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Slow Cooked Feelings
Messy Love With A Side Of Drama
Noémie St. Pierre has spent years chasing one dream—opening her own restaurant. Her father, Hugo St. Pierre, the powerhouse behind the successful Poutine Heaven franchise, has offered to help. But his support comes with conditions, and Noémie must fit his definition of the perfect daughter.
When Noémie’s secret is exposed—that she’s been dating a woman—her father cuts her off, shattering everything she’s worked for. Lost and newly single, Noémie spirals until she finds an unexpected spark—Jordan Alexander, a hot barista she’s simmered a crush on for years.
Jordan is emotionally unavailable, impossible to read, and afraid to chase her own ambitions. Yet watching Jordan finally break free inspires Noémie to carve out her own path. But as their connection heats up, Noémie wonders—will Jordan ever let her in, or is she destined to love from a distance?
Noémie St. Pierre has spent years chasing one dream—opening her own restaurant. Her father, Hugo St. Pierre, the powerhouse behind the successful Poutine Heaven franchise, has offered to help. But his support comes with conditions, and Noémie must fit his definition of the perfect daughter.
When Noémie’s secret is exposed—that she’s been dating a woman—her father cuts her off, shattering everything she’s worked for. Lost and newly single, Noémie spirals until she finds an unexpected spark—Jordan Alexander, a hot barista she’s simmered a crush on for years.
Jordan is emotionally unavailable, impossible to read, and afraid to chase her own ambitions. Yet watching Jordan finally break free inspires Noémie to carve out her own path. But as their connection heats up, Noémie wonders—will Jordan ever let her in, or is she destined to love from a distance?
- GenresLesbian
Paperback
First published November 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 22, 2025
This book is so lesbian I cant 😭❤️🩹🛐
RTC
RTC
October 24, 2025
Oh I ate this shit up.
This is the sequel to the wonderful book French Pressed Love. FPL is one of my favourite books ever so going into this I had very high expectations. I was a little bit scared going into it at first since this isn't a "normal" sequel, which made me a little scared that it would become repetitive and too similar to the first book. But from the very first line I knew it would be different, and I'm so glad to say that Slow Cooked Feelings exceeded my expectations.
If you have read FPL you know that this is not the typical romance book, it's not a cute, happy little rom-com. This is messy, toxic and deeply human, just like real life.
Getting to follow this beautiful yet messy relationship through Noémie's perspective was fantastic. I have to admit she isn't my favourite character, she's kind of a bitch and had me annoyed asf at times BUT that's also what makes me love her?! She's an icon.
There was one point towards the ending where I almost cried. Hutson has really captured the way a lesbian relationship can look, how messy, complicated and difficult it can be but also how unbelievably beautiful it is.
Overall I enjoyed this a tad more than FPL which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. I love it, it's perfect.
Massive thank you to MC Hutson for sending me an early copy (ARC)! I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is the sequel to the wonderful book French Pressed Love. FPL is one of my favourite books ever so going into this I had very high expectations. I was a little bit scared going into it at first since this isn't a "normal" sequel, which made me a little scared that it would become repetitive and too similar to the first book. But from the very first line I knew it would be different, and I'm so glad to say that Slow Cooked Feelings exceeded my expectations.
If you have read FPL you know that this is not the typical romance book, it's not a cute, happy little rom-com. This is messy, toxic and deeply human, just like real life.
Getting to follow this beautiful yet messy relationship through Noémie's perspective was fantastic. I have to admit she isn't my favourite character, she's kind of a bitch and had me annoyed asf at times BUT that's also what makes me love her?! She's an icon.
There was one point towards the ending where I almost cried. Hutson has really captured the way a lesbian relationship can look, how messy, complicated and difficult it can be but also how unbelievably beautiful it is.
Overall I enjoyed this a tad more than FPL which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. I love it, it's perfect.
Massive thank you to MC Hutson for sending me an early copy (ARC)! I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 11, 2025
This novel is an alternative viewpoint/sequel of French Pressed Love, a novel that I thought was absolutely terrible when I read it. That said, while I was reading FPL I kept thinking that it would be better/interesting to see Noemie’s POV and understand what on earth was happening in that woman’s mind (FPL was single POV). Then, I saw that this book was coming out and honestly, I have been eagerly awaiting it. I knew that it was either going to be an awful hate-read, or a redeeming experience that made FPL better; regardless that’s a win for me as a reader.
The result: Its good! Speaking plainly and simply, I enjoyed this novel. It’s not my favorite of all time (few are though) but I think it was a solid novel that lots of people will enjoy. Great representation of what I consider to be a 4-star novel. This author is a good writer, which is something I said before (I just hated their plot choices previously), and I think they have even improved over the last book.
I don’t think I have read a novel that was essentially a rehash of another book from a different POV and I am not sure if it would be worthwhile in a lot of cases, but in this instance, it was a wonderful choice. It was also very interesting to me to compare the two novels against each other and see what changes were made, what details were added or omitted, etc. It was interesting to read the same scene and see vastly different amounts of detail included due to a different POV, and to see how each character was able to walk away with a very different interpretation of events.
I don’t know if this novel would have been as good if I hadn’t read FPL (and I can’t exactly test that); Jordan comes across as an emotional brick wall for a lot of this book due to being unreadable in many situations. Knowing what she was thinking added a lot in all honestly. I might recommend that anyone who wants to read one of these books should simply get both of them and read them together back-and-forth like a supersized novel.
Rating: B / 4-Stars
Highlights:
-As stated, good writing.
-Yay Canada! I loved all of the references and in-jokes. I don’t think FPL had this, or to the same degree.
-The dog’s name is Celine, and she was a delight, lol.
-I always dislike when a novel features dialogue in another language and either doesn’t provide a translation, or its clunky and takes away from the reading experience. This novel had a lot of French but the way it was written it was clear what they were saying without it being disruptive or feeling like translations were forced in. It was well done. Good job!
-Great mental health representation, particularly regarding the process of starting to take anti-depressants and how it can be a difficult game of whack-a-mole. A lot of people don’t understand anything about this if they haven’t experienced it or known someone who has gone through it.
-Mental health struggles in general. Doubling down on this point, well done.
-The most organically worked-in anti-drug PSA I think I have seen in a long time. Well done once again. Our terrible anti-drug PSA's from the 1990's could take notes.
-This novel “fixed” a lot of things from the prior one. For example, I liked how they handled
-Seeing inside Noemie’s mind was SO satisfying and made a lot of things make sense. She didn’t make any sense to me at ALL in FPL but in this novel, I got it. She was a surprisingly reasonable character in all honestly.
-There was a good resolution at the end of this novel. This was partly because the timeline went longer and literally showed us the resolution but also because I was inside both characters heads and I understood Noemie a lot better and was able to believe that they were going to make things work. Vastly different ending from FPL.
The Bad (or at least, things ill nitpick a bit):
-Dear lord, I hated Wayne.
-Felix is the second worst person in the world.
-Don’t love how the butch/femme “bedroom stereotypes” were somewhat pushed in this book, but whatcha going to do. Wasn’t terrible.
-There was a little bit too much ret-con of certain scenes and Noemie’s behavior from the last novel for me. Obviously, this was all done intentionally to rehab Noemie’s character, and it worked very well, but at some points it was disappointing and kind of felt like a cheat. There were many parts that were left almost identical except recontextualized with her POV, and those parts were wonderful and worked really well. However, there were some scenes that were simply dropped all together or drastically reduced and that was disappointing. This includes a lot of Noemie’s gaslighting, lies, fights she initiated, etc. I am mostly disappointed because there were some scenes I wanted to see from the other POV but they were dropped, and also because the author did such a great job in rewriting most of the sections that they chose to include so I wanted to see the rest!
-There were many parts where Noemie was so clueless that it hurt. It worked to make her less malicious compared to how I viewed her in FPL, but instead she was frustrating and annoying. Kind of lazy writing, maybe, because it was an easy explanation for behavior?
Thank you to the author for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
P.S. When I received my ARC copy, I think there was a personalized sentence or two in the template email where the author indicated they are “frankly unsure why I requested the ARC as I clearly don’t enjoy their books”. Yet they sent it to me anyways, and honestly, bravo. I like their style on that one.
The result: Its good! Speaking plainly and simply, I enjoyed this novel. It’s not my favorite of all time (few are though) but I think it was a solid novel that lots of people will enjoy. Great representation of what I consider to be a 4-star novel. This author is a good writer, which is something I said before (I just hated their plot choices previously), and I think they have even improved over the last book.
I don’t think I have read a novel that was essentially a rehash of another book from a different POV and I am not sure if it would be worthwhile in a lot of cases, but in this instance, it was a wonderful choice. It was also very interesting to me to compare the two novels against each other and see what changes were made, what details were added or omitted, etc. It was interesting to read the same scene and see vastly different amounts of detail included due to a different POV, and to see how each character was able to walk away with a very different interpretation of events.
I don’t know if this novel would have been as good if I hadn’t read FPL (and I can’t exactly test that); Jordan comes across as an emotional brick wall for a lot of this book due to being unreadable in many situations. Knowing what she was thinking added a lot in all honestly. I might recommend that anyone who wants to read one of these books should simply get both of them and read them together back-and-forth like a supersized novel.
Rating: B / 4-Stars
Highlights:
-As stated, good writing.
-Yay Canada! I loved all of the references and in-jokes. I don’t think FPL had this, or to the same degree.
-The dog’s name is Celine, and she was a delight, lol.
-I always dislike when a novel features dialogue in another language and either doesn’t provide a translation, or its clunky and takes away from the reading experience. This novel had a lot of French but the way it was written it was clear what they were saying without it being disruptive or feeling like translations were forced in. It was well done. Good job!
-Great mental health representation, particularly regarding the process of starting to take anti-depressants and how it can be a difficult game of whack-a-mole. A lot of people don’t understand anything about this if they haven’t experienced it or known someone who has gone through it.
-Mental health struggles in general. Doubling down on this point, well done.
-The most organically worked-in anti-drug PSA I think I have seen in a long time. Well done once again. Our terrible anti-drug PSA's from the 1990's could take notes.
-This novel “fixed” a lot of things from the prior one. For example, I liked how they handled
-Seeing inside Noemie’s mind was SO satisfying and made a lot of things make sense. She didn’t make any sense to me at ALL in FPL but in this novel, I got it. She was a surprisingly reasonable character in all honestly.
-There was a good resolution at the end of this novel. This was partly because the timeline went longer and literally showed us the resolution but also because I was inside both characters heads and I understood Noemie a lot better and was able to believe that they were going to make things work. Vastly different ending from FPL.
The Bad (or at least, things ill nitpick a bit):
-Dear lord, I hated Wayne.
-Felix is the second worst person in the world.
-Don’t love how the butch/femme “bedroom stereotypes” were somewhat pushed in this book, but whatcha going to do. Wasn’t terrible.
-There was a little bit too much ret-con of certain scenes and Noemie’s behavior from the last novel for me. Obviously, this was all done intentionally to rehab Noemie’s character, and it worked very well, but at some points it was disappointing and kind of felt like a cheat. There were many parts that were left almost identical except recontextualized with her POV, and those parts were wonderful and worked really well. However, there were some scenes that were simply dropped all together or drastically reduced and that was disappointing. This includes a lot of Noemie’s gaslighting, lies, fights she initiated, etc. I am mostly disappointed because there were some scenes I wanted to see from the other POV but they were dropped, and also because the author did such a great job in rewriting most of the sections that they chose to include so I wanted to see the rest!
-There were many parts where Noemie was so clueless that it hurt. It worked to make her less malicious compared to how I viewed her in FPL, but instead she was frustrating and annoying. Kind of lazy writing, maybe, because it was an easy explanation for behavior?
Thank you to the author for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
P.S. When I received my ARC copy, I think there was a personalized sentence or two in the template email where the author indicated they are “frankly unsure why I requested the ARC as I clearly don’t enjoy their books”. Yet they sent it to me anyways, and honestly, bravo. I like their style on that one.
October 25, 2025
This book was exactly what I needed after French Pressed Love that left me hanging without an epilogue and no way of really understanding why Noémie was such a bitch to Jordan and everyone else. I had to wait so long to get this closure, but it was worth the wait and thanks to the frustrating ending it was still clear in my mind nine months and a few hundred books later. Now I finally got all my answers as well as an awesome epilogue. For new readers I would recommend that the books are read back-to-back now when possible.
Noémie is such a complex and messy character but that just made it more enjoyable to read about her backstory and why she is acting like she is, toying with Jordan for so long, I really felt for Jordan in the first book. Now I see how Noémie also is such a broken soul after losing her sister and with those horrible homophobic parents that made it impossible for her to live her life as she wanted. It is also so cool to now read how into Jordan she is all the time when that was not what you thought was remotely what was happening when reading French Pressed Love. I now instead feel for Noémie when Jordan shows off her fuckboi tendencies.
It is indeed so messy for so long and of course they could have solved most of their conflicts so much sooner if they just had opened up, confessed about their feelings but then the book would have been so short and very boring. I don’t want mess in my real life but in a book, I love it.
I received a free ARC from the author and leave an honest review voluntarily.
Noémie is such a complex and messy character but that just made it more enjoyable to read about her backstory and why she is acting like she is, toying with Jordan for so long, I really felt for Jordan in the first book. Now I see how Noémie also is such a broken soul after losing her sister and with those horrible homophobic parents that made it impossible for her to live her life as she wanted. It is also so cool to now read how into Jordan she is all the time when that was not what you thought was remotely what was happening when reading French Pressed Love. I now instead feel for Noémie when Jordan shows off her fuckboi tendencies.
It is indeed so messy for so long and of course they could have solved most of their conflicts so much sooner if they just had opened up, confessed about their feelings but then the book would have been so short and very boring. I don’t want mess in my real life but in a book, I love it.
I received a free ARC from the author and leave an honest review voluntarily.
October 22, 2025
And here we have another certified banger from Hutson. Messy and toxic and wholly, unbeatably human. It’s just the kind of work I’ve come to expect and love from Hutson, and once again, I am not disaspointed
I was, admittedly, a little apprehensive going into this one. This is a fascinating concept for a sequel, and having ARC read the first in the series last year, I was wary that reading the same romance from the other point of view would feel repetitive or predictable.
I’m happy to find that it really didn’t. Jordan and Noémie are both such spirited characters that reading either one’s point of view provides a wildly different experience. Even the ups and downs and climaxes are different when experienced through opposite eyes. Indeed, I think I enjoyed this one better than the first, partially because it felt like it filled so many of the holes that had been there before. I recall thinking during French Pressed Love that I would have quite liked to read it from both points of view, and now voila, my wish has been granted.
There are a thousand things I could say, but I think the most important one is that, just like its predecessor, this book is a roller coaster. It’s not a sweet, happy little hallmark romance. It’s not the kind of thing you feel like reading with a fireplace and the snow piling up outside. Jordan and Noémie are deeply flawed, and this is not a story about healing all those flaws. The end result isn’t a blank slate. It’s raw and sharp and it cuts deep, even for someone whose trauma lies in entirely different places.
But there is love there — love so powerful you almost can’t take it all in. It claws and tears at you from the corners of the pages, builds and builds until you’re begging for release. It’s the kind of tension that ropes you in, ties your eyes to the page. The kind of tension that hurts you but you just keep coming back to it because somehow the hurt is too good to pass up.
The ending is so much more satisfying for it. The epilogue is perfect, the best possible way to cap off the series. In some ways, I’m almost glad the first book didn’t have a proper epilogue, because it makes this one much more powerful. They heal. They love. They have. And this time, you can imagine them — queer joy and love — long into the future.
Thank you to Hutson and to anyone who reads this book — it truly is a delightful experience, and to be able to experience it as an ARC reader is always a privilege.
-E
I was, admittedly, a little apprehensive going into this one. This is a fascinating concept for a sequel, and having ARC read the first in the series last year, I was wary that reading the same romance from the other point of view would feel repetitive or predictable.
I’m happy to find that it really didn’t. Jordan and Noémie are both such spirited characters that reading either one’s point of view provides a wildly different experience. Even the ups and downs and climaxes are different when experienced through opposite eyes. Indeed, I think I enjoyed this one better than the first, partially because it felt like it filled so many of the holes that had been there before. I recall thinking during French Pressed Love that I would have quite liked to read it from both points of view, and now voila, my wish has been granted.
There are a thousand things I could say, but I think the most important one is that, just like its predecessor, this book is a roller coaster. It’s not a sweet, happy little hallmark romance. It’s not the kind of thing you feel like reading with a fireplace and the snow piling up outside. Jordan and Noémie are deeply flawed, and this is not a story about healing all those flaws. The end result isn’t a blank slate. It’s raw and sharp and it cuts deep, even for someone whose trauma lies in entirely different places.
But there is love there — love so powerful you almost can’t take it all in. It claws and tears at you from the corners of the pages, builds and builds until you’re begging for release. It’s the kind of tension that ropes you in, ties your eyes to the page. The kind of tension that hurts you but you just keep coming back to it because somehow the hurt is too good to pass up.
The ending is so much more satisfying for it. The epilogue is perfect, the best possible way to cap off the series. In some ways, I’m almost glad the first book didn’t have a proper epilogue, because it makes this one much more powerful. They heal. They love. They have. And this time, you can imagine them — queer joy and love — long into the future.
Thank you to Hutson and to anyone who reads this book — it truly is a delightful experience, and to be able to experience it as an ARC reader is always a privilege.
-E
Read
January 3, 2026It took me way too long to figure out I was reading French Pressed Love from the other perspective. I had this distinction notion of having read this story before but I just couldn’t place it. After 40% it somehow clicked an I figured it out. To be honest, this book was a waste of time, think it should have been combined with French Pressed Love and it would have been fine as one. Now both pack a lot of things.
I felt like I read exactly the same book, was some of the setting and dialogue even adjusted to feel different? I don’t even think so. Go for either one of these books and it’s fine, both aren’t the best, definitely don’t go for both.
Sorry to be so negative, it’s just unimaginative and boring. (Even if it took me too long to realise)
I felt like I read exactly the same book, was some of the setting and dialogue even adjusted to feel different? I don’t even think so. Go for either one of these books and it’s fine, both aren’t the best, definitely don’t go for both.
Sorry to be so negative, it’s just unimaginative and boring. (Even if it took me too long to realise)
October 23, 2025
I could NOT put this book down. This may be a slow burn but the plot was positively inferno!
I loved the complexity to all the characters and the manner in which their actions and diverse perspectives pushed the storyline. I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying our MC’s narration with her one-track mind, and bratty femme personality.
On a deeper level, I believe this book is an excellent illustration of how people can cope differently with past trauma. I really valued this character depth that was revealed throughout the story.
Thanks M.C Hutson for the ARC! It was so kind to dedicate a book to my people. (Hehe)
I loved the complexity to all the characters and the manner in which their actions and diverse perspectives pushed the storyline. I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying our MC’s narration with her one-track mind, and bratty femme personality.
On a deeper level, I believe this book is an excellent illustration of how people can cope differently with past trauma. I really valued this character depth that was revealed throughout the story.
Thanks M.C Hutson for the ARC! It was so kind to dedicate a book to my people. (Hehe)
October 20, 2025
A slow-burn romance that earns every spark
This book It’s not your typical sapphic romance. The characters are flawed, guarded, and deeply human, and that’s exactly what makes their connection so compelling.
What makes this story stand out is how well it handles emotional nuance. The slow burn isn’t just a trope here - it’s an essential part of the journey. The payoff feels earned because we really get to know these women: their pasts, their fears, and the ways they hide themselves. Watching them inch toward vulnerability was honestly breathtaking.
The dialogue is sharp, sometimes funny, often aching. The chemistry is there from the beginning, but the emotional intimacy builds like a storm you can feel in your bones.
If you’re looking for something light and fluffy, this might not be it. But if you want a romance that respects its characters enough to let them be messy, complicated, and heartbreakingly real - this book delivers.
This book It’s not your typical sapphic romance. The characters are flawed, guarded, and deeply human, and that’s exactly what makes their connection so compelling.
What makes this story stand out is how well it handles emotional nuance. The slow burn isn’t just a trope here - it’s an essential part of the journey. The payoff feels earned because we really get to know these women: their pasts, their fears, and the ways they hide themselves. Watching them inch toward vulnerability was honestly breathtaking.
The dialogue is sharp, sometimes funny, often aching. The chemistry is there from the beginning, but the emotional intimacy builds like a storm you can feel in your bones.
If you’re looking for something light and fluffy, this might not be it. But if you want a romance that respects its characters enough to let them be messy, complicated, and heartbreakingly real - this book delivers.
January 6, 2026
“I wish there was a way to suffocate love-starve it of oxygen and put out its fire”
This is book 2 of 2 in the “Lesbians in the 6ix” series. It’s told from Naomi’s POV, and while I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it as much…I absolutely did! Understanding the thought process behind Naomi’s actions and decisions while being able to mirror it with book 1 was exactly what I needed!
And I won’t spoil it…but the ending gave me all the butterflies, smiles, and goosebumps! Predictable yet unpredictable in the best kind of way!
This is book 2 of 2 in the “Lesbians in the 6ix” series. It’s told from Naomi’s POV, and while I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it as much…I absolutely did! Understanding the thought process behind Naomi’s actions and decisions while being able to mirror it with book 1 was exactly what I needed!
And I won’t spoil it…but the ending gave me all the butterflies, smiles, and goosebumps! Predictable yet unpredictable in the best kind of way!
November 17, 2025
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reads Like: queer contemporary with sharp edges
If You Like: The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, Homebodies, women making bad choices. and i do like that.
The Vibe: A queer contemporary about two women circling each other like hungry sharks... in Canada! Feels like listening to an acquaintance tell you a story where they are not the good guy but the story is so compelling you can't look away, you just nod and go "ok yeah" at the appropriate moments.
What I loved: Noémie is fantastic to watch, like, at a distance. She’s selfish, stubborn, grieving, hyper-focused on her dream of becoming a chef, and carrying a chip of internalized homophobia. She kind of sucks. It's so compelling.
Jordan is unreadable in a way that makes every interaction feel loaded. Their dynamic is prickly, and charged. I haven't read the previous work, and I'm really interested in how her character internality fits together. It has made me want to read French Pressed Love. The tension between them is addictive and it's genuinely difficult to put down.
What to Know Going In:
Noémie may frustrate you. Have a good time with it. She's very recognizable I guess? One of my closest friends died when I was 19, and her mourning, party phase, depression, anxiety, all felt very real to me.
You don’t need to read French Pressed Love—this stands on its own.
Check content warnings! Homophobia is a big part of this book, internal and external. It felt very real to me, maybe a little heightened by melodrama.
Imagery: A sizzling, perfect steak in a buttery pan, fresh espresso and steamed milk, a long walk through cold weather in the city at night.
Final Thoughts: A compelling, character-driven queer romance about two flawed women who crash into each other at exactly the right angle. Perfect holiday read. Definitely going to check out the author's other books. Read this contemporaneously with Crime and Punishment and kept being like "Noémie and Raskolnikov could hang out"
(My messy notes:
i didn't read French Pressed love
I really enjoyed it as a standalone
i could understand why noemie would frustrate people but i kinda couldn't look away, that was part of the charm to me. she kinda sucks! That rules! she's a spoiled rich kid with a one track mind to become a chef, a tragic backstory, survivors guilt, homophobic parents resulting in internalized homophobia she's definitely not over.
if the hot butch at my local coffee shop ignored me i would also go insane
the wanting your homophobic dad to love you/wanting to be loved stuff. oof ouch owie
reminded me of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School + homebodies - having protagonists who are self-centered in a very realistic way, kinda shitty, but human who you root for
i had a friend who was very self centered but you ended up following her/hanging out with her because she made the world revolve around her and it was fascinating to see where she'd go next. this book reminds me of her.
obsessed with noemie's therapist being like. hey. what's. why
everyone needs better friends.)
December 19, 2025
Chaotic femme energy, WLW romance, Canadian food scene, messy self-reinvention, and a slow-burn situationship with a barista who is emotionally unavailable and irresistible (aren't they all?).
What It’s About:
Noémie St. Pierre has one dream: Open her own restaurant. Her father is the powerful, controlling owner of the Poutine Heaven empire, and he claims he’ll help her…as long as she behaves like the daughter he wants. When he discovers that Noémie is dating a woman, he cuts her off financially and emotionally, derailing her career and her life.
Freshly dumped, directionless, and spiraling, Noémie reconnects with her long-standing crush: Jordan, the enigmatic barista from a local café. Jordan is closed-off, afraid of failure, and barely letting herself have dreams, let alone a relationship. But as Jordan slowly steps into her own power, Noémie is inspired to do the same. Their chemistry is undeniable…but can Noémie handle Jordan’s guardedness? And can Jordan truly let herself be loved?
What I Loved:
🍲 The WLW romance at the center. It’s tender, slow, and grounded in two women trying to grow.
🌆 The Canadian food scene. The sensory richness, the kitchen culture, the ambition, it's all vivid and delicious.
🩶 A genuinely character-driven arc about breaking cycles. Noémie must unlearn familial expectations, confront her worst habits, and build self-worth outside of her father’s approval.
🌧️ Jordan’s interiority (from what we glimpse). Knowing this novel is the alternate POV to Jordan’s book makes sense as the emotional silences feel intentional.
✨ An honest depiction of queer messiness. The novel doesn’t sanitize Noémie. She is flawed, reactive, selfish, insecure, and sometimes wrong.
Vibe Check:
✓ High femme disaster meets emotionally unavailable barista
✓ Daddy issues + creative burnout + queer longing
✓ Le français canadien
✓ Less rom-com, more healing through mistakes
✓ A romance where both heroines must earn the HEA
Final Thoughts:
The characters in this book are complex. I appreciated the unapologetic portrayal of a femme protagonist who is messy, shortsighted, and still learning emotional reciprocity. But some lines (especially about Noémie's ex) were hard to read. There’s a difference between depicting flawed thinking and reinforcing stereotypes, and this occasionally felt like the latter.
Still, the emotional core lands: two women learning to want more for themselves and from each other. The WLW representation, the exploration of cultural expectations, and the slow-burn tension make it worth the read—especially if you enjoy complicated heroines.
Recommend To: Readers who like queer romance with imperfect characters, foodie vibes, father/daughter conflict arcs, and WLW stories centered on personal growth rather than tidy resolutions.
What It’s About:
Noémie St. Pierre has one dream: Open her own restaurant. Her father is the powerful, controlling owner of the Poutine Heaven empire, and he claims he’ll help her…as long as she behaves like the daughter he wants. When he discovers that Noémie is dating a woman, he cuts her off financially and emotionally, derailing her career and her life.
Freshly dumped, directionless, and spiraling, Noémie reconnects with her long-standing crush: Jordan, the enigmatic barista from a local café. Jordan is closed-off, afraid of failure, and barely letting herself have dreams, let alone a relationship. But as Jordan slowly steps into her own power, Noémie is inspired to do the same. Their chemistry is undeniable…but can Noémie handle Jordan’s guardedness? And can Jordan truly let herself be loved?
What I Loved:
🍲 The WLW romance at the center. It’s tender, slow, and grounded in two women trying to grow.
🌆 The Canadian food scene. The sensory richness, the kitchen culture, the ambition, it's all vivid and delicious.
🩶 A genuinely character-driven arc about breaking cycles. Noémie must unlearn familial expectations, confront her worst habits, and build self-worth outside of her father’s approval.
🌧️ Jordan’s interiority (from what we glimpse). Knowing this novel is the alternate POV to Jordan’s book makes sense as the emotional silences feel intentional.
✨ An honest depiction of queer messiness. The novel doesn’t sanitize Noémie. She is flawed, reactive, selfish, insecure, and sometimes wrong.
Vibe Check:
✓ High femme disaster meets emotionally unavailable barista
✓ Daddy issues + creative burnout + queer longing
✓ Le français canadien
✓ Less rom-com, more healing through mistakes
✓ A romance where both heroines must earn the HEA
Final Thoughts:
The characters in this book are complex. I appreciated the unapologetic portrayal of a femme protagonist who is messy, shortsighted, and still learning emotional reciprocity. But some lines (especially about Noémie's ex) were hard to read. There’s a difference between depicting flawed thinking and reinforcing stereotypes, and this occasionally felt like the latter.
Still, the emotional core lands: two women learning to want more for themselves and from each other. The WLW representation, the exploration of cultural expectations, and the slow-burn tension make it worth the read—especially if you enjoy complicated heroines.
Recommend To: Readers who like queer romance with imperfect characters, foodie vibes, father/daughter conflict arcs, and WLW stories centered on personal growth rather than tidy resolutions.
November 17, 2025
ARC Review. Noémie is a cold, if not stuck-up person. But in this story, we see the tragedy that altered her life, her complex entanglement with her family and her obsession with one specific barista.
The other POV to French Pressed Love. Noèmie was the hot mess you loved, and loved to hate. Here we get to explore the complicated threads that make her, her. She’s so messy but lonely, and truly lovable (despite what she thinks). She’s got heart, but a cold exterior that makes it hard for others to break through and she lets her insecurities rule her (though given her family situation, that part is understandable). There’s a great irony in her behavior, and watching scenarios play out with Noémie is endlessly entertaining. I love the way this story unfolds; it doesn’t shy away from the drama, the grit, the miscommunications, and the assumptions. Jay and Noèmie are complex characters written with care, and it’s a *latte* fun to know them.
The other POV to French Pressed Love. Noèmie was the hot mess you loved, and loved to hate. Here we get to explore the complicated threads that make her, her. She’s so messy but lonely, and truly lovable (despite what she thinks). She’s got heart, but a cold exterior that makes it hard for others to break through and she lets her insecurities rule her (though given her family situation, that part is understandable). There’s a great irony in her behavior, and watching scenarios play out with Noémie is endlessly entertaining. I love the way this story unfolds; it doesn’t shy away from the drama, the grit, the miscommunications, and the assumptions. Jay and Noèmie are complex characters written with care, and it’s a *latte* fun to know them.
November 14, 2025
This was a great read. I don't normally binge books but I finished Slow Cooked Feelings in a day. The protagonist, Noemie, feels refreshingly real. She's smart and hard-working but also catty, stubborn, and occasionally vulnerable. She and the love interest, Jordan, both have depth, with their own interests and struggles that feel authentic to their backstories. The story features lots of drama that keeps it interesting chapter after chapter. But be warned: this is a slow burn romance (i.e. Slow Cooked ;) ), so if you're looking for instant payoff, this might not be the book for you.
French Pressed Love, the same story told from Jordan's side, is also a great read, and the differences between the Jordan and Noemie come to life when you compare them side by side.
Thanks to the author for an ARC copy!
French Pressed Love, the same story told from Jordan's side, is also a great read, and the differences between the Jordan and Noemie come to life when you compare them side by side.
Thanks to the author for an ARC copy!
December 18, 2025
I found Slow Cooked Feelings to be a satisfying story that lives up to its title. The character development felt grounded, presenting leads who face the hurdles of adulthood without the clichés found in stories about younger protagonists. The author used culinary metaphors to mirror the emotional growth of the pair, building an atmosphere that made me want a glass of wine and a home-cooked meal. While the emotional resonance was high, the middle section dragged, making the "slow" part of the cook feel stalled at times. I would have liked a tighter edit on the subplots to keep the momentum, but the quality of the prose and the maturity of the relationship make this a 4-star read for anyone who appreciates a patient, heartfelt romance.
November 18, 2025
When I wrote French Pressed Love, I knew going in that I wanted it to be single POV because it's limited. You can never really know what is going on in someone's head. I think it is interesting that two people can experience the same moment differently, and I wanted to explore that with Slow Cooked Feelings. It's the same story as French Pressed Love, but this time, you get to see the other side. And BOY IF SHE AIN'T SUPER DIFFERENT lol
Noémie is the best friend I've always wanted and the enemy I never want to have. Anyways, I hope readers fall in love with these flawed and messy characters as much as I did.
Noémie is the best friend I've always wanted and the enemy I never want to have. Anyways, I hope readers fall in love with these flawed and messy characters as much as I did.
October 31, 2025
4.25 stars
So, Slow Cooked Feelings is the same events as the OG story but from Noemie’s POV, and I was honestly surprised at how hooked i got considering i already knew what was going to happen. Getting Noemie side felt like the completion to the story I badly wanted. My only “issue” with the first book was how often Jay talked about her “Shane-ness.” Getting it from Noemi’s though made it more believable and really gets you to see Jay as this unattainable heartthrob. Honestly This book was messyyyyy and i ate it tf up like the good little dyke i am.
So, Slow Cooked Feelings is the same events as the OG story but from Noemie’s POV, and I was honestly surprised at how hooked i got considering i already knew what was going to happen. Getting Noemie side felt like the completion to the story I badly wanted. My only “issue” with the first book was how often Jay talked about her “Shane-ness.” Getting it from Noemi’s though made it more believable and really gets you to see Jay as this unattainable heartthrob. Honestly This book was messyyyyy and i ate it tf up like the good little dyke i am.
October 20, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC. Thoroughly enjoyed French Pressed Love so I was very interested to read Noémie's POV. Because I read the first story, I found the pacing a little slower in this one, and I also wished we got even more them as a couple but what we did get was great. The spice was a chef's kiss. Can't wait to read more from this author
October 20, 2025
Got this as an ARC in exchange for a review. My thoughts are my own.
Slow cooked feelings follows Noémie, who is kinda unlikeable, but she grows on you over times. Book is witty, slow burn, and spicy. Really enjoyed it.
Slow cooked feelings follows Noémie, who is kinda unlikeable, but she grows on you over times. Book is witty, slow burn, and spicy. Really enjoyed it.
December 23, 2025
This book felt way longer than it needed to be and dragged a lot, but having said that, the last 20% redeemed it for me. I couldn't tell if we were supposed to find the MC annoying and low-key hate her or not, but I definitely didn't like her and wasn't rooting for her really :/
October 29, 2025
From the very first chapter I was inthralled with the scheming, deceptive, and slightly toxic dynamic between Noémie and Jordan. The lengths Noémie was willing to go to was very entertaining and the fact that she loved to see Jordan so lovesick and miserable was everything to me. I love a mean woman and MC Hutson delivered with this one.
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