I could not put this book down! It kept me curious and intrigued throughout the entire book - I had to know more about the Poutine Princess! There was a great mix of humor with genuine emotional moments. I loved that it was set in Toronto, capturing the essence of the city, and had such a diverse set of characters!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

French Pressed Love follows Jordan as she navigates the ins and outs of managing a coffee shop, various relationships, family drama, and her aspiring art career. All of which seem to go up in flames when the poutine princess aka Noemie, asks for a job at the coffee shop. And to make matters worse, Jordan’s former roommate and best friend decided to move out to chase a girl across the country, leaving Jordan unable to afford her current rent by herself. That is, until Noemie graciously offers Jordan a room in her home. Jordan’s attraction to Noemie thus starts to grow and make her life even more complicated, especially when she gets the sense that Noemie may have similar feelings even though she is straight… With family introductions, spontaneous mountain trips, clubbing, jealousy, ex’s, and various “non” dates, both Jordan and Noemie find it hard to keep their true feelings hidden.

Jordan was just an okay character for me, she had her good and bad moments, most of which lacked proper character development. She takes offense at being called a predatory lesbian, and yet sometimes that is exactly how she comes off, especially on her “nights out”. I didn’t like how she automatically assumed Noemie was straight without even asking her. I thought her family was extremely rude, toxic, and awkward to be around and I don’t know why her past trauma was never explicitly explained, especially when her feelings about being touched are so strong. I would have loved for her to embrace her art career more and why she felt the need to keep it so hidden. She just seemed to have a lot of issues and trauma and never took the time to heal, get help, or confront her demons. It was just very hard to get behind not only her character, but her motives for pursuing Noemie, especially regarding their so many secrets and lack of chemistry that stems off of anything other than lust or jealousy.

Noemie was pretty unlikeable from the start. Just when she starts to grow on you and you begin to understand her, she goes and drops a bomb. One that was so ridiculous that you could tell was just thrown in there for the sake of adding conflict. Seriously, everything could have been so simpler with one true and honest conversation and I absolutely hate when jealousy gets the best of people that they have to feel inclined to put on a total farce. The bet with Wayne was also extremely childish, but made me more mad at him than Noemie, even though she could have easily told Jordan at any point if she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I would have loved more backstory on her and her toxic family to be able to have understood her more, especially regarding her dead sister. We also never really truly learn where her money is coming from other than a brief reference to a trust fund, but never how much or how much was left after she was supposedly cut off. I think she definitely had potential to be a great character, but there are just too many questions and not enough answers surrounding her, which does not allow me to understand her motives, connect to her character, or feel the chemistry between her and Jordan. .

The slow burn was just too slow for me, especially with the lack of chemistry and constant miscommunication/ withholding of information. There was definitely too much going on outside of Jordan and Noemie’s relationship, which I think is why I never really had the time to swoon over them. They had nothing in common and that was very clear from the beginning and even more apparent towards the end. Other than Jordan continually assuming that Noemie is straight, I found the sex scene to be extremely cringey because again there was no emotional intimacy whatsoever and the fact that it all came about from Jordan crashing her motorcycle. Neither of them had time to process what was happening and the reveal of Noemie’s sex right before, so rather than ACTUALLY communicate and talk things through, they go straight to having sex. And it gets worse. Because Jordan did not reciprocate Noemie’s feelings and tell her she loved her, Noemie did not have a conversation or try to understand Jordan’s feelings from her point of view and instead ran off with her gay best friend to get back at Jordan… for what? Getting into a car accident and just realizing the person who have been pining over is in fact not straight and not being able to properly express your feelings??? Everything about that situation was just ick to me. The whole story in general really was just one big game.

Overall, I found the coffee shop backdrop to be the best part of the story. Unfortunately I just think too many plot points and character building moments were not explored deep enough or properly handled in order to get behind Jordan and Noemie’s relationship. Along with the disappointing third act breakup, lack of chemistry, and lose ends, I also think their should have been more to the ending, and even an epilogue to get a sense of maybe what the future would have looked like for them, because honestly at this point I’m just left with so many questions.

Delightful! I was totally enthralled by this darling romance by new-to-me author M.C. Hutson! What a great read to start off the new year!

I so badly wanted to like this book, however, I could not finish it. The concept was super interesting to me. I mean, a Canadian sapphic romance and poutine is involved? Anyone who knows me would say this book sounds perfect for me. However, I had to DNF this book at about 50%.

The writing did not have a very natural flow. Some sentences were very curt, simple and it almost seemed that the author didn't trust the reader to be able to read between the lines or understand things beyond what they were telling us. It was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, something which I don't particularly enjoy and does not lend to a very seamless reading experience.

For the formatting, I don't know if this will be the final format/if it was just the ARC but I felt like I was reading a paper, in a way? The indent at the start of each paragraph, the font, it all just reminded me of school. And some of the paragraph's were just one or two sentences. Why could these sentences not been one entire paragraph?

I also just was not invested in the plot or the characters and so after a while I just did not want to continue. Its unfortunate because everything about it seemed really interesting but I am bit on writing and formatting. I can push through books if those are good even if I'm not fully invested in what is happening but the combination of both of these just made me dnf this.

I... didn't love this but didn't hate it. Like a Real Housewives episode. I wouldn't ever say I LIKED trh, but I watch it anyway. The drama in this and the toxicity made me actively not really want these two together, but I was still hooked, so... here for a good time not a long time?

This book gets stars for a morally grey but still really likeable FMC; very rarely get a more masc MC in a lesbian romance (also she’s over 30!) so loved that change. Representation all around is really great; feel like I learned a lot about both Canadian and Jamaican culture. Liked the spice, loved the espresso bar tension; my only complaint was that the younger love interest didn’t seem to experience enough character growth. I related to her enough to still like her, but I’m worried for the MC!

I received this digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CWs: smoking, drinking, drugs, explicit sex and language, sexual assault (past), death of a parent (past), addiction, death of a sibling (past), car accident, homophobia, racism, pandemic mention, religious references, toxic relationships, outing.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out this month. Me: Yeah I like this sapphic romance. It's entertaining. Sometimes you got to love a toxic couple.
Also me during reading: OH FFS WHY WON'T ANYONE COMMUNICATE AND USE THEIR WORDS???

M.C. Hutson’s French Pressed Love is a heartfelt and refreshing Sapphic romance that delves into the complexities of first impressions, personal growth, and unexpected connections. The story introduces readers to Jordan and Noémie, two individuals who couldn’t be more different. Initially, Jordan harbors a strong dislike for Noémie, perceiving her as insincere and unkind. However, fate intervenes when the two are thrown together at work, forcing Jordan to see beyond her assumptions.

As their professional relationship blossoms into something deeper, the narrative beautifully explores themes of vulnerability, understanding, and the transformative power of love. Hutson’s characters are relatable and well-drawn, capturing the hesitations and intensity of young love with authenticity.

What sets French Pressed Love apart is its ability to balance lighthearted romance with deeper emotional resonance. Hutson’s writing is warm and engaging, making the characters’ journey both poignant and delightful. The story offers a fresh perspective on navigating differences and finding common ground, making it relatable to readers from all walks of life.

This novel is a gem for fans of LGBTQ+ romances and those who appreciate stories about personal growth and connection. French Pressed Love is as rich and satisfying as its title suggests—a romance that lingers in your heart like the perfect cup of coffee.

The way I tore through this book! Definitely a great read for all romance fans, especially ones who love a good enemies to lovers.

This was a drama-filled, emotional rollercoaster of a novel that covered a range of social and emotional buzzy topics, from race to sexuality to finances to family issues. At different points in the novel, different characters dealt with different life or emotional issues that kept me wanting to read to see what happened next, even when those same characters were highly frustrating. I binge read the entire book in one day and had a massive book hangover when it was done. I’d recommend this novel to someone looking for an angsty, dramatic read.

First and foremost, what kind of a french woman, qui est si francaise that she can't help but la bise, would bring a bottle of wine as a host gift? maybe it's different in Quebec, as it seems she is less French and more Quebecois, but still that was weird for me.
This romance could have been soooo good. The first half, the slow-burn, the tension, IMMACULATE. Then, what happened? Who did these people become? It made me viscerally angry to read about. I appreciated that these characters, including side characters, were intriguingly complex, flawed, and at times deeply problematic, but at a certain point it was no longer enjoyable to read about. I'm also very upset about Wayne, and I don't understand why Jordan forgave him so easily but not anyone else. That would have been 100% more worth being upset about than anything else.
This was such a fun read, but the last quarter totally blew it for me, it felt like it didn't belong in this cute, slow-burn, romance novel.

DNFed at 50%. I really wanted to like it but the writing didn’t have much depth. I also had an issue with the fact that the only Black characters, Jordan’s family and Ex, are not good people while white people, her friends, the love interest, Noémie, and her dad, are the only ones that have been kind to her. It rubs me the wrong way, especially since the main reason I picked up this book was because I wanted to read about a Black queer woman. Maybe things after the point I stopped at are different but the writing was not gripping enough to keep me going. I will say the chemistry between Jordan and Noémie was good.

thanks to netgalley for the arc!

so that was a lot of toxic drama for a coffee shop romance !! both of these mcs are a little bit horrible (jordan is constantly leading people on, noemie is just.... well, that is actually established in the book.) and i'm still not sure what's actually going on with her money situation? did her father cut her off or did she just lie about that for fun? and if she did lie for fun (VERY possible) why didn't they ever talk about that before they just got together for a supposed happily ever after?

jordan spends a LOT of time worrying about being a 'predatory lesbian' for having a crush on noemie and it was kind of exhausting. and wayne really didn't help with that? i know he and jordan are supposed to be besties but he was nothing but kinda rude to everybody.

things i did like: jordan's realistic relationship with her family, her exasperation with her family members balanced with pride for her jamaican heritage, jordan's webcomic (probably?) working out well

It took me a minute to get into the writing style but once I did I had a good time. The lack of communication was a little but annoying but it was also funny to see how Jordan could not pick up on any clues. Obviously I know it's a sapphic romance but she was still dropping so many hints and being vague about her sexuality it's a miracle Jordan didn't pick up on it. The third act breakup in the book was so good, I just love a good bet plot. Lowkey wish the book was dual pov but it was fine wothout it.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I recently read French Pressed Love by M.C. Hutson, and I absolutely loved it! This cozy romance perfectly blends love, ambition, and delicious latte drama. The story is filled with raw vulnerability and queer representation, making it a refreshing and engaging read. The characters are relatable and their journey is both heartwarming and inspiring. If you're looking for a delightful romance that will leave you with a smile, this book is a must-read.

I just could not vibe with this book. At times it felt overly dramatic and soap opera-y and other times it felt like dry lit fic, and neither are my jam. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters at all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Jordan works at a coffee shop and aspires to be an artist. She's mildly obsessed with the very high femme local influencer who is the daughter of the local homophobic rich guy and is annoyed at herself for it because Noémie is rude and kind of a shit when she comes in for her coffee order. Due to circumstances, they become roommates and coworkers and, dare I say, friends? As far as Jordan knows, Noémie is hot but straight.

I enjoyed this overall because it's a quick and easy read with a lot of emotions and drama to keep you going. Sadly, there isn't much depth to dealing with trauma (Jordan has some significant trauma from her past with sexual assault) and being up front and honest (Noémie's brain is a mystery throughout this story and I wish we got more insight into her thoughts) or just being adults about miscommunications instead of just icing each other out in turns. Once again: high drama and if you enjoy that sort of thing, you'll love this.

The characters are messy and often unlikeable (Jordan needs better friends and family, my god) but the chemistry between the two main characters is definitely there and enjoyable.

TL;DR: high emotional stakes, lots of drama, and incredibly messy situations but a fun read.

2.5⭐️ thank you to netgalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

French Pressed Love follows Jordan, a self proclaimed womanizer & barista, as she hires and lives with her customer turned crush, Noemie. I found Jordan to be extremely obnoxious, and I honestly didn’t like her as a character. She was constantly upset with Noemie for not opening up, meanwhile she was doing the exact same thing. She kept saying how “straight” Noemie was, without any proof, and belittling her because of it. There was no romancing, no tension that you’d expect from coworkers/roommate trope. I especially didn’t like Jordan constantly wanting question and control Noemie’s spending and money habits, when it genuinely is none of her business. The way these two got together was very sudden and truly unbelievable. Even up until the end of the book, both FMCs were still running from problems and shutting each other out.

I think if you like drama filled trashy romance books (said with love), then this is for you!

Pub date: January 21, 2024

This was a beautifully done romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the use of coffee shop element. The characters had that feel that I wanted and the romance was perfectly done. I enjoyed the way they were written and was invested in what happened with the characters. M.C. Hutson wrote this well and am excited for more.

was this ever a romance book???? i am completely flabbergasted. this was the saddest book i have ever read…our mc’s are NEVER truly together in a relationship, as the entire premise revolves around a ruse that one of the women is straight. i’m genuinely sick to my stomach at the shenanigans that went on in this book because messing with a queer persons feelings is in NO world okay and the least romantic thing i could’ve ever expected. this being said, i will not ,este a public review for this, but will instead leave my thoughts here.