Lovely Recipe

by Myra Rose Nino

In this savory and sweet sapphic YA Romance graphic novel, a klutzy high schooler strives to learn her grandma's recipes and ends up falling for a no-nonsense classmate whose family owns a restaurant.

What does cooking have in common with falling in love? They're both matters of chemistry!

It's Sofia's last year in high school. All her friends are getting ready to go to far away colleges, but she doesn't know if that path is right for her. What Sofia does understand is that, ever since her grandma died, her mom has been distant. But maybe, if Sofia can learn how to make one of grandma's most cherished recipes, she and her mom's relationship can go back to the way it used to be. The only problem with that idea? Sofia is terrible at cooking.

Enter Anna Marie, Sofia's super cute classmate who's everything Sofia isn't-- driven, disciplined, and a gifted chef. Despite getting on each other's nerves, Anna Marie starts teaching Sofia how to cook in exchange for her help around Anna Marie's family's restaurant. And soon enough, they discover that the sparks between them are more than just stovetop flames.

But can love blossom when Sofia's and Anna Marie's lives are changing so much? Or will the impending pressures that come with graduation break them apart?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Romance, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Lesbian

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet graphic novel and a great read for teens. It follows Sofia who is a senior who is not so great at school and is sad about her best friends moving away soon for college. She's obsessed with being able to cook her family's old recipes, hoping to keep her grandmother's memory alive. Only problem is Sofia needs a teacher and her mom is too busy with work. She connects with a girl from school named Anna Marie whose family owns an Italian restaurant. Soon the two girls are bonding as they struggle with the tough decision of what life will look like after graduation.

[lola m · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay hands down best graphic novel i’ve read yet

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so darn cute.
I loved every single inch of it!

[RaspberryRoses · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bafflingly bad book. It feels like it's hitting a lot of plot beats common in romantic stories without actually... understanding what makes them tick...? Very oddly paced and poorly characterized.

I think a major failure of this book was the protagonist, unfortunately. I just didn't ever want to root for her.

It wasn't offensive or anything. It was just... bad.

[gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable art style and even cuter storyline. I sped through this in an hour, that's how hooked I was. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's books for the arc in exchange for an honest review<3

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet!

[j. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 / 5.0 stars

the art style and illustrations were so cute!! sofia and anna-marie were just so endearing and i loved how they helped learn to overcome grief and learn to trust, love, and uphold family traditions again.

i couldn’t stop giggling and twirling my hair while reading this. i was captivated from the start. my only complaint was the pacing but i truly did overlook it for the most part because i loved the story overall.

special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[tillie hellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

my body woke me up a little early this morning so i decided to read a whole graphic novel! this was sweet and had some nice messages for people graduating hs. i liked the food stuff as well. art style is nice but not like my fav ever. mc gave me terrible second hand embarrassment in the beginning

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Graphic and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Lovely Recipe! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.

✨ Young Adult Romance
✨ Graphic Novel
✨ Standalone/Single Volume
✨ Rep: sapphic

I recommend if you enjoy…
- Full Color Graphic Novels
- Sweet YA Romances
- Cooking & Family
- Coming of Age

Content warnings after review.

General thoughts…
I was super excited to read this because I’m a big fan of graphic novels. I thought it looked really cute and like the kind of book I would’ve liked to have read when I was a teenager. Plus, the art and colors on the cover definitely drew me in. (I can’t help judging books by their covers!)

Some things I loved…
- The artwork is gorgeous, and the color choices for the panels were well done.
- The story was really well paced. I didn’t feel like things were rushed, and there was enough depth for me to feel connected and invested in the main characters. The conflict played out well and felt believable.
- I enjoyed the overarching themes of family and growing up (the end of high school) as a compliment to the romance.
- The romance was so sweet and felt genuine. I loved seeing the girls blush.
- The dialogue was well written and the characters were easy to distinguish from each other.

Some things to consider…
- The main characters are seniors in high school, so if you aren’t a fan of young adult books this might not be the best fit for you.
- While there is depth to the story, this is overall a pretty fluffy romance. If you prefer darker graphic novels, this might not work for you.

Final thoughts…
This is probably one of the sweetest and most well rounded YA graphic novels I’ve read in a long time. It can be difficult to pack a full story into a standalone/single volume graphic novel, but I felt the author succeeded! I highly recommend for those looking for something cute that isn’t pure fluff.

(beware potential spoilers below)

Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
loss of a grandparent

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A YA sapphic graphic novel about preserving family traditions and making new ones.
🍝
Senior Sofia isn’t ready for the future. She’s not sure she wants the future her mother has mapped out for her. Ever since her grandmother died her mom has been distant and won’t spend much time with Sofia. When she gets the idea to make family recipes, she needs a teacher and a kitchen. Enter Anna Marie. A cute classmate who is very serious and not at all like klutzy forgetful Sofia. At first the two working together is a disaster, but once they get into a rhythm and learn more about each other, they find they have more in common than they thought.
👩🏽‍🍳
Preziosa!!! I just adored this story. The artwork was gorgeous and both characters were relatable and my heart went out to both of them. We need more #books that focus on family traditions, getting in touch with one’s roots and, of course, romance! This title by MRN releases February 3!

CW: emotional abandonment, grief, death of a grandparent (recounted)

[Alyssa ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit disappointed in the rushed development of the romantic aspect of their relationship and rushed ending, but it was a cute read nonetheless!

[Alisha Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Recipe is a super-cute sapphic cooking romance between two high school seniors with polar-opposite personalities. I was hooked and read it in one sitting! It examines important themes, like growing up, grief, and family traditions, in a sweet and cozy way. The art is so cute and complements the story very well. I loved it!

Sofia, the main character, is having trouble navigating her final year of high school. She's having to make hard choices about her future and feels like all her friends are leaving her behind. It doesn’t help that Sofia’s fondest memories center her late grandmother and the way her cooking brought their family together. Sofia misses the love and care that the family tradition of cooking provided. Lucky for Sofia, her classmate Anna Marie is an excellent cook who can help her revive her lost traditions. Despite a rocky start, the two work well together, with Sofia helping Anna Marie learn to enjoy herself and Anna Marie helping Sofia be more intentional. Their relationship is so sweet; they help each other be better people, learning to lean on and love each other. Together, they work towards a future that doesn’t seem so scary anymore.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!

[Emmawiththebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad I didn't like this more. The art is cute, and I do generally respond well to food themed romance. The characters were the issue here. There's simply not a lot of depth in any of them. Anna Marie doesn't get much of an interior life, and I didn't feel like I knew her much better at the end of the book than I did at the beginning. Sofia is incredibly obnoxious for most of the book. She's careless in so many ways, in ways that greatly impact the people around her. At the beginning, she leaves a group project at home in a way that absolutely screws over her entire group, but she seems more concerned with her own embarrassment than in making it up to the rest. There's also not much of an arc when it comes to her cooking. She goes from being total disaster in the kitchen, mostly because she's careless, to being competent enough to cook literally restaurant quantities of food overnight. It's not that I don't buy that this progression can happen, but it has to be an actual progression.

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t make these foods because of some generational guilt. I make them because I miss the people I made them with. I make them because these memories will be precious someday. And she will always need memories.”

It’s Sofia’s last year of high school, and all her friends are leaving for faraway colleges, but she’s unsure what she wants to do after graduation. One thing she is sure of is her mother’s avoidance of cooking and distance from Sofia since her grandmother died. Fearing being left alone, Sofia is determined to learn her family’s recipes in hopes of bringing her and her mother closer again. The only problem is that Sofia doesn’t know how to cook. But once Sofia discovers that her driven and disciplined classmate, Anna Marie, works at her family’s restaurant as a gifted chef, she convinces Anna Marie to give her cooking lessons despite their differences. In return, Sofia helps out at Anna Marie’s family’s restaurant. As the two cook for the restaurant, they get to know each other and realize they have more chemistry than they initially thought. But with graduation approaching, Sofia is unsure whether or not she can save their romance.

This romantic and wholesome graphic novel was one of the sweetest books I’ve read. I absolutely loved Sofia’s character and her drive to fix the issues in her family. Even though it took Sofia longer to learn how to cook, I admired her spirit and Anna Marie’s patience. I completely adored the family flashbacks, and I thought they were so special to Sofia’s character arc. The story reflected some coming-of-age themes, which I also enjoyed. I would’ve liked to see a bit more of Sofia’s friends, since she was devastated about them leaving for college, and we didn’t get many scenes where she’s talking to them. I liked Anna Marie’s character the most, especially given how driven and helpful she was to her family and Sofia. Their romance was a sweet slow burn, and I absolutely loved how they would choose each other over “big life events” like prom. I did not like Sofia’s mother, though, for the majority of the story. I felt like she was selfish at times, and like she revealed her ignorance of her own daughter in a specific fight they had, which didn’t sit right with me. But I did grow to like her more in the end when she tried to cook for Sofia and comforted her when she came home crying. The illustration colors were mostly bright pastels, which made the book feel magical and cozy, and I loved the usage of pink and sparkles whenever Sofia was looking at Anna Marie. Artistically, I loved the story and the drawing style. If you’re looking for something cozy, wholesome, and romantic, I recommend this story!

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Graphic for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[Jaxine Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet read. I love Anne Marie and Sofia's dynamic and how much they love their families and how both their grandmas influenced them. I was really glad the families are naturally accepting of their relationship. I also love whenever Peach the cat would show up because they honestly are so lovable and I love how much they love others.

Sofia's feelings about people moving away from her is very much relatable and honestly it kinda made me slightly upset that there wasn't much focus with her friends speaking to one another about communicating and making time for each other, but I guess it was implied.

I did like the development with Sofia with her mother and I liked how the conflict was resolved in the end with Sofia and Anna Marie.

[Tori DeFazio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squealing, giggling, and kicking my feet! I absolutely adored Lovely Recipe.

Sofia is attempting to learn how to cook as a way to reconnect with her family’s traditions. Enter Anna Maria- Sofia’s classmate who (begrudgingly) offers to help. Both teens are dealing with grief especially grief as it relates to cooking and family traditions.

I loved the art style, depictions of grief, and LGBTQIA+ representation (with supportive friends and family). 4⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lovely Recipe.

[Simon Says Hellooo · Rating 4 out of 5]

So! I loved this! A sapphic YA cooking focused romance? Sign me up! Sofia was so interesting to learn about and there were twists and turns with her and her friends. Anna Marie was well defined and we get both of their stories. The romance came naturally. The art reminds me of an indie cartoon. I would read more from this author!

(miscommunication trope)

I will be posting a video about this book @simonsayshellooo on TikTok.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this book! The opinions are my own.

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for this ARC of Lovely Recipe in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book!! I was blushing the entire time. The story was so cute and refreshing. At times, the time jumps were a little confusing (especially around pages 210–211), but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted read.

[Molly Quinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was quite the *lovely recipe* for a good, sweet time! The story follows young Sofia as she navigates her final year of high school and the stress of her close friends growing busier and getting accepted to colleges hours away, while she struggles with academics and a desire to connect to her family history through cooking. After she convinces a classmate, Ann Marie, to teach her to cook in Ann Marie’s family restaurant, the two gradually grow closer and start to develop feelings for one another. This sweet YA novel explores themes of coming of age, fitting in, and family dynamics in a lovely way.

The only challenges I had with the novel were a few pacing issues towards the start, as it was a little hard to track at the beginning of the story, feeling like the plot was jumping around a bit without explanation. But once it settled in, I couldn’t put the book down.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early access ARC of this book.

[Gabriele | QueerBookdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: lesbian Usian-Italian protagonist, lesbian Usian-Italian secondary character, Usian-Italian secondary and tertiary characters, Black secondary character, secondary character of colour, Black tertiary character.

Content Warning: none.

Very cute, but I really think it needed more time to prove.

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet! I feel like the ending was lacking just a SMIDGE as it felt really rushed, but I still enjoyed this so much!

It was such a great look at family and first love and finding your own path in a way that wasn’t preachy. I really, really liked this.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a super cute sapphic cooking graphic novel about two girls loving their family traditions and trying to keep them going.

I liked this one quite a bit. the story is good but the art is beautiful.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Adorable.

[elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a sweet sapphic graphic novel!! <3

[lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super adorable read!! I really needed something lighthearted right now and this did the job for me <3

[katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

this was very cute and heartwarming and the art style was very pretty :)

[moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was so cute!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute,graphic novel. MCsare high school seniors, but it is fine for middle school.