Author: Amanda Elliot
Publication Date: 15 March 2022
Publisher: Berkley
Page Count: 352
Dates Read: March 2 – 3
Reading Method: E-ARC (thank you to the publisher!)
Review
I absolutely love books featuring chefs! My lack of culinary skills does not stop me from appreciating the drool-worthy recipes these characters dream up. After getting fired from her last chef job, Sadie is looking for redemption by competing on a well-known chef show (think Top Chef). The day she is set to arrive, she meets a dreamy man on the plane who takes her to this delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurant and sparks fly! Unfortunately won’t be able to see him for the next few weeks while she films the show. But that’s not the last Sadie will see of Luke…
This story was a lot of fun. There are so many contestants vying for the title of Chef Supreme, and the competition is fierce. Sadie hits it off with a couple of contestants right off the bat, and there are some who give Top Model vibes. You know “I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win.” It was nice to see Sadie’s relationships change and grow throughout the story, and the competition really helps her come out of her shell a bit too. I loved that the friendships she made felt true and they all encouraged each other even though they were all fighting to win.
The only think I found frustrating was the romance aspect. I almost wish it wasn’t even included. The competition was fun enough without the weird, semi-relationship forming between our love interests. There was chemistry at first, but their dynamic changes the instant Sadie enters the competition. From there, they have stolen moments that seem to progress the relationship more quickly than is believable and Sadie continually makes self-destructive decisions in pursuit of their relationship. There were several instances I wanted to yell “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” With the information we were given and the moments they had together, I just didn’t really feel the romance.
Other than the lackluster romance, I had a good time reading Sadie on a Plate. The competition was the best part of the book and I love how it all played out. The contestants were diverse, talented, and threw some big surprises!
About the Book
Sadie is a rising star in the trendy Seattle restaurant scene. Her dream is to create unique, modern, and mouthwatering takes on traditional Jewish recipes. But after a public breakup with her boss, a famous chef, she is sure her career is over—until she lands a coveted spot on the next season of her favorite TV show, Chef Supreme.
On the plane to New York, Sadie has sizzling chemistry with her seatmate, Luke, but tells him that she won’t be able to contact him for the next six weeks. They prolong their time together with a spontaneous, magical dinner before parting ways. Or so she thinks. When she turns up to set the next day, she makes a shocking discovery about who Luke is….
If Sadie wants to save her career by winning Chef Supreme, she’s going to have to ignore the simmering heat between Luke and her. But how long can she do that before the pot boils over?
About the Author
Amanda Elliot lives with her husband in New York City, where she collects way too many cookbooks for her tiny kitchen, runs in Central Park, and writes for teens and kids under the name Amanda Panitch. SADIE ON A PLATE is her debut novel for adults.
