Whipped

by E.J. Hopps

Theo Abbott has poured everything into Bloem, his cozy, book-filled café tucked into San Francisco’s Mission District. But with a corporate coffee giant setting up shop around the corner, his business is circling the drain. He’s resigned himself to selling—letting go of the dream he built with his own two hands—until his ever-optimistic manager throws a wrench in his sad plans.

Shannon Perry refuses to let that happen. Bloem isn’t just a job to her—it’s home. The regulars, the warm pastries, the constant hum of the espresso machine…it’s the only place that’s ever felt like hers. And if her grumpy, brooding boss won’t fight for it, she will. In a last-ditch effort, she signs them up for Whisk Wars, a prestigious baking competition in the Cotswolds. The grand prize? Enough money to keep Bloem afloat. The catch? She and Theo have to compete together.

Thrown together in a whirlwind of flour-dusted chaos, late-night recipe testing, and far-too-close-for-comfort moments, Theo and Shannon quickly realize that the real battle isn’t just for the café, it’s against the undeniable tension crackling between them.

He’s spent years keeping his walls high, while she has learned to guard her heart. But under the soft glow of the countryside, with the scent of sugar in the air and something dangerously close to hope stirring between them, one truth becomes some things aren’t just worth fighting for—they’re worth risking it all.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

E. J. Hopps is a restaurant-obsessed, perpetually dehydrated romance writer hailing from the Northern California coast. When she’s not spinning her daydreams into written word, you can find her pouring sake at the restaurant she runs alongside her husband, or cozied up with a good book and her dog, Dozer.

With her heart firmly rooted in both the world of fine dining and the promise of happily ever afters, Hopps seeks to captivate readers with steamy restaurant romances, inviting them to savor the magic of her world with every turn of the page.

Reviews

[Ali Lente · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Getting to go back to a story in the world E.J. Hopps is building is always a good day! I loved reading Refire and Whipped shows us a sweet and romantic journey between a character we met in that installment, Shannon Perry, and a new character, the tattooed, hunky head of the local coffee show Shannon works at, or should I say is devoted to.

Shannon LOVES her work even thought she has to deal with guarded (hot, British, tattooed) Theo, her boss of many years. Shannon does a lot for the cafe and really seems to be the driving force behind customer loyalty, and Theo truly sees that and cares for Shannon deeply, though he intentionally and clearly demonstrates that that is NOT the case. It's clear Theo feels strongly enough about Shannon that he is terrified to cross a professional boundary with her and ruin the relationship the DO have. We love a man with values who treats women with respect! However, I also love that they are starting to figure out if it's worth it to them to maintain that professional boundary....

The banter between Shannon and Theo (or as they lightly call each other- Lillith/Lily and Lucifer/Lulu) is fun and snappy, they know each other well and how to push each other's buttons. There's basically nothing I love more than an enemies to lovers story filled with the sweet tension of "will they won't they," and Whipped delivers.

Hopps has a knack for writing spicy scenes that feel realistic and grounded, yet still fun and flirty and full of chemistry. The moments when these two are feeling the spark between each other are so fun to read, I caught myself holding my breath a couple times. The way she builds tension chapter after chapters makes for very rewarding moments of connection between the characters when they get there.

If you're looking for a grumpy/sunshine story with exploration of real-life issues, sexy leads, and a few British Baking Show vibes, this is the romance for you!