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Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There's more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped ... especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the line. Isa's family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. And after moving in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, Isa feels like an outsider in her father's new life. She balances her time between avoiding the awkward "why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom" conversation and her diligent aspiration to become a premiere chef. Despite Isa's world being turned upside-down, her father's house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard's renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order�and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in an haute kitchen. But Isa's stress and repressed grief begin to unravel further when the enigmatic Diego shows up at the house unannounced. How can Isa expect to hold it together when she's at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with Diego reach a boiling point? Mixing up only the best ingredients, Salty, Bitter, Sweet: Is a clean and wholesome rival-to-lovers trope set in a cutthroat kitchen environment Is a perfect book for foodies ages 13 and up, and features a Latina main character who is trilingual Explores complicated family dynamics and relatable themes of friendship, acceptance, grief, and learning to care for yourself Perfect for TV fans of.… (more)
User reviews
Isabella finds her life upside down. Her father divorces Isa's French mother and marries another French lady who is
More upends Isa's life when she arrives home to an intruder one day, only to discover this man is Margot's step-son, Diego. He and his albino dog crowd Isabella and set her on edge. They argue freuqently. She has plans and goals and a future planned. She creates order. Diego seems to have no plan, which Isa finds disturbing. He doesn't seem to respect her choices and makes her stressful competition in the kitchen (where she is in last place) even more stressful by his nonchalance.
Yes, this novel is a about finding oneself. Isabella has worked tirelessly to achieve a goal. Is the goal bringing happiness? Is the goal distracting her from facing the realities of her life? Isa has to find what she truly wants--is it this internship with one of the greatest chefs in France? Her character does change as she experiences new moments in life that prove choices are good. Sometimes tweaking our dreams brings more happiness. I really enjoyed listening to Isabella grow and change as she discovers who she truly is and what she wants to do to bring herself and others happiness. I am not a food person. This novel revolves around food--the aromas and flavors and the way food is shared to show love and to bring people comfort and company. I really enjoyed it, but I think food people will find more layers of pleasure.