For Butter Or Worse - Erin La Rosa

Book Synopsis: They go together like water and oil…

All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. For too long, she’s been held back and underestimated by the male-dominated sphere of professional kitchens, and she's had enough. Now, as co-host of the competitive reality TV series The Next Cooking Champ!, she finally has a real shot at being top tier in the foodie scene.

Too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk.

Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell never means to get under Nina’s skin. It just seems to happen, especially when the cameras are rolling. It's part of the anxiety and stress he has come to know all too well in this line of work. So nothing prepares him for the fallout after he takes one joke a smidge too far and Nina up and quits—on live TV.

To make matters worse, the two are caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi…and fans of the show go absolutely nuts. Turns out, a “secret romance” between Nina and Leo may just be what their careers need most.

Now all they have to do is play along, without killing each other...and without catching feelings. Easy as artisanal shepherd's pie. Right?

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If you're looking for a book with fake dating and are a foodie, then look no further.

This book was enjoyable for me for the most part. However, the miscommunication and the poor portrayal of mental health briefly mentioned just made me not want to continue reading. Also, the book was dragging, I felt that it was way too long. I thought it was almost the end about 20 chapters ago. I was able to power through, my favorite character made this journey bearable, Nina's best friend Jasmine. Not only is she funny, she is fiercely loyal and always there for Nina.

The spice rating for this book in my opinion is 3/5. A bit of open door, but nothing too descriptive to the point where you cringe.

I'd recommend this book for people who love the fake dating trope and are willing to stick through to the end.

Rating: 3/5 Stars ★★★☆☆