Till There Was You

November 1, 2023

DEBUT Dating a celebrity might seem like a dream come true, but for newly minted chef Lexi, it's more of a burden than a blessing in Hameroff's debut. Lexi meets Jake while he's playing in a New York City bar and dreaming of stardom, but after a one-weekend-stand, he ghosts her--only to reappear on the scene with a smash hit about Lexi and the blueberry pancakes she made for him. As Jake's star rises, they finally reunite only to find out that the lives of a celebrity and a kitchen rookie don't mesh well, especially when Jake is oblivious to his manager's machinations, and Lexi is distracted by grief over her mother's death and anger about the aftermath. While Hameroff's prose often sparkles with wit, the book feels a little repetitive as Lexi and Jake slowly work toward their happily-ever-after. Still, fans of romantic comedies and celebrity love stories will enjoy this cute romance VERDICT An overall charming tale that gets a little bogged down rehashing the main characters' insecurities and issues.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 20, 2023
Hameroff’s sweet if slightly underbaked debut kicks off when career-focused aspiring chef Lexi Berman meets budding musician Jake Taylor during a night out in New York City. The pair click and spend the night together—and then the next day and the day after that as well. It’s a full weekend of sex, laughter, and Lexi’s to-die-for blueberry pancakes. Come Monday, however, Jake leaves for L.A. to try to make a name for himself. Lexi expects Jake to call, and he does. For a while. Then he signs a record deal and his lead single—“Blueberry,” a song Lexi is sure is about her pancakes—blows up. Now the only time Lexi hears from Jake is when he’s on the radio. A year later, however, Jake appears on Lexi’s doorstep, fed up with his controlling management and driven back to her by the thought “when was the last time you were happy?” As their spark inevitably reignites, their blossoming relationship is tested by the paparazzi and Lexi weighs whether falling in love is too much of a distraction from her goals. Lexi’s conflict feels a bit flimsy, and the quick pace rushes through some key emotional beats, but it’s a fun premise and the characters charm. Hameroff shows promise.

January 1, 2024
In her debut romance, Hameroff balances the wish-fulfillment of dating a rock star with the complications of celebrity. Culinary student Lexi Berman has a goal: to become an executive chef and make her late mother proud. She doesn't anticipate meeting aspiring musician Jake Taylor in a bar and spending the perfect weekend with him, only for him to ghost her and release a hit song about her blueberry pancakes. Lexi certainly doesn't plan for Jake to show up on her doorstep a year later, begging for forgiveness. As they rekindle their relationship, Lexi must balance her career with Jake's fame, leading her to consider whether her goals are compatible with true love. Hameroff's rom-com romp is in the vein of Hallmark romance and Wattpad fan fiction, but it never veers too far from reality. Lexi and Jake have real chemistry and believable relationship problems, allowing their conflicts to feel natural and not contrived. They are also easy to root for, and readers will delight in their unlikely romance until the end.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.