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Sit, Stay, Love #2
Love from Scratch
Opposites attract in this laugh-out-loud rom-com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who minds his beloved dog, and the cat that steals his heart.
Ethan James has a problem he’s about to start shooting a movie and he needs someone to mind his anxious dog, Harry. This film could make or break Ethan's career, and he knows he has to give it all his attention, but Harry's new minder turns out to be more of a hindrance than a help. She's gorgeous and funny, and throws so much shade in his direction that Ethan can't think straight.
Hazel Conor has a problem she’s just lost her job as a sous chef at the fancy beachside restaurant she uphauled her life for. And if she doesn’t get another job soon, she won’t be able to afford food – or worse, cat food, and then her grouchy cat Kevin will finally murder her in her sleep. So when she sees an ad for an easy dog minder job, she goes for it.
Hazel finds everything about Ethan annoying; he’s flashy, flirty, and a total charmer. She probably wouldn’t look at him twice if it wasn’t for her cat. Because Kevin, the cat who hates everyone, is totally smitten with Ethan James.
And with each purr, cheek rub and head bump that Kevin bestows on Ethan, Hazel begins to wonder if there’s something her cat can see that she can’t.
Ethan James has a problem he’s about to start shooting a movie and he needs someone to mind his anxious dog, Harry. This film could make or break Ethan's career, and he knows he has to give it all his attention, but Harry's new minder turns out to be more of a hindrance than a help. She's gorgeous and funny, and throws so much shade in his direction that Ethan can't think straight.
Hazel Conor has a problem she’s just lost her job as a sous chef at the fancy beachside restaurant she uphauled her life for. And if she doesn’t get another job soon, she won’t be able to afford food – or worse, cat food, and then her grouchy cat Kevin will finally murder her in her sleep. So when she sees an ad for an easy dog minder job, she goes for it.
Hazel finds everything about Ethan annoying; he’s flashy, flirty, and a total charmer. She probably wouldn’t look at him twice if it wasn’t for her cat. Because Kevin, the cat who hates everyone, is totally smitten with Ethan James.
And with each purr, cheek rub and head bump that Kevin bestows on Ethan, Hazel begins to wonder if there’s something her cat can see that she can’t.
Audiobook
Published June 5, 2024
16 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Amy Hutton
8 books73 followersAmy is an award-winning author and former TV producer who spends her days writing swoony love stories.
Her debut rom-com Sit, Stay, Love was chosen as one of Kobo’s best romances of 2023, and her follow up Love from Scratch was an Editor’s Pick in the 2024 Spotify Wrap.
She is a Romance Writers of America prize winner and the recipient of several other honours from national and international writing organisations.
Amy is in a longterm relationship with Disneyland. She loves to travel, adores anything Star Wars, and has a fierce and unwavering commitment to Hallmark Christmas movies.
When not busy toying with her character’s emotions, she’s probably hanging with her rescue dog Buffy, or lost in the pages of her latest favourite romance read.
GHOSTED, her new paranormal romance, will be released on September 30.
Her debut rom-com Sit, Stay, Love was chosen as one of Kobo’s best romances of 2023, and her follow up Love from Scratch was an Editor’s Pick in the 2024 Spotify Wrap.
She is a Romance Writers of America prize winner and the recipient of several other honours from national and international writing organisations.
Amy is in a longterm relationship with Disneyland. She loves to travel, adores anything Star Wars, and has a fierce and unwavering commitment to Hallmark Christmas movies.
When not busy toying with her character’s emotions, she’s probably hanging with her rescue dog Buffy, or lost in the pages of her latest favourite romance read.
GHOSTED, her new paranormal romance, will be released on September 30.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 17, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This book follows movie star Ethan and pet sitter Hazel in a sweet Aussie romance.
♥️ The good:
I liked the Aussie setting being an Aussie myself, I want to read more books where I recognise the place names and culture.
Kevin (the cat) and Harry (the dog) were the stars of the book. I too get personally offended when my cat likes someone more than me 👀
😞 The bad:
I don't think this book was for me.
I never really cared about either Ethan or Hazel, I didn't find either to be likeable so I was never invested in their romance. I'm also not a fan of instalove, they were both so into each other so quickly and I've never been able to relate to that. I thought Hazel came across as quite rude and Ethan lacked depth.
If you like a book with a cute and silly plot and funny pets as side characters this one may be for you!! It was just not for me unfortunately 😭
Thanks to NetGalley and Amy Hutton for providing the arc ♥️
This book follows movie star Ethan and pet sitter Hazel in a sweet Aussie romance.
♥️ The good:
I liked the Aussie setting being an Aussie myself, I want to read more books where I recognise the place names and culture.
Kevin (the cat) and Harry (the dog) were the stars of the book. I too get personally offended when my cat likes someone more than me 👀
😞 The bad:
I don't think this book was for me.
I never really cared about either Ethan or Hazel, I didn't find either to be likeable so I was never invested in their romance. I'm also not a fan of instalove, they were both so into each other so quickly and I've never been able to relate to that. I thought Hazel came across as quite rude and Ethan lacked depth.
If you like a book with a cute and silly plot and funny pets as side characters this one may be for you!! It was just not for me unfortunately 😭
Thanks to NetGalley and Amy Hutton for providing the arc ♥️
April 15, 2024
I absolutely adored this book! It was the perfect light hearted romcom with its heart in your mouth moments waiting to see how Hazel and Ethan would get their happily ever after. Special mention of course to Kevin the cat (whose attitude is 100% all cats everywhere) and Harry the dog who chewed too much but won hearts anyway.
Hazel is the perfect grumpy to Ethan's sunshine and their banter and chemistry is amazing.
I haven't yet read Sit Stay Love despite having it on my shelf but will definitely be looking forward to going back and reading that story as well.
Hazel is the perfect grumpy to Ethan's sunshine and their banter and chemistry is amazing.
I haven't yet read Sit Stay Love despite having it on my shelf but will definitely be looking forward to going back and reading that story as well.
October 9, 2024
Yesss okay highly recommend reading this one in audiobook format!!! I started it as an e-arc and honestly just didn’t really get into it, it didn’t grab me at all. But as soon as I switched to audio I started liking it SO much more and I honestly think it’s because it had an Aussie narrator!! Her voice made me feel so much more connected to the story (also being an Aussie) and as a result I was just l so much more invested. I also really liked that the book centered around animals (animals are just so cute) and the food elements (since our FMC is a chef) honestly made me so hungry😅 I also really enjoyed the little food service industry details we started getting at the end, because I work in a restaurant currently so that was something I could relate to!
May 9, 2024
All I knew about this book before reading was that there was a cat. That’s all I needed. But I really enjoyed reading the book, I loved the characters (the animals the most too. Kevin is the best).
I love reading books set in Australia and I’m glad this is another one I’ve come across.
The MMC sounded soooo dreamy and I think I want one.
I love that the FMC is a tall goddess with amazing kitchen skills and it made me so hungry reading this book. I also learnt a fact about heritage tomatoes which was cool.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this!
I love reading books set in Australia and I’m glad this is another one I’ve come across.
The MMC sounded soooo dreamy and I think I want one.
I love that the FMC is a tall goddess with amazing kitchen skills and it made me so hungry reading this book. I also learnt a fact about heritage tomatoes which was cool.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this!
June 14, 2024
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
When I read the blurb for Love From Scratch, I instantly fell in love with the idea of this flashy, confident, golden retriever movie star hero and this 'grumpy', reserved, black cat heroine. And I'm so pleased that from the very opening line, I fell head over heels for Love From Scratch and loved every moment of it. I was even more delighted to realise it was set in Australia!
After starting, I realised that this novel is connected to Hutton's debut, Sit, Stay, Love, however, you don't need to read that to completely understand Love From Scratch. It stars one of the main characters from that book, Ethan, but introduces Hazel, a down-on-her-luck chef who has had her confidence in her profession greatly shaken and has turned to pet minding while she recovers. When she agrees to an exclusive contract to dogsit Ethan's separation-anxiety Jack Russell terrier Harry while he films a movie, the arrangement isn't enough for Ethan, who has basically fallen in instalove with tall, glowering Hazel, who in turn doesn't seem at all impressed by his usual charms.
I love a golden retriever guy, so Ethan really worked for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that Hazel was grumpy, or that this was 'reverse grumpy/sunshine': to me this is definitely more that Hazel is the black cat to Ethan's golden retriever, and while he's used to dazzling people with his good looks, Hazel's 'type' is actually the complete opposite, which was really interesting to read about. I actually wondered if maybe Hazel was demisexual, since she really wasn't attracted to him at first (although she could see the appeal to others). I really enjoyed watching Hazel fall for Ethan, and overcome her prejudices, both about him being a celebrity and him being 'not her type'.
I also really loved Ethan's struggle as someone overcoming a dog phobia and working on a film set with three dogs. I enjoyed seeing his depths revealed, and his brutal honesty about not being the world's greatest actor and knowing that a lot of his fame has come from his looks, however he was still a hard worker, ambitious, and knew what he wanted. He felt the weight of the entire production on his shoulders as the lead actor, and he genuinely wanted to do a good job.
There's nothing angsty about this book. It's an adorable fluffy read with cute pets (shout out to Hazel's cat Kevin who loves Ethan but barely tolerates Hazel). The banter is cute, but I really liked the way Hutton wrote the growing attraction between the two leads, and how they definitely became friends first (this is part of my demisexual theory on Hazel), and how the book didn't just end once they got together, so we got to see them navigating the start of their relationship, too. There's also lots of food talk as Hazel falls back in love with cooking for others, so grab snacks while reading in case of hunger pangs!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I read the blurb for Love From Scratch, I instantly fell in love with the idea of this flashy, confident, golden retriever movie star hero and this 'grumpy', reserved, black cat heroine. And I'm so pleased that from the very opening line, I fell head over heels for Love From Scratch and loved every moment of it. I was even more delighted to realise it was set in Australia!
After starting, I realised that this novel is connected to Hutton's debut, Sit, Stay, Love, however, you don't need to read that to completely understand Love From Scratch. It stars one of the main characters from that book, Ethan, but introduces Hazel, a down-on-her-luck chef who has had her confidence in her profession greatly shaken and has turned to pet minding while she recovers. When she agrees to an exclusive contract to dogsit Ethan's separation-anxiety Jack Russell terrier Harry while he films a movie, the arrangement isn't enough for Ethan, who has basically fallen in instalove with tall, glowering Hazel, who in turn doesn't seem at all impressed by his usual charms.
I love a golden retriever guy, so Ethan really worked for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that Hazel was grumpy, or that this was 'reverse grumpy/sunshine': to me this is definitely more that Hazel is the black cat to Ethan's golden retriever, and while he's used to dazzling people with his good looks, Hazel's 'type' is actually the complete opposite, which was really interesting to read about. I actually wondered if maybe Hazel was demisexual, since she really wasn't attracted to him at first (although she could see the appeal to others). I really enjoyed watching Hazel fall for Ethan, and overcome her prejudices, both about him being a celebrity and him being 'not her type'.
I also really loved Ethan's struggle as someone overcoming a dog phobia and working on a film set with three dogs. I enjoyed seeing his depths revealed, and his brutal honesty about not being the world's greatest actor and knowing that a lot of his fame has come from his looks, however he was still a hard worker, ambitious, and knew what he wanted. He felt the weight of the entire production on his shoulders as the lead actor, and he genuinely wanted to do a good job.
There's nothing angsty about this book. It's an adorable fluffy read with cute pets (shout out to Hazel's cat Kevin who loves Ethan but barely tolerates Hazel). The banter is cute, but I really liked the way Hutton wrote the growing attraction between the two leads, and how they definitely became friends first (this is part of my demisexual theory on Hazel), and how the book didn't just end once they got together, so we got to see them navigating the start of their relationship, too. There's also lots of food talk as Hazel falls back in love with cooking for others, so grab snacks while reading in case of hunger pangs!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Read
May 24, 2024What a delightful, light romance! Ethan, an actor who had a dog phobia, and Hazel, an out of work chef after a bad encounter with an actor left her jobless, cross paths when Ethan needs a dogsitter while he's shooting his movie.
I love reading books set in Australia; it feels so familiar, like a big warm hug.
I really enjoyed Hazel's character, who I feel was flawed like a real person, and I loved following her rediscovering her love for cooking.
Also, the pets - Harry the dog and Kevin the cat - were too cute, and added another depth to the story. As the owner of a jack russell, like Harry, I totally understand the trouble that he gets himself into.
My only gripe was with Ethan. Sometimes, his behaviour was not excellent and a bit toxic - I was a bit worried for them sometimes, but he was much better with Hazel than without her.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for the review copy of Love from Scratch! All opinions are my own.
I love reading books set in Australia; it feels so familiar, like a big warm hug.
I really enjoyed Hazel's character, who I feel was flawed like a real person, and I loved following her rediscovering her love for cooking.
Also, the pets - Harry the dog and Kevin the cat - were too cute, and added another depth to the story. As the owner of a jack russell, like Harry, I totally understand the trouble that he gets himself into.
My only gripe was with Ethan. Sometimes, his behaviour was not excellent and a bit toxic - I was a bit worried for them sometimes, but he was much better with Hazel than without her.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for the review copy of Love from Scratch! All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
Sequels always make me a little nervous. Will book 2 live up to the expectations set by an excellent first book? I adored Amy’s debut, SIT, STAY, LOVE. So could this follow up - a continuation of Ethan’s story - possibly match it?
Readers, I’m very happy to report that LOVE FROM SCRATCH absolutely did! It was a wonderful read, linking well to book 1, but not too much so that it could be read as a stand-alone.
Ethan & Hazel were well-developed characters, their chemistry and backstory meant I was cheering for them the whole way through. Ethan shines in this book (I was team Toby, sorry Ethan!) and his character arc across the 2 books was done so well. And Hazel, what a darling! I want to be her friend!
Loved the Aussie setting. Loved the pets. Loved the food. Loved this book!
Highly recommend as your next Aussie rom com read!
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley & the publisher.
Readers, I’m very happy to report that LOVE FROM SCRATCH absolutely did! It was a wonderful read, linking well to book 1, but not too much so that it could be read as a stand-alone.
Ethan & Hazel were well-developed characters, their chemistry and backstory meant I was cheering for them the whole way through. Ethan shines in this book (I was team Toby, sorry Ethan!) and his character arc across the 2 books was done so well. And Hazel, what a darling! I want to be her friend!
Loved the Aussie setting. Loved the pets. Loved the food. Loved this book!
Highly recommend as your next Aussie rom com read!
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley & the publisher.
May 14, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
What a beautiful book! Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I have had such a good streak of reading lately, but what can I say, I know what I like! And a fun romcom with beautiful people and cute pets is definitely what I like 😍
This was not at all what I was expecting from this book. I didn't know it was the second in a series either, but I loved it could be read as a stand alone. The romance was swoony, the characters flawed but loveable and the story was great. There was a small section in the middle where the pacing did slow down a little for me, but it picked up again quickly.
I loved the grumpy vs sunshine dynamic in this book between Hazel and Ethan, and I really enjoyed that both characters were equally ambitious, and equally unapologetic about that fact. As a fellow cat mum, I also loved the anguish that Kevin the cat put Hazel through. I've included the quote below to demonstrate what I mean 🤣
' 'You're really sweet, aren't you, Kev?' Ethan said.
'No, he's not sweet at all,' Hazel countered.
Who did this guy think he was, marching in and declaring that her cat was sweet? Her cat was an arsehole.'
Such a fun book, and I need to get my hands on the first book in the series now!
What a beautiful book! Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I have had such a good streak of reading lately, but what can I say, I know what I like! And a fun romcom with beautiful people and cute pets is definitely what I like 😍
This was not at all what I was expecting from this book. I didn't know it was the second in a series either, but I loved it could be read as a stand alone. The romance was swoony, the characters flawed but loveable and the story was great. There was a small section in the middle where the pacing did slow down a little for me, but it picked up again quickly.
I loved the grumpy vs sunshine dynamic in this book between Hazel and Ethan, and I really enjoyed that both characters were equally ambitious, and equally unapologetic about that fact. As a fellow cat mum, I also loved the anguish that Kevin the cat put Hazel through. I've included the quote below to demonstrate what I mean 🤣
' 'You're really sweet, aren't you, Kev?' Ethan said.
'No, he's not sweet at all,' Hazel countered.
Who did this guy think he was, marching in and declaring that her cat was sweet? Her cat was an arsehole.'
Such a fun book, and I need to get my hands on the first book in the series now!
May 22, 2024
Ethan James an upcoming movie star is away on set and his newly adopted Jack Russel Harry is a terror, enter Hazel a chef turned dog minder, with the spawn of Satan cat Kevin, we see Ethan hire hazel to mind Harry,
We watch the love blossom between Hazel and Ethan and their pets A perfect book to read on a cozy night. This was such a good rom I enjoyed reading, I flew through it in 4 hours!
I would highly recommend it!
We watch the love blossom between Hazel and Ethan and their pets A perfect book to read on a cozy night. This was such a good rom I enjoyed reading, I flew through it in 4 hours!
I would highly recommend it!
May 13, 2024
I only found out after reading it that this book is actually a sequel, but I feel like it made complete sense as a standalone novel!
The characters in this one just did not do it for me, I was annoyed by both of them and struggled to root for their romance. And as much as I do love a ridiculous premise and unrealistic plot, I need to love the characters to make it work and unfortunately I just didn't get that here.
The writing style makes it easy to read, and I did get through it quite quickly! But I was never particularly enjoying the experience as I was too busy hating on both of the protagonists.
Thanks to Netgalley for generously providing me with a review copy.
The characters in this one just did not do it for me, I was annoyed by both of them and struggled to root for their romance. And as much as I do love a ridiculous premise and unrealistic plot, I need to love the characters to make it work and unfortunately I just didn't get that here.
The writing style makes it easy to read, and I did get through it quite quickly! But I was never particularly enjoying the experience as I was too busy hating on both of the protagonists.
Thanks to Netgalley for generously providing me with a review copy.
May 7, 2024
Copy received from S & S Australia via Netgalley for an honest review
I flipped and flopped between 3.5 and 4 stars for this one,but settled on 3.5
It was cute enought, Harry and Kevin are adorableness - they dog and cat I am talking about here.
But at times, I found Hazel to be just down right rude, the way she spoke with Ethan, the way she was with her sister (who wasn't without fault either). And Ethan came across a bit clueless at times.
But I did like they way they dealt with his past traumas with dogs etc.
Overall, a pretty good story. And I have just gone and bought the first book - Sit, Stay, Love to where we first meet Ethan James.
November 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of Love from Scratch.
Positives first: I loved the two main characters, Ethan and Hazel. Both personalities were appealing (at least, they were to me) and, although obvious, the development of their romance was sweet.
The two pet characters felt completely real. They added a lot to the story. Most people with cats will recognise Kevin.
The budding romance was relatively stress free for the reader.
Set on the Sunshine Coast in Australia was a bonus.
Now for the negatives: Really only one. The F-bombs throughout were completely unnecessary and spoiled my reading enjoyment. Way way way too much. I ended up skimming paragraphs. Lazy writing.
The story did drag a little at times, probably because it was a largely predictable and low stress storyline.
So, overall, a sweet, relatively uncomplicated romance with a great location and a little glimpse into the world of movie making and restaurants. A novel that could do with some extra editing to reduce the usage of the “F” word throughout.
Be aware that there are some relatively mild sex scenes.
Positives first: I loved the two main characters, Ethan and Hazel. Both personalities were appealing (at least, they were to me) and, although obvious, the development of their romance was sweet.
The two pet characters felt completely real. They added a lot to the story. Most people with cats will recognise Kevin.
The budding romance was relatively stress free for the reader.
Set on the Sunshine Coast in Australia was a bonus.
Now for the negatives: Really only one. The F-bombs throughout were completely unnecessary and spoiled my reading enjoyment. Way way way too much. I ended up skimming paragraphs. Lazy writing.
The story did drag a little at times, probably because it was a largely predictable and low stress storyline.
So, overall, a sweet, relatively uncomplicated romance with a great location and a little glimpse into the world of movie making and restaurants. A novel that could do with some extra editing to reduce the usage of the “F” word throughout.
Be aware that there are some relatively mild sex scenes.
July 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! It was such a fun romcom, I really loved Hazel and Ethan’s chemistry and banter, watching them get to know each other and fall in love while pretending they aren’t had me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I also love love loved Harry the dog but cranky cat Kevin stole my heart (although I don’t know how I would cope with a cat that hot and cold with affection).
Love From Scratch, was heart warming and had so many laugh out loud moments it had me eating up chapter after chapter! Now I need to read the first book in the series since I didn’t realise it was a sequel 😂 didn’t impact my experience at all though!!
I also felt that the third act breakup was totally realistic for both characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.
Love From Scratch, was heart warming and had so many laugh out loud moments it had me eating up chapter after chapter! Now I need to read the first book in the series since I didn’t realise it was a sequel 😂 didn’t impact my experience at all though!!
I also felt that the third act breakup was totally realistic for both characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.
May 26, 2024
Cute, Aussie, light hearted romance.
Ethan, a Hemsworth/Dr. Chris -esque mmc “ cracked it big” movie star needs a pet sitter for his anxious jack Russel, Harry, while on set. Enter, Hazel, a Chef on a “career break” as pet-sitter. Ethan falls first and is faced with a refreshing change, a non-swoony femme who is unimpressed by his Hollywood persona. A persona that is to all intents and purposes very “guy next door”. I'm loathe to call it reverse grumpy sunshine because I don't think Hazel was grumpy. I think she's just cautious of sparking dimple toting hot shots.
Kevin, the devils spawn with c-attitude sees the potential in the match and softens Hazel’s opinion towards Ethan in more ways than one.
It was lovely seeing Hazel fall in love with cooking “for” someone again. The love language of food and cooking was a delightful part of the story.
The landscape was recognisable as quintessential Gold Coast from beach front homes, to the hinterland, the geographical language choices made it clear it was an Australian filmmaking location.
There were a couple of sweet romance scenes that I found myself smiling while reading. I did appreciate the author not hopping them straight into bed but having awkward “getting to know you” scenes. The spice scenes (3🌶️ ) were respectful and if they are not your cup of tea, could be read around.
This was a first Amy Hutton read for me, without reading the first book in the Sit, Stay, Love world, Love from Scratch stands tall as a standalone.
With thanks to the author, Simon & Shuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Love from Scratch ahead of general release. All opinions are my own.
Ethan, a Hemsworth/Dr. Chris -esque mmc “ cracked it big” movie star needs a pet sitter for his anxious jack Russel, Harry, while on set. Enter, Hazel, a Chef on a “career break” as pet-sitter. Ethan falls first and is faced with a refreshing change, a non-swoony femme who is unimpressed by his Hollywood persona. A persona that is to all intents and purposes very “guy next door”. I'm loathe to call it reverse grumpy sunshine because I don't think Hazel was grumpy. I think she's just cautious of sparking dimple toting hot shots.
Kevin, the devils spawn with c-attitude sees the potential in the match and softens Hazel’s opinion towards Ethan in more ways than one.
It was lovely seeing Hazel fall in love with cooking “for” someone again. The love language of food and cooking was a delightful part of the story.
The landscape was recognisable as quintessential Gold Coast from beach front homes, to the hinterland, the geographical language choices made it clear it was an Australian filmmaking location.
There were a couple of sweet romance scenes that I found myself smiling while reading. I did appreciate the author not hopping them straight into bed but having awkward “getting to know you” scenes. The spice scenes (3🌶️ ) were respectful and if they are not your cup of tea, could be read around.
This was a first Amy Hutton read for me, without reading the first book in the Sit, Stay, Love world, Love from Scratch stands tall as a standalone.
With thanks to the author, Simon & Shuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Love from Scratch ahead of general release. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2025
Now while this doesn’t have any spoilers for the book it does kinda spoil Sit, Sat, Love’s story line. If you’re planning on reading this duo please skip my review and come back once you’ve read both novels.
Loved this more than the first book, Hazel was my spiritual animal on so many levels, their relationship was so natural and sincere. Kevin stole my heart! It’s funny and relatable with an opposites attract vibes, mouth watering cooking, puppies and a sassy cat. Sometimes timing doesn’t work out but with a little faith it falls into place.
“Aww. He’s wearing a bow tie. He’s my dog, he knows how to own an occasion. Kevin sends his apologies. He’s my cat, he knows how to avoid an occasion.”
Ethan James has a lot riding on his next film, and he can’t afford any distractions. His anxious dog Harry needs someone to care for him while Ethan’s on set, but Harry’s new minder is far from low maintenance. Hazel Conor is witty, blunt, and impossible to ignore, and Ethan can’t focus with all the sass being thrown his way.
Hazel’s not exactly living her dream either. After losing her sous chef job at a swanky beachside restaurant, she’s desperate for work. When a pet sitting gig comes up, she jumps at the chance. She isn’t impressed by Ethan’s charm or celebrity status, and she’s sure she can keep things strictly professional.
Hazel’s notoriously cranky cat, Kevin, is utterly besotted with Ethan and she can’t figure out why. As Kevin melts into purrs and cuddles, Hazel starts to question whether her cat might be onto something. Maybe behind Ethan’s polished smile is someone worth taking a chance on.
Loved this more than the first book, Hazel was my spiritual animal on so many levels, their relationship was so natural and sincere. Kevin stole my heart! It’s funny and relatable with an opposites attract vibes, mouth watering cooking, puppies and a sassy cat. Sometimes timing doesn’t work out but with a little faith it falls into place.
“Aww. He’s wearing a bow tie. He’s my dog, he knows how to own an occasion. Kevin sends his apologies. He’s my cat, he knows how to avoid an occasion.”
Ethan James has a lot riding on his next film, and he can’t afford any distractions. His anxious dog Harry needs someone to care for him while Ethan’s on set, but Harry’s new minder is far from low maintenance. Hazel Conor is witty, blunt, and impossible to ignore, and Ethan can’t focus with all the sass being thrown his way.
Hazel’s not exactly living her dream either. After losing her sous chef job at a swanky beachside restaurant, she’s desperate for work. When a pet sitting gig comes up, she jumps at the chance. She isn’t impressed by Ethan’s charm or celebrity status, and she’s sure she can keep things strictly professional.
Hazel’s notoriously cranky cat, Kevin, is utterly besotted with Ethan and she can’t figure out why. As Kevin melts into purrs and cuddles, Hazel starts to question whether her cat might be onto something. Maybe behind Ethan’s polished smile is someone worth taking a chance on.
February 10, 2025
"Courage is a muscle, you strengthen it with use"
Wow I am so incredibly late to review this one! 😥
Thank you @simonschusterau Australia and Netgalley for this ARC.
This is the second instalment in the Sit, Stay, Love series. I actually haven't read the first book but as they are interconnected standalones it's not an issue. I picked up things here and there, so I will probably go back to read the first.
Ethan is a famous actor (and overall cinnamon roll) with a fear of dogs & Hazel is a badass Sous-chef who tasked with dog-sitting for Ethan while he films his latest Blockbuster. Their chemistry and banter was jumping off the pages and I'm always a fan of furry friends being added to the story. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez or Tarah Dewitt.
This was light-hearted and sweet. I didn't want to put it down. Did it reinvent the wheel? No. And there was a couple of situational errors where I thought "are these people sitting or standing right now?" 😂 but it wasn't particularly bothersome. I look forward to reading more from Amy.
Reading more Aussie romances make me so happy!
3 stars
⭐⭐⭐
Wow I am so incredibly late to review this one! 😥
Thank you @simonschusterau Australia and Netgalley for this ARC.
This is the second instalment in the Sit, Stay, Love series. I actually haven't read the first book but as they are interconnected standalones it's not an issue. I picked up things here and there, so I will probably go back to read the first.
Ethan is a famous actor (and overall cinnamon roll) with a fear of dogs & Hazel is a badass Sous-chef who tasked with dog-sitting for Ethan while he films his latest Blockbuster. Their chemistry and banter was jumping off the pages and I'm always a fan of furry friends being added to the story. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez or Tarah Dewitt.
This was light-hearted and sweet. I didn't want to put it down. Did it reinvent the wheel? No. And there was a couple of situational errors where I thought "are these people sitting or standing right now?" 😂 but it wasn't particularly bothersome. I look forward to reading more from Amy.
Reading more Aussie romances make me so happy!
3 stars
⭐⭐⭐
April 29, 2024
Ethan James is about to start filming his next big movie, but there is one slight problem. He needs someone to look after his very anxious dog, Harry.
He hires someone to look after Harry for the contract of his film, but he wasn't expecting to find her so distracting.
Hazel took the dog minding job after losing her job as a sous chef. She needs to take it so she can pay the bills.
She finds Ethan beyond annoying. He is so over the top and way too flirty. Her grumpy cat Kevin loves him, but she certainly isn't a fan, not until she gets to know him and romance starts to blossom.
This book was a fun and light rom-com.
The tropes are: opposites attract, reverse grumpy sunshine, and ge falls first.
There was some good spice too.
I was invested in the characters from the beginning, and I really felt for Ethan. He just never gets things right!
I highly recommend reading Sit, Stay, Love first so you get the full impact of this story.
Whilst I recieved this book from the publisher all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
He hires someone to look after Harry for the contract of his film, but he wasn't expecting to find her so distracting.
Hazel took the dog minding job after losing her job as a sous chef. She needs to take it so she can pay the bills.
She finds Ethan beyond annoying. He is so over the top and way too flirty. Her grumpy cat Kevin loves him, but she certainly isn't a fan, not until she gets to know him and romance starts to blossom.
This book was a fun and light rom-com.
The tropes are: opposites attract, reverse grumpy sunshine, and ge falls first.
There was some good spice too.
I was invested in the characters from the beginning, and I really felt for Ethan. He just never gets things right!
I highly recommend reading Sit, Stay, Love first so you get the full impact of this story.
Whilst I recieved this book from the publisher all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
May 26, 2024
Love from Scratch
Amy Hutton
“Called you irrepressibly charming.”
A small grin twitched at the corners of his lips. “Irrepressibly charming, huh?”
“I thought that might cheer you up.”
Cute, light hearted romance with adorable furry companions. Ethan is the sunshine to Hazel’s grumpy and although it’s easy to see where the plot is going, it’s a cute read that I greatly enjoyed.
Opposites attract in this Australian rom com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who pet sits his beloved dog and her cat who steals the show.
Ethan James is hot, nice, successful and on the blink of huge Hollywood fame, but has been unlucky in love and has a tendency to overshare. Ethan is filming on the Sunshine Coast and needs someone to mind his dog Harry while working long days on set. This movie is Ethan’s launching ground for bigger and better things so needs his full undivided attention.
“Aww. He’s wearing a bow tie.”
“He’s my dog, he knows how to own an occasion.”
“Kevin sends his apologies. He’s my cat, he knows how to avoid an occasion.”
Enter Hazel, Harry’s pet sitter who might end up being more of a hindrance than a help to Ethan. She’s gorgeous, funny and smart but doesn’t care for Ethan’s world or his fame.
Hazel’s grumpy cat Kevin doesn’t give her any attention or love. But Kevin adores Ethan and shows him all the love and attention, acting like a smitten little kitten around him. This makes Hazel question if there’s something her cat can see that she can’t!
“You look worried,” he said “I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”
Massive thank you to @simonandschusterau for this ARC! Love From Scratch is released June 5th!
@amyhuttonauthor 👏 Ethan is a dream, thank you.
#lovefromscratch #aussiefiction #amyhuttonauthor
Amy Hutton
“Called you irrepressibly charming.”
A small grin twitched at the corners of his lips. “Irrepressibly charming, huh?”
“I thought that might cheer you up.”
Cute, light hearted romance with adorable furry companions. Ethan is the sunshine to Hazel’s grumpy and although it’s easy to see where the plot is going, it’s a cute read that I greatly enjoyed.
Opposites attract in this Australian rom com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who pet sits his beloved dog and her cat who steals the show.
Ethan James is hot, nice, successful and on the blink of huge Hollywood fame, but has been unlucky in love and has a tendency to overshare. Ethan is filming on the Sunshine Coast and needs someone to mind his dog Harry while working long days on set. This movie is Ethan’s launching ground for bigger and better things so needs his full undivided attention.
“Aww. He’s wearing a bow tie.”
“He’s my dog, he knows how to own an occasion.”
“Kevin sends his apologies. He’s my cat, he knows how to avoid an occasion.”
Enter Hazel, Harry’s pet sitter who might end up being more of a hindrance than a help to Ethan. She’s gorgeous, funny and smart but doesn’t care for Ethan’s world or his fame.
Hazel’s grumpy cat Kevin doesn’t give her any attention or love. But Kevin adores Ethan and shows him all the love and attention, acting like a smitten little kitten around him. This makes Hazel question if there’s something her cat can see that she can’t!
“You look worried,” he said “I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”
Massive thank you to @simonandschusterau for this ARC! Love From Scratch is released June 5th!
@amyhuttonauthor 👏 Ethan is a dream, thank you.
#lovefromscratch #aussiefiction #amyhuttonauthor
June 4, 2024
This was a feel good, light-hearted, easy to devour book!
Hazel is an aspiring Chef...down on her luck at the moment after a scorching review left her defaulted, with no confidence and her love of cooking gone. Somehow Hazel has become a pet minder...not her dream job, but it will do for now!
Ethan is an actor...an extremely hot actor who needs a dog minder....Hazel has never watched one if his movies and is not impressed by his status or his charm.
Love From Scratch is a story about opposite worlds colliding, where anything can happen as long as you let yourself be free.
This is a slow burn, flirtatious book that hits you in the heart (and other places...especially the kitchen!!).
Not only does this book revolve around 2 very good looking MCs, but we also get to meet their pets, Harry (a cute and friendly Jack Russell) and Kevin (a brooding black cat).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from Amy Hutton! I love a good book from an Aussie Author
#netgalley #amyhutton #lovefromscratch
Hazel is an aspiring Chef...down on her luck at the moment after a scorching review left her defaulted, with no confidence and her love of cooking gone. Somehow Hazel has become a pet minder...not her dream job, but it will do for now!
Ethan is an actor...an extremely hot actor who needs a dog minder....Hazel has never watched one if his movies and is not impressed by his status or his charm.
Love From Scratch is a story about opposite worlds colliding, where anything can happen as long as you let yourself be free.
This is a slow burn, flirtatious book that hits you in the heart (and other places...especially the kitchen!!).
Not only does this book revolve around 2 very good looking MCs, but we also get to meet their pets, Harry (a cute and friendly Jack Russell) and Kevin (a brooding black cat).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from Amy Hutton! I love a good book from an Aussie Author
#netgalley #amyhutton #lovefromscratch
June 12, 2024
I listened to the audiobook for this one, from Libro.fm. Loved the narrator and characterisation she used.
Apparently this is a second book in a series but I wasn’t aware of it, having access to the influencers list with Libro.fm. Firstly, this books is a fun, escapist story. Light, insta-lovey fun. The characters are nice enough, but pretty basic. All about the shine but not much depth.
Ethan is a movie star with some undisclosed trauma. Hazel ends up being his dog sitter after her day job as a chef takes a turn for the worse and she finds herself between jobs. Seems like a bit of summer fun but there’s some feelings had theoretically this is where it should get a bit messy.
I think this one will appeal to people who like rom coms and more gentle romances, with cute pups and cats as a side interest. For mind I felt a little as if said cat and dog had some more colourful personalities than our MCs and I just wanted a kittle more from them to make this book truly memorable. Probably half a chilli in terms of the spice.
Apparently this is a second book in a series but I wasn’t aware of it, having access to the influencers list with Libro.fm. Firstly, this books is a fun, escapist story. Light, insta-lovey fun. The characters are nice enough, but pretty basic. All about the shine but not much depth.
Ethan is a movie star with some undisclosed trauma. Hazel ends up being his dog sitter after her day job as a chef takes a turn for the worse and she finds herself between jobs. Seems like a bit of summer fun but there’s some feelings had theoretically this is where it should get a bit messy.
I think this one will appeal to people who like rom coms and more gentle romances, with cute pups and cats as a side interest. For mind I felt a little as if said cat and dog had some more colourful personalities than our MCs and I just wanted a kittle more from them to make this book truly memorable. Probably half a chilli in terms of the spice.
June 14, 2024
3.25 stars, to be specific.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series of sorts (characters overlap), but reading the first one wasn't necessary.
The idea here is cute, but the characters were a little one-note and underdeveloped for my liking. But, it was a engaging enough for me to listen to the end to see what would happen. But, it's predictable (as all books in this genre are, to be fair) and I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to pick up another book in this series. I won't be going back to read the first book.
I wasn't expecting this to be as spicy as it is, as I got it through my educator account with libro.fm for ALCs, and 99% of the books on the list are YA or for K-5 kids with only a small number of non-fiction books geared toward adults. I didn't realize a romance book with some sauciness would appear from time to time, so that was unexpected while listening on my afternoon walk lol.
Thanks Libro.fm and the publisher for the ALC.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series of sorts (characters overlap), but reading the first one wasn't necessary.
The idea here is cute, but the characters were a little one-note and underdeveloped for my liking. But, it was a engaging enough for me to listen to the end to see what would happen. But, it's predictable (as all books in this genre are, to be fair) and I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to pick up another book in this series. I won't be going back to read the first book.
I wasn't expecting this to be as spicy as it is, as I got it through my educator account with libro.fm for ALCs, and 99% of the books on the list are YA or for K-5 kids with only a small number of non-fiction books geared toward adults. I didn't realize a romance book with some sauciness would appear from time to time, so that was unexpected while listening on my afternoon walk lol.
Thanks Libro.fm and the publisher for the ALC.
May 12, 2024
I’ve been looking forward to this book after reading Sit,Stay,Love and wanted to see where things go with Ethan this time.
Thankfully Ethan wasn’t a douche anymore! I loved how smitten he was with Hazel, and really enjoyed Hazel being a chef and having a crazy cat called Kevin that warmed to Ethan. Harry (Ethan’s dog) also plays a regular part in the book, but I personally think Kevin steals the show!
This was a nice, easy, fun rom com as we watch Ethan and Hazel getting to know each other and spending more time together.
It can be read as a stand along but I loved Sit, Stay, Love so recommend reading that first and getting a feel for Ethan’s character.
Thank you @netgalley for providing me with this early copy.
Thankfully Ethan wasn’t a douche anymore! I loved how smitten he was with Hazel, and really enjoyed Hazel being a chef and having a crazy cat called Kevin that warmed to Ethan. Harry (Ethan’s dog) also plays a regular part in the book, but I personally think Kevin steals the show!
This was a nice, easy, fun rom com as we watch Ethan and Hazel getting to know each other and spending more time together.
It can be read as a stand along but I loved Sit, Stay, Love so recommend reading that first and getting a feel for Ethan’s character.
Thank you @netgalley for providing me with this early copy.
June 13, 2024
This friends to lovers, slow burn romance was so amazingly wonderful to read! Don't get me wrong, I almost dropped it like a hot potato when I found it to be third person writing but I'm sooo glad I didn't!
Ethan and Hazel's relationship, along with their respective fur babies, Harry and Kevin, was so well done, I got sucked right in and devoured the whole book in a day!
You've got a movie star mmc, tan, gorgeous, dimples and fit af next to a tall, pink haired, loves to cook mfc. Set on the east coast of Australia (yay), these two have an instant attraction but they still hold back.
But when their chemistry is too strong to fight, their friendship grows and then, of course, goes *all the way* 😉
Great read from an Aussie author 🇦🇺
Ethan and Hazel's relationship, along with their respective fur babies, Harry and Kevin, was so well done, I got sucked right in and devoured the whole book in a day!
You've got a movie star mmc, tan, gorgeous, dimples and fit af next to a tall, pink haired, loves to cook mfc. Set on the east coast of Australia (yay), these two have an instant attraction but they still hold back.
But when their chemistry is too strong to fight, their friendship grows and then, of course, goes *all the way* 😉
Great read from an Aussie author 🇦🇺
June 16, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Amy Hutton for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
WOW is my first word! From the beginning, this was a charmingly hilarious story involving Kevin and Harry, Hazel and Ethan's adorable cat and dog!
Kevin is basically my spirit animal. He reminds me so much of one of my cats and Kevin's warmness towards Harry reminds me of the way that my cat only seems to like me and my dad (whom she seems to like more)!
Any story that involves cats instantly has me hooked so I devoured this! I also enjoyed the connections to Australia, something we don't see as often in the book community!
I think my biggest critique would be that there could have been more layers to Hazel's character, It seemed she didn't have much of a backstory while Ethan did and ultimately resolved a lot of his issues,.
Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it!
WOW is my first word! From the beginning, this was a charmingly hilarious story involving Kevin and Harry, Hazel and Ethan's adorable cat and dog!
Kevin is basically my spirit animal. He reminds me so much of one of my cats and Kevin's warmness towards Harry reminds me of the way that my cat only seems to like me and my dad (whom she seems to like more)!
Any story that involves cats instantly has me hooked so I devoured this! I also enjoyed the connections to Australia, something we don't see as often in the book community!
I think my biggest critique would be that there could have been more layers to Hazel's character, It seemed she didn't have much of a backstory while Ethan did and ultimately resolved a lot of his issues,.
Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it!
April 24, 2024
Hutton’s sophomore novel cements her position as a go-to romcom author. Love From Scratch is the perfect grumpy/sunshine follow on from Sit, Stay, Love (although it could also be read as a stand alone), giving Ethan James his own MC love story. As someone who was Team Toby in book one, I was surprised to find myself so invested in Ethan & Hazel’s relationship - although, I really shouldn’t have been, as Hutton once again creates characters you’ll fall in love with, both of the human and four-legged friend variety. Love From Scratch is the perfect mix of spicy and sweet - a super fun read, which I really enjoyed.
June 18, 2024
4 Stars
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC*
This was a super cute follow-up to Sit, Stay, Love about movie star, Ethan James, trying to move on from Sera and take the next step in his career.
Hazel, an out of work chef, takes up the position of Ethan’s dog sitter whilst he’s on set and the two become friends, confidents and lovers. But their lives start to move in different directions and Ethan and Hazel have to decide whether their love is worth taking the chance on. Is it?
This was sweet, romantic and cosy. A perfect read for lovers of rom-coms and especially for fellow Aussies looking for some closer to home scenery. This was a good time!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC*
This was a super cute follow-up to Sit, Stay, Love about movie star, Ethan James, trying to move on from Sera and take the next step in his career.
Hazel, an out of work chef, takes up the position of Ethan’s dog sitter whilst he’s on set and the two become friends, confidents and lovers. But their lives start to move in different directions and Ethan and Hazel have to decide whether their love is worth taking the chance on. Is it?
This was sweet, romantic and cosy. A perfect read for lovers of rom-coms and especially for fellow Aussies looking for some closer to home scenery. This was a good time!
May 23, 2025
I wasn’t expecting much from this book - just a bit of fluff and it delivered that - it was nice and fluffy. I think I’ve now reached the age where steamy written sex scenes are a bit young for me - I’ve accidentally outgrown sex scenes by getting too old 🫠. The premise was cute and the fantasy aspect of a movie star falling in love with an ordinary chef was cute.
May 22, 2024
4.5 i absolutely loved this book so much such a good story from start to finish would 100% read again
May 26, 2024
I loved this book, great romance and I loved all the characters. It was hard to put down. If you like romance, then you will love this book.
Read
June 20, 2024A funny romance, opposites attracting. For younger readers than me but I did find it entertaining.
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