Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel’s other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he’s … sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public’s good graces is to work alongside Hadley.As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.
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4.25/5
I read this for a book club but had planned to read anyway as I had read Plot Twist by Ms. Turner and loved it.
Hadley is a famous chef from Nashville with her own TV show, restaurants, etc. Max is also a famous chef with his own TV show, restaurants, etc. but from NY. They begin as enemies stemming from a very public meltdown (with Max as the instigator), and then are thrown together again and have to figure out a way to co-exist.
I enjoyed this because it’s not your average romcom. Yes, there’s humor and romance (nothing overtly intimate). But there are also real issues to be worked through and overcome, for each of them. I especially enjoyed and was impressed by Max’s growth arc, as he began as not a very likable character.
Well done, and I plan to read more from Ms. Turner.
This is one of the few I would consider an actual enemies-to-lovers on both sides and it’s really well done. Most have one that actually likes the other character a la Gilbert and Anne.
Hadley and Graham have a handful of bad encounters on a TV show as guest chefs. Graham is full of himself and his talent and Hadley is the new kid on the block. Fast forward after her win and Graham’s blow up and they have to work together again.
Bethany is a great story teller. I loved the concept and tend to enjoy books that largely feature food, even if they make me into a hungry monster for the majority of the read. I think I go through a lot to try Graham’s mushroom risotto.
Cooking and romance are always a winning combination, but I think I struggle with hate to love stories. The fighting grated on me, and Max said some things that I don’t know I could forgive. The epilogue saved the book for me honestly!
Wonderful story and characters, and I like the back and forth between 1st and 3rd point of view. This book also made me hungry!
What a fun, entertaining romp in the world of TV chefs and cooking competitions. Downhome southern sweetheart Hadley and high-brow culinary genius Maxwell are total opposites in both personality and practice, but somehow they work through their challenges to find their happily ever after.