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Hot Mess
Allie Simon never saw herself falling for a recovering drug addict-but that was before she crossed social media paths with bad-boy Benji Zane, Chicago's hottest up-and-coming chef. Benji, who's known as much for his hard partying past as for his unparalleled culinary skills, and Allie's chemistry is out of this world-along with everything he cooks for her-but the reality of dating a top chef hasn't exactly been all sunshine and soufflés.
Still, Allie's convinced that unwavering love is the key to sweetening this man's soul-so when Benji is offered Chef de Cuisine at a new restaurant opening on Randolph Street (Chicago's foodie hot spot), Allie agrees to put her money where her mouth is. She invests her life savings in her man's new restaurant. But with not much time until opening day, Allie learns a heartbreaking lesson as Benji cracks under the pressure, relapses, and disappears.
Left with no choice, Allie joins forces with the other women set to open the restaurant and finds herself thrust into a world of luxury and greed, cutthroat business and sensory delight, and above all-fierce female friendships.
Still, Allie's convinced that unwavering love is the key to sweetening this man's soul-so when Benji is offered Chef de Cuisine at a new restaurant opening on Randolph Street (Chicago's foodie hot spot), Allie agrees to put her money where her mouth is. She invests her life savings in her man's new restaurant. But with not much time until opening day, Allie learns a heartbreaking lesson as Benji cracks under the pressure, relapses, and disappears.
Left with no choice, Allie joins forces with the other women set to open the restaurant and finds herself thrust into a world of luxury and greed, cutthroat business and sensory delight, and above all-fierce female friendships.
382 pages, Paperback
Published January 9, 2026
About the author
Emily Bond
4 books9 followersEmily Bond (aka Belden) is an author with Harlequin/HarperCollins and a Stage 2 Breast Cancer Survivor. She inked a two-book deal and her starred-review debut novel HOT MESS came out via Graydon House—a select hardcover and trade paperback imprint dedicated to publishing book club-worthy fiction with strong commercial appeal. Her sophomore novel HUSBAND MATERIAL is sold in bookstores nationwide, including mass retailers Target and Kroger. She is also the author of coming-of-age memoir, EIGHTYSIXED. Her most recent work is a magical realism rom-com entitled, SORT OF SEEING SOMEONE.
She is represented by literary agency, Browne & Miller. For PR inquiries or film and TV rights, please contact the president of the agency, Danielle Egan-Miller: danielle@browneandmiller.com
Emily lives near Chicago with her husband Matt and son Atlas. Besides writing, she spent the majority of her career as a director of marketing in the luxury hospitality industry.
Emily and her work has been featured on The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, in Men’s Journal, The Everygirl, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and more.
She is represented by literary agency, Browne & Miller. For PR inquiries or film and TV rights, please contact the president of the agency, Danielle Egan-Miller: danielle@browneandmiller.com
Emily lives near Chicago with her husband Matt and son Atlas. Besides writing, she spent the majority of her career as a director of marketing in the luxury hospitality industry.
Emily and her work has been featured on The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, in Men’s Journal, The Everygirl, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and more.
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