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Simmer Down
In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.
Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.
But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.
The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.
But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.
The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2020
229 people are currently reading
11286 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Smith
20 books927 followersSarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She is also one half of the romance writing duo Sarah Skye. Sarah also writes tearjerker fiction under the name Sarah Echavarre
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,115 reviews
August 27, 2021
Oh no! Nooooooo!!!! Why something starts extremely adorable, hot, tempting and then suddenly with a quick snap of fingers, turning into something repetitively angsty, extremely melodramatic because of foolishness and immaturity of the characters. I want to grab both of their heads and hit each other.
This book started as five starred reading for me with enemies to lovers theme, delicious food recipes, emotional family back stories, incredible chemistry of hot blooded heroine and charming British hero. I honestly thought this book is much better than Faker which was also lovely enemies to lovers novel of the author.
There are so many potentials with growing, intense romance, steamy sex scenes and seeing sweet, caring parts of hero but.... last third part of the book turned into never ending drama: at least three times, but protagonists misunderstood each other or they couldn’t come clean about their feelings. I wanted to scream at their faces to grow the hell up and make a proper conversation.
Especially Nikki, loyal, fiery, smart, straightforward heroine acted like true extremely stubborn drama queen. Sweet pie Callum turned into the hottest doormat of the recent romance novels history.
So the last third part earned two stars from me. And as an average: I’m giving three stars.
I still love the writing style of the author. She can build likable, hot blooded characters and moving, riveting, heart churning, hot, sexy romance stories. She perfectly builds enemies to lovers theme with sizzling, undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. So I still want to read more of her works.
But this book’s last third didn’t fit my expectations. I still enjoyed the first half!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing this promising ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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This book started as five starred reading for me with enemies to lovers theme, delicious food recipes, emotional family back stories, incredible chemistry of hot blooded heroine and charming British hero. I honestly thought this book is much better than Faker which was also lovely enemies to lovers novel of the author.
There are so many potentials with growing, intense romance, steamy sex scenes and seeing sweet, caring parts of hero but.... last third part of the book turned into never ending drama: at least three times, but protagonists misunderstood each other or they couldn’t come clean about their feelings. I wanted to scream at their faces to grow the hell up and make a proper conversation.
Especially Nikki, loyal, fiery, smart, straightforward heroine acted like true extremely stubborn drama queen. Sweet pie Callum turned into the hottest doormat of the recent romance novels history.
So the last third part earned two stars from me. And as an average: I’m giving three stars.
I still love the writing style of the author. She can build likable, hot blooded characters and moving, riveting, heart churning, hot, sexy romance stories. She perfectly builds enemies to lovers theme with sizzling, undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. So I still want to read more of her works.
But this book’s last third didn’t fit my expectations. I still enjoyed the first half!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing this promising ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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July 31, 2021DNF @ 20%
I just didn’t really care for the characters which made this one difficult to get through unfortunately
I just didn’t really care for the characters which made this one difficult to get through unfortunately
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April 22, 2021Listen. I know that I ridicule Faker (Sarah Smith's debut novel) all the time. But what Faker lacked in organic romantic development, characterization, plot, and writing quality, it made up for with comedic gold like "He is the god of thunder dipped in a milk bath" and "I’d wager his genes have never been infiltrated by a person of color."
Faker was hilariously bad. But Simmer Down is just so bad it's not even funny.
-
Initial thoughts:
📌 Any Filipino can tell that this book was written by a Fil-Am author because, among all the amazing Filipino dishes in our culture, lumpia is somehow portrayed as the pinnacle of our cuisine. No shade but. 👀
📌 Simmer Down doesn't know the significant differences between enemies-to-lovers and rivals-to-lovers, and it really shows in the story. Moreover, the root of their "rivalry" is so dumb, especially since the characters are in their late twenties.
📌 You know that the chemistry between two characters is nonexistent when they have to resort to a "game" of asking each other questions to "get to know one another better" and to learn how to tolerate each other. I'm so sick and tired of this trope.
📌 The dialogue was really awkward and forced. Especially the conversations that would lead to sex.
📌 I'm personally offended that the unseasoned cuisine of colonizers could possibly hold up against Filipino food. Fish and chips over adobo? Imagine the lack of taste.
📌 Speaking of, I am not a fan of italicizing "foreign" (aka non-English) words in stories. If you're going to use Filipino or Tagalog words, write them with your whole chest.
📌 Deconstructed lumpia??? Sacrilegious.
📌 Getting turned on at the sight of a man cuddling a cat to the point of masturbating about it??? I'm too sober for this, ma'am. (Disclaimer: I'm exaggerating this scene. But she does get turned on by the cat cuddles. And masturbation does happen shortly afterwards. Correlation, not causation.)
📌 Terrible sex scenes. Callum growls everything he says, while Nikki always responds with a howl.
📌 Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the author tries really hard to give her main character a "funny and quirky" voice that her writing comes off as really uncomfortable.
📌 My favorite scene is when Tate and Emmie make a five-minute appearance. Marvel Cinematic Universe is shaking.
📌 The miscommunication trope is very strong in this one. Even more so than in Faker.
TL;DR:
Milky glow > light honey glow.
Not recommended
* I received a digital galley of Simmer Down from PRH in exchange for an honest review.
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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Faker was hilariously bad. But Simmer Down is just so bad it's not even funny.
-
Initial thoughts:
📌 Any Filipino can tell that this book was written by a Fil-Am author because, among all the amazing Filipino dishes in our culture, lumpia is somehow portrayed as the pinnacle of our cuisine. No shade but. 👀
📌 Simmer Down doesn't know the significant differences between enemies-to-lovers and rivals-to-lovers, and it really shows in the story. Moreover, the root of their "rivalry" is so dumb, especially since the characters are in their late twenties.
📌 You know that the chemistry between two characters is nonexistent when they have to resort to a "game" of asking each other questions to "get to know one another better" and to learn how to tolerate each other. I'm so sick and tired of this trope.
📌 The dialogue was really awkward and forced. Especially the conversations that would lead to sex.
📌 I'm personally offended that the unseasoned cuisine of colonizers could possibly hold up against Filipino food. Fish and chips over adobo? Imagine the lack of taste.
📌 Speaking of, I am not a fan of italicizing "foreign" (aka non-English) words in stories. If you're going to use Filipino or Tagalog words, write them with your whole chest.
📌 Deconstructed lumpia??? Sacrilegious.
📌 Getting turned on at the sight of a man cuddling a cat to the point of masturbating about it??? I'm too sober for this, ma'am. (Disclaimer: I'm exaggerating this scene. But she does get turned on by the cat cuddles. And masturbation does happen shortly afterwards. Correlation, not causation.)
📌 Terrible sex scenes. Callum growls everything he says, while Nikki always responds with a howl.
📌 Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the author tries really hard to give her main character a "funny and quirky" voice that her writing comes off as really uncomfortable.
📌 My favorite scene is when Tate and Emmie make a five-minute appearance. Marvel Cinematic Universe is shaking.
📌 The miscommunication trope is very strong in this one. Even more so than in Faker.
TL;DR:
Milky glow > light honey glow.
Not recommended
* I received a digital galley of Simmer Down from PRH in exchange for an honest review.
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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September 8, 2020
Loved all the food vibes of this book! The romance was hate to love which is my favorite trope of all time. This was a fun, romantic and swoon worthy book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
January 6, 2021
3.5 stars
This is the second book I've read by Sarah Smith and I enjoyed it even more than the first. It started out a bit on the enemies to lovers track but then shifted to something else.
Nikki and her mom run a food truck in Maui and though it's not her dream job, it's important to her to be there and help her mom. Things are on track for them until another rival food truck parks right next to them. Callum and his brother's food truck. Callum and Nikki bicker a lot at first. They have great banter. I could see the writing on the wall... these two had some passion between them.
I liked all the food in the story and how loyal Nikki was to her family. I also adored Callum. I wasn't thrilled with all the extra drama towards the end, but I was still happy with out it turned out in the end!
This is the second book I've read by Sarah Smith and I enjoyed it even more than the first. It started out a bit on the enemies to lovers track but then shifted to something else.
Nikki and her mom run a food truck in Maui and though it's not her dream job, it's important to her to be there and help her mom. Things are on track for them until another rival food truck parks right next to them. Callum and his brother's food truck. Callum and Nikki bicker a lot at first. They have great banter. I could see the writing on the wall... these two had some passion between them.
I liked all the food in the story and how loyal Nikki was to her family. I also adored Callum. I wasn't thrilled with all the extra drama towards the end, but I was still happy with out it turned out in the end!
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Donnabella Mortell
Narration Rating:4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 11 hours and 22 minutes
March 18, 2020
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of SIMMER DOWN and it was a truly wonderful escape read. Nikki was a likeable, relatable and authentic heroine whose motivations made me root from her from the very beginning. Callum was a sharp, sexy hero and Sarah Smith did a great job of unravelling his true (sweet, protective) colors as the story developed.
From the first chapter Nikki and Callum’s interactions were fraught with sexual tension and great banter! I found myself devouring this book in just one day. It’s a perfect enemies-to-lovers read, hitting all the right notes for the trope. It’s sexy, it’s funny and it has just the perfect amount of emotional moments and angst. I LOVED it.
And I have to mention that I loved Maui as a setting. Sarah Smith really brought Hawaii to life.
Now a 1-click author for me, Sarah Smith is a true talent. Fantastic writing, great characters, and sizzling chemistry make this contemporary romance a MUST READ.
From the first chapter Nikki and Callum’s interactions were fraught with sexual tension and great banter! I found myself devouring this book in just one day. It’s a perfect enemies-to-lovers read, hitting all the right notes for the trope. It’s sexy, it’s funny and it has just the perfect amount of emotional moments and angst. I LOVED it.
And I have to mention that I loved Maui as a setting. Sarah Smith really brought Hawaii to life.
Now a 1-click author for me, Sarah Smith is a true talent. Fantastic writing, great characters, and sizzling chemistry make this contemporary romance a MUST READ.
August 3, 2020
If you like contemporary romance, you’ll enjoy this novel.
Nikki quits her dream job in Seattle to help her mother with a food truck in Maui. There are food truck etiquette rules, and when Cullum James parks his and his brother’s food truck right next to Nikki’s, she’s happy to inform him that he’s breaking them. This sets off a rivalry that leads to a steamy romance that they have to keep secret because they’re competing against each other in the Maui Food Festival.
This is well-written, and I liked all the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES OCTOBER 13, 2020.
Nikki quits her dream job in Seattle to help her mother with a food truck in Maui. There are food truck etiquette rules, and when Cullum James parks his and his brother’s food truck right next to Nikki’s, she’s happy to inform him that he’s breaking them. This sets off a rivalry that leads to a steamy romance that they have to keep secret because they’re competing against each other in the Maui Food Festival.
This is well-written, and I liked all the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES OCTOBER 13, 2020.
September 1, 2020
3.5 stars -- This book was a fun take on rivals to lovers trope (and I loved the food truck element-- definitely wait to read this when you're not hungry). However, there were 2 things that kept it from being as good as I'd hoped: 1) I'm always somewhat of a hard sell on the "let's keep it casual and not catch feelings" trope and 2) by introducing that trope midway through the book, it really took the wind out of the sails of the pacing, leading to the back half being filled with (IMO) annoying miscommunication plot beats for the last ~40%. I did really like the characters & world, so that carried things through somewhat for me, but I wish there had been a longer burn before they actually started getting together
September 8, 2020
Fun, sexy, and sweet. Lots of smiles with a nicely tied up ending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say this book got me in my emotions a few times while I was reading it. But it also had many areas that annoyed me too.
I absolutely love the premise of the story and the characters were beautifully matched. This is a sexy spicy little story that really ramps up the passion for not only food but for the delicious Callum.
If you were a foodie, then you’re going to understand the passion these characters feel for their craft and for each other.... as friends with bennies.
But sometimes I disliked how Nikki always made it about her. Her problem, her dropping everything for her parents, especially her mother. I have an issue with that. In that aspect, I felt the story was very one-sided and maybe should’ve been written in the first person, her views only.
But the story overall, the highs and the lows, the passion and the feels that the author imparts made for a wonderful story that caught me a few times. Especially when we get to the heartbreak that seems to always end up in these types of stories. I hate drama.
A fun, unique, and frisky story that includes a range of emotions for the characters and for the reader. I wish we had gotten more of the happily ever after. It is the best part if the story after all!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/simmer-down-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say this book got me in my emotions a few times while I was reading it. But it also had many areas that annoyed me too.
I absolutely love the premise of the story and the characters were beautifully matched. This is a sexy spicy little story that really ramps up the passion for not only food but for the delicious Callum.
If you were a foodie, then you’re going to understand the passion these characters feel for their craft and for each other.... as friends with bennies.
But sometimes I disliked how Nikki always made it about her. Her problem, her dropping everything for her parents, especially her mother. I have an issue with that. In that aspect, I felt the story was very one-sided and maybe should’ve been written in the first person, her views only.
But the story overall, the highs and the lows, the passion and the feels that the author imparts made for a wonderful story that caught me a few times. Especially when we get to the heartbreak that seems to always end up in these types of stories. I hate drama.
A fun, unique, and frisky story that includes a range of emotions for the characters and for the reader. I wish we had gotten more of the happily ever after. It is the best part if the story after all!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/simmer-down-...
September 8, 2020
I have to be honest here and say that this didn’t really wow me. I adored this author's debut and was expecting to love this one as well, but I really didn’t. It had so many things for me to love. Enemies to lovers, a tropical setting, and based around food. What really dragged this book down for me was the main character, Nikki.
We only received her POV and she was quite draining to follow. There were so many things in her life that she could have changed just by trying. She left her friends behind in Portland when she moved to help her family and instead of reaching out and patching the gap, she just feels sad about them not being in her life. She didn’t even think to reach out until Callum brought it up. So many things she did went that way. The way she pushed Callum away even though she knew how she felt and he made it crystal clear that he wanted her, still grinds my gears. So many people in her life called her out on not letting people get close to her and each time she lets it go in one ear and out the other.
Romance wise, I liked her and Callum together. They started off on the wrong foot and both acted pretty rash towards each other for a while. Once they actually talked, we got to see that they had chemistry and built their relationship by getting to know each other. Sure, I think he could have maybe done better but that’s another story.
All in all, I thought this was okay. I had issues with the main character and prefer the author's debut. If you like enemies to lovers, give this a chance and see if it might work better for you.
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
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We only received her POV and she was quite draining to follow. There were so many things in her life that she could have changed just by trying. She left her friends behind in Portland when she moved to help her family and instead of reaching out and patching the gap, she just feels sad about them not being in her life. She didn’t even think to reach out until Callum brought it up. So many things she did went that way. The way she pushed Callum away even though she knew how she felt and he made it crystal clear that he wanted her, still grinds my gears. So many people in her life called her out on not letting people get close to her and each time she lets it go in one ear and out the other.
Romance wise, I liked her and Callum together. They started off on the wrong foot and both acted pretty rash towards each other for a while. Once they actually talked, we got to see that they had chemistry and built their relationship by getting to know each other. Sure, I think he could have maybe done better but that’s another story.
All in all, I thought this was okay. I had issues with the main character and prefer the author's debut. If you like enemies to lovers, give this a chance and see if it might work better for you.
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
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January 21, 2021
Simmer Down
BY Sarah Smith
Simmer down by Sarah Smith is a delectable, delicious, and delightful read about competing food trucks in Maui, between the spicy and hot tempered Nikki Di Marco who is serving up Filipino dishes with her mom, who is up against the enticingly sexy Callum James serving up British food in this fun and feud-filled romcom.
I just adored Smith’s writing style as she completely whisked me away to my mother’s kitchen, and the beautiful beach side in Maui. This was the perfect read to start my year off right. Simmer Down was an immersive read, an homage to traditional Filipino home cooking, and an appetizing rivalry only to see sparks fly in this amazingly hilarious read I thoroughly enjoyed.
BY Sarah Smith
Simmer down by Sarah Smith is a delectable, delicious, and delightful read about competing food trucks in Maui, between the spicy and hot tempered Nikki Di Marco who is serving up Filipino dishes with her mom, who is up against the enticingly sexy Callum James serving up British food in this fun and feud-filled romcom.
I just adored Smith’s writing style as she completely whisked me away to my mother’s kitchen, and the beautiful beach side in Maui. This was the perfect read to start my year off right. Simmer Down was an immersive read, an homage to traditional Filipino home cooking, and an appetizing rivalry only to see sparks fly in this amazingly hilarious read I thoroughly enjoyed.
Read
September 29, 2020Yeah.. I don't think I'm going to be able to finish this book. I was SO looking forward to this one once I saw that it'd be about a girl who owned a Filipino food truck but the story lacked a lot. I was just put off by the "enemies-to-lovers" romance because it felt incredibly childish. If this was a YA book then I would've been able to enjoy it a lot more but the fact that these characters are almost thirty acting the way they were was just.. immature. Just not for me at all.
October 27, 2020
It is simple logic I see a Berkley romance and I buy it.
When another food truck turns up in her coveted spot Nikki DiMarco is prepared to let the offending truck know in the nicest way possible that as per food truck etiquette they should find another spot but in asking she's met with brash stubborn and incredibly attractive Callum James. Thus begins a rivalry between Nikki's Filipino dishes to Callum's British servings sparking pranking and teasing culminating in a decision made at the Maui food festival to determine once and for all who the better food truck is and who gets to keep said coveted spot. Only things are heating up in the kitchen... in more ways than one.
I decently enjoyed this. I listened to it so was a great thing to have in the background whilst I did some housework or ran errands for a few days.
There were a few aspects of the book I didn't love. I don't know if It was just because I was listening to the audiobook but I feel like it dragged out for so long and almost started to become repetitive. However I also think I wouldn't of enjoyed it as much if I hadn't listened to the audiobook, I'm unsure if the characters were rich enough to shine through without a solid narrator. Along with this the side characters except maybe Nikki's mother felt really underdeveloped there just wasn't much there when it came to characters like Penelope and Finn
Things I did love about this book was the huge food element I loved the idea of rival food trucks. The story also was really good in creating a natural progression of the relationship between Callum and Nikki. It just felt like it was dragging a lot of the story and felt like the same effect could of been achieved in a much shorter book. I quite enjoyed the writing style it flowed well and felt natural as did the books sense of humour. The sense of humour of it was something I really enjoyed and felt it matched the tone of the book perfectly.
Also the cats. I loved the cat.
Overall I managed to finish it just fine but don't think its any sort of new favourite.
When another food truck turns up in her coveted spot Nikki DiMarco is prepared to let the offending truck know in the nicest way possible that as per food truck etiquette they should find another spot but in asking she's met with brash stubborn and incredibly attractive Callum James. Thus begins a rivalry between Nikki's Filipino dishes to Callum's British servings sparking pranking and teasing culminating in a decision made at the Maui food festival to determine once and for all who the better food truck is and who gets to keep said coveted spot. Only things are heating up in the kitchen... in more ways than one.
I decently enjoyed this. I listened to it so was a great thing to have in the background whilst I did some housework or ran errands for a few days.
There were a few aspects of the book I didn't love. I don't know if It was just because I was listening to the audiobook but I feel like it dragged out for so long and almost started to become repetitive. However I also think I wouldn't of enjoyed it as much if I hadn't listened to the audiobook, I'm unsure if the characters were rich enough to shine through without a solid narrator. Along with this the side characters except maybe Nikki's mother felt really underdeveloped there just wasn't much there when it came to characters like Penelope and Finn
Things I did love about this book was the huge food element I loved the idea of rival food trucks. The story also was really good in creating a natural progression of the relationship between Callum and Nikki. It just felt like it was dragging a lot of the story and felt like the same effect could of been achieved in a much shorter book. I quite enjoyed the writing style it flowed well and felt natural as did the books sense of humour. The sense of humour of it was something I really enjoyed and felt it matched the tone of the book perfectly.
Also the cats. I loved the cat.
Overall I managed to finish it just fine but don't think its any sort of new favourite.
September 26, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary arc in exchange for an honest review.
Simmer Down by Sarah Smith is a fun enemies to lovers romance. Niki DiMarco runs a food truck in Maui with her mom. One day she finds their favorite parking spot invaded by a new truck run by Callum James. And wooo, do the sparks ever fly.
I loved that this book is set in Maui and involves food trucks. Fun fact about me - my cousin actually owns a food truck on Maui! Needless to say this was a book I had to read. It was fun to get a behind the scenes look at the food truck business and touching on topics such as parking etiquette and how the food is prepped.
I also loved the characters in this book. Niki and Callum are both giant forces of nature. Niki is a Filipina who has moved to Maui to help her mom start up her food truck. (Let the craving for Filipino food begin!). Callum is English and helping his brother start his food truck focus on English pub food. The focus they both had on family really resonated with me. I also enjoyed their antics and the tricks they would play on each other. And boy do the sparks fly once these two connect!
If I have a criticism of the book it is that I feel like the conflict in the book was prolonged. I just wanted to see these two together and moving on with their lives already.
I highly recommend this book to foodies or people wanting a little dash of Hawaii in their lives. The book has some steam so I wouldn't recommend it to those who enjoy fade to black romances.
Simmer Down by Sarah Smith is a fun enemies to lovers romance. Niki DiMarco runs a food truck in Maui with her mom. One day she finds their favorite parking spot invaded by a new truck run by Callum James. And wooo, do the sparks ever fly.
I loved that this book is set in Maui and involves food trucks. Fun fact about me - my cousin actually owns a food truck on Maui! Needless to say this was a book I had to read. It was fun to get a behind the scenes look at the food truck business and touching on topics such as parking etiquette and how the food is prepped.
I also loved the characters in this book. Niki and Callum are both giant forces of nature. Niki is a Filipina who has moved to Maui to help her mom start up her food truck. (Let the craving for Filipino food begin!). Callum is English and helping his brother start his food truck focus on English pub food. The focus they both had on family really resonated with me. I also enjoyed their antics and the tricks they would play on each other. And boy do the sparks fly once these two connect!
If I have a criticism of the book it is that I feel like the conflict in the book was prolonged. I just wanted to see these two together and moving on with their lives already.
I highly recommend this book to foodies or people wanting a little dash of Hawaii in their lives. The book has some steam so I wouldn't recommend it to those who enjoy fade to black romances.
December 12, 2020
not for me.
i was really excited for this book because of the filipino rep but tbh it was just... meh.
didn't enjoy all the miscommunication in the romance and the immaturity of the two main characters. it made me gradually lose interest as i continued reading.
i was really excited for this book because of the filipino rep but tbh it was just... meh.
didn't enjoy all the miscommunication in the romance and the immaturity of the two main characters. it made me gradually lose interest as i continued reading.
November 12, 2020
3 That's My Spot Stars
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
If you watch as much reality TV about food as I do, then Simmer Down is a must-read just for the descriptions of the food alone.
Picture, family stuff, trying to hold a family together...
The Beauty of Maui...
Food Truck NORMAL RULES...
And A NewComer with Attitude Not Obeying the RULES...
Throw in a Contest for all the Foodtrucks, The Covided Parking Spot, and then a romance which should not happen but does...
This is the feel of Simmer Down.
Simmer Down
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
If you watch as much reality TV about food as I do, then Simmer Down is a must-read just for the descriptions of the food alone.
Picture, family stuff, trying to hold a family together...
The Beauty of Maui...
Food Truck NORMAL RULES...
And A NewComer with Attitude Not Obeying the RULES...
Throw in a Contest for all the Foodtrucks, The Covided Parking Spot, and then a romance which should not happen but does...
This is the feel of Simmer Down.
Simmer Downhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
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July 15, 2020
OMG *swoon* I LOVED every second of this book! One of my favorites of the year for sure. 🥰🥰🥰
I really loved Sarah's debut last year, Faker was a really delightful hate-to-love and I adored that the heroine was Filipino. As someone who is 1/4th Filipino, I always love to find Filipino characters in romance and I so appreciate that Berkley is publishing authors like Sarah and more #ownvoices romances! I also really enjoyed Sarah's self-published novella, If You Never Come Back, so I had really high expectations going into Simmer Down.
Oh my gosh, I think I spent this entire book grinning like an idiot (and crying at some points because I was so attached to the characters). I should have seen the crying coming, honestly I've cried at some point during each of Sarah's books. Something about her writing just gives me all the feels! Simmer Down is Sarah at her best, I LOVED everything about this story! But beware, it will make you crave Filipino food like crazy. I read it last month and I still have a lumpia craving.
The beginning of this story is completely delightful, Nikki and Callum really seem to hate each other, and I loved it so much. It's been a long time since I've read a hate-to-love where the characters really disliked each other in a way that made me so happy as I read. That seems weird, but there's a fine line for me with characters just being mean to each other and this was the perfect balance for me. Callum comes off so grumpy in the beginning and how they interacted was total catnip. Having them work at competing food trucks in Maui was such a fresh twist, especially once they went viral on social media. I adored the plot so much!
There are some pretty heavy discussions of grief, Nikki and her mom are both still learning to cope following her fathers death from cancer. I really appreciated how Nikki and her mom interacted with each other, the way Sarah writes Filipino families is one of my favorite aspects of her writing!
I will say at one point this story made me squeal with happiness, it takes a pretty intense forced proximity turn and it was EVERYTHING! Just the perfect addition to this story. I loved how Nikki and Callum expanded their relationship into a romance. The pacing was great, the side characters were great, seriously I can't stop gushing about how much I loved every single aspect of this book.
I highly recommend putting Simmer Down on your TBR and preordering it! Simmer Down was a five star read for me and one of my favorite romances of the year so far.
I really loved Sarah's debut last year, Faker was a really delightful hate-to-love and I adored that the heroine was Filipino. As someone who is 1/4th Filipino, I always love to find Filipino characters in romance and I so appreciate that Berkley is publishing authors like Sarah and more #ownvoices romances! I also really enjoyed Sarah's self-published novella, If You Never Come Back, so I had really high expectations going into Simmer Down.
Oh my gosh, I think I spent this entire book grinning like an idiot (and crying at some points because I was so attached to the characters). I should have seen the crying coming, honestly I've cried at some point during each of Sarah's books. Something about her writing just gives me all the feels! Simmer Down is Sarah at her best, I LOVED everything about this story! But beware, it will make you crave Filipino food like crazy. I read it last month and I still have a lumpia craving.
The beginning of this story is completely delightful, Nikki and Callum really seem to hate each other, and I loved it so much. It's been a long time since I've read a hate-to-love where the characters really disliked each other in a way that made me so happy as I read. That seems weird, but there's a fine line for me with characters just being mean to each other and this was the perfect balance for me. Callum comes off so grumpy in the beginning and how they interacted was total catnip. Having them work at competing food trucks in Maui was such a fresh twist, especially once they went viral on social media. I adored the plot so much!
There are some pretty heavy discussions of grief, Nikki and her mom are both still learning to cope following her fathers death from cancer. I really appreciated how Nikki and her mom interacted with each other, the way Sarah writes Filipino families is one of my favorite aspects of her writing!
I will say at one point this story made me squeal with happiness, it takes a pretty intense forced proximity turn and it was EVERYTHING! Just the perfect addition to this story. I loved how Nikki and Callum expanded their relationship into a romance. The pacing was great, the side characters were great, seriously I can't stop gushing about how much I loved every single aspect of this book.
I highly recommend putting Simmer Down on your TBR and preordering it! Simmer Down was a five star read for me and one of my favorite romances of the year so far.
April 29, 2022
The heat in this book comes from more than just the cooking! Simmer Down by Sarah Smith is a enemies-to-lovers romance set around rival food trucks in Hawaii. A fun beach read but a bit too melodramatic at times for my taste.
This was a fun second act to Sarah Smith’s previous book Faker. Though the characters were new and it is a different story, there was a lot similar—enemies-to-lovers story featuring a Filipino-American leading lady who is feuding with a British white boy in a work-related conflict.
Nikki has relocated to Maui to help her parents with their dream to retire with a Filipino food truck right next to the beach. But when her father dies, Nikki and her mother are left with a stack of bills and even more grieving. When a rival food truck specializing in fish and chips sets up next to her beachside parking spot, Nikki doesn’t care how handsome the owner Callum is. She cares that he is stealing her customers with his British flare.
Soon the two end up in a rivalry that is only complicated by how attracted they are to one another. The chemistry between these frenemies with benefits is definitely heating up, but so is their feud. Until, of course, Nikki starts to see Callum’s sweeter side and begins to fall for him.
I liked the setting and the food truck scene. This was a fun theme for a romance book. And of course I love to hear about all of the food, particularly the Filipino food which all sounded absolutely incredible (hard to imagine fish and chips putting up the same competition!).
Nikki was a complicated character to like. I loved how she dropped her life to support her mother. However, I found Nikki herself (particularly in her interactions with Callum) to be annoying. She tends to jump to conclusions, complain, and not want to do anything to improve her circumstances.
Read this book for the steamy love story and the fantastic setting. A fun beach read!
This was a fun second act to Sarah Smith’s previous book Faker. Though the characters were new and it is a different story, there was a lot similar—enemies-to-lovers story featuring a Filipino-American leading lady who is feuding with a British white boy in a work-related conflict.
Nikki has relocated to Maui to help her parents with their dream to retire with a Filipino food truck right next to the beach. But when her father dies, Nikki and her mother are left with a stack of bills and even more grieving. When a rival food truck specializing in fish and chips sets up next to her beachside parking spot, Nikki doesn’t care how handsome the owner Callum is. She cares that he is stealing her customers with his British flare.
Soon the two end up in a rivalry that is only complicated by how attracted they are to one another. The chemistry between these frenemies with benefits is definitely heating up, but so is their feud. Until, of course, Nikki starts to see Callum’s sweeter side and begins to fall for him.
I liked the setting and the food truck scene. This was a fun theme for a romance book. And of course I love to hear about all of the food, particularly the Filipino food which all sounded absolutely incredible (hard to imagine fish and chips putting up the same competition!).
Nikki was a complicated character to like. I loved how she dropped her life to support her mother. However, I found Nikki herself (particularly in her interactions with Callum) to be annoying. She tends to jump to conclusions, complain, and not want to do anything to improve her circumstances.
Read this book for the steamy love story and the fantastic setting. A fun beach read!
November 10, 2020
Nikki relocates to Maui after her father's death to help her mother run a food truck serving Filipino food, and has an encounter with the new (hot, English) food truck owner who parks in her space.
I like the foodie elements and the location, the tension between the characters, but sometimes it's like the author gets sidetracked (random trip to London! Luxury resort!) and adds elements to the story that actually detract from the central romance. I also do not like epilogues especially in romance. Give me my happy ending and walk away!
Still when I needed something to read during election week insomnia, this was a fair distraction.
I had a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley; it came out October 13, 2020.
I like the foodie elements and the location, the tension between the characters, but sometimes it's like the author gets sidetracked (random trip to London! Luxury resort!) and adds elements to the story that actually detract from the central romance. I also do not like epilogues especially in romance. Give me my happy ending and walk away!
Still when I needed something to read during election week insomnia, this was a fair distraction.
I had a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley; it came out October 13, 2020.
June 29, 2020
I can count on one hand the number of romance books (that I didn’t write) I can say I relate to. Sarah Smith’s Simmer Down is officially one of them. Multicultural, deliciously foodie, with a fantastic sense of place, super-tight family and community relationships, and steamy sexytimes. It got me hot, made me cry, and had me craving Filipino food, MY food.
Full review at maidamalby.com on release date.
Full review at maidamalby.com on release date.
October 19, 2020
I wanted to love Simmer Down but instead found it extremely frustrating. Billed as a rom-com, it wasn’t. Billed as enemies to lovers, it wasn’t, adversaries to lovers maybe, competitors to lovers is more like it, but the first half of the book was so slow, the second half was filled with this couple unable to communicate effectively despite being late 20’s -early 30’s and manufactured drama. There were parts I enjoyed, but for the most part I was disappointed.
Nikki DiMarco left a town, friends, and a job she loved to move to Maui when her dad was diagnosed with cancer. On his deathbed he asked her to help keep his and her mother’s dream alive which was running a food truck. Nikki has done that, but she feels she’s drowning. They barely make enough money to live on and the stress is getting to her so when a food truck encroaches on their space she tries to explain how things work on the island and instead she ends up embroiled in a fight with Callum whose brother owns the competing truck.
I grew easily bored with the day in and day out life of a food truck owner, the best parts were the verbal and non verbal sparring between Nikki and Callum that had them agreeing to compete in an upcoming Food Festival with the “winner” getting to keep the coveted spot.
I liked these two together and felt the complemented each other well, but their lack of communication skills made me weary despite their intense chemistry.
I originally gave this book 2.5 stars, but the description of the Filipino food in this book made me seek out recipes to try and we did very much enjoy making and eating them, so I bumped it up a ½ point for that.
I just felt like there needed to be more to the relationship between Nikki and Callum and maybe the fact that we really only Nikki’s side of things was the problem.
This was just an okay book; nothing spectacular (well except for the food). I needed better character development and a chance to see their relationship grow to make it a better romance.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Nikki DiMarco left a town, friends, and a job she loved to move to Maui when her dad was diagnosed with cancer. On his deathbed he asked her to help keep his and her mother’s dream alive which was running a food truck. Nikki has done that, but she feels she’s drowning. They barely make enough money to live on and the stress is getting to her so when a food truck encroaches on their space she tries to explain how things work on the island and instead she ends up embroiled in a fight with Callum whose brother owns the competing truck.
I grew easily bored with the day in and day out life of a food truck owner, the best parts were the verbal and non verbal sparring between Nikki and Callum that had them agreeing to compete in an upcoming Food Festival with the “winner” getting to keep the coveted spot.
I liked these two together and felt the complemented each other well, but their lack of communication skills made me weary despite their intense chemistry.
I originally gave this book 2.5 stars, but the description of the Filipino food in this book made me seek out recipes to try and we did very much enjoy making and eating them, so I bumped it up a ½ point for that.
I just felt like there needed to be more to the relationship between Nikki and Callum and maybe the fact that we really only Nikki’s side of things was the problem.
This was just an okay book; nothing spectacular (well except for the food). I needed better character development and a chance to see their relationship grow to make it a better romance.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
December 31, 2020
Sassy, sizzling, and sweet. loved the foodie vibe of this delicious romcom. Nikki has moved to Maui to help her mother realize her dream of owning a food truck. They have found a prime location to park the truck and no one makes Filipino food quite like Nikki‘s mom. then one day Nikki shows up to park the truck and someone else is in her spot. Does this person not understand food truck etiquette? when Nikki conference the rival food truck owner she is not fooled by his English charm. Cullum refuses to leave and insists that they can coexist part next to one another. Nikki is not having it and so she proposes a bet. Whoever wins the Maui Food Fest gets ownership of the spot and the other person needs to move along. OK I am certain you know where this is going, right?
I thought this was a fun feel good story with a few flaws. Nikki and Callum were great characters and I truly love their banter. I also liked what a strong role family played in the book, both these characters were so loyal to their families. what I did not like was how long the misunderstanding towards the end went on. I seriously wanted to bash them both over the head with a frying pan. all in all a Sweet romcom that made me smile... and..... hungry.
This book in emojis 🌴 🐱 🍲 🏄 😋
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
I thought this was a fun feel good story with a few flaws. Nikki and Callum were great characters and I truly love their banter. I also liked what a strong role family played in the book, both these characters were so loyal to their families. what I did not like was how long the misunderstanding towards the end went on. I seriously wanted to bash them both over the head with a frying pan. all in all a Sweet romcom that made me smile... and..... hungry.
This book in emojis 🌴 🐱 🍲 🏄 😋
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
December 30, 2020
Feuding food truck owners set in Maui? Sign me up!
Working tirelessly serving Filipino food alongside her mother, Nikki is simply hoping to fulfill the wish of her late father. The setting, filled with salty air and lush beaches, was wonderful. And of course the mentions of delicious food was a bonus!
Against food truck etiquette, Nikki and her mother find themselves with a new neighbour, Hungry Chaps, owned by the unbearably rude Callum (and his sweet brother). Despite absolutely loving this premise, the arrogance from Callum felt a bit forced and left unexplained, like its only purpose was to initiate great banter.
The romance progressed unnaturally for me, with the two of them continually crossing paths too coincidentally. Considering the complete rudeness from Callum, the quick flip from enemies to lovers felt odd. Eventually being forced to keep their relationship a secret, the main conflict keeping them apart seemed to appear only at convenient moments.
There were definitely some sweet interactions between Nikki and Callum, and I adored the relationship Nikki shared with her mother, but overall this book left me a little disappointed.
Working tirelessly serving Filipino food alongside her mother, Nikki is simply hoping to fulfill the wish of her late father. The setting, filled with salty air and lush beaches, was wonderful. And of course the mentions of delicious food was a bonus!
Against food truck etiquette, Nikki and her mother find themselves with a new neighbour, Hungry Chaps, owned by the unbearably rude Callum (and his sweet brother). Despite absolutely loving this premise, the arrogance from Callum felt a bit forced and left unexplained, like its only purpose was to initiate great banter.
The romance progressed unnaturally for me, with the two of them continually crossing paths too coincidentally. Considering the complete rudeness from Callum, the quick flip from enemies to lovers felt odd. Eventually being forced to keep their relationship a secret, the main conflict keeping them apart seemed to appear only at convenient moments.
There were definitely some sweet interactions between Nikki and Callum, and I adored the relationship Nikki shared with her mother, but overall this book left me a little disappointed.
September 26, 2021
Don't mind me, Simmer Down by Sarah Smith is just another romcom that I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved the banter between Nikki and Callum, and there is much hilarity that ensues when both of their food trucks are parked next to each other. I loved the mix of serious moments with humor, and there were many times I had a smile on my face but also tears in my eyes. Don't worry, there are a bunch of laugh-out-loud moments too!! There are quite a few characters that will burrow their way into your heart, and as is the case with most romcoms, not many I didn't like. I LOVED the relationship between Nikki and her mom, and it felt very authentic and real which made both Nikki and her mom very relatable characters. So many times, my mouth was watering thanks to the food in this book too, and you probably shouldn't read it on an empty stomach. It made me want to try practically every dish mentioned, and I also just love food trucks in general, so it was fun to have that in a book.
And can I also just mention how much I loved the fact this was set in Maui? I have never been there, but I loved Smith's descriptions of the landscape, and it made me want to go there even more than I already did. The biggest thing that dropped this down a star for me is that the miscommunication Nikki and Callum experience seemed just a touch dragged out when I would have liked them to figure it out sooner. I think this would make an adorable movie though, and it would be so fun to see it on TV. If you want an audiobook recommendation, then I will also say that Simmer Down is great on audio. Donnabella Mortel narrates and she is yet another new-to-me narrator that was very pleasing to listen to. I loved her voice and thought it was spot-on for the character, and she helped me be even more connected to both the characters and the story in general. This was a really fun enemies-to-lovers romance and if you love romcoms it is definitely worth checking out.
And can I also just mention how much I loved the fact this was set in Maui? I have never been there, but I loved Smith's descriptions of the landscape, and it made me want to go there even more than I already did. The biggest thing that dropped this down a star for me is that the miscommunication Nikki and Callum experience seemed just a touch dragged out when I would have liked them to figure it out sooner. I think this would make an adorable movie though, and it would be so fun to see it on TV. If you want an audiobook recommendation, then I will also say that Simmer Down is great on audio. Donnabella Mortel narrates and she is yet another new-to-me narrator that was very pleasing to listen to. I loved her voice and thought it was spot-on for the character, and she helped me be even more connected to both the characters and the story in general. This was a really fun enemies-to-lovers romance and if you love romcoms it is definitely worth checking out.
June 11, 2021
This was my first book by Sarah Smith, and what a pleasure it was. I love the story, the atmosphere/setting, the characters and plot. Seriously, this story made me hungry. I enjoyed the sense of family and loyalty to family, that took place in the story.
The romance was *chefs kiss*, enemies to lovers, and interracial couple. Our hero while starting off as a bit of a douche (you later find out why and it is a bit more understandable), is a total gentlemen. He is the type of hero that makes your heart melt. I also loved our heroine, and everything her ancestry brought to the story. Her being Filipino, we get a bit of a glimpse into the types of food her culture eats, especially since the story is based around a food truck rivalry.
Highly suggest this if you're looking for a lighthearted, steamy, fun book but that's also very relatable at same time.
November 15, 2020
I had high hopes for this book. It seemed like the perfect premise and hit multiple tropes that I typically love. And it started really well. But about a third of the way through, maybe halfway, it fell flat on its face.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
Look, I don't expect a lot of realism from my cozy romance novels. But there were one too many coincidences for my taste. Their food trucks are next to each other, AND they run into each other at a farmer's market, AND he happens to be there to jump her battery (not a euphemism), AND he just happens to be sitting next to her on a transatlantic flight (between two insanely busy airports), where they just HAPPEN to be going to roughly the same area of one of the biggest cities in the world. When she looked up and saw him on the plane, it lost me. I rolled my eyes so hard I almost fell over.
And then, there's that scene in the pub that hit a little problematic for me. Basically, after having a bunch of "adult fun time" they go out for dinner or drinks or something. She gets hit on by a drunk rude man, she says something witty like "does that line actually work" or something, drunk rude man grabs her shoulder. And Callum swoops in to save the day, which basically causes her to swoon. There's a lines something along the lines of "thank God he was there, otherwise I don't know what would have happened." Which...okay, I admit I've not been in a situation like that. How she froze up is probably very natural. It just seemed out of character for the slightly controlling but mature, "I don't need no man to save me" business owner that she'd been painted out to be. Oh, and let's not forget, Callum "saving her" made her super hot.
Callum deciding to confront her about his feelings at the festival rang as...not quite problematic or out of character, but it made zero sense. Instead of some big romantic gesture like it was probably supposed to be, it felt insensitive, arrogant, and greedy. She'd told him very clearly how much it meant to her to keep their relationship a secret because of the festival. They were both very aware of how popular their interactions were online. Winning the festival meant more to her than just reputation or the parking spot. It meant a literal life-changing sum of money. And he ruined it.
Which brings me to the final thing: her declaration of love. He had said that he doesn't do social media. That he created an Instagram account but didn't do anything with it, something that she had even observed. So she decides that the best way to publicly declare her love for him is...through...an Instagram live post. Which she then pouts because he didn't see it. OF COURSE HE DIDN'T SEE IT. BECAUSE HE DOESN'T USE SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU DUMMY.
I'm willing to suspend reality a bit for cozy romances. But this one just required me to do it a little too much.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
Look, I don't expect a lot of realism from my cozy romance novels. But there were one too many coincidences for my taste. Their food trucks are next to each other, AND they run into each other at a farmer's market, AND he happens to be there to jump her battery (not a euphemism), AND he just happens to be sitting next to her on a transatlantic flight (between two insanely busy airports), where they just HAPPEN to be going to roughly the same area of one of the biggest cities in the world. When she looked up and saw him on the plane, it lost me. I rolled my eyes so hard I almost fell over.
And then, there's that scene in the pub that hit a little problematic for me. Basically, after having a bunch of "adult fun time" they go out for dinner or drinks or something. She gets hit on by a drunk rude man, she says something witty like "does that line actually work" or something, drunk rude man grabs her shoulder. And Callum swoops in to save the day, which basically causes her to swoon. There's a lines something along the lines of "thank God he was there, otherwise I don't know what would have happened." Which...okay, I admit I've not been in a situation like that. How she froze up is probably very natural. It just seemed out of character for the slightly controlling but mature, "I don't need no man to save me" business owner that she'd been painted out to be. Oh, and let's not forget, Callum "saving her" made her super hot.
Callum deciding to confront her about his feelings at the festival rang as...not quite problematic or out of character, but it made zero sense. Instead of some big romantic gesture like it was probably supposed to be, it felt insensitive, arrogant, and greedy. She'd told him very clearly how much it meant to her to keep their relationship a secret because of the festival. They were both very aware of how popular their interactions were online. Winning the festival meant more to her than just reputation or the parking spot. It meant a literal life-changing sum of money. And he ruined it.
Which brings me to the final thing: her declaration of love. He had said that he doesn't do social media. That he created an Instagram account but didn't do anything with it, something that she had even observed. So she decides that the best way to publicly declare her love for him is...through...an Instagram live post. Which she then pouts because he didn't see it. OF COURSE HE DIDN'T SEE IT. BECAUSE HE DOESN'T USE SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU DUMMY.
I'm willing to suspend reality a bit for cozy romances. But this one just required me to do it a little too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2020
I loved this! I was nervous to read this as the author's debut novel threw in some surprise drama that I was not down with at all but I remembered how much I enjoyed her writing style and knew I needed to give her one more chance....and I'm happy I did!
Yes this book uses the miscommunication trope to throw in drama in their relationship and yes that is annoying but honestly this book was so cute that it didn't annoy me as much as I expected. It's a trope and I could tell throughout the book that it was being used as a way to move their relationship forward. Yes, she could've thrown in problems for the couple to work through in a different way but honestly this book isn't as bad with it as others have been.
Now onto the characters!
Nikki is super relatable and I really enjoyed being in her POV! She's been through so much and honestly the way that she dropped everything to take care of her family and be there for them is so admirable. She works hard every day and never even complains, just keeps doing what needs to be done. She can also be pretty stubborn and is quick to jump to a negative conclusion which of course can be a little frustrating as a reader but again, also relatable.
Callum is the sweetest hero! He definitely came across like a dick when we first meet him but just like Nikki, the more we see him the more I felt myself becoming soft for him and wanting to just hug him and love him forever. He's also another character that is selfless; picking up and moving across the country to help his brother without even being asked, but just because he loves his brother and wants to support him.
I loved learning about the food truck world and about each of these character's backgrounds! Honestly this book was such a cute contemporary romance and I am such a sucker for diverse romances they are the best! I loved learning about Nikki's culture and the food sounds so amazing I need to find a food truck with Filipino food!
I definitely like this book more than "Faker" and I would definitely recommend this to romance fans looking for a sweet and steamy romance!
arc given in exchange for an honest review
October 14, 2020
4.5 ⭐️
This smart, funny romcom has literally everything I needed now:
✔️strong, talented heroine
✔️hot, grumpy hero with a British accent
✔️enemies to lovers with great banter
✔️island vibes
✔️hunger-inducing food descriptions
✔️STEAM!!!
Here’s the deal with enemies to lovers: Great banter = great chemistry & these two had it!! Dare I say this book gave me a bit of a Hating Game vibe??? 😍
I literally couldn’t get enough of swoon worthy, cat loving Callum and felt so empathetic towards Nikki’s control freak attempts at making everything perfect for her mom. And that steam level - yes please!!! I’ve been craving a good classic romcom and this one absolutely fits the bill! I literally downloaded Faker to my Kindle immediately after finishing!!
A huge thank you to @Berkleyroman and @netgalle for the #gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review!!
This smart, funny romcom has literally everything I needed now:
✔️strong, talented heroine
✔️hot, grumpy hero with a British accent
✔️enemies to lovers with great banter
✔️island vibes
✔️hunger-inducing food descriptions
✔️STEAM!!!
Here’s the deal with enemies to lovers: Great banter = great chemistry & these two had it!! Dare I say this book gave me a bit of a Hating Game vibe??? 😍
I literally couldn’t get enough of swoon worthy, cat loving Callum and felt so empathetic towards Nikki’s control freak attempts at making everything perfect for her mom. And that steam level - yes please!!! I’ve been craving a good classic romcom and this one absolutely fits the bill! I literally downloaded Faker to my Kindle immediately after finishing!!
A huge thank you to @Berkleyroman and @netgalle for the #gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review!!
November 28, 2020
Predictable
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