Member Reviews
Do not read this when you are hungry. I was predominately reading while eating and it was still making me long for more food!
The food descriptions and all the descriptions of the cookery competition were sublime.
Then there is the comparison of a chess board with a cheese board, from a Greek god of a man that was seducing me, and I don't even like cheese! I am a fan of hot Greek and Cypriot men though!
This Golden Spoon cookery competition has been Freya's dream since she was a child, and I loved being there alongside her every step of the way. I was angry at the blatant sabotage, shocked at who was doing it, I was willing her to believe in her own skills more.
I was hooked on every last word of this book and really can't believe it appears to be a debut novel. I'm already looking forward to the author's next book, I enjoyed this one that much.
It' is pure fabulous escapism, perfect for poolside reading, or even in your garden, or just where you have snacks in easy reach.
The best recipe of food, love, intrigue, competition, and armchair travel, baked in the hot summer sun, and producing a mouth watering story.
Thank you to Zaffre and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
After another chef at work takes credit for her dishes, Freya quits her job, leaves her unsupportive boyfriend and heads to Cyprus for a cookery competition. She is not there to meet a man, but can't help falling for Xanthos despite the warning from locals.
Someone is out to sabotage the competition, so how will Freya fare?
Fabulous read. Once I started I couldn’t put it down.
Freya quits her job after her boss takes credit for her cheesecake. Her best friend Khady helps her get back on track and soon Freya is competing in the prestigious golden spoon competition in Cyprus.
Freya is feeling guilty she has left her schizophrenic mum in her nursing home without telling her where she has gone. I love the way the author brings to light the way her mums illness has affected Freya and the bond Freya has with Mrs K. The way Freya’s many feelings and emotions are explored and validated is sensitively approached.
Freya connects with Xanthos after ruling out his brother Dimitri as a shallow womaniser. Xanthos is beautiful and shares many of Freya’s beliefs and ideals. Freya however is determined to stay focused on the competition.
This mouth watering and sunny story is the epitome of escapism. There are a few blips and well massive bumps along the way but a wonderful story.
Beautifully written, with such heart. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way. A beautiful and delightful book to read, one I really just wanted to spend my time reading and savoring the experience.
A cute romance with a catering focus. The book takes us to Greece and to really see the beach life, the cooking and the real passion that food brings. We learn about how to cook and what makes those who love food tick. The book also throws in some good humour and realism alongside the importance of those in our past who inspire us and motivate us. The romance is not quite central but adds to the story and gives us the ending we all want.
This book is so great. Once I had picked it up I simply couldn't put it down. It's soo feel good and amazing. I really enjoyed it and it was also really funny too.
Once I picked up this how, i couldn’t put it down! Loved the story and outline! This book made we want to eat loads of Greek food and try out new recipes! Perfect for a lovely sunny afternoon.
Fun and quirky rom com!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.
'You Had Me at Halloumi' was fun, feel-good & a great story to take you away from wherever you are (dreary U.K. for me!) & place you, slap-bang in the depths of sunny Cyprus.
This little rollercoaster of a ride was a quick & easy read & had everything you want from a giddy, cheesy chick-lit. Plus, there was plenty to be learnt about Cypriot cuisine - which sounds utterly delectable & had me feeling hungry throughout!
It had plenty of pop culture references & interesting thoughts on feminism as well, which made the book more than just any old rom-com. Ginger's writing style was delightful & witty & made it easy to connect with Freya & the other characters.
Overall, it was thoroughly enjoyable & a fab piece to escape in. It's also got me looking forward to Ginger's next novel!
Thank you to Netgalley, Ginger Jones & Zaffre Books for allowing me to review the ARC of 'You Had Me at Halloumi'; all views are honest & my own.
The intro with it's cheesy word play was enough to tempt me to request this book. Thank you Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion
After finishing You Had Me At Halloumi, I’m utterly sleep deprived. You know what it’s like when your current book is so good that you think, 'just another page, just another chapter.' This is just such an excellent book.
As a means of escaping her tough childhood with a mentally disabled mother, Freya was encouraged by her school teacher to enjoy and cook Cypriot food. When the restaurant where she's a chef claims one of her recipes was produced by their head chef, she quits on the spot. With a total disinterest from her boyfriend she quits with him as well.
Freya leaves rainy Nottingham and arrives in sunny Cyprus to compete in the finals of the Golden Spoon Culinary Award competition. She's up against six top class chefs all determined to be number one. It's a cut throat competition, some of the chefs will use any means, including sabotaging Freya's food, to win. She needs to be constantly aware and not be distracted by the gorgeous Xanthos.
Full of Cypriot sunshine, delicious food and Freya's determination to reach her dream of winning the Golden Spoon Culinary Award.
I flew through this over two days and enjoyed every single minute. Warning, the food descriptions are divine.
Then She Meets Xanthos…
Prepare to escape for some sun, fun and halloumi in this entertaining romcom, Cyprus set. Will Freya’s dreams of culinary success become a reality? She ditches everything to find out when she dons her chefs hat and makes for sunny climes to take part in the prestigious Golden Spoon Culinary Award competition. Then, she meets Xanthos. And…what a distraction he is. Wholly enjoyable and entertaining, providing some guaranteed, giddy escapism.
A quick and easy read that makes you wish you were in Cyprus (or at least on a beach somewhere!). One to cheer you up and dream of holidays yet to come
Well with a title like this I knew I was going to enjoy it. A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I stormed through this book, It is well written with a good storyline, well developed characters and a stunning setting. I was hungry through a lot of this book with its stunning descriptions of food. A quick, easy and fun read that I would love to read again sat on a beach. I loved it.
I picked this purely on the fact it is set in Cyprus, my favourite place in the world.
I was not disappointed a great story filled with lots of delicious food, a extremely hot guy, beautiful stunning settings.
This gave me all the feels dreaming I was in sunny Cyprus, I could feel the sand between my toes and the sunshine on my face.
A great debut read!
A sunny delight of a book, I whizzed through this on a stormy weekend!
I could practically feel the warm breeze on my face and smell the herbs reading this book, and the descriptions of the food were so heavenly.
Loved this book, the perfect beach read!