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Sunset Springs #2

The Flavor of You

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There was something electric between Sam Atwood and Tucker Bates from the very beginning-something neither of them could quite forget.
The only problem? She lived hundreds of miles away.
Until now.
When a local trivia night gives them a reason to reconnect, the pair decide to finally clear the air that's lingered between them since that first unforgettable week and it doesn't take long before old sparks reignite.
To keep things uncomplicated, they strike a deal: a friends-with-benefits arrangement with three rules.
No relationships. No explanations if one of them wants out.
And absolutely No falling in love.
But, Sunset Springs has a way of pulling people closer, and after months of late nights, shared secrets, and a connection neither can ignore, the town's Winter Wonderland Weekend forces the truth into the open.
Now, Sam has to decide if she's willing to risk vulnerability for the one man who makes her want to tear her walls down, and Tucker must find the courage to let someone see who he truly is, flaws and all.
The Flavor of You is a small town romance featuring a baker, a blue-collar worker, and their story of growth and strength, where they learn that being vulnerable may not be a piece of cake. This interconnected standalone is part of the Sunset Springs series.

316 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2026

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Jules Cohen

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for lauren‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ (ia).
310 reviews771 followers
February 12, 2026
5💫

this was so beautiful.

these characters and this small town has such a special place in my heart. the relationship between these two was so sweet to watch unfold and i loved seeing how every day sam became a little less guarded around tucker. their banter with one another was so good and i was giggling and smiling the entire page.

sam was constantly struggled with demons from her past, but tucker was so patient with her throughout the whole book and was always there for her if she needed it, even if that meant taking a step back to let her heal on her own. this was such a beautiful story, and i cried so many happy tears when i finished it.

the found family in this book is also so sweet and perfect. every single character in this book, i love so much. i want to live here and be besties with everyone so bad

please go support this indie author!!!!! her books are so beautifully written and her characters are so easy to fall in love with!!!!!

out march 1st! thank you so much jules cohen for the arc xoxo

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

EVERYONE STAY CALM!!!! I HAVE THE E-ARC!!!! EVERYONE I AM FREAKING OUT BUT PLEASE STAY CALM!!!!!!

thank you jules🥹🤍
Profile Image for har. (BACK!!).
134 reviews312 followers
Want to Read
February 28, 2026
soft dnf, i will come back to this soon!

┆🍰 ⤿ ⌗ started: february 26

pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

saw this on instagram and i had to request for the arc. the description, tropes and small town romance got me!! and ofc got inspired by my bestie lauren to pick this up as well (another 5 star!!) 😽😽 praying to finish this before sunday!!

expected tropes: 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
.ᐟ enemies-to-lovers
.ᐟ secret relationship (FWB)
.ᐟ feisty girl x lover boy
.ᐟ he falls first
.ᐟ mmc mental health rep
.ᐟ she’s closed off to everyone but him

ⓘ thank you to jules cohen for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. OUT ON MARCH 1
Profile Image for ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆.
366 reviews838 followers
March 2, 2026
જ⁀➴ 3 stars

Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Flavor of You is out now!

"With Tucker, it's easy. It feels like...like floating instead of swimming against the current. It feels like a cold shower after a hot summer's day, refreshing and leaves you feeling lighter than ever."

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After hearing a lot of my Bookstagram friends loving The Art of Us, the author's debut novel, I was curious to see how I would like The Flavor of You. While I did love certain aspects of the story, there was also lot of it that fell flat to me.

Sam Atwood is looking for a fresh start. Leaving her life in NYC behind, she moves to Sunset Springs, Montana, where her best friend, Quinn, is. She went there previously to visit over the summer and fell for Tucker Bates. What they had was brief and fleeting, and once she tried reaching out to him after she left, she ends up heartbroken when he never responded back to her. When they cross paths again when she moves to Sunset Springs—and becomes Tucker's next-door neighbor—they strike a deal: a friends-with-benefits, no strings attached relationship. Both have their own demons to fight, but will they let each other in and give in to what they really want?

There's something about a small town romance that gives all of the cozy vibes. I don't know if it's just the sense of community or what, but I haven't read a small-town romance in quite some time and the vibes were all here! From the local, cozy cafes, to the locals themselves, the tight-knit community, I can see why Sam would want to move here after spending her life in NYC.

I also loved the topic of men's mental health in this story with Tucker's character arc. I love how mental health is discussed more openly in books now and how it makes people feel like they aren't alone in their struggles, but I think it's just as important for us as a society to discuss the idea of men's mental health. We spend so much time growing up (at least when I was growing up) thinking that men had to be these tough, unfeeling human beings all the time, and they weren't allowed to show any kind of weakness or emotion, and it was refreshing to see Tucker discuss his mental health openly and how the things people say about him actually hurt him deep down. I think the topics of depression and anxiety were handled well and with care, and we get to see how it affected Tucker in his day-to-day life and interactions with his friends and family.

The one thing I couldn't get past was how insta-lovey Sam and Tucker's relationship was. We get some flashback scenes of their first encounter together for the first few chapters, and there was literally no buildup or tension to their relationship at all. Even after their reunion in the present-day timeline, I felt like they almost fell right back into place and acted as if nothing happened after a couple of days. It felt kind of jarring to me, considering Sam had all of this harbored resentment and hurt towards Tucker, and Tucker spent all these months afterward wondering what he could've done differently. I wish there were slightly more angst and tension to help the relationship build up again.

This point is entirely a me problem, but I felt like there wasn't anything major that stood out to me in the story to make it a memorable read in terms of Tucker and Sam's relationship. Sure, there were some really cute moments in the story (he stocks her favorite snacks, he takes care of her after getting lost in a maze in the cold), don't get me wrong. I also liked how each of them became each other's safe space to be themselves when the world is heavy, with Tucker and his mental health and Sam and her childhood trauma. I've read a lot of romance stories in the last year, and theoretically, you could say this about any book in any genre, especially if you keep reading books within the same genre for a while or with the same tropes, but something was missing from their story that I can't necessarily put my finger on that would've made this story stand out more.

I think this goes hand-in-hand with how fast I thought their relationship initially started, so there wasn't necessarily any buildup to them getting together and admitting to their feelings so we get less of those cute moments where they're trying to get to know each other on-page. There's multiple times where we see Sam and Tucker mention in their own POV about how they slowly started to become entwined in each other's lives and how they inadvertently broke their own rules of their arrangement and got to know each other, but there wasn't always showing with that telling.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I'm curious to see what else is in store for the Sunset Springs series! I think the author has a bright future ahead, and I can't wait to see what else she has to offer.
. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐. ݁˖ . ݁݁🥖. ݁₊ ⊹ 🥐
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content (I'd say like, a 1.25 or 1.5/5 on my personal scale, take that as you will), recounted parental abuse, recounted death of a family member, alcohol consumption, misogynistic and sexist comments made by side characters
Profile Image for Fsdigitaldiary.
511 reviews66 followers
February 2, 2026
this was very cute!! but unfortunately, it didn’t stand out to me . maybe had i not read a lot of romance (ala lyla sage, elsie silver etc) i would have found this more enjoyable 🤍a lot of scenes and moments in this book felt generic and done before and i tend to like somewhat more original scenes in my romance books. i also felt like the dynamic in their relationship was not my favorite, i tend to like when they are more balanced rather than the guy constantly reaching out and going to her and comforting her and always admitting his feeling to no reciprocation etc etc , i think maybe had that not been the case , angst and tension could have been built .i think the author was so talented and i will definitely be interested into reading more of her books!!
thank you so much for the arc !!🤍


this might be arc exclusive and probably not in the released version but worth mentioning : spelling mistakes , editing mistakes , and use of “fucktard” which is literally the fuck mixed with the r word😬.
Profile Image for Adele Crisp.
28 reviews44 followers
February 19, 2026
Arc Review
4⭐️

Sam is visiting her best friend in a small town,Sunset Springs. Shes a Baker living in New York when she falls in love with the small town and maybe someone in it 🤭 Tucker Bates is the youngest brother of 4 and a complete golden retriever, need to protect him at all costs.

In seconds of meeting Sam the banter is flowing, the instant chemistry is palpable. I absolutely love Sams bright, playful personality so naturally together sparks fly.

The found family aspect always hits, and Sam being a baker is so wholesome and cosy. They both battle with emotional scars so it adds that emotional depth to the storyline.

Heres hoping we get book 3 because im so invested at this point i need to know what happens next.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
He falls first
Dual Pov
Open door spice
Mmc mental health rep

Thankyou @authorjulescohen for sending me this arc in exhange for my honest review
-adelereadsromance


Profile Image for bookedwithalliee.
2 reviews
March 1, 2026
I’d like to pack my bags and move to Sunset Springs please and thank you!
The story of Sam and Tucker is full of beautiful chemistry, real life emotions they each have to work through, & found family, all wrapped up in a cozy small town setting.

I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters through the lens of their vastly different childhoods. Sam’s was full of turmoil, while Tucker’s was stable and loving, albeit tragic, in the death of a parent at a young age.
What was so beautiful for me was to see the way they both grew up into adulthood and how they initially viewed relationships. The trope “promise me you won’t fall in love with me” comes in heavily here, and I loved that! Sam is closed off to everyone but Tucker, and throughout the course of this story she finds a new family to be apart of.
This book had tension and chemistry that felt very real. I didn’t feel like it was true “enemies to lovers” but more of a miscommunication between our fmc and mmc. I’m glad that that didn’t last too long between the two and happy they found their way to each other again.

Overall this was a gorgeous small town romance and I highly recommend it as an easy to get into read!

Thank you SO much to @authorjulescohen for the arc! I so appreciate all your hard work on this lovely book!
Profile Image for Ashley (ashreadsitall).
276 reviews9 followers
January 25, 2026
The Flavor of You | Small-Town Romance | 316 Pages | Beta Ebook

I’m just small town girl living in a small town world - of Jules Cohen. Let me just preface this by saying I’m not a huge romance reader, but there is something so electric about her writing when it comes to relationships.

The Flavor of Us is the 2nd installment from the Sunset Springs series and a continuation of the start of Sam and Tucker’s romance. I LOVED The Art of Us, her debut and was so honored to beta read this!

Sam and Tucker are sweet, funny and spicy! Just like Parker and Quinn from the previous story, they’re likable characters. There’s a bit of the miscommunication trope which I tend to not enjoy, but overall a fun read!
Profile Image for Claudia G.
334 reviews38 followers
Read
February 14, 2026
I love a cute small town romance! This was such a sweet love story. I loved the pieces we got of Sam in the first book (The Art of Us) so I enjoyed getting to see her journey and love story.

I think Sam and Tucker complimented each other well. Their chemistry is undeniable. It was sweet seeing them be vulnerable with each other.

One of my favorite things about this series is the found family.

Thank you Julie Cohen for the arc!
Profile Image for Tiffany.
236 reviews8 followers
March 1, 2026
rounding up!!
3.75🌟

thank you so much Jules Cohen for this ARC!! i loved the first book so much and getting the chance to read the second book was so fun! i will say Tucker and Sam had such chemistry but my downfall was just Sam not really communicating and just pushing Tucker away for most of the book. i understand she had a terrible childhood but i just wish she let him in earlier in the book!! Tucker was an amazing male character and his devotion to family and sam was perfect!!! I am happy Sam was able to finally find some peace. Definitely some smutty scenes haha!!!

i truly will read anything Jules Cohen writes❤️❤️
Profile Image for Meg.
188 reviews5 followers
February 24, 2026
“𝙏𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙.”

The Flavor of You by Jules Cohen
3.5☆

Not going to lie, it felt good to be back in Sunset Springs and the Bates family never fails to impress.

Sam Atwood is a NYC baker who visits her best friend in Montana and finds more than she’s looking for. Tucker is the youngest of four brothers, the life of the party & sunshine incarnate. Their first encounter is full of witty banter and instant chemistry that feels natural and unforced. Just two people on the same wave length and rolling with it.

“𝙊𝙝, 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Much to my reading dismay and then quickly getting over myself, a misunderstanding cools things off, and we’re unpacking way more than heated glances and witty repartee. The emotional turmoil and deeply rooted trauma under the guise of deflection and distraction is real and raw—written in a heartbreakingly human way.

Sam and Tucker’s relationship feels real. Sweet with heat underneath. Opposites in some ways, but deeply connected where it matters. Though I’m not a fan of miscommunication, the emotional payoff at the end is worth it.

“𝙁*𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙎𝙖𝙢. 𝙁*𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”

You can read this as a standalone, but trust me, the Sunset Springs universe will pull you in. The Bates family and the small town vibes wrap around you, and you’ll just want to stay.

And I am already seated for book three—Brooks and Wren—firefighter, age gap, childhood friends. Please and thank you.

*Thank you to Jules Cohen for the arc opportunity.
Profile Image for Jackie OneMoreChapterJp.
277 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2026
3.5 ⭐️

Thank you once again to the author for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

We are back baby at Sunset Springs! This time we are follow Sam and Tucker’s story and I was very excited to receive this ARC. Sam has moved from NYC to work in a bakery and live in the same town as her best friend Quinn. Sam has a little encounter with Tucker before she definitively moves to Sunset Springs that sets sparks between them. However, a misunderstanding leads to tension between the two. So when Sam shows up again, she is cold to Tucker. After the tension is cleared between the two the chemistry starts back up again. But, someone might have their heart broken in the end.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the book. I love the town vibes and the found family. I love a series centering on siblings and each getting their own book. I think Tucker and Sam were cute together, but I do wish there had been more deep moments between the two. There were some at the end but I really would have loved some more sprinkled throughout the book. I did really like Sam as a character. She’s been through so much and it was nice to see her get the life she deserved. Tucker was a sweetie too, I love when MMC will do whatever they can to make their lady happy. Overall I would recommend this book!

You know what I am hype for though? Book freaking 3!!! Please please please be about Brooks and Wren 😭😭😭💜 I’m begging, it’s going to be so good.
Profile Image for Danielle.
175 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2026
What happens when you walk into your mom’s kitchen and the woman you didn’t know existed 30 seconds ago is now the woman of your dreams?

And what happens when the man you didn’t know existed 30 seconds ago becomes the one who threatens the walls you’ve so carefully built over years of trauma?

You get the story of Tucker and Sam, two people who meet by chance that become fast friends with an undeniable magnetic attraction to each other. Unfortunately for the facades they’ve both been so careful to manufacture for themselves, the same pull that brings them together physically transforms their friendship into something more. As their feelings for each other evolve, they are left to determine whether or not time and love can heal their wounds.

With small town vibes, tight knit family and friends, and a real examination into the journeys that come along with tackling our past traumas and working on our mental health, Jules Cohen delivers an absolutely beautiful book. When I tell you that I was holding back ugly cries because I was not home alone as I finished this book, I am not exaggerating in the least. Cohen reminds the reader that we are all human, carrying our own baggage, and that we are able to best heal when we walk together.

If you love contemporary, small town romances and a blossoming relationship vibe - you must grab yourself a copy of “The Flavor of You”. I cannot say enough good things about this book.
Profile Image for Yaz.
82 reviews6 followers
March 2, 2026
my entire heart broke for Sam through out the book. she’s this natural protector when it comes to her loved ones and knowing that she was a reflection of what she craved and why was written so beautifully! im not going to lie, i wanted to grab her by the shoulders and yell at her to let herself be loved but im glad Jules wrote her the way she did, because it allowed for the progress and true growth to be reflected from her past until now and i felt so proud of her 💌
Tucker.. i love when authors write in Men’s Mental Health into books and when they do it well. Jules knocked it out of the park with Tucker!! hes the true picture of a “Manly Man” a blue collar worker perceived as nothing but a good time/player by everyone, and getting to see his struggles with that, and making the effort to get help and work through his trauma was so heartwarming to watch!

both of them together was of course my favorite. the banter was on another level with them and i love relationships where you can just go back and forth and they do exactly that 😭 their connection was fast, but you can definitely feel the chemistry from the moment they meet. they both see eachother for who they really are - all of their trauma, dreams, hopes for the future. the conversations they have, and the unlearning of old habits was perfect and solidified their relationship for me. and their physical chemistry??? 🥵🥵 i didn’t know if i wanted to be Sam OR Tucker honestly 😂😂 youll def be clutching your pearls and blushing like a maniac with this one.
Profile Image for Ali Lam.
210 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2026
We’re back in Sunset Springs, Montana, and I was so ready for this one. In book one we met Quinn & Parker, but now it’s Sam and Tucker’s turn. We first saw them through Quinn’s story — Sam, the NYC bestie, who we learned had a secret rendezvous with Parker’s brother, Tucker… and never really got closure.

Fast forward and Sam finally packs up her life and moves to Sunset Springs, which means it’s time to face all those feelings, awkward moments, and sparks that never really went away. They decide to keep things “simple” with a friends-with-benefits setup (famous last words): no strings, no explanations, and absolutely no falling in love.

But this is Sunset Springs… between trivia nights, bakery days, late-night talks, and all that small-town charm, those walls come down fast. I loved watching them work through miscommunication, vulnerability, and that pull they can’t ignore. It’s sweet, a little emotional, spicy, and totally bingeable.

And yes — I devoured this. I knew I would.

Tropes & vibes:
🥐 Baker FMC
🔧 Blue-collar MMC
🤍 Friends with benefits
🏔 Small town romance
🔥 Slow burn
❄️ Cozy winter feels

If you loved book one or you’re a sucker for small-town romance, you’ll want this on your TBR. ♥️
Profile Image for bookishreadswithv.
29 reviews
April 18, 2026
3⭐️

i love small town romances!! sunset springs is just always so welcoming and kind to its residents, i adore the found family trope and this novel is all of those characteristics combined.

i will say that out of both the books that i have read in the series, the art of us will definitely rank higher for me because of the nostalgia of it being the first book, i also don't like the friends with benefits trope but i felt like i could move past it very quickly since the dynamic changed within a few chapters (aka tucker realized he was catching feelings)

sam and tucker were quite a whirlwind and it felt honest and vulnerable like actual relationships usually are, the chemistry felt palpable, and there was a whole lot of miscommunication which i didn't love but i also think it's part of growing in a relationship with another especially with all the trauma sam faced and tucker's battle with mental health!

the continuation of this series is here to stay on my tbr and i am definitely hoping wren and brooks book is next because i have been waiting for it since the beginning!! so so excited! i genuinely had a good time with tucker and sam's story and the second half of the novel was my favorite!
Profile Image for Jenn Ann H..
189 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 17, 2026
The Flavor of You is a small-town romance with sweet love story (pun intended since our fmc is a baker). Sam, our fmc, has just moved to Sunset Springs and now has to unpack not only her boxes, but also some awkward moments and sparks that never left. I enjoyed following along as Sam slowly lets her walls down and embraces the found family around her. But there were times I really wanted to give her a good smack and ask if she was alright! Tucker is nothing if not patient. He knows when to give space, he’s devoted to those he loves, and he truly puts in the work. I thought these two characters complimented each other well and had realistic chemistry. I enjoyed all the characters being there for one another and really giving that small town feeling.

The Flavor of You is the second book in the Sunset Springs series, however I was never lost and the book read seamlessly as a standalone. (But based on this one, I think the first book is probably worth the read too!) Thank you to author Jules Cohen for the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lesley Nuezca.
202 reviews2 followers
March 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author, Jules Cohen for the ARC!

A cute small town romance, baker x blue collar worker, summer fling, second chance with mental health rep MMC.

There was definitely insta-love at the beginning which was a bit of a shock for me. Tucker is seen as a play boy to all but lowkey a lover boy and Sam is a feisty one who is super closed off from love due to her past. At one point, they were enemies to lovers? With a short summer fling and after some silly miscommunication, they were quick to agree to a friends-with-benefits situation.

I enjoyed their moments together a lot especially after finding out they were neighbors. You can totally tell he falls first but Sam also made it hard not to! Tucker taking care of her and buying her fav foods was adorable. I only wish the small moments of their deep conversations, getting to know each other etc. were included. I feel like readers missed out on them becoming “best friends”. I didn��t feel their connection as strong because of this. But I am very curious to read about Wren, Grant and Brooks though!
Profile Image for Corina.
141 reviews
March 2, 2026
This is the second book in the series where we were introduced to Sam, and now she has her own story in The flavor Of You. Another small town romance with tropes such as friends to lovers, slowburn and witty banter to keep the reader smiling.
Sam/FMC- Successful baker, yet carries emotional baggage
Tucker/MMC- happy go lucky and labrador personality
Sam and tucker became reacquainted again after her move to the small town of Sunset Springs. Sparks fly and ignite slow burning chemistry between them and they act on their feelings. as a reader, I felt a lot of the relationship was one sided by Tucker. He allowed himself to be honest and bare his true feelings towards Sam. On the other hand, Sam kept her walls up and in place for longer and slower to believe in Tucker and their new dynamic. All the while working on communication.
Cozy and cute romance that helps continue the series and leads the reader to the third book.
Profile Image for Katie.
50 reviews3 followers
March 26, 2026
This book caught me off guard😂 I was expecting another sweet small town romance and what I got was a steamy, angsty, banter filled good time!(but also the small town romance😅) Do not let these covers fool you with their innocent look, NSFW🙌🏻

When I read in The Art of Us that Tucker and Sam went outside together for an undisclosed amount of time and then never found out what happened??…..well I FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED!!! I loved the way these books timelines overlapped, I’m a nosey B and want to hear all POV’s😂

My girl did me dirty with that 3rd act breakup😭😭 And the way my heart was pounding out of my chest with about 60 pages left in the book!!! I loved this book so much I can’t even bring myself to acknowledge the 3rd act breakup and it’s still getting a full 5 ⭐️

And I thought Brooks story would be next…but after Sam at the airport?? I’m wondering if we will finally get to meet Colton Bates, the mystery brother😍💕
Profile Image for Jess Reid.
76 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 15, 2026
3.5 - while I loved the book towards the end -- this fell short for me:/ first I want to say thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC, I'm actually super excited to read more of your work!
The reason this one fell short for me was because of how quickly the two main characters fell for eachother. While yes, there was so much more that happened after & in between, I just couldn't get past the insta love.

Read
THE FLAVOR OF YOU:

- enemies-to-lovers

- secret relationship (FWB)

- “promise me you won’t fall in love with me”

- feisty girl x lover boy

- he falls first

- mmc mental health rep

- she’s closed off to everyone but him

- forced proximity

Friends-with-benefits was the plan. Falling in love was not.
Profile Image for Lawlah.
307 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 16, 2026
This book is nice! It has found family, a reformed playboy, small-town vibes, and so much more.

It follows Sam and Tucker’s love story, and I really appreciated how Tucker’s mental health issues were well-researched and represented—it was written so well.

Sam’s fears and insecurities about relationships were beautifully done, but I have to admit—Sam made me so angry at times! I literally wanted to jump into the book and knock some sense into her!

The found family aspect was also written so well, and it added so much warmth to the story.

This is a 4-star read, and I definitely recommend it.

Big thanks to the author for this ARC!
Profile Image for Abby.
29 reviews2 followers
March 1, 2026
I was so excited to get this ARC a few weeks back!! It was a very sweet small town romance with the perfect found family friend group and lots of wonderful supporting characters.

I had the biggest soft spot for Tucker but felt like I couldn’t relate as much to Sam and was often frustrated with her actions.

This was a sweet and easy read with lots of great moments!

- enemies-to-lovers

- secret relationship (FWB)

- “promise me you won’t fall in love with me”

- feisty girl x lover boy

- he falls first

- mmc mental health rep

- she’s closed off to everyone but him

- forced proximity

Tagline: Friends-with-benefits was the plan. Falling in love was not.
Profile Image for Ashley Morton.
182 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sam Atwood is a NYC baker who visits her best friend in Montana and finds more than she's looking for. Tucker is the youngest of four brothers, the life of the party. Their first encounter is full of witty banter and instant chemistry that feels natural and unforced.

The found family aspect is always so sweet, and Sam being a baker is so wholesome and cosy. They both battle with emotional scars so it adds emotional depth to the storyline.

I need to go and read the art of you and prepare for hopefully book 3 about a firefighter 👀

Thank you Jules Cohen for sending me an eARC 🤍
Profile Image for alexia.
65 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2026
I wasn’t a fan of this book, unfortunately. I am not really one for the FWB trope, which this book includes, but I should have checked prior to accepting the ARC.
Other things I dislike about the book was how co-dependent Tucker was, always pretending to be happy and amiable he was with his family and how avoidant Sam was with relationships. I understand that both things have manifested based on their parents, which adds depth. However, I personally find neither enjoyable to read about.
Profile Image for Emily Arriola.
344 reviews6 followers
March 1, 2026
I really enjoyed The Flavor of You! I thought that the characters were so relatable and I loved the entire crew!

Mental health was such a strong topic in The Flavor of You and I think the representation was done so well! I really related to some of what the characters were going through.

❤️feisty girl x lover boy
❤️enemies to lovers
❤️forced proximity
❤️small town

Thank you to Jules Cohen for this ARC!
Profile Image for Brittany.
176 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2026
3.5 Arc Review - The Flavor of You


This was a really cute, small town romance. I liked seeing the dynamics between the brothers and respective significant others/friends and I really enjoyed the small town vibes from this story. I will also gravitate towards small town romance, but somewhere along the way this one just lost me. I wasn't entirely invested in Sam and Tucker's relationship and just felt like I needed a little bit more from this one.

Overall a very cute small town romance and I would definitely read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Kelli Cooke.
Author 3 books81 followers
March 2, 2026
JULES!! Are you kidding… the push and pull between these two is next level. I’m a sucker for a small town, yearning, and learning it’s okay to be vulnerable—you hit all three! There’s just something about this found family that’s so sweet… and maybe a little spicy 😏! If you’re looking for your next favorite small town romance… this is it!!
2 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2026
Second book for the author and it was 10/10! The character development of Sam and Tucker is perfectly timed and gives them the justice the characters deserve. The book addressed real life issues that others may shy away from, and demonstrates characters that are truly relatable.

I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!
2 reviews
March 9, 2026
Another amazing romance novel by Jules!! The Flavor of You was such a fun, addictive read that was impossible to put down. I loved getting to dive deeper into Sam and Tucker’s story, and watching their enemies-to-lovers relationship develop throughout the book. Their chemistry and the small-town setting made it such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next in the series!
Profile Image for Ashlyn Pearce.
1 review8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 1, 2026
What an incredible book. I LOVED Sam and Tucker. The chemistry, the yearning, I’m seriously obsessed 😍😍😍 Jules did such an amazing job on this book I could not recommend it enough!!
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