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Friendships and Festivals #3
Love and Latkes
You can’t make a latke without breaking a few eggs…
Batya Averman is ecstatic when a latke fry-off committee chooses her as its web designer—until she learns the event is in Rivertown, New York, the hometown she fled years ago. But she’s no longer the girl with an embarrassing history and an unrequited crush on Abe Neumann. This delicious competition is Batya’s chance to further her career, and this time she won’t run.
Abe Neumann can’t pass up the opportunity to enter the town’s latke contest. He dreams of throwing caution to the wind and leaving his accounting firm, opening a Jewish deli, and choosing his own happiness. The prize money would bring him closer to making his dream a reality, but when Batya comes back to town, Abe remembers that a deli isn’t the only thing he’s wished for.
When the fry-off’s celebrity host has to pull out of the competition, Batya is determined to step up to the challenge. This Hanukkah, can Abe fix the past and convince Batya that dreams, like latkes, are better when they’re shared?
Batya Averman is ecstatic when a latke fry-off committee chooses her as its web designer—until she learns the event is in Rivertown, New York, the hometown she fled years ago. But she’s no longer the girl with an embarrassing history and an unrequited crush on Abe Neumann. This delicious competition is Batya’s chance to further her career, and this time she won’t run.
Abe Neumann can’t pass up the opportunity to enter the town’s latke contest. He dreams of throwing caution to the wind and leaving his accounting firm, opening a Jewish deli, and choosing his own happiness. The prize money would bring him closer to making his dream a reality, but when Batya comes back to town, Abe remembers that a deli isn’t the only thing he’s wished for.
When the fry-off’s celebrity host has to pull out of the competition, Batya is determined to step up to the challenge. This Hanukkah, can Abe fix the past and convince Batya that dreams, like latkes, are better when they’re shared?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
302 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
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October 12, 2021
4.25 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Love and Latkes is not a book you want to dive into when you’re hungry. A latke fry-off is only the beginning when it comes to discussions of Jewish food and I was so here for it. Yes, this is a romance, and the love story between Batya and Abe made me smile, but it was the themes of connections, history, and community through food that stole my heart.
Batya has avoided Abe ever since a declaration of feelings went wrong back in high school. Now, with celebrity host George Gold bringing a latke fry-off to their hometown, Batya and Abe can’t help but run into each other. Batya is designing the fry-off’s website and hoping for a chance to learn from Gold; she wants to grow her website and build on her dream of sharing Jewish history and culture through the lens of food with the world. Abe is an accountant who has a pop-up kosher barbeque business on the weekends. It’s his dream of opening a kosher deli and winning the fry-off would give him the chance at funds and a mentorship from George Gold.
Thrown together by the competition and their well-meaning friends, Batya and Abe can’t help but be drawn toward each other once more. I enjoyed their flirting through food (how can you resist a man who sends you thoughtful ice cream deliveries?) and it’s yet another way Stacey Agdern connects food and relationships. The Jewish representation in Agdern’s books is always top-notch and Love and Latkes is no exception. I loved the way she talked about the sharing of food, traditions, and culture. And I really loved how she seamlessly incorporated the laws of kashrut into discussions of food and cooking in ways those familiar and not could easily understand.
The second-chance romance between Abe and Batya made me smile and sigh. She’s wary, he’s eager but respectful, and the two of them click as they slowly slide into love as adults. I enjoyed the roles their friends played in bringing them together and helping them out when they needed it. Love between friends is every bit as important as romantic love in this story, which I really appreciated. All in all, I adored Love and Latkes . It’s a sweet, interesting, and engaging story that’s sure to leave you hungry for more of Agdern’s Friendships and Festivals books.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Love and Latkes is not a book you want to dive into when you’re hungry. A latke fry-off is only the beginning when it comes to discussions of Jewish food and I was so here for it. Yes, this is a romance, and the love story between Batya and Abe made me smile, but it was the themes of connections, history, and community through food that stole my heart.
Batya has avoided Abe ever since a declaration of feelings went wrong back in high school. Now, with celebrity host George Gold bringing a latke fry-off to their hometown, Batya and Abe can’t help but run into each other. Batya is designing the fry-off’s website and hoping for a chance to learn from Gold; she wants to grow her website and build on her dream of sharing Jewish history and culture through the lens of food with the world. Abe is an accountant who has a pop-up kosher barbeque business on the weekends. It’s his dream of opening a kosher deli and winning the fry-off would give him the chance at funds and a mentorship from George Gold.
Thrown together by the competition and their well-meaning friends, Batya and Abe can’t help but be drawn toward each other once more. I enjoyed their flirting through food (how can you resist a man who sends you thoughtful ice cream deliveries?) and it’s yet another way Stacey Agdern connects food and relationships. The Jewish representation in Agdern’s books is always top-notch and Love and Latkes is no exception. I loved the way she talked about the sharing of food, traditions, and culture. And I really loved how she seamlessly incorporated the laws of kashrut into discussions of food and cooking in ways those familiar and not could easily understand.
The second-chance romance between Abe and Batya made me smile and sigh. She’s wary, he’s eager but respectful, and the two of them click as they slowly slide into love as adults. I enjoyed the roles their friends played in bringing them together and helping them out when they needed it. Love between friends is every bit as important as romantic love in this story, which I really appreciated. All in all, I adored Love and Latkes . It’s a sweet, interesting, and engaging story that’s sure to leave you hungry for more of Agdern’s Friendships and Festivals books.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
December 12, 2021
A perfect hallmark Hanukkah book. Cute. Cute. Cute.
Read
September 30, 2021Review first posted on my blog Bookishly Jewish
I posted reviews a bit slower this September for several reasons, all of them related to the recent slate of Jewish holidays. Most of my reading is done on an e-reader which I cannot use on the holiday due to my form of observance. In addition, I've been spending every free moment preparing holiday foods, both traditional and new, because where I'm from that's how we mark the passage of time. We honor our past and look forward to our future by cooking and baking the comfort foods we all love.
Which is why it is only fitting that the first book I post after the end of this high holiday season is Stacey Agdern's romance Love and Latkes. The third in the Friendship and Festivals series, the book follows aspiring Jewish food critic Batya Averman as she attempts to overcome stage fright and feature Jewish food on national television by hosting her town's inaugural latke fry off. The catch? One of the contestants is Abe, her high school crush gone awry who is hoping to use the contestant to further his own dreams of opening a kosher deli.
Ostensibly, this is a sweet second chance romance featuring Hannukah themes. In reality, it is a love letter to Jewish food and I am here for it! Batya and Abe reconnect over food, flirt by sending each other gifts of food and even engage in the age old applesauce vs. sour cream debate. This, my friends, is the stuff that Jewish foodie dreams are made of.
As I braided my round, raisin challa dough for Rosh Hashana I appreciated the discussion on keeping breads pareve so that those who keep traditional kosher laws can still eat them with meat. When I poured tamarind sauce (ouc) into the sauce for my Bubbie's stuffed cabbage recipe, I thought about the ice cream shop in the novel that tried to blend new flavors into a historic family establishment. Most of all, I luxuriated in the banter that flew faster than soofganiyot off the plate at a Hannukah party.
For readers that are concerned they need to read the other two books in the series, I would encourage you to let that fear go. I will likely be picking up the other two books because I enjoyed meeting the characters featured within them and would like to know more of their story, but this was in no way necessary to my understanding of this book. It stands on its own. It was also safe for work and my commute.
I did however, have one large issue: apple sauce? Are you kidding me? Sour cream is my preferred latke topping ALL THE WAY. However, the argument about needing a non-dairy option to improve latke accessibility was a sound one, so I will grudgingly overlook this travesty. I will also ignore the use of food processors despite the fact that I like the texture I get by using a box grater for my potatoes/turnips/root vegetables.
In short, I loved this unabashedly Jewish book "a latke".
I posted reviews a bit slower this September for several reasons, all of them related to the recent slate of Jewish holidays. Most of my reading is done on an e-reader which I cannot use on the holiday due to my form of observance. In addition, I've been spending every free moment preparing holiday foods, both traditional and new, because where I'm from that's how we mark the passage of time. We honor our past and look forward to our future by cooking and baking the comfort foods we all love.
Which is why it is only fitting that the first book I post after the end of this high holiday season is Stacey Agdern's romance Love and Latkes. The third in the Friendship and Festivals series, the book follows aspiring Jewish food critic Batya Averman as she attempts to overcome stage fright and feature Jewish food on national television by hosting her town's inaugural latke fry off. The catch? One of the contestants is Abe, her high school crush gone awry who is hoping to use the contestant to further his own dreams of opening a kosher deli.
Ostensibly, this is a sweet second chance romance featuring Hannukah themes. In reality, it is a love letter to Jewish food and I am here for it! Batya and Abe reconnect over food, flirt by sending each other gifts of food and even engage in the age old applesauce vs. sour cream debate. This, my friends, is the stuff that Jewish foodie dreams are made of.
As I braided my round, raisin challa dough for Rosh Hashana I appreciated the discussion on keeping breads pareve so that those who keep traditional kosher laws can still eat them with meat. When I poured tamarind sauce (ouc) into the sauce for my Bubbie's stuffed cabbage recipe, I thought about the ice cream shop in the novel that tried to blend new flavors into a historic family establishment. Most of all, I luxuriated in the banter that flew faster than soofganiyot off the plate at a Hannukah party.
For readers that are concerned they need to read the other two books in the series, I would encourage you to let that fear go. I will likely be picking up the other two books because I enjoyed meeting the characters featured within them and would like to know more of their story, but this was in no way necessary to my understanding of this book. It stands on its own. It was also safe for work and my commute.
I did however, have one large issue: apple sauce? Are you kidding me? Sour cream is my preferred latke topping ALL THE WAY. However, the argument about needing a non-dairy option to improve latke accessibility was a sound one, so I will grudgingly overlook this travesty. I will also ignore the use of food processors despite the fact that I like the texture I get by using a box grater for my potatoes/turnips/root vegetables.
In short, I loved this unabashedly Jewish book "a latke".
October 12, 2021
Full disclosure: I not only know Stacey Agdern really well, but I got to read this book in all its versions from the early aughts so I'm super attached to it and very, very, very biased. I adore Batya and Abe and how two characters who are often side characters get to be leads. Their chemistry is adorable and their story is sweet and this is just such a fabulous book.
It's a romance between two people growing into themselves and doing it through their culture and food and it's just really lovely. It's a food competition trope milked for all it's great drama and arcs and it's just really well done. It's Hanukkah-licious in the best was as well.
It's a fantastic addition to the series as well and you get to see all your favorite characters again and it's lovely and fun, and just makes you warm and happy.
It's a romance between two people growing into themselves and doing it through their culture and food and it's just really lovely. It's a food competition trope milked for all it's great drama and arcs and it's just really well done. It's Hanukkah-licious in the best was as well.
It's a fantastic addition to the series as well and you get to see all your favorite characters again and it's lovely and fun, and just makes you warm and happy.
December 5, 2021
I want to acknowledge that I DNF at 80%. I really wanted to like This Hanukkah holiday love story. It had such great potential, but the book needed heavy editing. So many sentences I had to reread because they were clunky. I felt like it skipped around and I couldn’t always follow.
That said, the book has potential and the story wasn’t terrible. It just wasn’t for me.
That said, the book has potential and the story wasn’t terrible. It just wasn’t for me.
December 11, 2022
I’m happy for the Jewish American rep and the food connections / explanations that are prevalent in this book. However, I think I should have read the other books in this series because there were parts that didn’t make sense to me until I realized these people most likely had things happen that I wasn’t privy to. I also felt like this needed an extra batch of editing because there was some inconsistencies with language and overall lack of continuity. Why would Abe have a cup of coffee in his car only to buy yet another one minutes later? Some of the dialogue and explanations also didn’t make any sense.
I think if this had been streamlined better, this would have been more enjoyable.
I think if this had been streamlined better, this would have been more enjoyable.
December 27, 2022
This was a great concept let down by poor writing style. Overall a 2.5/2.75 ⭐️ from me.
November 2, 2021
This is the third in Stacey Agdern's Friendships and Festivals series and it is my favorite in the series. I smiled and laughed my way through this one and couldn't put it down. Abe and Batya's small town romance is full of heart and humor. This one hits all the points readers are looking for in small town romance: friends, traditions, community. Love and Latkes is great Jewish romance, with food and traditions all front and center. It's excellent.
Batya and Abe were high school classmates and the teen crush did not go well. Now they are adults and the feelings are there, but teach needs to learn to love as an adult, and love the other person as an adult instead of some idealized teen version of themselves. I really like that approach to a second chance romance. Too often second chances are just the same people in a new situation, instead of any recognition that time has passed, life has happened, characters have grown and changed. And when you're talking teen to adult, it's really important that there is growth. This is low/no heat (no sexy times on the page) but that shouldn't be mistaken for lacking in chemistry or romance or angst as the two main characters learn to be in love.
I enjoyed both main characters a lot and it was easy to cheer for them individually and together as a couple. They both have dreams they want to pursue and obstacles to overcome to do it. I appreciated their support of each other, and the support they had from friends. Batya struggles with stage fright and having that happen on page instead of being something she magically overcomes, was excellent. And Abe's work in his professional life, his BBQ, and the latke contest, are all shown. The community around them both supports them and holds them accountable, and I really enjoyed that. What is better than the friend who calls you out or questions you or questions your love interest? It made for some great humor, too.
I can't say enough about the Jewish representation here. This isn't someone Jewish moving in a non-Jewish world. These are Jewish characters, their traditions, their food, their community. I really enjoyed it.
For those who have read the first two books, all the main characters are back and have a part to play. I don't think it's necessary to have read the first two, but if a reader wants a fuller explanation of some of the side characters, then it does help. But the first two aren't required reading for Batya and Abe's story.
Highly recommend for fans of contemporary small town romance.
I read an e-ARC, all opinions are my own. I have purchased a copy for myself after publication.
Batya and Abe were high school classmates and the teen crush did not go well. Now they are adults and the feelings are there, but teach needs to learn to love as an adult, and love the other person as an adult instead of some idealized teen version of themselves. I really like that approach to a second chance romance. Too often second chances are just the same people in a new situation, instead of any recognition that time has passed, life has happened, characters have grown and changed. And when you're talking teen to adult, it's really important that there is growth. This is low/no heat (no sexy times on the page) but that shouldn't be mistaken for lacking in chemistry or romance or angst as the two main characters learn to be in love.
I enjoyed both main characters a lot and it was easy to cheer for them individually and together as a couple. They both have dreams they want to pursue and obstacles to overcome to do it. I appreciated their support of each other, and the support they had from friends. Batya struggles with stage fright and having that happen on page instead of being something she magically overcomes, was excellent. And Abe's work in his professional life, his BBQ, and the latke contest, are all shown. The community around them both supports them and holds them accountable, and I really enjoyed that. What is better than the friend who calls you out or questions you or questions your love interest? It made for some great humor, too.
I can't say enough about the Jewish representation here. This isn't someone Jewish moving in a non-Jewish world. These are Jewish characters, their traditions, their food, their community. I really enjoyed it.
For those who have read the first two books, all the main characters are back and have a part to play. I don't think it's necessary to have read the first two, but if a reader wants a fuller explanation of some of the side characters, then it does help. But the first two aren't required reading for Batya and Abe's story.
Highly recommend for fans of contemporary small town romance.
I read an e-ARC, all opinions are my own. I have purchased a copy for myself after publication.
October 16, 2021
I received an arc of Love and Latkes from Tule publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in Stacey Agdern’s Friendships and Festivals series. I was very happy to revisit the friends we met in book one and two of this sweet series. There are so few books that celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah or any of the Jewish holidays for that matter. I am not Jewish but I grew up in a community where many of my friends were Jewish so I am familiar with some of the holiday traditions and foods. This book, like the rest of the series was very well written by Stacey.
Book three focuses on Batya Averman and her huge crush from high school, Abe Neumann. Both are from Rivertown, NY. Batya left right after high school because she had confessed her feelings to Abe at their graduation party and he didn’t acknowledge that he returned her feelings. She was crushed and humiliated. In spite of being part of a group of friends, she left and didn’t return. She traveled the country for her job and several years ago settled in a neighboring town, Hollowville with her aunt. This is where she met and became besties with Sarah and Anna.
Abe recently returned to Rivertown and is working his tax accounting job in NYC and cooking barbecue on the weekends at his father’s house. He has amassed quite a following for his Saturday pick up meals. Batya returns to town as she was hired to do the website for the Latkes competition. She also decides to audition for the job as the host for the tv show competition. She has issues with stage fright but is determined to work through it.
Abe was convinced to enter the competition as he is hoping to win. If he wins he plans to switch his focus and reopen the Jewish deli that closed in Rivertown. Batya and Abe both realize there are still unresolved issues from that high school party. Abe needs to tell her what really happened and admit his feelings for Batya. She has to put aside her feelings and listen to Abe’s apology and explanation for what happened that night. Her friends from high school are also Abe’s friends, making for some strained talks.
As the competition goes on, the reader is told about the couple’s current feelings for each other as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Batya’s friends Sarah, Isaac, Anna and Jacob are there to support her at every stage. They warn Abe and let him know their support for Batya.
This is a terrific romance. In addition, there’s a lot of friendship, between Batya and her Hollowville friends; between Abe and his and Batya’s old friends from Rivertown and then between Batya and Abe as well. I t is a wonderful addition to the series. I hope this isn’t the end of this series. I gave it 5 stars and definitely recommend this book and the whole series.
Book three focuses on Batya Averman and her huge crush from high school, Abe Neumann. Both are from Rivertown, NY. Batya left right after high school because she had confessed her feelings to Abe at their graduation party and he didn’t acknowledge that he returned her feelings. She was crushed and humiliated. In spite of being part of a group of friends, she left and didn’t return. She traveled the country for her job and several years ago settled in a neighboring town, Hollowville with her aunt. This is where she met and became besties with Sarah and Anna.
Abe recently returned to Rivertown and is working his tax accounting job in NYC and cooking barbecue on the weekends at his father’s house. He has amassed quite a following for his Saturday pick up meals. Batya returns to town as she was hired to do the website for the Latkes competition. She also decides to audition for the job as the host for the tv show competition. She has issues with stage fright but is determined to work through it.
Abe was convinced to enter the competition as he is hoping to win. If he wins he plans to switch his focus and reopen the Jewish deli that closed in Rivertown. Batya and Abe both realize there are still unresolved issues from that high school party. Abe needs to tell her what really happened and admit his feelings for Batya. She has to put aside her feelings and listen to Abe’s apology and explanation for what happened that night. Her friends from high school are also Abe’s friends, making for some strained talks.
As the competition goes on, the reader is told about the couple’s current feelings for each other as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Batya’s friends Sarah, Isaac, Anna and Jacob are there to support her at every stage. They warn Abe and let him know their support for Batya.
This is a terrific romance. In addition, there’s a lot of friendship, between Batya and her Hollowville friends; between Abe and his and Batya’s old friends from Rivertown and then between Batya and Abe as well. I t is a wonderful addition to the series. I hope this isn’t the end of this series. I gave it 5 stars and definitely recommend this book and the whole series.
October 12, 2021
Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern
You can’t make a latke without breaking a few eggs…
Batya Averman is ecstatic when a latke fry-off committee chooses her as its web designer—until she learns the event is in Rivertown, New York, the hometown she fled years ago. But she’s no longer the girl with an embarrassing history and an unrequited crush on Abe Neumann. This delicious competition is Batya’s chance to further her career, and this time she won’t run.
Abe Neumann can’t pass up the opportunity to enter the town’s latke contest. He dreams of throwing caution to the wind and leaving his accounting firm, opening a Jewish deli, and choosing his own happiness. The prize money would bring him closer to making his dream a reality, but when Batya comes back to town, Abe remembers that a deli isn’t the only thing he’s wished for.
When the fry-off’s celebrity host has to pull out of the competition, Batya is determined to step up to the challenge. This Hanukkah, can Abe fix the past and convince Batya that dreams, like latkes, are better when they’re shared?
This is Batya Averman and Abe Neumann's story.
The subject line of the email burning a hole in Batya Averman’s inbox was written in bold.
LATKE FRY-OFF HOSTED by George Gold/ Golden Road Productions She’d sent in her résumé to the town and the production company a few months before on a whim fueled by possibility.
She was a good web designer, but she also knew food.
Abe Newman locked the front door to his childhood home. Two years before, he’d realized that his fire was for barbecue and not the intricate tax work he’d spent so much time poring over.
So, he’d sold his Manhattan apartment and moved back to Rivertown, a phrase he never thought he’d say.
Yet here he was, with a house transferred over to him from his recently retired father, which meant bigger space.
I highly recommend reading.
Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Stacey Agdern.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
You can’t make a latke without breaking a few eggs…
Batya Averman is ecstatic when a latke fry-off committee chooses her as its web designer—until she learns the event is in Rivertown, New York, the hometown she fled years ago. But she’s no longer the girl with an embarrassing history and an unrequited crush on Abe Neumann. This delicious competition is Batya’s chance to further her career, and this time she won’t run.
Abe Neumann can’t pass up the opportunity to enter the town’s latke contest. He dreams of throwing caution to the wind and leaving his accounting firm, opening a Jewish deli, and choosing his own happiness. The prize money would bring him closer to making his dream a reality, but when Batya comes back to town, Abe remembers that a deli isn’t the only thing he’s wished for.
When the fry-off’s celebrity host has to pull out of the competition, Batya is determined to step up to the challenge. This Hanukkah, can Abe fix the past and convince Batya that dreams, like latkes, are better when they’re shared?
This is Batya Averman and Abe Neumann's story.
The subject line of the email burning a hole in Batya Averman’s inbox was written in bold.
LATKE FRY-OFF HOSTED by George Gold/ Golden Road Productions She’d sent in her résumé to the town and the production company a few months before on a whim fueled by possibility.
She was a good web designer, but she also knew food.
Abe Newman locked the front door to his childhood home. Two years before, he’d realized that his fire was for barbecue and not the intricate tax work he’d spent so much time poring over.
So, he’d sold his Manhattan apartment and moved back to Rivertown, a phrase he never thought he’d say.
Yet here he was, with a house transferred over to him from his recently retired father, which meant bigger space.
I highly recommend reading.
Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Stacey Agdern.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
October 13, 2021
I read an ARC of @sagdern ‘s newest book, Love and Latkes. It’s the third book in the Friendship and Festivals series, centering a group of Jewish friends over several Hanukkahs. Have you ever watched a Hallmark movie and wondered what would happen if instead of Christmas, it was any other holiday? This series, this universe really, is for you. Ms. Agdern creates a world in which Jewish life is as ubiquitous as Christian life in the regular world. The setting is basically Riverdale in Westchester, but not quite — Rivertown. So Jewish society is definitely real, and it has the same small town in a big city feeling as where I grew up.
Batya left in a hurry after high school when, after a party where her crush Abe rejects her, she can’t handle the embarrassment. She’s back now because she’s a Jewish food blogger, and there’s a latke contest.
Wouldn’t you know it? Green eyed Jewish hottie Abe is in Rivertown, and he’s an accountant in the streets and a weekend barbecue chef in the sheets. He has entered the contest, a kind of great Jewish bake-off.
Sparks fly, though Batya resists it. Abe is a comforting presence while Batya struggles with anxiety and stage fright to be the host of the televised potato pancake party.
There’s no smut, not even closed door - this is a Jewish Hallmark movie. You get a HEA for sure. You also get Yiddishisms, Jewish holidays, Hebrew, it’s all right there in a comforting blanket for me, a Jewish reader who grew up more than tangentially connected to Judaism.
My only real gripe (other than the lack of ANY smut) is that the bagel sandwiches ordered seemed super regionally specific - cinnamon bagel and lox? Didn’t Cynthia Nixon get universally panned for eating this in NYC? I digress; this book was very charming and sweet, as it should be.
If you want to dip your toes into this Jewish society Hallmark movie world, there’s a short story in the Love All Year 2020 anthology, Three Stars in the Sky, that will take you right to summer camp. When the hand goes up, the mouth goes shut!
Batya left in a hurry after high school when, after a party where her crush Abe rejects her, she can’t handle the embarrassment. She’s back now because she’s a Jewish food blogger, and there’s a latke contest.
Wouldn’t you know it? Green eyed Jewish hottie Abe is in Rivertown, and he’s an accountant in the streets and a weekend barbecue chef in the sheets. He has entered the contest, a kind of great Jewish bake-off.
Sparks fly, though Batya resists it. Abe is a comforting presence while Batya struggles with anxiety and stage fright to be the host of the televised potato pancake party.
There’s no smut, not even closed door - this is a Jewish Hallmark movie. You get a HEA for sure. You also get Yiddishisms, Jewish holidays, Hebrew, it’s all right there in a comforting blanket for me, a Jewish reader who grew up more than tangentially connected to Judaism.
My only real gripe (other than the lack of ANY smut) is that the bagel sandwiches ordered seemed super regionally specific - cinnamon bagel and lox? Didn’t Cynthia Nixon get universally panned for eating this in NYC? I digress; this book was very charming and sweet, as it should be.
If you want to dip your toes into this Jewish society Hallmark movie world, there’s a short story in the Love All Year 2020 anthology, Three Stars in the Sky, that will take you right to summer camp. When the hand goes up, the mouth goes shut!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
I’m going to start by saying this is book three in a series and I didn’t read the first two books. So there’s a very real possibility that something that didn’t make sense to me in this book might have made sense had I read the first two.
Batya gets pulled back to her hometown because of a job opportunity. She left home right after graduating highschool, right after she confessed her feelings to Abe and didn’t get the response she wanted. You can tell that they’ve seen each other occasionally over the years and that it has always been awkward. They share some mutual friends so their paths will always cross to some degree but Batya tries to limit their interactions.
But this job opportunity forces her to spend time with Abe.
Batya comes to town because she’s planning to do some work for a cooking channel that is holding a latke competition. The competition is in her hometown and Abe is competing.
Abe never had a problem being around Batya in large part because he always had feelings for her and she accidentally put his foot in his mouth all those years ago when she approached him. He thinks maybe this will be his second chance.
What I loved:
All the foodie talk and the fact that Abe chose ice cream as a way of communicating with Batya. That was really sweet and romantic!
What didn’t work for me:
My god, what did Abe do that was so bad that he seems to be the sole reason Batya left town at 17 and still hates being there over a decade later? Even if he hadn’t reciprocated her feelings, it doesn’t make sense to me why she would literally move away and never come back because her crush didn’t feel the same.
Now that’s something that might have been answered in book one or book two. So I totally accept that I might not have all the info here.
If anyone read the first two books and can answer that question for me, I would seriously appreciate it!
Batya gets pulled back to her hometown because of a job opportunity. She left home right after graduating highschool, right after she confessed her feelings to Abe and didn’t get the response she wanted. You can tell that they’ve seen each other occasionally over the years and that it has always been awkward. They share some mutual friends so their paths will always cross to some degree but Batya tries to limit their interactions.
But this job opportunity forces her to spend time with Abe.
Batya comes to town because she’s planning to do some work for a cooking channel that is holding a latke competition. The competition is in her hometown and Abe is competing.
Abe never had a problem being around Batya in large part because he always had feelings for her and she accidentally put his foot in his mouth all those years ago when she approached him. He thinks maybe this will be his second chance.
What I loved:
All the foodie talk and the fact that Abe chose ice cream as a way of communicating with Batya. That was really sweet and romantic!
What didn’t work for me:
My god, what did Abe do that was so bad that he seems to be the sole reason Batya left town at 17 and still hates being there over a decade later? Even if he hadn’t reciprocated her feelings, it doesn’t make sense to me why she would literally move away and never come back because her crush didn’t feel the same.
Now that’s something that might have been answered in book one or book two. So I totally accept that I might not have all the info here.
If anyone read the first two books and can answer that question for me, I would seriously appreciate it!
December 27, 2021
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
I’ve enjoyed the Friendships and Festivals series, the blending of food, romance, history, traditions, and the uniqueness of small towns always combine for a delightful reading experience for me. In Love and Latkes we meet Batya and Abe who might have had a slight misunderstanding during their high school years but the attraction between them is just as strong as ever… should they decide to risk acting upon it.
Each has a very strong reason for wanting to win or succeed in this competition, and each will learn a few lessons about friendship, relationships, and possibilities along the way. I easily got caught up in Love and Latkes for the growing romance, of course, but the food descriptions… oh my goodness, I definitely wanted to try some, if not all of those dishes! The journey from friendship to everlasting love wasn’t always smooth for Abe and Batya, but it was interesting. I always enjoy a good romance, and this one was, but I also love learning about new things as well, and there was a wealth of information within this story.
I had fun here and that’s the entire point of getting lost in a romance. I don’t feel you must read the earlier books to enjoy Love and Latkes, but I’d certainly recommend them as good, enjoyable, and believable stories as well.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
I’ve enjoyed the Friendships and Festivals series, the blending of food, romance, history, traditions, and the uniqueness of small towns always combine for a delightful reading experience for me. In Love and Latkes we meet Batya and Abe who might have had a slight misunderstanding during their high school years but the attraction between them is just as strong as ever… should they decide to risk acting upon it.
Each has a very strong reason for wanting to win or succeed in this competition, and each will learn a few lessons about friendship, relationships, and possibilities along the way. I easily got caught up in Love and Latkes for the growing romance, of course, but the food descriptions… oh my goodness, I definitely wanted to try some, if not all of those dishes! The journey from friendship to everlasting love wasn’t always smooth for Abe and Batya, but it was interesting. I always enjoy a good romance, and this one was, but I also love learning about new things as well, and there was a wealth of information within this story.
I had fun here and that’s the entire point of getting lost in a romance. I don’t feel you must read the earlier books to enjoy Love and Latkes, but I’d certainly recommend them as good, enjoyable, and believable stories as well.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
October 2, 2021
I have been loving Stacey Agdern's Friendship and Festivals novels, and Love and Latkes was excellent. Batya and Abe, the two main characters, were so easy to like and I loved catching up with the characters we have met in the previous two books as well. Featuring one of my favorite tropes, small town romance, as well as a second chance romance, I was rooting for Batya and Abe from the start. A word of advice, do not read this book on an empty stomach because you will be craving all of the foods mentioned throughout the book and I definitely will be getting even more creative with my latkes this year thanks to Abe's creations!
As a Jew, Stacey's books have been incredible in the Jewish representation. I love the history that is shared, the traditions that are mentioned which mirror some of my own, and the sprinkling in of Yiddish words. For years, the only books I had with Jewish representation were about the Holocaust and I'm so thankful that Stacey has written this series and has given us the opportunity to see Jewish characters in contemporary settings who are so proud of their religion.
Each book can definitely be read as a standalone since you will be caught up with who the characters are if you don't mind some spoilers, but I highly recommend if you can reading the series in order.
Thank you to Stacey Agdern for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a Jew, Stacey's books have been incredible in the Jewish representation. I love the history that is shared, the traditions that are mentioned which mirror some of my own, and the sprinkling in of Yiddish words. For years, the only books I had with Jewish representation were about the Holocaust and I'm so thankful that Stacey has written this series and has given us the opportunity to see Jewish characters in contemporary settings who are so proud of their religion.
Each book can definitely be read as a standalone since you will be caught up with who the characters are if you don't mind some spoilers, but I highly recommend if you can reading the series in order.
Thank you to Stacey Agdern for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2024
It's heavily Jewish
I had to look up words because there were no context clues. But, I love learning about cultures not my own. The failings of the book aren't in its lack of common ground rather it's just lacking in basic story telling. The plot is convoluted and is weighed down by what the author is trying to do. Instead of making them compete against each other and making it easy. She has a challenge that she has to do in order to nail the hosting gig for the competition, and he's a competitor. The author wants to share knowledge about Jewish food practices especially around Hanukkah. So she has Batya hold a lecture series. She also wants to introduce all the characters from her previous books to let the reader know about the two previous books. So Isaac and Sarah as well as Jacob and Chana are there as well as Batya and Abe's friends from high school. Dude, there are so many I can't remember who is supposed to be with whom. It's like hearing news about your spouse's extended family tree. I don't know these people and have no idea why they are important to the story you are telling.
The fight accusations come out of nowhere because there hasn't been enough emphasis put on emotions. So there is no emotional impact to the reader or the character.
Overall, it's a typical small town romance and not even a decent story.
I had to look up words because there were no context clues. But, I love learning about cultures not my own. The failings of the book aren't in its lack of common ground rather it's just lacking in basic story telling. The plot is convoluted and is weighed down by what the author is trying to do. Instead of making them compete against each other and making it easy. She has a challenge that she has to do in order to nail the hosting gig for the competition, and he's a competitor. The author wants to share knowledge about Jewish food practices especially around Hanukkah. So she has Batya hold a lecture series. She also wants to introduce all the characters from her previous books to let the reader know about the two previous books. So Isaac and Sarah as well as Jacob and Chana are there as well as Batya and Abe's friends from high school. Dude, there are so many I can't remember who is supposed to be with whom. It's like hearing news about your spouse's extended family tree. I don't know these people and have no idea why they are important to the story you are telling.
The fight accusations come out of nowhere because there hasn't been enough emphasis put on emotions. So there is no emotional impact to the reader or the character.
Overall, it's a typical small town romance and not even a decent story.
January 7, 2023
Love and Latkes is the third in Stacey Agdern's "Friendships and festivals series".
Ostensibly each book has two main characters who meet in New York and the small towns surrounding the city, finding, after ups and downs, their happy ever after.
But really the meat, the important meat of each book is about so much more than that. They are an illustration and education through a romantic lens, about what it means to be young and Jewish in America in the 21st Century. The books look at the meaning of Jewish community, tradition, history, identity faith and food... and the effort required to keep all these things alive and flourishing.
Love and Latkes" is a glorious (and for the uninitiated, explanatory) ode to Jewish food and dietary rules. Batya and Abe have history. Their lives collide again when Batya takes part in an audition to host a latke making contest that Abe has entered...
I only discovered my Jewish heritage in my 50's, and am still peddling madly to catch up with a culture/faith/people that - apart from the Holocaust- l knew nothing about, these books are gold dust in a way that dry history books aren't.
I can't wait to re read them. I'm sure, second time around l'll absorb even more meaning.
Ostensibly each book has two main characters who meet in New York and the small towns surrounding the city, finding, after ups and downs, their happy ever after.
But really the meat, the important meat of each book is about so much more than that. They are an illustration and education through a romantic lens, about what it means to be young and Jewish in America in the 21st Century. The books look at the meaning of Jewish community, tradition, history, identity faith and food... and the effort required to keep all these things alive and flourishing.
Love and Latkes" is a glorious (and for the uninitiated, explanatory) ode to Jewish food and dietary rules. Batya and Abe have history. Their lives collide again when Batya takes part in an audition to host a latke making contest that Abe has entered...
I only discovered my Jewish heritage in my 50's, and am still peddling madly to catch up with a culture/faith/people that - apart from the Holocaust- l knew nothing about, these books are gold dust in a way that dry history books aren't.
I can't wait to re read them. I'm sure, second time around l'll absorb even more meaning.
January 18, 2025
Food, love, friends, who needs more?
Batya Averman admitted to being I'm love with her high school crush at a graduation party and he, drunk as a skunk, told her no. Batya left and never went back, working to build her life as best as she could after a mortifying disappointment. Until she offers to build a website for a latke competition in her hometown.
Abe Newman ruined his shot with his perfect girl because he decided he could drink beer at a graduation party. But he's moved on in his career, making barbecue on the weekend. Even if he lives in his parents house in his hometown now. He's fine, he loves it. Until his friends get him to enter a latke making competition hosted by a celebrity chef that will mentor the winner.
When the celebrity chef drops out and Batya's friends and old teacher convince her to audition as the host, Abe and Batya are thrown together. Can they get over their awkward past? Can Batya ever get the words she WANTS to say to come out of her mouth? If you laughed (and identified with) Baby and her iconic "I carried a watermelon" line, you'll love Batya and Abe.
Batya Averman admitted to being I'm love with her high school crush at a graduation party and he, drunk as a skunk, told her no. Batya left and never went back, working to build her life as best as she could after a mortifying disappointment. Until she offers to build a website for a latke competition in her hometown.
Abe Newman ruined his shot with his perfect girl because he decided he could drink beer at a graduation party. But he's moved on in his career, making barbecue on the weekend. Even if he lives in his parents house in his hometown now. He's fine, he loves it. Until his friends get him to enter a latke making competition hosted by a celebrity chef that will mentor the winner.
When the celebrity chef drops out and Batya's friends and old teacher convince her to audition as the host, Abe and Batya are thrown together. Can they get over their awkward past? Can Batya ever get the words she WANTS to say to come out of her mouth? If you laughed (and identified with) Baby and her iconic "I carried a watermelon" line, you'll love Batya and Abe.
October 13, 2021
Love and Latkes (Friendships and Festivals, #3) is such a lovely story by Stacey Agdern. I liked the characters, the food, and the second chance romance plot with a twist of a bake-off show. I am not Jewish by birth or religion but I have found these stories to be entertaining as well as enlightening. I loved the food and the traditions within this story as it was in the previous two books.
Batya’s and Abe’s story has wit without snark, small town support, family and as I mentioned earlier the food and traditions. I think I said food three times now. Well, it was a big part of the story. Batya and Abe must face the present with the adult maturity even though they knew each other as teens. They do so I was cheering for them all the way.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Batya’s and Abe’s story has wit without snark, small town support, family and as I mentioned earlier the food and traditions. I think I said food three times now. Well, it was a big part of the story. Batya and Abe must face the present with the adult maturity even though they knew each other as teens. They do so I was cheering for them all the way.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 19, 2022
After reading (and loving) Agdern's Miracles and Menorahs last Hanukkah, I was excited to have this sequel to read to kick off Hanukkah 2022. Sadly, this book lacked the sparkle of its predecessor and that left me incredibly disappointed.
Let's start with the characters: I didn't really like Batya. Or Abe. Or Batya and Abe. They were both annoying and unlikeable. They felt flat. I wasn't interested in their romance. And I love romance.
The plot was boring and uninspired. After awhile, I started skimming because I felt like there had to be more. It felt like the author skipped over parts of the story that would have made it far more interesting. It was also incredibly clunky.
And worst of all: NOT A SUFGANIYOT LATTE IN SIGHT!
All of those very interesting Hanukkah details that provided all the charm in M&M were lacking in this one. In this one we were supposed to be charmed by BBQ and latkes - not the world's most romantic or charming foods.
Let's start with the characters: I didn't really like Batya. Or Abe. Or Batya and Abe. They were both annoying and unlikeable. They felt flat. I wasn't interested in their romance. And I love romance.
The plot was boring and uninspired. After awhile, I started skimming because I felt like there had to be more. It felt like the author skipped over parts of the story that would have made it far more interesting. It was also incredibly clunky.
And worst of all: NOT A SUFGANIYOT LATTE IN SIGHT!
All of those very interesting Hanukkah details that provided all the charm in M&M were lacking in this one. In this one we were supposed to be charmed by BBQ and latkes - not the world's most romantic or charming foods.
December 28, 2021
This was great. Haven't read the first two books, but now I have to. Batya Averman has a food blog that discusses food histories. And she is especially focused on the stories of Jewish food cultures. And she has a chance to work with the host of a latke cook off in her hometown of Rivertown, whose contestants include her high school crush Abe Neumann, who is a financial advisor by day, and a barbeque specialist on the weekends. But when the original host has to back out for health reasons, Batya gets the chance to host the show, as well as set up a series of classes about Jewish culture and food. But paralyzing stage fright, and awkwardness with Abe don't help her.
This was really good. But I wish there had been a little more on the problem of disappearing Jewish deli's, and the gentilification of Jewish food. I know it's a romance, but the issues were skimmed over.
This was really good. But I wish there had been a little more on the problem of disappearing Jewish deli's, and the gentilification of Jewish food. I know it's a romance, but the issues were skimmed over.
December 8, 2024
Another extremely light read with a Hanukkah theme.
As with the first book in this series, there is very poor character development. Back stories are hinted at but never explored. Dialog is banal and the plot is very similar to that of the first book of the series, but with different main characters. The main characters in this book suffer from the same lack of communication as did the characters in the first book. And as with the first book, this one is extremely chaste.
The only thing that I really liked about it is the Hanukkah centric themes and the many Jewish characters. If this book were a matzoh ball, it would be fluffy and light enough to be a floater, but the flaws in the book make it a dud of a sinker.
I probably won’t be reading anything else by this author. She seems to write the same book over and over again, and not very well.
As with the first book in this series, there is very poor character development. Back stories are hinted at but never explored. Dialog is banal and the plot is very similar to that of the first book of the series, but with different main characters. The main characters in this book suffer from the same lack of communication as did the characters in the first book. And as with the first book, this one is extremely chaste.
The only thing that I really liked about it is the Hanukkah centric themes and the many Jewish characters. If this book were a matzoh ball, it would be fluffy and light enough to be a floater, but the flaws in the book make it a dud of a sinker.
I probably won’t be reading anything else by this author. She seems to write the same book over and over again, and not very well.
October 3, 2021
Where was this romance last month when I was craving my childhood neighbor's sufganiyot? I knew that a romance with "latkes" in its title had to be delicious, but this one really celebrated the beauty of Jewish food and customs. Latkes, of course, but also the weaving of parve cooking, tradition, and modern cooking. I'm not Jewish and this brought back gorgeous memories of celebrating the holidays with our Jewish friends. Reading this, I of course wanted a HEA for Batya and Abe but more than that, I wanted to go invite myself back to their homes eat more of the wonderful history and culture.
See the full review on my blog Lucky Reads
See the full review on my blog Lucky Reads
November 25, 2022
DNF at 55%. I tried to like this, I really did. The writing was simply atrocious, bordering on unreadable. Disjointed sentences, illogical paragraphs with leaps of logic that made no sense. Two dimensional characters. Telling not showing, yet somehow also making me feel like there was a bunch of assumed knowledge (from earlier books?) that I was somehow missing.
I'm really annoyed, because a) we need more Jewish stories in general, and b) the premise behind this book was really cool. An exploration of Jewish culinary history in North America? Yes please! And actually, the sections of this book that focused on food were the strongest sections of writing. This is the only thing that warrants my very generous rounding up to two stars.
A shame about the rest of it.
I'm really annoyed, because a) we need more Jewish stories in general, and b) the premise behind this book was really cool. An exploration of Jewish culinary history in North America? Yes please! And actually, the sections of this book that focused on food were the strongest sections of writing. This is the only thing that warrants my very generous rounding up to two stars.
A shame about the rest of it.
Read
January 10, 2023A feel good story for the holidays
This was my first book by this author and, while I enjoyed it for the most part, I felt the resolution of the misunderstanding from their past wasn't handled well. It was built up so much, then avoided for so long. I just wanted Batya to have an adult conversation about what had happened.
And then when Abe finally clears the air, there is almost no response from Batya. If it had been so easy to brush off, why hadn't she done that all these many years.
Other than that, the slow burn was good. The characters were entertaining and often insightful. And even though this is book #3 in the series, I didn't feel lost or that I was missing out on anything.
I will be looking for more from this author at my library.
This was my first book by this author and, while I enjoyed it for the most part, I felt the resolution of the misunderstanding from their past wasn't handled well. It was built up so much, then avoided for so long. I just wanted Batya to have an adult conversation about what had happened.
And then when Abe finally clears the air, there is almost no response from Batya. If it had been so easy to brush off, why hadn't she done that all these many years.
Other than that, the slow burn was good. The characters were entertaining and often insightful. And even though this is book #3 in the series, I didn't feel lost or that I was missing out on anything.
I will be looking for more from this author at my library.
April 21, 2023
If I found out this book was written by a bot, I wouldn't be at all surprised. It read at times like a CTRL+F Christmas book, subbing out Hanukkah, and at times like someone had thrown a lot of Hallmark pieces in a blender and tossed them out into a book, with no regard to plot or character or reasonable human interactions. In short, it was pretty unreadable. So why two stars instead of one? Because it actually was really nice to see the level of Jewish representation in the story. I didn't have expectations of literature, but I would have loved to read a version that seemed like it was written by a real human. (On the bright side, sending photos of ridiculous sentences brought its own amusement.)
January 29, 2022
We’re kicking off the holiday season with a discussion of Love and Latkes by Stacy Agdern. A second chance, friends-to-lovers romance centered around Hanukkah and includes a delightful deep dive into Jewish culture. When their hometown holds a latke-making competition, will Abe Newman win both the girl and the top prize? The ladies also discuss porn for women (Bellesaplus.co), feature a new rating that is mom-approved, and one of the girls is starting an offshoot horror podcast. You’ll have to listen to find out who!
Listen to our full episode here: https://anchor.fm/chicklitbookclubpod...
Listen to our full episode here: https://anchor.fm/chicklitbookclubpod...
October 24, 2021
I so enjoyed this novel about...well, love and latkes describes it quite aptly! It was refreshing to read a an uplifting love story so steeped in Jewish culture. The friendships in this book felt so real, and I loved the slow burn romance between Batya and Abe. It reminded me of the Beatles song "With a Little Help From My Friends." This was my first book in the series, but I will go back and read the other two! I'm also very excited that I read this book so close to Hanukah because I TOTALLY crave latkes right now :)
December 19, 2022
This book is a travesty, what Jews call "a desecration of God's name." It is a compilation of every stereotype of Jews and uses Yiddish words like slang, but has not one iota of Jewish values or belief. The author may know ethnic Jewish-metro-New York culture, but only an arrogant New Yorker would think this is true Jewish culture. Judaism is a religion and culture of deep meaning and tradition, and a book portraying these would present a realistic window on an ancient people straddling two worlds. This shallowest of the shallow, however, just paints a picture of the worst of the worst.
September 23, 2021
All you need is love….. And latkes….
This fun story reunites Batya with her former crush/classmate, Abe, when she returns to her hometown of Rivertown for a latke fry-off completion.
I was pulled into this story pretty quick. I liked the whole concept of former school crushes finally having a shot at love. I liked the friendships in the story and the way the author built up the excitement for the ending. I also enjoyed learning about Jewish culture, traditions and even words.
This fun story reunites Batya with her former crush/classmate, Abe, when she returns to her hometown of Rivertown for a latke fry-off completion.
I was pulled into this story pretty quick. I liked the whole concept of former school crushes finally having a shot at love. I liked the friendships in the story and the way the author built up the excitement for the ending. I also enjoyed learning about Jewish culture, traditions and even words.
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