starting a tentative friendship, to really becoming good friends, and having a fake relationship to becoming a REAL relationship... It was just super fun.
Rita struggles with a father that's an alcoholic and didn't have a great relationship with. Luke is trying to show that while he does head this huge money making company, he is not like his tyrant father and had a good heart. These two really helped balance each other out.
Both Rita and Luke's best friends are such comic relief and I loved every single scene with them too.
December 30, 2024
DNFd at 72% and I feel like that’s being kind. First off, the way the characters spoke made me cringe. BAD! Like I get he’s supposed to be smart but like… he just spoke so weirdly and so did she. Like NO ONE TALKS LIKE THAT. It made every scene between them unbearable. On top of the spice scene just *shivers* and not in a good way.
Like “If I have this night, I don’t want to be done yet. I need to have you again. Will you let me?” 🤢 honey if a man spoke to me like this I would get up and leave. Like sir, take charge!!
Maybe it’s just me idk. This whole book made me cringe and i absolutely did not like it. I kept thinking it would get better and it didn’t. This needed another round of edits.
Like “If I have this night, I don’t want to be done yet. I need to have you again. Will you let me?” 🤢 honey if a man spoke to me like this I would get up and leave. Like sir, take charge!!
Maybe it’s just me idk. This whole book made me cringe and i absolutely did not like it. I kept thinking it would get better and it didn’t. This needed another round of edits.
November 26, 2023
I always love a good rom-com so I knew I’d like this book. I was surprised to LOVE it. I couldn’t put it down and lost sleep sneaking in another chapter and then another chapter. It was the perfect mix of predictable and unexpected and so nuanced. The characters were incredibly well developed and complex. My cheeks are aching from grinning so much the past few days. I can’t wait to read more of Kaur’s work. I’d love a follow-up novel with Theo please, checking in on dear Rita and Luke. Brilliant novel!
November 11, 2023
Such a super cute rom-com (with a bit of spice too which I loved!) can this be made into a movie please?! It reminds me of the noughties romcoms I grew up loving!
January 5, 2025
This was such a fun and surprisingly emotional read. Highly recommend!
⛓️💥third act break up. While I believe that these are never necessary; this one at least wasn’t based on miscommunication and allowed them to be together believably.
👩🏻🤝👨🏼 mature characters; mutual respect; both somewhere around 30. Curvy FMC. Multi-cultural elements.
😇. Rita is a strong willed, smart and lovable character. Luke is a grumpy billionaire who is secretly a good guy. He falls first and hard.
🗣️ fun, smart banter. In person and via text. Loved the beginning of this book and all the fun they had getting to know each other. This author knows how to write flirty banter that’s fun and smart, without being mean or snarky.
🧨. This is a bit of a slow burn, with spicey times coming at a little over 50%. It’s just the right amount and important to the growth of the story.
💵. Grumpy Billionaire mogul and smart, strong and feisty chef.
👀. Single POV from Rita. Epilogue shows Luke’s POV during 2 month separation. Beautiful HEA.
Tropes:
💵 Billionaire romance
💕 Boss x employee
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Fake dating
💕 Friends to lovers; slow burn-ish
💕 Plus size Indian heroine
💕 Billionaire grumpy hero
Rita works as an in-home chef in Barcelona to Luke, the grumpy billionaire. She is an aspiring chef who is sending all her money home to pay for her alcoholic dad’s rehab in Mumbai. She also lives in a truly terrible housing situation where she and other tenants need to do “chores” to take care of the property. She has a sunny disposition but it is a mask she’s learned to wear. She works during the day and then does her chores and those of the other tenants, who are elderly/sick.
She starts working for Luke and they love to give each other grief.
At the suggestion of Luke’s business partner, Rita and Luke fake date so that can bring her to an important business meeting. She will help him have a less cut-throat business image and he lets her use his kitchen for a cooking competition that she’s hoping will fulfill her dreams of becoming a chef. Sparks fly, the chemistry is palpable even before they share their first kiss. As they get to know each other, their feelings and mutual respect grow. She is initially unsure of his feelings and if they’re real or related to their deal, but it’s clear to the reader that he’s deeply affected by her. Love her friends in Mumbai and his friend, Theo. They add levity and allow our characters to be seen w more humanity.
❤️❤️❤️What I love about this story is the author gives us all the small moments we want and all the actions to see how much they care for each other and how protective he is of her. Even without his POV, we are clear and confident in his feelings for her. LOVE it!
I dropped a star because I can’t stand third act breakups. Also, the part where she sees an invitation on the counter and invites herself to a party where the sister is going. Too contrived. She works for this guy and barely knows the sister. 🙄
Favorite moments - in no order (spoilers 🫣):
- when he starts calling her “darling”
- their morning tea ritual and how he makes her the perfect tea each morning
- when he goes to her apt when she is sick, after they fight in his office (she brings him soup) and he brings her home. How he stands up to Janice for her and won’t let her stay in her terrible apt
- how he takes care of her when she’s sick, calls the doctor, and then helps her cook for her competition. How she keeps saying that he’s “the devil” in her delirium. Lol.
- when she goes to the “party” and calls him to get his sisters number; he jumps in a helicopter to find her; when he gets hurt after the “party” and she sits up with him all night. She’s sees him for the first time without his shirt and puts ice on his wounds. They end up in bed together bc they’re both worried about each other
- how impressed he is when he sees all the detail and effort she puts into her cooking plan for the completion. He gets her a whiteboard. :)
- when he takes her to a cooking class so he can cook for her
- when they each at separate times learn about the others past/stories and how they genuinely hurt for the other person
- when he fake proposes but then tells her what he would really say - including that “he would learn to bake” bc he wants to be able to do everything for her
- when he unties her tricky dress later that night and they get together for the first time
- at the end, when he shows up in Mumbai and helps her take care of his dad after he’s drunk at her party
- how her friends support her while she’s at home and help her reach her dreams of becoming a chef, when she’s all but given up
⛓️💥third act break up. While I believe that these are never necessary; this one at least wasn’t based on miscommunication and allowed them to be together believably.
👩🏻🤝👨🏼 mature characters; mutual respect; both somewhere around 30. Curvy FMC. Multi-cultural elements.
😇. Rita is a strong willed, smart and lovable character. Luke is a grumpy billionaire who is secretly a good guy. He falls first and hard.
🗣️ fun, smart banter. In person and via text. Loved the beginning of this book and all the fun they had getting to know each other. This author knows how to write flirty banter that’s fun and smart, without being mean or snarky.
🧨. This is a bit of a slow burn, with spicey times coming at a little over 50%. It’s just the right amount and important to the growth of the story.
💵. Grumpy Billionaire mogul and smart, strong and feisty chef.
👀. Single POV from Rita. Epilogue shows Luke’s POV during 2 month separation. Beautiful HEA.
Tropes:
💵 Billionaire romance
💕 Boss x employee
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Fake dating
💕 Friends to lovers; slow burn-ish
💕 Plus size Indian heroine
💕 Billionaire grumpy hero
Rita works as an in-home chef in Barcelona to Luke, the grumpy billionaire. She is an aspiring chef who is sending all her money home to pay for her alcoholic dad’s rehab in Mumbai. She also lives in a truly terrible housing situation where she and other tenants need to do “chores” to take care of the property. She has a sunny disposition but it is a mask she’s learned to wear. She works during the day and then does her chores and those of the other tenants, who are elderly/sick.
She starts working for Luke and they love to give each other grief.
At the suggestion of Luke’s business partner, Rita and Luke fake date so that can bring her to an important business meeting. She will help him have a less cut-throat business image and he lets her use his kitchen for a cooking competition that she’s hoping will fulfill her dreams of becoming a chef. Sparks fly, the chemistry is palpable even before they share their first kiss. As they get to know each other, their feelings and mutual respect grow. She is initially unsure of his feelings and if they’re real or related to their deal, but it’s clear to the reader that he’s deeply affected by her. Love her friends in Mumbai and his friend, Theo. They add levity and allow our characters to be seen w more humanity.
❤️❤️❤️What I love about this story is the author gives us all the small moments we want and all the actions to see how much they care for each other and how protective he is of her. Even without his POV, we are clear and confident in his feelings for her. LOVE it!
I dropped a star because I can’t stand third act breakups. Also, the part where she sees an invitation on the counter and invites herself to a party where the sister is going. Too contrived. She works for this guy and barely knows the sister. 🙄
Favorite moments - in no order (spoilers 🫣):
- when he starts calling her “darling”
- their morning tea ritual and how he makes her the perfect tea each morning
- when he goes to her apt when she is sick, after they fight in his office (she brings him soup) and he brings her home. How he stands up to Janice for her and won’t let her stay in her terrible apt
- how he takes care of her when she’s sick, calls the doctor, and then helps her cook for her competition. How she keeps saying that he’s “the devil” in her delirium. Lol.
- when she goes to the “party” and calls him to get his sisters number; he jumps in a helicopter to find her; when he gets hurt after the “party” and she sits up with him all night. She’s sees him for the first time without his shirt and puts ice on his wounds. They end up in bed together bc they’re both worried about each other
- how impressed he is when he sees all the detail and effort she puts into her cooking plan for the completion. He gets her a whiteboard. :)
- when he takes her to a cooking class so he can cook for her
- when they each at separate times learn about the others past/stories and how they genuinely hurt for the other person
- when he fake proposes but then tells her what he would really say - including that “he would learn to bake” bc he wants to be able to do everything for her
- when he unties her tricky dress later that night and they get together for the first time
- at the end, when he shows up in Mumbai and helps her take care of his dad after he’s drunk at her party
- how her friends support her while she’s at home and help her reach her dreams of becoming a chef, when she’s all but given up
March 17, 2025
3.5 stars. A private chef falling in love with her employer because she accidentally left a cake in his kitchen makes for a weird book opening but honestly I enjoyed this more than I expected to. I have no idea how old these characters are supposed to be or why this book is set in Barcelona when Luke is from OHIO and Rita is from Mumbai but honestly you can forget about these plot holes because there’s other things to focus on. Like the ridiculous banter. And a stupid hot rich (not to mention pathetic) man down bad on his KNEES for his girl. Honestly it’s a win. I didn’t care for the third act break up but I respect the hell out of Rita for having her own ambitions and not just letting Luke try and fix everything for her. There’s a lot of stereotypical tropes but I found that they didn’t bother me like they usually do in other romance books- there were some scenes that fr had me giggling and blushing. Overall I found this book quite enjoyable!
July 2, 2024
Loved this book!
Recently discovered this author and love her books, but this one is my favorite! Such a fun, sweet, sexy book with lots of food talk and really great friends and family storylines.
Recently discovered this author and love her books, but this one is my favorite! Such a fun, sweet, sexy book with lots of food talk and really great friends and family storylines.
March 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐
The concept of this story is sweet. The execution of it all is not. I wanted there to be a few chapters with Luke's POV. That man learned things about Rita wouldn't being obvious that he was doing so, let's explore that and his feelings.
The concept of this story is sweet. The execution of it all is not. I wanted there to be a few chapters with Luke's POV. That man learned things about Rita wouldn't being obvious that he was doing so, let's explore that and his feelings.
February 1, 2025
Freaking adore her MMCs
April 14, 2025
Beach reads are ranked at a different standard by the way
May 28, 2025
Absolutely LOVED this. I couldn’t put it down. I loved these characters, I loved the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I loved the body positivity. And I loved all the recipes!
December 31, 2023
DNF at 50%.
It was off to such a good start. Then it got boring but I kept going because of the jokes.
Then this happened: SPOILERS
Imagine seeing an invitation on the counter for a party you weren’t invited to. It’s for your boss’s/roommate’s visiting sister.
You’re on a face time call with your friends back home (in India but you live in Spain) and they somehow convince you to go.
Then you go and find out it’s a sex party with drugs and topless women.
Instead of running away, you decided to call your boss so you can get his sisters number and call her incase she’s at the party and didn’t know what the party was like.
You boss comes to rescue you and then there’s a knife fight and them trying to drug him.
The FMC is literally an idiot. How can someone so smart be so stupid?
It was off to such a good start. Then it got boring but I kept going because of the jokes.
Then this happened: SPOILERS
Imagine seeing an invitation on the counter for a party you weren’t invited to. It’s for your boss’s/roommate’s visiting sister.
You’re on a face time call with your friends back home (in India but you live in Spain) and they somehow convince you to go.
Then you go and find out it’s a sex party with drugs and topless women.
Instead of running away, you decided to call your boss so you can get his sisters number and call her incase she’s at the party and didn’t know what the party was like.
You boss comes to rescue you and then there’s a knife fight and them trying to drug him.
The FMC is literally an idiot. How can someone so smart be so stupid?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
I think that Cakes for the grump would have been a really great book to write in Dual POV between Luke and Rita. Luke is such a closed off character that we really need that insight to his mind and thoughts to actually get the character development in the story. I kept saying to myself the whole time while reading this, “it needs dual POV” “we need to hear from Luke” and then the last chapter is in Luke’s POV?!? Like come on… it should have been the whole book. While I do think it would have been a much better read if it was written as a Dual POV that doesn’t mean it was a terrible book. I would put it right in the middle, not terrible but not the best.
November 12, 2023
Rita is a sunshiny chef who is working in Barcelona to make money to send home to Mumbai for her father's rehab. She has aspirations to become a famous chef, but is working in the home of a grumpy billionaire, preparing shakes and healthy meals for him every day. Luke is the head of a large corporation who recently took to the helm and would like to turn the ship around, bettering the company while proving that he's not the monster his father was. It is determined that having Rita next to him will humanize him and make it more likely that he will be able to pull off the deal, so they begin spending small amounts of time together every morning in order to get to know one another. As their relationship and feelings develop, Rita begins to realize that the grumpy billionaire has more heart than she thought, but she knows their two worlds are very different, and that their friendship likely has an expiration date. Will they be able to successfully soften Luke's image? What happens when feelings begin to enter the equation? And are their separate spheres too disparate to ever converge in a meaningful way?
I absolutely devoured this book. From start to finish I was invested, needing to know what would happen next. The slow burn was absolutely delicious. I loved their banter, and the way they sort of spoke in code, being sarcastic and sassy while actually meaning something very different. I rooted for them, I snickered at the sass, cried at some emotional parts, and was basically glued to my e-reader, desperate to learn if they would make it work (obviously it would, this is a romcom, but I just couldn't see how it would play out). I loved watching Luke blossom into a sweet and loving partner, and it was wonderful to see Rita own who she was and what she wanted, and then do the work to make it happen.
The fantastic side characters - Rita's and Luke's best friends - deserve to be mentioned. They were such wonderful supporters, but also funny and full of quick wit as well as being careful observers. Like family, they only wanted the best for their friends, and worked hard to help make it happen. I always love a found family aspect, and this story has it in spades.
I also appreciated the delicacy that was used in speaking about addiction. It's a difficult subject, but it was done with care and understanding. Additionally, there is another form of representation in that Rita is not your typical tall and skinny female lead, but is shorter and rounder, and she is comfortable with what she looks like. As a not small person myself, I like feeling seen, reading about women who don't fit the usual mold.
If you like billionaires, grumpy vs sunshine, workplace romance, a curvy female main character, forced proximity, fake dating/engagement, and found family, then this is the story for you. Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and asking me to read this amazing book. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
I absolutely devoured this book. From start to finish I was invested, needing to know what would happen next. The slow burn was absolutely delicious. I loved their banter, and the way they sort of spoke in code, being sarcastic and sassy while actually meaning something very different. I rooted for them, I snickered at the sass, cried at some emotional parts, and was basically glued to my e-reader, desperate to learn if they would make it work (obviously it would, this is a romcom, but I just couldn't see how it would play out). I loved watching Luke blossom into a sweet and loving partner, and it was wonderful to see Rita own who she was and what she wanted, and then do the work to make it happen.
The fantastic side characters - Rita's and Luke's best friends - deserve to be mentioned. They were such wonderful supporters, but also funny and full of quick wit as well as being careful observers. Like family, they only wanted the best for their friends, and worked hard to help make it happen. I always love a found family aspect, and this story has it in spades.
I also appreciated the delicacy that was used in speaking about addiction. It's a difficult subject, but it was done with care and understanding. Additionally, there is another form of representation in that Rita is not your typical tall and skinny female lead, but is shorter and rounder, and she is comfortable with what she looks like. As a not small person myself, I like feeling seen, reading about women who don't fit the usual mold.
If you like billionaires, grumpy vs sunshine, workplace romance, a curvy female main character, forced proximity, fake dating/engagement, and found family, then this is the story for you. Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and asking me to read this amazing book. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2025
"You’ve given me so much strength—and I love you. I loved you when I wasn’t a good man. And I love you now when I’m trying to do better. I will love you always. And I’ll take whatever you’ll give me, but it would be my greatest honor to call you my wife."
I first picked up Cakes For The Grump because the front cover caught my eye right away, I'm also a huge fan of the fake dating trope and I'm an avid baker so I thought I was really going to like this book. Unfortunately even after reading the whole thing I'm still in two minds as to whether or not I did actually enjoy it.
For one I'm a little disappointed that there wasn't actually much baking going on. We get a brief mention of Rita making a couple of cakes but then it just abruptly stops and we move onto the meal kit competition. Don't get me wrong though I really did enjoy reading about Rita's passion for her food, especially learning more about her Indian inspired dishes and her drive to become a Chef but I thought cakes would be more heavily featured given the book title.
The plot in general was a little overwhelming too as there was a lot going on all at once. The story starts out quite slow with Rita cooking for Luke, the horrible landlord and the characters getting to know each other but soon picks up pace when all the other sub plots start getting introduced. I have to say though I was completely lost when it came to Luke and his company takeover plans and the random topless drugs party threw me a little as I didn't get what it added to the story.
One thing I did enjoy reading about was the development of the characters. Rita especially it was nice to learn about her upbringing in Mumbai and how it played a part in inspiring the things she cooked, though her skills only shined with the freedom of the meal kit competition. Luke was a grump when we first met him, too absorbed in his work but the more he got to know Rita the more it showed how loving and good natured he really was.
This book wasn't quite what I was imaging going into it. There wasn't much cake and there was only one evening of pretending to be fake fiances so it didn't completely live up to my expectations. I think the characters made up for it a bit though as I did like the banter between the pair of them and I loved how strongly Luke cared for Rita. I did think the ending was fitting to the story and I'm so glad Rita found her passion for cooking again with the help of her friends.
November 25, 2023
Cakes for the Grump is an entertaining grumpy/sunshine, fake relationship, billionaire romantic comedy by Sookh Kaur that explores sensitive family issues and interesting cultural differences. Rita is an aspiring chef from Mumbai trying to survive in Barcelona, when she gets a job prepping meals for grumpy billionaire, Luke Abbott. Luke is in pursuit of a huge deal, that requires a softening of his cutthroat reputation. As series of events leads to a fake relationship proposal between him and Rita with concessions that will benefit both of them. But when she ends up having to move in with him, lines start to blur, and the risk seems like it might be too great. Can two people from totally different worlds really fall for each other, or are they destined for utter heartbreak?
I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but I liked Luke and Rita right away. The grumpy/sunshine theme was well done with fun feisty banter in both dialogue and text. I enjoyed learning more about her culture through her recipes, and I loved the relationship she had with her two best friends, even from far away. There were times in the book that I felt it was lagging a bit or could be shorter, but it would eventually pick up again. I appreciate the authenticity of the emotion surrounding Rita’s dad’s alcoholism and the way it was handled. But watching the the ice melt around the stoic Luke’s heart was a joy. It was like he was a closet romantic and didn’t even realize it, he just needed Rita to bring out his true self.😍😍 Their romance was a true slow burn that lead to some spice later in the book. While I’d love to see more of them, I was captivated by Theo, Luke’s hilarious best friend, as well as Rita’s friends. There’s plenty of material there to keep readers entertained!😉
I received an ARC from Sookh Kaur in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
#CakesfortheGrump #SookhKaur #GrumpySunshine #FakeRelationship #FakeFiancée #WorkplaceRomance #CurvyFMC #ForcedProximity #CulturalDiversity #BossEmployee #OppositeSidesoftheTrack #OppositesAttract #BillionaireRomance #bookstagram #readersofig #diversebooks #readersofinstagram #valentineprlm #romancebookstagram #bookreview #romancebookreview #arcreviews #ARCreview
I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but I liked Luke and Rita right away. The grumpy/sunshine theme was well done with fun feisty banter in both dialogue and text. I enjoyed learning more about her culture through her recipes, and I loved the relationship she had with her two best friends, even from far away. There were times in the book that I felt it was lagging a bit or could be shorter, but it would eventually pick up again. I appreciate the authenticity of the emotion surrounding Rita’s dad’s alcoholism and the way it was handled. But watching the the ice melt around the stoic Luke’s heart was a joy. It was like he was a closet romantic and didn’t even realize it, he just needed Rita to bring out his true self.😍😍 Their romance was a true slow burn that lead to some spice later in the book. While I’d love to see more of them, I was captivated by Theo, Luke’s hilarious best friend, as well as Rita’s friends. There’s plenty of material there to keep readers entertained!😉
I received an ARC from Sookh Kaur in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
#CakesfortheGrump #SookhKaur #GrumpySunshine #FakeRelationship #FakeFiancée #WorkplaceRomance #CurvyFMC #ForcedProximity #CulturalDiversity #BossEmployee #OppositeSidesoftheTrack #OppositesAttract #BillionaireRomance #bookstagram #readersofig #diversebooks #readersofinstagram #valentineprlm #romancebookstagram #bookreview #romancebookreview #arcreviews #ARCreview
November 13, 2023
"Cakes For the Grump"
Pages: 388
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶 1/5
🌟 Tropes 🌟
1. Close/forced proximity
2. Curvy FMC
3. Grumpy/Sunhine
4. Fake Engagement
5. Forced Proximity
From Mumbai to Barcelona, Rita's culinary adventure takes an unexpected turn when a misplaced cake leads to her meeting the enigmatic Luke Abbot. Fired for a sweet mishap, little did she know that a twist of fate would lead to a private culinary journey and a fake engagement that adds a sprinkle of romance to the mix. 🎂❤️
Luke doesn't eat sweets and Rita is working for a food prep company that has her working at Luke's home. She has never met him as he leaves before she arrives and she leaves before he returns. Until that cake was left. After being fired she finds herself at Luke's home explaining the cake. Little did she know that cake would secure her a permanent cook role as a private chef for Luke.
Luke needs more than a cook.....Rita ends up playing the role of his fiance and little by little their guards come down. Rita is paying for her alcoholic father's sobriety care and she lives in terrible conditions sacrificing herself for love and guilt she has for her family. This offer she receives from Luke is something she can't resist.
The family dynamics for Rita play a huge role in all of her decisions and the book often explains Punjabi culture and what her role is as a daughter. Rita is also blessed with body positivity and she embraces all her curves. I loved that she celebrated herself as a full figured woman.
Will Rita's pride keep Luke away? Will Rita learn to accept fate and help from others? Too much pride from Luke and Rita has been an issue and if they cannot let it go, it will ruin them forever.
A very special thank you to Sookh Kaur for reaching out to me to do an ARC review!
Pages: 388
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶 1/5
🌟 Tropes 🌟
1. Close/forced proximity
2. Curvy FMC
3. Grumpy/Sunhine
4. Fake Engagement
5. Forced Proximity
From Mumbai to Barcelona, Rita's culinary adventure takes an unexpected turn when a misplaced cake leads to her meeting the enigmatic Luke Abbot. Fired for a sweet mishap, little did she know that a twist of fate would lead to a private culinary journey and a fake engagement that adds a sprinkle of romance to the mix. 🎂❤️
Luke doesn't eat sweets and Rita is working for a food prep company that has her working at Luke's home. She has never met him as he leaves before she arrives and she leaves before he returns. Until that cake was left. After being fired she finds herself at Luke's home explaining the cake. Little did she know that cake would secure her a permanent cook role as a private chef for Luke.
Luke needs more than a cook.....Rita ends up playing the role of his fiance and little by little their guards come down. Rita is paying for her alcoholic father's sobriety care and she lives in terrible conditions sacrificing herself for love and guilt she has for her family. This offer she receives from Luke is something she can't resist.
The family dynamics for Rita play a huge role in all of her decisions and the book often explains Punjabi culture and what her role is as a daughter. Rita is also blessed with body positivity and she embraces all her curves. I loved that she celebrated herself as a full figured woman.
Will Rita's pride keep Luke away? Will Rita learn to accept fate and help from others? Too much pride from Luke and Rita has been an issue and if they cannot let it go, it will ruin them forever.
A very special thank you to Sookh Kaur for reaching out to me to do an ARC review!
April 3, 2025
3.5 stars
really enjoyed the first 75% of the book and lost interest a bit around the 3rd act breakup and started skimming it
what didn't work for me:
- the book needs an editor - there were many many mistakes throughout it. i am normally a very forgiving reader when it comes to errors/typos/things not making sense but even i couldnt ignore the issues here. for example - the h sends the H a text but the formatting made it seem like the H was the one sending it and it even had his name as sender. smh
- unnecessary ow scene. H/h go out with H's friend they both go hit on OP bc the friend is making them as a joke. h ends up talking to a married man who gives her his friend's number (which she never calls) BUTT THE MF HERO HERE PISSED ME OFF. he not only goes to flirt with a rando women... he takes her to the dance floor for what was described as an intimate ass slow dance between the two. WHILE THE h WATCHED! my jaw literally dropped reading this bc it seemed so out of character for him and unnecessary! i almost DNF'd as well. h leaves and he runs after her but it's also never explicitly stated that nothing happened between H/ow bc he does end up going back to the bar for his friend after the h catches a cab. i hateee scenes like this bc i can't get them outta my head for the rest of the book. even when H/h had a cute dance moment in his apt i was thinking of this.
- 3rd act breakup. it also didn't help that i lost some interest right after.
- no epilogue :( i want to see their future!
what worked for me:
- Luke - this man was everything! ignoring that stupid bar scene, everything else about him was amazing and green flags all around
- the banter was chefs kiss!
- H was sooo obsessed with h and did so many little and big things to show how much he cares
really enjoyed the first 75% of the book and lost interest a bit around the 3rd act breakup and started skimming it
what didn't work for me:
- the book needs an editor - there were many many mistakes throughout it. i am normally a very forgiving reader when it comes to errors/typos/things not making sense but even i couldnt ignore the issues here. for example - the h sends the H a text but the formatting made it seem like the H was the one sending it and it even had his name as sender. smh
- unnecessary ow scene. H/h go out with H's friend they both go hit on OP bc the friend is making them as a joke. h ends up talking to a married man who gives her his friend's number (which she never calls) BUTT THE MF HERO HERE PISSED ME OFF. he not only goes to flirt with a rando women... he takes her to the dance floor for what was described as an intimate ass slow dance between the two. WHILE THE h WATCHED! my jaw literally dropped reading this bc it seemed so out of character for him and unnecessary! i almost DNF'd as well. h leaves and he runs after her but it's also never explicitly stated that nothing happened between H/ow bc he does end up going back to the bar for his friend after the h catches a cab. i hateee scenes like this bc i can't get them outta my head for the rest of the book. even when H/h had a cute dance moment in his apt i was thinking of this.
- 3rd act breakup. it also didn't help that i lost some interest right after.
- no epilogue :( i want to see their future!
what worked for me:
- Luke - this man was everything! ignoring that stupid bar scene, everything else about him was amazing and green flags all around
- the banter was chefs kiss!
- H was sooo obsessed with h and did so many little and big things to show how much he cares
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️and a half
Cake for the Grump by Sookh Kaur
Rita Singh, a personal chef 👩🏽🍳did not quite understand Luke Abbot’s strict regime of boring healthy meals she prepared for him on the daily.
The billionaire CEO 👔 and personal chef meet to discuss what she thought was her termination but instead gets her job back because her cake 🎂 potentially changed a meeting’s result for Luke.
A story full of sparring emails 📧 and a challenge for Luke to befriend Rita for the upcoming ‘white whale’ conference, this book is full of humour, spicy chemistry and some serious subjects including family.
Think 50 Shades’ power play💰meets Hallmark’s heart.
Things I ❤️ about the book:
👉 Love the different cake descriptions. They are so good that it made me want to get up and bake a cake.
👉 The back and forth email scene in the beginning is just as satisfying as the cakes. They made me smile like an idiot staring at her kindle with a smile fixed to her face. But I loved it.
👉 How the author has picked up a serious subject and handled it so realistically towards the end that it was hard for me to keep the book down.
What I 🥵 about the book:
👉 There are certain grammatical errors (more so towards the end) that made me want to pick up a pen and edit it myself.
👉 Even though the book is set in Barcelona, I wish the author would’ve described some scene to let the people know it’s a story in Barcelona. It felt so vague that it could’ve been anywhere in the world (perhaps that was her idea in the first place 🤷🏻♀️)
👉 The 🌶️ scenes felt a little cringe and forced tbh.
Special thanks to BookSirens, for sharing an ARC of this book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. ✨
Cake for the Grump by Sookh Kaur
Rita Singh, a personal chef 👩🏽🍳did not quite understand Luke Abbot’s strict regime of boring healthy meals she prepared for him on the daily.
The billionaire CEO 👔 and personal chef meet to discuss what she thought was her termination but instead gets her job back because her cake 🎂 potentially changed a meeting’s result for Luke.
A story full of sparring emails 📧 and a challenge for Luke to befriend Rita for the upcoming ‘white whale’ conference, this book is full of humour, spicy chemistry and some serious subjects including family.
Think 50 Shades’ power play💰meets Hallmark’s heart.
Things I ❤️ about the book:
👉 Love the different cake descriptions. They are so good that it made me want to get up and bake a cake.
👉 The back and forth email scene in the beginning is just as satisfying as the cakes. They made me smile like an idiot staring at her kindle with a smile fixed to her face. But I loved it.
👉 How the author has picked up a serious subject and handled it so realistically towards the end that it was hard for me to keep the book down.
What I 🥵 about the book:
👉 There are certain grammatical errors (more so towards the end) that made me want to pick up a pen and edit it myself.
👉 Even though the book is set in Barcelona, I wish the author would’ve described some scene to let the people know it’s a story in Barcelona. It felt so vague that it could’ve been anywhere in the world (perhaps that was her idea in the first place 🤷🏻♀️)
👉 The 🌶️ scenes felt a little cringe and forced tbh.
Special thanks to BookSirens, for sharing an ARC of this book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. ✨
November 13, 2023
4/5⭐️
I’m always a massive fan when a book has real girl representation and the fmc isn’t stick thin! I loved the way stretch marks were normalised aswell!🫶🏼
Both of the main characters in this book were loveable, even though Luke was sugar hating and grumpy as hell😂 the banter between them was hilarious and literally had me laughing out loud (much to my partners annoyance🙄😂). I also loved how much he still wanted to take care of her while still trying to remain grumpy as hell, he really did turn out the sweetest in the end🥹
Rita was also just so relatable and was such a strong character, wanting to be so independent and trying to pretend that everything was okay all of the time when in reality everything was falling apart, you couldn’t help but feel so sorry for her with everything she had been through and was still going through💔
I also loved the explanation of Indian culture throughout this book and feel like I learned so much about such a fascinating and amazing culture which for me just made the book even better! I literally want to travel to India after reading this book!
The ending of this was just beautiful and honestly was so emotional I could literally have cried real tears at the end of it! This is honestly a book I would massively recommend🫶🏼
Also I NEED to eat one of Rita’s cakes they sound absolutely to die for and what is not to like about a book that has many different variations of cake in it?🤤
I’m always a massive fan when a book has real girl representation and the fmc isn’t stick thin! I loved the way stretch marks were normalised aswell!🫶🏼
Both of the main characters in this book were loveable, even though Luke was sugar hating and grumpy as hell😂 the banter between them was hilarious and literally had me laughing out loud (much to my partners annoyance🙄😂). I also loved how much he still wanted to take care of her while still trying to remain grumpy as hell, he really did turn out the sweetest in the end🥹
Rita was also just so relatable and was such a strong character, wanting to be so independent and trying to pretend that everything was okay all of the time when in reality everything was falling apart, you couldn’t help but feel so sorry for her with everything she had been through and was still going through💔
I also loved the explanation of Indian culture throughout this book and feel like I learned so much about such a fascinating and amazing culture which for me just made the book even better! I literally want to travel to India after reading this book!
The ending of this was just beautiful and honestly was so emotional I could literally have cried real tears at the end of it! This is honestly a book I would massively recommend🫶🏼
Also I NEED to eat one of Rita’s cakes they sound absolutely to die for and what is not to like about a book that has many different variations of cake in it?🤤
June 5, 2024
4.25⭐️
🍰Boss x Employee
👩🏾🍳Dislike to Love
🍰“Friends” to “Fiancé”
👩🏾🍳Fake Dating
🍰Forced Proximity
👩🏾🍳Banter
🍰Slow Burn
👩🏾🍳Single POV
Rita is a personal meal prep chef with much bigger aspirations. Especially because CEO Luke Abbott has the blandest tastes, especially NO SWEETS. But an accidental cake left out that changes their whole dynamic, professionally and personally!
For me this book started a little slow but with lots of banter which I think may be a S.K. staple. I wanted Luke’s POV so badly but there are lots of little clues and comments and moments that hint to his feelings! I guess this is the beauty of single POV, we get to interpret them how we want. As Rita and Luke went from dislike to love, I ate up their friendship and changing relationship. My favorite moments came during their first “date” and slow when the innuendos when texting about money! I absolutely swooned and squealed. I loved Rota as a FMC, she strong and independent but she was also vulnerable with hidden hurts. Theo, Rita’s friends and Uncle were fantastic and hilarious. But I’m all about Luke, and course I love big, grand gestures!
I have buddy read 2 other of Sookh’s books and have loved both. So now we are working our way through her catalog! This was another hit and I am so excited to continue. Sookh writes MMCs that are just so swoony and the banter is 👌🏼👌🏼.
“You have no idea, darling. I promise you, you have no idea how much I hate you to the core of my being. I wake up thinking about hating you. And I can’t sleep for hating you.” -Luke. Gah!!!!🤩
🍰Boss x Employee
👩🏾🍳Dislike to Love
🍰“Friends” to “Fiancé”
👩🏾🍳Fake Dating
🍰Forced Proximity
👩🏾🍳Banter
🍰Slow Burn
👩🏾🍳Single POV
Rita is a personal meal prep chef with much bigger aspirations. Especially because CEO Luke Abbott has the blandest tastes, especially NO SWEETS. But an accidental cake left out that changes their whole dynamic, professionally and personally!
For me this book started a little slow but with lots of banter which I think may be a S.K. staple. I wanted Luke’s POV so badly but there are lots of little clues and comments and moments that hint to his feelings! I guess this is the beauty of single POV, we get to interpret them how we want. As Rita and Luke went from dislike to love, I ate up their friendship and changing relationship. My favorite moments came during their first “date” and slow when the innuendos when texting about money! I absolutely swooned and squealed. I loved Rota as a FMC, she strong and independent but she was also vulnerable with hidden hurts. Theo, Rita’s friends and Uncle were fantastic and hilarious. But I’m all about Luke, and course I love big, grand gestures!
I have buddy read 2 other of Sookh’s books and have loved both. So now we are working our way through her catalog! This was another hit and I am so excited to continue. Sookh writes MMCs that are just so swoony and the banter is 👌🏼👌🏼.
“You have no idea, darling. I promise you, you have no idea how much I hate you to the core of my being. I wake up thinking about hating you. And I can’t sleep for hating you.” -Luke. Gah!!!!🤩
November 13, 2023
🍰 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 🍰
Cakes for the Grump by Sookh Kaur
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️
✅ Grumpy X Sunshine
✅ Billionaire
✅ Employer/ Employee
✅ Curvy, IPOC FMC
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Slow Burn
✅ Fake Engagement
Rita has just moved from Mumbai to Barcelona to work with a company who places meal prep chefs with their clients. She’s been working as Luke Abbot’s chef for months and has never met him. This changes when she’s fired and Luke calls a meeting with her to ask why she left a cake lying around last time when he specifically asked for no sweets. Turns out, the cake was a huge hit with some investors and he would now like to hire her privately. While she’s not super on board with what Luke stands for (as a business man) she needs the money desperately to fund her father’s rehab.
When working for the handsome billionaire turns into agreeing to be his fake fiancé so he can land a huge merger deal, she realizes that he’s not only won her friendship but also her heart. Can Rita successfully navigate multiple changing situations? Will Luke learn to let loose and enjoy the sweet things?
"𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
This was a super cute book! Rita’s family struggles are super relatable as is her need to pretend to be fine all the time. Luke is so sweet once he lets go! Thank you, Sookh Kaur, for an ARC of this book! My review is mine and freely given!
Cakes for the Grump by Sookh Kaur
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️
✅ Grumpy X Sunshine
✅ Billionaire
✅ Employer/ Employee
✅ Curvy, IPOC FMC
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Slow Burn
✅ Fake Engagement
Rita has just moved from Mumbai to Barcelona to work with a company who places meal prep chefs with their clients. She’s been working as Luke Abbot’s chef for months and has never met him. This changes when she’s fired and Luke calls a meeting with her to ask why she left a cake lying around last time when he specifically asked for no sweets. Turns out, the cake was a huge hit with some investors and he would now like to hire her privately. While she’s not super on board with what Luke stands for (as a business man) she needs the money desperately to fund her father’s rehab.
When working for the handsome billionaire turns into agreeing to be his fake fiancé so he can land a huge merger deal, she realizes that he’s not only won her friendship but also her heart. Can Rita successfully navigate multiple changing situations? Will Luke learn to let loose and enjoy the sweet things?
"𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
This was a super cute book! Rita’s family struggles are super relatable as is her need to pretend to be fine all the time. Luke is so sweet once he lets go! Thank you, Sookh Kaur, for an ARC of this book! My review is mine and freely given!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews