LJ Shen is one of my favorite authors, so you can imagine the excitement I had when I received the ARC of this book—I was on cloud nine! But this one felt a bit different from her usual style. I kept waiting for that moment when it would all click into place, but it never really did. It was like a recipe missing one crucial ingredient—what could have been a delicious entrée ended up being a bit mediocre.

The story started off strong, but I found myself wanting more from the main characters. Whether it was the dynamic between Bitchy and Mac or Dot and Row, there was just something missing. Sure, Bitchy and Mac had more chemistry, but even that could have been more compelling.

When Dot started working at Row’s restaurant, as the blurb suggested, I was expecting some real sparks—maybe a slow-burn romance or some fiery tension