Thank you for the arc, I love enemies to lovers and it was made even better by being baking related 🙈 what more could I possibly want!

"The Winner Bakes It All" by Jeevani Charika is a delightful and feel-good romantic comedy that combines the warmth of baking with the excitement of competition. Charika’s writing is light-hearted and engaging, bringing to life a story that is as sweet and satisfying as the confections her characters create.

The novel follows the journey of a protagonist who enters a high-stakes baking competition, hoping to prove her skills and perhaps change her life in the process. As the competition heats up, so do the emotions, with rivalries, friendships, and unexpected romances all playing out in the pressure-cooker environment of the contest. Charika expertly blends the tension of the competition with the personal growth and romantic developments of the characters, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and entertaining.

The characters are relatable and endearing, each bringing their own unique flair to the story. The protagonist’s journey is not just about winning the competition, but also about discovering her own strength, passion, and the possibilities of love. The backdrop of the baking world adds a layer of delicious charm to the novel, making it a treat for fans of food-themed romances.

"The Winner Bakes It All" is perfect for readers who enjoy a light, uplifting romance with a dash of humor and a sprinkle of culinary delight. Jeevani Charika has crafted a story that will leave readers smiling, rooting for the characters, and perhaps even craving a sweet treat themselves. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a good rom-com with a tasty twist.

As always, really enjoyed this book! Jeevani has such a way with words and always has women in such empowering careers. This one was a bit different but I still loved it.

I adore books with baking.and this time we get 2 different types of food related businesses!

I loved the characters and their individual storylines

Be warned make sure you have plenty of snacks on hand as you read this, as it will make you hungry.

After all it features a sugar loving cake baker, and a new rival in the same arcade a keto meal maker.

I loved Elodie and Mal's story, from their first meeting to how they started to grown on each other, it was heartwarming to see.

I love Mal's motives for having the cafe that he does, catering to keto diets. You learn a lot about keto in this, and how it can be good for you and it was really interesting.

But I do have to say that I would be a visitor to Elodie's bakery, as I have a sweet tooth, and her cakes sounded delicious and so pretty.

I really disliked some of the men in Elodie's life though, and her parents. Whereas i loved Mal's family and best friend.

From enemies into something more, I loved seeing how the story developed, and thoroughly enjoyed reading all of it. I especially loved Mal's nephew, who is really cool and smart!

There is just something about Jeevani Charika's writing that I tend to thoroughly enjoy and this was no exception. Another fabulous book from her that I devoured, almost as fast as I can devour a chocolate cake!

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Another great book by Jeevani Charika. I didn't know that the keto lifestyle storyline was taken from her own experience until the author's note at the end, but I love that!

The enemies to lovers storyline is a classic, but told so well here. Lovely.

Fun read, the story of rivals Elodie and Mal, who need to work together to win a client. Will the time spent together and getting to know each other change their minds about each other? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Ahh I really enjoyed this in the end! Took a while for me to get into as there is a lot of information to take in but once it got going I really loved the character development and growth especially between the FMC and MMC
I learned so much about keto diets and how they help the body especially learning about the medical aspect of it! I really understood the authors reasoning behind giving so much information and explaination!
The enemies to lovers/slow burn was lovely and I really felt they had a connection.
No spice / fade to black scenes - perfect for me but I know a lot of people don’t prefer that!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Winner Bakes It All by Jeevani Charika
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 18 July 2024

Elodie harbours grand ambitions for her quaint cake shop, envisioning its expansion into a larger, perfect unit. However, her excitement quickly deflates upon discovering that the space has already been snatched up—by none other than a fitness-obsessed gym enthusiast who detests carbs and sugar!

Just as Elodie grapples with this disappointing setback, a golden opportunity presents itself: a chance to bake for a prestigious celebrity wedding, courtesy of a local influencer. Yet, her elation soon turns to dismay upon learning that her newfound nemesis, Mal, the carb-hating counterpart, has also been enlisted to cater the same event.

Forced to set aside their personal animosity, Elodie and Mal must collaborate to orchestrate the wedding of the year, with only two months at their disposal.

Tropes:
🎂 Baking!
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
🥐 Cinnamon roll love interest
🏠 Small town
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
💞 Forced proximity
🐾 Black cat x golden retriever

Jeevani Charika consistently delivers with her reliable, relatable, and downright delicious romance novels. This latest gem follows classic romance tropes, featuring the familiar setup of a woman running a bakery with a rivalry brewing with the café across the street. However, what sets Charika's stories apart is the authenticity of her characters, which lends emotional depth and resonance to the narrative.

We find ourselves deeply invested in Elodie's journey, from her struggles with the bakery to her complicated family dynamics. She feels like a genuine person rather than a cookie-cutter heroine, and it's this relatability that keeps us rooting for her without the need for excessive drama.

And then there's Mal, the unexpected hero who manages to make us sympathise with a gym enthusiast (who loathes carbs) — a feat we never thought possible. His character is fleshed out with an intriguing backstory that adds depth to the narrative.

Overall, this contemporary romance is a captivating read from start to finish.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HQ | HQ Digital, and the author, Jeevani Charika, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I got offered an ARC after reading Jeevani's previous novel, Knowing Me, Knowing You. The cover and title meant I had to say yes. I ended up enjoying this more than Knowing Me, Knowing You. I think the plot was really fun, and I enjoyed seeing all the work going into preparing to cater a wedding. I also liked learning more about keto diets, which I'd actually had no idea could be used for anything other than weight loss! I'm starting to feel like a misogynist, but as with the last book, I loved the male lead more than the female. I did like Elodie, but her temper grated on me, and there were moments I really wanted to shake her. I can be an irritable cow myself, but it could be hard to read, especially when Mal was so sweet. Mal was such a great character. I'm not someone who's usually into the rude, borderline aggressive male leads. He was kind and respectable but still fun. I also especially loved how he acted as an uncle. As an aunt myself, I hope I have a similar close relationship with my nephew when he's older.

I also loved the representation in the book. Disability rep is always great and Dilan was one of my favourite characters. Marty occasionally felt a bit cliché but I enjoyed how his story progressed. As with the last book, I also enjoyed the family dynamics, especially that (slight spoiler), some relationships can be mended whilst others can't and that's okay. Overall, I enjoyed my time with the book. If you enjoy lovely male leads, baking and the fun of preparing for a wedding, as well as some family dynamics and character growth, I recommend giving this a try!

Elodie is hoping to expand her cake baking business when a new unit comes free in the arcade her shop is in, but before it's even advertised she finds out it's been let to someone else. Mal is the someone else - he's expanding his keto lunch business into a café. Then the two of them find themselves competing to cater the same wedding- and having to work together. I was a little worried reading this that Elodie and Mal were going to be fighting and misunderstanding each other as the main conflict in the book, but actually (and quite refreshingly!) that wasn't the case and there's plenty of other stuff going on here to generate conflict. And it was lovely to have another Jeevani Charika book so soon! It's not that long since her previous book came out (less than six months?) and this is set in the same world - it was great to see Jake again as a side character in this (among others). Lots of fun and a nice easy read.

An unputdownable contemporary romance filled with enemies to lovers rivalry, mouth watering cakes and a carb hating gym bro with a man bun.

Elodie’s family thinks her ‘little cake shop’ in the old arcade in the town is just a fad until she settles down. But Elodie has plans for expanding her small shop into a serious business. So when a bigger unit opposite her becomes vacant, she draws up a business plan, speaks to the arcade manager and waits patiently for a shop to let sign to go up.
To meet the demand for keto lunches, Mal's Meals needs to expand. When Jake learns about a business unit in the arcade, it's an easy decision - a larger kitchen and space for tables too.
Elodie is fuming. She expected the first refusal only to be told that Mal, the manager’s gym buddy, has taken the unit.

Elodie has a small cake making business and is hoping to take over the lease on a larger unit in the arcade where her shop is when she suddenly finds that instead it has been taken by another Ketone based cafe. She confronts the owner, Mal, and is particularly incensed when she finds that this was arranged through the "old boys network" at a local gym. After this in auspicious start she and Mal find that they might have to work together to cater at in influencer's wedding.
Elodie come across as a very feisty lady, battling against her parent's disapproval of her small business, but very talented at making cakes. I was not really aware of Ketone diets before reading this book and thought that it was described in a very thoughtful way, with its potential benefits given in a non-preachy way. Both Elodie and Mal have personal issues, the reasons for which are gradually revealed, but at the heart of the story is a (potential) enemies to lovers romance which is well worth reading.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book

I enjoyed this story of the 'cake lady' and 'man bun' it gave me all the fuzzy feels but I was disappointed that I couldn't read the epilogue a year later without signing up for the newsletter

Title: The Winner Bakes It All by Jeevani Charika

Release Date: June, 4th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Elodie has big dreams for her little cake shop, so when a perfect bigger unit becomes vacant, she’s excited to finally expand. Except it turns out the space has already been snatched up – and by a fitness-obsessed gym bro who hates carbs and sugar!

But when a local influencer offers her the opportunity to bake for a big celebrity wedding, Elodie can’t believe her luck. Until she finds out that her new carb-hating nemesis, Mal, has been hired to cater the same event.

The two rivals have to put their personal feelings aside to work together to pull off the wedding of the year – and they only have two months to do it! But will they be able to resist trying to kill each other, or will sparks – and cupcakes – fly in the heat of the moment?

Another wonderful romance by Jeevani Charika, "The Winner Bakes It All" is a delectable delight that mixes rivalry, romance, and baking into a perfect recipe. This book is a fantastic example of the enemies-to-lovers trope, set against the charming backdrop of a small town.

What I Loved:

1. Elodie's Passion and Determination: Elodie’s drive to make her cake shop a success and prove her family wrong is incredibly inspiring. Her creativity and talent in baking make her a character you root for from the very beginning.
2. The Dynamic Between Elodie and Mal: The chemistry between Elodie and Mal is electric. Their banter is witty and hilarious, making their transition from rivals to lovers a joy to read. The way they challenge and complement each other adds depth to their relationship.
3. Cultural Touches: Charika seamlessly weaves in cultural elements that enrich the story and provide a deeper connection to the characters’ backgrounds.
4. Humor and Heart: The book strikes a perfect balance between humor and heartfelt moments. The antics at the celebrity wedding, from the high-stakes pickleball tournament to the bull-riding bachelorette party, are laugh-out-loud funny and add a unique twist to the typical wedding chaos.
5. Grumpy x Sunshine Trope: Mal's tough exterior and Elodie's sunny disposition create a delightful contrast. Watching Mal's softer side emerge as he interacts with Elodie is utterly charming.


"The Winner Bakes It All" is a fun, sweet read with all the good stuff—a base of rivals to lovers, a gooey baking-related centre, topped off with a cinnamon roll hero and a sprinkle of grumpy x sunshine. It’s a perfect summer read that will leave you with a big goofy smile and a craving for more of Charika’s delightful romances. Gorgeous!


Thank you to The Publisher HQ | HQ Digital ,The Author Jeevani Charika & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fantastic and great fun read from Jeevani Charika. I love how grounded her romcoms are, and Mal and Elodie are an absolute treat. I adored watching their rivalry evolve and turn into something else entirely. Would highly recommend.

Totally relatable👩‍🍳🍰

4.5🌟stars
One of the things I liked best about Jeevani Charika's new novel was how I could totally relate to her driven female lead.
She's a real person, good qualities, flaws and all making for a good, entertaining story.

Elodie's got lots of positive qualities like her work ethic and her ambition to follow her dream despite discouraging family attitudes. She knows what she wants and what she doesn't, including when it comes to men. Her frustration with the way informal male networking upsets her plans to expand her business is palpable and probably the element that clicked fastest with me. She's not a paragon without flaws, including a stubborn streak, a quick temper and a tendency to judge first and only ask questions later. When she's wrong she admits it (eventually).

Mal, the guy who's foiled her expansion plans, is also a well-developed character. His life arc includes some hard times as a bullied youth and a distant relationship with his older brother. He's created a niche business catering to keto diet clients including his epileptic nephew. I liked the way it's quickly established that his nearby business not only does not compete for Elodie's customers but can work to the good, particularly when dealing with an influencer client and her fiance to cater their dream wedding.

The burgeoning romance was totally believable and sweet with a touch of heat but nothing explicit. I appreciated that the author could build a romance without relying on steam.

I am not a baker or connoisseur of cocktails myself but found the baking, food and drink descriptions did not overwhelm me. I liked that the story was well balanced with the human drama taking precedence over descriptions of their food prep. But the information about the variety of keto food plans and, particularly, the use of keto diet to control the effects of medical conditions like epilepsy was interesting and useful news to me.

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

A very cute story, set firmly in the present, with influencer culture as an important subplot. The wedding shenanigans and viral-video-inspired vandalism were hilarious.

The indulgent cakes vs keto-diet cafe rivalry is an interesting one, and I liked the relationship between Mal and his nephew a lot, giving more depth to the choices than there might otherwise be. There is inevitably talk of restricting food groups, which means this book won't be healthy for everyone to read, but I think it does a good job of advocating for choosing what's right for you with reference to how you feel rather than appearance.

I didn't quite warm up to Elodie until near the end but I adored Mal. Jeevani has another hit contemporary romance. And I'm hoping Marty will get a story of his own too. Great summer read.

Gosh, this book is so cosy! A read curl-up-on-the-sofa read. Every character is well-drawn - some annoyingly so, like Elodie's brother - and relatable. And it's a true rivals-to-lovers story where the main characters strongly dislike each other at first!

That makes what is a slow-burn romance - mind the cakes - very investing. You're pulled along by Elodie and Mal's experiences and emotions, both towards their businesses and each other. How their families affect their lives. How misunderstandings can snowball.

This is a closed-door romance, but I did get warm at their kisses. Oof, how I was kept waiting for that first one! Would have liked a little more second base perhaps, but that's me and I don't so much have my doors open as off the hinges! As it is, the romance side of things is very satisfying indeed.

Overall, The Winner Bakes It All made me laugh and cry, and kept me hooked until the end. And you can read an epilogue if you sign up to Jeev's newsletter.

Baker Elodie wants to expand her business into a cafe and baking/decorating school. But when the neighbouring premesis she had her eye on is leased to Mal, who is opening a keto cafe, sparks fly. But when Mal and Elodie have to work together to cater their friends' wedding, a social media event which could make their businesses, they discover more about themselves and each other, leading to an unexpectedly sweet romance.

There is something of an air of pride and prejudice about this but handled with the unique Jeevani Charika style and charm. Two very loveable leads get off on the wrong foot and come to know, understand and love each other. There's a great cast of supporting characters (shout out to Jake and Marty) and all of them have their own journey. The wedding itself is a glorious affair. I particularly liked the way family relations were handled and examined, especially in terms of the contrast between our main characters' brothers. Charika is a really skillful writer, who makes everything seem so simple, but who at the same time weaves really complex themes through her work, draws amazingly rounded characters, and always makes me laugh and cry and pray its all going to turn out all right.