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Almost The One
Restaurateur Zafir Iordanou is living in a kitchen nightmare. Outspoken chef Tatiana is sick of the kitchen, dad Spiros has given up trying to run a restaurant altogether and is now unsettlingly obsessed with taxidermy, and Head Chef George is…well…let’s just say George is moving on.
It takes a very special kind of chef to want to take a job in a restaurant whose Yelp reviews are fast becoming the stuff of viral legend, and luckily for Zafir there’s one chef in New York who’s both crazy and desperate enough to rise to the challenge – his hot-headed British ex, Rory Crouse, the one that got away.
It’s been seven years since Zafir and Rory had a wild summer love affair in Cornwall, but the feelings linger on, made even more complicated by the gambling habit that Rory acquired while working in Las Vegas. Rory – hooked on the thrill of the near miss – can never walk away from a winning streak. As the two of them rekindle their second chance romance, it becomes increasingly clear to Rory that he’s going to have to fight his own tendency to self-sabotage all the way, or risk losing Zafir all over again.
It takes a very special kind of chef to want to take a job in a restaurant whose Yelp reviews are fast becoming the stuff of viral legend, and luckily for Zafir there’s one chef in New York who’s both crazy and desperate enough to rise to the challenge – his hot-headed British ex, Rory Crouse, the one that got away.
It’s been seven years since Zafir and Rory had a wild summer love affair in Cornwall, but the feelings linger on, made even more complicated by the gambling habit that Rory acquired while working in Las Vegas. Rory – hooked on the thrill of the near miss – can never walk away from a winning streak. As the two of them rekindle their second chance romance, it becomes increasingly clear to Rory that he’s going to have to fight his own tendency to self-sabotage all the way, or risk losing Zafir all over again.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2020
20 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitecroft
24 books130 followersJess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 25, 2020
3.5 Stars
Just like all the other books I read by Jess Whitecroft , Almost The One is a quirky and fun story , with snarky and tongue in cheek banter , written in a slightly irreverent , bit sarcastic tone and with some steam. Overall, an entertaining and light hearted read.
I liked Almost The One but it didn't grabbed me and kept me , enthralled as Going Sasquatch, These Violent Delights , Reckless, All That Drag , Private Members and few of her other books.
#AlmostTheOne #JessWhitecroft #BookSprout #KU #Read2020
Just like all the other books I read by Jess Whitecroft , Almost The One is a quirky and fun story , with snarky and tongue in cheek banter , written in a slightly irreverent , bit sarcastic tone and with some steam. Overall, an entertaining and light hearted read.
I liked Almost The One but it didn't grabbed me and kept me , enthralled as Going Sasquatch, These Violent Delights , Reckless, All That Drag , Private Members and few of her other books.
#AlmostTheOne #JessWhitecroft #BookSprout #KU #Read2020
April 5, 2023
The emotional dynamic here is maybe the obverse of the one between Jem and Henry in JW's Exley & Dyer books: where Jem and Henry are out of their minds with love and stay that way, Zafir and Rory are older, wiser, and not pirates, and they're revisiting a relationship that has already blown up in their faces twice precisely because they, and Rory especially, were very young and out of their minds with love.
I guess restaurant kitchens are a high-enough-pressure environment to make a 21st-century stand-in for the plight of fugitive pirates during the Age of Sail -- though nobody in this Manhattan kitchen is in danger of a noose, or of being captured by murderers. Which means that by contrast Almost the One is nearly low-key, a lesson in not chasing the same readerly high over and over again. Also, although I wouldn't exactly call Rory and Zafir cinnamon rolls, they're not, you know, criminals. But there's plenty of family drama, to say nothing of Rory's backstory of gambling addiction.
Speaking of which, something I really appreciate about Jess Whitecroft is that she's the exact opposite of a puritan. Rory has what he calls a self-destruct button -- gambling -- and in the course of rebuilding his relationship with Zafir he describes, at some length, the psychology and brain chemistry involved. He goes to 12-step meetings and has apps on his phone to delete as many gambling-related ads as possible before he even sees them. But here's the thing: Rory's addicted to gambling. He drinks and smokes pot the way anybody else would, because those things are not a problem for him. I've gotten the decided impression that there's a deep and wide streak of treating all pleasure as suspect among Kids These Days -- not that JW is a kid, but it's just nice to read a story in which people can, occasionally, get high, get drunk, get busy in a kitchen alcove or, like Zafir's best friend, in a car wash, without that being a sign that they're about to torpedo their lives. Rory and Zafir don't have to tamp down all their wildness in order to re-learn their places in each other's lives. The wildness remains, but it's grounded in their daily lives now -- it's not the only thing they've got going on.
Here's something else I love about Jess Whitecroft's world: her lovers find one another intensely desirable without that tiresome harping on abs and biceps you see in, God, it seems like every second romance novel. Jem Exley is skinny, pale, and beaky, and when we see him through eyes other than Henry's it's apparent that he's beautiful to Henry. As for Zafir, he's put on some weight in the seven years since he and Rory last saw each other, and he's somewhat self-conscious about it. He mentions at one point that he'd gained a hundred pounds out of stress, lost about seventy by means of a bit less dessert and a bit more exercise, but that the "last" thirty or so are simply not going away unless he's willing to monitor every bite and forgo most pleasure eating forever. Which, because he's no fool, he's unwilling to do. And as for Rory, he loves Zafir's body. As is. And not "in spite of" anything, but because Zafir looks and feels good to him.
I love a lot of things about Jess Whitecroft's books -- their humor; the way they don't repeat the same formula over and over; the way she writes sex, which I find insanely hot -- but the pleasure her people take in pleasure, in physicality of all kinds, might be top of the list.
I guess restaurant kitchens are a high-enough-pressure environment to make a 21st-century stand-in for the plight of fugitive pirates during the Age of Sail -- though nobody in this Manhattan kitchen is in danger of a noose, or of being captured by murderers. Which means that by contrast Almost the One is nearly low-key, a lesson in not chasing the same readerly high over and over again. Also, although I wouldn't exactly call Rory and Zafir cinnamon rolls, they're not, you know, criminals. But there's plenty of family drama, to say nothing of Rory's backstory of gambling addiction.
Speaking of which, something I really appreciate about Jess Whitecroft is that she's the exact opposite of a puritan. Rory has what he calls a self-destruct button -- gambling -- and in the course of rebuilding his relationship with Zafir he describes, at some length, the psychology and brain chemistry involved. He goes to 12-step meetings and has apps on his phone to delete as many gambling-related ads as possible before he even sees them. But here's the thing: Rory's addicted to gambling. He drinks and smokes pot the way anybody else would, because those things are not a problem for him. I've gotten the decided impression that there's a deep and wide streak of treating all pleasure as suspect among Kids These Days -- not that JW is a kid, but it's just nice to read a story in which people can, occasionally, get high, get drunk, get busy in a kitchen alcove or, like Zafir's best friend, in a car wash, without that being a sign that they're about to torpedo their lives. Rory and Zafir don't have to tamp down all their wildness in order to re-learn their places in each other's lives. The wildness remains, but it's grounded in their daily lives now -- it's not the only thing they've got going on.
Here's something else I love about Jess Whitecroft's world: her lovers find one another intensely desirable without that tiresome harping on abs and biceps you see in, God, it seems like every second romance novel. Jem Exley is skinny, pale, and beaky, and when we see him through eyes other than Henry's it's apparent that he's beautiful to Henry. As for Zafir, he's put on some weight in the seven years since he and Rory last saw each other, and he's somewhat self-conscious about it. He mentions at one point that he'd gained a hundred pounds out of stress, lost about seventy by means of a bit less dessert and a bit more exercise, but that the "last" thirty or so are simply not going away unless he's willing to monitor every bite and forgo most pleasure eating forever. Which, because he's no fool, he's unwilling to do. And as for Rory, he loves Zafir's body. As is. And not "in spite of" anything, but because Zafir looks and feels good to him.
I love a lot of things about Jess Whitecroft's books -- their humor; the way they don't repeat the same formula over and over; the way she writes sex, which I find insanely hot -- but the pleasure her people take in pleasure, in physicality of all kinds, might be top of the list.
Want to Read
November 5, 2020Kindle freebie 11/5/20
January 16, 2024
DNF @ 44%
I love chef characters, I love second chance romances and I loved Gordon Ramsey's TV series Kitchen Nightmares, which means I should have loved this book. Unfortunately, the author's style isn't just not working for me but it's annoying me to the point where I have to rage quit.
Zafir runs a Greek restaurant in NY together with his family, consisting of his dad and sister. The restaurant is one of the worst in NY, serving nothing but disgusting filth and horrible food prepared by an old chef who can't cook but refuses to change. The reason the situation's gotten to the crisis point is because Zafir's dad is one of those stubborn, arrogant men who experienced business success decades ago and his combined ego and fear of change have him refusing to make any changes to his business. He's stuck his head into the sand and he doesn't care that the situation has caused his children incredible financial and emotional stress and all that's required to fix things is for him to stop being stubborn and arrogant. I've seen situations like this on Kitchen Nightmares many, many times and it's always a frustrating, sad situation. Gordon Ramsey treats the situation the way he should - pointing out how selfish and stupid the restaurant owner is being and how their priorities are completely messed up. Unfortunately, the author of this book seemed to decide that this horrible situation would be a good rom-com scenario. Sorry, but I don't find anything funny about it. Zafir's dad is an arrogant, pathetic man who has prioritized his own feelings over the emotional and financial wellbeing of his own children for decades. You don't get any brownie points from me for that and I definitely don't find it funny.
I also didn't understand why the author seemed to think that a filthy restaurant was funny. Zafir's dad has taxidermized seagulls in random places in the restaurant, which are decades old and they've likely been shedding fluff and feather bits into people's food for decades. There are rats, the walk-in is filled with rotting food and the kitchen is so filthy that Zafir's dad should be fined for having served people food that was cooked in such a place. It's mind boggling to me that doing such a thing isn't a crime. None of this was funny - it was revolting and sad. Again - Kitchen Nightmares doesn't show scenes like that for laughs. It's not a sign of quirkiness, it's a sign that somebody's suffering from depression and has given up because they don't see any hope for the future.
Then there's the author's take on the second chance romance, which also didn't work for me. Rory is a chef and he's hired by Zafir's sister as a last ditch effort to save the restaurant when their old chef drops dead in the middle of service. He and Zafir work side by side to clean the restaurant and come up with new dishes but the problem is that there's no chemistry between them and the author has them act like strangers. In addition, the author constantly has the MCs remember scenes from their first relationship, which are always lengthy flashbacks filled with sexy times. Both MCs admit that their first relationship was just a sex fling, and that's when I knew this second chance romance would never be what I wanted. These two guys don't know each other and they never had a meaningful relationship, which is why there's no chemistry and no pining happening. Sure, they miss having sex with each other, but that's not what I want in a second chance romance.
Lastly - I got the feeling the author didn't actually want to write this story because there's So. Much. Filler. The plot moves at a glacial pace and it's constantly interrupted by the MCs having lengthy, boring conversations about nothing. It wasn't banter. It wasn't flirting. It was awkward chit-chat about random topics, the kind you'd have with strangers. Even worse - some topics were repeated over and over again, like the discussion about the dad's obsession with seagulls and Zafir's obsession with astrology. I'm not kidding when I said that the conversations were just awkward chit-chat that didn't add anything to the plot. At one point, they talk about how the 'cancer' symbol should be re-named to something more cheerful, so Rory suggest 'Colin' because Colin-The-Crab sounds cheerful. *thunk* Sorry - that was the sound of my head hitting my desk because I just fell asleep from boredom. Maybe I was supposed to find that conversation funny but it's so far away from my own sense of humor that it was just a stream of boring words.
Making things worse is that the author stuffed these awkward conversations full of pop culture references that not only dated the book and the author but they contained such a wide range of references that I doubt the majority of people would understand everything. There was one conversation where they discussed The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica (the 2004-2009 version), why Zafir's cat is named Meep, Zafir's enjoyment of annotating self-help books and then they mentioned a Joe Berlinger movie about Tony Robbins. And the BSG discussion isn't just a throwaway line, but it was an actual discussion about specific plot points from the show. W...T...F?? There was no point to these conversations, they weren't funny and they had this awkward quality around them, like the MCs didn't know what else to talk about. It felt like the author was being forced to write this book and was just typing words on a page to fill them up.
There were other minor issues too, like the author continuously bashing instagram/youtube influencers because clearly she's from my generation and crapping on things that the younger generation enjoys is something she finds funny. I have a feeling she wouldn't have the same energy for bashing the career choices of models or actors who choose to make a living appearing in commercials, despite these careers all being the same (if we ignore the fact that the influencer pathway is smarter and offers way more benefits than the other ones). Never mind that being a self-published author is the exact same career path as being an online influencer, yet I doubt the author would portray the former in the same negative way. The bashing wasn't cool or funny, it just made me feel embarrassed on the author's behalf because she doesn't seem to understand the true pros and cons of these new online career paths. I hate it when authors do things like this because it's only going to be appreciated by a small portion of their audience and it'll alienate everybody else. It's not necessary, it's just rude. Not to mention that her depiction of how an influencer goes about their career was filled with inaccuracies, demonstrating the author's lack of knowledge about the topic.
Also - it's absurd that a restaurant situated in NYC that has been failing for decades has only accumulated $50K in debt. The author did do research on food-related things, so why did the research not extend to other things? It annoys me because even watching a single Kitchen Nightmares episode would have shown the author that $250K is a much more believable debt sum for such a situation.
Anyway - nothing about this book was working for me. I'm starting to think that Jess Whitecroft's style and I don't mesh but we'll see. All I know is that I'm really disappointed by this one because it had all the ingredients (ha ha) of a story that I should have enjoyed but it was ruined due to the author's approach to the whole thing.
I love chef characters, I love second chance romances and I loved Gordon Ramsey's TV series Kitchen Nightmares, which means I should have loved this book. Unfortunately, the author's style isn't just not working for me but it's annoying me to the point where I have to rage quit.
Zafir runs a Greek restaurant in NY together with his family, consisting of his dad and sister. The restaurant is one of the worst in NY, serving nothing but disgusting filth and horrible food prepared by an old chef who can't cook but refuses to change. The reason the situation's gotten to the crisis point is because Zafir's dad is one of those stubborn, arrogant men who experienced business success decades ago and his combined ego and fear of change have him refusing to make any changes to his business. He's stuck his head into the sand and he doesn't care that the situation has caused his children incredible financial and emotional stress and all that's required to fix things is for him to stop being stubborn and arrogant. I've seen situations like this on Kitchen Nightmares many, many times and it's always a frustrating, sad situation. Gordon Ramsey treats the situation the way he should - pointing out how selfish and stupid the restaurant owner is being and how their priorities are completely messed up. Unfortunately, the author of this book seemed to decide that this horrible situation would be a good rom-com scenario. Sorry, but I don't find anything funny about it. Zafir's dad is an arrogant, pathetic man who has prioritized his own feelings over the emotional and financial wellbeing of his own children for decades. You don't get any brownie points from me for that and I definitely don't find it funny.
I also didn't understand why the author seemed to think that a filthy restaurant was funny. Zafir's dad has taxidermized seagulls in random places in the restaurant, which are decades old and they've likely been shedding fluff and feather bits into people's food for decades. There are rats, the walk-in is filled with rotting food and the kitchen is so filthy that Zafir's dad should be fined for having served people food that was cooked in such a place. It's mind boggling to me that doing such a thing isn't a crime. None of this was funny - it was revolting and sad. Again - Kitchen Nightmares doesn't show scenes like that for laughs. It's not a sign of quirkiness, it's a sign that somebody's suffering from depression and has given up because they don't see any hope for the future.
Then there's the author's take on the second chance romance, which also didn't work for me. Rory is a chef and he's hired by Zafir's sister as a last ditch effort to save the restaurant when their old chef drops dead in the middle of service. He and Zafir work side by side to clean the restaurant and come up with new dishes but the problem is that there's no chemistry between them and the author has them act like strangers. In addition, the author constantly has the MCs remember scenes from their first relationship, which are always lengthy flashbacks filled with sexy times. Both MCs admit that their first relationship was just a sex fling, and that's when I knew this second chance romance would never be what I wanted. These two guys don't know each other and they never had a meaningful relationship, which is why there's no chemistry and no pining happening. Sure, they miss having sex with each other, but that's not what I want in a second chance romance.
Lastly - I got the feeling the author didn't actually want to write this story because there's So. Much. Filler. The plot moves at a glacial pace and it's constantly interrupted by the MCs having lengthy, boring conversations about nothing. It wasn't banter. It wasn't flirting. It was awkward chit-chat about random topics, the kind you'd have with strangers. Even worse - some topics were repeated over and over again, like the discussion about the dad's obsession with seagulls and Zafir's obsession with astrology. I'm not kidding when I said that the conversations were just awkward chit-chat that didn't add anything to the plot. At one point, they talk about how the 'cancer' symbol should be re-named to something more cheerful, so Rory suggest 'Colin' because Colin-The-Crab sounds cheerful. *thunk* Sorry - that was the sound of my head hitting my desk because I just fell asleep from boredom. Maybe I was supposed to find that conversation funny but it's so far away from my own sense of humor that it was just a stream of boring words.
Making things worse is that the author stuffed these awkward conversations full of pop culture references that not only dated the book and the author but they contained such a wide range of references that I doubt the majority of people would understand everything. There was one conversation where they discussed The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica (the 2004-2009 version), why Zafir's cat is named Meep, Zafir's enjoyment of annotating self-help books and then they mentioned a Joe Berlinger movie about Tony Robbins. And the BSG discussion isn't just a throwaway line, but it was an actual discussion about specific plot points from the show. W...T...F?? There was no point to these conversations, they weren't funny and they had this awkward quality around them, like the MCs didn't know what else to talk about. It felt like the author was being forced to write this book and was just typing words on a page to fill them up.
There were other minor issues too, like the author continuously bashing instagram/youtube influencers because clearly she's from my generation and crapping on things that the younger generation enjoys is something she finds funny. I have a feeling she wouldn't have the same energy for bashing the career choices of models or actors who choose to make a living appearing in commercials, despite these careers all being the same (if we ignore the fact that the influencer pathway is smarter and offers way more benefits than the other ones). Never mind that being a self-published author is the exact same career path as being an online influencer, yet I doubt the author would portray the former in the same negative way. The bashing wasn't cool or funny, it just made me feel embarrassed on the author's behalf because she doesn't seem to understand the true pros and cons of these new online career paths. I hate it when authors do things like this because it's only going to be appreciated by a small portion of their audience and it'll alienate everybody else. It's not necessary, it's just rude. Not to mention that her depiction of how an influencer goes about their career was filled with inaccuracies, demonstrating the author's lack of knowledge about the topic.
Also - it's absurd that a restaurant situated in NYC that has been failing for decades has only accumulated $50K in debt. The author did do research on food-related things, so why did the research not extend to other things? It annoys me because even watching a single Kitchen Nightmares episode would have shown the author that $250K is a much more believable debt sum for such a situation.
Anyway - nothing about this book was working for me. I'm starting to think that Jess Whitecroft's style and I don't mesh but we'll see. All I know is that I'm really disappointed by this one because it had all the ingredients (ha ha) of a story that I should have enjoyed but it was ruined due to the author's approach to the whole thing.
Want to Read
June 30, 20206/30/20 Currently FREE via Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Almost-One-Jes...
August 9, 2021
Not for me. Too much drama, too much telling.
March 12, 2020
I nearly didn't read this because I don't like cooking or restaurants as a backdrop or the primary story in a book. I've spent a lot of my life cooking for people - my family, friends, parties -and I don't enjoy it, and now it's associated with grief, so I don't want to read about it. But Jess Whitecroft wrote it and I like her writing...so I picked it up.
I liked the main characters, Zafir and Rory, without loving them, but I cheered for them
I liked the writing, if you can mention Elizabeth 1 in a contemporary gay romance, I'm impressed. If I could spend the night with just one person from the past, QE 1 has always been my pick.
There's some lovely, passionate, vivid writing in this book, typical Jess Whitecroft.
The sex is not abundant but there is a definite sensuality to the characters' romance and connection - and three times a charm, baby.
Tatiana, you're awesome. The carwash? Snaps for initiative.
If you're looking for a well written contemporary gay romance with a restaurant as a point of connection then here's a good story.
I liked the main characters, Zafir and Rory, without loving them, but I cheered for them
I liked the writing, if you can mention Elizabeth 1 in a contemporary gay romance, I'm impressed. If I could spend the night with just one person from the past, QE 1 has always been my pick.
There's some lovely, passionate, vivid writing in this book, typical Jess Whitecroft.
The sex is not abundant but there is a definite sensuality to the characters' romance and connection - and three times a charm, baby.
Tatiana, you're awesome. The carwash? Snaps for initiative.
If you're looking for a well written contemporary gay romance with a restaurant as a point of connection then here's a good story.
January 27, 2020
Almost the One is another fantastic romance by Jess Whitecroft. The characters are rich and enthralling. I adored Zafir and Rory and enjoyed getting to know their backstory through glimpses throughout the novel. Although Zafir is the younger of the two, he comes across as more mature and reasonable, while Rory is the impulsive one.
The passion between the two--present day and in flashbacks--is off-the-charts-hot and tender and romantic. There's no doubt Zafir and Rory were destined to be together.
I learned a lot about Greek culture and the terrain of Cornwall. Whitecroft has this terrifically talented way of interweaving history and geography into her stories without making them feel like lectures. And the food! There are dishes out there that I didn't know exist.
As is Whitecroft's style, the dialogue and narrative are funny, snarky, and smart. You will laugh, cry, and yearn along with her characters.
The passion between the two--present day and in flashbacks--is off-the-charts-hot and tender and romantic. There's no doubt Zafir and Rory were destined to be together.
I learned a lot about Greek culture and the terrain of Cornwall. Whitecroft has this terrifically talented way of interweaving history and geography into her stories without making them feel like lectures. And the food! There are dishes out there that I didn't know exist.
As is Whitecroft's style, the dialogue and narrative are funny, snarky, and smart. You will laugh, cry, and yearn along with her characters.
January 25, 2020
In typical Jess Whitecroft fashion, she has created a snarky, sweet story with a lot of heart! She is such an underrated author who has a knack for weaving a good story with so much humor and intelligence.
In this book, Zafir and Rory were young lovers who just couldn't make it in the past but they get a second chance 7 years later when Rory shows up to Zafir's dad's restaurant to apply for the chef position. It is only one restaurant away from being the worst restaurant in New York according to Yelp, due to his dad's sentimentality.
Rory and Zafir are amazing together and the side characters are hilarious. I highly recommend this!
In this book, Zafir and Rory were young lovers who just couldn't make it in the past but they get a second chance 7 years later when Rory shows up to Zafir's dad's restaurant to apply for the chef position. It is only one restaurant away from being the worst restaurant in New York according to Yelp, due to his dad's sentimentality.
Rory and Zafir are amazing together and the side characters are hilarious. I highly recommend this!
July 31, 2020
Great story, with some lovely history between the MCs. I adored the references here, smart and funny and clever all. Gotta read more by this author...
July 26, 2023
Jonathan Livingston Seagull - oh my! The pacing improves post halfway and so did my interest - so 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 eventually.
January 26, 2020
Jess Whitecroft is one of those authors who makes me love reading so much. Her brand of snark and humor, her unique descriptions that immerse you right in the scene, and her informative tangents that give you such insight into the characters' minds make her novels such a pleasure to read for me. She is a skilled wordsmith and I kept finding myself rereading paragraphs and scenes just to savor her words.
There was so much that I loved about this book. Zafir and Rory's unresolved sexual tension was almost like an additional character in this book--it was so present and palpable in each scene. Their third chance at romance was fraught with all the baggage that comes with past lovers, in addition to the mistakes they'd lived through and demons they'd faced while apart. Now grown, these men had a whole new chance to make their relationship work--if they didn't self-destruct first.
It was the internal struggles that kept the character arcs messy and interesting for me. I also loved how Zafir wasn't a perfect '10' and that he had love handles and soft, squidgy bits to his body that Rory loved just as much, if not more than before. Zafir and Rory had wonderful chemistry and I loved the world that she built for them.
There was so much that I loved about this book. Zafir and Rory's unresolved sexual tension was almost like an additional character in this book--it was so present and palpable in each scene. Their third chance at romance was fraught with all the baggage that comes with past lovers, in addition to the mistakes they'd lived through and demons they'd faced while apart. Now grown, these men had a whole new chance to make their relationship work--if they didn't self-destruct first.
It was the internal struggles that kept the character arcs messy and interesting for me. I also loved how Zafir wasn't a perfect '10' and that he had love handles and soft, squidgy bits to his body that Rory loved just as much, if not more than before. Zafir and Rory had wonderful chemistry and I loved the world that she built for them.
November 8, 2020
This book started so slowly and I almost DNF. I just kept on reading because this book was also unexpectedly FUNNY. It was so witty and irreverent, I couldn't stop, and then the book picked up pace. Thank goodness, because the end was heartfelt and I adored Zefir and Rory and all the secondary characters (Tatiana, I'm looking at you, you saucy minx) and, in the end, I actually enjoyed this book very much.
January 24, 2020
A wonderful read!
I loved everything about this gorgeous book. Zafir and Rory were beautifully written and their voices and emotions shine through.
Almost the one has a well thought out and engaging storyline, that's
richly described with wonderful supporting characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved everything about this gorgeous book. Zafir and Rory were beautifully written and their voices and emotions shine through.
Almost the one has a well thought out and engaging storyline, that's
richly described with wonderful supporting characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 29, 2023
Zafir is struggling to manage Seagulls Bar and Grill, the second-worst reviewed restaurant in NYC, as well as his stubborn father, Seagulls’ owner. He’s commiserating at a restaurant with his best friend, Tatiana, when they witness the chef quit his job in a rage because the owner has been stealing tips from the waitstaff:
Rory, of course, is Zafir’s ex. This sets the stage for a fantastic second chance romance—full of banter, social commentary, and nostalgia for a long-ago love.
Seven years ago, Zafir and Rory met in Cornwall and had a perfect summer romance, which Zafir ended before returning to NY. But Rory took a chance and followed him, and the pair were “sighing, yearning, always-and-forever, licking-each-other stupid,” before Rory, an inveterate gambler, proposed to the 20-year-old Zafir. When Zafir sensibly declined, they broke up.
But now they’re older and possibly wiser, so when Seagulls’ cook collapses on the job (Tatiana gloomily quotes a Yelp reviewer: “After the third time I asked where my salmon had got to, the waitress told me that the chef had died. Total bull!@#$.”), Tatiana recruits Rory to take over the kitchen. Rory’s in no position to decline, since he’s living on a sofa belonging to his cousin Elizabeth, a social media influencer whose Oxford education “isn’t nearly as important as her ability to blog about it.”
But Zafir’s father isn’t willing to make changes, and debt-ridden Zafir is about to give up, so Rory—now in Gambler’s Anonymous—makes a risky move designed to get Seagulls back on its feet, and soon he and Rory are decontaminating a kitchen full of taxidermy, among other things.
Rory and Zafir are as attracted to one another as ever, as Zafir discovers:
But Rory’s determined to keep a lid on his impulsive instincts, so they’re taking it slow. Sort of.
This is my favorite of Jess Whitecroft’s many superb romances. She has a great ear for dialogue (what I’ve quoted above is just the tip of the iceberg; the conversations are a delight), and gambling—as a character trait, and a brain disease—is explored here in a way I don’t often see. And the description of an old summer love is so specific and youthful (the incense, the Indian-patterned bedspread, the tattoo ruined by surfing) that I kind of want to visit Cornwall, though I don’t really like the seaside. Or fish. Anyway, I adore this book, and you might, too.
The owner seethed: “You are—”
“—quitting—”
“fired. You are fired!”
“Am not,” said Rory, who hadn’t changed. At all. “I said it first. I have witnesses.” He waved an arm around the restaurant and stormed towards the door. That was when he caught Zafir’s eye for the first time. “Oh, hi,” he said, in a sudden frenzied attempt to claw back his dignity. “How are you? Nice to see you.”
Rory, of course, is Zafir’s ex. This sets the stage for a fantastic second chance romance—full of banter, social commentary, and nostalgia for a long-ago love.
Seven years ago, Zafir and Rory met in Cornwall and had a perfect summer romance, which Zafir ended before returning to NY. But Rory took a chance and followed him, and the pair were “sighing, yearning, always-and-forever, licking-each-other stupid,” before Rory, an inveterate gambler, proposed to the 20-year-old Zafir. When Zafir sensibly declined, they broke up.
But now they’re older and possibly wiser, so when Seagulls’ cook collapses on the job (Tatiana gloomily quotes a Yelp reviewer: “After the third time I asked where my salmon had got to, the waitress told me that the chef had died. Total bull!@#$.”), Tatiana recruits Rory to take over the kitchen. Rory’s in no position to decline, since he’s living on a sofa belonging to his cousin Elizabeth, a social media influencer whose Oxford education “isn’t nearly as important as her ability to blog about it.”
But Zafir’s father isn’t willing to make changes, and debt-ridden Zafir is about to give up, so Rory—now in Gambler’s Anonymous—makes a risky move designed to get Seagulls back on its feet, and soon he and Rory are decontaminating a kitchen full of taxidermy, among other things.
Rory and Zafir are as attracted to one another as ever, as Zafir discovers:
“There was something about Rory, a loose-limbed, snake-hipped sluttiness that conveyed the impression that his clothes didn’t have to be covering his body, and in fact—if they were scrupulously honest about it—they would have preferred not to, and would have been much happier lying crumpled on someone’s bedroom floor.”
But Rory’s determined to keep a lid on his impulsive instincts, so they’re taking it slow. Sort of.
This is my favorite of Jess Whitecroft’s many superb romances. She has a great ear for dialogue (what I’ve quoted above is just the tip of the iceberg; the conversations are a delight), and gambling—as a character trait, and a brain disease—is explored here in a way I don’t often see. And the description of an old summer love is so specific and youthful (the incense, the Indian-patterned bedspread, the tattoo ruined by surfing) that I kind of want to visit Cornwall, though I don’t really like the seaside. Or fish. Anyway, I adore this book, and you might, too.
January 27, 2020
Very special third chance for love book...Zafir and Rory were an item seven years ago. Their love was so intense but Rory's need to be dramatic lead them to break it off. Both still carry strong feelings for one another and it really exploded when they accidental met each other again. Zafir has a failing restaurant business with his dad and Rory has just quit his job as a chef and is looking for a new job. Their situation is beneficial to both and they start up again. They start off slow in rekindling their relationship with some up and downs but they eventually they have a very sweet HEA. I absolutely loved Zafir...his personality is humorous and so real that he made the book a very enjoyable read...Rory was sweet and charming...Both were the best!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2022
I really need to slow down and enjoy these but alas! This was a quick little read about a pair that met up when they were younger and had a whirlwind romance that escalated too quickly and ended...for reasons.
Seven years later, they find themselves in each other's orbits again and try to not rekindle the flame so they can work together without drama but that literally lasts three days.
This story works because the breakup was incredibly vague. I don't know if I missed it because I was reading this before bed but I'm not sure why they broke up in Atlantic city. There didn't seem to be any fights or arguments or any bitter resentment. I have no idea about why it didn't work so I was fully on board with them escalating quickly.
Also, this reads like a Good Omens restaurant AU and that is always a plus!
Seven years later, they find themselves in each other's orbits again and try to not rekindle the flame so they can work together without drama but that literally lasts three days.
This story works because the breakup was incredibly vague. I don't know if I missed it because I was reading this before bed but I'm not sure why they broke up in Atlantic city. There didn't seem to be any fights or arguments or any bitter resentment. I have no idea about why it didn't work so I was fully on board with them escalating quickly.
Also, this reads like a Good Omens restaurant AU and that is always a plus!
May 20, 2020
Zafir is going mad trying to salvage his restaurant, which is now competing for the position of 'the worst restaurant in new York'. His father, the actual owner is very very resistant to any change, especially regarding the theme of Seagulls for his restaurant. Zafir and his BF, Tatiana are the only ones keeping it afloat.
The only chef who is crazy enough to help them out is Rory, a highly talented, but volatile Brit. And he is also Zafir's ex, the one that got away. Both of them regretted their lost opportunities and are willing to try again.
Jess Whitecroft's books are rich and funny with sweet characters. I loved Zafir and Rory, their snark and how they handled their second chance. They were soulmates. The secondary characters also deserve a mention.
Recommended read
The only chef who is crazy enough to help them out is Rory, a highly talented, but volatile Brit. And he is also Zafir's ex, the one that got away. Both of them regretted their lost opportunities and are willing to try again.
Jess Whitecroft's books are rich and funny with sweet characters. I loved Zafir and Rory, their snark and how they handled their second chance. They were soulmates. The secondary characters also deserve a mention.
Recommended read
January 25, 2020
This was just the cutest book ever. I adored the characters, all of them. The main ones, Jafir, Rory, Jafir’s dad and Tati, not to mention the supporting cast, all fantastic. The story was well written and very well told. I was absorbed by the second chapter. Watching the volley back and forth of our two heroes as they rebuilt their lives together was wonderful. It was so engaging, at times you felt you left behind the pages and became part of the story. It was that good. I was delighted with the HEA and closed the book feeling a loss because it was over but pleased that it ended so well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2020
Rory and Zafir were a great couple that isn't as we meet them, but are still very much in each other's orbit. Zafir has a lot going on. A restaurant in freefall in need of change with quite the cast of characters. Both men are passionate and their connection to one another is palpable. They just have to learn to live successfully with one another and their quirks. This book was as delicious as the food descriptions contained within it. Yum.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2020
Almost the One is an excellent second chance romance that has all the things I love about a Jess Whitecroft book; it's funny, witty, sarcastic, and sexy, all wrapped around a fantastic love story. I adored both Zafir and Rory and felt they were both down to earth, relatable characters, and I found myself pulling for them even as I could see them making disastrous choices. I also loved the depth of the secondary characters, especially Zafir's family. I highly recommend this book! It will have you pulling for Rory and Zafir and laughing out loud with the author's tongue in cheek banter.
January 25, 2020
I liked how human both of these men were. Their relationship starts out as most do, hot and heavy. All passion and perfect. Until it becomes more than just passion and real life sets in. Fast forward seven years where both men learn and live and realize what is important and the blush of youth is gone. Sweet and passionate and ready for what ever comes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 30, 2020
Another fantastic book!
I don't know how she does it, but Jess' books are always so funny and genuine and full of chemistry. Almost The One is no exception. It's one of the best second chance romances I've ever read. And the restaurant redemption theme is a ton of fun!
Oh and the female secondary character Tatiana is amazing and hilarious. I loved her so much and would totally read her story.
Jess has become a one-click author for me and everybody needs to read her stories.
I don't know how she does it, but Jess' books are always so funny and genuine and full of chemistry. Almost The One is no exception. It's one of the best second chance romances I've ever read. And the restaurant redemption theme is a ton of fun!
Oh and the female secondary character Tatiana is amazing and hilarious. I loved her so much and would totally read her story.
Jess has become a one-click author for me and everybody needs to read her stories.
January 27, 2020
Snarky, sweet and slightly sarcastic but very real and honest too. Almost the One is a lovely second chance romance with a fabulously authentic secondary cast. Our heroes, Zafir and Rory, are an absolute treat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 1, 2020
Sweet and sexy romance with a little bit of angst for good measure and a lovely HEA. Zafir isn’t quite as sassy and some of this author’s other main characters, but he’s definitely got it. A really sweet romance all around.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 23, 2020
Hard to pinpoint what kept this from being very enjoyable but I suspect if was the vagueness of Zafir and Rory’s dysfunction. You were told snippets of information that didn’t soothe the irritation of not understanding their behavior. It took way to long to learn the length of time it took their relationship to blow up the first time and exactly how. Well written but not a re-read.
October 3, 2020
This was fun. Not as witty, fast and fun as other JW books I’ve read but it was alright, less romantic comedy and more literary. Light, easy romance with low angst and decent characters, both MCs and side characters, that worked well.
This book is a perfect example of a book that is alright but not remarkable because it’s missing some spark.
This book is a perfect example of a book that is alright but not remarkable because it’s missing some spark.
January 25, 2020
This was a great fun adventure. Zafir and Rory are amazing characters that belong together. Loved the storyline it was interesting and fun filled with adventure and great characters. Loved this cute romance adventure.
July 5, 2020
This author's characterizations are usually flawless: you know these are actually human beings with their virtues and their vices. I might be missing her snarky side because I didn't love this and I can't tell why.
July 17, 2020
This was so goddamn cute!
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