Love from Scratch

February 1, 2022
Rivals turn to lovers while baking and soapboxing. Southern belle Reese Camden is spending the summer in Seattle as a marketing intern for Friends of Flavor, a popular online foodie channel. Reese aims for a job with the company once the internship is over, and her main competition is charming and handsome Benny Beneventi, the culinary (and only other) intern. Circumstances throw Reese and Benny into starring roles on Piece of Cake: Amateur Hour, an episode of the popular baking show that quickly goes viral based on the crackerjack chemistry the young couple have on screen. Strangers begin shipping the teens, and the company wants more videos. A smitten Benny wants a bit more from Reese as well, but Reese has a crummy relationship history that keeps her from fully embracing Benny's swole bod. The push and pull of the rivals' will-they, won't-they tension is paired with Reese's feminist commentary, which readers will likely pump their fists in support of at first--but the pumping will get a little lower as this bell gets rung over and over. The contradiction between Reese's empowered speeches and her wallflower demeanor never quite adds up to consistent characterization; those around her never get fully fleshed out either. The result is a pleasant, admirable, well-intentioned rom-com that aims high but misses. Reese and Benny are White; there is some ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. An unevenly rendered romance that struggles to meet its own aims. (Romance. 12-18)

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July 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Recent high school grad Reese relocates from Kentucky to Seattle for an internship at cooking network Friends of Flavor. When the cast is booked for another event, Reese and the other intern, Benny, are paired up to fill airtime with an amateur take on Piece of Cake, one of the network's highest rated shows. On camera, the pair present as opposites. Italian American Benny showcases a broad knowledge of food and cooking techniques refined in his family's Italian restaurant and traveling Europe with his grandparents while blonde Southern belle Reese's background includes family cooking, but no formal training. Their banter and undeniable chemistry are a hit with audiences and soon Piece of Cake: Amateur Hour is hosting regular episodes while Benny and Reese are developing a solid friendship with the promise of romance. Standing in the way of their happy ending is the single internship Friends of Flavor will be offering, and the misogyny Reese is beginning to face as her star is rising; this triggers trauma she endured in high school involving a romantic relationship, social media, and misconceptions. Hill writes snappy dialogue that keeps the plot moving at a good pace. The characterization is top notch and offers diversity in both race among the Friends of Flavor stars and LGBTQIA+ representation among the secondary characters. The storyline revolving around the sexism Reese faces is treated thoughtfully and masterfully while the plot offers readers a pitch perfect resolution that doesn't shy away from some of the downsides of working in the culinary world. VERDICT This delicious romance is great for summer and a highly recommended purchase.-Samantha Lumetta

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