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How to Ruin a Recipe: A Brother's Best Friend Romantic Comedy
Evie has perfected the recipe for life—and working for her brother’s hot best friend is not on the ingredient list.
Evie Clements, a culinary arts student with a perfectionist streak, has always had big dreams and a small bank account. But the lack of college funds and family money means opening her dream bakery is always just out of reach. Work is everything Evie knows—until she’s evicted from her apartment and forced to live with her older brother for the summer.
Theo Roche is the CEO of an ethical paper company, with no time for life or love. He’s hell-bent on doing his part to save the planet. When his longtime assistant quits, with no notice, he’s left doing twice the work and scrambling around to get his life in order…
Until he meets Evie, his best friend’s younger sister. She needs a summer job, and her work ethic and attention to detail make her the perfect candidate.
Wanting each other is the one thing that can ruin the recipe.
Evie Clements, a culinary arts student with a perfectionist streak, has always had big dreams and a small bank account. But the lack of college funds and family money means opening her dream bakery is always just out of reach. Work is everything Evie knows—until she’s evicted from her apartment and forced to live with her older brother for the summer.
Theo Roche is the CEO of an ethical paper company, with no time for life or love. He’s hell-bent on doing his part to save the planet. When his longtime assistant quits, with no notice, he’s left doing twice the work and scrambling around to get his life in order…
Until he meets Evie, his best friend’s younger sister. She needs a summer job, and her work ethic and attention to detail make her the perfect candidate.
Wanting each other is the one thing that can ruin the recipe.
- GenresRomance
264 pages, Paperback
Published December 29, 2025
5 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2025
ARC Reader - thank you Elle for this! All opinions are my own.
I loved this and completely devoured it. I am a grumpyxsunshine girl there is no hiding this but I am so partial to an older brothers best friend. But make him down bad and self punishing for wanting her, ugh I’m living for it. As a romance girlie I was like, how does Evie not see that Theo holding himself back has nothing to do with her, but it makes sense for the character and story. I love the representation that this book has because it’s just subtle and normal, I live for this.
I loved this and completely devoured it. I am a grumpyxsunshine girl there is no hiding this but I am so partial to an older brothers best friend. But make him down bad and self punishing for wanting her, ugh I’m living for it. As a romance girlie I was like, how does Evie not see that Theo holding himself back has nothing to do with her, but it makes sense for the character and story. I love the representation that this book has because it’s just subtle and normal, I live for this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish. I am no stranger to the brother’s best friend trope — I adore it, and this story was prepared to absolute perfection.
The pacing was spot on, delivering just the right amount of slow-build tension and delicious chemistry before things really heated up. I loved the classic CEO/assistant dynamic, but what truly stood out was Evie herself. She’s ambitious, finds confidence, and knows exactly who she is, never compromising her values or shrinking herself for anyone; a refreshing and empowering FMC.
And the spice? Let’s just say it was baked to a perfect golden finish.... hot, indulgent, and impossible to resist.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, feel-good rom-com that was a total win for me. Sweet, steamy, and incredibly satisfying, it’s the kind of story you devour in one sitting and immediately crave more of.
Thank you to Elle Lavendelle for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
The pacing was spot on, delivering just the right amount of slow-build tension and delicious chemistry before things really heated up. I loved the classic CEO/assistant dynamic, but what truly stood out was Evie herself. She’s ambitious, finds confidence, and knows exactly who she is, never compromising her values or shrinking herself for anyone; a refreshing and empowering FMC.
And the spice? Let’s just say it was baked to a perfect golden finish.... hot, indulgent, and impossible to resist.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, feel-good rom-com that was a total win for me. Sweet, steamy, and incredibly satisfying, it’s the kind of story you devour in one sitting and immediately crave more of.
Thank you to Elle Lavendelle for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
February 12, 2026
How to Ruin a Recipe - Elle Lavendelle
This was a very cute read. I really enjoy reading books by this author. Many of them have really cozy vibes and character characters. And the characters always have great chemistry. Evie and Theo were so fun to read about and I would love to see them again in another book, even with them being side characters. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🌶️ / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 266 pages
Release Date 🌟 1/1/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable
Genre/Tropes ✨ Brothers best friends, romantic comedy, age gap, workplace romance, CEO romance
Favorite Character ☀️ Theo
Favorite Line 🌟 ‘In any other setting, the words would be harmless. If I heard some guy saying that to Evie at a bar, I would look the other way—as long as she seemed interested. Saying that shit in my office? No way. No way in hell will he get away with it.’
This was a very cute read. I really enjoy reading books by this author. Many of them have really cozy vibes and character characters. And the characters always have great chemistry. Evie and Theo were so fun to read about and I would love to see them again in another book, even with them being side characters. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🌶️ / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 266 pages
Release Date 🌟 1/1/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable
Genre/Tropes ✨ Brothers best friends, romantic comedy, age gap, workplace romance, CEO romance
Favorite Character ☀️ Theo
Favorite Line 🌟 ‘In any other setting, the words would be harmless. If I heard some guy saying that to Evie at a bar, I would look the other way—as long as she seemed interested. Saying that shit in my office? No way. No way in hell will he get away with it.’
January 2, 2026
What a great book to kick off 2026 with!
I really loved Theo & Evie's story. Sometimes I find with romcoms you have to have a little suspension of belief for some of the things that happen but I was pleasantly surprised to find this book super believable the entire way through. Even the dreaded third act breakup (one of my most hated tropes) honestly made a lot of sense and I didn't blame the characters for it in the slightest. This was a very sweet and funny book and of course I adored the epilogue 😍
I really loved Theo & Evie's story. Sometimes I find with romcoms you have to have a little suspension of belief for some of the things that happen but I was pleasantly surprised to find this book super believable the entire way through. Even the dreaded third act breakup (one of my most hated tropes) honestly made a lot of sense and I didn't blame the characters for it in the slightest. This was a very sweet and funny book and of course I adored the epilogue 😍
January 8, 2026
Down on her luck adorable baker meets brother’s hot CEO bestie. Mild chaos ensues.
I’m a big fan of Elle’s work in general, and this is such a quintessential romcom.
The forestry and a demisexual main character were fun and pretty unique additions to this story.
I really enjoyed the book, but wealthy CEO saves the day just isn’t my favorite romance trope.
I’m a big fan of Elle’s work in general, and this is such a quintessential romcom.
The forestry and a demisexual main character were fun and pretty unique additions to this story.
I really enjoyed the book, but wealthy CEO saves the day just isn’t my favorite romance trope.
January 4, 2026
It was really good. I crave such pink romances
February 4, 2026
ameiii!!
December 29, 2025
Take one overworked CEO, fold in a determined baker, add a pinch of forbidden tension… and you’ve got a rom-com recipe that rises every time.
How to Ruin a Recipe serves up the perfect mix of sugar, spice, and heat. Elle Lavendelle takes the brother’s-best-friend trope and blends it with themes of ambition, found confidence, and the electric thrill of wanting someone you probably shouldn’t.
Evie’s drive to chase her culinary dreams feels instantly relatable, and Theo — the eco-focused, all-work CEO — is the exact kind of buttoned-up disaster who never expects to fall for anyone, let alone his best friend’s sister. Their chemistry doesn’t spark on page one — it sparks the second Theo shows up to a backyard barbecue, Evie is covered in flour, and he looks at her like she’s the most breathtaking thing he’s ever seen. From there, workplace proximity, shared travel, and one very tempting cabin getaway only turn the heat up further. It’s swoony, open-door, and full of that easy, joyful banter that makes a rom-com feel like comfort food.
By the end, I was reminded that the best love stories don’t follow the recipe—they rewrite it. A warm, sweet-spicy, summer-bright romance I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves heartfelt chemistry, big dreams, and a story that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
• Brother’s best friend
• Boss/assistant
• Forced proximity
• Age gap
• Forbidden attraction
• Slow-burn tension
• Open Door Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
• DUAL POV
How to Ruin a Recipe serves up the perfect mix of sugar, spice, and heat. Elle Lavendelle takes the brother’s-best-friend trope and blends it with themes of ambition, found confidence, and the electric thrill of wanting someone you probably shouldn’t.
Evie’s drive to chase her culinary dreams feels instantly relatable, and Theo — the eco-focused, all-work CEO — is the exact kind of buttoned-up disaster who never expects to fall for anyone, let alone his best friend’s sister. Their chemistry doesn’t spark on page one — it sparks the second Theo shows up to a backyard barbecue, Evie is covered in flour, and he looks at her like she’s the most breathtaking thing he’s ever seen. From there, workplace proximity, shared travel, and one very tempting cabin getaway only turn the heat up further. It’s swoony, open-door, and full of that easy, joyful banter that makes a rom-com feel like comfort food.
By the end, I was reminded that the best love stories don’t follow the recipe—they rewrite it. A warm, sweet-spicy, summer-bright romance I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves heartfelt chemistry, big dreams, and a story that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
• Brother’s best friend
• Boss/assistant
• Forced proximity
• Age gap
• Forbidden attraction
• Slow-burn tension
• Open Door Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
• DUAL POV
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews