A sizzling opposites attract romance packed with mouthwatering food, fiery chemistry, and plenty of heart.

Release date: July 21, 2026

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

The Bear meets It Happened One Summer in this delicious new romance from USA Today bestselling author Grace Reilly, in which a down-on-his-luck chef and a determined social media maven strike a reluctant deal to bring a beloved restaurant back to life.

If you can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.

After a public meltdown in the dining room of one of Manhattan’s most elite restaurants, Chef Jack Hartman is back in his South Florida hometown. Angry, grieving, and saddled with the unwanted storefront his late mentor left him, his life is spinning out of control. And that’s before Poppy Winfield, the blond, bubbly, utterly infuriating daughter of his former boss, shows up at his dock.

Poppy needs to escape. From her disapproving family, her horrible ex-boyfriend, and her reputation as someone who has never taken anything seriously. But more than that, she wants to prove herself—and she has just the plan to do it. Unfortunately, that plan involves Jack Hartman, the most arrogant, prickly, intimidating man she’s ever had the pleasure of throwing a shrimp at.

She knows Jack is desperate to come back from his unceremonious firing, so she proposes a deal: working together to open a revamped version of his mentor’s restaurant. He’ll handle the menu, and she’ll use her skill as a social media influencer to sell the hell out of its grand opening. If she and Jack can make the restaurant a success, it’ll be an accomplishment no one can deny—and a ticket for them both to return to New York.

Jack is intrigued, but only on his terms: if Poppy’s going to work for him, she must learn the ropes of the entire business. Including how to cook. From him.

As sparks fly both in and out of the kitchen and tensions reach a boiling point, Poppy and Jack are left wondering–could they be a perfect pairing? Or is this whole experiment a recipe for disaster?

Review:

Yes, Chef was such a fun summer romance. Between the coastal setting, incredible food descriptions, and sizzling chemistry, it was easy to get swept up in Jack and Poppy’s story.

I loved the fish out of water dynamic as Poppy traded her influencer lifestyle for long days in a restaurant kitchen. Watching Jack teach her how to cook ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. Those scenes were equal parts sweet, flirty, and genuinely entertaining. The banter between these two was fiery from the very beginning, and their opposites attract chemistry worked really well. Both characters carried emotional baggage and had built walls around themselves, so it was satisfying to watch them slowly become vulnerable with one another.

I ended up connecting with Poppy more than Jack. She had a wonderful growth arc and was incredibly easy to root for. Jack leaned a little farther into the gruff, arrogant hero than I typically enjoy, though I understood that it was an intentional part of his personal journey. By the end, I appreciated his growth even if he wasn’t my favorite type of romantic lead.

This was my first Grace Reilly novel, and it definitely won’t be my last. I enjoyed her writing style, the pacing, and especially how vividly she brought the restaurant world to life. The ending delivered a satisfying payoff that left me closing the book with a smile.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Summer romances
• Grumpy sunshine couples
• Foodie romances with delicious cooking scenes
• Opposites attract chemistry
• Restaurant settings and found family

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.