Book Review: Love a la Mode

Love a la Mode

By: Stephanie Kate Strohm

Published By: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: November 27, 2018

Page Count: 304

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via NetGalley

Young Adult - Contemporary

One of my favorite evening pastimes is to curl up with my husband and watch Food Network. Our favorites are Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and the various holiday baking challenges. As someone who has read and loved Strohm's previous novels, I knew this one had to make it onto my reading list this fall. What's not to love? It's a story about two American teens attending a prestigious culinary school in Paris. It has all those Food Network elements I love with the added bonus of a city that thrives on romance and good eats.

Rosie is a slightly stereotypical girl from the Midwest - sweet, loyal, wholesome, and sheltered. Henry is also from the Midwest, but his Chicago upbringing makes him a bit more worldly than Rosie. The pair collide while on a flight to Paris when they both realize they share a love of the culinary arts and will be attending the same school in France. The pair strikes up an instant connection as romance swirls in the air, but the stresses of school and pressure from home keeps the pair apart.

As Rosie and Henry attempt to navigate the competitive culinary world and maintain a solid academic GPA, they must also learn to deal with new friends, new cultures, and new crushes. The pair must decide if they are meant to remain in the friend zone or if something more lurks beneath the surface. In addition to the main characters, there are also a lovable bunch of supporting characters who I loved just as much as Rosie and Henry.

Full of food, fun, and sweetness, Love a la Mode was the perfect read for this hectic time of year. As stress at work and with the holidays began to bear down on me, I loved the moments when I could escape into Rosie and Henry's story. There is something about a contemporary romance that will heal what ails you and I always have such fun with Strohm's characters. If you're in the mood for more sweetness than steam and you have a Food Network obsession, I highly recommend giving this a read. I would suggest having snacks at hand! My sweet tooth has been seriously clamoring for attention since I read about all the delectable desserts.

One Last Gripe: I thought some of the relationships glossed the surface rather than having a lot of depth to them.

Favorite Thing About This Book: It's a tie between the setting and the culinary aspects.

First Sentence: The girl across the aisle was staring at him.

Favorite Character: Rosie

Least Favorite Character: Henry's mom kind of stressed me out.

Summary:

Take two American teen chefs, add one heaping cup of Paris, toss in a pinch of romance, and stir. . . . 

Rosie Radeke firmly believes that happiness can be found at the bottom of a mixing bowl. But she never expected that she, a random nobody from East Liberty, Ohio, would be accepted to celebrity chef Denis Laurent's school in Paris, the most prestigious cooking program for teens in the entire world. Life in Paris, however, isn't all cream puffs and crepes. Faced with a challenging curriculum and a nightmare professor, Rosie begins to doubt her dishes. 

 Henry Yi grew up in his dad's restaurant in Chicago, and his lifelong love affair with food landed him a coveted spot in Chef Laurent's school. He quickly connects with Rosie, but academic pressure from home and his jealousy over Rosie's growing friendship with gorgeous bad-boy baker Bodie Tal makes Henry lash out and push his dream girl away. 

 Desperate to prove themselves, Rosie and Henry cook like never before while sparks fly between them. But as they reach their breaking points, they wonder whether they have what it takes to become real chefs. 

 Perfect for lovers of Chopped Teen Tournament and Kids Baking Championship, as well as anyone who dreams of a romantic trip to France, Love la Mode follows Rosie and Henry as they fall in love with food, with Paris, and ultimately, with each other.