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Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous
Can a spot on a teen reality show really lead to a scholarship at an elite cooking school AND a summer romance?
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Nicolaides was practically raised in the kitchen of her family’s Italian-Greek restaurant, Taverna Ristorante. When her best friend, Alex, tries to convince her to audition for a new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, Sophie is reluctant. But the prize includes a full scholarship to one of America's finest culinary schools and a summer in Napa, California, not to mention fame.
Once on-set, Sophie immediately finds herself in the thick of the drama—including a secret burn book, cutthroat celebrity judges, and a very cute French chef. Sophie must figure out a way to survive all the heat and still stay true to herself. A terrific YA offering—fresh, fun, and sprinkled with romance.
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Nicolaides was practically raised in the kitchen of her family’s Italian-Greek restaurant, Taverna Ristorante. When her best friend, Alex, tries to convince her to audition for a new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, Sophie is reluctant. But the prize includes a full scholarship to one of America's finest culinary schools and a summer in Napa, California, not to mention fame.
Once on-set, Sophie immediately finds herself in the thick of the drama—including a secret burn book, cutthroat celebrity judges, and a very cute French chef. Sophie must figure out a way to survive all the heat and still stay true to herself. A terrific YA offering—fresh, fun, and sprinkled with romance.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2012
24 people are currently reading
3187 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Williams
28 books103 followersKathryn Williams is the author of four young adult novels, a handful of bestselling Disney junior novelizations, and a humorous guide to living with roommates.
Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.
Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
March 15, 2013
Sophie has practically grown up in her father’s italian-greek restaurant. Sophie loves going back to the kitchen, throwing on an apron and cooking. Her best friend, Alex, (who Sophie is also seriously crushing on) finds out about a teen reality cooking show and talks Sophie into entering. Now she only has to convince her father to let her go!
This isn’t really spoilery, because it’s in the summary, but Sophie makes it onto the cooking show. But there’s a lot more stewing on the set! There is drama, cut-throat competition and did I mention the cute French boy. Let’s just say, Sophie has her hands full.
This book is SO CUTE! It’s just really fun to read. I read it in one setting. It’s quick and easy to read too. This is also a really clean novel, so it would be a great book for middle grade readers starting out in the young adult genre.
There is a diverse cast of characters, and I have to say that I enjoyed each and every one of them. The writing was great and the story was entertaining. The behind the scenes stuff for the cooking show was so enlightening!
If your looking for a light, fun and quick read (that will totally make you hungry!) add Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to your reading pile.
And I can’t fail to mention, there are recipes in the book too! I think I might have to try out a few myself!
This isn’t really spoilery, because it’s in the summary, but Sophie makes it onto the cooking show. But there’s a lot more stewing on the set! There is drama, cut-throat competition and did I mention the cute French boy. Let’s just say, Sophie has her hands full.
This book is SO CUTE! It’s just really fun to read. I read it in one setting. It’s quick and easy to read too. This is also a really clean novel, so it would be a great book for middle grade readers starting out in the young adult genre.
There is a diverse cast of characters, and I have to say that I enjoyed each and every one of them. The writing was great and the story was entertaining. The behind the scenes stuff for the cooking show was so enlightening!
If your looking for a light, fun and quick read (that will totally make you hungry!) add Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to your reading pile.
And I can’t fail to mention, there are recipes in the book too! I think I might have to try out a few myself!
July 30, 2012
This book was the cutest thing I've ever read! I literally wanted to puke up rainbows and unicorns by the time I was done. Although it was a bit naive, and that could just be to me, it was still a fun experience. This book went by really fast, it was a really quick read. I honestly was not watching the time, and finished it in the span of a few hours. This book just drags you in like that. You're also learning new things, like different recipes that the author throws in here and there, which is a fun little tid-bit to look forward to after every chapter. The story-line isn't confusing and it's easy to follow/understand. It's funny, charming, and flows very well together.
The author does seem to have a background in cooking, so the novel didn't just spout out random pieces of information that made no sense. The concept of a "teen reality-show" was also a great idea. It was entirely like reality shows that we see on TV these days, and I felt like I was actually watching it as I was reading. There's drama, there're cat-fights, it-couples, and sabotage. But the characters also grow stronger, and develop relationships that'll last a life-time. The language in this book is very modern, which is why it's easier to understand. The dialogue wasn't awkward and the situations don't seem forced. It fit the role of YA contemporary novel very well.
The main character Sophie grew up with a Greek-Italian family, and was practically born with talent in her blood. She loves cooking and it has always been a big part of her life. She is a very down-to-earth character with occasional bursts of anger that come with her Greek heritage. She's an impulsive character, and she loves to try new things. I love how her character knew what she wanted, to be a top-chef, and strives to get there. She forges positive relations and negative ones with the other characters she meets on the set of the reality show. She makes best friends, enemies, and even a secret summer fling with a cute French culinary student on set. She faces a lot of trials, but in the end realizes that her true-self is what will win everyone's heart. The only thing trait I didn't not like about Sophie is that she treated making a decision between two boys like she was contemplating world-peace. She was beyond herself with the romantic part of her life, and I feel like the author shouldn't have spent so much time on the romance. But it all worked out in the end. Without the secondary characters, this book wouldn't have been as good. Sophie made two really good friends, Shelby and Stanley, throughout her show-biz experience. I loved Shelby because she had a great deal of confidence and was really tough. Also, in the end, she always had Sophie's back. Stanley was basically the 'comical relief' to the story. He had the witty repartee, the easy-going style, and the demeanor that you can't help but love.
Overall, this book kept me smiling and flipping through the pages constantly. This was an enjoyable young adult contemporary summer read. I recommend it to those who love a sweet romance with a touch of spice as well as to food-lovers everywhere. This book sent me into constant fits of hunger, and I learned many new facts about international foods from it. It has the humor, drama, innocence, and romance that'll leave you in delighted glee.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
What the author lacked in details, she made up for in plot.
The author does seem to have a background in cooking, so the novel didn't just spout out random pieces of information that made no sense. The concept of a "teen reality-show" was also a great idea. It was entirely like reality shows that we see on TV these days, and I felt like I was actually watching it as I was reading. There's drama, there're cat-fights, it-couples, and sabotage. But the characters also grow stronger, and develop relationships that'll last a life-time. The language in this book is very modern, which is why it's easier to understand. The dialogue wasn't awkward and the situations don't seem forced. It fit the role of YA contemporary novel very well.
The main character Sophie grew up with a Greek-Italian family, and was practically born with talent in her blood. She loves cooking and it has always been a big part of her life. She is a very down-to-earth character with occasional bursts of anger that come with her Greek heritage. She's an impulsive character, and she loves to try new things. I love how her character knew what she wanted, to be a top-chef, and strives to get there. She forges positive relations and negative ones with the other characters she meets on the set of the reality show. She makes best friends, enemies, and even a secret summer fling with a cute French culinary student on set. She faces a lot of trials, but in the end realizes that her true-self is what will win everyone's heart. The only thing trait I didn't not like about Sophie is that she treated making a decision between two boys like she was contemplating world-peace. She was beyond herself with the romantic part of her life, and I feel like the author shouldn't have spent so much time on the romance. But it all worked out in the end. Without the secondary characters, this book wouldn't have been as good. Sophie made two really good friends, Shelby and Stanley, throughout her show-biz experience. I loved Shelby because she had a great deal of confidence and was really tough. Also, in the end, she always had Sophie's back. Stanley was basically the 'comical relief' to the story. He had the witty repartee, the easy-going style, and the demeanor that you can't help but love.
Overall, this book kept me smiling and flipping through the pages constantly. This was an enjoyable young adult contemporary summer read. I recommend it to those who love a sweet romance with a touch of spice as well as to food-lovers everywhere. This book sent me into constant fits of hunger, and I learned many new facts about international foods from it. It has the humor, drama, innocence, and romance that'll leave you in delighted glee.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
What the author lacked in details, she made up for in plot.
October 18, 2016
I was DESPERATE to find something to read, so I scoured my public library until I found something that looked the least bit appealing, and this is the random book I stumbled upon. Pizza? Reality shows? Cooking? Talk about a delicious read!
Unfortunately, this book didn't really live up to my expectations. I expected it to be a super fun read, full of competition and romance, but what I got was mostly boringness and repetition.
Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous is basically about Sophie, who has practically been growing up in her family's special restaurant. Her friend Alex gets her to try out for a cooking reality show for teens, and she gets in, even though she has to sacrifice her dad's trust, and a life in the spotlight. On set, lots of drama occurs, and Sophie isn't sure if she can trust herself or anyone else any longer. Will she be able to push through all the drama, as well as win the competition?
Guys, I am not very picky when it comes to my book characters, but I found that Sophie was an exception. I didn't really like or care for her very much, to be honest. She made so many decisions that made me shake my head, one of which was very early in the story, when she betrayed her dad's trust and lied to him in order to audition for the show. I know I wouldn't do that to my parents, even if it's for something I would die to do. Trust is what's key in a relationship, especially with a parent, and in the story, Sophie just proved that she wasn't very trustworthy.
Sophie also whined and complained a lot. I mean, A LOT. She got into a super awesome teen culinary show, and she was barely happy AT ALL! Basically, all she did was complain. She was never satisfied with herself, her life, or her abilities as a cook.
Alex was a nice guy, though, and I felt like I liked him much more than the protagonist. He always supported and cared a lot for Sophie, which I like a lot in book characters.
This book claims to be a romance read, but I honestly don't think it really is. There are literally one or two scenes that are even the least bit romantic, but that's it. The book mostly focuses on the cooking and show drama, rather than anything else.
Pushing aside everything I didn't really love, I really enjoyed that there were recipes included in this book. They seemed quite easy and fun to make, and best yet, they are like the meals made in Sophie's family restaurant, so you can literally get a taste of their background!
I also enjoyed the ending, as things were wrapped up quite well, and most of the problems from onset were coherently solved.
Overall, I guess this book was just okay. It did make me hungry for Italian food, though, which was a plus! I'd recommend it to any tweens or teens looking for a cute book that will make you hungry, because this is the one! Check it out, and maybe you'll enjoy it and connect to the protagonist more than I did!
Unfortunately, this book didn't really live up to my expectations. I expected it to be a super fun read, full of competition and romance, but what I got was mostly boringness and repetition.
Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous is basically about Sophie, who has practically been growing up in her family's special restaurant. Her friend Alex gets her to try out for a cooking reality show for teens, and she gets in, even though she has to sacrifice her dad's trust, and a life in the spotlight. On set, lots of drama occurs, and Sophie isn't sure if she can trust herself or anyone else any longer. Will she be able to push through all the drama, as well as win the competition?
Guys, I am not very picky when it comes to my book characters, but I found that Sophie was an exception. I didn't really like or care for her very much, to be honest. She made so many decisions that made me shake my head, one of which was very early in the story, when she betrayed her dad's trust and lied to him in order to audition for the show. I know I wouldn't do that to my parents, even if it's for something I would die to do. Trust is what's key in a relationship, especially with a parent, and in the story, Sophie just proved that she wasn't very trustworthy.
Sophie also whined and complained a lot. I mean, A LOT. She got into a super awesome teen culinary show, and she was barely happy AT ALL! Basically, all she did was complain. She was never satisfied with herself, her life, or her abilities as a cook.
Alex was a nice guy, though, and I felt like I liked him much more than the protagonist. He always supported and cared a lot for Sophie, which I like a lot in book characters.
This book claims to be a romance read, but I honestly don't think it really is. There are literally one or two scenes that are even the least bit romantic, but that's it. The book mostly focuses on the cooking and show drama, rather than anything else.
Pushing aside everything I didn't really love, I really enjoyed that there were recipes included in this book. They seemed quite easy and fun to make, and best yet, they are like the meals made in Sophie's family restaurant, so you can literally get a taste of their background!
I also enjoyed the ending, as things were wrapped up quite well, and most of the problems from onset were coherently solved.
Overall, I guess this book was just okay. It did make me hungry for Italian food, though, which was a plus! I'd recommend it to any tweens or teens looking for a cute book that will make you hungry, because this is the one! Check it out, and maybe you'll enjoy it and connect to the protagonist more than I did!
November 14, 2018
Identical to the last book I read, Taste Test, but with realistically unbearable characters and dialogue—far more realistic than the other book about a teen girl reality TV chef. That's partly why I like Taste Test more.
These kids are the types that would exclude me. The dialogue was spot-on. When I've been lingering on the edges, I've heard almost identical conversations among my young, extroverted, American peers. Shallow stuff.
These kids are the types that would exclude me. The dialogue was spot-on. When I've been lingering on the edges, I've heard almost identical conversations among my young, extroverted, American peers. Shallow stuff.
December 28, 2021
This book was pretty good but not me favourite. It was a pretty easy book and was a nice book. It was ok but not something that necessarily needs to be read. Overall tho it was ok.
May 2, 2018
To see review with Ramsay gifs click here.
Well, I finished this book.
So that’s a plus.
But God, what a waste of time. I literally felt that nothing. Oh, stuff did happen. There was a reality TV contest with characters that were flatter than the creepy bow twins on the latest incarnation of Master Chef Junior (and yes, I know the bow twins are just kids but their stylist really needs to be canned for making them look like they should belong on the set of The Shining), a couple of cute boys who’s main characteristics was that they were cute and either culinary institute student or the MC’s B.F.F. who makes her enter the contest. Oh, and yes the MC was Italian and Greek and that was her big thing besides her butt which she called “the tank” but other that…
Nope nothing happened here.
I feel like I need to back up on things Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous came out a few years back and was sort of on my radar but ended up in the pits of TBR pile. I’ll admit it, I like cooking shows. When I was in undergradthe Food Network was pretty much on 24/7 when I was in my dorm room just because it was entertaining enough to block out noise but not too entertaining for me to get distracted when I wrote essays about why Oprah should run for president (yeah, I actually did that-we were suppose to pick a person who we thought would likely get elected back in 2008, this was pre-Obama’s running announcement ) and the various Shakespeare plays I was forced to read because I was delusional enough to be an English major. I still watch cooking shows today-which mostly consist of Gordon Ramsay yelling at people because for some odd reason it is cathartic for me to listen him to yell at incompetent jackasses (probably because I can’t do that myself, even though I purposely became a lawyer to yell at people-’cause I’m not a nice person, ya’ll). So, seeing it in book form totally going to go for it. And a few years back a couple of books we’re introduced this being one of them and Taste Test being another.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Taste Test either, but unlike this book there was a semblance of a plot and it didn’t feel like 250 pages had been a complete waste of time. This book though, that’s the feeling I got. As you probably saw from the introductory paragraphs of this review. The book had 1D characteristics at best which is a shame. Yes, I get the MC has Greek and Italian heritage that she lost her mother and is torn in a love triangle between the boy next door and the hot cooking whiz she shares two lines of dialogue with-but Williams never made me care about them. Or for that matter, she never resolved that plot.
She never resolved anything. Okay we’re heading to major spoiler territory now. So if you’re one of those weirdos who actually cares about things like that you probably don’t want to read the next paragraph because it’s going to be a very spoiler filled rant…
Well, I finished this book.
So that’s a plus.
But God, what a waste of time. I literally felt that nothing. Oh, stuff did happen. There was a reality TV contest with characters that were flatter than the creepy bow twins on the latest incarnation of Master Chef Junior (and yes, I know the bow twins are just kids but their stylist really needs to be canned for making them look like they should belong on the set of The Shining), a couple of cute boys who’s main characteristics was that they were cute and either culinary institute student or the MC’s B.F.F. who makes her enter the contest. Oh, and yes the MC was Italian and Greek and that was her big thing besides her butt which she called “the tank” but other that…
Nope nothing happened here.
I feel like I need to back up on things Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous came out a few years back and was sort of on my radar but ended up in the pits of TBR pile. I’ll admit it, I like cooking shows. When I was in undergradthe Food Network was pretty much on 24/7 when I was in my dorm room just because it was entertaining enough to block out noise but not too entertaining for me to get distracted when I wrote essays about why Oprah should run for president (yeah, I actually did that-we were suppose to pick a person who we thought would likely get elected back in 2008, this was pre-Obama’s running announcement ) and the various Shakespeare plays I was forced to read because I was delusional enough to be an English major. I still watch cooking shows today-which mostly consist of Gordon Ramsay yelling at people because for some odd reason it is cathartic for me to listen him to yell at incompetent jackasses (probably because I can’t do that myself, even though I purposely became a lawyer to yell at people-’cause I’m not a nice person, ya’ll). So, seeing it in book form totally going to go for it. And a few years back a couple of books we’re introduced this being one of them and Taste Test being another.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Taste Test either, but unlike this book there was a semblance of a plot and it didn’t feel like 250 pages had been a complete waste of time. This book though, that’s the feeling I got. As you probably saw from the introductory paragraphs of this review. The book had 1D characteristics at best which is a shame. Yes, I get the MC has Greek and Italian heritage that she lost her mother and is torn in a love triangle between the boy next door and the hot cooking whiz she shares two lines of dialogue with-but Williams never made me care about them. Or for that matter, she never resolved that plot.
She never resolved anything. Okay we’re heading to major spoiler territory now. So if you’re one of those weirdos who actually cares about things like that you probably don’t want to read the next paragraph because it’s going to be a very spoiler filled rant…
April 2, 2018
#Reading challenge 2018
A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you
Một cuốn sách đủ hay ho, thú vị về một cô nàng có sở thích nấu ăn, có bà nội là người Italia, ông nội là người Hy Lạp, có bố là chủ một nhà hàng vùng Địa Trung Hải và có cả một cậu bạn thân tên là Alex.
Một cuốn sách về cuộc chiến của những đầu bếp trẻ trong một gameshow truyền hình thực tế có tên "Cuộc thi tìm kiếm đầu bếp trẻ". Ở đó có đầu bếp nổi tiếng Tommy Chang, Bounchard - bếp trưởng tại học viện ẩm thực NCA, Patrica - người sáng lập đồng thời là tổng biên tập tạp chí Foodie và vị giám khảo khó tính nhất - Stefan Ziegler. Còn có các đối thủ và cả những người bạn tốt bụng như: Mario, Britney, Philip, Shelby, Stan,... Ngoài ra còn cả anh chàng hot boy người Pháp lãng mạn, sinh viên năm hai của học viện NCA.
Và tất nhiên điều không thể thiếu là các món ăn đặc trưng đến từ khắp các vùng miền có tác dụng khiến bạn thèm nhỏ dãi mà chẳng thể ăn =))
Tất cả đủ để kéo bạn đi và lạc vào một cuộc thi nấu ăn đầy kịck tính.
P/s: suggest cho những ai cần đọc sách liên quan đến ẩm thực, nhớ năm ngoái mình đã phải tìm mỏi mắt mà chẳng ra quyển nào +-+
A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you
Một cuốn sách đủ hay ho, thú vị về một cô nàng có sở thích nấu ăn, có bà nội là người Italia, ông nội là người Hy Lạp, có bố là chủ một nhà hàng vùng Địa Trung Hải và có cả một cậu bạn thân tên là Alex.
Một cuốn sách về cuộc chiến của những đầu bếp trẻ trong một gameshow truyền hình thực tế có tên "Cuộc thi tìm kiếm đầu bếp trẻ". Ở đó có đầu bếp nổi tiếng Tommy Chang, Bounchard - bếp trưởng tại học viện ẩm thực NCA, Patrica - người sáng lập đồng thời là tổng biên tập tạp chí Foodie và vị giám khảo khó tính nhất - Stefan Ziegler. Còn có các đối thủ và cả những người bạn tốt bụng như: Mario, Britney, Philip, Shelby, Stan,... Ngoài ra còn cả anh chàng hot boy người Pháp lãng mạn, sinh viên năm hai của học viện NCA.
Và tất nhiên điều không thể thiếu là các món ăn đặc trưng đến từ khắp các vùng miền có tác dụng khiến bạn thèm nhỏ dãi mà chẳng thể ăn =))
Tất cả đủ để kéo bạn đi và lạc vào một cuộc thi nấu ăn đầy kịck tính.
P/s: suggest cho những ai cần đọc sách liên quan đến ẩm thực, nhớ năm ngoái mình đã phải tìm mỏi mắt mà chẳng ra quyển nào +-+
March 13, 2018
This was going to be a two star read no doubt butI actually enjoyed the story was more as it went on and parts changed my mind a bit. Some of the characters were really charming (I LOVED STAN) and I was so happy with the outcome of a couple subplots so all around really entertaining!
August 28, 2018
Review to come!
June 29, 2024
Libro muy lindo, historia muy linda. No lo lean con hambre porque todo se antoja.
August 14, 2012
Pizza/Love (my lazy way of writing that super-long title) was a really cute and light-hearted read-- definitely perfect for summertime! I knew from the moment I read this plot summary that this was going to be one of those books that is just a lot of fun to read, and puts you in a good mood :)
Sophie Nicolaides has spent pretty much her entire life living and working in her family's Greek/Italian restaurant, surrounded by the sounds of the kitchen and the smells and tastes of amazingly delicious food. Cooking has become her passion, but it isn't until her best friend Alex convinces her to join a teen cooking reality show that Sophie starts thinking she might have a chance at making it big-- maybe one day owning her own 5-star restaurant. As the show progresses, Sophie finds that being a reality star is nothing like she thought it would be, and she has to figure out how to remain true to herself and her family heritage while also making some of the best food anyone has ever tasted to win...
So this book was actually the second one I have read that centers around a popular kind of reality show-- the first one was The Selection by Kiera Cass, which was a spin-off of The Bachelor. I definitely think that Pizza/Love did a much better job at capturing the action and conflict of being on a reality show, and since cooking reality shows are my all-time favorite, it was a lot of fun to read this kind of plot. The author takes the time to introduce us to all the contestants, and you definitely get a sense of all the crazy drama taking place as the show makes it more and more difficult to compete.
Another fun aspect of Pizza/Love was how it included recipes that were woven throughout the book-- I thought that this just added a unique touch and made you feel more connected to the whole story.
I guess there were only two major problems that I had with this book. The first was that I sometimes found the characters and even some of the writing to be slightly generic, even formulaic, in its style and the way things were presented. There wasn't anything blatantly horrible about either the writing or characters, but at the same time there wasn't anything incredibly mind-blowing or truly memorable about them either. The second issue I had was with the love triangle between Sophie, Alex, and Luc, which got to be sort of confusing. You never really had much of an idea of where Sophie stood-- it seemed as though she chose whatever guy was right there in front of her at the moment, and the other one was just conveniently forgotten.
I think maybe some readers could be a little iffy about this book, thinking that maybe it's a little *too* cutesy. I mean with that quirky title and slightly juvenile cover, I sort of knew going into this one that it was going to be targeted to the younger YA audience. However, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised that there was some edginess to the story-- nothing crazy, but the book wasn't so sickeningly sweet that I couldn't stand it or anything, and it didn't come across as being so juvenile that I felt like I was way too old to be reading it either.
Altogether, this was a fun and entertaining book that provided a really nice break from the darker paranormal/supernatural genres I'm reading this summer. I would say that if you are looking for a light, quick read to add into your summer TBR pile, this one is a good choice! But be warned-- you're going to want to eat a lot after finishing it ;)
~Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
Sophie Nicolaides has spent pretty much her entire life living and working in her family's Greek/Italian restaurant, surrounded by the sounds of the kitchen and the smells and tastes of amazingly delicious food. Cooking has become her passion, but it isn't until her best friend Alex convinces her to join a teen cooking reality show that Sophie starts thinking she might have a chance at making it big-- maybe one day owning her own 5-star restaurant. As the show progresses, Sophie finds that being a reality star is nothing like she thought it would be, and she has to figure out how to remain true to herself and her family heritage while also making some of the best food anyone has ever tasted to win...
So this book was actually the second one I have read that centers around a popular kind of reality show-- the first one was The Selection by Kiera Cass, which was a spin-off of The Bachelor. I definitely think that Pizza/Love did a much better job at capturing the action and conflict of being on a reality show, and since cooking reality shows are my all-time favorite, it was a lot of fun to read this kind of plot. The author takes the time to introduce us to all the contestants, and you definitely get a sense of all the crazy drama taking place as the show makes it more and more difficult to compete.
Another fun aspect of Pizza/Love was how it included recipes that were woven throughout the book-- I thought that this just added a unique touch and made you feel more connected to the whole story.
I guess there were only two major problems that I had with this book. The first was that I sometimes found the characters and even some of the writing to be slightly generic, even formulaic, in its style and the way things were presented. There wasn't anything blatantly horrible about either the writing or characters, but at the same time there wasn't anything incredibly mind-blowing or truly memorable about them either. The second issue I had was with the love triangle between Sophie, Alex, and Luc, which got to be sort of confusing. You never really had much of an idea of where Sophie stood-- it seemed as though she chose whatever guy was right there in front of her at the moment, and the other one was just conveniently forgotten.
I think maybe some readers could be a little iffy about this book, thinking that maybe it's a little *too* cutesy. I mean with that quirky title and slightly juvenile cover, I sort of knew going into this one that it was going to be targeted to the younger YA audience. However, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised that there was some edginess to the story-- nothing crazy, but the book wasn't so sickeningly sweet that I couldn't stand it or anything, and it didn't come across as being so juvenile that I felt like I was way too old to be reading it either.
Altogether, this was a fun and entertaining book that provided a really nice break from the darker paranormal/supernatural genres I'm reading this summer. I would say that if you are looking for a light, quick read to add into your summer TBR pile, this one is a good choice! But be warned-- you're going to want to eat a lot after finishing it ;)
~Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
January 20, 2013
A delectable drama full of tantlilizingly tasty treats that will have you sweating with suspense!!
This fantastic Young Adult book is a mouthwatering masterpiece of pure joy and which certainly entertains, as a great page-turner! It did take me a while to ‘get into the story’ but once the heat was turned up in the kitchens, I was absorbed in this thrilling tale of love, friendship, rivalry and intense drama. This is a story that although based around a competition is not about selfish ambition or reaching that golden trophy, as the moral of the story is about staying true to yourself and always remembering who YOU are as a person. Targeted towards the younger reader this story is dreamy, with romantic references being milder, as soft Cheddar rather than a flavorful Goats Cheese! Ideal for holiday reading or as a fun, light read.
Sophie Nicolaides is a sixteen year-old, Greek-Italian girl with a passion for cooking and a dream. From one minute helping out in her family run restaurant to then suddenly be whisked across America to Napa, California Sophie is tossed into the frying pan with the heat turned up…Teen Test Kitchen (TTK) is a cut-throat reality television show run by top celebrity chefs, where Sophie participates in for the once-in-a-lifetime prize: a full scholarship to America’s finest culinary school, under the guidance of Tommy Chang. For seven long weeks Sophie is away from her family and her best friend Alex, and thrown into a world of grueling challenges and hoaxed reality TV (with much deception diced in the mix). Culturally diverse the clever mix of characters makes this a really interesting story, as you spot each individual’s distinctive flair as well as their food. Alongside the cooking friendships are made, fun times are to be had and even love blossoms – in the form of Luc Renault…
*sighing* he may be the ‘dreamy’ French guy but when it comes to true love, is he really for Sophie? (well, they do kiss but what about the Alex VS Luc love-triangle?!).
Amidst the love triangles and fine dining there is also much meaning behind the fast-paced, beautifully detailed narrative as Sophie discovers more about herself. Fresh, fun and sprinkled with romance this is an enchanting read that will captivate any teenager with dreams of becoming the next finalist on ‘Celebrity Masterchef’ or apprentice to Gordon Ramsey. The further on into the story I read the deeper the plot thickens and unexpected twists and turns add to the thrilling tension that is created, so as to completely hypnotize me! Complete with detailed recipes your tummy will be rumbling, as the concoction of different cultural cuisine takes you on a journey; from France to Italy, to Spain and the exotic – a real feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
“…So do you then agree that this is a fantastic, enjoyable read and a brilliant book?”
my reply – “Yes Chef!”
This fantastic Young Adult book is a mouthwatering masterpiece of pure joy and which certainly entertains, as a great page-turner! It did take me a while to ‘get into the story’ but once the heat was turned up in the kitchens, I was absorbed in this thrilling tale of love, friendship, rivalry and intense drama. This is a story that although based around a competition is not about selfish ambition or reaching that golden trophy, as the moral of the story is about staying true to yourself and always remembering who YOU are as a person. Targeted towards the younger reader this story is dreamy, with romantic references being milder, as soft Cheddar rather than a flavorful Goats Cheese! Ideal for holiday reading or as a fun, light read.
Sophie Nicolaides is a sixteen year-old, Greek-Italian girl with a passion for cooking and a dream. From one minute helping out in her family run restaurant to then suddenly be whisked across America to Napa, California Sophie is tossed into the frying pan with the heat turned up…Teen Test Kitchen (TTK) is a cut-throat reality television show run by top celebrity chefs, where Sophie participates in for the once-in-a-lifetime prize: a full scholarship to America’s finest culinary school, under the guidance of Tommy Chang. For seven long weeks Sophie is away from her family and her best friend Alex, and thrown into a world of grueling challenges and hoaxed reality TV (with much deception diced in the mix). Culturally diverse the clever mix of characters makes this a really interesting story, as you spot each individual’s distinctive flair as well as their food. Alongside the cooking friendships are made, fun times are to be had and even love blossoms – in the form of Luc Renault…
*sighing* he may be the ‘dreamy’ French guy but when it comes to true love, is he really for Sophie? (well, they do kiss but what about the Alex VS Luc love-triangle?!).
Amidst the love triangles and fine dining there is also much meaning behind the fast-paced, beautifully detailed narrative as Sophie discovers more about herself. Fresh, fun and sprinkled with romance this is an enchanting read that will captivate any teenager with dreams of becoming the next finalist on ‘Celebrity Masterchef’ or apprentice to Gordon Ramsey. The further on into the story I read the deeper the plot thickens and unexpected twists and turns add to the thrilling tension that is created, so as to completely hypnotize me! Complete with detailed recipes your tummy will be rumbling, as the concoction of different cultural cuisine takes you on a journey; from France to Italy, to Spain and the exotic – a real feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
“…So do you then agree that this is a fantastic, enjoyable read and a brilliant book?”
my reply – “Yes Chef!”
October 7, 2014
This book is about a girl named Sophia and her one and only friend Alex. Alex convinces Sophia to do the show. She thought she wouldn't make it on the show. But she did! She hadn't told her dad yet, so he was very mad when he told him. But her dad eventually gives in a lets her go. When she goes there she realizeses it is harder than she thought to be true to her self. While she is threre she makes two new friends, Shelby and Stan. Shelby and Sophia get to be very close friends. Then one day they find a burn book Sophia thinks that Shelby wrote it, Stan helpes her find the coulpret. Will she find out who wrote the burn book? Will she win Teen Test Kitchen? Find out in "Pizza Love and other Stuff that made me Famous".
This book was really good I liked it because, there a was a lot of cooking recipies in the book. I also liked it because, the main charactors name was Sophia And she did stay true to her self at the end. I would recamend this book to any person who loved drama and/or cooking.
This book was really good I liked it because, there a was a lot of cooking recipies in the book. I also liked it because, the main charactors name was Sophia And she did stay true to her self at the end. I would recamend this book to any person who loved drama and/or cooking.
June 8, 2016
What a deliciously fun and inspiring read. I loved the characters in the story and the story-line was incredible. I love how the author brought forth a TV reality show and added culture and flavors to this magnificent story that is savoring and yet satisfying all at the same time. I borrowed this book from my local library and I highly recommend this splendid teen/ya read for all ages to sink their teeth into.
Read
December 17, 2011August 2012
February 14, 2013
Cute and fun. Not the most sophisticated book in terms of plot or characterization but a quick, sweet read (and clean too). Good for grade 7 book talks.
January 7, 2019
This is basically the epitome of a summer read (so, naturally, I read it in December). It's a completely fluffy book that's meant for nothing more than pure entertainment, just like the cooking shows it's referencing. The most serious thing that happens in the entire book is that Sophie's mom died when she was a baby, and while she doesn't remember her, this occasionally makes her vaguely sad. That's pretty much it.
That's not to say it's bad. Sometimes a fluffy pointless book is exactly what you want, and it's certainly not trying to pretend it's anything else. It was an enjoyable read, Sophie was likable, the descriptions of the show were fun, and the fact that it includes some of the recipes she made was a nice touch.
But I do have some issues with it. First, besides Sophie, not a single character really feels fleshed out. They did feel distinct, just flat, like how characters on sitcoms grow to be defined by a single personality trait or quirk. And while I still found myself liking them well enough, I also couldn't help but roll my eyes that Luc's entire personality was "the exact stereotype of dreamy French guys in every movie/show/book ever." More importantly, though, was how it undermined one of the points the book was trying to make (such as it was). As you probably guessed immediately when you saw that it was about a reality show, the showrunners clearly want to push a particular, exaggerated, oversimplified image of each of the contestants (one that's directly pointed out, for example, is them massively overplaying how camp the gay kid is). That would be interesting, but the characters are so flat to begin with that there's honestly not that much of a disparity between what we see and how the show paints them. (Which brings up a related issue, where the characters all leaned on stereotypes, and while we're supposed to understand that they were specifically chosen to be on the show for that reason, and it is made clear that isn't the entirety of who they are, there are a few places where it feels a little like the author was trying to have her cake and eat it too, so to speak.)
The second issue I had was the ending. Essentially spoiler-free take: things resolved weirdly. We did get answers to most things, but they largely felt rushed, tacked on, or too easy. I was totally on board with the book until then, weak characterization aside, but the ending just kind of died. Major spoiler: I don't want to say I don't like it, but I think it could have been executed better.
One other minor nitpick, I really would've liked to see a bit more attention paid to the relationship between Sophie and her father. It seems like there's a lot there--he's strict, but caring; he's still grieving the loss of his wife, and that impacts how he relates to his daughter; he loves that his daughter shares his passion for cooking, but is at a loss to understand how it seems so different for her. We catch glimpses of all this, and there's a definite (if subtle) shift in their relationship toward the end, but it isn't really emphasized. To be fair, Sophie is on the other side of the country for most of the book, with only the occasional phone call or letter, but we still see her thoughts about him and their past interactions. I think putting just a little bit more focus on this could've made the ending a bit more heartwarming, or whatever, which would've helped quite a bit.
But if all you want is a fun read about a girl on reality cooking show, there's really nothing wrong with this one. It's fine. And hey, recipes!
That's not to say it's bad. Sometimes a fluffy pointless book is exactly what you want, and it's certainly not trying to pretend it's anything else. It was an enjoyable read, Sophie was likable, the descriptions of the show were fun, and the fact that it includes some of the recipes she made was a nice touch.
But I do have some issues with it. First, besides Sophie, not a single character really feels fleshed out. They did feel distinct, just flat, like how characters on sitcoms grow to be defined by a single personality trait or quirk. And while I still found myself liking them well enough, I also couldn't help but roll my eyes that Luc's entire personality was "the exact stereotype of dreamy French guys in every movie/show/book ever." More importantly, though, was how it undermined one of the points the book was trying to make (such as it was). As you probably guessed immediately when you saw that it was about a reality show, the showrunners clearly want to push a particular, exaggerated, oversimplified image of each of the contestants (one that's directly pointed out, for example, is them massively overplaying how camp the gay kid is). That would be interesting, but the characters are so flat to begin with that there's honestly not that much of a disparity between what we see and how the show paints them. (Which brings up a related issue, where the characters all leaned on stereotypes, and while we're supposed to understand that they were specifically chosen to be on the show for that reason, and it is made clear that isn't the entirety of who they are, there are a few places where it feels a little like the author was trying to have her cake and eat it too, so to speak.)
The second issue I had was the ending. Essentially spoiler-free take: things resolved weirdly. We did get answers to most things, but they largely felt rushed, tacked on, or too easy. I was totally on board with the book until then, weak characterization aside, but the ending just kind of died. Major spoiler: I don't want to say I don't like it, but I think it could have been executed better.
One other minor nitpick, I really would've liked to see a bit more attention paid to the relationship between Sophie and her father. It seems like there's a lot there--he's strict, but caring; he's still grieving the loss of his wife, and that impacts how he relates to his daughter; he loves that his daughter shares his passion for cooking, but is at a loss to understand how it seems so different for her. We catch glimpses of all this, and there's a definite (if subtle) shift in their relationship toward the end, but it isn't really emphasized. To be fair, Sophie is on the other side of the country for most of the book, with only the occasional phone call or letter, but we still see her thoughts about him and their past interactions. I think putting just a little bit more focus on this could've made the ending a bit more heartwarming, or whatever, which would've helped quite a bit.
But if all you want is a fun read about a girl on reality cooking show, there's really nothing wrong with this one. It's fine. And hey, recipes!
May 8, 2013
Two-second recap: This is a fun, quick book which will inspire younger readers into pursuing seemingly impossible dreams. Older readers may have an issue with lack of characterization, but will likely enjoy the book all the same.
***
Full review:
Let me preface this review by saying: I am in serious need of a good YA contemporary fix.
It might be because it's spring, and I'm now thinking about summer vacation, but I really want to read some good YA contemps which takes place in far off locations, feature cute boys, good writing and strong, believable resolutions. Essentially, I want this summer's version of My Life Next Door.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be having a lot of luck finding them. I struck gold last week with How My Summer Went Up in Flames, but I need moaaaaar! /book junkie
With that being said, please keep this need for a YA contemporary fix in mind, when you read my review. I think my desire for a YA contemp. up to Huntley Fitzpatrick's caliber, may be slightly impacting my opinion of what is essentially a good, fun read.
***
Plot overview:
* Sophie. From the first page, I loved Sophie's confidence and determination in the kitchen. She immediately took charge of her environment, in a way which made me cheer.
Though we ultimately don't get to learn all that much about her - see my "things that didn't work" section for more - I really liked what we did learn. Sophie's an excellent example to younger readers, that adults can and will take you seriously, especially when you're excelling at something you love to do.
* Family. I loved the fact that Sophie's family - both blood and adopted - were continuously present throughout the course of the book. Williams does an excellent job in showing how family can influence your choices, and can ultimately support you in a way, where you'll feel like you can accomplish anything.
* The setting. Not enough teenage/YA books take place in California's wine country, so I loved the fact that Williams chose to set her cooking school there. Her descriptions of the region are beautiful, rich and made me feel like I was shopping in the farmer markets with Sophie.
* Plotting. The book moves at a brisk pace - we get a hint of Sophie's home life, before being immediately thrust into the spotlight of reality television. Plus side? We get to the heart of the book quickly. Downside? We don't get to learn all that much about Sophie and her non-reality show life, which I think significantly weakens the book.
* Structure: I loved the fact that Williams made the point of including recipes throughout the book, which made me feel like I was learning about new cooking techniques along with Sophie.
* The friendships between Sophie and the other contestants. The friendships were admittedly a tad cliched - e.g the book features the requisite gay friend, the determined skinny friend and the nerdy Asian contestant - but I still liked the different friendships that formed in the midst of the competition.
The S-team made me smile, and I loved the fact that they (seemingly) had each other's back, through thick and thin. The fact that they supported each other, even in the midst of a competition, is something that younger readers can learn from. Team work is always possible, even when you're trying to personally achieve something.
* The ending. I'm not going to lie - I couldn't have anticipated the book turning out any differently. However, the ending was still very enjoyable, and I loved how the characters still very much remained a team, even when the stakes were higher than ever.
***
What didn't work:
* The lack of developed characters.
I feel like we were told what the characters think and what they're like, but we never got to see the fully developed, three-dimensional version of them.
I think the lack of development largely had to do with length - at 240 pages, the book is substantially shorter than most YA books. It's virtually impossible for any author to write a book in that length, which will offer well-rounded characters, a strong plot, and a satisfying ending.
Ultimately, I believe that if the book had perhaps been a hundred pages longer, than we likely would have gotten more of an insight into what makes Sophie and crew, tick. However, this is just a personal preference.
I also think that younger readers who are interested in the book, likely won't notice the lack of development.
***
* The lack of energy in the competition. I'm probably being excessively picky, but I never really felt like anything was truly at stake for Sophie and the crew. Yes, I knew that they had a prestigious internship on the line, but I felt like none of the characters were acting in a way which indicated that they genuinely wanted to win.
I think a lot of my view of the competition was probably impacted by the fact that Sophie was kind of hemming and hawing about getting involved in the competition in the first place. If she had shown more of a conviction to wanting to become a better chef, wanting to learn different cooking styles - e.g. looking up recipes; spending more time learning different vegetables; practicing more cooking - I may have taken the competition more seriously.
***
*An unlikeable love interest.
I'm probably the minority in saying this. However, I felt like Alex wasn't that appealing as a love interest.
Yes, he was very sweet and sincere in the beginning of the book, especially with his encouragement for Sophie to go pursue something that he believes she could be good at.
However, I was annoyed that he immediately chose to take the televised version of Sophie at face value, without giving her the benefit of the doubt With so many years of friendship hanging in the balance, why couldn't he just take five minutes to listen to her? Also, how could Sophie even feel guilty that someone could automatically choose to believe the worst about her, despite having known her for so long?
(And really, how could Alex not even consider that a reality TV show is seriously edited? Even *I* knew that, and I barely watch reality TV as it is. It's common senses.)
As it stands, I was kind of disappointed when Alex confessed his feelings for Sophie at the end of the book, and she decided to get together with him. Sophie, just because he's comfortable, doesn't mean he's for you. You deserve smarter and better, girl.
***
Final verdict:
Though I feel that Williams could have ultimately developed her characters more, I would still recommend Pizza, Love and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to readers - especially younger ones, who are looking for books that will encourage them to take a leap of faith on their dreams.
I recommend this book for fans of books like A Match Made in High School, 7 Clues to Winning You, and the The Cinderella Society.
***
Full review:
Let me preface this review by saying: I am in serious need of a good YA contemporary fix.
It might be because it's spring, and I'm now thinking about summer vacation, but I really want to read some good YA contemps which takes place in far off locations, feature cute boys, good writing and strong, believable resolutions. Essentially, I want this summer's version of My Life Next Door.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be having a lot of luck finding them. I struck gold last week with How My Summer Went Up in Flames, but I need moaaaaar! /book junkie
With that being said, please keep this need for a YA contemporary fix in mind, when you read my review. I think my desire for a YA contemp. up to Huntley Fitzpatrick's caliber, may be slightly impacting my opinion of what is essentially a good, fun read.
***
Plot overview:
* Sophie. From the first page, I loved Sophie's confidence and determination in the kitchen. She immediately took charge of her environment, in a way which made me cheer.
Though we ultimately don't get to learn all that much about her - see my "things that didn't work" section for more - I really liked what we did learn. Sophie's an excellent example to younger readers, that adults can and will take you seriously, especially when you're excelling at something you love to do.
* Family. I loved the fact that Sophie's family - both blood and adopted - were continuously present throughout the course of the book. Williams does an excellent job in showing how family can influence your choices, and can ultimately support you in a way, where you'll feel like you can accomplish anything.
* The setting. Not enough teenage/YA books take place in California's wine country, so I loved the fact that Williams chose to set her cooking school there. Her descriptions of the region are beautiful, rich and made me feel like I was shopping in the farmer markets with Sophie.
* Plotting. The book moves at a brisk pace - we get a hint of Sophie's home life, before being immediately thrust into the spotlight of reality television. Plus side? We get to the heart of the book quickly. Downside? We don't get to learn all that much about Sophie and her non-reality show life, which I think significantly weakens the book.
* Structure: I loved the fact that Williams made the point of including recipes throughout the book, which made me feel like I was learning about new cooking techniques along with Sophie.
* The friendships between Sophie and the other contestants. The friendships were admittedly a tad cliched - e.g the book features the requisite gay friend, the determined skinny friend and the nerdy Asian contestant - but I still liked the different friendships that formed in the midst of the competition.
The S-team made me smile, and I loved the fact that they (seemingly) had each other's back, through thick and thin. The fact that they supported each other, even in the midst of a competition, is something that younger readers can learn from. Team work is always possible, even when you're trying to personally achieve something.
* The ending. I'm not going to lie - I couldn't have anticipated the book turning out any differently. However, the ending was still very enjoyable, and I loved how the characters still very much remained a team, even when the stakes were higher than ever.
***
What didn't work:
* The lack of developed characters.
I feel like we were told what the characters think and what they're like, but we never got to see the fully developed, three-dimensional version of them.
I think the lack of development largely had to do with length - at 240 pages, the book is substantially shorter than most YA books. It's virtually impossible for any author to write a book in that length, which will offer well-rounded characters, a strong plot, and a satisfying ending.
Ultimately, I believe that if the book had perhaps been a hundred pages longer, than we likely would have gotten more of an insight into what makes Sophie and crew, tick. However, this is just a personal preference.
I also think that younger readers who are interested in the book, likely won't notice the lack of development.
***
* The lack of energy in the competition. I'm probably being excessively picky, but I never really felt like anything was truly at stake for Sophie and the crew. Yes, I knew that they had a prestigious internship on the line, but I felt like none of the characters were acting in a way which indicated that they genuinely wanted to win.
I think a lot of my view of the competition was probably impacted by the fact that Sophie was kind of hemming and hawing about getting involved in the competition in the first place. If she had shown more of a conviction to wanting to become a better chef, wanting to learn different cooking styles - e.g. looking up recipes; spending more time learning different vegetables; practicing more cooking - I may have taken the competition more seriously.
***
*An unlikeable love interest.
I'm probably the minority in saying this. However, I felt like Alex wasn't that appealing as a love interest.
Yes, he was very sweet and sincere in the beginning of the book, especially with his encouragement for Sophie to go pursue something that he believes she could be good at.
However, I was annoyed that he immediately chose to take the televised version of Sophie at face value, without giving her the benefit of the doubt With so many years of friendship hanging in the balance, why couldn't he just take five minutes to listen to her? Also, how could Sophie even feel guilty that someone could automatically choose to believe the worst about her, despite having known her for so long?
(And really, how could Alex not even consider that a reality TV show is seriously edited? Even *I* knew that, and I barely watch reality TV as it is. It's common senses.)
As it stands, I was kind of disappointed when Alex confessed his feelings for Sophie at the end of the book, and she decided to get together with him. Sophie, just because he's comfortable, doesn't mean he's for you. You deserve smarter and better, girl.
***
Final verdict:
Though I feel that Williams could have ultimately developed her characters more, I would still recommend Pizza, Love and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous to readers - especially younger ones, who are looking for books that will encourage them to take a leap of faith on their dreams.
I recommend this book for fans of books like A Match Made in High School, 7 Clues to Winning You, and the The Cinderella Society.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 30, 2020Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.
The premise of this is great, and I think it has a decent writing style that's funny and cute, but there are so many microaggressions. Besides one major running thread that I thought was terrible, everything is just a little moment here, a little comment there. A joke about a friend being gay that wasn't funny, things being on the edge of being stereotypes, just that slight suspicion that things aren't quite kosher.
The biggest problem I had, though, is there's an ongoing thread of fatphobia throughout the book. Positive first - the book actually has a fat character, and they do manage to avoid negative connatations in having a fat character that was really passionate about food, because they're all passionate about food in the book. And I actually did think he was a charming character, and I'm down for fat queer characters having romance. But so much of the story with that character is just glaringly written by a thin person, from his first description being "well-fed" (YOU'RE IN A COOKING CONTEST, YOU'RE ALL WELL FED), to some rude comments about his body, to his final appearance after he's lost weight. I tweeted pictures of the pages as I read, and I was not pleased.
It's just very obviously a fat character written by a thin author, and it doesn't work for me.
The thing is, I actually did think this was kind of cute and funny, and I loved the idea of the recipes. (Although why is there no pizza recipe? And pizza doesn't even make her famous. Pork chops get her through, and she makes lobster ravioli as her last recipe. There's even a big gap between recipes in the books. Why not a pizza recipe?) But the microaggressions just killed me, and the fat rep did not work in my opinion. And honestly she was so close. Stan's dialogue and everything was good, and I really did like him sometimes, but then Sophie would make a comment that was gross, or the narrative would go a gross way, and it's like he could be fat, but not too fat positive before the book would remind you that being fat was bad!
Kudos for more than one queer character, and a good premise, but I wouldn't recommend this one.
The premise of this is great, and I think it has a decent writing style that's funny and cute, but there are so many microaggressions. Besides one major running thread that I thought was terrible, everything is just a little moment here, a little comment there. A joke about a friend being gay that wasn't funny, things being on the edge of being stereotypes, just that slight suspicion that things aren't quite kosher.
The biggest problem I had, though, is there's an ongoing thread of fatphobia throughout the book. Positive first - the book actually has a fat character, and they do manage to avoid negative connatations in having a fat character that was really passionate about food, because they're all passionate about food in the book. And I actually did think he was a charming character, and I'm down for fat queer characters having romance. But so much of the story with that character is just glaringly written by a thin person, from his first description being "well-fed" (YOU'RE IN A COOKING CONTEST, YOU'RE ALL WELL FED), to some rude comments about his body, to his final appearance after he's lost weight. I tweeted pictures of the pages as I read, and I was not pleased.
It's just very obviously a fat character written by a thin author, and it doesn't work for me.
The thing is, I actually did think this was kind of cute and funny, and I loved the idea of the recipes. (Although why is there no pizza recipe? And pizza doesn't even make her famous. Pork chops get her through, and she makes lobster ravioli as her last recipe. There's even a big gap between recipes in the books. Why not a pizza recipe?) But the microaggressions just killed me, and the fat rep did not work in my opinion. And honestly she was so close. Stan's dialogue and everything was good, and I really did like him sometimes, but then Sophie would make a comment that was gross, or the narrative would go a gross way, and it's like he could be fat, but not too fat positive before the book would remind you that being fat was bad!
Kudos for more than one queer character, and a good premise, but I wouldn't recommend this one.
December 16, 2018
Por el momento, es un libro muy original para mí, porque se desarrolla en un tipo reality show, cosa que yo no había leído hasta ahora. Me gustó porque es fresco y se puede leer de manera simple, no tiene palabras rebuscadas ni confusas. Sin embargo, en mi opinión, el título no tiene sentido: Dice pizza, amor y otras cosas que me hicieron famosa. Primero, pizza? Sophie sólo habla de pizza en su primera evaluación y es un fiasco porque los jueces no la encuentran muy agradable. Segundo, amor? En qué parte? Digo, hay dejos de romance aqui y allá, más que todo con Luc, pero para mí no hay nada relacionado al amor en este libro. Y tercero, de qué otras cosas está hablando? No sé, siento que el título debió ser otro, aunque la trama estuvo buena. Creo que la idea de que Sophie termine con Alex, es tan cliché, ya sabes, lo de mejores amigos que se enamoran, pero bueno. Fue algo no tan relevante para mí, así que lo dejaré pasar. Me hubiera gustado más, si después de cada semana un chef hubiera sido eliminado, ya saben, como en los reality shows de verdad. Y bueno, en cuanto a que la ganadora no sea Sophie fue mi parte favorita porque eso le da algo novedoso al libro, y se diferencia de otros en los que el personaje central siempre gana sólo porque es el personaje principal. Así que, puntos por eso. En general, es un bonito libro. Lo disfrute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2018
Novel ini membuatku lapaaaaaaaarrrrrrr... Deskripsi masakan-masakan yang dihidangkan dalam kompetisi membuatku menelan ludah berkali-kali. Entah kenapa kok judulnya menekankan kata "Pizza" padalah masakan yang jadi spot utama di sini nggak cuma pizza. Mungkin karena salah satu yang paling familier kali ya. Hahaha.
Karena sebelum baca novel ini sempat baca soal isu "evil editing on TV" di webtoon Girl's World, membaca isu yang sama dibahas di novel ini bikin kepikiran juga: sejahat itukah industri reality show TV yang sebenarnya? Mengorbankan image salah satu peserta dengan menjadikannya antagonis dan mengadudombanya dengan peserta lain semata-mata demi rating? Yang bener ajeeee.
Surprised pas nemu kalau ilustrator novel ini Aloysius Alfa. Wahahaha... Sayang adegan yang digambarkan tergolong minim impact. Gambar karakter utama dan penting lainnya juga minim. Yang digambar malah yang kaya suasana pasar, etc. Harusnya pas mereka masak-masak itu dong yang dibanyakin. Padahal ini Aloysius Alfa, lho! Aloysius Alfa! Yah, seenggaknya ilustrasi kecil makanan yang bervariasi di awal tiap bab lumayan jadi pelipur lapar XD
Karena sebelum baca novel ini sempat baca soal isu "evil editing on TV" di webtoon Girl's World, membaca isu yang sama dibahas di novel ini bikin kepikiran juga: sejahat itukah industri reality show TV yang sebenarnya? Mengorbankan image salah satu peserta dengan menjadikannya antagonis dan mengadudombanya dengan peserta lain semata-mata demi rating? Yang bener ajeeee.
Surprised pas nemu kalau ilustrator novel ini Aloysius Alfa. Wahahaha... Sayang adegan yang digambarkan tergolong minim impact. Gambar karakter utama dan penting lainnya juga minim. Yang digambar malah yang kaya suasana pasar, etc. Harusnya pas mereka masak-masak itu dong yang dibanyakin. Padahal ini Aloysius Alfa, lho! Aloysius Alfa! Yah, seenggaknya ilustrasi kecil makanan yang bervariasi di awal tiap bab lumayan jadi pelipur lapar XD
June 14, 2020
3.5 ☆
this was such a fluffy, light read.
i've never read a book about a cooking show before and as i really like watching them, it's not a surprise that i thoroughly enjoyed this book.
i wish it was a little longer because i wanted more on Sophie's life after the competition - how her relationship developed and whether she got over her newfound distaste for the family restaurant.
i genuinely loved the friendships in this. considering it was a cutthroat competition, i loved how the contestants weren't bitchy or toxic and Sophie found lifelong friends. i adored Stan and Shelby! but again, i wish we got some further info on them both (i would've loved to learn more about Shelby's relationship with food bc an eating disorder was implied but never explored)
also, the book included recipes that went alongside Sophie's creations which was a fun little addition and i think i may try a few out!
overall, this was a very fun little read
this was such a fluffy, light read.
i've never read a book about a cooking show before and as i really like watching them, it's not a surprise that i thoroughly enjoyed this book.
i wish it was a little longer because i wanted more on Sophie's life after the competition - how her relationship developed and whether she got over her newfound distaste for the family restaurant.
i genuinely loved the friendships in this. considering it was a cutthroat competition, i loved how the contestants weren't bitchy or toxic and Sophie found lifelong friends. i adored Stan and Shelby! but again, i wish we got some further info on them both (i would've loved to learn more about Shelby's relationship with food bc an eating disorder was implied but never explored)
also, the book included recipes that went alongside Sophie's creations which was a fun little addition and i think i may try a few out!
overall, this was a very fun little read
March 30, 2019
I thought this novel might be good for Lit Circles. It had pizzas, a reality cooking show and romance - what could be better? Alas, it didn't live up to expectations. The story was very light-hearted and I thought the author did a good job capturing the drama and stress of reality shows, but I hated the love triangle. I thought Luc was a waste of time, although I did like Alex, Sophie's best friend. Even with Alex and Luc, Pizza, Love and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous wasn't a romantic read. I found most of the characters very flat and uninteresting. My favourite character, by far, was Stan. He was another contestant on Teen Test Kitchen and brought humour to an otherwise fairly bland novel.
February 26, 2020
This is the cutest book. Such entertaining to read. This book is about a teen whose family owns a restaurant and she loves to cook and dreams of opening her own restaurant someday. Her best friend encourages her to try out for a new reality TV show about teen chefs and she makes to final cut to be one of the dozen to be on the show. Through twists and turns and béchamel and phyllo she works through the stress of the show, friends and family and friends who are like family.
This was more about the girl's growth in life and love than about the hokey show. The characters were great and the interactions were real and overall this was just really fun to read. As a bonus, many of the recipes are interspersed through the book at the chapter ends.
This was more about the girl's growth in life and love than about the hokey show. The characters were great and the interactions were real and overall this was just really fun to read. As a bonus, many of the recipes are interspersed through the book at the chapter ends.
July 24, 2021
I read this junior novel as the first selection for the summer book club that Michelle started for Cece, Katherine Murphy, and Faith Wendel. This was a cute read that made us all hungry. I brought a Panera flatbread pizza for us, and Michelle brought other goodies. the only fault that I found with this book was that I thought that there were too many characters, and I had trouble remembering who was who. I liked that several recipes were included for kids to try. We had our first meeting on Friday, 7/9/2021 at Dellwood Park near Faith's house. Both Faith's mom and college-aged brother(Matthew Dolley) were there, but didn't stay for the discussion/lunch.
August 8, 2017
Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams was unexpected. I would have to say this contemporary book was refreshing. Summer is always the time to read these type of books. This book involved with food, friendship, romance, reality tv and several things. I enjoyed how the author added the touched of recipes of the foods that were explained in the book. The whole book revolved around the making of a reality tv show, and the book expressed at the end that things isn't always as it seems. Overall, this book was very entertaining and good.
July 19, 2018
The Special from this novel --> A SERIES OF COOKING STORIES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES + RECIPES. Like Top Chef, but with swoony smooching, and more cheese (which are, in my opinion, the two things Top Chef could use a lot more of.) All of the cooking scenes, in particular, leap off the page.
This book made me so hungry! (and want to cook something) Loved the characters in this one. I learned a lot about cooking/reality TV too. Great book! I'm a foodie and a Lasagnaholic, so I loved reading about the cooking school and best of all, I want to try the recipes !
This book made me so hungry! (and want to cook something) Loved the characters in this one. I learned a lot about cooking/reality TV too. Great book! I'm a foodie and a Lasagnaholic, so I loved reading about the cooking school and best of all, I want to try the recipes !
November 5, 2018
3 stars; book #91 of 2018 - this book was picked for Book Club because there were ten for sale at the dollar store. Knowing that, I did not have high expectations for this book, but I have to say it was better than I expected. The writing is average and the plot somewhat predictable, but the story flowed well and kept me engaged.
April 11, 2021
This book was fine but not great. There was a lot of telling rather than showing. There were some body shaming comments that were completely unnecessary and harmful. The romance with Luc didn't feel real and was a little creepy. It was a quick read and engaging at times, but I don't think I would recommend it.
July 29, 2023
This was a very cute YA novel that incorporated different cultures and backgrounds to make a fully diverse list of characters. I thought that the use of recipes in between some of the chapters was a great addition to the story. There is some teen romance, but the main focus of the book is on the cooking and the maturing of the main character. I enjoyed it!
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