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chronicallybookish 's review for:
Best Served Hot
by Amanda Elliot
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall rating: 3.75 stars
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 1.5/5
This book is hard to review. I honestly enjoyed it. It was fast, engaging, and the food descriptions were to die for. Easily the best I’ve ever read.
But this is a romance novel… and the romance was the weakest part of the book by far. I did not feel an ounce of chemistry between Julie and Bennett. The descriptions of their attraction, their kisses, the sex scene were all so dry and almost clinical. Especially with the juxtaposition of how visceral the descriptions of food were, the romance fell flat.
The romance was sweet, and I do root for them as a couple, but compared to the other aspects of the book, I expected and wanted more. The way the chemistry and attraction were described felt more befitting a romantic subplot than a romance book.
But this book was strong enough without that, that I still enjoyed it a lot. As a person who runs a sort of social media blog and social media reviewing platform (though books instead of food), I really enjoyed the premise of Social Media Reviewers vs more “professional” paper reviewers (please note the existence of the quotes. Social media reviewers are professionals too). I liked seeing the differences between Julie and Bennett and Jada, and I liked the emphasis on all options being valid, so long as you’re being honest and true to yourself.
The characters, too, were pretty strong. I liked Julie. It was easy to connect with her and feel for her. Bennett, Alice, even Jada were strong side characters, with distinct personalities, motivations, and lives. I also enjoyed the discussions of class that Emerson Leigh’s character brought up, though I felt she relied a little too heavily on stereotypes. I understood the point, but it was kind of annoying to read, and she never came off as a remotely real person.
The star of the show, however, is definitely the food. Elliot is a master of food descriptions I swear I could taste the food as she described it. I genuinely found myself salivating while reading—and I’m not even a huge food person. I loved the glimpses into foods from so many different cultures (and especially the little cameo from the MC of her previous book, Sadie on a Plate!). This book is a must read for foodies everywhere, and I’m definitely looking forward to picking up Sadie’s book.
Age Rating: 18+
Spice Level: 1.5/5
This book is hard to review. I honestly enjoyed it. It was fast, engaging, and the food descriptions were to die for. Easily the best I’ve ever read.
But this is a romance novel… and the romance was the weakest part of the book by far. I did not feel an ounce of chemistry between Julie and Bennett. The descriptions of their attraction, their kisses, the sex scene were all so dry and almost clinical. Especially with the juxtaposition of how visceral the descriptions of food were, the romance fell flat.
The romance was sweet, and I do root for them as a couple, but compared to the other aspects of the book, I expected and wanted more. The way the chemistry and attraction were described felt more befitting a romantic subplot than a romance book.
But this book was strong enough without that, that I still enjoyed it a lot. As a person who runs a sort of social media blog and social media reviewing platform (though books instead of food), I really enjoyed the premise of Social Media Reviewers vs more “professional” paper reviewers (please note the existence of the quotes. Social media reviewers are professionals too). I liked seeing the differences between Julie and Bennett and Jada, and I liked the emphasis on all options being valid, so long as you’re being honest and true to yourself.
The characters, too, were pretty strong. I liked Julie. It was easy to connect with her and feel for her. Bennett, Alice, even Jada were strong side characters, with distinct personalities, motivations, and lives. I also enjoyed the discussions of class that Emerson Leigh’s character brought up, though I felt she relied a little too heavily on stereotypes. I understood the point, but it was kind of annoying to read, and she never came off as a remotely real person.
The star of the show, however, is definitely the food. Elliot is a master of food descriptions I swear I could taste the food as she described it. I genuinely found myself salivating while reading—and I’m not even a huge food person. I loved the glimpses into foods from so many different cultures (and especially the little cameo from the MC of her previous book, Sadie on a Plate!). This book is a must read for foodies everywhere, and I’m definitely looking forward to picking up Sadie’s book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content