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Yes, Chef!
Sassy foodie Becca Stone is over her job taking reservations in one of London's most successful restaurant empires. So when she is unexpectedly catapulted into working as PA to celebrity chef, Damien Malone, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.
Becca is quickly caught up in an exciting whirlwind of travel, reality TV and opening nights, and even her usually abysmal love life takes a turn for the better. But as Becca is slowly consumed by the chaos of life in the spotlight, she begins to lose touch with her friends, her heart and even with reality. Working with Damien has its challenges and she is soon struggling with his increasingly outrageous demands and sleazy advances, all while managing the ridiculous requests of his self-centered wife. It takes a disastrous trip to Italy for Becca to realize that she may have thrown away exactly what she's been looking for all along.
Inspired by real-life adventures, this deliciously funny and romantic story reveals a tantalizing glimpse of the trendy restaurant scene: a world where chefs are treated like rock stars, and cooking isn't all that goes on in the kitchen.
Becca is quickly caught up in an exciting whirlwind of travel, reality TV and opening nights, and even her usually abysmal love life takes a turn for the better. But as Becca is slowly consumed by the chaos of life in the spotlight, she begins to lose touch with her friends, her heart and even with reality. Working with Damien has its challenges and she is soon struggling with his increasingly outrageous demands and sleazy advances, all while managing the ridiculous requests of his self-centered wife. It takes a disastrous trip to Italy for Becca to realize that she may have thrown away exactly what she's been looking for all along.
Inspired by real-life adventures, this deliciously funny and romantic story reveals a tantalizing glimpse of the trendy restaurant scene: a world where chefs are treated like rock stars, and cooking isn't all that goes on in the kitchen.
236 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2014
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Joy
1 book6 followersLisa Joy is the author of the deliciously funny and romantic novel Yes, Chef!
She began writing stories in her teenage years, but decided she needed to get her heart broken and live in another country before pursuing a career as a novelist. Born in Sydney, she spent most of her childhood wearing pink tights and leotards at ballet class.
At age 21, deciding she wasn’t cut out for the famished life of a ballerina, she left her safe and somewhat predictable existence behind and travelled to London, where she worked as a television producer’s PA, in fashion retail and the restaurant business. Having fallen head over heels in love with London, travelling Europe, eating amazing food and the occasional stint on stage and screen, Lisa stayed put for nearly 8 years, until finally, family called and she returned to Australia.
Her writing took a dramatic turn for the better after she attended a commercial fiction masterclass with author Fiona McIntosh.
She began writing stories in her teenage years, but decided she needed to get her heart broken and live in another country before pursuing a career as a novelist. Born in Sydney, she spent most of her childhood wearing pink tights and leotards at ballet class.
At age 21, deciding she wasn’t cut out for the famished life of a ballerina, she left her safe and somewhat predictable existence behind and travelled to London, where she worked as a television producer’s PA, in fashion retail and the restaurant business. Having fallen head over heels in love with London, travelling Europe, eating amazing food and the occasional stint on stage and screen, Lisa stayed put for nearly 8 years, until finally, family called and she returned to Australia.
Her writing took a dramatic turn for the better after she attended a commercial fiction masterclass with author Fiona McIntosh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 27, 2014
Becca works in reservations for a hotshot chef named Damien. I had no idea what went into the reservation system of a famous chef's restaurants. They aren't even in the same building. The reservationist are shoved into a small room and constantly answer the calls. After Damien's current PA leaves Becca steps into the job.
Becca's character spent a great deal of time getting on my frigging nerves. She meets guy. Sleeps with him. Turns out he is engaged to a office mates daughter. After starting working for Damien she is at his Damien's kitchen shoot and what does she do? Sleeps with the head contestant. She is so full of needing a man that I just wanted to smack her.
I did like the chef parts of the book. I have wondered why we as a whole have decided the celebrity chefs are like rock stars. I do it too. I'm a foodie nut so I follow Tyler Florence, Jamie Oliver and several others like the fan-girl that I am.
The food and locals in this book were wonderful. I drooled and wanted to pack my bags to go with these characters.
I just hope they don't all act like this turd ball in this book.
I did receive an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Becca's character spent a great deal of time getting on my frigging nerves. She meets guy. Sleeps with him. Turns out he is engaged to a office mates daughter. After starting working for Damien she is at his Damien's kitchen shoot and what does she do? Sleeps with the head contestant. She is so full of needing a man that I just wanted to smack her.
I did like the chef parts of the book. I have wondered why we as a whole have decided the celebrity chefs are like rock stars. I do it too. I'm a foodie nut so I follow Tyler Florence, Jamie Oliver and several others like the fan-girl that I am.
The food and locals in this book were wonderful. I drooled and wanted to pack my bags to go with these characters.
I just hope they don't all act like this turd ball in this book.
I did receive an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2019
LINKS UPDATED
This title features on my Worst of 2015 list!
Meet Becca Stone, a Mary Sue if ever there was one.
The blurb of this book offers readers excitement, controversy, and romance. But what it actually delivers is far from it.
As the story opens, Becca is working in the reservations office for Damien’s many restaurants. The many restaurants are so busy that calls go through a central office.
She’s pulled aside by Damien’s personal assistant, Abigail, who is going away for a month and wants Becca to take over in the meantime. And then she’s caught up in the whirlwind of planning events for Damien, taking trips overseas, and falling in and out of… lust.
But there was no real emotion in this, no reason to care for the characters, and nothing particularly unique. This was a watered down version of books like The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries.
This was an inside, “uncensored” look at an industry which we know has some pretty big tempers, but it never delivered on the heat it promised, or the juicy secrets.
The rest of this review can be found here!
This title features on my Worst of 2015 list!
You bet, darls. Grace called everyone darls, but I liked to think I was one of her special darls.
Meet Becca Stone, a Mary Sue if ever there was one.
The blurb of this book offers readers excitement, controversy, and romance. But what it actually delivers is far from it.
As the story opens, Becca is working in the reservations office for Damien’s many restaurants. The many restaurants are so busy that calls go through a central office.
She’s pulled aside by Damien’s personal assistant, Abigail, who is going away for a month and wants Becca to take over in the meantime. And then she’s caught up in the whirlwind of planning events for Damien, taking trips overseas, and falling in and out of… lust.
But there was no real emotion in this, no reason to care for the characters, and nothing particularly unique. This was a watered down version of books like The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries.
This was an inside, “uncensored” look at an industry which we know has some pretty big tempers, but it never delivered on the heat it promised, or the juicy secrets.
The rest of this review can be found here!
March 8, 2015
A lighthearted chick lit novel, Yes, Chef! is Lisa Joy's debut, inspired by her real-life adventures as a PA to a celebrity chef.
Becca Stone works in a small call centre fielding table bookings for a celebrity chef's string of popular restaurants in London. She adores her colleagues, with whom she daily raids the chocolate store downstairs and celebrates 'Sexual Harrassment Thursdays', but the work is boring and the pay is lousy. Nearing thirty and single Becca knows she needs to make a change, so when she is chosen to fill in for Daniel Malone's vacationing PA she is determined to prove herself to the celebrity chef.
It took me a little while to warm up to Becca, I thought her to be whiny and self centered to begin with. Eventually she proves she isn't quite as shallow as she seems, she is smart and feisty just lacking in self awareness. Her love life is also a disaster, she is attracted to men for superficial reasons and ignores genuine interest in favour of men who do something for her ego.
Malone, who reminds me of Gordon Ramsey, is an egotistical boss who demands Becca fulfils his every whim, from sourcing dozens of unique plates from a Turkish bazaar at short notice to lying to his high-strung wife regarding his whereabouts and it's not long before Becca's dream job becomes a nightmare. She lets some of Malone's attitude slide but eventually his sleazy, self-aggrandizing behaviour goes too far and she has to decide if the career she wants is worth the compromises she has to make.
The story is formulaic, not really offering any surprises, but an easy read. The writing isn't quite as strong as it could be, uneven in places with weak transitions. Personally, I favoured the scenes Becca shared with her friends and colleagues from the call center. They are warm, funny and authentic and their banter is entertaining. The romance is fairly low key but I was happy enough with the way it resolved.
Yes, Chef! is a quick, light read about love, food and finding your path in life.
July 15, 2014
Three words: Sexual Harassment Thursdays! Hilarious.
I genuinely enjoyed this story. It's written in first person, which usually isn't my thing but it really worked for me here. Becca is a woman in a rut trying to work out what she wants to do with her life. She works in a call center for a bunch of high flying restaurants owned by a nightmare Gordon Ramseyesque gargoyle, Damien Malone who terrifies everyone in his wake. It's not long into the plot that she's Shanghaid into being the man's PA and gets caught up in his crazy life.
I genuinely enjoyed the black humor in this book, the narratorial voice was immediately one that clicked with me and the characters felt incredibly real.
I don't read so much for escapism as to step into another world and this book took me there. Although I know nothing about the restaurant game, I felt like I'd learned a little more by the end of this story (in a good way!). More importantly, I found it super easy to relate to Becca trying to work out what she wanted in her life and more importantly, who she wanted in her life. It's something I think everyone goes through at some stage and the way Ms. Joy wrote Becca's conflict and the insight given along the way about the restaurant industry kept me hooked right to the end.
If you want a fun, sometimes hilarious read that doesn't shave off the sharp edges, this is a story for you. Definite five stars from me.
I genuinely enjoyed this story. It's written in first person, which usually isn't my thing but it really worked for me here. Becca is a woman in a rut trying to work out what she wants to do with her life. She works in a call center for a bunch of high flying restaurants owned by a nightmare Gordon Ramseyesque gargoyle, Damien Malone who terrifies everyone in his wake. It's not long into the plot that she's Shanghaid into being the man's PA and gets caught up in his crazy life.
I genuinely enjoyed the black humor in this book, the narratorial voice was immediately one that clicked with me and the characters felt incredibly real.
I don't read so much for escapism as to step into another world and this book took me there. Although I know nothing about the restaurant game, I felt like I'd learned a little more by the end of this story (in a good way!). More importantly, I found it super easy to relate to Becca trying to work out what she wanted in her life and more importantly, who she wanted in her life. It's something I think everyone goes through at some stage and the way Ms. Joy wrote Becca's conflict and the insight given along the way about the restaurant industry kept me hooked right to the end.
If you want a fun, sometimes hilarious read that doesn't shave off the sharp edges, this is a story for you. Definite five stars from me.
February 9, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Australia for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy of Yes, Chef! by Lisa Joy.
What a delicious novel! Sweet and spicy, all the right ingredients for a tasty read. Becca Stone works for one of London’s hottest restaurants, unfortunately the celebrity chef/owner is a total egomaniac. Between her boss’s crazy rants, his wife’s ridiculous requests, and the desperate patrons clamoring for reservations, Becca is overwhelmed and weighed down by work. Her social life, family time and relationships are all suffering because her over demanding boss fails to recognize Becca might want a life of her own.
Lisa Joy does a great job in showing readers that sometimes your dream job might really be a nightmare and what you think you’re missing is really right in front of you.
Yes, Chef! is a fun read.
What a delicious novel! Sweet and spicy, all the right ingredients for a tasty read. Becca Stone works for one of London’s hottest restaurants, unfortunately the celebrity chef/owner is a total egomaniac. Between her boss’s crazy rants, his wife’s ridiculous requests, and the desperate patrons clamoring for reservations, Becca is overwhelmed and weighed down by work. Her social life, family time and relationships are all suffering because her over demanding boss fails to recognize Becca might want a life of her own.
Lisa Joy does a great job in showing readers that sometimes your dream job might really be a nightmare and what you think you’re missing is really right in front of you.
Yes, Chef! is a fun read.
July 9, 2015
Becca Stone is stuck in a rut. She is approaching thirty, single and in a mind numbingly boring job. So when the chance for a promotion comes up she grabs the opportunity with both hands.
Suddenly her life starts to fall into place, she meets the man of her dreams and her new job role as PA to a difficult celebrity chef is challenging her in ways she didn’t think possible. Is it all too good to be true?
As quickly as things fall into place Becca’s life begins to fall apart. Will she manage to be the same old Becca when everything in her life is changing so suddenly?
I am a big fan of chick-lit. I went through a phase of not being able to read it because I found some of the storylines tired and clichéd. So for a while I simply stopped. I changed genre and after a few months I was back on track with good old comfortable reliable chick lit.
Comfortable and reliable. Those are the two words that I would use to describe Yes, Chef! It is not that the book isn’t good. It has some really entertaining parts. However, it was the comfort of knowing exactly what was going to happen that got me through the narrative. The reliable tale of a girl who will eventually get the guy even though she won’t realise that he is the one even though he has been there in front of her face this whole time is one as old as time. It was just a tad clichéd.
I personally just felt that at times it came across a little disjointed. The storyline had potential but it didn’t flow seamlessly. It jumped from different time periods using quick recaps to fill in the missing time which, for me, read awkwardly. Also, the narrative voice seemed to be unsure; at times the novel read like it was trying to replicate a voice from Bridget Jones and then at other times it dropped this tone altogether. It left me befuddled.
The latter half of Yes, Chef! was better than the beginning part. To begin with I did find Becca Stone difficult to like. She was self-involved and whiny. In this sense, you can see the development of the character because by the end of the novel I actually quite liked her but I didn’t want to keep reading to find out what happened next to Becca. I didn’t root for the characters as much as I have done with other books in this oeuvre.
The sad thing is that I genuinely do think that the book has potential to be better than it is. However, the book as a whole just wasn’t for me.
Suddenly her life starts to fall into place, she meets the man of her dreams and her new job role as PA to a difficult celebrity chef is challenging her in ways she didn’t think possible. Is it all too good to be true?
As quickly as things fall into place Becca’s life begins to fall apart. Will she manage to be the same old Becca when everything in her life is changing so suddenly?
I am a big fan of chick-lit. I went through a phase of not being able to read it because I found some of the storylines tired and clichéd. So for a while I simply stopped. I changed genre and after a few months I was back on track with good old comfortable reliable chick lit.
Comfortable and reliable. Those are the two words that I would use to describe Yes, Chef! It is not that the book isn’t good. It has some really entertaining parts. However, it was the comfort of knowing exactly what was going to happen that got me through the narrative. The reliable tale of a girl who will eventually get the guy even though she won’t realise that he is the one even though he has been there in front of her face this whole time is one as old as time. It was just a tad clichéd.
I personally just felt that at times it came across a little disjointed. The storyline had potential but it didn’t flow seamlessly. It jumped from different time periods using quick recaps to fill in the missing time which, for me, read awkwardly. Also, the narrative voice seemed to be unsure; at times the novel read like it was trying to replicate a voice from Bridget Jones and then at other times it dropped this tone altogether. It left me befuddled.
The latter half of Yes, Chef! was better than the beginning part. To begin with I did find Becca Stone difficult to like. She was self-involved and whiny. In this sense, you can see the development of the character because by the end of the novel I actually quite liked her but I didn’t want to keep reading to find out what happened next to Becca. I didn’t root for the characters as much as I have done with other books in this oeuvre.
The sad thing is that I genuinely do think that the book has potential to be better than it is. However, the book as a whole just wasn’t for me.
February 25, 2015
Becca works in a small call centre, taking reservations for a group of restaurants. She’s completely over the work, so intrigued when she’s asked to step into the role of the celebrity chef’s PA. It’s not long before she’s so caught up in meeting his every needs – and the needs of his wife – that her own life seems to be slipping away from her.
This book left me feeling decidedly ‘meh’. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Almost Famous meets that self-published book about a girl with a rockstar father I once read, and you pretty much have the feel of the book. Demanding bosses has been done a lot, so it doesn’t feel particularly new or like it’s saying anything we haven’t already read before.
One of my main complaints about the book was that there was little flow from one scene or chapter to the next. I found myself checking several times to make sure I hadn’t missed pages or paragraphs, and it took a lot of work as a reader to make the connections from one point in time to the next. Sometimes little sentences of exposition were inserted to join one bit to another bit, which really came off like a child writing a longer piece of writing for the first time. It wasn’t quite ‘Then I woke up. It was all a dream’, but the effect wasn’t much better.
As well as the premise of the book feeling unoriginal, the characters weren’t really anything new. There was the nice guy, the guy with a secret, the lazy supervisor, the demanding wife – none of them did anything particularly surprising or revealing – they pretty much just trundled along on fairly stereotypical paths.
There were moments of really good writing within the books – chapters and scenes which were interesting and thoughtful. In some ways, I think that those bits – expanded on – would have made a better book than this one. It was always sad to leave those little side stories – and there were a few, so it was a bit cluttered at times – to go back to the main premise of the book.
This would probably be a good time out book – something to take on a plane or a lazy holiday. But I think there are probably other books which are better written and would serve the same purpose.
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
This book left me feeling decidedly ‘meh’. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Almost Famous meets that self-published book about a girl with a rockstar father I once read, and you pretty much have the feel of the book. Demanding bosses has been done a lot, so it doesn’t feel particularly new or like it’s saying anything we haven’t already read before.
One of my main complaints about the book was that there was little flow from one scene or chapter to the next. I found myself checking several times to make sure I hadn’t missed pages or paragraphs, and it took a lot of work as a reader to make the connections from one point in time to the next. Sometimes little sentences of exposition were inserted to join one bit to another bit, which really came off like a child writing a longer piece of writing for the first time. It wasn’t quite ‘Then I woke up. It was all a dream’, but the effect wasn’t much better.
As well as the premise of the book feeling unoriginal, the characters weren’t really anything new. There was the nice guy, the guy with a secret, the lazy supervisor, the demanding wife – none of them did anything particularly surprising or revealing – they pretty much just trundled along on fairly stereotypical paths.
There were moments of really good writing within the books – chapters and scenes which were interesting and thoughtful. In some ways, I think that those bits – expanded on – would have made a better book than this one. It was always sad to leave those little side stories – and there were a few, so it was a bit cluttered at times – to go back to the main premise of the book.
This would probably be a good time out book – something to take on a plane or a lazy holiday. But I think there are probably other books which are better written and would serve the same purpose.
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
April 1, 2015
3.5*
Prosecco and trouble: Lisa Joy’s debut is a fun, foodie take on a young woman’s search for love and sense of purpose that will leave you salivating.
Becca Stone is in debt and working hard as a restaurant hostess and telephone operator for hot celebrity chef, Damien Malone. When his PA takes an impromptu break, Becca is drafted into the role with little notice and no idea what she’s getting into. This isn’t a job she wanted, but the pay’s good and the travel opportunities are great. Unfortunately, Damien is a bullying, temperamental nightmare, and his wife is little better. Struggling to handle the impossible demands of her new role, maintain her friendships and find Mr Right, Becca is forced to question how much she will sacrifice to keep a job she needs but never wanted.
Yes, Chef! Is a tantalizing glimpse into foodie London with some nice diversions to Istanbul and Italy. With Becca Stone, Joy has created a likeable and relatable heroine. The foodie setting is a refreshing take on a true-to-genre chick-lit novel. Peppered with lively secondary characters, readers will not be disappointed to find the usual characters of Mr-Right-under-her-nose and possie of girlfriends who eventually question Becca’s choices. Becca’s voice is brilliant! She leaps off the page from the very first line. At times this confiding and witty voice gets lost in the more dramatic, dialogue-heavy scenes with her girlfriends, but this doesn’t happen often. Though it touches on some darker material, Yes Chef! is a light and fun novel about friendship, life and the choices we make along the road to self-discovery.
Treat yourself to a chilled glass of Prosecco, and maybe some gourmet canapés, and settle in for a good escapist read.
Prosecco and trouble: Lisa Joy’s debut is a fun, foodie take on a young woman’s search for love and sense of purpose that will leave you salivating.
Becca Stone is in debt and working hard as a restaurant hostess and telephone operator for hot celebrity chef, Damien Malone. When his PA takes an impromptu break, Becca is drafted into the role with little notice and no idea what she’s getting into. This isn’t a job she wanted, but the pay’s good and the travel opportunities are great. Unfortunately, Damien is a bullying, temperamental nightmare, and his wife is little better. Struggling to handle the impossible demands of her new role, maintain her friendships and find Mr Right, Becca is forced to question how much she will sacrifice to keep a job she needs but never wanted.
Yes, Chef! Is a tantalizing glimpse into foodie London with some nice diversions to Istanbul and Italy. With Becca Stone, Joy has created a likeable and relatable heroine. The foodie setting is a refreshing take on a true-to-genre chick-lit novel. Peppered with lively secondary characters, readers will not be disappointed to find the usual characters of Mr-Right-under-her-nose and possie of girlfriends who eventually question Becca’s choices. Becca’s voice is brilliant! She leaps off the page from the very first line. At times this confiding and witty voice gets lost in the more dramatic, dialogue-heavy scenes with her girlfriends, but this doesn’t happen often. Though it touches on some darker material, Yes Chef! is a light and fun novel about friendship, life and the choices we make along the road to self-discovery.
Treat yourself to a chilled glass of Prosecco, and maybe some gourmet canapés, and settle in for a good escapist read.
September 2, 2014
OMG! I'd been dying for a good, 'intelligent' yet fluffy chick-lit for a while, and what lands in my review inbox? This book! Hallelujah!
Have you read or watched The Devil Wears Prada? Well, Yes, Chef! is pretty much TDWP but set in the world of kitchens, restaurants, and chefs as opposed to fashion.
I'll admit that had I not read Anthony Bourdain's 'Kitchen Confidential', I would've thought this book and its storyline totally over the top. I mean seriously - do we ever imagine restaurant kitchens to be such sexed-up places? Uhm, no...not exactly... But it's the truth, and the fact that Ms. Joy has worked in those same shoes as Becca and seen/experienced/viewed that world with her own two eyes adds a huge level of realism and grit and just oh-my-goodness factor to this story!
I love a good tale where the heroine has a journey to get along to, and no story does this better than chick-lit (yes, I'm calling this chick-lit as opposed to the rom-com tag it's gotten everywhere!). You know there's going to be something deep and life-altering, but it's all done in the midst of lightness and laughter, of (sometimes) tears and ranting and just plain b*tching.
Lisa Joy hits all those good notes in her book...or should I say she brings the best blend of ingredients to give a soul-satisfying read all while zinging your funny-ness tastebuds.
I definitely, definitely recommend this book! Love rom-coms or chick lit or kitchen madness-type stories? Then this is the book for you! It's very devour-able, I swear!
Have you read or watched The Devil Wears Prada? Well, Yes, Chef! is pretty much TDWP but set in the world of kitchens, restaurants, and chefs as opposed to fashion.
I'll admit that had I not read Anthony Bourdain's 'Kitchen Confidential', I would've thought this book and its storyline totally over the top. I mean seriously - do we ever imagine restaurant kitchens to be such sexed-up places? Uhm, no...not exactly... But it's the truth, and the fact that Ms. Joy has worked in those same shoes as Becca and seen/experienced/viewed that world with her own two eyes adds a huge level of realism and grit and just oh-my-goodness factor to this story!
I love a good tale where the heroine has a journey to get along to, and no story does this better than chick-lit (yes, I'm calling this chick-lit as opposed to the rom-com tag it's gotten everywhere!). You know there's going to be something deep and life-altering, but it's all done in the midst of lightness and laughter, of (sometimes) tears and ranting and just plain b*tching.
Lisa Joy hits all those good notes in her book...or should I say she brings the best blend of ingredients to give a soul-satisfying read all while zinging your funny-ness tastebuds.
I definitely, definitely recommend this book! Love rom-coms or chick lit or kitchen madness-type stories? Then this is the book for you! It's very devour-able, I swear!
July 9, 2014
“Yes, Chef” is a culinary thrill ride into the world of professional chef’s. If you ever watched and enjoyed one of those Gordon Ramsey restaurant shows on Food Network, then this is one book you should read. The best part of the book is it’s authenticity, as most of it was based on Lisa Joy’s real experiences in the exciting world of the gourmet empire. Becca Stone is a great character who is often funny, sassy and holds her own against the her boss from hell, professional chef Damien. There are some heart warming moments when Becca realizes what she really wants wasn’t what she thought it was and go after her hearts desire-but no spoilers, you will have to find out for yourself. “Yes, Chef” was thoroughly entertaining book full of jet setting and celebrity chefs. It is a must read for any foodie or romance junkie and laughing out loud is guaranteed. I devoured this book in one sitting because I could not get enough of it. For me, it was the perfect summer read and I can’t wait to see what Lisa Joy comes up with next.
April 18, 2015
Becca sleeps around whines about her job constantly and wonders why the guys she picks up never treat the relationship seriously. Add in a few scenes that don’t add anything to the story. One being the scene were Samira is helping Becca test out one of Damien’s recipes for a cookbook and Samira leans over and kisses Becca. That didn’t make sense at all and had no bearing on the story.
I’ve seen Hell’s Kitchen so expected some swearing in a heated, over extended kitchen running on full speed. But not from a bunch of young woman! Add in a few comments on sexting and one young woman wanting her mother to dress like a MILF!! Honestly, who would ever say that!!
Reminded me a lot of “The Devil Wears Prada” however, Andrea was a much more likeable protagonist.
Definitely not for me! I liked the food and locale descriptions. They were well done but the rest, meh!
Should be a warning on the back “Not for over 40’s.”
With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
I’ve seen Hell’s Kitchen so expected some swearing in a heated, over extended kitchen running on full speed. But not from a bunch of young woman! Add in a few comments on sexting and one young woman wanting her mother to dress like a MILF!! Honestly, who would ever say that!!
Reminded me a lot of “The Devil Wears Prada” however, Andrea was a much more likeable protagonist.
Definitely not for me! I liked the food and locale descriptions. They were well done but the rest, meh!
Should be a warning on the back “Not for over 40’s.”
With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
April 23, 2015
With all the celebrity chefs and cooking shows that are so popular at the moment, this book made me think about what could be going on behind the scenes. The author has worked in the industry which has given it an authentic feel. This book also demonstrated the difference between consenting flirtation in the workplace and sexual harassment.
I had lots of giggles while reading this (Sexual Harassment Thursday!). The plot was a bit predictable, but that is exactly what I want out of fluffy chick lit. It did have a darker side to it too, which gave the novel some depth. I related well to the main character as I have also had a few career changes and never really knew what I wanted to do.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had lots of giggles while reading this (Sexual Harassment Thursday!). The plot was a bit predictable, but that is exactly what I want out of fluffy chick lit. It did have a darker side to it too, which gave the novel some depth. I related well to the main character as I have also had a few career changes and never really knew what I wanted to do.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2014
This book takes you on the journey Becca Stone takes to find where she belongs, what she is suppose to do with her life and most importantly finding the love of her life. The author did a great job with her characters, there are easy to relate to and understand where their coming from. Full review here: http://allnightbooks.com/?p=359
January 23, 2015
Loved this book! I felt transported to London and the fast-paced life of Becca Stone. Becca's career is on the rise as she becomes the personal assistant to a celebrity chef, but she soon begins to question what's truly important in life. Great food descriptions will leave you reaching for a cookbook!
March 4, 2015
Did I read the same book as everyone else who reviewed this? I struggled to finish it. Lack of character development, the romance plot was very shallow. The best bit was her relationship with her boss bit even that seemed trite.
March 15, 2018
This novel is a thrill ride all on its own I had lots of giggles while reading this.
Becca Stone works for Damien Malone's empire taking reservations this chef owns several different types of restaurants in London when customers want to make reservations they don't call the restaurants themselves, they ring a call centre, Becca's place of employment. Its really long hours for crap pay, (excuse the french) she has made great friends and loving the London lifestyle.
She is unexpectedly thrust into working as PA to her boss Damien Malone, he is a bullying and temperamental nightmare from hell, if you've heard of Gordon Ramsey then Damien is him in this book.
But I do have to say this Yes Chef is a good read full with entertainment.
Becca Stone works for Damien Malone's empire taking reservations this chef owns several different types of restaurants in London when customers want to make reservations they don't call the restaurants themselves, they ring a call centre, Becca's place of employment. Its really long hours for crap pay, (excuse the french) she has made great friends and loving the London lifestyle.
She is unexpectedly thrust into working as PA to her boss Damien Malone, he is a bullying and temperamental nightmare from hell, if you've heard of Gordon Ramsey then Damien is him in this book.
But I do have to say this Yes Chef is a good read full with entertainment.
July 21, 2014
Becca Stone works taking reservations for Damien Malone’s empire. The celebrity chef owns seven different types of restaurants in London and when customers ring to reserve a table, they don’t ring the restaurant itself, they ring a call center, where Becca works. It’s long hours for less than stellar pay but Becca has made some fantastic friends and she adores living in London.
When Damien’s PA goes abroad for a month, Becca is surprised to be chosen as the fill in. She gets the chance to travel abroad, accompanying Damien to Turkey where they are filming the latest season of his reality TV program. But it’s not all glamorous shoots and beautiful food. Becca is fending off sleazy Damien’s advances, wrangling his domestic issues with his demanding wife and wondering why her love life just keeps going spectacularly wrong. She keeps choosing the wrong guys – and ignoring the one who could be Mr Right.
Her role as Damien’s PA takes over her entire life. It isn’t long before her friendships are slipping away because Becca simply doesn’t have the time to catch up. Damien is incredibly demanding and has her running around at all hours. Eventually Damien demands Becca accompany him to Italy merely to make him look good in front of the other celebrity and famous chefs that are going to be there. When Becca has a family crisis and Damien refuses to let her leave, Becca knows it’s time to start making decisions for herself, both personally and professionally.
As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am a hopeless Food Channel addict. I love watching people cook. I prefer the straight-forward cooking shows to the reality shows but I do admit a fondness for some reality shows as well, especially the British version of MasterChef and also Great British Bake Off. So basically anything revolving around food/celebrity chefs/etc was always going to be a must-read for me. And this book totally lived up to all of my expectations.
Becca is sassy and fun and I loved her and her group of friends that she works with in the restaurant call center. They’re always ducking out for chocolates from the shop downstairs or having drinks or grabbing dinner at Altosaurus, a very prestigious London restaurant that’s close by. It isn’t owned by Damien but they can nearly always get a good table, thanks to the cute manager Dean who seems to be quite interested in Becca. However, Becca tends to go for the guys in suits, the ones who are good looking but ultimately lacking in substance (and also morals, decency etc). She agonises over every decision that she makes, every phone call or text that she receives and even more over the ones she doesn’t.
When Becca unexpectedly finds herself elevated to role of PA to Damien Malone himself, her life begins to change. There’s much less time for dinner and drinks with her friends and she runs around doing not only Damien’s bidding but also that of his extremely high maintenance wife. In fact, Becca realises more than once that it has been several weeks since she either last saw her friends or even spoke to her family. All she does is work for Damien and sleep. She begins to lose sight of who she is and also what she wants out of life. Damien dodges her attempts to talk about a raise (she’s still being paid what she was working in the call center) and she has to deal with continually unpleasant situations, many of them revolving around Damien and his sleazy ways. Despite the fact that she seems unable to change her situation as it becomes increasingly difficult, there are times when Becca really does stand up to Damien and let him know precisely when his actions are unacceptable. Damien is kind of a pathetic character really, overbearing and egotistical, always looking for the next thing that will get him more publicity or drive more people to eat in his restaurants, buy his books and watch his TV shows. He makes outrageous claims to sell books and isn’t satisfied with the 7 eateries he does have, planning to open an 8th. His restaurants are wildly popular and the housewives love him but he’s always trying to have that next big idea, outdo all the other celebrity chefs that are competing for the attention of the public. Becca doesn’t seem to enjoy her job (who would, being a general dogsbody to someone horrid and obnoxious) but it also begins to utterly consume her life.
I have to admit, I kind of cheered to myself when Becca got that wake up call that made her realise that she couldn’t go on this way anymore – that she was letting life pass her by and she was missing out on time with people that she cared about and all for what? It might’ve been different if Damien appreciated her and rewarded her for her efforts and she genuinely admired him and enjoyed her job. But he didn’t and she didn’t either. And once she realised that this is the way it would always be, until she had nothing left in life but him telling her what to do, it was clear that her family emergency, although stressful, had been just the push she needed to begin to reclaim herself.
The romance in this one is rather subtle, a kind of subplot to Becca sorting out her life and finding what she really wants but I really enjoyed that aspect of it. It was cleverly written, teased out enough early so that the reader really wanted it to happen and then the payoff was really sweet. This is a very well constructed story, a good balance of a fun and glitzy London lifestyle and strong friendships and relationships and the ups and downs of them.
When Damien’s PA goes abroad for a month, Becca is surprised to be chosen as the fill in. She gets the chance to travel abroad, accompanying Damien to Turkey where they are filming the latest season of his reality TV program. But it’s not all glamorous shoots and beautiful food. Becca is fending off sleazy Damien’s advances, wrangling his domestic issues with his demanding wife and wondering why her love life just keeps going spectacularly wrong. She keeps choosing the wrong guys – and ignoring the one who could be Mr Right.
Her role as Damien’s PA takes over her entire life. It isn’t long before her friendships are slipping away because Becca simply doesn’t have the time to catch up. Damien is incredibly demanding and has her running around at all hours. Eventually Damien demands Becca accompany him to Italy merely to make him look good in front of the other celebrity and famous chefs that are going to be there. When Becca has a family crisis and Damien refuses to let her leave, Becca knows it’s time to start making decisions for herself, both personally and professionally.
As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am a hopeless Food Channel addict. I love watching people cook. I prefer the straight-forward cooking shows to the reality shows but I do admit a fondness for some reality shows as well, especially the British version of MasterChef and also Great British Bake Off. So basically anything revolving around food/celebrity chefs/etc was always going to be a must-read for me. And this book totally lived up to all of my expectations.
Becca is sassy and fun and I loved her and her group of friends that she works with in the restaurant call center. They’re always ducking out for chocolates from the shop downstairs or having drinks or grabbing dinner at Altosaurus, a very prestigious London restaurant that’s close by. It isn’t owned by Damien but they can nearly always get a good table, thanks to the cute manager Dean who seems to be quite interested in Becca. However, Becca tends to go for the guys in suits, the ones who are good looking but ultimately lacking in substance (and also morals, decency etc). She agonises over every decision that she makes, every phone call or text that she receives and even more over the ones she doesn’t.
When Becca unexpectedly finds herself elevated to role of PA to Damien Malone himself, her life begins to change. There’s much less time for dinner and drinks with her friends and she runs around doing not only Damien’s bidding but also that of his extremely high maintenance wife. In fact, Becca realises more than once that it has been several weeks since she either last saw her friends or even spoke to her family. All she does is work for Damien and sleep. She begins to lose sight of who she is and also what she wants out of life. Damien dodges her attempts to talk about a raise (she’s still being paid what she was working in the call center) and she has to deal with continually unpleasant situations, many of them revolving around Damien and his sleazy ways. Despite the fact that she seems unable to change her situation as it becomes increasingly difficult, there are times when Becca really does stand up to Damien and let him know precisely when his actions are unacceptable. Damien is kind of a pathetic character really, overbearing and egotistical, always looking for the next thing that will get him more publicity or drive more people to eat in his restaurants, buy his books and watch his TV shows. He makes outrageous claims to sell books and isn’t satisfied with the 7 eateries he does have, planning to open an 8th. His restaurants are wildly popular and the housewives love him but he’s always trying to have that next big idea, outdo all the other celebrity chefs that are competing for the attention of the public. Becca doesn’t seem to enjoy her job (who would, being a general dogsbody to someone horrid and obnoxious) but it also begins to utterly consume her life.
I have to admit, I kind of cheered to myself when Becca got that wake up call that made her realise that she couldn’t go on this way anymore – that she was letting life pass her by and she was missing out on time with people that she cared about and all for what? It might’ve been different if Damien appreciated her and rewarded her for her efforts and she genuinely admired him and enjoyed her job. But he didn’t and she didn’t either. And once she realised that this is the way it would always be, until she had nothing left in life but him telling her what to do, it was clear that her family emergency, although stressful, had been just the push she needed to begin to reclaim herself.
The romance in this one is rather subtle, a kind of subplot to Becca sorting out her life and finding what she really wants but I really enjoyed that aspect of it. It was cleverly written, teased out enough early so that the reader really wanted it to happen and then the payoff was really sweet. This is a very well constructed story, a good balance of a fun and glitzy London lifestyle and strong friendships and relationships and the ups and downs of them.
March 22, 2015
I consider myself a foodie. I like to cook and I like to eat. However, I’m not hard-core (as in I don’t compulsively watch Masterchef and I detest My Kitchen Rules – I’d rather browse a cookbook or food magazine). Saying that, there’s no way I’ll pass a book by that contains food or cooking. I’ve been known to stop reading and start hunting for recipes that match what the characters are eating/making. So when this book was offered to me by the lovely people at Destiny Romance/Penguin Australia, how could I say no? The book sounded like it was right up my (g)alley, and it was. The most difficult thing was reading it on the aeroplane home and not being able to pull out my phone to search for quince recipes or wander into the kitchen to prepare a gourmet dinner.
Yes, Chef! is more in the chick lit vein for me, which is no bad thing. It’s a genre that I’ll always come back to – after all, who doesn’t need a gentle reminder every now and then that work/men are not everything, and friendship is important? The book is told in first person by Becca Stone, who has kind of lost her way when it comes to the jobs field. She’s a reservations girl for Damien Malone, a kind of Gordon Ramsay super-chef. Becca dreams of working in Italy (she’s fluent in Italian) or doing something more exciting. She has a close group of friends, but when a nice guy takes an interest in her, she forgoes him for a dark and handsome rich man she meets in the restaurant. So you can see from this that Becca is quite mixed up in knowing what she wants. When she’s asked to be Damien’s PA, she accepts reluctantly, but soon gets caught in the glamour of overseas travel and being someone that Damien and his wife need. But will she lose her friends in the process?
Reading this, it’s easy to see that Lisa Joy is a talented writer. She combines so many elements in Yes, Chef! – friendship, romance, work-life balance, finding yourself and making changes and the majority of them are done really well. It’s a book I found engaging, warm and witty – it combines the ‘OMG’ moments of The Devil Wears Prada with the blunt honesty of Bridget Jones’ Diary. There were some time jumps that I found myself backtracking on – for example, when Becca starts daydreaming at work about something that happened recently, we go back in time to that moment but it’s not always super clear. I found this easier to deal with once it had happened a few times as I was familiar with Becca’s thought patterns. Sometimes the writing was also a bit uneven and some plot threads weren’t fully established, but I just love Lisa Joy’s style. I can easily forgive that in a debut novel when the tone is as engrossing as this. I can’t explain it too well, but there’s something about the writing that I just adored. Perhaps it’s the combination of dark wit (hello Sexual Harassment Thursdays) with honest self-assessments but I could not put this book down until I’d finished it. I lapped it all up, from the dodgy practices of some of the wannabe chefs on Damien’s reality TV show to the sweet moments of Becca and Dean (the nice guy) in Italy.
I’ll definitely be looking for more from Lisa Joy. Her writing has a great voice, one that I resonate with.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Yes, Chef! is more in the chick lit vein for me, which is no bad thing. It’s a genre that I’ll always come back to – after all, who doesn’t need a gentle reminder every now and then that work/men are not everything, and friendship is important? The book is told in first person by Becca Stone, who has kind of lost her way when it comes to the jobs field. She’s a reservations girl for Damien Malone, a kind of Gordon Ramsay super-chef. Becca dreams of working in Italy (she’s fluent in Italian) or doing something more exciting. She has a close group of friends, but when a nice guy takes an interest in her, she forgoes him for a dark and handsome rich man she meets in the restaurant. So you can see from this that Becca is quite mixed up in knowing what she wants. When she’s asked to be Damien’s PA, she accepts reluctantly, but soon gets caught in the glamour of overseas travel and being someone that Damien and his wife need. But will she lose her friends in the process?
Reading this, it’s easy to see that Lisa Joy is a talented writer. She combines so many elements in Yes, Chef! – friendship, romance, work-life balance, finding yourself and making changes and the majority of them are done really well. It’s a book I found engaging, warm and witty – it combines the ‘OMG’ moments of The Devil Wears Prada with the blunt honesty of Bridget Jones’ Diary. There were some time jumps that I found myself backtracking on – for example, when Becca starts daydreaming at work about something that happened recently, we go back in time to that moment but it’s not always super clear. I found this easier to deal with once it had happened a few times as I was familiar with Becca’s thought patterns. Sometimes the writing was also a bit uneven and some plot threads weren’t fully established, but I just love Lisa Joy’s style. I can easily forgive that in a debut novel when the tone is as engrossing as this. I can’t explain it too well, but there’s something about the writing that I just adored. Perhaps it’s the combination of dark wit (hello Sexual Harassment Thursdays) with honest self-assessments but I could not put this book down until I’d finished it. I lapped it all up, from the dodgy practices of some of the wannabe chefs on Damien’s reality TV show to the sweet moments of Becca and Dean (the nice guy) in Italy.
I’ll definitely be looking for more from Lisa Joy. Her writing has a great voice, one that I resonate with.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
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April 15, 2015https://setinmotion1.wordpress.com/
Lisa Joy’s first novel, Yes, Chef!, has all the makings of a good chick lit book – cute guy, bright cover, heck, even the protagonist Becca is described as ‘sassy’. What’s not to love?
Set in London, Yes, Chef! is told from the perspective of Becca Stone, a girl about to turn thirty who is stuck in a dead-end office job. When she gets the opportunity to work as the personal assistant to celebrity chef, Damien Malone, she’s at first hesitant – it’d be great for her career, but his nasty reputation precedes him. Becca’s life quickly becomes a whirlwind of work, travel and cute boys, but in the meantime she loses track of what’s really important, like her friends.
I enjoyed this novel, but admittedly there were a few flaws. First, it was abundantly clear that it was Lisa Joy’s first foray into fiction, because at times the writing came across as clunky and over-thought. This specifically occurred during the conversations that Becca would have with her work colleagues, and while I know that many authors struggle particularly with dialogue, these passages just reinforced that I was reading a make-believe world.
However, the other problem with Yes, Chef! is one that frequently occurs in chick lit, and that was the sloppy storytelling. While there were definitely storylines that didn’t really go anywhere (Becca’s friend who tries to kiss her for one), the two main plot lines were so thin they were almost laughable. First, the biggest problem in Becca’s life is that her friends get upset with her because she’s been working too hard and haven’t been making time for her. I’m sorry, but what? If Becca had dropped off the scene because of some boyfriend, then yeah, I could understand why they’d be a tad annoyed. But to get angry at her because she’s working outrageous hours for a bully of a boss (they should know, his their boss too) is simply ridiculous. And the love interest, though very cute and very nice, is both obvious from the get-go and so ‘convenient’ that I was routinely reminded that this was a chick lit. Like, I’m sorry, but it is very unlikely that Becca would ‘just happen’ to run into him both in Florence, but also just randomly on the streets of London. Have you ever been to London? It’s more than double the population of Melbourne, and let me tell you, not once have I ever ‘conveniently’ run into a cute boy I’ve been interested in.
So, in a nutshell, unfortunately Yes, Chef! is a bit routine. It’s entertaining yes, and if you don’t want to use your brain cells, go for it. It’s fun, and the character, though a bit exasperating, is likeable, so you want her to find success. Plus, the cover is delightful and the setting is in London, two things that are always thumbs up from me. Basically, it is exactly what you’d expect from a chick lit that isn’t particularly memorable, but is thoroughly enjoyable. Give it a read if you’re away on holidays, trying to avoid study, or want to be transported to ‘la la land’.
Lisa Joy’s first novel, Yes, Chef!, has all the makings of a good chick lit book – cute guy, bright cover, heck, even the protagonist Becca is described as ‘sassy’. What’s not to love?
Set in London, Yes, Chef! is told from the perspective of Becca Stone, a girl about to turn thirty who is stuck in a dead-end office job. When she gets the opportunity to work as the personal assistant to celebrity chef, Damien Malone, she’s at first hesitant – it’d be great for her career, but his nasty reputation precedes him. Becca’s life quickly becomes a whirlwind of work, travel and cute boys, but in the meantime she loses track of what’s really important, like her friends.
I enjoyed this novel, but admittedly there were a few flaws. First, it was abundantly clear that it was Lisa Joy’s first foray into fiction, because at times the writing came across as clunky and over-thought. This specifically occurred during the conversations that Becca would have with her work colleagues, and while I know that many authors struggle particularly with dialogue, these passages just reinforced that I was reading a make-believe world.
However, the other problem with Yes, Chef! is one that frequently occurs in chick lit, and that was the sloppy storytelling. While there were definitely storylines that didn’t really go anywhere (Becca’s friend who tries to kiss her for one), the two main plot lines were so thin they were almost laughable. First, the biggest problem in Becca’s life is that her friends get upset with her because she’s been working too hard and haven’t been making time for her. I’m sorry, but what? If Becca had dropped off the scene because of some boyfriend, then yeah, I could understand why they’d be a tad annoyed. But to get angry at her because she’s working outrageous hours for a bully of a boss (they should know, his their boss too) is simply ridiculous. And the love interest, though very cute and very nice, is both obvious from the get-go and so ‘convenient’ that I was routinely reminded that this was a chick lit. Like, I’m sorry, but it is very unlikely that Becca would ‘just happen’ to run into him both in Florence, but also just randomly on the streets of London. Have you ever been to London? It’s more than double the population of Melbourne, and let me tell you, not once have I ever ‘conveniently’ run into a cute boy I’ve been interested in.
So, in a nutshell, unfortunately Yes, Chef! is a bit routine. It’s entertaining yes, and if you don’t want to use your brain cells, go for it. It’s fun, and the character, though a bit exasperating, is likeable, so you want her to find success. Plus, the cover is delightful and the setting is in London, two things that are always thumbs up from me. Basically, it is exactly what you’d expect from a chick lit that isn’t particularly memorable, but is thoroughly enjoyable. Give it a read if you’re away on holidays, trying to avoid study, or want to be transported to ‘la la land’.
March 27, 2015
Very realistic, and crazy and enough to rant about.
Main character, Becca Stone is a reservations girl at a very fancy, extremely famous restaurant that is owned by a famous chef, Damien, who is everything I despise. From from the way he wrongly treats women to the way he thinks he is all but completely innocent. He literally made it to the top of my hit-list, and had me pulling out my hair while I was mentally setting him on fire. Then extinguishing him just to set him on fire again. That is how bad. It wasn't any less for his wife, how can she be the way she is, I just wanted to switch bodies with her to start making right decisions for her. I then thought about how she probably would've done something worse if she were in my body so switching was no longer an option.
Becca Stone is being thrust into the life of catering to these horrible people because Damien's PA, Abigail, is going on vacay. Becca is working so much, she is losing track of time, and much more because she is now permanently Damien's PA. Abigail had been wanting to quit for the longest time and Becca gave her that chance. That should've been more of a sign that Becca was in for some deep shit.
Every single character had something to complain about. That became a never-ending cycle that got real tiring very fast.
I felt that this story was very bitter and cynical than sweet, until the very end. The writing style was something I could not quite exactly follow. I found myself skimming paragraphs and at times skipping a few pages.
So many things went horribly wrong and others were just completely sad and depressing. The whole time, I wanted to stranger Becca for not seeing what was right in front of her. She was necia(sorry, Spanish mixed in here.) and a pendeja. I strangled her every time she made a wrong move, which was almost all the time. I loved her mom though. Gosh did I love her mom, she knew what she was talking about.
Dean was an angel, a miracle, a gift. The best thing in this book, to be totally honest. Finally, things were looking up for a change. Dean was practically the only great person in the story: he was always in a good mood, flirty, sexy, handsome, considerate, passionate, funny, intelligent, successful, and sexy. He was that wonderful and amazing.
There were funny parts, not too much, but just okay. Becca's friend, Samira, was refreshing and quite interesting. Her other friends also worked there with Becca, hence the reason why their complaints were about the same thing, but came from a different person.
I fell head over heels with Italy, and Dean! I'd order myself a Dean with a side of Italia any day. Great food, beautiful language, the community and the environment was such an experience. Ah, love it all...
Overall, this book was an alright read, chic-lit all the way. The outcome of reading this story is me falling in love with Italy. And Dean.
Main character, Becca Stone is a reservations girl at a very fancy, extremely famous restaurant that is owned by a famous chef, Damien, who is everything I despise. From from the way he wrongly treats women to the way he thinks he is all but completely innocent. He literally made it to the top of my hit-list, and had me pulling out my hair while I was mentally setting him on fire. Then extinguishing him just to set him on fire again. That is how bad. It wasn't any less for his wife, how can she be the way she is, I just wanted to switch bodies with her to start making right decisions for her. I then thought about how she probably would've done something worse if she were in my body so switching was no longer an option.
Becca Stone is being thrust into the life of catering to these horrible people because Damien's PA, Abigail, is going on vacay. Becca is working so much, she is losing track of time, and much more because she is now permanently Damien's PA. Abigail had been wanting to quit for the longest time and Becca gave her that chance. That should've been more of a sign that Becca was in for some deep shit.
Every single character had something to complain about. That became a never-ending cycle that got real tiring very fast.
I felt that this story was very bitter and cynical than sweet, until the very end. The writing style was something I could not quite exactly follow. I found myself skimming paragraphs and at times skipping a few pages.
So many things went horribly wrong and others were just completely sad and depressing. The whole time, I wanted to stranger Becca for not seeing what was right in front of her. She was necia(sorry, Spanish mixed in here.) and a pendeja. I strangled her every time she made a wrong move, which was almost all the time. I loved her mom though. Gosh did I love her mom, she knew what she was talking about.
Dean was an angel, a miracle, a gift. The best thing in this book, to be totally honest. Finally, things were looking up for a change. Dean was practically the only great person in the story: he was always in a good mood, flirty, sexy, handsome, considerate, passionate, funny, intelligent, successful, and sexy. He was that wonderful and amazing.
There were funny parts, not too much, but just okay. Becca's friend, Samira, was refreshing and quite interesting. Her other friends also worked there with Becca, hence the reason why their complaints were about the same thing, but came from a different person.
I fell head over heels with Italy, and Dean! I'd order myself a Dean with a side of Italia any day. Great food, beautiful language, the community and the environment was such an experience. Ah, love it all...
Overall, this book was an alright read, chic-lit all the way. The outcome of reading this story is me falling in love with Italy. And Dean.
November 14, 2014
*a copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
‘Yes Chef!’ is a fun rollercoaster ride through the lives of a group of best girlfriends in various degrees of career, friendship, love and/or mothering crisis. I felt as though I was right there in each scene with them, probably because the first person/present tense writing offered a mood of romping spontaneity throughout the story that was perfect for each of these spontaneous girl characters.
This is a terrific debut novel from Lisa Joy. I enjoyed everything about it, from the quirky cover, the cute chapter names, the appallingly inappropriate celebrity chef boss, the hilariously accident-prone-in-all-things-to-do-with love-Becca, and every one of her outrageous and irreverent best friends.
Lisa Joy’s account of new millennium angst was funny and emotional and yet refreshingly unsentimental. I loved that she just ‘told the story’ and left the reader almost completely free to make up their own mind about Becca and her friends. I also loved that not every ‘loose end’ was tied up (as it never is in life) and yet you were left with a feeling of optimism that this likeable group of twenty/thirty-something women would somehow be the winners in their crazy working life rat races.
Oh, and I loved the ‘postcards’ from Florence, Istanbul and London and the mouth-watering run down of each wonderful meal!
A really fun read.
‘Yes Chef!’ is a fun rollercoaster ride through the lives of a group of best girlfriends in various degrees of career, friendship, love and/or mothering crisis. I felt as though I was right there in each scene with them, probably because the first person/present tense writing offered a mood of romping spontaneity throughout the story that was perfect for each of these spontaneous girl characters.
This is a terrific debut novel from Lisa Joy. I enjoyed everything about it, from the quirky cover, the cute chapter names, the appallingly inappropriate celebrity chef boss, the hilariously accident-prone-in-all-things-to-do-with love-Becca, and every one of her outrageous and irreverent best friends.
Lisa Joy’s account of new millennium angst was funny and emotional and yet refreshingly unsentimental. I loved that she just ‘told the story’ and left the reader almost completely free to make up their own mind about Becca and her friends. I also loved that not every ‘loose end’ was tied up (as it never is in life) and yet you were left with a feeling of optimism that this likeable group of twenty/thirty-something women would somehow be the winners in their crazy working life rat races.
Oh, and I loved the ‘postcards’ from Florence, Istanbul and London and the mouth-watering run down of each wonderful meal!
A really fun read.
August 11, 2014
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a sucker for chick lit with a culinary theme book. When I saw the cover and the title for Lisa Joy’s Yes, Chef!, I knew that I have to add this book into my tbr list.
Yes, Chef! was definitely a good debut by Lisa Joy. The book wasn’t what I was expecting to read, judging from the blurb. But it was interesting to read how Becca Stone was going to survive working as the Damien’s PA. Becca was a great character. I have to admit that she wasn’t very likable at first, but I slowly start to like her as I watch how she grew up and finding out what she really want throughout the story.
My only complain is that the story was a bit rushed towards the end. I do think that the book could be, and should be longer. I wish there were more moments/scene of Becca working with Damien. I’d love to know more about how was it to work as a celebrity chef’s PA. All that juicy drama and stuff.
Overall, Yes, Chef was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to those who love a book with a hint of culinary theme.
I’m a sucker for chick lit with a culinary theme book. When I saw the cover and the title for Lisa Joy’s Yes, Chef!, I knew that I have to add this book into my tbr list.
Yes, Chef! was definitely a good debut by Lisa Joy. The book wasn’t what I was expecting to read, judging from the blurb. But it was interesting to read how Becca Stone was going to survive working as the Damien’s PA. Becca was a great character. I have to admit that she wasn’t very likable at first, but I slowly start to like her as I watch how she grew up and finding out what she really want throughout the story.
My only complain is that the story was a bit rushed towards the end. I do think that the book could be, and should be longer. I wish there were more moments/scene of Becca working with Damien. I’d love to know more about how was it to work as a celebrity chef’s PA. All that juicy drama and stuff.
Overall, Yes, Chef was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to those who love a book with a hint of culinary theme.
November 22, 2014
Yes Chef! is a foray into the world of celebrity chefs and all their egotistical glory.
Becca Stone works in the reservation area for Damien Malone's numerous restaurants (think call centre)
When his PA leaves, her name comes up for her replacement and so begins a mad, busy time bowing to her egotistical, woman chasing boss, his pregnant wife who has no grip on reality and meanwhile her friends don't see anything of her.
This was a fun book but at times it did seem a bit dark to me, I wonder if that's because it had glimpses on truth behind it. As the story progresses Becca has to come to terms with her job and lifestyle and finally decide what is important in her life.
Becca Stone works in the reservation area for Damien Malone's numerous restaurants (think call centre)
When his PA leaves, her name comes up for her replacement and so begins a mad, busy time bowing to her egotistical, woman chasing boss, his pregnant wife who has no grip on reality and meanwhile her friends don't see anything of her.
This was a fun book but at times it did seem a bit dark to me, I wonder if that's because it had glimpses on truth behind it. As the story progresses Becca has to come to terms with her job and lifestyle and finally decide what is important in her life.
July 31, 2014
As debut releases go, this one is a winner. Miss Joy has an entertaining writing voice and I enjoyed her humour. The characters were colourful and well-developed, and the scenes well set. She brings a warm charm to the story with Dean, the manager at a rival restaurant, and you will leave Altostratus deeply in love with Dean and the food. The story ebbs and flows with beautifully crafted skill. I found myself totally engaged and only put my Kindle down to catch some sleep. This is one of those books I'll definitely read again.
For the full review and interview:
http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-oth...
For the full review and interview:
http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-oth...
June 17, 2015
I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to get into, but then I was hooked and I did want to know how it all turned out. I loved reading about the food and I thought it was actually refreshing to read about a character who wasn't always likeable. I read it over a few days, it's an easy read. Warning- there is some explicit language. I know it's an issue for some so just putting it out there! It didn't bother me. I will definitely read her next one ...
July 5, 2014
I was excited to see a 'Jacq' actually included in a book and yet mortified by the creature it was attached to.
Cracked me up with the sassiness, a real eye opener for the industry and possibly a Bridget Jones for Gen Y...?
Cracked me up with the sassiness, a real eye opener for the industry and possibly a Bridget Jones for Gen Y...?
October 11, 2014
Review to come!
June 9, 2024
Really easy to read and decent story line, finished it very quickly. Good turn your brain off kind of book!
Read
February 16, 2015Copy received from Penguin Australia via Netgalley for an honest review.
Ever wondered what it would be to work for Gordon Ramsey? That it the kind of vibe I got from Yes, Chef!
This is a comfortable, quite predictable story. You pretty much know where the story is going to end up, but it is the ride we are taken on that is the fun part.
I have to admit, for the first say 1/3 of the book, our main character Becca kind of annoyed me. She felt pretty self centred and more than a bit whiny to me and it did grate - but she did get a lot better as the book continued.
Her boss Damien is an arse. There is no other word to describe him. I wonder if these celebrity chefs are really all this bad???? What does make them celebrities really any way? Hmm things to ponder!
I did mostly love Becca's circle of friends/workmates. Loved the banter between them, like you can only get with people you truly love.
I couldn't help but think of eating food in exotic locations while I was reading this book. The imagery, especially of the "road trips" I guess you would call them had me imagining the sights, sounds and smells of the places she visits.
At times I did want to knock some sense into Becca, as some of her choices, both personally and professionally at times made me question what the heck she was thinking.
But overall, this was a quick enjoyable read. If you have a few hours spare, grab a comfy chair, a cuppa and this book and lose yourself in their world.
Ever wondered what it would be to work for Gordon Ramsey? That it the kind of vibe I got from Yes, Chef!
This is a comfortable, quite predictable story. You pretty much know where the story is going to end up, but it is the ride we are taken on that is the fun part.
I have to admit, for the first say 1/3 of the book, our main character Becca kind of annoyed me. She felt pretty self centred and more than a bit whiny to me and it did grate - but she did get a lot better as the book continued.
Her boss Damien is an arse. There is no other word to describe him. I wonder if these celebrity chefs are really all this bad???? What does make them celebrities really any way? Hmm things to ponder!
I did mostly love Becca's circle of friends/workmates. Loved the banter between them, like you can only get with people you truly love.
I couldn't help but think of eating food in exotic locations while I was reading this book. The imagery, especially of the "road trips" I guess you would call them had me imagining the sights, sounds and smells of the places she visits.
At times I did want to knock some sense into Becca, as some of her choices, both personally and professionally at times made me question what the heck she was thinking.
But overall, this was a quick enjoyable read. If you have a few hours spare, grab a comfy chair, a cuppa and this book and lose yourself in their world.
August 16, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Sassy foodie Becca Stone is over her job taking reservations in one of London's most successful restaurant empires. So when she is unexpectedly catapulted into working as PA to celebrity chef Damien Malone, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.
Becca is quickly caught up in an exciting whirlwind of travel, reality TV and opening nights, and even her usually abysmal love life takes a turn for the better. But as Becca is slowly consumed by the chaos of life in the spotlight, she begins to lose touch with her friends, her heart and even with reality. Working with Damien has its challenges and she is soon struggling with his increasingly outrageous demands and sleazy advances, all while managing the ridiculous requests of his self-centred wife. It takes a disastrous trip to Italy for Becca to realise that she may have thrown away exactly what she's been looking for all along.
*Closer to 4 stars, than 3*
This was a fun and entertaining read. I had no real expectations going in but the premise sounded interesting so I thought I would have a look - and was pleased that I did.
While Becca wasn't exactly the most interesting character in this book, she was certainly the star. She is a bit whiny and completely lacking in self-confidence, she does mature throughout the book and becomes quite a strong-willed woman. Her relationships are a disaster - except for her friends. They seem to put up with her, despite her failings...as all good friends should.
Damien seems a bit like a Gordon Ramsay cut out - loud, abusive, demanding and utterly unpredictable - so I guess I liked him. Most people seem to think that is a bad thing but I have seen enough shows relating to kitchens/cooking to know that highly-demanding roles such as head chef brings out those characteristics.
The rest of the cast - and it is a big cast - fill their roles nicely. There is plenty of wonderful dialogue between them and the humour level is pretty high throughout this book.
I wasn't expecting high-brow literature with this story - and I didn't get it either. And that is a good thing. The story sweeps along, the characters work well within the plot and the laugh-out-loud funny moments were exactly what I was hoping for.
Paul
ARH
Sassy foodie Becca Stone is over her job taking reservations in one of London's most successful restaurant empires. So when she is unexpectedly catapulted into working as PA to celebrity chef Damien Malone, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.
Becca is quickly caught up in an exciting whirlwind of travel, reality TV and opening nights, and even her usually abysmal love life takes a turn for the better. But as Becca is slowly consumed by the chaos of life in the spotlight, she begins to lose touch with her friends, her heart and even with reality. Working with Damien has its challenges and she is soon struggling with his increasingly outrageous demands and sleazy advances, all while managing the ridiculous requests of his self-centred wife. It takes a disastrous trip to Italy for Becca to realise that she may have thrown away exactly what she's been looking for all along.
*Closer to 4 stars, than 3*
This was a fun and entertaining read. I had no real expectations going in but the premise sounded interesting so I thought I would have a look - and was pleased that I did.
While Becca wasn't exactly the most interesting character in this book, she was certainly the star. She is a bit whiny and completely lacking in self-confidence, she does mature throughout the book and becomes quite a strong-willed woman. Her relationships are a disaster - except for her friends. They seem to put up with her, despite her failings...as all good friends should.
Damien seems a bit like a Gordon Ramsay cut out - loud, abusive, demanding and utterly unpredictable - so I guess I liked him. Most people seem to think that is a bad thing but I have seen enough shows relating to kitchens/cooking to know that highly-demanding roles such as head chef brings out those characteristics.
The rest of the cast - and it is a big cast - fill their roles nicely. There is plenty of wonderful dialogue between them and the humour level is pretty high throughout this book.
I wasn't expecting high-brow literature with this story - and I didn't get it either. And that is a good thing. The story sweeps along, the characters work well within the plot and the laugh-out-loud funny moments were exactly what I was hoping for.
Paul
ARH
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