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Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love
In this spicy workplace romance, a hotheaded celebrity chef finds himself drawn to his inexperienced new hire. But when her bubbly attitude collides with his sharp edges, can they handle the heat, or will their love be a recipe for disaster?
Alexander Chen is one of the most talented chefs to ever grace the culinary world of French haute cuisine. He rules his kitchen with an iron fist and fiery temper, so it's no secret that if you can't handle the heat, he'll gladly toss you out with the trash. As one of the first Chinese-American chefs to claw his way to the top, he has a lot to prove and a massive chip on his shoulder.
But he wasn't always like this. Eden Monroe, his newly hired sous chef—who may or may not have (definitely) embellished a lot on her resumé to land herself the job—knew him back when he still went by his real name, Shang. He used to be sweet and helpful and definitely not the second coming of the devil himself.
Eden won't say anything, though, no matter how hot her curiosity burns. Especially if it could cost her this job, which she needs if she has any hope of hiring a private detective to find something she lost long ago.
All she has to do is fly under the radar. It's just a shame that she and her new boss butt heads more often than they fulfill orders. But what happens when things finally boil over, and they discover the feelings between them are spicier than they ever imagined?
Alexander Chen is one of the most talented chefs to ever grace the culinary world of French haute cuisine. He rules his kitchen with an iron fist and fiery temper, so it's no secret that if you can't handle the heat, he'll gladly toss you out with the trash. As one of the first Chinese-American chefs to claw his way to the top, he has a lot to prove and a massive chip on his shoulder.
But he wasn't always like this. Eden Monroe, his newly hired sous chef—who may or may not have (definitely) embellished a lot on her resumé to land herself the job—knew him back when he still went by his real name, Shang. He used to be sweet and helpful and definitely not the second coming of the devil himself.
Eden won't say anything, though, no matter how hot her curiosity burns. Especially if it could cost her this job, which she needs if she has any hope of hiring a private detective to find something she lost long ago.
All she has to do is fly under the radar. It's just a shame that she and her new boss butt heads more often than they fulfill orders. But what happens when things finally boil over, and they discover the feelings between them are spicier than they ever imagined?
364 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2023
79 people are currently reading
11291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
August 19, 2024
If you're a fan of workplace romance, the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope blending with the "Bear" series concept, and want to scream with me "Yes, Chef!", this book is a great match for you!
Brooding, perfectionist, critical, moody Alexander Chen (a.k.a. Shang) and sunshiny, gold-hearted, easy-going, always-sees-good-in-people Eden Monroe seem like total opposites, but I loved their palpable chemistry and undeniably magnetic attraction. They're incredibly sweet together and great partners in the kitchen.
Their paths cross once again at French haute cuisine restaurant La Rouge, where Shang has changed his name to Alexander Chang. He's one of the top chefs in the industry leading the kitchen, and Eden is the brand new sauce chef, hired urgently after her predecessor quit. Eden has a big secret: she lied about her previous experience and references on her resume. She also didn't finish culinary school, where she met Alexander 9 years ago. Thankfully, Alexander doesn't recognize her, and he intends to test her capabilities in her position, which she's adamant not to lose. She needs to collect enough money for an important mission and is thick-skinned enough to fight against mean, critical people in the kitchen while keeping a smile on her face.
But she doesn't expect to become friends with the brooding chef who needs her help to create a new menu to satisfy the demanding owner Sebastian, who watches their every move like a hawk. Meanwhile, her colleague Hector is trying to replace her as sauce chef, bullying his way to get what he wants.
As Eden tries to find her way in the industry and searches for a big mystery about her past, she realizes her blooming friendship with Alexander is turning into something more intimate. Could they help each other heal from past burdens, becoming the best partners not just in the kitchen but in a relationship, and find their own paths?
Overall: This is a sweet, angsty, steamy romance you can easily get addicted to! Especially if you're a foodie who enjoys the romance-in-workplace concept, your name is written all over this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sharing this lovely romance book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Brooding, perfectionist, critical, moody Alexander Chen (a.k.a. Shang) and sunshiny, gold-hearted, easy-going, always-sees-good-in-people Eden Monroe seem like total opposites, but I loved their palpable chemistry and undeniably magnetic attraction. They're incredibly sweet together and great partners in the kitchen.
Their paths cross once again at French haute cuisine restaurant La Rouge, where Shang has changed his name to Alexander Chang. He's one of the top chefs in the industry leading the kitchen, and Eden is the brand new sauce chef, hired urgently after her predecessor quit. Eden has a big secret: she lied about her previous experience and references on her resume. She also didn't finish culinary school, where she met Alexander 9 years ago. Thankfully, Alexander doesn't recognize her, and he intends to test her capabilities in her position, which she's adamant not to lose. She needs to collect enough money for an important mission and is thick-skinned enough to fight against mean, critical people in the kitchen while keeping a smile on her face.
But she doesn't expect to become friends with the brooding chef who needs her help to create a new menu to satisfy the demanding owner Sebastian, who watches their every move like a hawk. Meanwhile, her colleague Hector is trying to replace her as sauce chef, bullying his way to get what he wants.
As Eden tries to find her way in the industry and searches for a big mystery about her past, she realizes her blooming friendship with Alexander is turning into something more intimate. Could they help each other heal from past burdens, becoming the best partners not just in the kitchen but in a relationship, and find their own paths?
Overall: This is a sweet, angsty, steamy romance you can easily get addicted to! Especially if you're a foodie who enjoys the romance-in-workplace concept, your name is written all over this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sharing this lovely romance book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
November 9, 2023
RATING: 4✨
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Trope/Setting Highlights:
#️⃣ ~370 page contemporary romance
📖 Chef MCs
📖 Kind of second-chance if you squint and close your eyes like 99.7%?
📖 Chinese-American rep (MMC + family)
📖 Grumpy (MMC) x sunshine (FMC) dynamic
📖 MMC only soft for the FMC
📖 Emotional and sensitive family matters
📖 HEA (with 5+ year epilogue)
🌶️He may be a chef, but MMC loves to eat out (turnabout is very much mutual)
🌶️Some dirty talk, some general (wanted) roughness
Review:
This is an arc review – thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher as always, extremely grateful for these opportunities!
Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love is Katrina Kwan’s debut novel and tells the contemporary romance tale of Alexander (Shang) and Eden, largely set in the fast-paced and demanding kitchen of La Rouge, a French fine dining darling.
Eden, our FMC, was abandoned as a child by her parents, which has led to a life of trust issues and endless searching, the latter of which is costing her exactly $15,000, since that’s how much it takes to hire one of the best private investigators in the country. Her love of food has been one of the only constants in her life, even though she wasn’t able to complete her time in a prestigious culinary school after a foster parent stole her scholarship money. See? She’s got reasons for trust issues.
When a sudden sous chef replacement opportunity pops up at La Rouge, Eden swallows her pride and embellishes her resume enough to secure the job, and a pretty decent salary. She’ll just have to prove she can make it, and hide her secret, in chef Alexander Chen’s kitchen.
Alexander has not only fought through blood, sweat, and tears for his Michelin stars, but also to be taken seriously as a chef at all. He was forced to change his own birthname, Shang, to attempt this. Proving himself at La Rogue, under a nefariously sketchy supervisor, is Alexander’s only goal, a goal that has far surpassed even the love of food that originally made him pursue being a chef at all. Does he even love it anymore at all?
Alexander is another side of the same coin, like Eden, in terms of trust. While Eden has a hard time placing and keeping her trust in others, trust that they won’t abandon her, Alexander has a hard time trusting his coworkers and employees, trusting his own ingenuity and passion, and even trusting the path he followed to get here.
Maybe that’s why Eden and Alexander work so well together.
How to explain their dynamic? There’s was definitely touches of grumpy x sunshine, with Alexander being the grump, or in this case, the overly stern and sometimes outright mean boss, and Eden being the sun, or rather, a ray of warmth that tempers Alexander’s outward coldness. It’s by working together in the kitchen that a sort of family begins to form, everyone seeing each other in new lights. We also get complementary trope to grumpy x sunshine, which is the MMC only being soft or vulnerable with the FMC.
Something that made the main couple so genuinely sweet to watch was that they had shared familial trauma, and helped each other through it (although initially pushing each other away of course), bringing unique and common perspectives to each other’s experiences. Eden was the first to open up, and it was kind of not by choice, since Alexander found out her secret, but Alexander was way more hesitant, which was one of, if not the, main cause of the third-act conflict. Both Eden and Alexander have deeply emotional stories with their families, in different ways, and I’m glad we got to see a resolution for both of them. It really made the story feel full circle, feel complete.
I’m not always a fan of tying up everything with a neat little bow at the end, or rather, having it end with marriage and children immediately in an epilogue, but because the sentiment of family was so prevalent and emotionally relevant to the plot, it really worked here, and felt earned with love.
Spice was great, and Kwan certainly didn’t shy away from adding an extra scene or three, and I for one THANK HER for that.
Also something I want to mention, I was impressed and refreshed by the way Kwan handled the display of male/masculine emotion and vulnerable. It was touching, and wasn’t either glorified and/or underwhelmed. It was just there, normalized, embraced, allowed, returned, and helped. Really love that.
This would’ve been much closer to 5 stars; however, I was a little underwhelmed at Eden’s family conflict resolution. I understand she wanted complete closure, but the resolution was predictable, and kind of obvious. I was actually hoping the ending was going to subvert expectations
I really recommend this book if you’re looking for a light contemporary romance between chefs with surprising emotional depth. It was heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, but so very worth it in the end. Maybe this hit at just the right time, something sweet to sweep away some soul sadness, but I’m more convinced this was just a plain good story.
Katrina Kwan is an author to watch! ❤️ 🧡 💛
For those looking for any sort of safety warnings in terms of the romance, like I always do, I can relay that this is mostly safe, but not COMPLETELY safe. This is definitely something I would want to know from other readers before trying a book, whether to just be aware or to know to skip entirely, so wanted to do the same here! See below, with spoilers:
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Trope/Setting Highlights:
#️⃣ ~370 page contemporary romance
📖 Chef MCs
📖 Kind of second-chance if you squint and close your eyes like 99.7%?
📖 Chinese-American rep (MMC + family)
📖 Grumpy (MMC) x sunshine (FMC) dynamic
📖 MMC only soft for the FMC
📖 Emotional and sensitive family matters
📖 HEA (with 5+ year epilogue)
🌶️He may be a chef, but MMC loves to eat out (turnabout is very much mutual)
🌶️Some dirty talk, some general (wanted) roughness
Review:
This is an arc review – thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher as always, extremely grateful for these opportunities!
Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love is Katrina Kwan’s debut novel and tells the contemporary romance tale of Alexander (Shang) and Eden, largely set in the fast-paced and demanding kitchen of La Rouge, a French fine dining darling.
Eden, our FMC, was abandoned as a child by her parents, which has led to a life of trust issues and endless searching, the latter of which is costing her exactly $15,000, since that’s how much it takes to hire one of the best private investigators in the country. Her love of food has been one of the only constants in her life, even though she wasn’t able to complete her time in a prestigious culinary school after a foster parent stole her scholarship money. See? She’s got reasons for trust issues.
When a sudden sous chef replacement opportunity pops up at La Rouge, Eden swallows her pride and embellishes her resume enough to secure the job, and a pretty decent salary. She’ll just have to prove she can make it, and hide her secret, in chef Alexander Chen’s kitchen.
Alexander has not only fought through blood, sweat, and tears for his Michelin stars, but also to be taken seriously as a chef at all. He was forced to change his own birthname, Shang, to attempt this. Proving himself at La Rogue, under a nefariously sketchy supervisor, is Alexander’s only goal, a goal that has far surpassed even the love of food that originally made him pursue being a chef at all. Does he even love it anymore at all?
Alexander is another side of the same coin, like Eden, in terms of trust. While Eden has a hard time placing and keeping her trust in others, trust that they won’t abandon her, Alexander has a hard time trusting his coworkers and employees, trusting his own ingenuity and passion, and even trusting the path he followed to get here.
Maybe that’s why Eden and Alexander work so well together.
How to explain their dynamic? There’s was definitely touches of grumpy x sunshine, with Alexander being the grump, or in this case, the overly stern and sometimes outright mean boss, and Eden being the sun, or rather, a ray of warmth that tempers Alexander’s outward coldness. It’s by working together in the kitchen that a sort of family begins to form, everyone seeing each other in new lights. We also get complementary trope to grumpy x sunshine, which is the MMC only being soft or vulnerable with the FMC.
Something that made the main couple so genuinely sweet to watch was that they had shared familial trauma, and helped each other through it (although initially pushing each other away of course), bringing unique and common perspectives to each other’s experiences. Eden was the first to open up, and it was kind of not by choice, since Alexander found out her secret, but Alexander was way more hesitant, which was one of, if not the, main cause of the third-act conflict. Both Eden and Alexander have deeply emotional stories with their families, in different ways, and I’m glad we got to see a resolution for both of them. It really made the story feel full circle, feel complete.
I’m not always a fan of tying up everything with a neat little bow at the end, or rather, having it end with marriage and children immediately in an epilogue, but because the sentiment of family was so prevalent and emotionally relevant to the plot, it really worked here, and felt earned with love.
Spice was great, and Kwan certainly didn’t shy away from adding an extra scene or three, and I for one THANK HER for that.
Also something I want to mention, I was impressed and refreshed by the way Kwan handled the display of male/masculine emotion and vulnerable. It was touching, and wasn’t either glorified and/or underwhelmed. It was just there, normalized, embraced, allowed, returned, and helped. Really love that.
This would’ve been much closer to 5 stars; however, I was a little underwhelmed at Eden’s family conflict resolution. I understand she wanted complete closure, but the resolution was predictable, and kind of obvious. I was actually hoping the ending was going to subvert expectations
I really recommend this book if you’re looking for a light contemporary romance between chefs with surprising emotional depth. It was heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, but so very worth it in the end. Maybe this hit at just the right time, something sweet to sweep away some soul sadness, but I’m more convinced this was just a plain good story.
Katrina Kwan is an author to watch! ❤️ 🧡 💛
For those looking for any sort of safety warnings in terms of the romance, like I always do, I can relay that this is mostly safe, but not COMPLETELY safe. This is definitely something I would want to know from other readers before trying a book, whether to just be aware or to know to skip entirely, so wanted to do the same here! See below, with spoilers:
December 8, 2022
Knives, Seasoning, and A Dash of Love is a full-course meal.
Kwan delivers a debut romance that's the whole package that checks every box and then some. Between lovable characters with chemistry up to HERE, a broody leading man who's only soft for *her*, squirm-worthy tension, multi-chili spice, and a deeply satisfying conclusion that gave the warmest of fuzzies and a heady book hangover, this book literally has it all. I even shed a tear or two (or twelve, who am I kidding?)
The author drops you in the middle of a busy shift at La Rouge. Kwan's unique voice makes the reader feel like a fly on the wall in the best way. It only took I knew from the first page that Alexander Chen was going to own my heart (he may remind readers of a certain lightsaber-wielding dark lord). He's brash and a bit cantankerous, with little patience (none, in fact) for mistakes. Alexander runs a tight ship, has his kitchen staff shaking in their boots, and has chased off a sous chef or two. It's hardly his fault they couldn't handle the heat in his kitchen. He's THE Alexander Chen; he's allowed to have impossibly high standards, or else he'd never have those Michelin stars under his belt.
But something's off. Alexander's passion and creativity have dwindled to nothing--his love for cooking has gone out the window, squashed under the thumb of his master, and past mistakes he's tried SO HARD to forget.
Enter Eden Monroe (who I decided after one chapter that I'd take a bullet for). She's Alexander's new sous chef. She NEEDS this job, she deserves this job, and she won't let an infuriatingly good-looking asshole drive her away.
The pair are instantly drawn to each other (maybe because they've met before?? WHO KNOWS.), and Alexander quickly learns that Eden isn't scared of him like the rest of his kitchen is. In fact, they might even like her better ... La Rouge might even BE better with her by his side. He's almost instantly more inspired the minute they finally cook together. We get to watch the layers come away as Alexander's curiosity about her grows, and Eden opens her heart to let someone finally care for her in a way she's never experienced.
You'll be shouting, "NOW KISS" from the minute Eden and Alexander are alone in a walk-in cooler. You'll scream with frustration as Kwan hits you with a series of exquisite near-misses and cry with them, for them, when we get to witness pivotal moments in their lives.
Kwan's writing is vivid and, at times, poetic. This is one hell of a debut, and I'll be crushing "ADD TO CART" for all of her future titles. She has one heck of a career to look forward to, and our shelves will be blessed by the stories she's bound to create if Knives, Seasoning, and A Dash of Love is only the starting point.
Thank you again to the author for letting me read an ARC. I am now counting down the days until its release.
Kwan delivers a debut romance that's the whole package that checks every box and then some. Between lovable characters with chemistry up to HERE, a broody leading man who's only soft for *her*, squirm-worthy tension, multi-chili spice, and a deeply satisfying conclusion that gave the warmest of fuzzies and a heady book hangover, this book literally has it all. I even shed a tear or two (or twelve, who am I kidding?)
The author drops you in the middle of a busy shift at La Rouge. Kwan's unique voice makes the reader feel like a fly on the wall in the best way. It only took I knew from the first page that Alexander Chen was going to own my heart (he may remind readers of a certain lightsaber-wielding dark lord). He's brash and a bit cantankerous, with little patience (none, in fact) for mistakes. Alexander runs a tight ship, has his kitchen staff shaking in their boots, and has chased off a sous chef or two. It's hardly his fault they couldn't handle the heat in his kitchen. He's THE Alexander Chen; he's allowed to have impossibly high standards, or else he'd never have those Michelin stars under his belt.
But something's off. Alexander's passion and creativity have dwindled to nothing--his love for cooking has gone out the window, squashed under the thumb of his master, and past mistakes he's tried SO HARD to forget.
Enter Eden Monroe (who I decided after one chapter that I'd take a bullet for). She's Alexander's new sous chef. She NEEDS this job, she deserves this job, and she won't let an infuriatingly good-looking asshole drive her away.
The pair are instantly drawn to each other (maybe because they've met before?? WHO KNOWS.), and Alexander quickly learns that Eden isn't scared of him like the rest of his kitchen is. In fact, they might even like her better ... La Rouge might even BE better with her by his side. He's almost instantly more inspired the minute they finally cook together. We get to watch the layers come away as Alexander's curiosity about her grows, and Eden opens her heart to let someone finally care for her in a way she's never experienced.
You'll be shouting, "NOW KISS" from the minute Eden and Alexander are alone in a walk-in cooler. You'll scream with frustration as Kwan hits you with a series of exquisite near-misses and cry with them, for them, when we get to witness pivotal moments in their lives.
Kwan's writing is vivid and, at times, poetic. This is one hell of a debut, and I'll be crushing "ADD TO CART" for all of her future titles. She has one heck of a career to look forward to, and our shelves will be blessed by the stories she's bound to create if Knives, Seasoning, and A Dash of Love is only the starting point.
Thank you again to the author for letting me read an ARC. I am now counting down the days until its release.
October 20, 2025
جز عاشقانهای که داشت بخشهایی که دربارهی آشپزی کردن بود خیلی برام جالب بودن، هرچند که ۷۵٪ مواقع نمیفهمیدم دارن دربارهی چه غذایی صحبت میکنن اما بازم دلم میخواست امتحان و یامیامشون کنم.
August 10, 2025
صادقانهش اینه که واقعا داستان خیلی هیجان انگیز و منطقیای نیست. همه چیز سریع پیش میره. همه چیز سریع جفت و جور میشه و تمام این چیزها... البته شاید همه چیز سریع پیش رفت چون من یک روزه خوندمش!
منتها برای اینکه یه روز تمام کتاب بخونی و از جات بلند نشی ( به ویژه چون پام توی آتله و نمیتونم تکونش بدم) و از زنگ تفریحت لذت ببری واقعا کتاب خوبیه.
بامزه هم هست. زیادی هم شیرینه منتها من کلا شیرینی دوست دارم. (همیشه حذف قند برام مشکل بود و هست!)
در نتیجه با دست و دل بازی برای دل خودم چهار ستاره میدم.
منتها برای اینکه یه روز تمام کتاب بخونی و از جات بلند نشی ( به ویژه چون پام توی آتله و نمیتونم تکونش بدم) و از زنگ تفریحت لذت ببری واقعا کتاب خوبیه.
بامزه هم هست. زیادی هم شیرینه منتها من کلا شیرینی دوست دارم. (همیشه حذف قند برام مشکل بود و هست!)
در نتیجه با دست و دل بازی برای دل خودم چهار ستاره میدم.
March 1, 2025
"Food is beautiful. It brings people together, feeds both the stomach and the soul. Her happiest—and admittedly few—memories of her and her parents are at the dinner table, feasting on the simplest of meals while enjoying each other’s company. Her happiest memories of her and Alexander are in the kitchen together, learning from each other, feeding each other."
You do need to ignore the fact he is just SO BIG 🙄 whatever will she do?
Safety: At the start, the MMC has a friend-with-benefits and they sleep together once, and he imagines the FMC.
You do need to ignore the fact he is just SO BIG 🙄 whatever will she do?
Safety: At the start, the MMC has a friend-with-benefits and they sleep together once, and he imagines the FMC.
November 11, 2023
This is a debut novel, so I don't want to be super rude but the author could use some more work on their plot.
The writing was actually well done but the plot was copy-pasted from kdramas. The rich guy x poor girl trope has so much potential but here, it was just exhausting to read about. The characters fell in love immediately, and there is also this one scene which grated my nerves. It happens in the first few chapters but MMC has physical intimacy with another woman and he thinks about the FMC. Like dude, if you think about her so much then don't do the nasty with the other girl. Anyways, it was one of the most uncomfortable scenes I have read about in a long while.
Hopefully, the author can work more on her craft and plot.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
The writing was actually well done but the plot was copy-pasted from kdramas. The rich guy x poor girl trope has so much potential but here, it was just exhausting to read about. The characters fell in love immediately, and there is also this one scene which grated my nerves. It happens in the first few chapters but MMC has physical intimacy with another woman and he thinks about the FMC. Like dude, if you think about her so much then don't do the nasty with the other girl. Anyways, it was one of the most uncomfortable scenes I have read about in a long while.
Hopefully, the author can work more on her craft and plot.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
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May 9, 2024Omg I really loved the cover and title 💗 Haven't read the blurb yet cause I love going into a book without knowing anything 😌
Got an ARC yesterday hopefully it'll be another good read like my previous ARC 😇
Got an ARC yesterday hopefully it'll be another good read like my previous ARC 😇
January 12, 2025
"In the end, it didn't matter how much he sharpened his knives or how well he seasoned his dishes. He realizes now that he was missing a secret ingredient all along: a little dash of love.”
This is a delightful culinary romance that serves up equal portions of sweet moments, savoury drama, and a generous helping of food descriptions that had my mouth watering. While it wasn’t without its flaws, it was an undeniably fun and easy read that left me smiling.
The story revolves around a fiery cooking competition where sparks fly between the protagonists—a determined aspiring chef and the enigmatic, talented (and refreshingly Asian) male lead. Their chemistry develops almost instantaneously, which might feel a bit rushed for some readers. Still, the whirlwind romance is full of charm, and their mutual passion for food adds a unique flavour to their connection.
The descriptions of food are a standout aspect of the book, immersing me in the bustling chaos of a professional kitchen. I couldn’t help but picture Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen with every dramatic outburst and perfectly plated dish. The culinary setting brought the story to life, even when the plot felt predictable at times.
While the romance could have used more build-up and the plot could benefit from added complexity, this book shines in its ability to provide pure escapism. It’s a lighthearted tale where you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and cheer on the characters as they navigate the heat of the kitchen and the pangs of love.
If you’re looking for a fun, foodie romance with a dash of humour and heart, Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love is worth a try. It’s not perfect, but its charm and energy make it an enjoyable read—plus, we love an Asian male lead breaking into the romantic spotlight! 🍜✨
This is a delightful culinary romance that serves up equal portions of sweet moments, savoury drama, and a generous helping of food descriptions that had my mouth watering. While it wasn’t without its flaws, it was an undeniably fun and easy read that left me smiling.
The story revolves around a fiery cooking competition where sparks fly between the protagonists—a determined aspiring chef and the enigmatic, talented (and refreshingly Asian) male lead. Their chemistry develops almost instantaneously, which might feel a bit rushed for some readers. Still, the whirlwind romance is full of charm, and their mutual passion for food adds a unique flavour to their connection.
The descriptions of food are a standout aspect of the book, immersing me in the bustling chaos of a professional kitchen. I couldn’t help but picture Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen with every dramatic outburst and perfectly plated dish. The culinary setting brought the story to life, even when the plot felt predictable at times.
While the romance could have used more build-up and the plot could benefit from added complexity, this book shines in its ability to provide pure escapism. It’s a lighthearted tale where you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and cheer on the characters as they navigate the heat of the kitchen and the pangs of love.
If you’re looking for a fun, foodie romance with a dash of humour and heart, Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love is worth a try. It’s not perfect, but its charm and energy make it an enjoyable read—plus, we love an Asian male lead breaking into the romantic spotlight! 🍜✨
September 14, 2024
i adored this book! rtc eventually 😭
September 30, 2025
یه عاشقانه قشنگ که اگه تو زمان درست میخوندم الان به جای «قشنگ بود» میتونستم بگم «عاشقشم»
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July 11, 2025📖 کتاب: کارد، چاشنی و اندکی عشق
✍🏼 نویسنده: کاترینا کوان
✨ مترجم: الهام صیفیکار
📌 نشر: کتاب کولهپشتی
🌿 ژانر: رئال، عاشقانه، معاصر، طنز
🔪 الکساندر چن، سرآشپزی دقیق و سختگیر، رستوران معروف و پرزرقوبرقی را اداره میکند که هیچ اشتباهی در آن بخشیده نمیشود. او مردیست که همهچیز را کنترلشده و بینقص میخواهد؛ حتی اگر این کمالگرایی، او را از دیگران دور کرده باشد. در مقابلش، ایدن مونرو قرار دارد. آشپزی جوان، با روحیهای سرزنده و خلاق که با جعل رزومهاش، به امید ثابتکردن خود وارد این آشپزخانهی پرتنش میشود.
🍴 داستان در فضایی گرم و پرجزئیات روایت میشود؛ توصیف غذاها، لحظههای پختوپز و هیاهوی آشپزخانه پویا و زنده است. در کنار صحنههای پرانرژی آشپزی و فضای رستوران، کتاب به مسائل عمیقتری چون ریشهی نژادی، طردشدگی و ساختن اعتماد در دل آسیبها میپردازد. نثر کتاب روان، امروزی و گاه طنز است، اما در لحظههای کلیدی، بهخوبی از پس بیان احساسات فروخورده و کشمکشهای درونی شخصیتها برمیآید. و آنچه از ابتدا یک برخورد خشک و حرفهای بهنظر میرسد، خیلی زود رنگ دیگری به خود میگیرد...
🍽 رابطهی الکساندر و ایدن اون اول مثل یه سس تندِ تلخِ شورِ درحال قلقل بود! اما از همین تفاوتها و بالاپایینبودن ادویهها کمکم یه طعم تازه دراومد. یه چیزی که نه توی دستور پخت الکساندر و ایدن بود و نه از پیش معلوم؛ رسپی مخصوص بین دو نفری بود که بلد شدن وقتی قابلمه داره میسوزه و چاشنیش کموزیاد شده، بهجای دنبال مقصر گشتن، با همدیگه طعم غذا رو نجات بدن. چون گاهی عشق، نه توی غذای اصلی، که توی همون قاشققاشق چشیدن وسط پخت شکل میگیره. و جا داره اضافه کنم این کتاب منو یاد اولین سریال کرهای که دیدم انداخت. 😄
سریال: "عشق من کیم سامسون" و خب الکساندر هم یهکم شبیه هیون بین بود؛ از اولین کراشهای من و همسنوسالهام. 🫠😂
✍🏼 نویسنده: کاترینا کوان
✨ مترجم: الهام صیفیکار
📌 نشر: کتاب کولهپشتی
🌿 ژانر: رئال، عاشقانه، معاصر، طنز
🔪 الکساندر چن، سرآشپزی دقیق و سختگیر، رستوران معروف و پرزرقوبرقی را اداره میکند که هیچ اشتباهی در آن بخشیده نمیشود. او مردیست که همهچیز را کنترلشده و بینقص میخواهد؛ حتی اگر این کمالگرایی، او را از دیگران دور کرده باشد. در مقابلش، ایدن مونرو قرار دارد. آشپزی جوان، با روحیهای سرزنده و خلاق که با جعل رزومهاش، به امید ثابتکردن خود وارد این آشپزخانهی پرتنش میشود.
🍴 داستان در فضایی گرم و پرجزئیات روایت میشود؛ توصیف غذاها، لحظههای پختوپز و هیاهوی آشپزخانه پویا و زنده است. در کنار صحنههای پرانرژی آشپزی و فضای رستوران، کتاب به مسائل عمیقتری چون ریشهی نژادی، طردشدگی و ساختن اعتماد در دل آسیبها میپردازد. نثر کتاب روان، امروزی و گاه طنز است، اما در لحظههای کلیدی، بهخوبی از پس بیان احساسات فروخورده و کشمکشهای درونی شخصیتها برمیآید. و آنچه از ابتدا یک برخورد خشک و حرفهای بهنظر میرسد، خیلی زود رنگ دیگری به خود میگیرد...
🍽 رابطهی الکساندر و ایدن اون اول مثل یه سس تندِ تلخِ شورِ درحال قلقل بود! اما از همین تفاوتها و بالاپایینبودن ادویهها کمکم یه طعم تازه دراومد. یه چیزی که نه توی دستور پخت الکساندر و ایدن بود و نه از پیش معلوم؛ رسپی مخصوص بین دو نفری بود که بلد شدن وقتی قابلمه داره میسوزه و چاشنیش کموزیاد شده، بهجای دنبال مقصر گشتن، با همدیگه طعم غذا رو نجات بدن. چون گاهی عشق، نه توی غذای اصلی، که توی همون قاشققاشق چشیدن وسط پخت شکل میگیره. و جا داره اضافه کنم این کتاب منو یاد اولین سریال کرهای که دیدم انداخت. 😄
سریال: "عشق من کیم سامسون" و خب الکساندر هم یهکم شبیه هیون بین بود؛ از اولین کراشهای من و همسنوسالهام. 🫠😂
June 11, 2023
Literal chefs kiss (hahahahha) I loved this book so much! 🩷
This is literally the most heartwarming and soulful debut! Filled with lots of love and laughter, Kwan is an amazing storyteller, bringing to life vivid characters and drool-worthy food. Her writing brings up important topics as well as furthering our connection to the characters through those topics.
I love love love the character development for our two chefs and how well written it was. Each had their own challenges from their past that was thoughtfully and realistically handled. The love and support from one another and then their friends were everything to me. (peter my drama queen 😩🫶🏼)
In particular, I felt the most seen with Alexander’s character and his challenges as a Chinese-American paving his career in an industry that isn’t always inclusive. These topics were highlighted and wonderfully handled and I loved that it was included. His personal growth from very scary (and hot) head chef to what he becomes with Eden is just so amazing.
Eden (sunshine bb🥹) brings a whole new meaning to “knife wife”. She’s incredibly talented as a chef and I love how she balances out Alexander and brings out the best in him professionally and personally.
I loved our side characters and how they brought the best kind of chaos with them. They were the best supporters and so sweet and kind to our dummies in love.
While the spice isn’t a grease fire, it certainly is hot and steamy ❤️🔥😏🔥. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Eden and Alexander and the way they gravitated into each others orbit whenever possible. They are so perfect for one another, being patient and understanding to each other’s own personal issues.
Thank you Katrina for this ARC! I am so honored and happy to receive it and can’t wait to get my gremlin hands on a physical copy to stare at forever😂🩷
This is literally the most heartwarming and soulful debut! Filled with lots of love and laughter, Kwan is an amazing storyteller, bringing to life vivid characters and drool-worthy food. Her writing brings up important topics as well as furthering our connection to the characters through those topics.
I love love love the character development for our two chefs and how well written it was. Each had their own challenges from their past that was thoughtfully and realistically handled. The love and support from one another and then their friends were everything to me. (peter my drama queen 😩🫶🏼)
In particular, I felt the most seen with Alexander’s character and his challenges as a Chinese-American paving his career in an industry that isn’t always inclusive. These topics were highlighted and wonderfully handled and I loved that it was included. His personal growth from very scary (and hot) head chef to what he becomes with Eden is just so amazing.
Eden (sunshine bb🥹) brings a whole new meaning to “knife wife”. She’s incredibly talented as a chef and I love how she balances out Alexander and brings out the best in him professionally and personally.
I loved our side characters and how they brought the best kind of chaos with them. They were the best supporters and so sweet and kind to our dummies in love.
While the spice isn’t a grease fire, it certainly is hot and steamy ❤️🔥😏🔥. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Eden and Alexander and the way they gravitated into each others orbit whenever possible. They are so perfect for one another, being patient and understanding to each other’s own personal issues.
Thank you Katrina for this ARC! I am so honored and happy to receive it and can’t wait to get my gremlin hands on a physical copy to stare at forever😂🩷
December 29, 2023
September 15, 2022:
Super Special ARC Review (Professional):
KSDoL is the perfect book for readers to lose themselves in. This book presents readers with funny and friendly banter everyone adores with a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds. Kwan beautifully executes these characters and gives them personal challenges all while dealing with real problems that need to be discussed.
I have the absolute privilege of getting a super special ARC of KSDoL and will be forever thankful of Katrina for that.
Super special ARC Review (Personal):
Spice Rating: 4/5🌶🥵
KSDOL is everything I want in a book and more. These characters are so real to me, I want to just pick up a phone and talk to them. The friendship development between the MCs and the ensemble cast is so realistic and feels authentic to the characters. The development between the FMC and MMC is to DIE for. And the spice?? Chef's kiss (pun intended) Aside from all the fun shit, KSDoL brings up important topics that /NEED/ to be talked about more in media of all kinds. It threw me off guard just as it would any of its targets. It made me feel angry and upset for these characters and for those who go through the same issues.
I am absolutely thankful to Katrina for allowing me to read this wayy ahead of time. I don't wanna spoil anything so all I'm saying is 2024 can't get here soon enough😭💗
December 29, 2023 (rr):
I'm biased but this is a 5 star fucking book.
Super Special ARC Review (Professional):
KSDoL is the perfect book for readers to lose themselves in. This book presents readers with funny and friendly banter everyone adores with a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds. Kwan beautifully executes these characters and gives them personal challenges all while dealing with real problems that need to be discussed.
I have the absolute privilege of getting a super special ARC of KSDoL and will be forever thankful of Katrina for that.
Super special ARC Review (Personal):
Spice Rating: 4/5🌶🥵
KSDOL is everything I want in a book and more. These characters are so real to me, I want to just pick up a phone and talk to them. The friendship development between the MCs and the ensemble cast is so realistic and feels authentic to the characters. The development between the FMC and MMC is to DIE for. And the spice?? Chef's kiss (pun intended) Aside from all the fun shit, KSDoL brings up important topics that /NEED/ to be talked about more in media of all kinds. It threw me off guard just as it would any of its targets. It made me feel angry and upset for these characters and for those who go through the same issues.
I am absolutely thankful to Katrina for allowing me to read this wayy ahead of time. I don't wanna spoil anything so all I'm saying is 2024 can't get here soon enough😭💗
December 29, 2023 (rr):
I'm biased but this is a 5 star fucking book.
August 4, 2023
❝ ―If you two look any more like lovesick puppies, I'm going to have to adopt you both
▪
This book guys! It was on my radar for 1 year- I checked.
And it didn't disappoint. Best feeling ever ❤️🔥
I knew even before starting that I would love the tone and the characters, because, duh! Grumpy sunshine at work with food! This book was made for me
What I didn't expect at all was the pleasure I had reading it. It was light, fast, and sweet like a 90' romcom. I laughed audibly several times and I swooned with our idiots in love. Seeing Alexander falling for Eden while being completely clueless had me giggling.
And then, in the second half -BAM, FEELINGS IN YOUR FACE! 🤌
It's all fun and game until you face the racism, the burnout, the depression, and the "I did all this for nothing ". Seeing the characters being hurt, hurting each other but growing stronger in the end is one of the main reasons why I love reading
so much
The cherry on the top? The epilogue that checked aaaaaall my little personal list and made me close the book- well turn off the e-reader- with a big smile on my face.
A cute rom-com that will make your heart sing and your stomach growl🥺💖
.
For you if you like :
🔪Grumpy sunshine
🔪Workplace romance
🔪Abandonment issues
🔪Idiots in love
🔪He's an asshole but not to her
🔪Food as a love language
🔪Spicy
🔪Sexual tension
🔪Fluff and angst
🔪Work burnout
🔪 He's a dirty talker
.
▪
This book guys! It was on my radar for 1 year- I checked.
And it didn't disappoint. Best feeling ever ❤️🔥
I knew even before starting that I would love the tone and the characters, because, duh! Grumpy sunshine at work with food! This book was made for me
What I didn't expect at all was the pleasure I had reading it. It was light, fast, and sweet like a 90' romcom. I laughed audibly several times and I swooned with our idiots in love. Seeing Alexander falling for Eden while being completely clueless had me giggling.
And then, in the second half -BAM, FEELINGS IN YOUR FACE! 🤌
It's all fun and game until you face the racism, the burnout, the depression, and the "I did all this for nothing ". Seeing the characters being hurt, hurting each other but growing stronger in the end is one of the main reasons why I love reading
so much
The cherry on the top? The epilogue that checked aaaaaall my little personal list and made me close the book- well turn off the e-reader- with a big smile on my face.
A cute rom-com that will make your heart sing and your stomach growl🥺💖
.
For you if you like :
🔪Grumpy sunshine
🔪Workplace romance
🔪Abandonment issues
🔪Idiots in love
🔪He's an asshole but not to her
🔪Food as a love language
🔪Spicy
🔪Sexual tension
🔪Fluff and angst
🔪Work burnout
🔪 He's a dirty talker
.
September 12, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
Knives, Seasoning, & a Dash of Love had me hooked from the moment I met chef Alexander Chen and saw the strict kitchen he ran. His personality jumps off the page. He’s particular, precise, and leaves no room for error, but everything changes when he meets Eden Monroe and immediately picks up on all these little details about her that others seem to not notice. Eden is sweet and patient and all for positive reinforcement which I absolutely adored about her and the way it played into her and Alexander’s dynamic. These two have my whole my heart.
Katrina’s writing is definitely something special. It flows extremely well and the food descriptions are so vivid in a way I’ve never encountered before. I felt like I was right there in the kitchen cooking with the characters and that was such a magical and fun experience that it made me want to run to the kitchen just so I could make all these yummy meals. The biggest thank you to Kat for allowing me to read this masterpiece!
Knives, Seasoning, & a Dash of Love had me hooked from the moment I met chef Alexander Chen and saw the strict kitchen he ran. His personality jumps off the page. He’s particular, precise, and leaves no room for error, but everything changes when he meets Eden Monroe and immediately picks up on all these little details about her that others seem to not notice. Eden is sweet and patient and all for positive reinforcement which I absolutely adored about her and the way it played into her and Alexander’s dynamic. These two have my whole my heart.
Katrina’s writing is definitely something special. It flows extremely well and the food descriptions are so vivid in a way I’ve never encountered before. I felt like I was right there in the kitchen cooking with the characters and that was such a magical and fun experience that it made me want to run to the kitchen just so I could make all these yummy meals. The biggest thank you to Kat for allowing me to read this masterpiece!
December 24, 2023
2.5⭐️ this was just very mid. This book had a perfect opportunity for enemies to lovers but no.. they’re basically in love by chap 4/5. They were a nice couple I guess? But I just wasn’t excited by it- I basically didn’t care either way.
The writing was fine, the plot was fine, everything was fine! It passed the time but tbh I’ll have forgotten the entire thing in two days time.
Don’t think I’d recommend but you do you💫💫
The writing was fine, the plot was fine, everything was fine! It passed the time but tbh I’ll have forgotten the entire thing in two days time.
Don’t think I’d recommend but you do you💫💫
Want to read
July 29, 202228.07.2022 CHEF LOVE INTERESTS MAKE ME WEAK, i need to jump time to read this now
January 12, 2024
Books are not book-ing like they have booked before, and I don't know how to feel about that.
December 19, 2023
4.5/5
Special thanks to Netgalley, Lake Country Press, and the author for an arc copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book is incredibly sweet (no pun intended) and honestly it was the kind of book that you can easily get swept up in and just forget about the outside world for a moment. It was also spicy too and of course, you know I appreciate that balance (tehe). It has the perfect blend (haha) of romance, personal growth, backstory, perseverance, and the importance of trusting someone and all of this made for a book that I really appreciated.
A general plot summary: Eden becomes chef Alexander's new Sous Chef and she needs this job like oxygen. But she realizes that she knows him from somewhere and he has completely changed into this cold/mean basically Kylo Ren kind of character. As problems surmount and tensions rise they find themselves in sticky situations where they have to make decisions about their futures. However, the best thing about learning to love someone is the ways in which you care for them, how they navigate this along with life problems and tensions is the main essence of this book.
In terms of the characterization, it's safe to say that the two characters stole my heart easily. But their respective journey's were quite empowering. Like Alexander's ability to trust and how that developed overtime felt very realistic, but he is also so much more than just that. He is loyal, a little hard-shelled at first, but passionate, he takes risks when the occasion arises, and he loves deeply. When he lets her in, it's a completely different side to him and I thought that was incredibly endearing. Eden on the other hand is the sunshine to his midnight rain. She sees the good in others, also is passionate, she is kind to others and thinks of their circumstances before jumping to any conclusions. In this way they really balanced each other out quite well. I think one of my favourite aspects of their growth was that they grow through different traumatic aspects of their lives together and this is exactly what I envision as soulmates in my mind and in every sense of the word, it is a partnership. I also really appreciated the attention to what it feels like to be burned out, like your passion is gone and the effects that it can have on your life. It does not matter what your love language is, both Eden and Alexander will attest to all of them.
I can also safely say that this book ended in a perfect way, I truthfully do not think a book could have ended in a better way and it felt very full-circle. Also it is a page turner, I think I finished it actually in 3 days, maybe even less. It's got strong characters and they are very real people too at the end of the day. I am not even a big food person honestly I despise cooking, but this made me feel really excited about it, which baffles me completely. Another really important part of this is the representation, when you are a minority individual there are instances where you truly wonder whether you are being taken advantage of or treated unfairly and I really liked the way that this was handled in the book.
Overall, honestly this is probably one of the best contemporary romances I have read this year - it was so fun and it really helped to get my mind off of things.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Lake Country Press, and the author for an arc copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book is incredibly sweet (no pun intended) and honestly it was the kind of book that you can easily get swept up in and just forget about the outside world for a moment. It was also spicy too and of course, you know I appreciate that balance (tehe). It has the perfect blend (haha) of romance, personal growth, backstory, perseverance, and the importance of trusting someone and all of this made for a book that I really appreciated.
A general plot summary: Eden becomes chef Alexander's new Sous Chef and she needs this job like oxygen. But she realizes that she knows him from somewhere and he has completely changed into this cold/mean basically Kylo Ren kind of character. As problems surmount and tensions rise they find themselves in sticky situations where they have to make decisions about their futures. However, the best thing about learning to love someone is the ways in which you care for them, how they navigate this along with life problems and tensions is the main essence of this book.
In terms of the characterization, it's safe to say that the two characters stole my heart easily. But their respective journey's were quite empowering. Like Alexander's ability to trust and how that developed overtime felt very realistic, but he is also so much more than just that. He is loyal, a little hard-shelled at first, but passionate, he takes risks when the occasion arises, and he loves deeply. When he lets her in, it's a completely different side to him and I thought that was incredibly endearing. Eden on the other hand is the sunshine to his midnight rain. She sees the good in others, also is passionate, she is kind to others and thinks of their circumstances before jumping to any conclusions. In this way they really balanced each other out quite well. I think one of my favourite aspects of their growth was that they grow through different traumatic aspects of their lives together and this is exactly what I envision as soulmates in my mind and in every sense of the word, it is a partnership. I also really appreciated the attention to what it feels like to be burned out, like your passion is gone and the effects that it can have on your life. It does not matter what your love language is, both Eden and Alexander will attest to all of them.
I can also safely say that this book ended in a perfect way, I truthfully do not think a book could have ended in a better way and it felt very full-circle. Also it is a page turner, I think I finished it actually in 3 days, maybe even less. It's got strong characters and they are very real people too at the end of the day. I am not even a big food person honestly I despise cooking, but this made me feel really excited about it, which baffles me completely. Another really important part of this is the representation, when you are a minority individual there are instances where you truly wonder whether you are being taken advantage of or treated unfairly and I really liked the way that this was handled in the book.
Overall, honestly this is probably one of the best contemporary romances I have read this year - it was so fun and it really helped to get my mind off of things.
December 20, 2023
Quick Summary: A recipe for love, gen-fic romance
My Review: Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan is a fast-paced, contemporary novel. It is a standalone read.
About the Book: Chef Alexander Chen and his sous chef, Eden Monroe, share a kitchen. That's not all they share. They share a love for food, a desire to reconnect with family, a hunger for what comes next, and an unquenchable need to cook up something beautiful for each other. What happens when they add a bit of special flavor to their partnership?
My Final Say: There were so many life lessons embedded in this story. Essentially, this was a book about living with conviction, trusting in the people who matter (including self), forgiving when and where necessary, eliminating toxic relationships, and embracing love, family, and friendship.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories that offer practical wisdom and that have some spicy heat will really like this book.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🌶🍬💕
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Lake Country Press & Review), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.
My Review: Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan is a fast-paced, contemporary novel. It is a standalone read.
About the Book: Chef Alexander Chen and his sous chef, Eden Monroe, share a kitchen. That's not all they share. They share a love for food, a desire to reconnect with family, a hunger for what comes next, and an unquenchable need to cook up something beautiful for each other. What happens when they add a bit of special flavor to their partnership?
My Final Say: There were so many life lessons embedded in this story. Essentially, this was a book about living with conviction, trusting in the people who matter (including self), forgiving when and where necessary, eliminating toxic relationships, and embracing love, family, and friendship.
Other: Readers who enjoy stories that offer practical wisdom and that have some spicy heat will really like this book.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🌶🍬💕
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Lake Country Press & Review), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.
September 20, 2023
Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love is a fun, punchy and fanfic-nostalgic read.
Like the patrons of La Rouge and their fine dining plates, I devoured this book. Kwan's delightful twists on the reylo universe were delectable and even as someone who knows very little compared to some of the "fic fanatics," it was a clear and fresh retelling.
From the shared stresses of running a restaurant to their individual threads of trauma, Eden and Alexander come together in a firecracker of a romance. I loved Eden's ability to swoop in and charm even the wariest of foes, and Alexander's prickly-at-first-but-actually-as-gooey-as-chocolate-lava-cake, persona.
Even with two stellar main characters, the side crew threatened (in the best way) to steal the show. From the restaurant crew to Alexander's family the entire cast was the perfect balance between laugh out loud chaos and sweet as pie relationships.
The spice was plentiful and fun and I look forward to anything else Kwan may decide to bless us with in the future.
Like the patrons of La Rouge and their fine dining plates, I devoured this book. Kwan's delightful twists on the reylo universe were delectable and even as someone who knows very little compared to some of the "fic fanatics," it was a clear and fresh retelling.
From the shared stresses of running a restaurant to their individual threads of trauma, Eden and Alexander come together in a firecracker of a romance. I loved Eden's ability to swoop in and charm even the wariest of foes, and Alexander's prickly-at-first-but-actually-as-gooey-as-chocolate-lava-cake, persona.
Even with two stellar main characters, the side crew threatened (in the best way) to steal the show. From the restaurant crew to Alexander's family the entire cast was the perfect balance between laugh out loud chaos and sweet as pie relationships.
The spice was plentiful and fun and I look forward to anything else Kwan may decide to bless us with in the future.
February 17, 2024
Dnf on Chapter 1
I didn't realise there was a height requirement to be a chef because *cough* "she is a scrawny little thing. Short, no more than five feet to his six. She’s thin, too, any hint of her barely there curves hidden beneath her oversized chef’s jacket."
"he has a hard time believing the tiny woman standing before him is going to be his new sous. She’s so small and quiet and—well—ordinary."
"he’d mistake her for the kitchen porter, or maybe even the dishwasher. She doesn’t look like she belongs here."
She doesn't look like she belongs in a kitchen cause she is 5ft??? oh please this was the fastest dnf i've ever done.
I didn't realise there was a height requirement to be a chef because *cough* "she is a scrawny little thing. Short, no more than five feet to his six. She’s thin, too, any hint of her barely there curves hidden beneath her oversized chef’s jacket."
"he has a hard time believing the tiny woman standing before him is going to be his new sous. She’s so small and quiet and—well—ordinary."
"he’d mistake her for the kitchen porter, or maybe even the dishwasher. She doesn’t look like she belongs here."
She doesn't look like she belongs in a kitchen cause she is 5ft??? oh please this was the fastest dnf i've ever done.
November 19, 2023
3.75 stars
I liked the characters right from the start, and the story hooked me. Shang is a perfect book boyfriend. He was already in love long before he realized it. And Eden is an amazing character, so determined and strong. But even though there are many parts that I loved, I was a bit disappointed with the last 10 chapters; it felt like the story rushed through. I wanted to see more about Eden's search for her parents, and also more development on Shang's past.
Thank you so much, NetGalley and Lake Country Press & Review for sending me this ARC.
I liked the characters right from the start, and the story hooked me. Shang is a perfect book boyfriend. He was already in love long before he realized it. And Eden is an amazing character, so determined and strong. But even though there are many parts that I loved, I was a bit disappointed with the last 10 chapters; it felt like the story rushed through. I wanted to see more about Eden's search for her parents, and also more development on Shang's past.
Thank you so much, NetGalley and Lake Country Press & Review for sending me this ARC.
December 19, 2023
Okay so I have officially found a new favourite book 🥹
I had the opportunity to read an arc of this book via NetGalley. This is Katrina Kwan's debut novel (although she is a ghostwriter) and her writing just shines in this book. It has great pacing and it is incredibly well-written.
The main reason I personally enjoyed this book so much is the relatability I found within. My husband is a chef, also called Alexander, and there were a lot of strange and specific relatable moments for me as I was reading. I have never highlighted so much in a book! I actually read some aloud to my husband and we spoke about how crazily similar some parts are to us.
Both Eden and Alexander have separate storylines, both of which are family-oriented, which I find so important in romance novels. There is conflict between them both but it's not over-dramatised which is a common complaint of many romance books out there. I also really enjoyed the side characters; they were developed enough to push the story along but didn't detract from the main characters.
This is one of my favourite romances of all time and I really recommend picking up this book when it comes out on December 19th 2023. I will be pre-ordering a physical copy for my shelves too and it will be a perfect Christmas present to myself. Honestly if I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would, this was a true delight to read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and Katrina Kwan for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.
I had the opportunity to read an arc of this book via NetGalley. This is Katrina Kwan's debut novel (although she is a ghostwriter) and her writing just shines in this book. It has great pacing and it is incredibly well-written.
The main reason I personally enjoyed this book so much is the relatability I found within. My husband is a chef, also called Alexander, and there were a lot of strange and specific relatable moments for me as I was reading. I have never highlighted so much in a book! I actually read some aloud to my husband and we spoke about how crazily similar some parts are to us.
Both Eden and Alexander have separate storylines, both of which are family-oriented, which I find so important in romance novels. There is conflict between them both but it's not over-dramatised which is a common complaint of many romance books out there. I also really enjoyed the side characters; they were developed enough to push the story along but didn't detract from the main characters.
This is one of my favourite romances of all time and I really recommend picking up this book when it comes out on December 19th 2023. I will be pre-ordering a physical copy for my shelves too and it will be a perfect Christmas present to myself. Honestly if I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would, this was a true delight to read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and Katrina Kwan for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.
October 10, 2023
I fell in love with this heartwarming romance! I am an absolute, die hard, kitchen romance fan and this book was perfect! If I had to pick three words alone to describe this book, it would be cozy, warm, and delicious.
For context, Eden gets a job at a fine dining restaurant as soux chef. He recognizes the head chef, although he seems more cold and goes by a new name. Luckily Alexander doesn’t recognize her because she may have fudged her resume to get the job. As things heat up in the kitchen, they also heat up between Eden and Alexander!
You can tell that author, Katrina Kwan, put so much love and research into her story. I could taste the food being prepared on the pages. Even the spicy scenes made me hungry!
This was such a compelling and easy read that I think all RomCom lovers will enjoy it!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
For context, Eden gets a job at a fine dining restaurant as soux chef. He recognizes the head chef, although he seems more cold and goes by a new name. Luckily Alexander doesn’t recognize her because she may have fudged her resume to get the job. As things heat up in the kitchen, they also heat up between Eden and Alexander!
You can tell that author, Katrina Kwan, put so much love and research into her story. I could taste the food being prepared on the pages. Even the spicy scenes made me hungry!
This was such a compelling and easy read that I think all RomCom lovers will enjoy it!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2023
My heart is full after reading Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love.
Readers who comfort watch Food Network or can't wait for the next season of The Bear will find much to love in the drama and romance between chefs Alexander & Eden.
The heat is definitely not just in the kitchen. The spice is Hot Ones Da Bomb burn level. I was left thirsty for more and more.
KSDOL also had me invested in our main characters' personal growth outside of their romantic relationship. I appreciated seeing their career, friendships, and past trauma all get time on the page. There was conscious effort to ensure these characters felt as real as possible. No one was perfect & life isn't magical, but Alexander & Eden chose to do the work for their happiness.
Thank you Netgalley & Lake Country Press & Review for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Readers who comfort watch Food Network or can't wait for the next season of The Bear will find much to love in the drama and romance between chefs Alexander & Eden.
The heat is definitely not just in the kitchen. The spice is Hot Ones Da Bomb burn level. I was left thirsty for more and more.
KSDOL also had me invested in our main characters' personal growth outside of their romantic relationship. I appreciated seeing their career, friendships, and past trauma all get time on the page. There was conscious effort to ensure these characters felt as real as possible. No one was perfect & life isn't magical, but Alexander & Eden chose to do the work for their happiness.
Thank you Netgalley & Lake Country Press & Review for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 5, 2024
was i super embarrassed and confused when i went to check out & the employee said: ah yes, the spicy gordon ramsey book. yes.
here i thought it was going to be a cute cooking romance but those chapter were indeed spicy. It was pretty engaging, but it seemed like the last few chapters flew by in terms of all the plot that was introduced. I didn’t really feel emotional with any of the ending chapters, but it was nice to see a complete happy ending.
here i thought it was going to be a cute cooking romance but those chapter were indeed spicy. It was pretty engaging, but it seemed like the last few chapters flew by in terms of all the plot that was introduced. I didn’t really feel emotional with any of the ending chapters, but it was nice to see a complete happy ending.
September 17, 2023
I hate to DNF, but I DNF'd this at 33%. I feel like this started off strong, but then quickly turned into instalust and all their thoughts were about how cute their love interest was, what their skin would feel like under their hands, etc etc. I know I'm in the minority for this book, so perhaps it just wasn't for me. Knowing this was Reylo going in, I was hoping for tension and banter, but I didn't get any of that.
Thank you to Lake Country Press & Review and Netgalley for this ARC!
Thank you to Lake Country Press & Review and Netgalley for this ARC!
August 5, 2025
3/5 :)
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