Yes, Chef

by Grace Reilly

PRE-ORDER the first spicy, standalone novel from the USA Today bestselling author of the Beyond the Play series! Perfect for fans of The Bear and Tessa Bailey!***

If you can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.After a public meltdown in one of Manhattan’s most elite restaurants, Chef Jack Hartman must return to his small Florida hometown. The only upside? He’ll be far away from Poppy Winfield – his former boss’s blonde, beautiful, utterly infuriating daughter – and the shrimp she threw at his head.

Poppy is also desperate for an escape – from her disapproving family and from her infamy as an influencer without a serious bone in her body. With their reputations in ruins, Jack’s only ticket back to New York is turning the unloved restaurant of his childhood into the newest dining hotspot on the East Coast. And unfortunately for him, Poppy’s is using her well-honed social media skills to sell out his grand opening.

As sparks fly and tensions reach boiling point, will Poppy and Jack be a recipe for disaster? Or could they be a perfect pairing …?



☀️Grumpy x sunshine

🔪Chef romance

🏙️Big city girl in a small town

👩‍❤️‍👨Forced proximity

🔥Friends with benefits

🧠ADHD Rep

Your favourite romance authors LOVE Grace for readers looking for a red hot read' B.K. Borison

'Charm, humor, and sizzling tension. Reilly writes the perfect blend of swoon and spice' Bal Khabra

'A sweet and spicy read that brings all the swoon' Lana Ferguson

'Opposites truly do attract in this true-to-form romantic comedy!' Peyton Corinne

'Sparkling banter, delicious tension, and page-melting dirty talk' Stephanie Archer

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Forced Proximity, Food

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 21, 2026

About the author

Hi! I’m Grace.

I’m so glad you’re here! Originally from Long Island, I now live in Florida, where I pretend the lizards in my backyard are miniature dragons and soak up the sunshine. I can usually be found with a notebook in one hand and a paperback (or my Kindle!) in another. A storyteller at heart with a deep romantic streak, I write what I love to read: stories filled with swoon and steam, laughter and love, family and friendships, and authentic, earnest emotions and growth. I love drawing on my personal passions for my books, which is how my sports fanaticism resulted in the Beyond the Play series.

More about me: I collect earrings, the quirkier the better. I never turn down a good mint chocolate chip ice cream. I listen to way too much sports talk radio. And I adore writing about couples who are stronger together.

Reviews

[Saray]

Yeah, I'm going to eat this one up. pun intended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.

[hailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

4.5***

this was so delicious ;) and so much fun!!!!

okay so obviously this book is about a chef & a restaurant so there’s quite a lot of food descriptions - so so vivid and tenderly written i was obsessed (and also hungry). also i love reading about books that very specifically take place over a summer where two characters are working at the same location (especially a restaurant) - this is because i met my boyfriend while working at a beach restaurant in the hamptons and i just eat that up every single time.

the setting was perfect and this had me ready for summer to start asap. i’m from south florida so it was a lot of fun getting to read about a town near many places i’m very familiar with. also pub sub supremacy for real!!!!!!!

i really really adore poppy as a character and i think my favorite thing about her is how human she is. she’s real and she’s flawed and she’s trying her best and i just loved how she navigated her way through her situation and came out stronger and happier.

i loved jack’s journey and being able to see him learn to deal with his grief and allow himself to have vulnerabilities and connections with those around him.

the banter was so much fun and i was genuinely giggling out loud reading a lot of the scenes between the two of them. also the tension was GOODDDD and i had such a fantastic time watching their relationship develop and turn into something solid.

also! the ADHD rep was (in my opinion) very well done & i really appreciated how we got to see the different ways poppy & jack experienced ADHD, what helped each of them vs what didn’t, and the variances between ADHD in men and women.

this was my first book by this author and i’m looking forward to reading more!! highly recommend this, especially for an atmospheric read to get you in the mood for summer.

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was everything i’d hoped it would be and more!! i have been chomping at the bit to read this since the moment i saw graces announcement and even more so after getting to yap about it a little with her at a book fest last year!!

everything about this book was perfection from start to finish, i couldnt stop giggling and kicking. my feet in the beginning when poppy and jack were at each others throats and absolutely adored the way the dynamic between the two of them started to slowly shift into friendship and then into real feelings for one another.

the chemistry between jack and poppy was absolutely insane, i think this is my most favorite banter within a romance book i’ve read in a long time. the way these two gave zero fucks about being at each others throats and teasing one another is actually one of the highlights of my year thus far, i can only imagine how much fun these two are going to be when brought to live via audiobook!!

this book while at its core is a cute summery romcom it also had the most amazing emotional depth to it. neither of the characters are perfect but do they try damn hard to be for one another and it was so beautiful to watch jacks journey through grieving and the way poppy was always there when he let down his guard more and more. the way this book handles ADHD rep with so much love and care and the way we get to see the differences of how it affects both poppy and jack in different ways and bringing attention how hard women have to fight for themselves to get diagnoses. the way jack helps reassure poppy that theres just simply nothing wrong with her like she believes there is and really fights for her to believe in herself and try new things as scary as they may be and that she is worth everything and more.

there are so many tender moments through out this book that just melted my heart completely and it was just so easy to fall in love with poppy, jack, gator, kiara, chester, fable and though we only get to know sal posthumously the way he loved was so visceral he was very easy to adore.

this book was just entirely too good and too much fun, i cannot wait to rotate it into my tbr constantly when i get my hands on the audiobook upon release. diamond bay is a place i will forever love to revisit.

[har. (new bio!)]

┆ ⤿ 🍳 ⌗ started: march 17

pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

omg the way i was hoping to get this arc, it's literally winning a lottery!! reading this with my best friend mads! 💌 i love requesting arcs with you and actually getting to read them together 🫶🏻 mwauh i love you sm!!

thank you avon and harper voyager, netgalley, and grace reilly for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review

[madi]

— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤷⊹ started: march 16th

i can’t wait to start reading this book omg 😩 everything i’ve seen about it has been amazing, so i have a feeling i’m gonna love it 🤭 and ofc i’m reading this with my bff har!! i swear our brs will always be my fav thing 😋 ilysfm and i can’t wait to yap about these two!! 😌💗

thank you so much Avon and Grace Reilly for the arc!!

[Berry ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ (Updating Reviews!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Grace Reilly, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 / 5 ⭐️

I ATE this book up. (A food pun. heh.)

Yes, Chef is a deliciously cute contemporary romance centered on cooking! Set along the coastline of Florida, this book had me yearning for summer, the smell of the ocean, and delicious food and drink.
Not only did the descriptions of food and cooking the food make me hungry af, I was also very interested in the dynamics and methodology of cooking! Grace Reilly did a wonderful job depicting all of the dishes and techniques chefs use within a restaurant!

Let's get onto the characters.
Poppy and Jack were so fun together. Their banter was entertaining, and their cooperation was even more so! I loved how sweet Jack was once he finally decided to let Poppy in. I felt that throughout the entire book, their chemistry was very prominent!

Poppy is an influencer from a rich family. Her struggles to impress and prove herself to her family were so heartfelt, and I really just wanted to jump into the book to give her a hug :(
I loved her growth, her journey into becoming more confident, and I especially loved the way Jack helped build that confidence up in her.

Jack is a chef who is no longer at his "prime." I could really feel his wants, and his dreams conveyed through the writing of the book! He also had his own insecurities to deal with, and his character growth was so heartwarming. I loved the way he learned to allow himself to be loved.

A good amount of my reasoning as to why this is only 4/5 stars is just because of the third act. I think I saw that third-act-breakup from across the continent lol! That's not to say it was bad, or even frustrating, but it did just feel a little predictable.

Overall, I loooved this book!! This was my first Grace Reilly book, and I'm so overjoyed I got the chance to read it.

♡ pre-read ♡

I can't wait to dig into this!! (There's a food pun in there somewhere.)

[yoanna lea. (semi ia.)]

pre-read⋆˙⟡
insert *another one thank you* meme because YAY I got accepted for another arc. back to back every month lol. I just know this will be a fun read because after reading the synopsis, a girl had to run to netgalley and find it 🙈😆

thank you so much grace reilly, avon & netgalley, for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

The vibes were vibing.
🍍🔪🌴

Ok I love cowboy romances / single dad x nanny don’t get me wrong but sometimes you can only read so many before you need something else.
Something fresher.
Something you haven’t read 100x.
And this was that something.

Jack & Poppy 💕
Chef x influencer
He worked for her dad
Little wrong side of the tracks boy x rich girl
Que the stereotyping.
Grumpy x sunshine
ADHD rep

He teaches her to cook.
She helps him with a restaurant.
There’s a cockroach.
There’s a Gator.
There’s a houseboat.

There’s spunk and banter.
And spice.

It’s hot in the kitchen in Florida.

Netgalley arc review ✨

[Readaholic Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chef Jack Hartman has been having a rough couple of months. Once, at the top of his career he had articles written about him and was given the chance to prove himself to eventually open his own restaurant. A dream he's had since he could remember. But a public melt down has him leaving town, going back to his roots in Florida. Poppy Winfield is a social media personality, something her family doesn't quite grasp. When a break-up gone wrongs makes headlines at her dad's most popular restaurant, Poppy needs a break and a way to prove to her family that she's more than an internet personality. When Poppy's path crosses with Jack's, sparks fly both in an out of the kitchen! Poppy will help Jack get back on track while he revamps his old mentors restaurant. What can go wrong with the both of them spending so much time together?!?

Yes, Chef is my first book by Grace Reilly and I really enjoyed it! I loved the banter between Jack and Poppy. They bickered, but it was so much fun. Yes, Chef is described as The Bear x It Happened One Summer and it totally was! I loved gruff and surly Jack who's secretly a soft teddy bear. And seeing Poppy's growth and how she slowly challenges herself in and out of the kitchen was amazing. Grace Reilly definitely knows how to bring the 🔥! I was living for the tension between Jack and Poppy.

I also really loved how vulnerable Poppy and Jack were with one another. And how real they kept their relationship. They're both going through their own journeys and it wasn't always easy. Some of my most favorite parts were when it was hard for them to show their vulnerabilities, and yet they still tried. I do love myself a swoony romance.

Knocking 1 star, because I could see the third act break up coming and felt like it wasn't completely necessary . Overall, I really enjoyed Yes, Chef.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[booksarebetterjess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta read - Full review to come

[ari ୨♡୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was incredibly easy to fall in love with this story and its characters. It follows the classic (and irresistible) recipe of two people from completely different worlds who can’t stand each other but are forced to work together to achieve their individual goals. The result? An amazing romantic story about finding each other—and discovering who you truly are along the way. It’s beautiful, it’s funny, and it’s so, so romantic.

I truly loved watching Poppy and Jack’s relationship unfold. They don’t exactly like each other at first, but they both understand what’s at stake and are willing to put in the effort to make things work. And what happens later? Let’s just say it’s really good. 😉

I absolutely fell in love with Poppy. She’s persistent, passionate, and knows what she wants. It takes time, but she finds herself in a way that feels genuine and well earned. I especially loved that she didn’t have to change who she was to feel fulfilled—she simply found a way to expand her love for her craft and grow into it even more.

Also, big kudos to the cover. It’s mesmerizing. The illustration of the characters is stunning, and the added details of the ingredients? Chef’s kiss.

Yes, Chef is the perfect story for anyone who wants to fall in love—not just romantically, but with the part of themselves that makes them feel alive.

Thanks to netgalley for the e-arc <3

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Grace’s writing for a long time! I remember reading First Down for the first time and just knowing that it was special. That whole series sits so close to my heart! And now we’re here! With something new and different and just as perfect! I feel like I say this every time I read a book so early!! But I can’t believe I got to read this already! It’s SO GOOD! I’m going to have to reread it because truly I think this is Grace at her best!

Jack and Poppy are EVERYTHING! There is nothing better than two people who are so different but also JUUUUST similar enough who then work together to prove themselves and then FALL IN LOOOOOVE on the way. The tension was DELICIOUS! The way they frustrated each other seemingly to no end. But they worked SO WELL together! And of course it helped that they were wildly attracted to each other!! and were able to be vulnerable and feel so safe to be themselves with each other!!

I really appreciated how both of their ADHD was written differently and we got to see what works for each of them and what doesn’t. I loved seeing Poppy really find herself, she’s never felt like she was enough. And with Jack’s she was really able to shine. The same was true for Jack too. He always thought there was something wrong with him, so he didn’t trust anything good that happened. But then Poppy happened and she forced him to see the good, to see a way to live and love and find a home - a home that’s been waiting for him!! And it was BEAUTIFUL!

Thank you so much to Avon for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!!

[Miranda Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story just isn’t working for me. By 45% it still hasn’t hooked me at all and I sort of had to just push through the rest. I think there is a market for this but it isn’t me.

The FMC kind of drove me nuts. I really struggle with characters who just cannot get it together. I don’t want to hear any excuses about her having adhd, the person I love most in this world also has adhd and would never do half of this. Being out of control is not a cute character trait.

If this had been a faster pace then I would have liked it. Sometimes the story line would absolutely drag but then it would speed up so fast I thought it was editing errors. There’s just a lot of little things that I couldn’t get past, like everyone knows you don’t wear pearls in water…right? We all know that?

Again, it’s not bad I just didn’t click with it. If you’re into cooking, adhd rep, grumpy sunshine, then this could be for you.

**thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc of this book**

[Tee Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 Yes yes yes this was fabulous and absolutely delicious. I’ve never read a romance which was chef x influencer before but I just adored this. I was sucked in from the start and couldn’t put it down.

I absolutely loved Poppy and Jacks characters, individually and together but especially the representation of ADHD and how it differs from male to female. This is coming from a very chaotic ADHD girl, I feel Poppy in my soul. She was so real in her feelings and flaws, she simply just wanted to do good and be seen for all her hard work. I love how they came into their own, how their characters and mentality changed for the better but they just worked perfectly together. Absolutely chefs kiss.

This was witty and flirting, the tension from Poppy and Jack was oh so good, I was thoroughly obsessed.

I would absolutely recommend this book to romance lovers without a doubt.

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for my arc copy, I absolutely adored this!!

[daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐲 ...” 𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲. 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲.”

Ah Grace Reilly, how I missed your writing. As soon as I saw the teasers for this one I knew I had to read it. I have to admit I was not immediately sold on these two.. How he behaved towards Poppy was really giving - go get therapy my dude - however this may also be due to the fact that I’m a bit tired of the grumpy x sunshine trope (or the romance genre in general). He did end up growing on me towards the end. I’m also so obsessed with the fact that there was a cat, which is not something I see often (listen I like dogs but where is the cat love?). I also really liked the adhd representation and especially within Poppy and her journey to self-acceptance. A solid read and I do recommend it (because we all deserve a hot chef who learns us how to cook).

the vibes™:
- grumpy x sunshine
- adhd rep
- cat!!
- influencer x chef

👩‍🍳❤️‍🔥✨🎀

[maud ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5*

i already can't wait for this book to come out so i can recommend it to EVERYONE. also i just realized that i read 3 books from Grace Reilly back in 2023 and i loved them so now i am not surprised that i adored this one 💕

i fell in love with poppy&jack and i seriously would've taken another 400 pages on them 😍
also the whole chef thing and teaching her really did it for me!!!

thanks to avon for an ARC of this book ❤️

[Bellalucina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book however, homeboy needs a better way to process his emotions…maybe some therapy to cope with the death of his mentor

[Erin (erinsreadingroom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ 4.5 stars

Yes, Chef is the new standalone contemporary romance by author Grace Reilly. As a fan of this author’s work in the past I felt very excited to get my hands on this delicious and tantalising tale as early as possible and was not left disappointing in the aftermath. This is a heartfelt story about two struggling people who were raised within opposing circumstances and yet come to realise that they share more in common then they realise, including a sizzling chemistry that threatens to burst with every stolen moment and yearning glance. The characters felt multi-layered and complex which helped to signify just how innately human they are despite being fictional. I love imperfect characters most of all because a journey of self-discovery only feels worthwhile and impactful with clear growth which is something that I believe Reilly has executed beautifully. The ADHD representation was written with intent and impact as we witness the differing experiences that can be between men and woman and the stereotypes that they are forced to endure as a result, and the discussions surrounding how more needs to be done to offer additional support for those in need. I adored the dual-POV narration which enables us as the reader to truly understand and explore both characters intimately as individuals alongside their romantic development for a much fuller experience. I had a wonderful time getting lost into this compelling and enriching romantic story filled with snarky banter, emotional conversations (including the consistent inclusion of grief and life after loss) and found family elements that will leave you struggling to put the book down.

Connecting with the joyous tornado that is Poppy Winfield was an ease from her very first introduction with her bubbly demeanour and unyielding determination as she also continued to win over anybody within her orbit. Getting an insight into her inner thoughts and the turmoil that she has faced felt like a gift as I’ve ended this experience feeling like I truly understand her character. The struggles that she has endured due to the lack of support from her ADHD diagnosis and the way that she felt like an unimportant afterthought to her family truly broke my heart. It hurt to recognise that all Poppy wanted was to be regarded seriously by her peers and to be recognised as the creative, intelligent woman that she knows she is capable of being. I had a lot of respect for her attitude and the way that she refused to back down when things would prove to be difficult. Poppy is just as ambitious and business-minded as her family, and I adored getting to witness her battle against the misconceptions of her character with determination and pride. She is a warm, kind and gentle soul that expresses genuine interest in the world around her which was the perfect contrast to her (eventual) other half. Poppy’s ability to find beauty and joy in the smallest of endeavours made it impossible to find any faults within her intentions, and I loved getting to witness a once struggling and insecure young woman blossom into somebody that takes pride in her actions and in what she brings to the table. She is far from perfect and doesn’t always get things right, especially when it comes to social cues and figuring out the right time to approach a difficult conversation, but there’s no denying that Poppy has a big heart and never makes a decision with any malicious intent. Her growth felt impactful and I couldn’t be happier with the conclusion to her story by the end.

Jack Hartman felt like a difficult character to pin down at the beginning as his struggles with emotional vulnerability greatly reflected on his character and my ability to connect with him on a deeper level. It became clear to me from the beginning how deeply Jack is struggling with the current circumstances within his life and it hurt to see him continue to undermine his personal value as a human being outside of a kitchen setting. He is a phenomenal chef that is widely renowned for his skills that has found his reputation at risk after some poorly made decisions finds Jack scattering to figure out where he truly belongs. What enabled me to connect with his character more was my recognition that the way he reacts is as a result of self-preservation and the way he desperately fears rejection in all manners of life. I fell in-love with him more and more as the continuation of the plot enabled me to further unravel his complicated persona and truly divulge into who he is at him core. Underneath a grumpy and immovable exterior is a soft man capable of gentleness and love. A man that has yearned to love and to be loved, and to finally have a family to call his own. I really enjoyed getting the ability to understand how his ADHD has impacted his life and the way that cooking has become his only safe space to be who he truly is. Jack’s backstory broke my heart and I hated to see how much self-imposed guilt and resentment that he has been carrying upon his shoulders for such a long time. I adored getting to witness his personality soften over time with patience as he slowly begins to entertain the idea of welcoming the love into his life that he both has long feared and yearned for. Jack’s journey felt impactful from start-to-finish and the progress that he makes left me wanting to audibly cheer him on. His imperfections and struggles make him a relatable character to root for and I couldn’t be happier when the life that we see him embrace within the epilogue.

I found the introduction between Poppy and Jack to be utterly hilarious as it is made clear early on that these two characters seem to attract chaos and carnage every time they occupy the same space. They immediately have presumptions and prejudices upon one another which becomes more apparent as unplanned circumstances bring them together in close proximity. I loved getting to see both characters being forced to address their bias as they slowly begin to lower their emotional walls and find themselves coming to the realisation that they share more in common than they initially believed. My favourite aspect of Poppy and Jack’s relationship ability was the way that they continued to push and encourage more from each other with the mutual respect and understanding of their capabilities. It took them a little bit of time to settle on equal ground and recognise the value that they are bringing into their professional arrangement. I loved how messy and imperfect their development was as we see mistakes being made which is further made worse by their struggle to communicate openly. Poppy and Jack really work hard to understand one another which I adored to see come into place with the revelation that they both have ADHD with differing needs. The scenes were Jack teaches Poppy to cook were everything as we can see how desperately Poppy wishes to be taken seriously whilst Jack begins to recognise how wrong he has been in his perception of her. The way that they encourage the best from each other felt like a monumental step forward within their relationship as this proved to me as the reader that they have the willingness to work together and make their relationship lasting. They forged a true partnership built on mutual respect and friendship which was beautiful to see, and most of all I adored that them working together to fix up the restaurant could be a direct correlation of their own personal journeys. Poppy and Jack put in the work and not only learn how to better themselves as individuals but also as a budding couple. Their progression was equal parts vulnerable as it was heat, and I adored every messy moment of their love story from start to finish.

Yes, Chef was as every bit a delight as I had hoped and I already know that I’m going to be yearning to discover what Grace Reilly has been working on next. I never realised just how much I have missed her work until reading this delightful tale, and I cannot wait to see what else Reilly has been cooking in that wonderfully creative brain of hers. Whatever it is… count me in on that release. Yes, Chef is absolutely a ‘must read’ of the summer that I urge all romance readers to pick up no matter what you’re doing. Please trust me and hit that preorder button.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this binge worthy book to the point I read it start to finish in one afternoon. Everything about it worked for me from the grumpy/sunshine vibes to the grumpy chef MMC, Jack, and FMC, Poppy, that wanted to be taken seriously to the difficult family dynamics. The food themed chapter headings were a perfect addition to this story. Although, both the chapter headings and the food references throughout the story made me so hungry while reading this. Make sure you have snacks handy. The banter between Poppy and Jack was top tier. I also really loved the cooking lessons that Jack gave Poppy and the different insights into the culinary and restaurant world this provided. There were also some incredibly hilarious scenes. The oyster commentary between Poppy and Jack will live rent free in my head and also had me laughing so hard. I also adored the sweeter moments like the pop tarts and chef’s coat scene. The friend group in this was everything, and I loved how they welcomed Poppy with open arms. I especially loved the friendship between Poppy and Kiara. Quite simply, this book is a must read.
✨
✨
eARC courtesy of Avon Books

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

No notes. "Yes, Chef" was perfect! The banter and the spice 🥵 I'm still recovering. This was my first Grace Reilly book and it won't be my last! Poppy Winfield and Jack Hartman are the ipedomy of Grumpy x Sunshine and I absolutely loved them! 

Poppy Winfield had something to prove to her family. She wanted them to take her seriously. Jack Hartman just lost his job and followed the dream of his foster dad's restaurant. Both Poppy and Jack brought out the best in each other which made their restaurant flourish! They worked so well toghether in and out of the resturant. I loved that for them. I loved Poppy's spunky personality. Gator the Ally Cat that Poppy adopted was so sweet. 

I loved watching the friendship form between Poppy and Kiara. It was beautiful watching Poppy find herself and her confidence while breaking down Jack's walls and watching him open up to people again. 

The way I devoured this book was insane! This book was Chef's Kiss! 💋❤️


Thank you Avon and Netgalley for my ARC Copy!


Tropes: 

-Grumpy Chef x Sunshine Influencer 
-Forced Proximity 
- Friends with Benefits 
- Found Family 
- Caution: Spicy!
- Dual Pov
- He Teaches her how to cook

[fatma]

DNF at 55%

sorry but jack is not "grumpy" he is simply rude as hell. some of the things he says to poppy are sooo condescending and out of pocket for no reason at all (the way he kept calling her "princess" 🤢). like my bad i thought this was a romance where we were supposed to be rooting for the couple and not actively praying on the MMC's downfall

[EmmyLu_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the insane honor of getting to beta read “Yes, Chef” I have been a huge fan of Grace’s books since before Stealing Home even came out. This book was AMAZING (no shock) I’m not going to share too many details and let the pictures speak for themselves (for now) to avoid spoilers. All you need to know for now is Poppy and Jack are so special. They bring out the best in each other. This story explores so many important topics. When it comes out, be sure to check Grace’s website for TWs. ANYWAYS add this book to your TBR, pre order it, all the things, because holy WOW Grace has done it again.

[Romance_book_obsessed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo good!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Poppy and Jack had a bad first meeting at her father’s restaurant when he was a chef there. Months later, after scandal for Jack and a breakup for Poppy, they find themselves with a need for change.

Jack has inherited a restaurant from his former foster parent and with no options, he decides to revive it. Poppy is intrigued by Jack’s new plan and follows him to Florida to help with branding and marketing!

At first Jack is hesitant to let her help. He teaches her to cook and she inspires new ideas for the restaurant. The heat in the kitchen gets spicy! 🌶️

Jack is determined to sell the restaurant, but will his mind change when he and poppy make such a great team?

[meredithandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely adored this book! I fell in love with Poppy and Jack. They definitely completed each other and I loved how they opened up to each other. I loved that she lived new experiences and opened up to them and didn’t let her family tell her that she couldn’t do it. I loved everything about Jack teaching her to cook and them making videos to promote Fable. Gator definitely became my favorite cat ever btw. I loved this and it’s definitely a great cozy read. Definitely rereading this one soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

[Jade Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Grace, so happy that I got my hands on it early ☺️
I loved this, not only was the romance and chemistry wonderful, but I loved the detail in all the cooking. Rather than just being told that Jack was a great cook, we were shown. Grace describes recipes, cooking techniques, food memories, even down to how things are plated.

[Viviana]

I grabbed this one after receiving Grace's newsletter. It was as a widget on NetGalley.

[BookishKB]

🍳🔥 Yes, Chef

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026

[Jenna ♡ (Jenna's Corner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to watch the bear. hot asf. chef’s can GET IT.

full review when i get a chance 😈

[Rachel Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always love a chef book! witty!

[Hali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad I didn’t love this book. I really enjoyed the other series she wrote but this one really fell flat for me. I enjoyed Poppy’s character growth and the different portrayals of ADHD, but I HATED Jack. I felt like he didn’t grow at all and was so mean to Poppy the entire book. It wasn’t even just him being grumpy he was just really mean and said hurtful things to her all the way up until the end. I really couldn’t see them as a good couple and almost DNFd multiple times.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!