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Recipe for Trouble: A grumpy/sunshine queer MM romantic comedy
Witty, heartwarming, and deliciously swoony―a grumpy/sunshine workplace romance with found family, office intrigue, and all the feels.
Grumpy video editor Ben Blumenthal has perfected the art of cynicism... until he meets Pete Bailey, a devastatingly handsome chef whose sunny disposition should be annoying but somehow isn't. Ben's used to keeping people at arm's length; Pete's a walking catastrophe who somehow stays cheerful despite it all. But as Ben works side by side with Pete in the kitchen, he discovers there's much, much more to this beautiful mess of a man than meets the eye...
Grumpy video editor Ben Blumenthal has perfected the art of cynicism... until he meets Pete Bailey, a devastatingly handsome chef whose sunny disposition should be annoying but somehow isn't. Ben's used to keeping people at arm's length; Pete's a walking catastrophe who somehow stays cheerful despite it all. But as Ben works side by side with Pete in the kitchen, he discovers there's much, much more to this beautiful mess of a man than meets the eye...
306 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 7, 2025
Cooking. Romance. Drama. Always good things in a book. I enjoyed the storyline, found it engaging and charming. Was a new author to me, but I'll continue to read more of their work.
October 21, 2025
Dylan Morrison's first tradpubbed novel, Fall Into You, really worked for me, so I was excited to get an ARC for his second book. Unfortunately, this one fell flat, like that souffle I tried to make once. (Yes, there will be bad cooking-themed jokes in this review. No, I am not sorry.)
The annoying thing is that I could see glimpses of a good story here, but the whole thing felt over-edited. It was as though all the life had been squeezed out of it, like that lemon I used for that pasta dish the other night, except while the pasta dish was zesty and delicious, this was just . . . dull. Or if not over-edited, then at least over-tinkered with. For example, it seems that someone -- again, I'm guessing an editor -- got it into their heads that pronoun confusion is a problem in m/m. Which meant that the whole book -- a book that is entirely in Ben's POV, for reasons that have to do with the reveal at the end, which imo was to the book's detriment -- is sprinkled with "[blah blah blah] him, Ben, [blah blah blah]." And it's so! unnecessary! Because not once was it ever unclear from the context who the "him" that was being modified by the ", Ben," referred to, so it just felt oddly pedantic in a sort of patronizing way. And another example, in the beginning of the book, Ben stops to buy a (as in one, singular) can of some random mixed drink on his way home after a shitty day, noting that he is only very sporadically driven to this kind of behavior. (It's not presented as judgy, just as something unusual for him.) It's then mentioned over and over again that Ben barely drinks. But now he's so drunk off of one can of whatever. Because he hardly drinks. Thus his drunkenness. Because of the lack of drinking. And it's just? We got it? It's a pretty basic concept, actually? And yes, I realize that these two examples land pretty heavily on the petty side of the ledger, but the whole book is this way, like the (author/ editor/ whoever) doesn't think the audience can be trusted to understand context and draw inferences from it. And -- again, if I'm being petty -- I feel compelled to stress that this is a contemporary romcom. There is no advanced worldbuilding or leaps of logic here. The context is pretty easy! Like the food we get on my 12-year-old's dinner night!
A bigger issue is that, as I mentioned above, this is all in Ben's POV, for backstory reasons that ultimately have to do with Miranda, the stereotypically-verging-on-misogynistically evil corporate demon, and her book-long vendetta against Pete and Ben. Unfortunately, Ben's voice simply didn't jibe for me: anxiety rep in romcoms is a tricky beast, where if the author goes too hard, it veers into a rom-traum territory; whereas if they go too com'my, it makes it seem quirky and whimsical and hard to take seriously. But subjective vibing with the voice aside, on a story level, you end up in that situation that you often get in single POV where the narrator hasquirky, whimsical intrusive thoughts self-esteem issues, which is that it's hard for the reader to understand why the LI falls for them in the first place. It ends up feeling super lopsided, which is a challenging basis for a believable connection. And the reveal, when it finally comes, is too little, too late. I can definitely see what the author was going for, but the problem was that the premise itself was pretty flimsy, and then gets increasingly ridiculous, so that by the time we're told why it got so ridiculous -- and there IS a reason, in fact quite a heavy reason, which is tonally out of whack with the rest of the book -- I was already pretty checked out.
The thing is, this author clearly has a lot of talent, and I'm glad they're reaching new audiences. I loved Mrs C and Rick -- all the supporting characters, really -- and I really enjoyed the more technical food and restaurant stuff. But -- and I promise I'm almost done with the cooking nonsense -- this really does feel like a case of too many chefs: the end result isn't inedible, but it's fussy and dull and aimed right at the median diner. Or maybe I'm just sick to death of low-heat romcoms. Give me angst! Give me banging! I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO ON A03 FOR FUCKING AND FEELINGS!!! The sooner this whole cartoon-cover, fade-to-black romcom mania ends, the better.
Anyway, file it under "wish I liked it more," like that pizza I got from that new place that I heard was soooooo great but was only fine and maybe a bit overcooked and probably suffered from my heightened expectations. And crossing fingers that this was just a sophomore slump.
I got an ARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The annoying thing is that I could see glimpses of a good story here, but the whole thing felt over-edited. It was as though all the life had been squeezed out of it, like that lemon I used for that pasta dish the other night, except while the pasta dish was zesty and delicious, this was just . . . dull. Or if not over-edited, then at least over-tinkered with. For example, it seems that someone -- again, I'm guessing an editor -- got it into their heads that pronoun confusion is a problem in m/m. Which meant that the whole book -- a book that is entirely in Ben's POV, for reasons that have to do with the reveal at the end, which imo was to the book's detriment -- is sprinkled with "[blah blah blah] him, Ben, [blah blah blah]." And it's so! unnecessary! Because not once was it ever unclear from the context who the "him" that was being modified by the ", Ben," referred to, so it just felt oddly pedantic in a sort of patronizing way. And another example, in the beginning of the book, Ben stops to buy a (as in one, singular) can of some random mixed drink on his way home after a shitty day, noting that he is only very sporadically driven to this kind of behavior. (It's not presented as judgy, just as something unusual for him.) It's then mentioned over and over again that Ben barely drinks. But now he's so drunk off of one can of whatever. Because he hardly drinks. Thus his drunkenness. Because of the lack of drinking. And it's just? We got it? It's a pretty basic concept, actually? And yes, I realize that these two examples land pretty heavily on the petty side of the ledger, but the whole book is this way, like the (author/ editor/ whoever) doesn't think the audience can be trusted to understand context and draw inferences from it. And -- again, if I'm being petty -- I feel compelled to stress that this is a contemporary romcom. There is no advanced worldbuilding or leaps of logic here. The context is pretty easy! Like the food we get on my 12-year-old's dinner night!
A bigger issue is that, as I mentioned above, this is all in Ben's POV, for backstory reasons that ultimately have to do with Miranda, the stereotypically-verging-on-misogynistically evil corporate demon, and her book-long vendetta against Pete and Ben. Unfortunately, Ben's voice simply didn't jibe for me: anxiety rep in romcoms is a tricky beast, where if the author goes too hard, it veers into a rom-traum territory; whereas if they go too com'my, it makes it seem quirky and whimsical and hard to take seriously. But subjective vibing with the voice aside, on a story level, you end up in that situation that you often get in single POV where the narrator has
The thing is, this author clearly has a lot of talent, and I'm glad they're reaching new audiences. I loved Mrs C and Rick -- all the supporting characters, really -- and I really enjoyed the more technical food and restaurant stuff. But -- and I promise I'm almost done with the cooking nonsense -- this really does feel like a case of too many chefs: the end result isn't inedible, but it's fussy and dull and aimed right at the median diner. Or maybe I'm just sick to death of low-heat romcoms. Give me angst! Give me banging! I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO ON A03 FOR FUCKING AND FEELINGS!!! The sooner this whole cartoon-cover, fade-to-black romcom mania ends, the better.
Anyway, file it under "wish I liked it more," like that pizza I got from that new place that I heard was soooooo great but was only fine and maybe a bit overcooked and probably suffered from my heightened expectations. And crossing fingers that this was just a sophomore slump.
I got an ARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2025
3.5 stars! Grumpy x sunshine romance with a fun food theme and plenty of cute awkwardness.
This story follows Ben and Pete.
Ben is a video editor who has been tasked with helping a disastrous chef film cooking videos.
Pete is the disastrous chef in question, who is helpless on his own.
Off the bat, Ben is no fan of Pete and his annoyingly happy-go-lucky attitude.
But, as the two start spending more time together, a forced work relationship blossoms into something more.
I love the dynamic here.
Ben is grumpy and a little mean, but nothing in the world seems to be able to dampen Pete’s mood.
I simply cannot help being obsessed with an opposites attract relationship, so this brings me so much joy.
Watching the character with the harsh, downer personality slowly change and open up as cheerful, happy character rubs off on them? I think that is so cute.
This may be weird, but I also loved Pete’s awkwardness. It was absolutely so endearing.
Throughout the story his primary struggle is how nervous he gets while recording.
He has a great personality, and is a great cook. But, he just can’t seem to do anything right when the cameras are rolling.
This brought in a lot of humor, and made for some cute, light-hearted moments.
I also have to say that I find this so incredibly real- which is probably why I liked it to much. As person that is also incapable of doing anything while someone is watching me- I see him and I relate to him.
Relatability always makes things more enjoyable!
Unfortunaltey, I have to say that I found the writing a bit hard to follow.
I didn’t feel like it read super easily, and there were a several points where my mind ending up wandering off.
I think this might just be a me thing, but I just wasn't hooked the whole time.
There seemed to be a few plot holes, and moments where I wasn’t sure how we got from point A to point B.
This very well might just be a result of my disconnection from the writing style, so perhaps other readers might not experience the same issue!
Overall, it is a fun and light story. I think it is worth the read if you enjoy MM romance, along with food/cooking themes.
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and author Dylan Morrison for providing me with the eARC of “Recipe for Trouble”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 16, 2025
This story follows Ben and Pete.
Ben is a video editor who has been tasked with helping a disastrous chef film cooking videos.
Pete is the disastrous chef in question, who is helpless on his own.
Off the bat, Ben is no fan of Pete and his annoyingly happy-go-lucky attitude.
But, as the two start spending more time together, a forced work relationship blossoms into something more.
I love the dynamic here.
Ben is grumpy and a little mean, but nothing in the world seems to be able to dampen Pete’s mood.
I simply cannot help being obsessed with an opposites attract relationship, so this brings me so much joy.
Watching the character with the harsh, downer personality slowly change and open up as cheerful, happy character rubs off on them? I think that is so cute.
This may be weird, but I also loved Pete’s awkwardness. It was absolutely so endearing.
Throughout the story his primary struggle is how nervous he gets while recording.
He has a great personality, and is a great cook. But, he just can’t seem to do anything right when the cameras are rolling.
This brought in a lot of humor, and made for some cute, light-hearted moments.
I also have to say that I find this so incredibly real- which is probably why I liked it to much. As person that is also incapable of doing anything while someone is watching me- I see him and I relate to him.
Relatability always makes things more enjoyable!
Unfortunaltey, I have to say that I found the writing a bit hard to follow.
I didn’t feel like it read super easily, and there were a several points where my mind ending up wandering off.
I think this might just be a me thing, but I just wasn't hooked the whole time.
There seemed to be a few plot holes, and moments where I wasn’t sure how we got from point A to point B.
This very well might just be a result of my disconnection from the writing style, so perhaps other readers might not experience the same issue!
Overall, it is a fun and light story. I think it is worth the read if you enjoy MM romance, along with food/cooking themes.
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and author Dylan Morrison for providing me with the eARC of “Recipe for Trouble”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 16, 2025
November 2, 2025
Somewhere in this there are the bones of a sweet, slow-burn love story about two thoroughly decent guys and the nurturing power of connecting through food. Sadly, the overblown writing style killed it for me entirely. It's third-person single POV in present tense, which I always find awkward outside of AO3, but the main issue was the overly neurotic, rambling style that dragged every metaphor or simile on for far too long, slapped three adjectives on every noun and two adverbs on every adjective, drowned every internal monologue in runaway intrusive thoughts, and did that super-annoying thing? In Dialogue? Where people? End every normal statement? With a question mark? And look, I can roll with rambling. I’m not a fan of overly sparse narration; I think “kill your darlings” all too frequently gets misinterpreted as “scrub every bit of verve or personality out of your writing”; and I will die – gladly, defiantly, passionately – on the hill of believing there’s a place for adverbs in good writing. But this was a mess, and needed at least two more rounds of rigorous editing.
September 19, 2025
Loved this fade-to-black -- all the spice is in the food -- workplace romance about grumpy video-editor Ben and sunshiny magazine chef Pete forced together to produce an unexpectedly viral cooking show.
The book is single-POV third-person, so we do get all of Ben's anxiety and self-criticism and less insight into Pete's thoughts, but I thought that worked well to help us empathise with what might otherwise be a difficult character. He is blunt to the point of being mean sometimes, so seeing inside why does help us connect with him as we watch Feelings develop too. These build beyond physical attraction to give very clear and beautifully described insight into how each of them 'gets' the other, and really sees them as they are. Which is powerfully romantic, honestly.
A few other reviewers comment on the writing style. If my review's own rather wordy style gives you the twitches, perhaps this book may not be for you. Or maybe you shouldn't let me put you off, since I'm nowhere near as smooth as the author. I am also not nearly as funny. I know this is a highly individual opinion, but I did laugh out loud far more than I'd expected thoughout the story. It's a dry humour, not banter; for me along the lines of Steven Rowley's The Guncle, or Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio. YMMV.
All in all, a lovely autumn/winter vibes read, highly recommended!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
The book is single-POV third-person, so we do get all of Ben's anxiety and self-criticism and less insight into Pete's thoughts, but I thought that worked well to help us empathise with what might otherwise be a difficult character. He is blunt to the point of being mean sometimes, so seeing inside why does help us connect with him as we watch Feelings develop too. These build beyond physical attraction to give very clear and beautifully described insight into how each of them 'gets' the other, and really sees them as they are. Which is powerfully romantic, honestly.
A few other reviewers comment on the writing style. If my review's own rather wordy style gives you the twitches, perhaps this book may not be for you. Or maybe you shouldn't let me put you off, since I'm nowhere near as smooth as the author. I am also not nearly as funny. I know this is a highly individual opinion, but I did laugh out loud far more than I'd expected thoughout the story. It's a dry humour, not banter; for me along the lines of Steven Rowley's The Guncle, or Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio. YMMV.
All in all, a lovely autumn/winter vibes read, highly recommended!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
October 20, 2025
A- / 4.5 stars rounded up.
Recipe for Trouble is Dylan Morrison’s second published contemporary romance, and it’s an absolutely delightful read. It’s an opposites-attract slow-burn romance between a grouchy video editor (Ben) and a ray-of-sunshine chef (Pete) who end up working together when Ben is roped in to editing a disastrous cookery video that ends up going viral. Like the author’s Fall Into You , which I reviewed a few months ago, Recipe for Trouble is told from a single perspective and there’s a lot of internal monologue – but the interiority feels more focused this time around, plus the romance is stronger, the chemistry between the leads is terrific, and the author’s dry, observational humour really hits the spot.
Ben Blumenthal works as a contractor for Formica Media on a video editing gig he hates. He loves editing videos – he’s good at it and enjoys the process of cutting things together to make them into a smoothly watchable whole – but editing technical and instructional videos is dull as ditchwater; it doesn’t challenge him, and sitting in mind-numbing meetings with colleagues he barely knows (and doesn’t like) about mind-numbing projects on topics he’s never cared about is soul destroying. It might pay the bills – but he feels himself dying inside a little more every day.
He’s on a break in the building’s coffee shop one afternoon when Rick, who works several floors up and stops to chat sometimes, approaches him to ask if he’ll do a few hours work on a project for him. The renowned foodie magazine Rick works for, Gastronome, wants to produce what the bigwigs are calling “accessible Gen Z content” – as in cooking videos using the magazine’s recipes - but their head test chef, who is otherwise extremely competent, turned out to be a total disaster once the cameras started rolling. Rick asks Ben to take a look at the footage and see if he can do anything with it and Ben, who has been a fan of Gastronome forever (he grew up working in his family’s restaurant and is a pretty good cook himself) agrees to see what he can do – it’ll be something different, at least.
When he sees the footage, however, he realises the situation is much, much worse than he’d thought. It’s worse than bad. It’s horrific. The chef, Pete Bailey, is around his own age, good-looking, more than a little bit hot and… a total idiot. Even though he is, presumably, talented enough to have landed one of the cushy, coveted positions at Gastronome, he “has produced what has to be the single worst collection of cooking footage ever created by man.”
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
Recipe for Trouble is Dylan Morrison’s second published contemporary romance, and it’s an absolutely delightful read. It’s an opposites-attract slow-burn romance between a grouchy video editor (Ben) and a ray-of-sunshine chef (Pete) who end up working together when Ben is roped in to editing a disastrous cookery video that ends up going viral. Like the author’s Fall Into You , which I reviewed a few months ago, Recipe for Trouble is told from a single perspective and there’s a lot of internal monologue – but the interiority feels more focused this time around, plus the romance is stronger, the chemistry between the leads is terrific, and the author’s dry, observational humour really hits the spot.
Ben Blumenthal works as a contractor for Formica Media on a video editing gig he hates. He loves editing videos – he’s good at it and enjoys the process of cutting things together to make them into a smoothly watchable whole – but editing technical and instructional videos is dull as ditchwater; it doesn’t challenge him, and sitting in mind-numbing meetings with colleagues he barely knows (and doesn’t like) about mind-numbing projects on topics he’s never cared about is soul destroying. It might pay the bills – but he feels himself dying inside a little more every day.
He’s on a break in the building’s coffee shop one afternoon when Rick, who works several floors up and stops to chat sometimes, approaches him to ask if he’ll do a few hours work on a project for him. The renowned foodie magazine Rick works for, Gastronome, wants to produce what the bigwigs are calling “accessible Gen Z content” – as in cooking videos using the magazine’s recipes - but their head test chef, who is otherwise extremely competent, turned out to be a total disaster once the cameras started rolling. Rick asks Ben to take a look at the footage and see if he can do anything with it and Ben, who has been a fan of Gastronome forever (he grew up working in his family’s restaurant and is a pretty good cook himself) agrees to see what he can do – it’ll be something different, at least.
When he sees the footage, however, he realises the situation is much, much worse than he’d thought. It’s worse than bad. It’s horrific. The chef, Pete Bailey, is around his own age, good-looking, more than a little bit hot and… a total idiot. Even though he is, presumably, talented enough to have landed one of the cushy, coveted positions at Gastronome, he “has produced what has to be the single worst collection of cooking footage ever created by man.”
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
October 9, 2025
This was okay for me. I really wanted to like it much more.
Let me start with what did work for me: I thought the characterization was solid (even for the non-POV character.) I also enjoyed the connection between the two main characters. The sense of place was pretty good (although, I'd be curious to hear from a New Yorker if it felt authentic to them - it felt a bit like movie NYC to me but what do I know?)
Now for a few things that were not for me but could be for you: I guess it is supposed to be a romcom but I found it way too heavy on the com shenanigans. It was simply too much disbelief for me to suspend. It also relied on a lot of interiority of the main character. Along with a couple of the plot devices and the way the book wraps up felt like wish fulfillment, much of it didn't work for me.
I think this book may have suffered because I read it close on the heels of reading TJ Alexander's debut, Chef's Kiss, which had a very similar premise but was better executed and I did enjoy this author's Fall Into You, so I'll still check out whatever they put out next.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start with what did work for me: I thought the characterization was solid (even for the non-POV character.) I also enjoyed the connection between the two main characters. The sense of place was pretty good (although, I'd be curious to hear from a New Yorker if it felt authentic to them - it felt a bit like movie NYC to me but what do I know?)
Now for a few things that were not for me but could be for you: I guess it is supposed to be a romcom but I found it way too heavy on the com shenanigans. It was simply too much disbelief for me to suspend. It also relied on a lot of interiority of the main character. Along with a couple of the plot devices and the way the book wraps up felt like wish fulfillment, much of it didn't work for me.
I think this book may have suffered because I read it close on the heels of reading TJ Alexander's debut, Chef's Kiss, which had a very similar premise but was better executed and I did enjoy this author's Fall Into You, so I'll still check out whatever they put out next.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
Thank Netgaley for this one! Great slowburn fade to black apprach and really lovable characters. The fun of cooking and anxiety of being on camera plus compentent people who are good at their jobs and of course fall in love.
While I felt some parts were slow the overall story was fun and the I liked the interactions slow burn,
While I felt some parts were slow the overall story was fun and the I liked the interactions slow burn,
September 18, 2025
This is a cuddle up with a warm blanket read! I spent much of the book on my papasan.
Ben is a video editor and gets roped into a job he's supposed to fail at. That whole situation leads to him spending a lot of time with Pete. Pete, a test chef, also wanted Ben to fail at first because he's an absolute disaster in front of a camera!
Ben is anxious and often speaks before he thinks, which tends to come off as mean. This book is very character driven though so you know exactly why he does everything he does, and he's a character I would love to be friends with. You get a pretty good sense of Pete's personality too, which is a bit golden retriever with more depth.
The humor was right up my alley, kind of dry and sarcastic, and I found myself smiling and laughing often.
It did take me a minute to sink into the writing style, it's different, maybe a bit formal? I ended up really liking it, but it does mean you have to pay attention a bit more than you would to a mindless beach read.
Overall I highly recommend this book, super sweet and cute!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Ben is a video editor and gets roped into a job he's supposed to fail at. That whole situation leads to him spending a lot of time with Pete. Pete, a test chef, also wanted Ben to fail at first because he's an absolute disaster in front of a camera!
Ben is anxious and often speaks before he thinks, which tends to come off as mean. This book is very character driven though so you know exactly why he does everything he does, and he's a character I would love to be friends with. You get a pretty good sense of Pete's personality too, which is a bit golden retriever with more depth.
The humor was right up my alley, kind of dry and sarcastic, and I found myself smiling and laughing often.
It did take me a minute to sink into the writing style, it's different, maybe a bit formal? I ended up really liking it, but it does mean you have to pay attention a bit more than you would to a mindless beach read.
Overall I highly recommend this book, super sweet and cute!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
September 17, 2025
Recipe for Trouble by Dylan Morrison [ARC - Releasing 16 October 2025]
4 Stars
Spice - Fade to Black
Tropes - Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Workplace
Format - Single POV, Third Person Present Tense
Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
Recipe for Trouble is a fun, foodie romcom set in New York City during the holiday season (though Christmas gets much less of a cameo than you’d expect, given the Christmas lights on the cover). It follows Ben, a video editor with the tendency to lash out at others, and Pete, a sunshiny chef with a crippling fear of being on camera, as a one-off video gone viral sees them working together to produce a cooking show for fictional food magazine Gastronome over the holiday season. Most importantly, however, this book is about a cat named Roux, whose prickly personality mirrors Ben’s in a lot of ways, down to her undeniable soft spot for Pete.
This book is told entirely from Ben’s perspective. Though it is written in third person, the prose is steeped with his wit and sarcasm. I found it charming and funny, though I can see how it might not hit for some readers.
I thought it was well paced, with an engaging balance of chaos, banter, and sweet moments. My one real sticking point was
Overall, Recipe for Trouble is a sweet, character-driven romcom, well worth picking up for readers who love queer romances featuring snippy introverts and the golden-retriever types they can’t seem to push away.
4 Stars
Spice - Fade to Black
Tropes - Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Workplace
Format - Single POV, Third Person Present Tense
Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
Recipe for Trouble is a fun, foodie romcom set in New York City during the holiday season (though Christmas gets much less of a cameo than you’d expect, given the Christmas lights on the cover). It follows Ben, a video editor with the tendency to lash out at others, and Pete, a sunshiny chef with a crippling fear of being on camera, as a one-off video gone viral sees them working together to produce a cooking show for fictional food magazine Gastronome over the holiday season. Most importantly, however, this book is about a cat named Roux, whose prickly personality mirrors Ben’s in a lot of ways, down to her undeniable soft spot for Pete.
This book is told entirely from Ben’s perspective. Though it is written in third person, the prose is steeped with his wit and sarcasm. I found it charming and funny, though I can see how it might not hit for some readers.
I thought it was well paced, with an engaging balance of chaos, banter, and sweet moments. My one real sticking point was
Overall, Recipe for Trouble is a sweet, character-driven romcom, well worth picking up for readers who love queer romances featuring snippy introverts and the golden-retriever types they can’t seem to push away.
October 16, 2025
loved this!! it was funny and charming and basically hit all of my buttons. it also reminded me of TJ Alexander's food books (in a good way!) - I love books where food is a central theme in some way or other, especially when the main character isn't a chef or similar.
I think it's fair to say that there's only one main character here, as this is single pov close 3rd person. (my favourite pov for romance novels tbh. dual pov is fine, but most of the time I prefer to get to know the love interest through the eyes of the pov character, and here it really worked.) Ben was delightful, sardonic and sarcastic at times but not mean, and very creative with his language and ideas in a way that made this a fun and delightful read from start to beginning.
also I want to add, this is one of few New York books that don't make me feel tired of New York as a setting, as if everyone is supposed to love New York etc etc - this book managed to make New York feel like it could have been any other big city as it was less about New York as a concept, and more about making a big city home, for better or worse. It almost made me want to actually visit New York, until I thought better of it; I know within my heart of hearts I would hate, so really it's best to enjoy it from afar, through the filter of fiction.
anyway, what else is there to say - loved the chemistry between Ben and Pete, the rising tension of the webseries and Evil Corporate until it snapped, the aftermath, the happy ending, the cast of supporting characters. if I had to make one complaint, it is that it would've been nice to see more of the supporting characters, but I have a feeling this book was already quite long and editorial probably would've frowned upon a 10k word padding of supporting cast.
I had a great time reading this and it put me in a good mood and I'm happy. loved it. recommended for anyone looking for an uplifting funny and delightful holiday romance.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think it's fair to say that there's only one main character here, as this is single pov close 3rd person. (my favourite pov for romance novels tbh. dual pov is fine, but most of the time I prefer to get to know the love interest through the eyes of the pov character, and here it really worked.) Ben was delightful, sardonic and sarcastic at times but not mean, and very creative with his language and ideas in a way that made this a fun and delightful read from start to beginning.
also I want to add, this is one of few New York books that don't make me feel tired of New York as a setting, as if everyone is supposed to love New York etc etc - this book managed to make New York feel like it could have been any other big city as it was less about New York as a concept, and more about making a big city home, for better or worse. It almost made me want to actually visit New York, until I thought better of it; I know within my heart of hearts I would hate, so really it's best to enjoy it from afar, through the filter of fiction.
anyway, what else is there to say - loved the chemistry between Ben and Pete, the rising tension of the webseries and Evil Corporate until it snapped, the aftermath, the happy ending, the cast of supporting characters. if I had to make one complaint, it is that it would've been nice to see more of the supporting characters, but I have a feeling this book was already quite long and editorial probably would've frowned upon a 10k word padding of supporting cast.
I had a great time reading this and it put me in a good mood and I'm happy. loved it. recommended for anyone looking for an uplifting funny and delightful holiday romance.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an early copy for review
A sweet, charming romance!
I've never read Morrison's work before, but this was a lovely introduction. The writing style is engaging, vivid, and funny; the characters are entertaining, if a bit over the top, and have complete arcs. I do wish that it had committed to the holiday romance aspect a bit more - the ending makes it feel like this is definitely the vibe the book is going for, but it took probably 50% before I felt that. Still, a fun time, with scenes that I could imagine perfectly in a movie.
I would say that some of the reveals - in fact, the secrets that most of the conflict and driving force revolve around - just...feel unrealistic? It's clear from the beginning that Miranda is more or less blackmailing Pete into doing the videos, and that his camera anxiety is rooted in something in his past; these two being connected makes sense. But when the backstory finally comes to light, it feels strangely overblown. It doesn't feel believable to me that someone like Pete would allow his life to essentially be ruined by something so small, or that it would be something Miranda would threaten him with given its relative insignificance. It's an original backstory, don't get me wrong! It just doesn't quite fit the stakes here.
But, overall, this was a really enjoyable little romance. I'll be interested to see what Morrison does next!
A sweet, charming romance!
I've never read Morrison's work before, but this was a lovely introduction. The writing style is engaging, vivid, and funny; the characters are entertaining, if a bit over the top, and have complete arcs. I do wish that it had committed to the holiday romance aspect a bit more - the ending makes it feel like this is definitely the vibe the book is going for, but it took probably 50% before I felt that. Still, a fun time, with scenes that I could imagine perfectly in a movie.
I would say that some of the reveals - in fact, the secrets that most of the conflict and driving force revolve around - just...feel unrealistic? It's clear from the beginning that Miranda is more or less blackmailing Pete into doing the videos, and that his camera anxiety is rooted in something in his past; these two being connected makes sense. But when the backstory finally comes to light, it feels strangely overblown. It doesn't feel believable to me that someone like Pete would allow his life to essentially be ruined by something so small, or that it would be something Miranda would threaten him with given its relative insignificance. It's an original backstory, don't get me wrong! It just doesn't quite fit the stakes here.
But, overall, this was a really enjoyable little romance. I'll be interested to see what Morrison does next!
October 16, 2025
Recipe for Trouble is mm romance that focuses on Pete and Ben. The two are forced to work together and create food videos for their respective companies.
Ben is the genius behind the editing while Pete is the “talent”. I use that word cautiously because Pete is a hot mess when the camera is on.
I had high hopes for this book based on the description, but it was a miss for me. The beginning was so long and repetitive. Pete and Ben making content, Pete having stage freight and taking way too long to make content. I also didn’t understand their relationship. I was 60% through the book and their want even a declaration of feelings from either party. Then, suddenly Ben is in love with Pete.
I did finish this book in hopes I would become more into it, but sadly that wasn’t the case.
Thank you NetGalley and Dylan’s Morrison for the advanced copy.
2.5⭐️⭐️
🚫🌶️
Ben is the genius behind the editing while Pete is the “talent”. I use that word cautiously because Pete is a hot mess when the camera is on.
I had high hopes for this book based on the description, but it was a miss for me. The beginning was so long and repetitive. Pete and Ben making content, Pete having stage freight and taking way too long to make content. I also didn’t understand their relationship. I was 60% through the book and their want even a declaration of feelings from either party. Then, suddenly Ben is in love with Pete.
I did finish this book in hopes I would become more into it, but sadly that wasn’t the case.
Thank you NetGalley and Dylan’s Morrison for the advanced copy.
2.5⭐️⭐️
🚫🌶️
September 15, 2025
"Recipe for Trouble" is a high five slap in the air kinda book. Ben and Pete work in the same company but in different divisions in NYC. Ben is asked to edit a new cooking webshow that Pete stars in and it becomes a surprise hit. Pete is a competent chef until he is in front of a camera where he develops panic attacks. It is only through Ben's careful, thoughtful guidance that Pete is able to get through a show. The relationship ship grows from acquaintances to ... I absolutely adore Ben's compassion and insightfulness and Pete's tenacity. I love this book! It warms my heart. "Recipe for Trouble" is one of the top non "spicy" mm romances I've read over the last year. Be sure to pick this up in October when it will be released. You'll thank me. Thanks to @netgalley @stormbooks_co @dylanthyme for letting me review this wonderful book. #lqbtqiaplus #mmromancebooks #romance #netgalley #stormpublishing #recipefortrouble #gaybookstagram #bookstagram #foodieromance #foodiesofinstagram
October 30, 2025
I did enjoy this reading this. I thought it was quite cute and sweet.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
November 1, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️
Recipe for Trouble was a sweet, MM romance. The vibes and all of the cooking made it a great read for this time of year!
Recipe for Trouble was a sweet, MM romance. The vibes and all of the cooking made it a great read for this time of year!
November 7, 2025
More of a 3.75, perhaps.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t revolutionary or anything, but it was a good queer romance that kept me entertained. I also liked that there wasn’t really any exploration of either of these characters coming to terms with their sexuality. They’re both late twenties, and they both just… know who they like. I was worried that the secret Miranda had on Pete would be his gayness, and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn’t.
I also really liked the seasonal vibes of the book. I’ve been reading it over the first week of November, which was the perfect time to pick it up, as the book starts a bit before Halloween and then goes through it and into Christmas— so it perfectly suited the time of year I was reading it! I’d definitely recommend making it a November read.
Now, as an autistic reader, I spent the entire book trying to figure out whether Ben had been intentionally written as clearly being autistic, or whether it was an accident due to the author being autistic. After reading the authors note, I see they’ve said they have ADHD— and, not to pry into their personal life… but they wrote the thought processes of an autistic person extremely realistically, and whilst some symptoms are shared between autism and adhd… this wasn’t that. It was autism, plain and simple, and I’m curious if they author knows they have that going on.
My one main complaint with this book is the over-use of Ben’s name. So many times, a sentence says “he, Ben” when it’s already incredibly clear that it’s Ben they’re talking about. I don’t know if this was the writer or the editor, but not only was that exact phrasing incredibly repetitive, it also was irritating and patronising. Never assume your audience is dumb!
Other than that, I enjoyed it. I listened on audiobook, and the narration was decent.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t revolutionary or anything, but it was a good queer romance that kept me entertained. I also liked that there wasn’t really any exploration of either of these characters coming to terms with their sexuality. They’re both late twenties, and they both just… know who they like. I was worried that the secret Miranda had on Pete would be his gayness, and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn’t.
I also really liked the seasonal vibes of the book. I’ve been reading it over the first week of November, which was the perfect time to pick it up, as the book starts a bit before Halloween and then goes through it and into Christmas— so it perfectly suited the time of year I was reading it! I’d definitely recommend making it a November read.
Now, as an autistic reader, I spent the entire book trying to figure out whether Ben had been intentionally written as clearly being autistic, or whether it was an accident due to the author being autistic. After reading the authors note, I see they’ve said they have ADHD— and, not to pry into their personal life… but they wrote the thought processes of an autistic person extremely realistically, and whilst some symptoms are shared between autism and adhd… this wasn’t that. It was autism, plain and simple, and I’m curious if they author knows they have that going on.
My one main complaint with this book is the over-use of Ben’s name. So many times, a sentence says “he, Ben” when it’s already incredibly clear that it’s Ben they’re talking about. I don’t know if this was the writer or the editor, but not only was that exact phrasing incredibly repetitive, it also was irritating and patronising. Never assume your audience is dumb!
Other than that, I enjoyed it. I listened on audiobook, and the narration was decent.
October 4, 2025
First I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 – Recipe for Trouble
Going into this, I really thought Ben would be the sunshine half of the grumpy/sunshine duo—but nope. He’s grumpy in a sneaky, low-key way. Not the loud, broody kind, more the “quietly annoyed at existence, owns a cat, hates his job, has zero friends but still somehow mingles with people” type. And honestly, it works for him.
The whole thing kicks off when he’s supposed to cut film material of Pete cooking and tries to make the video bad on purpose…except it blows up and goes viral. Karma said: hi bestie. And yes, Ben has to deal with the consequences.
Pete, on the other hand, is awkward as hell on camera but actually a really good chef. He takes the whole viral-mess situation surprisingly well—he laughs, he vibes, and he doesn’t get dramatic about it. He seems carefree, but there’s this little undercurrent that tells you there’s more going on with him. You can just feel that something deeper is coming later.
What really surprised me is how naturally Ben and Pete click. They grew up in similar environments—both around restaurants, both with one non-American parent—and their humor lines up perfectly without even trying. They just get each other in a way that feels easy and believable.
The twist with Ben’s personality made me laugh, and I enjoyed that Pete didn’t get offended or overreact. Their dynamic is fun, their banter works, and even with the tropes, it doesn’t feel stale.
Overall, it’s a light and enjoyable read with characters that sneak up on you. Not perfect, but definitely a solid 4/5 and easy to keep reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 – Recipe for Trouble
Going into this, I really thought Ben would be the sunshine half of the grumpy/sunshine duo—but nope. He’s grumpy in a sneaky, low-key way. Not the loud, broody kind, more the “quietly annoyed at existence, owns a cat, hates his job, has zero friends but still somehow mingles with people” type. And honestly, it works for him.
The whole thing kicks off when he’s supposed to cut film material of Pete cooking and tries to make the video bad on purpose…except it blows up and goes viral. Karma said: hi bestie. And yes, Ben has to deal with the consequences.
Pete, on the other hand, is awkward as hell on camera but actually a really good chef. He takes the whole viral-mess situation surprisingly well—he laughs, he vibes, and he doesn’t get dramatic about it. He seems carefree, but there’s this little undercurrent that tells you there’s more going on with him. You can just feel that something deeper is coming later.
What really surprised me is how naturally Ben and Pete click. They grew up in similar environments—both around restaurants, both with one non-American parent—and their humor lines up perfectly without even trying. They just get each other in a way that feels easy and believable.
The twist with Ben’s personality made me laugh, and I enjoyed that Pete didn’t get offended or overreact. Their dynamic is fun, their banter works, and even with the tropes, it doesn’t feel stale.
Overall, it’s a light and enjoyable read with characters that sneak up on you. Not perfect, but definitely a solid 4/5 and easy to keep reading.
October 14, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading the Arc of Recipe for Trouble by Dylan Morrison. If you enjoy romance novels that combine the setting of a reality cooking show and all the emotions of a heart-gripping romance movie, this book is for you. This story follows Ben and Pete, who work for a media company in NYC. One day, Ben is asked to be a video editor for a new cooking web show that stars our other main protagonist, Pete. When Ben watches the raw footage, he realizes that Pete isn't the most graceful in front of a camera, but after hours of editing, it becomes an overnight success. Throughout the rest of the book, you watch their relationship grow and how they navigate specific problems together,
Recipe for Trouble is a beautiful romance novel that succeeds in eliciting strong emotions from the reader. I loved the characters in this novel and got to know them well. By the end, I was personally invested in how they would grow as people. The story gripped me by the heart. I found myself having to keep going to find out what would happen next. One particular moment that touched me was the big scene at the end when Pete went on live television to win Ben over. The ending was satisfying and left no questions unanswered.
In terms of pacing, the beginning moved a little slow, but it was integral for setting up the rest of the story. The plot of the book was well-paced.
When I finished this book, I was left with tears of happiness streaming down my face. I was so happy to get the opportunity to read this book. I definitely would recommend this to readers.
Thank you to Net Galley, Dylan Morrison, and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this stunning novel.
Recipe for Trouble is a beautiful romance novel that succeeds in eliciting strong emotions from the reader. I loved the characters in this novel and got to know them well. By the end, I was personally invested in how they would grow as people. The story gripped me by the heart. I found myself having to keep going to find out what would happen next. One particular moment that touched me was the big scene at the end when Pete went on live television to win Ben over. The ending was satisfying and left no questions unanswered.
In terms of pacing, the beginning moved a little slow, but it was integral for setting up the rest of the story. The plot of the book was well-paced.
When I finished this book, I was left with tears of happiness streaming down my face. I was so happy to get the opportunity to read this book. I definitely would recommend this to readers.
Thank you to Net Galley, Dylan Morrison, and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this stunning novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
I love Pete and Ben! This book is grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, co-workers-to-lovers, workplace bullying (not by MCs), all mixed together with a healthy dose of anxiety and depression-rep. If that doesn't sound particularly uplifting, I get it, but this was a mostly joyful read and I found myself laughing out loud numerous times.
The story starts off with Ben, a video editor who does boring contract work for a magazine conglomerate getting the opportunity to edit some car crash footage for the flagship cooking magazine, Gastronome. Ben's a little, shall we say, annoyed at how badly the presenter Pete is and thinks he must be doing it on purpose. So Ben takes the opportunity to cut together a funny but biting edit of how hopeless Pete is at cooking. The video gets posted, goes viral, and surprise! Pete and Ben are teamed up again to make more video content. But, it turns out that Pete has extreme camera anxiety (he wasn't being bad on purpose!) and that sets the scene for the two to get to know each other.
This is a slow slow-burn, closed door book, lots of yearning and second-guessing. There were some parts through the middle that felt a little slow, but I was invested enough in the couple to carry on, and I was happy with the HEA.
Finally, I loved the epilogue, which was set during Christmas-time, so perfect for reading around the holidays!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts off with Ben, a video editor who does boring contract work for a magazine conglomerate getting the opportunity to edit some car crash footage for the flagship cooking magazine, Gastronome. Ben's a little, shall we say, annoyed at how badly the presenter Pete is and thinks he must be doing it on purpose. So Ben takes the opportunity to cut together a funny but biting edit of how hopeless Pete is at cooking. The video gets posted, goes viral, and surprise! Pete and Ben are teamed up again to make more video content. But, it turns out that Pete has extreme camera anxiety (he wasn't being bad on purpose!) and that sets the scene for the two to get to know each other.
This is a slow slow-burn, closed door book, lots of yearning and second-guessing. There were some parts through the middle that felt a little slow, but I was invested enough in the couple to carry on, and I was happy with the HEA.
Finally, I loved the epilogue, which was set during Christmas-time, so perfect for reading around the holidays!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2025
3.25⭐️/5
I would recommend this if you enjoy:
- LGBTQIA+ romances
- MM romances
- Workplace romances
- Forced proximity
- Reluctant coworkers to lovers
- No spice
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley and Storm Publishing. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Ben, a video editor, and Pete, a cook, who meet when Ben edits Pete's cooking video and it goes viral leading them to have to work together.
This was a cute romance with yearning and a slow burn that was well written. I enjoyed the scenes where the characters bantered and comforted one another and I think that they were well suited. I didn't like that Ben was fully in love with Pete before 50% as it made his character seem a bit desperate in places.
The food show aspect was interesting to read about as I've watched shows similar to the one in the book and the behind-the-scenes of how they actually do it was a great addition. While I enjoyed that, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters so at times I felt a bit bored. I did like that the author wrote the romance with tension and no spice as it felt right for the characters and what they were going through.
Overall, I would recommend this book for a cute, fun MM romance but I probably won't read it again. I did like the author's writing style and I would pick up another of their books.
I would recommend this if you enjoy:
- LGBTQIA+ romances
- MM romances
- Workplace romances
- Forced proximity
- Reluctant coworkers to lovers
- No spice
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley and Storm Publishing. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Ben, a video editor, and Pete, a cook, who meet when Ben edits Pete's cooking video and it goes viral leading them to have to work together.
This was a cute romance with yearning and a slow burn that was well written. I enjoyed the scenes where the characters bantered and comforted one another and I think that they were well suited. I didn't like that Ben was fully in love with Pete before 50% as it made his character seem a bit desperate in places.
The food show aspect was interesting to read about as I've watched shows similar to the one in the book and the behind-the-scenes of how they actually do it was a great addition. While I enjoyed that, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters so at times I felt a bit bored. I did like that the author wrote the romance with tension and no spice as it felt right for the characters and what they were going through.
Overall, I would recommend this book for a cute, fun MM romance but I probably won't read it again. I did like the author's writing style and I would pick up another of their books.
September 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Recipe for Trouble by Dylan Morrison is a joyful, character-driven romcom that I enjoyed more than I expected, though it lands somewhere between a 3.5 and 4-star read for me.
On the plus side, I immediately adored both Ben and Pete. What could have tipped into insta-love instead felt like the realistic pull of unexplained chemistry—the kind of connection where you meet someone and everything just clicks, even before there’s a clear reason. The character work is strong, and the little twists on microtropes were delightful; the thoughtful details Morrison weaves in really elevate the story.
That said, there were moments where I had to pause and wonder how or why things were unfolding as they were. I also would have liked more time spent on Pete’s larger, more serious secret. The imbalance in how the two “secrets” were handled threw me off a bit, especially since so much focus was given to the lighter one.
Overall, though, this is a sweet, fun read. The slow-burn dynamic between the grumpy Ben and the sunny Pete is heartwarming, the foodie backdrop adds charm, and the humor and awkward moments made it very relatable. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read, especially if you enjoy MM romances with character-driven plots and gentle romance.
Recipe for Trouble by Dylan Morrison is a joyful, character-driven romcom that I enjoyed more than I expected, though it lands somewhere between a 3.5 and 4-star read for me.
On the plus side, I immediately adored both Ben and Pete. What could have tipped into insta-love instead felt like the realistic pull of unexplained chemistry—the kind of connection where you meet someone and everything just clicks, even before there’s a clear reason. The character work is strong, and the little twists on microtropes were delightful; the thoughtful details Morrison weaves in really elevate the story.
That said, there were moments where I had to pause and wonder how or why things were unfolding as they were. I also would have liked more time spent on Pete’s larger, more serious secret. The imbalance in how the two “secrets” were handled threw me off a bit, especially since so much focus was given to the lighter one.
Overall, though, this is a sweet, fun read. The slow-burn dynamic between the grumpy Ben and the sunny Pete is heartwarming, the foodie backdrop adds charm, and the humor and awkward moments made it very relatable. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read, especially if you enjoy MM romances with character-driven plots and gentle romance.
October 12, 2025
💙 Recipe for Trouble ARC Review 💙
Thank you so much to Dylan Morrison and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Recipe for Trouble is a standalone contemporary MM romance. Grumpy video editor Ben is content with his life. Nothing crazy ever happens, and he likes it this way. So when he’s thrust into Internet fame after a work project goes viral, can he handle the pressure and his new coworker?
This was a cute read! I really liked Ben as a character and his anxieties were really relatable. Pete was a great match for him and i enjoyed how well they learned to work together to overcome their struggles. Though i enjoyed the mental health rep, i felt like most of the book revolved around that and found myself wanting to see more of these characters outside their anxieties
Overall this was a solid three star read. I enjoyed the story and characters overall, but would personally have liked to have seen more facets of these characters. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. Though this book does have a romantic plot, there was YA levels of on page spice, so one flame for spice
If you’re a fan of MM romance with relatable characters, mental health rep and foodie vibes, then absolutely pick this one up!
Thank you so much to Dylan Morrison and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Recipe for Trouble is a standalone contemporary MM romance. Grumpy video editor Ben is content with his life. Nothing crazy ever happens, and he likes it this way. So when he’s thrust into Internet fame after a work project goes viral, can he handle the pressure and his new coworker?
This was a cute read! I really liked Ben as a character and his anxieties were really relatable. Pete was a great match for him and i enjoyed how well they learned to work together to overcome their struggles. Though i enjoyed the mental health rep, i felt like most of the book revolved around that and found myself wanting to see more of these characters outside their anxieties
Overall this was a solid three star read. I enjoyed the story and characters overall, but would personally have liked to have seen more facets of these characters. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. Though this book does have a romantic plot, there was YA levels of on page spice, so one flame for spice
If you’re a fan of MM romance with relatable characters, mental health rep and foodie vibes, then absolutely pick this one up!
September 16, 2025
This book had a load of potential, and lets start with the good things:
- Loved the food reviewer/vlogger setting, a bit fresh and felt relatively well researched
- Loved the characterisation of the characters, they felt distinct, well rounded and believable
Now the less good things:
- Pages and pages of exposition. Literal pages. And not just at the beginning. Instead of seeing other people's relationships grow it was just told, like his relationship with his neighbour
- Revelations without any foreshadowing so they felt like they hit you out of the blue
For a good 70% of the book, I was concerned but there wasn't enough plot and that's why it all been filled in with long descriptions of things. But suddenly a load of it rushed at the end without any of the foreshadowing that should have been there . Pete and Ben were really cute and I would say was done well.
Needed a heavy editor and a real good look at the pacing.
2.5*, not rounded down only because I reserve that for worst than this.
- Loved the food reviewer/vlogger setting, a bit fresh and felt relatively well researched
- Loved the characterisation of the characters, they felt distinct, well rounded and believable
Now the less good things:
- Pages and pages of exposition. Literal pages. And not just at the beginning. Instead of seeing other people's relationships grow it was just told, like his relationship with his neighbour
- Revelations without any foreshadowing so they felt like they hit you out of the blue
For a good 70% of the book, I was concerned but there wasn't enough plot and that's why it all been filled in with long descriptions of things. But suddenly a load of it rushed at the end without any of the foreshadowing that should have been there . Pete and Ben were really cute and I would say was done well.
Needed a heavy editor and a real good look at the pacing.
2.5*, not rounded down only because I reserve that for worst than this.
September 22, 2025
probably more like a 3.5, but rounding up to four doesn't feel appropriate.
on the plus side, i adored both ben and pete pretty much immediately. what could have veered into instalove territory instead felt like the realistic pull of unexplained chemistry - when you meet someone and everything just clicks, even before it has reason to. the character work is so strong. i also loved the little twists on some of the microtropes here; without delving into spoilers, this book had some delightful, careful, thoughtful details in it.
unfortunately, there were also some ... not plotholes, necessarily, but instances where i had to stop and wonder how/why things were unfolding this way. i also would have rather more time spent with pete's much larger, more serious of his two 'secrets'; the discrepancy in gravity really threw me off, particularly because it feels like we spent so much time on the lighter of the two.
all in all though, a joyful little read! thanks to netgalley/the publisher for an ARC of this book.
on the plus side, i adored both ben and pete pretty much immediately. what could have veered into instalove territory instead felt like the realistic pull of unexplained chemistry - when you meet someone and everything just clicks, even before it has reason to. the character work is so strong. i also loved the little twists on some of the microtropes here; without delving into spoilers, this book had some delightful, careful, thoughtful details in it.
unfortunately, there were also some ... not plotholes, necessarily, but instances where i had to stop and wonder how/why things were unfolding this way. i also would have rather more time spent with pete's much larger, more serious of his two 'secrets'; the discrepancy in gravity really threw me off, particularly because it feels like we spent so much time on the lighter of the two.
all in all though, a joyful little read! thanks to netgalley/the publisher for an ARC of this book.
October 15, 2025
Recipe for trouble
By: Dylan Morrison
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Good book!
I can honestly say that yes I enjoyed this book but at times it felt a bit all over the place. This was my first introduction to this author so in fairness I’m not use to their writing.
Authors blurb: Grumpy video editor Ben Blumenthal has perfected the art of cynicism... until he meets Pete Bailey, a devastatingly handsome chef whose sunny disposition should be annoying but somehow isn't. Ben's used to keeping people at arm's length; Pete's a walking catastrophe who somehow stays cheerful despite it all. But as Ben works side by side with Pete in the kitchen, he discovers there's much, much more to this beautiful mess of a man than meets the eye...
The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕
By: Dylan Morrison
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Good book!
I can honestly say that yes I enjoyed this book but at times it felt a bit all over the place. This was my first introduction to this author so in fairness I’m not use to their writing.
Authors blurb: Grumpy video editor Ben Blumenthal has perfected the art of cynicism... until he meets Pete Bailey, a devastatingly handsome chef whose sunny disposition should be annoying but somehow isn't. Ben's used to keeping people at arm's length; Pete's a walking catastrophe who somehow stays cheerful despite it all. But as Ben works side by side with Pete in the kitchen, he discovers there's much, much more to this beautiful mess of a man than meets the eye...
The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕
October 16, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It’s a perfect cozy romcom with strong autumn-winter vibes and a vivid New York setting — and it would make a perfect movie (that's what I was picturing while reading).
The humour is spot-on (I laughed nonstop through the first third), the slow-burn workplace romance is addictive, and Ben and Pete are so well-written that I was fully invested in their relationship. Miranda is the perfect “devil” boss (reminded me a lot of Miranda from the Devil Wears Prada), and Mrs. C absolutely stole my heart.
The pacing dips a bit in the middle, but overall this is a warm, funny, and heartfelt read that made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. Highly recommend, especially for fall and winter!
"I thought what I wanted was to live a quiet life, under the radar, anonymous and unknown. But it turns out that's a lonely way to exist. What I really wanted - what I think we all really want - was the opposite: to be known, truly and deeply, by someone worth knowing. "
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
The humour is spot-on (I laughed nonstop through the first third), the slow-burn workplace romance is addictive, and Ben and Pete are so well-written that I was fully invested in their relationship. Miranda is the perfect “devil” boss (reminded me a lot of Miranda from the Devil Wears Prada), and Mrs. C absolutely stole my heart.
The pacing dips a bit in the middle, but overall this is a warm, funny, and heartfelt read that made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. Highly recommend, especially for fall and winter!
"I thought what I wanted was to live a quiet life, under the radar, anonymous and unknown. But it turns out that's a lonely way to exist. What I really wanted - what I think we all really want - was the opposite: to be known, truly and deeply, by someone worth knowing. "
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2025
I was so pumped for another Dylan Morrison book! I loved, loved, loved Fall Into You and had high hopes for Recipe for Trouble - and was not disappointed.
Morrison's got such a great ear for character voices - Ben is grounded, neurotic, kind, insanely relatable, and funny as hell. Pete was similarly vivid and charming and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I admittedly know very little about cooking (we're talking 'burns water' levels of incompetence here) but there's little I enjoy more in a novel than reading about characters who are good at what they do and several of the food descriptions made my mouth water.
Also loved the character of NYC in this - Ben's love for the city is built in this tiny moments where he goes to his regular bodega or favorite local grocery store or that he has so many spots in the city he goes for specific emotional journeys. The cast of characters - both major and minor - provided great color, especially the crotchety elderly queen Mrs. C, for whom I would die.
Just a great read all around. Definitely recommending it to everyone I know.
Morrison's got such a great ear for character voices - Ben is grounded, neurotic, kind, insanely relatable, and funny as hell. Pete was similarly vivid and charming and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I admittedly know very little about cooking (we're talking 'burns water' levels of incompetence here) but there's little I enjoy more in a novel than reading about characters who are good at what they do and several of the food descriptions made my mouth water.
Also loved the character of NYC in this - Ben's love for the city is built in this tiny moments where he goes to his regular bodega or favorite local grocery store or that he has so many spots in the city he goes for specific emotional journeys. The cast of characters - both major and minor - provided great color, especially the crotchety elderly queen Mrs. C, for whom I would die.
Just a great read all around. Definitely recommending it to everyone I know.
November 1, 2025
Thanks for the early copy, NetGalley!
Ben Blumenthal is the consummate cynic — a video-editor who shields himself behind precision and routine. Enter Pete Bailey, a chef whose bright personality and chaos-bringer energy should be infuriating — but somehow, they’re not. Forced to work together in the kitchen, they squabble, connect, and slowly discover that the messier the workplace, the clearer the heart.
Dylan Morrison’s writing is warm and witty, effortlessly weaving banter with emotional truth. Ben’s guarded nature and Pete’s open-hearted optimism provide a beautifully balanced “grumpy/sunshine” dynamic, giving the romance an authentic arc rather than just a trope ride.
Recipe for Trouble is a delightfully satisfying romance: clever, heartfelt, and unafraid of real emotion. If you’re drawn to characters who transform through both laughs and vulnerability, this is a story worth your time.
Lighthearted and comforting — the perfect feel-good read for fans of food-themed love stories.
Ben Blumenthal is the consummate cynic — a video-editor who shields himself behind precision and routine. Enter Pete Bailey, a chef whose bright personality and chaos-bringer energy should be infuriating — but somehow, they’re not. Forced to work together in the kitchen, they squabble, connect, and slowly discover that the messier the workplace, the clearer the heart.
Dylan Morrison’s writing is warm and witty, effortlessly weaving banter with emotional truth. Ben’s guarded nature and Pete’s open-hearted optimism provide a beautifully balanced “grumpy/sunshine” dynamic, giving the romance an authentic arc rather than just a trope ride.
Recipe for Trouble is a delightfully satisfying romance: clever, heartfelt, and unafraid of real emotion. If you’re drawn to characters who transform through both laughs and vulnerability, this is a story worth your time.
Lighthearted and comforting — the perfect feel-good read for fans of food-themed love stories.
October 17, 2025
Three and a half stars.
Ben Blumenthal is a video editor working in a fairly soul-destroying job for a big corporate. He night have a lovely apartment, but his only friend is his eighty-year old agoraphobic neighbour, even his cat doesn't seem to like him much, and she (the neighbour) might only like him because he feeds her regularly. Ben's trouble is that he is cynical and people get offended at his snarkiness.
Then Vince, an acquaintance who works for a sister publication, the food magazine Gastronomic, asks Ben to edit a video for him. The powers that be want the magazine to publish video content on the website and have told one of the test chefs that he *MUST* make the videos. Vince freely acknowledges that the raw footage is absolute carnage but wants Ben to have a go at cobbling it together into something okay - the idea is to force management to rethink things and bring in professionals.
When Ben reviews the footage he can't believe it, this guy, Pete Bailey is a disaster. If he doesn't drop it, he burns it, he forgets what he is saying, he says things wrong over and over. Full of indignant fury Ben edits the footage into a comedy montage with his own voice-over - along the lines of 'if this bozo can do it so could your pet hamster' and of course it is an instant hit, people love the slapstick humour and voice-overs. So management commission (aka command) a further series of videos leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Prepared to loath Pete, a good-looking guy with the job of his dreams, Ben is pleasantly surprised to discover that Pete not only enjoys Ben's humour, but off-camera he's an extremely competent chef - he seems to have an extreme version of camera shyness. As their friendship develops Ben comes to know Pete a bit better, but is there something he's not sharing?
TBH I was in two minds whether to request an ARC, I wasn't sure about the premise and I didn't love the cover art, but decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did, I rally enjoyed the developing relationship between Ben and Pete, the way in which they really 'saw' each other. What reduced the rating for me was the cause of the 'conflict', it felt unrealistic - like that would ever happen - and too mwah ha ha to be believable - yes it was clearly signalled from the beginning but that didn't make it any more realistic for me (maybe its different in the US).
Anyway, glad I took a chance on a new-to-me author and I would definitely read more.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
Ben Blumenthal is a video editor working in a fairly soul-destroying job for a big corporate. He night have a lovely apartment, but his only friend is his eighty-year old agoraphobic neighbour, even his cat doesn't seem to like him much, and she (the neighbour) might only like him because he feeds her regularly. Ben's trouble is that he is cynical and people get offended at his snarkiness.
Then Vince, an acquaintance who works for a sister publication, the food magazine Gastronomic, asks Ben to edit a video for him. The powers that be want the magazine to publish video content on the website and have told one of the test chefs that he *MUST* make the videos. Vince freely acknowledges that the raw footage is absolute carnage but wants Ben to have a go at cobbling it together into something okay - the idea is to force management to rethink things and bring in professionals.
When Ben reviews the footage he can't believe it, this guy, Pete Bailey is a disaster. If he doesn't drop it, he burns it, he forgets what he is saying, he says things wrong over and over. Full of indignant fury Ben edits the footage into a comedy montage with his own voice-over - along the lines of 'if this bozo can do it so could your pet hamster' and of course it is an instant hit, people love the slapstick humour and voice-overs. So management commission (aka command) a further series of videos leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Prepared to loath Pete, a good-looking guy with the job of his dreams, Ben is pleasantly surprised to discover that Pete not only enjoys Ben's humour, but off-camera he's an extremely competent chef - he seems to have an extreme version of camera shyness. As their friendship develops Ben comes to know Pete a bit better, but is there something he's not sharing?
TBH I was in two minds whether to request an ARC, I wasn't sure about the premise and I didn't love the cover art, but decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did, I rally enjoyed the developing relationship between Ben and Pete, the way in which they really 'saw' each other. What reduced the rating for me was the cause of the 'conflict', it felt unrealistic - like that would ever happen - and too mwah ha ha to be believable - yes it was clearly signalled from the beginning but that didn't make it any more realistic for me (maybe its different in the US).
Anyway, glad I took a chance on a new-to-me author and I would definitely read more.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
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