This was really fun and cute. I loved all of the behind the scenes stuff we got with the characters, getting to know them, and getting to watch the little romance bloom between our two main characters. The baking contest itself felt like a little bit of an afterthought. I felt like we need a little more of that to round the story out, but all in all I enjoyed the characters enough that I didn't really care about the baking contest.

I think this is great for kids who like to bake and read, but I wasn't a big fan of the drawings for this graphic novel.

"Batter Royale" by Leisl Adams is an exciting and dynamic graphic novel that immerses readers in a world of competition, creativity, and culinary delights. Adams' artistic talents shine as they craft a tale of skill, determination, and the challenges of pursuing one's passion. The graphic novel's vibrant illustrations and engaging plot create an immersive reading experience that captures the energy and intensity of a cooking competition. Adams skillfully portrays the artistry and camaraderie in the culinary world, leading readers through a thrilling journey filled with unexpected twists. "Batter Royale" is a feast for the eyes and the imagination, reminding readers that the pursuit of excellence and the love of food can lead to unexpected adventures and personal growth. As readers follow the characters' culinary journey, they're left with a sense of excitement and a greater appreciation for the art of cooking and the joys of creative expression.

This book was a good book but very similar to many that came out within 6 months of each other. If this phenomenon had not happened, this book would surely have been a standout.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Really cute book. A bit fast paced at times, but ultimately adorable with cute art and a fun story! I would definitely recommend this to my library kids who like graphic novels.

This book was cute! The determination of the main character and their drive to win + the support of their best friend really made this a very charming and heartwarming story. I recommend this to foodies and those who love competitions!

This was cute.
- Upper MG/YA
- reality baking competition perfect for any fan of any baking show ever
- childhood friends to sweethearts
- rivals to friends
- win or lose everything scenario
I wanted to read this because it sounded like something my kids would like and I was right. This is perfect for their baking hearts.

3.5 stars

I wish there was a sequel to this book, seeing another baking competition between the top two contestants in the book. Maybe even seeing them become friends.

This graphic novel was a fun mix of baking competitions, recipes and friendship. I loved the artwork and the storyline was cute, especially if your a fan of cooking competition shows.

Rose wants to go to the top baking school in the country, but unfortunately her parents can't afford. Her parents are having problems at home, and she can't quite do what she is told at the restaurant where she works. When Rose makes a dessert that's not on the menu for a food critic, she is offered a position in a baking competition where she can earn big bucks and a book deal. But there is fierce competition along the way.

*thank you to #netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. (This title is already released)

Super fun middle grade graphic novel! Perfect for those who love to bake and watch Great British Bake Off! Plot got a bit predictable at times, but totally makes up for it with the amazing food recipes sprinkled within the story.

Idk who thought it was a good idea to have an unmasked character handling food while having a cold. He was sneezing in the kitchen and an outdoor scene shows his disgusting, dripping nose. In fact, none of the characters are masked up when preparing food. I get that it's fiction and the book can be set in any time period and showing everyone's full faces is more compelling... fine. But why the need to show a sick character? His illness wasn't even integral to the story, just portray him as fatigued or burned out instead. Pandemic or no pandemic, I don't want a germ hub anywhere near my food.

Such a shame because I did enjoy this graphic novel but cannot overlook its red flags! Read this if you like:

👩‍🍳 Eating food
👩‍🍳 Preparing food
👩‍🍳 Watching food shows
👩‍🍳 Funny food puns
👩‍🍳 A blend of action, adventure and romance
👩‍🍳 Underdogs fighting for their dreams
👩‍🍳 Bright, vibrant artwork

✨ "Only the cream of the crop, will rise to the top!

This was so incredibly disappointing I want to cry. Nothing about it makes any sense. Even if I suspend my disbelief about two teenagers being invited to a reality show overnight and going to a foreign country alone--I kind of did that when I was 17 for a Model UN conference and I turned out okay--I just can't sit with the idea that this reality show is shot in one week. There are no producers anywhere until they are randomly mentioned when there is some kissing people want to keep a secret, which is a waste because all the drama and manipulation that producers engage in on reality shows would actually add some depth. I was so excited to see a brown girl character who is just existing without a trace of trauma porn, but an international cast with no language barriers whatsoever? Challenges like fucking trap doors in the floor that just open up and drop competitors? Statistically impossible that there wouldn't be a broken ankle or concussion.Squid Game's glass bridge was more believable! Swinging on literal rope over a ring of fire? No production like this would ever be insured. And the cast was so one-sided that I couldn't care about any of their arcs because they didn't have any. Nobody learned anything. Nobody changed. Nobody grew. Nobody was any different.

This had all the elements necessary for a really kickass book that could have gone soapy and over the top yet still possible in our world and its limitations (such as linear time) OR make some interesting statements about manipulation and conniving your way to your dreams OR the perils of searching for 15 minutes of fame OR any combination thereof, but there's no there there.

This was a cute little story! I did feel like I've seen this same story about cooking shows a lot lately, and there were definitely aspects of the story that didn't entirely make sense. But it was a cute and fun read overall!

This was a fun book to read, I enjoyed the story and the illustrations. I recommend it, thank you for the opportunity to read it early

This was adorable! I loved the art style of this graphic novel and I think that kids that enjoy cooking and the cooking shows on tv would have a lot of fun with this! For me personally, I think that it was a little too short and we focused on the wrong things at some points. I liked the cooking part of the competition and would have liked to see more of that, with higher stakes. But there were these other physical competitions throughout that felt unnecessary and a little out of place. Overall though, it was a cute read!

This was such a fun story, good characters that I was rooting for, and amazing sounding recipes! I know I wouldn't make it in any kind of reality show, but they are always fun to watch and this story is no exception! Competitors under pressure, making questionable decisions, and friendships tested. The artwork was fun and I enjoyed the whole thing! Presented in Words & Whimsy's Colorful Comics Feature on August 12th, 2022.

I got an ARC of this book.

It was cute, but too fast. There wasn't any real depth to the story, because of the length. There was no character development, no real coverage of the cooking competition, no real chance for the romance to exist. So honestly, my biggest complaint is that this should have been multiple volumes so I could have really lived in this world. Since that is my main complaint, I call it a win.

While I wanted more details about everything, I adored this book. It was cute. There were recipes for the foods that made appearances, including one for a sourdough starter which is a recipe I have been meaning to look for. It was really lovely.

I would be beside myself if this got picked up to be animated. I NEED more in this world and more of this ridiculous competition. It was seriously wacky in that way that shows that Adams has watched just enough food competition shows to know how ridiculous they can be.

This book is very cute and charming. There were some sillier aspects that made it feel a bit over the top but it was a fun and light read. I really liked how recipes were included throughout the text.

3,5/5 stars

The copy I received on NetGalley didn't really work. It was extremely blurry to the point that I couldn't read it. Which was a bit sad as I was really looking forward to it. Luckily my library got a copy of it and I enjoyed it!

Rose and Fred's friendship to romance was fun to see. The competitions were amusing and kept me interested in the story. I don't understand the reviews of it being an unrealistic cooking show... it's a fictional graphic novel???

'Batter Royale' by Leisl Adams is a graphic novel about a crazy baking competition.

Rose and her best friend Fred get invited to a cooking competition because of a dessert Rose makes at the diner Fred's mother owns. It is a good chance for Rose to earn the money to go to culinary school. For Fred, it's a chance to help save the family business. It won't be easy with the twists and turns the competition takes and the cutthroat competition.

I liked this fun, somewhat romantic story of two friends who might end up becoming more. The art works really well and has a really nice animated quality to it.