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Love & Other Recipes
With a Cherry on Top
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Menu, a forbidden age-gap romance that’s equal parts spicy, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny.
- - -
She's forbidden fruit. He'll risk it all for a taste.
Aaron Coleman is guilty of a betrayal he can’t take back. Now on a redemption path, he's navigating a messy divorce, single fatherhood, and a bruised reputation. The last thing he needs is a distraction; especially not one like Charlotte, who’s fourteen years younger, completely off-limits, and dangerously hard to ignore.
He works for her mother. She sells pleasure online. Neither of them is supposed to fall. But Charlotte isn’t just temptation. She’s fire. She’s freedom. She’s everything he’s been starving for but is too afraid to taste.
He knows better than to look at her the way he does. Better than to watch her late at night, when she’s live on camera, turning fantasies into reality.
But some lines are meant to be crossed, some cravings are just too sweet to resist, and some secrets don’t stay buried for long.
- - -
She's forbidden fruit. He'll risk it all for a taste.
Aaron Coleman is guilty of a betrayal he can’t take back. Now on a redemption path, he's navigating a messy divorce, single fatherhood, and a bruised reputation. The last thing he needs is a distraction; especially not one like Charlotte, who’s fourteen years younger, completely off-limits, and dangerously hard to ignore.
He works for her mother. She sells pleasure online. Neither of them is supposed to fall. But Charlotte isn’t just temptation. She’s fire. She’s freedom. She’s everything he’s been starving for but is too afraid to taste.
He knows better than to look at her the way he does. Better than to watch her late at night, when she’s live on camera, turning fantasies into reality.
But some lines are meant to be crossed, some cravings are just too sweet to resist, and some secrets don’t stay buried for long.
440 pages, ebook
Published June 13, 2025
87 people are currently reading
1226 people want to read
About the author
Letizia Lorini
6 books829 followersLetizia Lorini is the USA Today bestselling author of the Love & Other Recipes series. She’s an Italian writer who’s passionate about heart-warming books with high cackling potential.
Based in Sweden, she lives with her partner and their fluffy pup.
She also has a degree in sociology and one in criminology, speaks three languages, and drinks the daily recommended dose of coffee before breakfast.
Instagram: letizialorini.writes
Tiktok: letizialorini.author
Pinterest: letizialoriniauthor
Website: www.letizialorini.com
Based in Sweden, she lives with her partner and their fluffy pup.
She also has a degree in sociology and one in criminology, speaks three languages, and drinks the daily recommended dose of coffee before breakfast.
Instagram: letizialorini.writes
Tiktok: letizialorini.author
Pinterest: letizialoriniauthor
Website: www.letizialorini.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
June 16, 2025
╰┈➤ 4.25 stars!
౨ৎ happy publishing day to this book!
the story perfectly captured their forbidden yet magnetic connection. she’s forbidden fruit—he’s willing to risk it all for just one taste. aaron Coleman is a man burdened by guilt and caught in a storm of betrayal he can’t undo. redemption isn’t easy, especially when he knows charlotte is everything he shouldn’t want. she’s fourteen years younger, his boss’s daughter, and a walking temptation who lives her life freely—selling pleasure online, turning fantasies into reality with nothing but confidence and fire. he knows better than to watch her the way he does, especially during her late-night streams, but charlotte is more than just desire—she represents everything he’s been starving for but too scared to touch.
౨ৎ charlotte. she’s been through so much, yet her strength never wavered. i truly admire her resilience. despite living under the control of a mother who constantly belittled her and treated her like she wasn’t her own daughter, charlotte still found the strength to stand up for herself. she just needs more support—because carrying that kind of emotional weight alone isn’t easy. and let’s be real—i adore that she’s into older men, just like me. she’s strong, bold, and unapologetically herself, and i loved watching her fight for her own freedom.
౨ৎ aaron. the amount of restraint this man showed? absolutely wild. he’s constantly painted as the villain, but all he ever really wanted was to do right by those he loved. it honestly made me mad how people around him kept jumping to conclusions without hearing his side. still, he stayed composed—even while dealing with a messy divorce, single fatherhood, and a reputation that’s taken hit after hit.
their relationship was intense in all the right ways. i loved aaron and charlotte’s dynamic as a couple—it felt raw, passionate, and emotionally charged. the story had me switching between smiling like a fool and feeling genuinely frustrated because of how many things kept happening all at once, the emotional whiplash was real. i also didn’t realize this was part of a series, so finding out that other characters had their own stories was such a pleasant surprise, and i can't wait to read them even though i started with this one!
i would totally recommend this book if you enjoy forbidden romance and age gap! i didn't think that i'd enjoy this but i absolutely did and other people should get to read this book as well! i am now a huge fan of forbidden romances with huge age gaps!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
genuinely can’t believe i got the arcs weeks before the publication of this book here we are! 🤭 i LIKE the cover so much that i had to request for the arc, and i got it! wish me luck!
౨ৎ happy publishing day to this book!
the story perfectly captured their forbidden yet magnetic connection. she’s forbidden fruit—he’s willing to risk it all for just one taste. aaron Coleman is a man burdened by guilt and caught in a storm of betrayal he can’t undo. redemption isn’t easy, especially when he knows charlotte is everything he shouldn’t want. she’s fourteen years younger, his boss’s daughter, and a walking temptation who lives her life freely—selling pleasure online, turning fantasies into reality with nothing but confidence and fire. he knows better than to watch her the way he does, especially during her late-night streams, but charlotte is more than just desire—she represents everything he’s been starving for but too scared to touch.
౨ৎ charlotte. she’s been through so much, yet her strength never wavered. i truly admire her resilience. despite living under the control of a mother who constantly belittled her and treated her like she wasn’t her own daughter, charlotte still found the strength to stand up for herself. she just needs more support—because carrying that kind of emotional weight alone isn’t easy. and let’s be real—i adore that she’s into older men, just like me. she’s strong, bold, and unapologetically herself, and i loved watching her fight for her own freedom.
౨ৎ aaron. the amount of restraint this man showed? absolutely wild. he’s constantly painted as the villain, but all he ever really wanted was to do right by those he loved. it honestly made me mad how people around him kept jumping to conclusions without hearing his side. still, he stayed composed—even while dealing with a messy divorce, single fatherhood, and a reputation that’s taken hit after hit.
their relationship was intense in all the right ways. i loved aaron and charlotte’s dynamic as a couple—it felt raw, passionate, and emotionally charged. the story had me switching between smiling like a fool and feeling genuinely frustrated because of how many things kept happening all at once, the emotional whiplash was real. i also didn’t realize this was part of a series, so finding out that other characters had their own stories was such a pleasant surprise, and i can't wait to read them even though i started with this one!
i would totally recommend this book if you enjoy forbidden romance and age gap! i didn't think that i'd enjoy this but i absolutely did and other people should get to read this book as well! i am now a huge fan of forbidden romances with huge age gaps!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
genuinely can’t believe i got the arcs weeks before the publication of this book here we are! 🤭 i LIKE the cover so much that i had to request for the arc, and i got it! wish me luck!
June 17, 2025
💻🍒 With a Cherry On Top by Letizia Lorini 🍒💻
3.75 stars • Love & Other Recipes #4
Huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & NetGalley for the eARC!! 💌
This book felt like sneaking dessert before dinner — forbidden, indulgent, and soooo worth it.
It’s a whirlwind of late-night temptation, family chaos, and camgirl secrets wrapped in the warm arms of a single dad trying to fix his mess of a life.
🍒 FORBIDDEN + AGE GAP + SINGLE DAD?? YEAH, I’M EATING THIS UP.
The moment I saw that Aaron was her mom’s personal chef, I knew things were about to get messy. Then you throw in the fact that he’s secretly been watching Charlotte online? Yeah. Stakes = sky high. And yet, somehow, Letizia makes it all feel raw, real, and surprisingly tender.
Aaron is a disaster in recovery mode — working through guilt, a broken marriage, and trying to be a good dad. He’s not perfect, but god, he tries. And the male-only POV??? A bold move, but it worked. Being inside his head gave the story that edge of vulnerability and restraint that made their chemistry hit extra hard.
Charlotte is fire. She’s sharp, fierce, a little chaotic — and yet there’s so much pain tucked under that confidence. I loved how her story pushed back against judgment. Her relationship with her mom?? A whole other battlefield. But she still stands tall. She still chooses herself. And that? That’s power.
🌶️ The spice? Real. The angst? Delicious. The found family vibes?? My heart.
There’s a rhythm to the chaos that somehow just works. From late-night longing to real-life complications, this book doesn’t pretend the path is clean. It’s messy. Human. Sometimes infuriating. But never boring.
Special shoutout to Sadie — the literal ray of sunshine. And the way Charlotte connected with her?? Don’t talk to me I’m crying.
Read if you love:
🍒 forbidden romances with teeth
👨🍳 chefs who are more cinnamon roll than sin
🍒 women owning their sexuality unapologetically
👨🍳 messy but deeply human characters
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
🍒 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 🍒
just read the first 2 chapters and i’m already HOOKED.
there’s tension. there’s a forbidden setup so juicy i’m screaming into a pillow 😭
🍒 forbidden love meets late-night camgirl secrets
👨🍳 single dad + redemption arc + working for her MOM??
🍒 fast burn and flirty with found family vibes
the vibes are immaculate — messy, bold, and full of heat.
i can feel the angst brewing and i’m so ready to fall headfirst into the chaos 🍷
3.75 stars • Love & Other Recipes #4
Huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & NetGalley for the eARC!! 💌
This book felt like sneaking dessert before dinner — forbidden, indulgent, and soooo worth it.
It’s a whirlwind of late-night temptation, family chaos, and camgirl secrets wrapped in the warm arms of a single dad trying to fix his mess of a life.
🍒 FORBIDDEN + AGE GAP + SINGLE DAD?? YEAH, I’M EATING THIS UP.
The moment I saw that Aaron was her mom’s personal chef, I knew things were about to get messy. Then you throw in the fact that he’s secretly been watching Charlotte online? Yeah. Stakes = sky high. And yet, somehow, Letizia makes it all feel raw, real, and surprisingly tender.
Aaron is a disaster in recovery mode — working through guilt, a broken marriage, and trying to be a good dad. He’s not perfect, but god, he tries. And the male-only POV??? A bold move, but it worked. Being inside his head gave the story that edge of vulnerability and restraint that made their chemistry hit extra hard.
Charlotte is fire. She’s sharp, fierce, a little chaotic — and yet there’s so much pain tucked under that confidence. I loved how her story pushed back against judgment. Her relationship with her mom?? A whole other battlefield. But she still stands tall. She still chooses herself. And that? That’s power.
🌶️ The spice? Real. The angst? Delicious. The found family vibes?? My heart.
There’s a rhythm to the chaos that somehow just works. From late-night longing to real-life complications, this book doesn’t pretend the path is clean. It’s messy. Human. Sometimes infuriating. But never boring.
Special shoutout to Sadie — the literal ray of sunshine. And the way Charlotte connected with her?? Don’t talk to me I’m crying.
Read if you love:
🍒 forbidden romances with teeth
👨🍳 chefs who are more cinnamon roll than sin
🍒 women owning their sexuality unapologetically
👨🍳 messy but deeply human characters
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
🍒 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 🍒
just read the first 2 chapters and i’m already HOOKED.
there’s tension. there’s a forbidden setup so juicy i’m screaming into a pillow 😭
🍒 forbidden love meets late-night camgirl secrets
👨🍳 single dad + redemption arc + working for her MOM??
🍒 fast burn and flirty with found family vibes
the vibes are immaculate — messy, bold, and full of heat.
i can feel the angst brewing and i’m so ready to fall headfirst into the chaos 🍷
February 3, 2026
CRYING ALL THE TEARS I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
June 13, 2025
2.5 ⭐
I’m very grateful to Letizia Lorini for the ARC, but unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me.
The MMC is a chef and a single father. The FMC is a cam girl. I’ve read a book before with a heroine in this profession, and it didn’t go well for me—but this one had tropes I love, like age gap and forbidden romance, so I decided to give it a try.
The beginning was promising, but the more I read, the more the characters started to frustrate me—especially Charlotte. She felt immature and irresponsible. Honestly, I didn’t believe in their love. It seemed like Aaron was only physically attracted to her. He took care of her almost like a father figure, but in my opinion, what Charlotte really needed was therapy to deal with her mother’s pressure.
That said, I did enjoy the scenes with Sadie and also with Ian, even though I haven’t read the second book. While the book is entirely from the male POV, I found it unexpectedly easy to read.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓age gap
✓single dad
✓forbidden romance
✓male-only POV
✓found family
I’m very grateful to Letizia Lorini for the ARC, but unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me.
The MMC is a chef and a single father. The FMC is a cam girl. I’ve read a book before with a heroine in this profession, and it didn’t go well for me—but this one had tropes I love, like age gap and forbidden romance, so I decided to give it a try.
The beginning was promising, but the more I read, the more the characters started to frustrate me—especially Charlotte. She felt immature and irresponsible. Honestly, I didn’t believe in their love. It seemed like Aaron was only physically attracted to her. He took care of her almost like a father figure, but in my opinion, what Charlotte really needed was therapy to deal with her mother’s pressure.
That said, I did enjoy the scenes with Sadie and also with Ian, even though I haven’t read the second book. While the book is entirely from the male POV, I found it unexpectedly easy to read.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓age gap
✓single dad
✓forbidden romance
✓male-only POV
✓found family
June 4, 2025
Tropes:
— age gap
— forbidden romance
— single dad
— found family
— no third-act breakup
— male POV only
— black cat fmc
— secret identity
— she`s off-limits
One of my bookish kryptonites is the he cooks microtrope. So this book felt like a chef’s kiss 😏. It’s a fun and cozy story, yet one that still carries emotional depth. It’s a story about how even the smartest people don’t always make the smartest choices — and about how vital it is to support those living under an abuser’s control, and the ways we can truly help them. I loved the plot progression, the character growth, and how the characters weren’t afraid to show their emotions. Sweet little Sadie ❤️
I was a bit hesitant at first because of the fmc’s profession, but that worry turned out to be unnecessary — Letizia handled it beautifully. So if you’re on the fence, don’t be! Let go of all doubts and just enjoy the ride.
Thank you to Letizia Lorini for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
— age gap
— forbidden romance
— single dad
— found family
— no third-act breakup
— male POV only
— black cat fmc
— secret identity
— she`s off-limits
One of my bookish kryptonites is the he cooks microtrope. So this book felt like a chef’s kiss 😏. It’s a fun and cozy story, yet one that still carries emotional depth. It’s a story about how even the smartest people don’t always make the smartest choices — and about how vital it is to support those living under an abuser’s control, and the ways we can truly help them. I loved the plot progression, the character growth, and how the characters weren’t afraid to show their emotions. Sweet little Sadie ❤️
I was a bit hesitant at first because of the fmc’s profession, but that worry turned out to be unnecessary — Letizia handled it beautifully. So if you’re on the fence, don’t be! Let go of all doubts and just enjoy the ride.
Thank you to Letizia Lorini for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2025
My girlfriend wrote this. 5 stars
June 21, 2025
personally I don't think this book was a good read for me.
I mean I'm not a big fan of age gap + the plot was too much messy and twisted it's like the you're trying to fit everything in one story which makes no sense.
what this book has to offer:-
- Age gap
- FMC model & po*nstar × MMC private chef
- found family
- parental issues
what's the story about:-
A divorced father MMC named Aaron to a 6 year old daughter working as chef after switching his job as an accountant. was hired to cook for a high profile family who has a daughter FMC named Charlotte who's 14 year younger than him.
He first met her on a po*nsite, but when he gets to know that his first client's daughter is the one with whom he had once talked to everything in him says to not take the job despite that he takes the job offer and start working for her.
While dealing with other problems, such as the lack of communication with his own brother, a 6 year old daughter, his ex wife who doesn't want to give her daughter much time but her daughter wants her and on top of that he has to take care of his mother who's recently found diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
okay now reading this you might also think this is too much to take in one book right??
I mean yeah you need to add spice, some trauma, some love, some plot twists but this much ????
anyway so Aaron generally started feeling for Charlotte and likewise. while she's been continuously controlled by her mother he gives her a choice to be free and choose a life she wants to live.
what's my opinion on it:-
firstly I'm deeply disappointed I mean okay I read it but honestly I just read it to finish it that's all.
the i find the FMC too immature and Aaron seriously he's just physically attracted to Charlotte cuz if he was not why would he went on the site to talk to Charlotte even after knowing she's the same person.
also the age gap is way too much to process, and even after that he took 10 years to propose her ( which was mentioned in the epilogue itself).
also for like more of the book part there was this constant mentioning of him sleeping with his brother's ex girlfriend.
and the thing which really pisses me off is Aaron brother logan who's now getting married to primrose still mad about Aaron sleeping with his ex ??? whyyy??? if you actually love your present fiance/ soon to be wife primrose, you shouldn't be acting like that right??
I didn't suggest this book trust me when I say finishing this book took a lot of courage for me ...cuz that end twist ???
i would've really enjoyed it if there was less drama involved. because the relationship between the MC's was truly based on physical intimacy nothing more grounded.
I mean I'm not a big fan of age gap + the plot was too much messy and twisted it's like the you're trying to fit everything in one story which makes no sense.
what this book has to offer:-
- Age gap
- FMC model & po*nstar × MMC private chef
- found family
- parental issues
what's the story about:-
A divorced father MMC named Aaron to a 6 year old daughter working as chef after switching his job as an accountant. was hired to cook for a high profile family who has a daughter FMC named Charlotte who's 14 year younger than him.
He first met her on a po*nsite, but when he gets to know that his first client's daughter is the one with whom he had once talked to everything in him says to not take the job despite that he takes the job offer and start working for her.
While dealing with other problems, such as the lack of communication with his own brother, a 6 year old daughter, his ex wife who doesn't want to give her daughter much time but her daughter wants her and on top of that he has to take care of his mother who's recently found diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
okay now reading this you might also think this is too much to take in one book right??
I mean yeah you need to add spice, some trauma, some love, some plot twists but this much ????
anyway so Aaron generally started feeling for Charlotte and likewise. while she's been continuously controlled by her mother he gives her a choice to be free and choose a life she wants to live.
what's my opinion on it:-
firstly I'm deeply disappointed I mean okay I read it but honestly I just read it to finish it that's all.
the i find the FMC too immature and Aaron seriously he's just physically attracted to Charlotte cuz if he was not why would he went on the site to talk to Charlotte even after knowing she's the same person.
also the age gap is way too much to process, and even after that he took 10 years to propose her ( which was mentioned in the epilogue itself).
also for like more of the book part there was this constant mentioning of him sleeping with his brother's ex girlfriend.
and the thing which really pisses me off is Aaron brother logan who's now getting married to primrose still mad about Aaron sleeping with his ex ??? whyyy??? if you actually love your present fiance/ soon to be wife primrose, you shouldn't be acting like that right??
I didn't suggest this book trust me when I say finishing this book took a lot of courage for me ...cuz that end twist ???
i would've really enjoyed it if there was less drama involved. because the relationship between the MC's was truly based on physical intimacy nothing more grounded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
ARC || Aaron x Charlotte✨
I really wanted to like this book—mainly because characters from the first three books made an appearance. But the story? The plotline? It was bland, chaotic, and honestly quite boring. It felt childish and lacked any real development or depth.
Cherry, the FMC, was one of the most immature leads I’ve read. She’s a model, signs up on an erotic website, obeys her abusive mother even when she has the power to walk away, and continuously treats the MMC poorly. She pushes him away, blames everything on him and her mother, and never takes real accountability.
Aaron Coleman—a single dad and private chef—claims he’s overwhelmed with responsibilities, but he never takes the initiative to repair broken relationships. He constantly seeks approval from others and refuses to put himself in anyone else’s shoes. He hurts the people around him and repeats the same mistakes, making him hard to trust.
And the most idiotic part? They date for ten years and still aren’t married. His daughter—who’s 16!—ends up being the one who proposes to Cherry instead of him. And his response? “This should be done together.” I mean… what? Why would a proposal involve his teenage daughter like that? One of the worst epilogues I’ve ever read. Completely tone-deaf and bizarre.
I’m giving this 2⭐️—and that’s only because of the tropes, the returning characters from previous books, and Sadie 🥲
I really wanted to like this book—mainly because characters from the first three books made an appearance. But the story? The plotline? It was bland, chaotic, and honestly quite boring. It felt childish and lacked any real development or depth.
Cherry, the FMC, was one of the most immature leads I’ve read. She’s a model, signs up on an erotic website, obeys her abusive mother even when she has the power to walk away, and continuously treats the MMC poorly. She pushes him away, blames everything on him and her mother, and never takes real accountability.
Aaron Coleman—a single dad and private chef—claims he’s overwhelmed with responsibilities, but he never takes the initiative to repair broken relationships. He constantly seeks approval from others and refuses to put himself in anyone else’s shoes. He hurts the people around him and repeats the same mistakes, making him hard to trust.
And the most idiotic part? They date for ten years and still aren’t married. His daughter—who’s 16!—ends up being the one who proposes to Cherry instead of him. And his response? “This should be done together.” I mean… what? Why would a proposal involve his teenage daughter like that? One of the worst epilogues I’ve ever read. Completely tone-deaf and bizarre.
I’m giving this 2⭐️—and that’s only because of the tropes, the returning characters from previous books, and Sadie 🥲
May 25, 2025
mommy knows how to write a sexy man but she can also write a damn good woman.
rtc but basically i just wanna say i am so proud of letizia. this book was truly phenomenal. to be here since Desserts for Stressed People and now be here for her fourth published book? i feel like her growth as an author is tangible and i am just so, so proud of her. i am lucky to be her friend. i will forever be grateful to have ARC read that book over 2 years ago now and the journey it has led us through together. from ARC reader to number 1 fan and PA it has been unbelievable. and i can't wait to see what she dreams up next, because she really only does get better and better.
rtc but basically i just wanna say i am so proud of letizia. this book was truly phenomenal. to be here since Desserts for Stressed People and now be here for her fourth published book? i feel like her growth as an author is tangible and i am just so, so proud of her. i am lucky to be her friend. i will forever be grateful to have ARC read that book over 2 years ago now and the journey it has led us through together. from ARC reader to number 1 fan and PA it has been unbelievable. and i can't wait to see what she dreams up next, because she really only does get better and better.
May 5, 2025
Give me all the wounded, pathetic men from now on 😮💨 Aaron Coleman is my new obsession 👄
June 9, 2025
Beta read this and you aren’t ready for how good some of the spice scenes are in this 🤭
Official review to come once I read the final version again 💗
Edit: Read the final version and thank you so much Leti for writing the scene I begged u for. I LOVE U AND APPRECIATE U FOR IT.
Official review to come once I read the final version again 💗
Edit: Read the final version and thank you so much Leti for writing the scene I begged u for. I LOVE U AND APPRECIATE U FOR IT.
May 31, 2025
Ooh I feel conflicted about this book, and I'm sad about it. So far I've been having a blast with this series of interconnected romance novels, but I have to admit this was my least favourite so far, and didn't work as well for me as the others. My main enjoyment in this book came from seeing the previous characters again, and it's also why I'll still want to read the next book. Unfortunately though, I didn't really click with these characters. I did my best to root for them, but I found both of them very immature, and I thought they made some really questionable choices. This book also deals with several heavier topics, such as disordered eating, parental abuse, and alcoholism, and I'm not sure these were handled with all of the care and nuance they deserved. So while I did largely enjoy my time reading this, I didn't feel as invested as with the previous books. I did however enjoy reading this book from Aaron's perspective rather than Charlotte's or dual POV - it was a chance that I think really worked for the story.
July 8, 2025
I'm not really sure at what point in this story I was supposed to be convinced that the relationship was anything other than an incredibly vulnerable young woman with intense mommy, daddy, and general self-esteem issues and a bad tendency to use her sexuality and emotions to manipulate others becoming some pervert's mid-life crisis, but I wasn't. 1.5 stars.
June 16, 2025
This was a very steamy book!! 🔥
I really liked these two characters! They're so good together!
With a Cherry on Top is about Aaron and Charlotte, Aaron is a chef who has made a few mistakes in his past that he can't escape from! His relationship has ended and his brother isn't speaking to him and he's also a single dad! In comes Charlotte a model who is also a cam-girl aka the perfect distraction! Except she's also his clients daughter! She is strictly off limits but can he keep his eyes off her? 🤔
We have age-gap, forbidden romance, single dad, found family, male-only pov 🔥
Omg their communication was divine!! I hate miscommunication in books unless it's done right but in this, the communicaiton was chef's kiss 😘😉
Aaron was a non-innocent but innocent MMC 😂 He was so shy around Charlotte it was adorable!! He is a character who has been throught a lot and made mistakes but wants to make them right, I loved the development of his relationship with Logan! He had a lot to deal with being a single-dad and making sure Sadie felt all the love as her mum was absent for a while, but he was amazing!! Yh he messed up badly but he is really a good guy! He deserved the best and Charlotte was really a good partner for him! 🥰
Charlotte is such a badass!! She is so confident in herself and who she is but I felt so bad for her! Beatrice was not a motherly figure to her at all and really ruined her, I'm so happy Aaron was there and could help her with what she needed! Her relationship with Sadie was so cute to see!
I will say Amelie kinda annoyed me in this book because of the unwilling to listen to what Aaron was trying to say, the secret keeping between them was frustrating and kinda unnecessary and it was all because of something Beatrice said, who can't be trusted anyway!! 😪
This book had me feeling all the feelings! So much happened in this book but it still flowed and I never felt bored! Although the epilogue had me crying like a baby, it was so happy but so sad at the same time!!! 😭💕
I haven't read the other books but I definitely want to because this was amazing!!
Thank you to Letizia Lorini & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the arc! 💗
I really liked these two characters! They're so good together!
With a Cherry on Top is about Aaron and Charlotte, Aaron is a chef who has made a few mistakes in his past that he can't escape from! His relationship has ended and his brother isn't speaking to him and he's also a single dad! In comes Charlotte a model who is also a cam-girl aka the perfect distraction! Except she's also his clients daughter! She is strictly off limits but can he keep his eyes off her? 🤔
We have age-gap, forbidden romance, single dad, found family, male-only pov 🔥
Omg their communication was divine!! I hate miscommunication in books unless it's done right but in this, the communicaiton was chef's kiss 😘😉
Aaron was a non-innocent but innocent MMC 😂 He was so shy around Charlotte it was adorable!! He is a character who has been throught a lot and made mistakes but wants to make them right, I loved the development of his relationship with Logan! He had a lot to deal with being a single-dad and making sure Sadie felt all the love as her mum was absent for a while, but he was amazing!! Yh he messed up badly but he is really a good guy! He deserved the best and Charlotte was really a good partner for him! 🥰
Charlotte is such a badass!! She is so confident in herself and who she is but I felt so bad for her! Beatrice was not a motherly figure to her at all and really ruined her, I'm so happy Aaron was there and could help her with what she needed! Her relationship with Sadie was so cute to see!
I will say Amelie kinda annoyed me in this book because of the unwilling to listen to what Aaron was trying to say, the secret keeping between them was frustrating and kinda unnecessary and it was all because of something Beatrice said, who can't be trusted anyway!! 😪
This book had me feeling all the feelings! So much happened in this book but it still flowed and I never felt bored! Although the epilogue had me crying like a baby, it was so happy but so sad at the same time!!! 😭💕
I haven't read the other books but I definitely want to because this was amazing!!
Thank you to Letizia Lorini & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the arc! 💗
June 23, 2025
3.5⭐
I really wasn't loving this at the start, especially because of the circumstances of how our characters had their "meet cute". But, I grew to really love these characters especially in the last 30%. The second half of this book got so emotional, it actually had me tearing up 😭 Overall, this book is a very messy, dramatic but still fun time.
I really wasn't loving this at the start, especially because of the circumstances of how our characters had their "meet cute". But, I grew to really love these characters especially in the last 30%. The second half of this book got so emotional, it actually had me tearing up 😭 Overall, this book is a very messy, dramatic but still fun time.
May 28, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
Not me over here still crying at that ending (aka the most adorable epilogue ever).
If Letizia Lorini writes it, I will love it. It's just fact, I don't make the rules.
This book immediately hooked me in and I couldn't put it down. We were left with a lot of questions about Logan and Aaron's relationship in Riding the Sugar High. Aaron wasn't seen in the best light and I am SO glad he was given this chance at redemption.
I feel like I have a lot I want to say so bear with me as I try to collect my thoughts.
The plot was phenomenal. Aaron is on the path of finding his happiness despite his past mistakes. He wants to move on but he still holds so much guilt. He's balancing a broken relationship with his brother, being a single dad, and navigating a new career. I rooted SO HARD for this man.
The last thing he needed was another hiccup...and then enter Charlotte. His new boss' daughter. Who's also 14 years younger...whom he unintentionally met online where she sells pleasure. The whole thing is a hot mess waiting to happen. AND I ATE UP EVERY SECOND OF IT.
I instantly fell in love with Aaron and his awkwardness. For someone not so innocent...he's so innocent. I loved it 🤤 I absolutely adored how nervous he got around Charlotte; it was honestly too damn cute. I love that he was always flustered and fumbling over his words. But I also really love what a good dad he is. He loves his daughter so much and it melted my heart. He is also a very emotional guy and...I think that made him even hotter. We love a manly man who's in touch with his emotions.
Charlotte had such a fantastic storyline. She's being forced to live in an abusive home. She can't see a way out and she feels like she's nothing be expendable - and that broke my heart. For someone her age, she had such mature moments but then moments where she did indeed act her age and I actually really liked that because it felt more real. I LOVED how much she teased and taunted Aaron. She had that man SPEECHLESS. I love that she always stood up for herself (except to her mom but shhh it was part of the process). I loved her personality and I loved that she had a "fuck it" attitude.
The chemistry between Aaron and Charlotte was perfection. These two fit together so well. I loved the forbidden aspect. I loved the sneaking around. I loved the secrets and drama of it all. The spice was heavenly...Leti can write some good spice 😍 These two needed each other. Not only for companionship but to grow with each other and see themselves through each others' eyes. It was beautiful.
I loved LOVED LOVED the communication these two had. I think the age gap there really helped because when Charlotte acted irrational sometimes, Aaron's experiences taught him to say "I'm upset but we are going to work this out" and Charlotte and him did just that and I FUCKING LOVED THAT. If they were feeling, they spoke on those feelings and it was utter bliss.
I am SO glad Logan and Aaron finally have their moment. I was holding my breathe with their scenes but ugh, it just made me so emotional. Honestly, this book felt a lot more emotional than the past ones and damn, it hurt so good.
Also, Ian and Amelie stole the damn show. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I also really loved Amelie and Aaron's friendship so much. A lot happens in the end with these two and man, I was stressed, but ugh! They're a family and I just love all the love that's being thrown around.
I feel like I'm forgetting to talk about SO much but there's one thing I need to mention and it's that EPILOGUE AND THE THROWBACK FROM SADIE THAT HAD ME ALL 😭
Letizia did it again...she made me fall in love with another book. Thank you SO much for the e-arc 💞
Not me over here still crying at that ending (aka the most adorable epilogue ever).
If Letizia Lorini writes it, I will love it. It's just fact, I don't make the rules.
This book immediately hooked me in and I couldn't put it down. We were left with a lot of questions about Logan and Aaron's relationship in Riding the Sugar High. Aaron wasn't seen in the best light and I am SO glad he was given this chance at redemption.
I feel like I have a lot I want to say so bear with me as I try to collect my thoughts.
The plot was phenomenal. Aaron is on the path of finding his happiness despite his past mistakes. He wants to move on but he still holds so much guilt. He's balancing a broken relationship with his brother, being a single dad, and navigating a new career. I rooted SO HARD for this man.
The last thing he needed was another hiccup...and then enter Charlotte. His new boss' daughter. Who's also 14 years younger...whom he unintentionally met online where she sells pleasure. The whole thing is a hot mess waiting to happen. AND I ATE UP EVERY SECOND OF IT.
I instantly fell in love with Aaron and his awkwardness. For someone not so innocent...he's so innocent. I loved it 🤤 I absolutely adored how nervous he got around Charlotte; it was honestly too damn cute. I love that he was always flustered and fumbling over his words. But I also really love what a good dad he is. He loves his daughter so much and it melted my heart. He is also a very emotional guy and...I think that made him even hotter. We love a manly man who's in touch with his emotions.
Charlotte had such a fantastic storyline. She's being forced to live in an abusive home. She can't see a way out and she feels like she's nothing be expendable - and that broke my heart. For someone her age, she had such mature moments but then moments where she did indeed act her age and I actually really liked that because it felt more real. I LOVED how much she teased and taunted Aaron. She had that man SPEECHLESS. I love that she always stood up for herself (except to her mom but shhh it was part of the process). I loved her personality and I loved that she had a "fuck it" attitude.
The chemistry between Aaron and Charlotte was perfection. These two fit together so well. I loved the forbidden aspect. I loved the sneaking around. I loved the secrets and drama of it all. The spice was heavenly...Leti can write some good spice 😍 These two needed each other. Not only for companionship but to grow with each other and see themselves through each others' eyes. It was beautiful.
I loved LOVED LOVED the communication these two had. I think the age gap there really helped because when Charlotte acted irrational sometimes, Aaron's experiences taught him to say "I'm upset but we are going to work this out" and Charlotte and him did just that and I FUCKING LOVED THAT. If they were feeling, they spoke on those feelings and it was utter bliss.
I am SO glad Logan and Aaron finally have their moment. I was holding my breathe with their scenes but ugh, it just made me so emotional. Honestly, this book felt a lot more emotional than the past ones and damn, it hurt so good.
Also, Ian and Amelie stole the damn show. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I also really loved Amelie and Aaron's friendship so much. A lot happens in the end with these two and man, I was stressed, but ugh! They're a family and I just love all the love that's being thrown around.
I feel like I'm forgetting to talk about SO much but there's one thing I need to mention and it's that EPILOGUE AND THE THROWBACK FROM SADIE THAT HAD ME ALL 😭
Letizia did it again...she made me fall in love with another book. Thank you SO much for the e-arc 💞
June 9, 2025
I received this ARC through the author - thank you to all who made it possible-
I really enjoyed the idea of Aaron having a redemption arc from the last book. I truly didn’t like him when we last knew him, but he definitely grew on me here. We got to see a different side of him, and a different reason for him acting the way he was. I truly admired his efforts towards everyone in his life, to stop being the negative & toxic person they had mistakenly assumed him to be. Even though this was done with good intentions in mind, he wound up holding himself to impossible standards to accomplish this goal. He started living for literally anyone else but himself. It didn’t help that everyone around him assumed the worst, and crucified him for every little mess up. The bypassed all his progress & just diminished all his hard work. When Charlotte came into his life, that really did change a lot for him. It is clear he truly needed her, and vice-versa. They helped bring the confidence out in one-another. Mutually, they helped each other realize their goals and dreams, and what they each needed to work on - then they worked on their faults together & not apart. It was nice to not have the main couple in a book have bad communication for once. It’s not always like that in romances. But, you could see they truly wanted things to work, and were so patient with each other; so loving & kind.
“I love you, Charlotte. I love you because you make it easy every time you’re difficult. Because it comes as natural as breathing, because it feels like an instinct rather than a choice.” I smile on her lips. “I’m saying I love you because I do. And I don’t intend to stop any time soon.”
This is the kind of love one can only hope for. They healed themselves both separately & together. They were two halves of a whole.
I would recommend this book to everyone! Despite some parts being somewhat repetitive, and some dragging on, it was a good novel. I think it could have been a tad shorter, but regardless- was good! I read this ALL in one sitting!
***Also, this was a male-only pov! Definitely different, and I enjoyed a lot!!!***
I really enjoyed the idea of Aaron having a redemption arc from the last book. I truly didn’t like him when we last knew him, but he definitely grew on me here. We got to see a different side of him, and a different reason for him acting the way he was. I truly admired his efforts towards everyone in his life, to stop being the negative & toxic person they had mistakenly assumed him to be. Even though this was done with good intentions in mind, he wound up holding himself to impossible standards to accomplish this goal. He started living for literally anyone else but himself. It didn’t help that everyone around him assumed the worst, and crucified him for every little mess up. The bypassed all his progress & just diminished all his hard work. When Charlotte came into his life, that really did change a lot for him. It is clear he truly needed her, and vice-versa. They helped bring the confidence out in one-another. Mutually, they helped each other realize their goals and dreams, and what they each needed to work on - then they worked on their faults together & not apart. It was nice to not have the main couple in a book have bad communication for once. It’s not always like that in romances. But, you could see they truly wanted things to work, and were so patient with each other; so loving & kind.
“I love you, Charlotte. I love you because you make it easy every time you’re difficult. Because it comes as natural as breathing, because it feels like an instinct rather than a choice.” I smile on her lips. “I’m saying I love you because I do. And I don’t intend to stop any time soon.”
This is the kind of love one can only hope for. They healed themselves both separately & together. They were two halves of a whole.
I would recommend this book to everyone! Despite some parts being somewhat repetitive, and some dragging on, it was a good novel. I think it could have been a tad shorter, but regardless- was good! I read this ALL in one sitting!
***Also, this was a male-only pov! Definitely different, and I enjoyed a lot!!!***
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
A very fun read. It was super interesting to read a book from only the mmc POV because romance either defaults to the fmc or dual. It worked really well in this book because the mmc was a very messy character (saying that affectionately) and all the time spent in his head was needed. It’s an interesting set up with the mmc being a personal chef for the fmc and her mom. Lots of sneaking around and the added element of them knowing each other before he became their chef due to her being a cam girl he has watched was a fun add. There are some heavier topics in the book, particularly disordered eating, that I’m hesitant to say was handled well. A few things characters said throughout the book had me pausing as well, but I’m trying to keep in mind that they’re messy and realistic characters.
While I’d say it’s a standalone, a lot of my enjoyment from the book came from seeing characters the first three books of the series. I highly recommend reading those before starting this one, but it’s not a must!
🤍 age gap (14 years, he’s older)
👧 single dad
🤫 forbidden / secret relationship
👏🏻 no third act breakup
single POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2.5/5 spice level 🌶️
While I’d say it’s a standalone, a lot of my enjoyment from the book came from seeing characters the first three books of the series. I highly recommend reading those before starting this one, but it’s not a must!
🤍 age gap (14 years, he’s older)
👧 single dad
🤫 forbidden / secret relationship
👏🏻 no third act breakup
single POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2.5/5 spice level 🌶️
June 11, 2025
Thank you to the author, Letizia Lorini, for the chance to read this fast-paced, funny, and steamy romance.
The book is unique because it is from the main male character's perspective only, which I'm not sure I've read before. The story is centered on Aaron, who is a single father, trying to start a new career as a private chef. Aaron starts his assignment with his first client for a difficult and controlling woman who has a daughter in her twenties, Charlotte. As Aaron and Charlotte spend more time together, their flirtation and feelings grow, and Aaron has more to lose. There are many factors and reasons for them to not be together. However, they both must decide if their love is worth it.
The story had multiple layers of complexity and depth, including forbidden romance, age gap, ill parent, alcoholism, emotional abuse, and eating disorder.
The book works as a stand-alone, but it is also part of a series connected to other books/couples. It was interesting seeing different sides of characters I previously read in past books.
Aaron was kind, considerate, and supportive. He didn't try to control Charlotte, which I really appreciated. Charlotte was very mature for her age, but she also found ways to loosen Aaron up and help him be happier.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. There was lots of romance and spice but also emotional tension and growth. I can't wait to read more by the author and appreciate the opportunity to read it.
The book is unique because it is from the main male character's perspective only, which I'm not sure I've read before. The story is centered on Aaron, who is a single father, trying to start a new career as a private chef. Aaron starts his assignment with his first client for a difficult and controlling woman who has a daughter in her twenties, Charlotte. As Aaron and Charlotte spend more time together, their flirtation and feelings grow, and Aaron has more to lose. There are many factors and reasons for them to not be together. However, they both must decide if their love is worth it.
The story had multiple layers of complexity and depth, including forbidden romance, age gap, ill parent, alcoholism, emotional abuse, and eating disorder.
The book works as a stand-alone, but it is also part of a series connected to other books/couples. It was interesting seeing different sides of characters I previously read in past books.
Aaron was kind, considerate, and supportive. He didn't try to control Charlotte, which I really appreciated. Charlotte was very mature for her age, but she also found ways to loosen Aaron up and help him be happier.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. There was lots of romance and spice but also emotional tension and growth. I can't wait to read more by the author and appreciate the opportunity to read it.
June 3, 2025
3.5 stars
Letizia's books never go where I think they will and I love her for that. She writes such refreshing romances with messy, flawed characters who you can't help but root for. This book was filled with telenovela levels of drama and phew, I got so heated for both of our main characters on several occasions. You can expect lots of complex family dynamics in this one.
I am a suuuucker for single dad romances, so I was sold from the get go. Aaron was such a good dad to Sadie. He had so much on his plate, but he still tried so hard to make sure she knew she was loved and cared for. It gutted me to see how hard he was trying not only for Sadie but for the rest of his family and yet they still couldn't let him off the hook for his transgressions in the past. Some of the stuff he had to deal with was entirely unfair and it killed me to see it.
Charlotte was the voice of reason in this book and I absolutely loved her. For being 23, she was more mature than all of the other adults!!! She had such a big heart and it hurt to see the way it had been abused by her mother and others around her. I could kill her mom for the despicable things she did to Charlotte. Her compassion was one of my favorite parts about her and I loved how much she cared about Aaron and Sadie.
Maybe one day I won't hate the secret keeping trope, but unfortunately wasn't the case here. There was just so much of it and listen, I completely understand when some characters aren't able to communicate properly because we're only human and I get that, but it was literally everyone?? I don't know, the situations were complicated and definitely nuanced so I'm trying to be a little more forgiving but I can't say it didn't tamper by enjoyment a little bit.
I loved the ending though and epilogue was incredibly sweet!!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Letizia's books never go where I think they will and I love her for that. She writes such refreshing romances with messy, flawed characters who you can't help but root for. This book was filled with telenovela levels of drama and phew, I got so heated for both of our main characters on several occasions. You can expect lots of complex family dynamics in this one.
I am a suuuucker for single dad romances, so I was sold from the get go. Aaron was such a good dad to Sadie. He had so much on his plate, but he still tried so hard to make sure she knew she was loved and cared for. It gutted me to see how hard he was trying not only for Sadie but for the rest of his family and yet they still couldn't let him off the hook for his transgressions in the past. Some of the stuff he had to deal with was entirely unfair and it killed me to see it.
Charlotte was the voice of reason in this book and I absolutely loved her. For being 23, she was more mature than all of the other adults!!! She had such a big heart and it hurt to see the way it had been abused by her mother and others around her. I could kill her mom for the despicable things she did to Charlotte. Her compassion was one of my favorite parts about her and I loved how much she cared about Aaron and Sadie.
Maybe one day I won't hate the secret keeping trope, but unfortunately wasn't the case here. There was just so much of it and listen, I completely understand when some characters aren't able to communicate properly because we're only human and I get that, but it was literally everyone?? I don't know, the situations were complicated and definitely nuanced so I'm trying to be a little more forgiving but I can't say it didn't tamper by enjoyment a little bit.
I loved the ending though and epilogue was incredibly sweet!!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
June 1, 2025
by far letizia’s best book!!! honestly i was so nervous walking into this. an mmc only pov was kind of scary to me because who needs to only hear from a boy for an entirety of a book? not me but it actually worked well! obviously i wanted charlotte’s pov because a lot of things were happening to her & getting her side would’ve been nice but i’m not mad!!
letizia really knows how to write good characters!! charlotte and aaron were both so solid to me. they were both going through it (aaron’s problems were self-inflicted though) and seeing them work through everything was nice. they felt like real people going through real things, and their reactions/responses felt human
my fav thing about charlotte & aaron was how they equally stood up for each other. they had each other’s backs through & through!!
the book also touches on some heavy topics but i think they were handled well and with care <3
thank you letizia for the arc!!
letizia really knows how to write good characters!! charlotte and aaron were both so solid to me. they were both going through it (aaron’s problems were self-inflicted though) and seeing them work through everything was nice. they felt like real people going through real things, and their reactions/responses felt human
my fav thing about charlotte & aaron was how they equally stood up for each other. they had each other’s backs through & through!!
the book also touches on some heavy topics but i think they were handled well and with care <3
thank you letizia for the arc!!
May 27, 2025
Every Letizia Lorini book is so bittersweet for me. I fly through the beginning, realize what I’ve done around 75% and then try to slow myself down to savor it. I fail every time but I can’t regret it even though I’m sad it’s over.
I thought the male only pov was a really interesting twist. I was surprised I liked it so much. I felt so much empathy for Aaron and then when we get to know Charlotte more? Ugh my heart. I knew from the Facebook group that Amelie and Logan were the “villains. I hated how much I loved it. It worked so well.
The chemistry and tension between the main characters was really good. I felt like they had a great balance. Every character (new and old) felt very established which was nice too. It’s like the consistency carried through from book to book, you just get a different POV for their actions that maybe make you think differently about them.
**thank you Letizia Lorini for an ARC copy of this book. ILY forever**
I thought the male only pov was a really interesting twist. I was surprised I liked it so much. I felt so much empathy for Aaron and then when we get to know Charlotte more? Ugh my heart. I knew from the Facebook group that Amelie and Logan were the “villains. I hated how much I loved it. It worked so well.
The chemistry and tension between the main characters was really good. I felt like they had a great balance. Every character (new and old) felt very established which was nice too. It’s like the consistency carried through from book to book, you just get a different POV for their actions that maybe make you think differently about them.
**thank you Letizia Lorini for an ARC copy of this book. ILY forever**
June 28, 2025
I wish I had enjoyed this one more.
It was okay for the most part, but I didn't really like the characters, Charlotte was too childish and maniac for me. And I get it the point of the book was for a girl that is never too much for a guy, but she was too much for me. And honestly, so did Aaron, he was so sex crazed that he ignore (not on purpose) his six year old daughter because he was so enchanted with Charlotte, and put Charlotte above other people, like his friends. Like, I like my book boyfriends to prioritize their partners but cmon!
Also, Aaron needed to just get some balls, so many people in his life didn't deserve him and he was just dying on a pool of self pity and misery. He tried to be a good dad and good person but years ago he should have just said "fuck you" to all of them.
And even though, it seemed like some people were on their side, they actually weren't, Kyle was that goofy guy that gave him a lecture. His mom, gave him a lecture in the format of wise advise but if she was useful she should have kicked both her kids asses for how they had been acting up for years, instead of the lecture *cough* sorry advise she gave Aaron.
I know the trope is forbidden romance but it was just toxic. He couldn't let go of her. Coming unexpectedly and uninvited. She would do the same. She would be jealous and give him handjobs but never opened up to him.
I know people are complicated, people make mistakes, people can evolve, but some things just didn't sit well with me with this story. I was done 60% through it. I didn't want to not finish but I don't think it was the book for me. The epilogue was cute though.
It was okay for the most part, but I didn't really like the characters, Charlotte was too childish and maniac for me. And I get it the point of the book was for a girl that is never too much for a guy, but she was too much for me. And honestly, so did Aaron, he was so sex crazed that he ignore (not on purpose) his six year old daughter because he was so enchanted with Charlotte, and put Charlotte above other people, like his friends. Like, I like my book boyfriends to prioritize their partners but cmon!
Also, Aaron needed to just get some balls, so many people in his life didn't deserve him and he was just dying on a pool of self pity and misery. He tried to be a good dad and good person but years ago he should have just said "fuck you" to all of them.
And even though, it seemed like some people were on their side, they actually weren't, Kyle was that goofy guy that gave him a lecture. His mom, gave him a lecture in the format of wise advise but if she was useful she should have kicked both her kids asses for how they had been acting up for years, instead of the lecture *cough* sorry advise she gave Aaron.
I know the trope is forbidden romance but it was just toxic. He couldn't let go of her. Coming unexpectedly and uninvited. She would do the same. She would be jealous and give him handjobs but never opened up to him.
I know people are complicated, people make mistakes, people can evolve, but some things just didn't sit well with me with this story. I was done 60% through it. I didn't want to not finish but I don't think it was the book for me. The epilogue was cute though.
June 6, 2025
I sadly didn't love this.
I don't want to rant on every little thing that I didn't love, because I do think this book will find its audience.. so here are a few of my biggest issues:
1- Aaron was much too immature for a 37 year old man.. like, yikes! No better way to put it. I was so frustrated by him. Charlotte being immature made sense, she's 23.. but I just couldn't get behind Aaron's decision making skills or lack thereof.
2- This book tackled some heavy topics, and though I don't have any personal experience with most of them, I felt that they weren't exactly handled well or with the care I'd expect. (trigger warnings for eating disorders and parental abuse)
3- The romance wasn't believable for me personally. It was insta-lust, that somehow jumped into love so quickly. The chemistry was good in the spicy scenes, but it didn't quite hook me in the rest of the story. It felt like their relationship was in large part built on wanting to fuck. I need a bit more emotion and genuine interaction to get invested.
Ok...
I did like Sadie, she was a really cute kid. I loved getting so much Amelie and Ian (my babies!!)
I don't want to rant on every little thing that I didn't love, because I do think this book will find its audience.. so here are a few of my biggest issues:
1- Aaron was much too immature for a 37 year old man.. like, yikes! No better way to put it. I was so frustrated by him. Charlotte being immature made sense, she's 23.. but I just couldn't get behind Aaron's decision making skills or lack thereof.
2- This book tackled some heavy topics, and though I don't have any personal experience with most of them, I felt that they weren't exactly handled well or with the care I'd expect. (trigger warnings for eating disorders and parental abuse)
3- The romance wasn't believable for me personally. It was insta-lust, that somehow jumped into love so quickly. The chemistry was good in the spicy scenes, but it didn't quite hook me in the rest of the story. It felt like their relationship was in large part built on wanting to fuck. I need a bit more emotion and genuine interaction to get invested.
Ok...
I did like Sadie, she was a really cute kid. I loved getting so much Amelie and Ian (my babies!!)
June 2, 2025
Thank you, Letizia Lorini, for the ARC!!
Just wow! This book was cherry on top amazing!! It took my breath away.
It was a rollercoaster reading: tense moments, intense scenes, so much love pouring out the pages.
Aaron and Charlotte were so interesting to know: both carrying a weight much bigger than their shoulders. Both trying to get people love them despite their fuck ups, their flaws. But who they are made them really unique, stronger. I loved how Aaron made Charlotte see her value: he loved her quirks, her personality and showered with so much love and care, something she really missed most of her life. Charlotte was the perfect tornado that completely changed Aaron’s life in the best possibile way: she gave me space to being, to breath and being imperfect. They were the perfect combination, the best missing piece in their life.
Mention of honour to Sadie: a cute little girl whom made Aaron and Charlotte’s life immensely better!
I really frigging loved this story! I cannot wait to read more from Letizia Lorini!!
Just wow! This book was cherry on top amazing!! It took my breath away.
It was a rollercoaster reading: tense moments, intense scenes, so much love pouring out the pages.
Aaron and Charlotte were so interesting to know: both carrying a weight much bigger than their shoulders. Both trying to get people love them despite their fuck ups, their flaws. But who they are made them really unique, stronger. I loved how Aaron made Charlotte see her value: he loved her quirks, her personality and showered with so much love and care, something she really missed most of her life. Charlotte was the perfect tornado that completely changed Aaron’s life in the best possibile way: she gave me space to being, to breath and being imperfect. They were the perfect combination, the best missing piece in their life.
Mention of honour to Sadie: a cute little girl whom made Aaron and Charlotte’s life immensely better!
I really frigging loved this story! I cannot wait to read more from Letizia Lorini!!
July 2, 2025
- arc review -
I did not enjoy this I’m so sad bc I really enjoyed the others in this series. 👎🏼
This was entirely from aaron’s pov, which I’ve only read one other book like this, but without seeing charlottes internal struggles with her mom’s abuse, she just seemed very winey and bratty to me.
Aaron was also super pathetic. Letting literally everyone walk all over him and never standing up for himself.
I also didn’t see the chemistry. I don’t think it had to do with the age gap, but we didn’t really see much of them but then all of a sudden they’re together.
🤷🏽♀️ so yeah, not for me. I did like the interactions between Charlotte and Sadie. And all the interactions with the previous characters.
-single dad
-forbidden
-private chef / client’s daughter
-age gap
-cam girl/model fmc
-male pov only
-no third act breakup
I did not enjoy this I’m so sad bc I really enjoyed the others in this series. 👎🏼
This was entirely from aaron’s pov, which I’ve only read one other book like this, but without seeing charlottes internal struggles with her mom’s abuse, she just seemed very winey and bratty to me.
Aaron was also super pathetic. Letting literally everyone walk all over him and never standing up for himself.
I also didn’t see the chemistry. I don’t think it had to do with the age gap, but we didn’t really see much of them but then all of a sudden they’re together.
🤷🏽♀️ so yeah, not for me. I did like the interactions between Charlotte and Sadie. And all the interactions with the previous characters.
-single dad
-forbidden
-private chef / client’s daughter
-age gap
-cam girl/model fmc
-male pov only
-no third act breakup
June 23, 2025
I’ve been devouring With a cherry on top by @letizialorini.writes - the newest in her Love and other recipes series of interconnected standalones.
This one is a really fun age gap, his POV, forbidden romance between a divorced single dad chef and a cam girl/model. It’s spicy, it’s got tons of emotional depth and LOTs of cooking/food references.
It also touches on addiction, rehab, disordered eating and dysfunctional parental relationships. I’m loving it and highly recommend if you want to try something different and standout !!!
Many thanks to the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: parent with Parkinsons
This one is a really fun age gap, his POV, forbidden romance between a divorced single dad chef and a cam girl/model. It’s spicy, it’s got tons of emotional depth and LOTs of cooking/food references.
It also touches on addiction, rehab, disordered eating and dysfunctional parental relationships. I’m loving it and highly recommend if you want to try something different and standout !!!
Many thanks to the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: parent with Parkinsons
June 3, 2025
Not even 3% in and I was cackling. 11% in and I was tearing up. 18% in and I was SALIVATING.
I immediately fell in love with this book and its characters. The plot just KEPT PLOTTING, I kept getting more emotional and attached, and the spicy scenes were phenomenal and perfectly placed and balanced.
It was funny, it was yummy, and it made me cry. Rollercoasters are fun right?
Overall beautifully written and I need MORE!
Thank you SO MUCH to the author and team for allowing me to read this arc!
I immediately fell in love with this book and its characters. The plot just KEPT PLOTTING, I kept getting more emotional and attached, and the spicy scenes were phenomenal and perfectly placed and balanced.
It was funny, it was yummy, and it made me cry. Rollercoasters are fun right?
Overall beautifully written and I need MORE!
Thank you SO MUCH to the author and team for allowing me to read this arc!
May 30, 2025
this was so so good! as usual, Letizia outdid herself. This one wasn't my favorite of the series but such a worthy conclusion. all of my favorite characters appearing and connecting to aaron and charlotte... chef's kiss. the title is truly how I felt about this book and this series. I loved seeing ian and amelie so much those are my babies. I can't wait for whatever letizia does next and i'm honored to be a part of her ARC team from the very beginning!! Thank you to Letizia for this ARC <3
June 4, 2025
With A Cherry On Top is such a good read. I have not read all the books in this series, but instantly fell for Charlotte and Aaron. They were real, flawed people. I really enjoyed the fact that it was only from the MMC point of view which I was not expecting to like. There’s a few twists and turns that I was not anticipating which is so rare and it always makes me go “okay just one more chapter”.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
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