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Love From Scratch
First impressions are overrated. At least that’s what Jenn Harvey, a young baker with big dreams, hopes after her awkward first encounter with Luke Bradley. Regardless, Jenn is in love. Luke is every girl’s hunky, kind, funny...it’s unfortunate he’s dating her friend.
As complicated as her love life (or lack of one) is getting, Jenn’s career is just as rocky. She dreams of opening her own bakery one day. But is risking everything for her dream worth it?
Through a series of hilarious bumps in the road, Jenn learns that, in both love and in life, you don’t always need to follow the recipe to get the perfect results.
Don't miss Love From Scratch by Summer Dowell. If you like laugh out loud moments and swoon-worthy moments, then this is a rom-com you won't put down!
As complicated as her love life (or lack of one) is getting, Jenn’s career is just as rocky. She dreams of opening her own bakery one day. But is risking everything for her dream worth it?
Through a series of hilarious bumps in the road, Jenn learns that, in both love and in life, you don’t always need to follow the recipe to get the perfect results.
Don't miss Love From Scratch by Summer Dowell. If you like laugh out loud moments and swoon-worthy moments, then this is a rom-com you won't put down!
272 pages, ebook
Published November 5, 2018
279 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Summer Dowell
18 books226 followersSummer Dowell is a romantic comedy author on the side of her main gig which is being mom to her six children. She is obsessed with reading and creating stories in her free time. Her most noted other skills include making a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich and doing massive loads of laundry.
Summer holds a bachelors degree in Business Marketing from Brigham Young University.
She currently resides with her family in Southern California.
Summer holds a bachelors degree in Business Marketing from Brigham Young University.
She currently resides with her family in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 20, 2020
DNF at 28% Nope. Just nope. Just as one example:
Main character man: "Girls are better at making things look pretty."
Main character woman: "I'm not sure... if I should pull out a feminist protest at that comment."
MCM: "Haha, are you a feminist?"
MCW: I thought for a moment. "No"
Main character man: "Girls are better at making things look pretty."
Main character woman: "I'm not sure... if I should pull out a feminist protest at that comment."
MCM: "Haha, are you a feminist?"
MCW: I thought for a moment. "No"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 4, 2020Recipes plus a cute romance
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There was a lot of witty moments, and I loved the recipe shares. I also liked that this was realistic without all the drama. I felt like this was a fun romance that wasn't far-fetched like so many that I read. I especially liked this like, "I’m hoping my autopsy report will read, passed from a bacon overdose." Great characters.
Content: Clean
Language: Clean
Religious: No
Happy reading!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There was a lot of witty moments, and I loved the recipe shares. I also liked that this was realistic without all the drama. I felt like this was a fun romance that wasn't far-fetched like so many that I read. I especially liked this like, "I’m hoping my autopsy report will read, passed from a bacon overdose." Great characters.
Content: Clean
Language: Clean
Religious: No
Happy reading!!
August 21, 2022
I love books that revolve around food and this one even included some recipes! Jenn is a whiz in the kitchen and when her roommate brings home her new boyfriend, Jenn can't help but fall for him. But hello--girl code! It's a good thing that over the years I've matured because I don't think I would have handle a similar situation nearly as well when I was a young adult.
Luke is every girl's dream. Not only is he hardworking and smart, but he's charming, sweet, and oh, so swoony. The encounters and encouragement had me melting like one of Jenn's sticks of butter, but the plot thickens as wrenches are thrown into hopes and dreams.
Dowell has a way with words that grips me heart and soul with their humor, heartfelt sweetness, and relatability. This one was a recipe for swoony sighs and smiles and I devoured each page, much like I would a warm chocolate chip cookie. Or make that a double chocolate chip cookie.
Content: mild romance
Luke is every girl's dream. Not only is he hardworking and smart, but he's charming, sweet, and oh, so swoony. The encounters and encouragement had me melting like one of Jenn's sticks of butter, but the plot thickens as wrenches are thrown into hopes and dreams.
Dowell has a way with words that grips me heart and soul with their humor, heartfelt sweetness, and relatability. This one was a recipe for swoony sighs and smiles and I devoured each page, much like I would a warm chocolate chip cookie. Or make that a double chocolate chip cookie.
Content: mild romance
April 13, 2019
I wish it could have been better
I'm so torn. It was a page turner as much as any 4 or 5 star from me but my problem was just with the actual amount of time they spent together throughout the book. I get the crush-factor but I don't understand where it became love because they only ever had a few interactions and none of them were very deep. There was soooooo much time, however, spent on describing every single detail of how to knead dough or whisk egg whites that I felt this is more of a cook book than a romance novel...which would have been fine if I had been looking for a cookbook. I wasnt. The witty humor and cute lead character kept me flipping the pages and I did screen shot one of the recipes so that's where the three stars come from. I did like her friendship with Jessica. Even though she didn't handle things right, I felt it was realistic and I liked that she never straight up betrayed Jess. I probably would have preferred a dual perspective so I could have gotten to know Luke and maybe better understand why she fell "in love" with him despite very limited interactions...??? I feel like it was lacking a lot where it concerns him. But not a total fail. I'll read more from this author because I felt she told a cute story and created some great scenes. This one just didn't fully round out, but maybe it was just not her best...???
I'm so torn. It was a page turner as much as any 4 or 5 star from me but my problem was just with the actual amount of time they spent together throughout the book. I get the crush-factor but I don't understand where it became love because they only ever had a few interactions and none of them were very deep. There was soooooo much time, however, spent on describing every single detail of how to knead dough or whisk egg whites that I felt this is more of a cook book than a romance novel...which would have been fine if I had been looking for a cookbook. I wasnt. The witty humor and cute lead character kept me flipping the pages and I did screen shot one of the recipes so that's where the three stars come from. I did like her friendship with Jessica. Even though she didn't handle things right, I felt it was realistic and I liked that she never straight up betrayed Jess. I probably would have preferred a dual perspective so I could have gotten to know Luke and maybe better understand why she fell "in love" with him despite very limited interactions...??? I feel like it was lacking a lot where it concerns him. But not a total fail. I'll read more from this author because I felt she told a cute story and created some great scenes. This one just didn't fully round out, but maybe it was just not her best...???
January 8, 2019
This book is the type to warm you up inside and I really enjoyed it for several reasons. Firstly, the ending is the one the character deserves and it doesn’t happen expectedly - really. I mean, it doesn’t surprise you and I was waiting for it to happen, but the epilogue is heartwarming. The main character is real and it feels like I could actually be her (I’m just not that good at baking), she has some faults but don’t we all? And there’s quite a sneaky little plot twist thrown in a couple of times.
Also featuring: one long living fish named Athena.
4 stars given because the story overall is good and well written but at times the narration just feels a bit underdeveloped.
Also featuring: one long living fish named Athena.
4 stars given because the story overall is good and well written but at times the narration just feels a bit underdeveloped.
January 23, 2022
adorable and relatable
Oh my goodness, here was a time I lived a situation like this and can admit I didn’t handle it nearly as well as the author did. I loved the integrity with which this best-friend’s guy situation was handled! Plus, the characters were absolutely darling and fun. Loved this light, happy read.
Oh my goodness, here was a time I lived a situation like this and can admit I didn’t handle it nearly as well as the author did. I loved the integrity with which this best-friend’s guy situation was handled! Plus, the characters were absolutely darling and fun. Loved this light, happy read.
January 19, 2021
Nice, clean, sweet, fun romance
My only complaint is she gave a negative, moody character the name carly, lol. That's my daughter's name & she's so opposite of that character.
I was kind of nervous starting the book from the description. Crushing on your BFF’s guy is shaky ground. I thought how the story unfolded was great. Definitely had moments that made me laugh. I enjoyed all the recipes in the book but not part of the story. This was a fun and relaxing read. It had a nice flow. The H's personality was infectious! The h & H were both written great. Low tension read so perfect to unwind to. Plus, nice flow to the story.
My only complaint is she gave a negative, moody character the name carly, lol. That's my daughter's name & she's so opposite of that character.
I was kind of nervous starting the book from the description. Crushing on your BFF’s guy is shaky ground. I thought how the story unfolded was great. Definitely had moments that made me laugh. I enjoyed all the recipes in the book but not part of the story. This was a fun and relaxing read. It had a nice flow. The H's personality was infectious! The h & H were both written great. Low tension read so perfect to unwind to. Plus, nice flow to the story.
January 6, 2021
This was a cute story! I laughed out loud many times. Plus it came with recipes!
April 26, 2021
Fun, fast read.
Great book! Funny, witty and lighthearted. A little predictable, but a cute story. Loved the recipes. I saved the chocolate chip cookie one!
Great book! Funny, witty and lighthearted. A little predictable, but a cute story. Loved the recipes. I saved the chocolate chip cookie one!
December 13, 2020
Awesome read
This was a super cute book! It even had recipes lol. I have been baking bread the last year or so and the descriptions were on point and the characters were very funny.
This was a super cute book! It even had recipes lol. I have been baking bread the last year or so and the descriptions were on point and the characters were very funny.
December 13, 2020
I had read one of the author’s other books and it was cute, so I figured I’d read through her catalog. This book lost me at the heroine proclaiming that she was not a feminist, followed immediately about a discussion of how some girls wear too much makeup and are too high maintenance. Yikes. DNF at 28% and returned the other books I was going to read to Kindle Unlimited.
November 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this book but I don’t understand the marketing as “a laugh out loud romantic comedy”. Huh? I didn’t see any funny parts at all. It wasn’t dramatic but I just didn’t see the humour. Just a nice, clean romance that was a fun read.
January 11, 2019
Fast and fun read. Not typically the genre I read - I could have used 40% less swooning - but the story kept me interested and the writing kept me entertained throughout. I really enjoyed it.
February 10, 2021
Number one, biggest, most important rule of girl-code— never ever, ever fall in love with your best friend’s boyfriend. Seriously, it’s the plot line for many failed friendships. Apparently Summer Dowell ignored that memo, because she gave us Love from Scratch, and I am so glad that she did.
I don’t know how she did it, but not only did Summer create totally relatable characters, but also a totally believable story line. She navigated the waters of friendship beautifully and gave us a narrative few do well with.
Love from Scratch follows Jenn as she tries not to fall hopelessly in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. She fails— miserably. I love how Summer created the transition, making the number one girl code failure into, actually, kind of acceptable. If this were my real life I’d maybe feel a bit weird, but I would have done the same.
I love how Luke is a champion for Jenn from day one, and because of his encouragement she had the confidence to follow through — even without him by her side.
🤓 Final thoughts: Summer baked up something amazing here.
🧼 Squeaky Clean: mild language, steamy kisses
I don’t know how she did it, but not only did Summer create totally relatable characters, but also a totally believable story line. She navigated the waters of friendship beautifully and gave us a narrative few do well with.
Love from Scratch follows Jenn as she tries not to fall hopelessly in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. She fails— miserably. I love how Summer created the transition, making the number one girl code failure into, actually, kind of acceptable. If this were my real life I’d maybe feel a bit weird, but I would have done the same.
I love how Luke is a champion for Jenn from day one, and because of his encouragement she had the confidence to follow through — even without him by her side.
🤓 Final thoughts: Summer baked up something amazing here.
🧼 Squeaky Clean: mild language, steamy kisses
May 4, 2021
I’ll be honest, when I read what this book was about, I was a little hesitant to read it. When Jenn meets her best friend’s new boyfriend for the first time, it’s practically love at first sight on her end. Too bad he’s taken. See why I was a little hesitant? I didn’t want to read about a guy coming between friends. But I trust Summer after reading and loving several of her other books, and I wanted to read more of her books. And I’m glad I did! This is was such a cute story! And don’t worry - it all works out and there’s no fighting over a guy. And Jenn’s a baker, and there are yummy sounding recipes in here, too! I marked several that I want to try sometime.
September 15, 2022
Painfully Slow
I was so excited to try this book but was so disappointed. This entire book was so slow! It wasn’t until 80-85% of the way through the book that you actually got to the main story. I thought it would be a funny book but I literally never laughed or even found myself smiling during it. I kept waiting for it to get better & it was just awful all around. Once you did get to the main plot line, it just didn’t really make any sense. I found myself thinking “this is what it’s all led up to? Seriously, that’s it?” Don’t waste your time unless you like reading basically a cookbook.
I was so excited to try this book but was so disappointed. This entire book was so slow! It wasn’t until 80-85% of the way through the book that you actually got to the main story. I thought it would be a funny book but I literally never laughed or even found myself smiling during it. I kept waiting for it to get better & it was just awful all around. Once you did get to the main plot line, it just didn’t really make any sense. I found myself thinking “this is what it’s all led up to? Seriously, that’s it?” Don’t waste your time unless you like reading basically a cookbook.
June 3, 2024
I knew this would a a lighthearted, easy read. I love cooking & baking & did enjoy the fact that recipes were included. What ultimately drew me to this was the curiosity that it was AI generated in the audiobook version & let me just say, there’s a lot of room for improvement in this department. Lots of pronunciations, intonations & tone were missing as a result & truly lacked evoking emotion as a non-AI audiobook narrator would.
Overall, the storyline was just okay & did have some cringe-worthy writing, in my opinion. So the combination of an okay storyline & odd AI narration didn’t put this as a top contender for me.
Overall, the storyline was just okay & did have some cringe-worthy writing, in my opinion. So the combination of an okay storyline & odd AI narration didn’t put this as a top contender for me.
January 6, 2021
Not sure how this book got so many great reviews.
It was cute but there was barely any romance and it was kinda weird that she like we best friends boyfriend...
The build up was sooooo slow and the book and story was just okay. It was like a hallmark movie. It was just very slow moving and mediocre.
Good for young readers. Clean and greya for anyone interesting in baking and maybe a dash of romance
It was cute but there was barely any romance and it was kinda weird that she like we best friends boyfriend...
The build up was sooooo slow and the book and story was just okay. It was like a hallmark movie. It was just very slow moving and mediocre.
Good for young readers. Clean and greya for anyone interesting in baking and maybe a dash of romance
December 14, 2021
A clean romance that I almost gave up on.
I'm conflicted about what to write. I almost gave up because I don't like romance stories that have that hero with someone else for most of the story let alone with a BFF. But I persisted. It was okay I suppose. But it wasn't a comedy, it was just romance and the lost star was because of mislabelling the genre. Publishers these days seem to label all romance as romcom forgetting that it means romantic comedy.
I'm conflicted about what to write. I almost gave up because I don't like romance stories that have that hero with someone else for most of the story let alone with a BFF. But I persisted. It was okay I suppose. But it wasn't a comedy, it was just romance and the lost star was because of mislabelling the genre. Publishers these days seem to label all romance as romcom forgetting that it means romantic comedy.
June 27, 2020
What a cute book! The food descriptions had me craving the yummy-ness and wanting to get in the kitchen for some serious baking. The characters were fun and the premise was entertaining. A quick and delectable read!
Thank you to the author for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Thank you to the author for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
August 9, 2020
You'll be doing some serious LOL-ing!
Gosh, this was such a cute, super-fun read! I loved it so much! And there are yummy recipes within it, people! Get baking! The story was really engaging and sweet:) I loved all her awkwardness and how their connection was strong and real. Another absolute must-read from the wonderful Summer Dowell:)
Gosh, this was such a cute, super-fun read! I loved it so much! And there are yummy recipes within it, people! Get baking! The story was really engaging and sweet:) I loved all her awkwardness and how their connection was strong and real. Another absolute must-read from the wonderful Summer Dowell:)
February 6, 2021
This is not a book written by someone who actually bake, and certainly not pies. Butter-flavored Crisco? Really? Plus, she describes making choux pastry with buttermilk, though her recipe has none. Plus, if you’re catering lunches and events you have to make more than sweets. This was not well thought out
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book just because it took a different approach to romance books. Some relationships are just a bit unconventional in the beginning. I also love the recipes ( which I will be trying). Only thing is I think the epilogue could have been left out just because it felt rushed unlike the organic flow of the book .
July 17, 2023
Nope. Can't do it. I really dislike novels where the characters get together after pulling shady shit on other people. They both suck, but honestly I don't like Jenna at all and I know some people think the concept of "girl code" is stupid, but I would NEVER date a friend's ex, especially when that ex was a douche bag like Luke was in doing so. This entire thing was just gross.
November 19, 2019
Clean humorous and romance
I really enjoyed the wittiness of this book. Clean and romantic. It had me snickering a few times. It didn't have a huge cliff hanger but did make me wonder how the ending would be.
I really enjoyed the wittiness of this book. Clean and romantic. It had me snickering a few times. It didn't have a huge cliff hanger but did make me wonder how the ending would be.
June 28, 2020
Entertaining and witty characters! Fun and easy read. Love the recipes! Jenn goes through a lot with her feelings for her best friend's boyfriend. Enjoyable story.
Thank you to the author for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Thank you to the author for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 20, 2020
Good things happen....
....to those who wait. Enjoyed the book. Definitely will try out some of the recipes.
Finding true love vs breaking the cardinal rule of never dating a best friend's ex. It is funny how communication can solve most problems.
Enjoy the read. I did.
....to those who wait. Enjoyed the book. Definitely will try out some of the recipes.
Finding true love vs breaking the cardinal rule of never dating a best friend's ex. It is funny how communication can solve most problems.
Enjoy the read. I did.
February 9, 2021
Sweet romance
Who has been attracted to someone we thought would not ever be interested in us. Jenn is a great example of a woman who has a vision of her business life. Patience rules the day.
Who has been attracted to someone we thought would not ever be interested in us. Jenn is a great example of a woman who has a vision of her business life. Patience rules the day.
April 19, 2021
Cute story and good recipes
Cute story. Annoying break in the middle that made it feel like two books especially when she retold the beginning as if it was starting again. Style choice that I don’t care for. One example it got past that it’a fun again.
Cute story. Annoying break in the middle that made it feel like two books especially when she retold the beginning as if it was starting again. Style choice that I don’t care for. One example it got past that it’a fun again.
July 23, 2024
NOPE! DNF’d at 40%- I wanted to like this book. I even gave it a few more chapters after the “I’m not a feminist” chapter (cue eye roll). But this book just wasn’t it. Beyond the fact that the recipes (former chef) are off- the FMC was annoying and the MMC falls so unbelievably flat. Just NO!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews