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The Meat Cute: A steamy black romance with a second chance between a basketball coach and a charcuterie cart owner.
After her tumultuous marriage came to an end, the only thing marketing guru Cozy Cordella wants to do is rebuild her life and save up enough money to buy her own food truck. With a mobile charcuterie cart, she spends her time slinging sausage and cheese to the feral soccer moms down at the park. Everything is going great until her cart is knocked over by the man she deems responsible for her bad luck—her ex-husband's enemy.
Introvert Malik Orion is the league's most sought-after basketball coach. With a near miss at the NCAA championship game, he's more determined than ever to win the title. His attention should be on recruiting new players, but a mishap at the basketball court sends his focus—and his body—barreling towards the one woman who's always been off-limits.
When his athletic director suffers a heart attack and needs him to attend booster events in his place, Malik enlists Cozy's help, promising to buy her the food truck she's always wanted if she'll attend the events with him. Haunted by an ex bent on ruin and truths buried deep, Cozy and Malik learn that nothing is ever as it seems, and as they wine and dine alumni, they find that sometimes love is found between salami and slam dunks.
Introvert Malik Orion is the league's most sought-after basketball coach. With a near miss at the NCAA championship game, he's more determined than ever to win the title. His attention should be on recruiting new players, but a mishap at the basketball court sends his focus—and his body—barreling towards the one woman who's always been off-limits.
When his athletic director suffers a heart attack and needs him to attend booster events in his place, Malik enlists Cozy's help, promising to buy her the food truck she's always wanted if she'll attend the events with him. Haunted by an ex bent on ruin and truths buried deep, Cozy and Malik learn that nothing is ever as it seems, and as they wine and dine alumni, they find that sometimes love is found between salami and slam dunks.
- GenresContemporary Romance
328 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2025
5 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Tobie Carter
5 books71 followersTobie Carter is a fiction writer of contemporary romance and suspense who will die on the hill saying that there was absolutely enough room on that plank for both of them. Her stories are fast-paced, angsty, high heat, and feature relatable characters who refuse to settle for less than they deserve.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 13, 2025
**ARC Review** “Cootchie board lady is here”. This book was so hilarious. It had me laughing so much and feeling all kinds of things. DV is so real and you can feel the pain as you’re reading. Great story and cannot wait to see if we get more of Sheree and Quan.
November 17, 2025
*Arc Review*
This book was an intoxicating blend of passion, heart-stealing emotion and basketball. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The chemistry between the main characters was steamy in all the right ways, yet still beautifully emotional and tender when it mattered most. If you’re looking for a romance that’s sensuous, emotional, and addictive, this is it. A five-star read all the way! 💕🔥
This book was an intoxicating blend of passion, heart-stealing emotion and basketball. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The chemistry between the main characters was steamy in all the right ways, yet still beautifully emotional and tender when it mattered most. If you’re looking for a romance that’s sensuous, emotional, and addictive, this is it. A five-star read all the way! 💕🔥
November 7, 2025
I will never look at a salami stick the same way again.
This adorable rom-com has everything you want..
Strong FMC? check
Sexy MMC who falls hard? check
Great Banter? check
A True Meet Cute? ✔️ ✅️
This is definitely must have for my trophy shelf
This adorable rom-com has everything you want..
Strong FMC? check
Sexy MMC who falls hard? check
Great Banter? check
A True Meet Cute? ✔️ ✅️
This is definitely must have for my trophy shelf
December 3, 2025
The book was lovely and the spicy scenes were absolutely amazing!!! The overall premise and the plot was really interesting, plus the characters had good substance.
I did have a little trouble connecting with the characters in the middle, and the writing felt a little off at times. But, I’m pretty sure that it was a me thing because I have read Tobie’s work before and loved it!
Thank you to Luna Literary Management and Author Tobie Carter for the ARC✨
I did have a little trouble connecting with the characters in the middle, and the writing felt a little off at times. But, I’m pretty sure that it was a me thing because I have read Tobie’s work before and loved it!
Thank you to Luna Literary Management and Author Tobie Carter for the ARC✨
November 20, 2025
I'm always a little leery of books with so many 5-star reviews from ARCs. Like, can it really be that good, or are reviewers just falsely hyping up the author?
No, no this IS ACTUALLY THAT GOOD. (So huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC so I can celebrate this title with everyone else! This was my first by this author but won't be the last!)
The Meat Cute has passion, spice, chemistry, angst, some baggage, and beautiful family bonding moments. The banter is off the charts! And not just between FMC Cozy (Cosette) and MMC Malik, but between Malik and his sister and mama and nephew and the players he coaches, and also between Cozy and her sister. My favorite thing was probably the banter and dialog between all the characters. They actually talk the way real people talk, saying things like "Oh my gosh I can't stand you, come here, I love you," and the affectionate use of "bitch" as a greeting (Hey, bitch! Whatcha up to?)
I love all the tropes here, and all the diversity and representation. Malik has a knee injury that ended his career as a basketball player and set him on the path to coaching. The injury bothers him from time to time, limiting his physical activity, and he has to make accommodations for his injury on-page, such as using hot and cold therapy. I loved seeing this! It made him human, and did not detract from his ability to love or protect Cozy in any capacity. Similarly, Cozy has a disorder that causes all her joints to ache. I don't think the exact disorder is ever stated, but it's mentioned that she has a rheumatologist, experiences "chronic pain from too stretchy tendons", and often sleeps with braces and multiple pillows propping her up.
Readers should be aware of potential triggers, including
Related to the triggers listed above, Cozy has trauma responses from her ex-husband that pop up a few times throughout the book. Sometimes its in really unexpected ways and she gets angry with herself because she believes her trauma is her responsibility. She's gone to therapy but she's still on that healing journey, and its a long one. I think the author handled this difficult and sensitive topic with utmost care and grace.
I love my romance with a side of angst, honestly. It gives the plot some stakes, and makes the payoff feel that much greater when the HEA finally hits. This book is a rare induction into my Best Book Boyfriends shelf, which is an exclusive member of 14- now 15- books.
The Meat Cute is exceptionally well done, and very well balanced. I can't recommend it enough!
No, no this IS ACTUALLY THAT GOOD. (So huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC so I can celebrate this title with everyone else! This was my first by this author but won't be the last!)
The Meat Cute has passion, spice, chemistry, angst, some baggage, and beautiful family bonding moments. The banter is off the charts! And not just between FMC Cozy (Cosette) and MMC Malik, but between Malik and his sister and mama and nephew and the players he coaches, and also between Cozy and her sister. My favorite thing was probably the banter and dialog between all the characters. They actually talk the way real people talk, saying things like "Oh my gosh I can't stand you, come here, I love you," and the affectionate use of "bitch" as a greeting (Hey, bitch! Whatcha up to?)
I love all the tropes here, and all the diversity and representation. Malik has a knee injury that ended his career as a basketball player and set him on the path to coaching. The injury bothers him from time to time, limiting his physical activity, and he has to make accommodations for his injury on-page, such as using hot and cold therapy. I loved seeing this! It made him human, and did not detract from his ability to love or protect Cozy in any capacity. Similarly, Cozy has a disorder that causes all her joints to ache. I don't think the exact disorder is ever stated, but it's mentioned that she has a rheumatologist, experiences "chronic pain from too stretchy tendons", and often sleeps with braces and multiple pillows propping her up.
Readers should be aware of potential triggers, including
Related to the triggers listed above, Cozy has trauma responses from her ex-husband that pop up a few times throughout the book. Sometimes its in really unexpected ways and she gets angry with herself because she believes her trauma is her responsibility. She's gone to therapy but she's still on that healing journey, and its a long one. I think the author handled this difficult and sensitive topic with utmost care and grace.
I love my romance with a side of angst, honestly. It gives the plot some stakes, and makes the payoff feel that much greater when the HEA finally hits. This book is a rare induction into my Best Book Boyfriends shelf, which is an exclusive member of 14- now 15- books.
The Meat Cute is exceptionally well done, and very well balanced. I can't recommend it enough!
November 26, 2025
Thank you to Tobie Carter for this ARC! This was my first book by this author and I’m officially in love. The cover is adorable, and the story inside? Even better.
Before diving in, it’s important to note that this book does come with a few trigger warnings — domestic violence and PTSD being the biggest. But Tobie handled them with care, respect, and honesty.
One of the things I appreciated most is that Malik wasn’t written as the “solver” of Cozy’s pain. Tobie made it clear that healing doesn’t magically happen just because a good man shows up. Cozy had to rebuild herself, relearn her worth, and reclaim her power. Malik simply made sure she felt heard, safe, and seen — and that made their story even more beautiful.
Do you know how hard it is to accept good love after someone you gave everything to beat you down mentally, physically, and emotionally? Cozy knows that pain deeply. And watching her navigate that while learning to open her heart again was emotional and empowering.
Malik’s tenderness? Top-tier. Green flags only. Every moment of love and care he poured into Cozy was so gentle and intentional. And the chronic pain rep? As someone who lives with constant “invisible” pain, I felt seen. That representation meant something.
Cozy found her strength and her HEA with the man who had loved her quietly from the moment he met her. And let me just say… I really wanted somebody to pop Byron in the nose, and Tobie did not disappoint! 😂
This book was emotional, thoughtful, tender, and surprisingly funny. The coochie board lady? I hollered.
Tobie Carter has definitely gained a new fan and I can’t wait to read more from her.
Before diving in, it’s important to note that this book does come with a few trigger warnings — domestic violence and PTSD being the biggest. But Tobie handled them with care, respect, and honesty.
One of the things I appreciated most is that Malik wasn’t written as the “solver” of Cozy’s pain. Tobie made it clear that healing doesn’t magically happen just because a good man shows up. Cozy had to rebuild herself, relearn her worth, and reclaim her power. Malik simply made sure she felt heard, safe, and seen — and that made their story even more beautiful.
Do you know how hard it is to accept good love after someone you gave everything to beat you down mentally, physically, and emotionally? Cozy knows that pain deeply. And watching her navigate that while learning to open her heart again was emotional and empowering.
Malik’s tenderness? Top-tier. Green flags only. Every moment of love and care he poured into Cozy was so gentle and intentional. And the chronic pain rep? As someone who lives with constant “invisible” pain, I felt seen. That representation meant something.
Cozy found her strength and her HEA with the man who had loved her quietly from the moment he met her. And let me just say… I really wanted somebody to pop Byron in the nose, and Tobie did not disappoint! 😂
This book was emotional, thoughtful, tender, and surprisingly funny. The coochie board lady? I hollered.
Tobie Carter has definitely gained a new fan and I can’t wait to read more from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2025
A special thank you to Tobie Carter for an ARC. Meat Cute is a sexy and heartfelt story about two people who get a second chance. Emotional and raw, Carter creates complex, vulnerable characters you really want to root for.
Cozette Cordella is trying to rebuild her life after leaving an abusive marriage. Her dream is to own a food truck that sells charcuterie, but for now she sells her cute charcuterie boards from a cart until she can save enough money for her food truck. When Malik Orion literally crashes into her damaging her cart, he comes up with a proposition. In exchange for being his plus one at donor events, he’ll buy her a food truck. On the verge of realizing her dream Cozy can’t refuse the offer.
Malik Orion has been in love with Cozy since they met as classmates. They lost touch after she married the athletic director of their school, and he sustained a career ending injury and transferred. He’s determined to not let her get away this time, and will do what it takes to make her fall in love with him.
This is a beautiful story that deals with some heavy topics. Cozy suffered from domestic violence when she was married to her ex. I loved that she fought hard to heal herself, and gave herself grace whenever she was triggered. Carter handles this topic with care and sensitivity. Cozy is an empowered woman, and I loved that Malik never saw her as a victim, but as someone who is resilient and strong. His care for her was heartwarming. I loved the two of them together and how he took his cues from her and let her set the pace. They had such a loving relationship, and I really liked that they admitted their feelings rather quickly and didn’t drag out the fake dating trope.
Despite the heavy topics, there are so many moments of levity. The side characters were great and added color to the story. Each was fully realized, and I’m secretly hoping that Quran and Sheree get their own story!!
This was such an enjoyable read with great characters and an engaging storyline. I’m especially pleased that Cozy’s ex gets what he deserves.
Cozette Cordella is trying to rebuild her life after leaving an abusive marriage. Her dream is to own a food truck that sells charcuterie, but for now she sells her cute charcuterie boards from a cart until she can save enough money for her food truck. When Malik Orion literally crashes into her damaging her cart, he comes up with a proposition. In exchange for being his plus one at donor events, he’ll buy her a food truck. On the verge of realizing her dream Cozy can’t refuse the offer.
Malik Orion has been in love with Cozy since they met as classmates. They lost touch after she married the athletic director of their school, and he sustained a career ending injury and transferred. He’s determined to not let her get away this time, and will do what it takes to make her fall in love with him.
This is a beautiful story that deals with some heavy topics. Cozy suffered from domestic violence when she was married to her ex. I loved that she fought hard to heal herself, and gave herself grace whenever she was triggered. Carter handles this topic with care and sensitivity. Cozy is an empowered woman, and I loved that Malik never saw her as a victim, but as someone who is resilient and strong. His care for her was heartwarming. I loved the two of them together and how he took his cues from her and let her set the pace. They had such a loving relationship, and I really liked that they admitted their feelings rather quickly and didn’t drag out the fake dating trope.
Despite the heavy topics, there are so many moments of levity. The side characters were great and added color to the story. Each was fully realized, and I’m secretly hoping that Quran and Sheree get their own story!!
This was such an enjoyable read with great characters and an engaging storyline. I’m especially pleased that Cozy’s ex gets what he deserves.
November 17, 2025
Thank you to Luna Literary Management and the author for a copy of this book.
4.5 rounded to 5
The Meat Cute worked so well for me. I went in for the title and author alone, but the mix of humor, food truck ambition, and basketball chaos kept me hooked from the first scene.
Cozy’s situation is messy in the most grounded way. She is rebuilding her life, hustling her charcuterie cart at the park, and trying to stay focused on her food truck goal. She has agency, she draws her own boundaries, and she knows exactly what she wants from her fresh start.
The basketball subplot adds just enough tension without turning the book into a sports drama. I liked how the campus politics, recruiting pressure, and coaching stress all fed into Malik’s arc, especially when it came to why he needed Cozy’s help in the first place. The romance itself is spicy, steady, and confident. There’s no endless will-they-won’t-they.
This is a smart, funny, food-and-sports romance with great chemistry and a lead couple I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. Fun banter, solid pacing, and a surprising amount of charm made this a win for me. Check the content warnings, there are a few things with the ex husband that may catch people off guard.
4.5 rounded to 5
The Meat Cute worked so well for me. I went in for the title and author alone, but the mix of humor, food truck ambition, and basketball chaos kept me hooked from the first scene.
Cozy’s situation is messy in the most grounded way. She is rebuilding her life, hustling her charcuterie cart at the park, and trying to stay focused on her food truck goal. She has agency, she draws her own boundaries, and she knows exactly what she wants from her fresh start.
The basketball subplot adds just enough tension without turning the book into a sports drama. I liked how the campus politics, recruiting pressure, and coaching stress all fed into Malik’s arc, especially when it came to why he needed Cozy’s help in the first place. The romance itself is spicy, steady, and confident. There’s no endless will-they-won’t-they.
This is a smart, funny, food-and-sports romance with great chemistry and a lead couple I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. Fun banter, solid pacing, and a surprising amount of charm made this a win for me. Check the content warnings, there are a few things with the ex husband that may catch people off guard.
November 29, 2025
Early on I could tell the writing is solid. A few predictable beats, but nothing that took away from the enjoyment. I was already leaning toward a solid 4-star read.
This story follows Cozy, a woman with big dreams of running a food truck but currently hustling with her little food cart, Parkcuterie— After divorcing her abusive husband Byron, she’s rebuilding in San Antonio and trying to breathe again. But Malik, a blast from her past—and very much tied to the downfall of her marriage—walks back into her life and shakes everything up.
As the story deepens we get some fake-dating, lots of innuendos, and a few haunting moments. I enjoyed the banter among the friends and siblings. This was my first read of Tobie’s and I’m curious to whether we’ll get a story on Quan and Sheree. Seeing as this story is apart of a series I will be keeping tabs on her new project.
Overall, the book gives drama, romance, predictable-but-enjoyable beats, and characters you want to root for (and occasionally yell at). A fun, satisfying read with the right amount of spice and chaos.
Side note: Every time I saw “babygirl”, I could practically hear Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds.
read via early access
Thanks to Tobie & Team
This story follows Cozy, a woman with big dreams of running a food truck but currently hustling with her little food cart, Parkcuterie— After divorcing her abusive husband Byron, she’s rebuilding in San Antonio and trying to breathe again. But Malik, a blast from her past—and very much tied to the downfall of her marriage—walks back into her life and shakes everything up.
As the story deepens we get some fake-dating, lots of innuendos, and a few haunting moments. I enjoyed the banter among the friends and siblings. This was my first read of Tobie’s and I’m curious to whether we’ll get a story on Quan and Sheree. Seeing as this story is apart of a series I will be keeping tabs on her new project.
Overall, the book gives drama, romance, predictable-but-enjoyable beats, and characters you want to root for (and occasionally yell at). A fun, satisfying read with the right amount of spice and chaos.
Side note: Every time I saw “babygirl”, I could practically hear Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds.
read via early access
Thanks to Tobie & Team
December 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
The Meat Cute was a powerful, emotional read that handled the effects and aftermath of domestic violence with care and depth. You could truly feel Cozy’s fear, pain, and healing throughout the story, and I was so proud of her growth and strength.
This was my first Tobie Carter book, and it definitely won’t be my last. Cozy and Malik were wonderful together, but the secondary characters — Malik’s family and best friend, Cozy’s sister, and the players on Malik’s team — added so much richness to the story. Thaddeus (Malik’s nephew) was a standout, and “cootchie board lady” had me cracking up.
Malik’s patience and support during Cozy’s healing journey were beautifully done. The romance, banter, chemistry, suspense, and spice were all well balanced, and Byron, the villain, was written so well that I truly loved to hate him. I’m excited to read more about Sheree and Quan next.
Thanks to Tobie Carter & Luna Literary for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
The Meat Cute was a powerful, emotional read that handled the effects and aftermath of domestic violence with care and depth. You could truly feel Cozy’s fear, pain, and healing throughout the story, and I was so proud of her growth and strength.
This was my first Tobie Carter book, and it definitely won’t be my last. Cozy and Malik were wonderful together, but the secondary characters — Malik’s family and best friend, Cozy’s sister, and the players on Malik’s team — added so much richness to the story. Thaddeus (Malik’s nephew) was a standout, and “cootchie board lady” had me cracking up.
Malik’s patience and support during Cozy’s healing journey were beautifully done. The romance, banter, chemistry, suspense, and spice were all well balanced, and Byron, the villain, was written so well that I truly loved to hate him. I’m excited to read more about Sheree and Quan next.
Thanks to Tobie Carter & Luna Literary for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
November 17, 2025
Tobie has once again done it. I've read so many of Tobie's books as arcs and I am so incredibly grateful for that chance.
I do want to start off by saying, please be sure to read the triggers for this book. There are some topics that are a lot heavier than some of her other works.
With that being said. Malik and Cozy, they are such a great pairing. Malik is such a green flag, he's so in tune with Cozy and her needs, her feelings. Cozy, she is just here trying to find herself again after a very toxic marriage. I love their history, they have chemistry and it's so well done.
I'm not a huge fan of sports, however, there was the perfect amount in this book that I didn't feel overwhelmed with sports talk. Malik is a basketball coach, it'd be weird if there wasn't anything sports related.
I do want to start off by saying, please be sure to read the triggers for this book. There are some topics that are a lot heavier than some of her other works.
With that being said. Malik and Cozy, they are such a great pairing. Malik is such a green flag, he's so in tune with Cozy and her needs, her feelings. Cozy, she is just here trying to find herself again after a very toxic marriage. I love their history, they have chemistry and it's so well done.
I'm not a huge fan of sports, however, there was the perfect amount in this book that I didn't feel overwhelmed with sports talk. Malik is a basketball coach, it'd be weird if there wasn't anything sports related.
November 27, 2025
Arc reader review!
3.5⭐️
From friends to enemies to friends to lovers.
We get a whole roller coaster with this one.
from trauma to triumph, we watch both main characters fight back from past trauma and awful people. To reconnect in a crazy way. From day one, cozy was Malik’s everything. And he took this as a sign of his second chance for forever with cozy.
Cozy is rebuilding her life, while constantly feeling like she’s getting set back.
After getting her charcuterie cart ruined, malik steps in with a proposal. Each helping the other to get what they want and need.
I truly enjoyed the plot line, the characters (main and side). The love, understanding and care they show each other.
There are some triggering parts so beware.
Also at times, the language and way things were written, felt off. Like it didn’t mesh properly with the picture we had of the characters.
3.5⭐️
From friends to enemies to friends to lovers.
We get a whole roller coaster with this one.
from trauma to triumph, we watch both main characters fight back from past trauma and awful people. To reconnect in a crazy way. From day one, cozy was Malik’s everything. And he took this as a sign of his second chance for forever with cozy.
Cozy is rebuilding her life, while constantly feeling like she’s getting set back.
After getting her charcuterie cart ruined, malik steps in with a proposal. Each helping the other to get what they want and need.
I truly enjoyed the plot line, the characters (main and side). The love, understanding and care they show each other.
There are some triggering parts so beware.
Also at times, the language and way things were written, felt off. Like it didn’t mesh properly with the picture we had of the characters.
November 16, 2025
Well, Tobie Carter has done it again and won my heart with more of her characters.
Malik is the epitome of a green flag. He’s the sweetest man, will go to the ends of the earth for Cozy, and always makes sure she’s ok after her traumatic past relationship.
Cozy, my girl. My heart breaks for this character, especially because I’ve been in a similar situation to her. She’s strong, kind, and deserves every little bit of her HEA.
Also, the nail salon owner defending her clients is the real MVP. 😂
So many scenes were raw, sweet, and beautiful. “Love looks good on you” like… DAMN, this has me allll up in my feelings. I absolutely will eat up anything this woman writes, and The Meat Cute is no exception. I absolutely loved it.
Malik is the epitome of a green flag. He’s the sweetest man, will go to the ends of the earth for Cozy, and always makes sure she’s ok after her traumatic past relationship.
Cozy, my girl. My heart breaks for this character, especially because I’ve been in a similar situation to her. She’s strong, kind, and deserves every little bit of her HEA.
Also, the nail salon owner defending her clients is the real MVP. 😂
So many scenes were raw, sweet, and beautiful. “Love looks good on you” like… DAMN, this has me allll up in my feelings. I absolutely will eat up anything this woman writes, and The Meat Cute is no exception. I absolutely loved it.
November 23, 2025
Omg BEST. ROM-COM. VIBES. EVER. 😍
Cozy Cordella is out here rebuilding her life one charcuterie board at a time, serving cured meats to chaotic soccer moms and dreaming of her very own food truck ✨ Then BAM—her cart gets wrecked by the last man she ever wanted to see… the insanely handsome, introverted basketball coach Malik 👀
What follows??
🥨 food truck dreams
🏀 booster event shenanigans
💖 slow-burn chemistry
😬 messy ex drama
🧀 so much cheese (both literal AND romantic)
Watching Cozy and Malik go from accidental collision to “maybe we should kiss?” had my heart doing cartwheels 😭 The banter? Adorable. The tension? DELICIOUS. 😂
If you love:
✨ strong, soft-hearted heroines
✨ sports + foodie romance
✨ found love when life falls apart
…this one will totally steal your heart 💕
Cozy Cordella is out here rebuilding her life one charcuterie board at a time, serving cured meats to chaotic soccer moms and dreaming of her very own food truck ✨ Then BAM—her cart gets wrecked by the last man she ever wanted to see… the insanely handsome, introverted basketball coach Malik 👀
What follows??
🥨 food truck dreams
🏀 booster event shenanigans
💖 slow-burn chemistry
😬 messy ex drama
🧀 so much cheese (both literal AND romantic)
Watching Cozy and Malik go from accidental collision to “maybe we should kiss?” had my heart doing cartwheels 😭 The banter? Adorable. The tension? DELICIOUS. 😂
If you love:
✨ strong, soft-hearted heroines
✨ sports + foodie romance
✨ found love when life falls apart
…this one will totally steal your heart 💕
December 2, 2025
**ARC REVIEW** Book: The Meat Cute
Author: Tobie @tobiecarter.writer (NTM)
🧀Cozy has been through hell and back. And things don’t seem to be getting better until she runs into an old college friend Malik.
🫒We love a man who knows what he wants and goes above and beyond to get and protect the woman he never should have let go.
🍇Malik is determined to get his second chance with Cozy even if it means creating a fake dating agreement and promising her a new food cart. I love how he was patient and able to read her without her saying a word. He understood her scars, pain, vulnerabilities and was protective of her. She never had to ask because he already knew what she needed.
Thank you Tobie and Luna Literary for the arc.
Author: Tobie @tobiecarter.writer (NTM)
🧀Cozy has been through hell and back. And things don’t seem to be getting better until she runs into an old college friend Malik.
🫒We love a man who knows what he wants and goes above and beyond to get and protect the woman he never should have let go.
🍇Malik is determined to get his second chance with Cozy even if it means creating a fake dating agreement and promising her a new food cart. I love how he was patient and able to read her without her saying a word. He understood her scars, pain, vulnerabilities and was protective of her. She never had to ask because he already knew what she needed.
Thank you Tobie and Luna Literary for the arc.
December 4, 2025
🚨ARC REVIEW ‼️ Cozy the “cootchie board lady” has so much on her plate (pun intended). She is desperately trying to fulfill her entrepreneurial dream and heal her broken spirit after years with an abusive ex.
Malik has a life he loves but knows that something is missing. But as soon as he reconnects with Cozy (the one that got away) he devises a plan to keep her in his life forever. This man is intentional and all green flags!
The missing ingredient to both of their happiness is seizing this second chance at love.
These former college besties turned lovers tackle a lot of difficult issues on the journey to their HEA.
This book has a cute premise but is a bit chaotic at times and could be shorter.
Thank you to @tobiecarter.writer and @lunaliterary.management for the ARC.
Malik has a life he loves but knows that something is missing. But as soon as he reconnects with Cozy (the one that got away) he devises a plan to keep her in his life forever. This man is intentional and all green flags!
The missing ingredient to both of their happiness is seizing this second chance at love.
These former college besties turned lovers tackle a lot of difficult issues on the journey to their HEA.
This book has a cute premise but is a bit chaotic at times and could be shorter.
Thank you to @tobiecarter.writer and @lunaliterary.management for the ARC.
November 19, 2025
I absolutely giggled, got teary eyed, and had a blast with this book. Malik is a green flag and that man knows how to take care of his woman!! Cozy had a rough marriage with Byron and slowly opens up to Malik and the idea of trying a relationship.
Malik is a basketball coach, needs a date for booster events, and wants to spend more time with Cozy after their run in. This man found out one thing was broken…fixed it, found out she had a problem…fixed it, no questions asked!
Cozy has a charcuterie cart business (cootchie board lady is HILARIOUS). Everyone stops and gets her food and she just needs a little push to get that food truck. She is a fighter, a warrior, and a strong woman!
I wanted more of these two but it was absolutely perfection. I’m happy they got their chance at love. I could read another 300 pages of their love and moments together. Also Byron you are trash!
Malik is a basketball coach, needs a date for booster events, and wants to spend more time with Cozy after their run in. This man found out one thing was broken…fixed it, found out she had a problem…fixed it, no questions asked!
Cozy has a charcuterie cart business (cootchie board lady is HILARIOUS). Everyone stops and gets her food and she just needs a little push to get that food truck. She is a fighter, a warrior, and a strong woman!
I wanted more of these two but it was absolutely perfection. I’m happy they got their chance at love. I could read another 300 pages of their love and moments together. Also Byron you are trash!
November 20, 2025
*I received this eARC for free in exchange for my honest review. *
This was so cute! This is the first book I've read in the wordplay series and I'm excited to go back and read the others. The plot was perfectly paced and didn't feel like it was rushing or dragging through any major plot points. The characters were realistic with depth so they didn't feel like stereotypical tropey romance main characters. The relationship between Cosette and Malik moved pretty quickly but it felt believable rather than insta-love. I really enjoyed this book and am thankful to have been able to read it early!!
This was so cute! This is the first book I've read in the wordplay series and I'm excited to go back and read the others. The plot was perfectly paced and didn't feel like it was rushing or dragging through any major plot points. The characters were realistic with depth so they didn't feel like stereotypical tropey romance main characters. The relationship between Cosette and Malik moved pretty quickly but it felt believable rather than insta-love. I really enjoyed this book and am thankful to have been able to read it early!!
December 15, 2025
This read put the cute in charcuterie 🥰
I was hooked from the moment our FMC was called Cootchie board lady. 🤣 such a good read. The character development is beautiful and the love that you can feel from some of these characters just makes your heart melt and gives you butterflies in your stomach.
Also loved how informative it was with basketball in the NCAA. Definitely a plus for those who may not know much about it. Helps paint the whole picture.
The chemistry between Cosy & Malik literally raises the temps to hot hot hot.
Read if you enjoy:
🧀 fake dating
🍇 found family
🫒 ex husband’s enemy
🏀 college friends
🧀 hurt/comfort
🍇 chronic pain rep
I was hooked from the moment our FMC was called Cootchie board lady. 🤣 such a good read. The character development is beautiful and the love that you can feel from some of these characters just makes your heart melt and gives you butterflies in your stomach.
Also loved how informative it was with basketball in the NCAA. Definitely a plus for those who may not know much about it. Helps paint the whole picture.
The chemistry between Cosy & Malik literally raises the temps to hot hot hot.
Read if you enjoy:
🧀 fake dating
🍇 found family
🫒 ex husband’s enemy
🏀 college friends
🧀 hurt/comfort
🍇 chronic pain rep
November 21, 2025
The title doesn’t lie …. this book was cute!
We love a man down bad and Malik was def down bad. The way he took care of Cozy and showed her she was deserving of love was super sweet. Cozy is obvi amazing in her own right, strong and independent and a fighter.
Their banter was fun, the spice was just right, and the side characters really rounded out the book. The plot kept me interested with Byron’s shenanigans but didn’t overpower the story.
Hoping Q & S from this book get the next book!
We love a man down bad and Malik was def down bad. The way he took care of Cozy and showed her she was deserving of love was super sweet. Cozy is obvi amazing in her own right, strong and independent and a fighter.
Their banter was fun, the spice was just right, and the side characters really rounded out the book. The plot kept me interested with Byron’s shenanigans but didn’t overpower the story.
Hoping Q & S from this book get the next book!
November 7, 2025
Tobie Carter always surprises me with characters who have unique backgrounds stories. She also is talented enough to make me laugh, cry, and cheer for someone else's demise all in one novel. The Meat Cute is so fun, but also carries heavier topics like DV (check triggers), and of course the spicy scenes are going to turn up your internal body temperature... Let's just say basketball rims have a whole new meaning.
November 16, 2025
ARC REVIEW!!!!
I loved this cute romance so much. Such a great balance of romance and spicy times. The fact that Malik was so in tuned with Cozy’s emotions and triggers made him a definite book bae in my eyes. I liked how it walked about the world of college sports and all that goes on behind closed doors. It was an all around good book. And since this is a New To Me author I can’t wait to explore her catalog.
I loved this cute romance so much. Such a great balance of romance and spicy times. The fact that Malik was so in tuned with Cozy’s emotions and triggers made him a definite book bae in my eyes. I liked how it walked about the world of college sports and all that goes on behind closed doors. It was an all around good book. And since this is a New To Me author I can’t wait to explore her catalog.
November 21, 2025
I'd like to thank the author and Luna Literary Management for including me in the ARC team. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
This was sooooo cute!!! I loved how Tobie told the story, how Cozy's PTSD wasn't 'magically cured' just because she found a new man, I absolutely adored Malik and his family connections. This was such a grown up book, so well written, in my opinion.
This was sooooo cute!!! I loved how Tobie told the story, how Cozy's PTSD wasn't 'magically cured' just because she found a new man, I absolutely adored Malik and his family connections. This was such a grown up book, so well written, in my opinion.
November 16, 2025
Oh, this was such a good story! It was so much more than the cute story I was expecting. It was emotional and heavy at times with some possible triggers. I loved Malik and how much he loved and “saw” Cozy. Cozy was such a strong woman after she got herself away from her ex. Way to go, girl!!! Their chemistry was scorching hot and a long time coming. Loved it!!!
November 20, 2025
This book has it all! Tobie Carter's classic mix of spicy and sweet, hypermobility/chronic pain rep, a hot AF basketball coach and a fiercely independent woman chasing her dreams after moving on from an abusive marriage. Every book from this author becomes an instant favorite and The Meat Cute is no exception. Enthusiastic five stars, highly recommend!
November 21, 2025
thank you to Tobie & the publishers for the opportunity to read this eARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
tobie did an amazing job with this book. i loved Cozy and Malik’s dynamic, top tier relationship despite the circumstances that surrounded them.
this was my first sports romance read and the mix of found family was chef’s kiss 😚🤌🏼 i love Tobie’s writing, i know i can never go wrong with one of her books🫶🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
tobie did an amazing job with this book. i loved Cozy and Malik’s dynamic, top tier relationship despite the circumstances that surrounded them.
this was my first sports romance read and the mix of found family was chef’s kiss 😚🤌🏼 i love Tobie’s writing, i know i can never go wrong with one of her books🫶🏼
November 21, 2025
Charcuterie bringing two people back together and healing them, who would’ve thought?!
This was a well written read. The characters were great, complex and worked so well together. The plot was great and kept me hooked, the pace was mediumish and everything flowed perfectly!
I’d very much recommend this!
This was a well written read. The characters were great, complex and worked so well together. The plot was great and kept me hooked, the pace was mediumish and everything flowed perfectly!
I’d very much recommend this!
November 29, 2025
***ARC Review*** This book was so cute and had me hooked from the beginning. It was funny and I loved the banter between the main characters. I love to read about women that are getting loved properly and a man that would go to the ends of the earth for his woman. I give this book 5 stars and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
November 22, 2025
Great read
I really enjoyed Malik and Cozy’s second chance story. There was so much to unpack regarding her abuse but I’m glad she escaped that and found love with Malik. It was also nice to see her ex get what he deserved as well. Great read!
I really enjoyed Malik and Cozy’s second chance story. There was so much to unpack regarding her abuse but I’m glad she escaped that and found love with Malik. It was also nice to see her ex get what he deserved as well. Great read!
November 22, 2025
Wow, just wow!
The Meat-Cute by Tobie Carter is a cute, sexy rom-com with so much depth. It’s not just a sweet it has a lot of depth to it! There were some pretty serious topics discussed.
I think the Meat - Cute was beautifully done, and has a lot to offer! A must read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Meat-Cute by Tobie Carter is a cute, sexy rom-com with so much depth. It’s not just a sweet it has a lot of depth to it! There were some pretty serious topics discussed.
I think the Meat - Cute was beautifully done, and has a lot to offer! A must read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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