What do you think?
Rate this book
Piece of Cake: A Novel
She’s only trying to save her job and her reputation. Claire Sommers grew up as a society girl destined to have it tasteful Dallas mansion, high-powered career, hot and rich husband. Until a massive mistake left her reputation in tatters and trust fund frozen. Now the former debutante is scraping by as a magazine staffer in Nashville—trading in her diamonds and designer stilettos for rhinestones and cowgirl boots. But all is not well in the world of print publications. Piece of Cake, the beloved Southern wedding magazine where Claire works, is one issue away from going under. Thankfully, Claire has a plan to save the day and the magazine—a reality show–style docuseries on the South’s most over-the-top and outlandish nuptials. And with country music royalty, Elvis impersonators, and enough drama to make your momma faint, it just so happens that Tennessee is the perfect setting for unscripted wedding day magic. Her boss loves Claire’s idea so much that she even brings in “The Brides’ Man,” New York native and social media star Dominic Gravino, to partner with Claire on the project, despite her protestations. Dominic’s East Coast confidence and charisma clash with Claire’s Southern breeding and independent spirit as the two unlikely collaborators attempt to create a series that will save Piece of Cake . But in between million-dollar weddings, two-stepping bachelorette parties, and hot chicken fiascos, Claire and Dom discover they make a great team . . . on and off the job. But letting go of old hurts is harder than she imagines, and soon Claire realizes that she must come to terms with what happened in her past if she’s ever going to embrace the present. “. . . a laugh-out-loud peek into an alternate universe where weddings are a competitive sport and there’s no such thing as too much bling.” —Yvette Manessis Corporon, international bestselling author
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2023
58 people are currently reading
6110 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
August 3, 2023
This was just ok.
The female main character was super unlikable and I couldn’t relate to her personality at all.
I liked the premise of a magazine docuseries following weddings.
The plot didn’t flow in my opinion and I wasn’t very engaged. I was interested enough to keep listening to the audiobook but it never really won me over.
There wasn’t any sexual content but there were words used a** and male genitalia
Wouldn’t really recommend.
The female main character was super unlikable and I couldn’t relate to her personality at all.
I liked the premise of a magazine docuseries following weddings.
The plot didn’t flow in my opinion and I wasn’t very engaged. I was interested enough to keep listening to the audiobook but it never really won me over.
There wasn’t any sexual content but there were words used a** and male genitalia
Wouldn’t really recommend.
June 21, 2023
In theory, this book is for me. It’s a romcom set in Nashville, and those are things I like. In reality, I found a lot of it deeply annoying.
First, I think a lot of authors struggle with the boundaries when writing about a city they know well. They want to show off that knowledge, but that often turns a normal novel into a partial travel brochure. The details become stilted and random. That happens here.
The bigger issue for me was in character development. We have here an utterly perfect MMC who has no depth and a whiny FMC who is actually maybe an objectively bad person? She did bad stuff in her past and regrets it, but doesn’t put in the work to apologize and then is mad when people don’t like her because of it. This was all very annoying.
More annoying, though, were the regular jabs at anyone not from the South, but more particularly from New York/“the North.” In continuing to point out how northerners have incorrectly stereotyped the South, the same stereotypes are in fact just perpetuated against anyone who isn’t southern in this book. It actually really pissed me off. No thanks.
First, I think a lot of authors struggle with the boundaries when writing about a city they know well. They want to show off that knowledge, but that often turns a normal novel into a partial travel brochure. The details become stilted and random. That happens here.
The bigger issue for me was in character development. We have here an utterly perfect MMC who has no depth and a whiny FMC who is actually maybe an objectively bad person? She did bad stuff in her past and regrets it, but doesn’t put in the work to apologize and then is mad when people don’t like her because of it. This was all very annoying.
More annoying, though, were the regular jabs at anyone not from the South, but more particularly from New York/“the North.” In continuing to point out how northerners have incorrectly stereotyped the South, the same stereotypes are in fact just perpetuated against anyone who isn’t southern in this book. It actually really pissed me off. No thanks.
June 6, 2023
I have mixed emotions about this one. On the one hand it had a cute lovestory, set in southern USA which is always fun, and with the wedding industry as a setting (also a favourite). The pace of the novel was great and everything that happened fit nicely into the story and was the 'right' level of cutsie for a feelgood romance.
Now to the problem. I did not like the main character. She comes from a very rich family, which has given her a warped sense of the world to be fair, but still... She thinks she's poor, and she's just not. It's a bit irksome to read about a character who wants points for being independent from her rich family, while at the same time has no perspective into what truly struggling is. She is also very judgemental (there is a scene at a themed wedding that honestly made me embarrased for her...), but seems to think that she is open-minded? When I let go of liking her and listened to it while keeping in mind that rich spoiled people deserve love stories too, it worked better. But I had to lean into accepting that she is unlikeable to make it work, and that's just not right for a feelgood.
I think this has many of the building-blocks for a good romance, it just misses the mark with the protagonist herself.
A book I'll think about often and that has made an impact on my life? Not really. A light romance for summer vibes though? Sure thing.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Audiobook ARC
Now to the problem. I did not like the main character. She comes from a very rich family, which has given her a warped sense of the world to be fair, but still... She thinks she's poor, and she's just not. It's a bit irksome to read about a character who wants points for being independent from her rich family, while at the same time has no perspective into what truly struggling is. She is also very judgemental (there is a scene at a themed wedding that honestly made me embarrased for her...), but seems to think that she is open-minded? When I let go of liking her and listened to it while keeping in mind that rich spoiled people deserve love stories too, it worked better. But I had to lean into accepting that she is unlikeable to make it work, and that's just not right for a feelgood.
I think this has many of the building-blocks for a good romance, it just misses the mark with the protagonist herself.
A book I'll think about often and that has made an impact on my life? Not really. A light romance for summer vibes though? Sure thing.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Audiobook ARC
January 22, 2023
Piece of Cake is a slow burn romcom, following Claire as she struggles to make a living after being cut off from her family's fortune. She and Dom, a contracted social media content creator, work together on a wedding docuseries in an attempt to save a failing magazine.
Claire and Dom find themselves getting to know each other more and more as they spend time together working. Claire was a very hard to like... Even though she underwent quite the transformation, I still couldn't find it in me to like her. Dom was a bit better, I actually quite liked his character. The banter between the two of them was my favourite part, very entertaining.
The slow burn was too slow, next to nothing actually happened until the end few pages of the book. The book was also too long, with too many irrelevant details and internal monologues. It almost felt as though it hadn't been edited yet, considering there were many paragraphs that I thought were unnecessary. There were also a lot of acronyms, which may be all well and good for an American reader, but as an Australian reader, I had absolutely no idea what half of them were - especially when referring to airport codes.
Despite the cute (although extremely rushed) ending, unfortunately this book was a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for a copy of this. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Claire and Dom find themselves getting to know each other more and more as they spend time together working. Claire was a very hard to like... Even though she underwent quite the transformation, I still couldn't find it in me to like her. Dom was a bit better, I actually quite liked his character. The banter between the two of them was my favourite part, very entertaining.
The slow burn was too slow, next to nothing actually happened until the end few pages of the book. The book was also too long, with too many irrelevant details and internal monologues. It almost felt as though it hadn't been edited yet, considering there were many paragraphs that I thought were unnecessary. There were also a lot of acronyms, which may be all well and good for an American reader, but as an Australian reader, I had absolutely no idea what half of them were - especially when referring to airport codes.
Despite the cute (although extremely rushed) ending, unfortunately this book was a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for a copy of this. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 9, 2023
This was very cute! I really, really enjoyed it! Claire is from a wealthy family in Dallas but when she messes up big time she moves to Nashville to start over. She is now working for Piece of Cake a wedding magazine that’s kind of struggling.
Enter Dom, a media influencer and digital designer. He’s brought in to create videos of the weddings the magazine is covering with the hopes that a major network will pick it up and save the magazine.
It’s obviously that Dom has a thing for Claire but she doesn’t even want to be his friend….at first.
Enter Dom, a media influencer and digital designer. He’s brought in to create videos of the weddings the magazine is covering with the hopes that a major network will pick it up and save the magazine.
It’s obviously that Dom has a thing for Claire but she doesn’t even want to be his friend….at first.
June 9, 2023
I could see this romance was coming a mile away. A southern gentleman, how can you not love Dominic? He’s so sweet to Claire right off the get go and there’s really no ulterior motive there for him. He’s just doing his thing and happens to fall in love- it’s wonderful. Claire, on the other hand, had a harder time. The two meshed well though and had a good balance to make each other better.
🌀Synopsis
Claire is about to lose her job. Well, they all are. The magazine they work for has one foot in the grave. All this after she escapes her past in Dallas and can’t return home. So, now what?
Claire comes up with a pitch that she feels is going to save the magazine. By featuring some major upcoming weddings and venues she’s determined to make this a hit. The only problem is her boss pairs her with Dominic. A southern boy who is also creating his own content.
Their adventures together show them each other’s true colors and they begin to realize that they might just be more than friends. Claire’s past comes roaring back though and she’s going to have to be brutally honest if she wants to save what they have together.
🌀Synopsis
Claire is about to lose her job. Well, they all are. The magazine they work for has one foot in the grave. All this after she escapes her past in Dallas and can’t return home. So, now what?
Claire comes up with a pitch that she feels is going to save the magazine. By featuring some major upcoming weddings and venues she’s determined to make this a hit. The only problem is her boss pairs her with Dominic. A southern boy who is also creating his own content.
Their adventures together show them each other’s true colors and they begin to realize that they might just be more than friends. Claire’s past comes roaring back though and she’s going to have to be brutally honest if she wants to save what they have together.
July 10, 2023
Claire Sommers is a Dallas debutante from an extremely wealthy family. However, a mistake shatters her reputation and freezes her trust fund, leaving her struggling to make ends meet as a staffer at Piece of Cake, a bridal magazine based in Nashville.
Adding to her troubles, Piece of Cake is on the verge of closure. When Claire suggests launching a wedding documentary, the magazine's editor, Michelle, takes action. However, Claire is taken aback when she discovers that the "Bridesman," Dom, a good-looking heterosexual influencer known for providing a male perspective on all things bridal, will be her partner on the project.
Initially, Claire greets Dom with an icy reception but warms up to him as she realizes they make a successful team. The pressure and complications they encounter during wedding shoots allow them to learn from each other. Will their combined efforts be enough to save the magazine?
To Claire's surprise, her little sister's wedding becomes the finale for the docuseries, a decision her mother shockingly agrees to without Claire’s knowledge. Not only does Claire have to endure attending the wedding without a date and facing judgment for her past, but she also has to collaborate with the very people she hurt in the past. Fortunately, Claire now considers Dom a friend and appreciates his moral support. The only hurdle is that while he knows she is in a form of self-imposed exile; he just doesn't know the reason yet.
As the wedding celebrations unfold, Claire and Dom find themselves developing feelings for each other. However, Claire's incomplete honesty and Dom's eventual departure when the series concludes and his contract ends create potential obstacles. Will these factors lead to disaster, and can Claire readjust to her former life after Dom has shown her the joys of having fun?
I was provided an advanced copy of the audio version of Piece of Cake in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse.
Adding to her troubles, Piece of Cake is on the verge of closure. When Claire suggests launching a wedding documentary, the magazine's editor, Michelle, takes action. However, Claire is taken aback when she discovers that the "Bridesman," Dom, a good-looking heterosexual influencer known for providing a male perspective on all things bridal, will be her partner on the project.
Initially, Claire greets Dom with an icy reception but warms up to him as she realizes they make a successful team. The pressure and complications they encounter during wedding shoots allow them to learn from each other. Will their combined efforts be enough to save the magazine?
To Claire's surprise, her little sister's wedding becomes the finale for the docuseries, a decision her mother shockingly agrees to without Claire’s knowledge. Not only does Claire have to endure attending the wedding without a date and facing judgment for her past, but she also has to collaborate with the very people she hurt in the past. Fortunately, Claire now considers Dom a friend and appreciates his moral support. The only hurdle is that while he knows she is in a form of self-imposed exile; he just doesn't know the reason yet.
As the wedding celebrations unfold, Claire and Dom find themselves developing feelings for each other. However, Claire's incomplete honesty and Dom's eventual departure when the series concludes and his contract ends create potential obstacles. Will these factors lead to disaster, and can Claire readjust to her former life after Dom has shown her the joys of having fun?
I was provided an advanced copy of the audio version of Piece of Cake in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse.
May 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this comeback story featuring Claire Sommers, a Southern woman from a well-to-do Texas family who made a career-ending mistake at her former job as a wedding planner and is trying to start over now working at Piece of Cake, a wedding magazine.
When she's tasked with working with Dom, a NYC content creator to film a number of high-profile weddings (including her sisters) as a way to help save the magazine, she finds herself forced to confront her past, reconcile with her family and realizing Dom isn't as bad as she first thought.
Fun and heartfelt and great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Brittney Pressley. I enjoyed the cameos from the authors' last book, Without a hitch and look forward to more from this writing duo. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
When she's tasked with working with Dom, a NYC content creator to film a number of high-profile weddings (including her sisters) as a way to help save the magazine, she finds herself forced to confront her past, reconcile with her family and realizing Dom isn't as bad as she first thought.
Fun and heartfelt and great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Brittney Pressley. I enjoyed the cameos from the authors' last book, Without a hitch and look forward to more from this writing duo. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
June 14, 2023
This was a cute love story set amongst weddings, with our heroine Claire also trying to get her foot back into the door of the working world after a previous mishap at her last job. This mishap also created some tension between her family members which are aired throughout the book, especially when Claire and Dominic are required to work at multiple weddings, including that of her own sister's.
This book was a light read. I enjoyed it and the narration was exemplary. I would be keen to read more by these authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a light read. I enjoyed it and the narration was exemplary. I would be keen to read more by these authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2023
A feel-good romcom about finding your place in the world with lots of humor and witty banter. I loved getting to know Claire and Dom and following along as they documented over-the-top weddings. There is the typical drama with family and former life (the transgression was particularly bad in this one) and that just adds to the tension that brings Claire and Dom together. This was a quick, satisfying read, perfect for vacation or when you need a pick me up.
September 28, 2023
I really do like when people are less shallow than they appear.
October 15, 2023
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Claire Sommers is making her way through the world on her own despite everyone's doubts she could. After making a massive mistake that left her disowned and shamed out of the Dallas high society, Claire has worked hard to carve a place for herself in the city of Nashville and find moderate success at her new job at Piece of Cake, a long-standing Southern bridal magazine. However, when her idea to save the print magazine is practically given to a stranger from New York-- Claire can't help but feel personally attacked. 'The Bride's Man', or Dominic Gravino, is a smooth talking, native New Yorker who's found success in the bridal industry offering insight and advice as an influencer. Claire doesn't trust him one bit, but reluctantly realizes it's better to go with the flow rather than fighting it. What follows is a fun journey through over-the-top Southern weddings, and some emotional ups and downs.
This book was truly a mixed bag for me. Claire, while she goes through some astounding character growth throughout the book, is hard to like. Similar to Piper Bellinger from It Happened One Summer (by Tessa Bailey), Claire exudes this indefinable 'rich-white-girl' attitude that can be difficult to relate to or sympathize with. Claire continually complains about how much she's struggling, while living in a charming apartment in Nashville (with no roommate!), a four-figure bank account, and products people on a budget typically won't even let themselves hope for (i.e. a Le Labo $80 candle and owning a Range Rover in a city???). There's a disconnect between what being poor actually is, and what living moderately comfortable is-- and for Claire, there seems to be no difference.
However, there were some genuinely sweet and funny moments throughout the book, and the (rather short) ending is tooth-achingly perfect. And the audiobook narrator did a wonderful job-- her accents and characterization make what is probably a slow moving book something enjoyable and entertaining from start to finish.
PIECE OF CAKE is a great choice for a summer rom-com read, or for fans of southern drama and weddings!
Claire Sommers is making her way through the world on her own despite everyone's doubts she could. After making a massive mistake that left her disowned and shamed out of the Dallas high society, Claire has worked hard to carve a place for herself in the city of Nashville and find moderate success at her new job at Piece of Cake, a long-standing Southern bridal magazine. However, when her idea to save the print magazine is practically given to a stranger from New York-- Claire can't help but feel personally attacked. 'The Bride's Man', or Dominic Gravino, is a smooth talking, native New Yorker who's found success in the bridal industry offering insight and advice as an influencer. Claire doesn't trust him one bit, but reluctantly realizes it's better to go with the flow rather than fighting it. What follows is a fun journey through over-the-top Southern weddings, and some emotional ups and downs.
This book was truly a mixed bag for me. Claire, while she goes through some astounding character growth throughout the book, is hard to like. Similar to Piper Bellinger from It Happened One Summer (by Tessa Bailey), Claire exudes this indefinable 'rich-white-girl' attitude that can be difficult to relate to or sympathize with. Claire continually complains about how much she's struggling, while living in a charming apartment in Nashville (with no roommate!), a four-figure bank account, and products people on a budget typically won't even let themselves hope for (i.e. a Le Labo $80 candle and owning a Range Rover in a city???). There's a disconnect between what being poor actually is, and what living moderately comfortable is-- and for Claire, there seems to be no difference.
However, there were some genuinely sweet and funny moments throughout the book, and the (rather short) ending is tooth-achingly perfect. And the audiobook narrator did a wonderful job-- her accents and characterization make what is probably a slow moving book something enjoyable and entertaining from start to finish.
PIECE OF CAKE is a great choice for a summer rom-com read, or for fans of southern drama and weddings!
June 23, 2023
Now this was a lot of fun! Piece of Cake follows cast-out socialite, Claire Sommers, after she’s spent the last couple years scraping by without her trust fund and, for the first time, truly living on her own. As the magazine she works for is one issue away from going under, she pitches a docuseries to her boss that would save their jobs by having them follow the most outrageous, over-the-top southern weddings of the season. Her boss enlists social media star, the Brides’ Man (Dominic Gravino), to partner with Claire on the project. Sparks fly, romance ensues, and shenanigans prevail.
Getting right into the nitty gritty, my main issue with this book centers around the main character Claire. She didn’t have much of a personality. This might have been purposeful, since much of this book documents her struggle to find herself, however, what was left just didn’t cut it. Claire is at times snobby and lacks self-awareness (Dominic rightfully had to point out that she’s a privileged white girl when she complained about not feeling like her place in the world was secure). When comparing herself to her overachieving sisters, she doesn’t feel that she measures up.
While these flaws and personal conflicts are great meat to work with in the narrative, they felt vaguely underutilized and watered down. I couldn’t find a strong enough quality in her that I could grab onto; this left Claire’s character feeling hollow and lacking the depth that would truly bring her to life. It’s disappointing because I always love a comeback story, especially seeing a villain redeem herself, but Claire started the story out so mildly that I couldn’t even fully hate her—lacking self-awareness regarding her privilege or not. Color me shocked when I learned this book had a prequel and she was the villain in it.
Onto what I loved: the romance and the love interest. Dom was adorable. I loved his honest pursuit of Claire, disguised haphazardly behind wanting to make a work friend. It was also refreshing to see him talk about his preferences in dating—how he likes to form a friendship before pursuing someone. He’s a not-so-secret romantic at heart and it was really fun to see that trait embodied in a male love interest!
The only issue I had with the progression of the romance and, by extension, Dom, was the scene where Claire’s mother almost outs her for her reputation-ruining mistake in front of everyone, forcing her to tell Dom what really happened that caused her to move away. His reaction in this scene felt off and out of character; I imagined when she told him that he would see she’s grown up a lot and changed.
Instead, he reacts poorly as if she just did it five minutes ago (instead of years prior) and the past months working together didn’t happen. He even blames her for her mistake potentially costing them coverage on a wedding, when she had no idea that was going to be the outcome and already warned her boss that she didn’t want to cover the wedding in question. It all felt very overly dramatic and illogical, which veered off course from the way that Dom’s character was being developed earlier in the book.
All that aside, I still really enjoyed this one and look forward to more books from this authorial duo in the future!
Regarding the audiobook, Brittany Pressley never fails! I love her voice. She is the reason I picked up this book and honestly did a fantastic job!
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 1/5 - Doesn’t Exceed Kissing
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up!
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Getting right into the nitty gritty, my main issue with this book centers around the main character Claire. She didn’t have much of a personality. This might have been purposeful, since much of this book documents her struggle to find herself, however, what was left just didn’t cut it. Claire is at times snobby and lacks self-awareness (Dominic rightfully had to point out that she’s a privileged white girl when she complained about not feeling like her place in the world was secure). When comparing herself to her overachieving sisters, she doesn’t feel that she measures up.
While these flaws and personal conflicts are great meat to work with in the narrative, they felt vaguely underutilized and watered down. I couldn’t find a strong enough quality in her that I could grab onto; this left Claire’s character feeling hollow and lacking the depth that would truly bring her to life. It’s disappointing because I always love a comeback story, especially seeing a villain redeem herself, but Claire started the story out so mildly that I couldn’t even fully hate her—lacking self-awareness regarding her privilege or not. Color me shocked when I learned this book had a prequel and she was the villain in it.
Onto what I loved: the romance and the love interest. Dom was adorable. I loved his honest pursuit of Claire, disguised haphazardly behind wanting to make a work friend. It was also refreshing to see him talk about his preferences in dating—how he likes to form a friendship before pursuing someone. He’s a not-so-secret romantic at heart and it was really fun to see that trait embodied in a male love interest!
The only issue I had with the progression of the romance and, by extension, Dom, was the scene where Claire’s mother almost outs her for her reputation-ruining mistake in front of everyone, forcing her to tell Dom what really happened that caused her to move away. His reaction in this scene felt off and out of character; I imagined when she told him that he would see she’s grown up a lot and changed.
Instead, he reacts poorly as if she just did it five minutes ago (instead of years prior) and the past months working together didn’t happen. He even blames her for her mistake potentially costing them coverage on a wedding, when she had no idea that was going to be the outcome and already warned her boss that she didn’t want to cover the wedding in question. It all felt very overly dramatic and illogical, which veered off course from the way that Dom’s character was being developed earlier in the book.
All that aside, I still really enjoyed this one and look forward to more books from this authorial duo in the future!
Regarding the audiobook, Brittany Pressley never fails! I love her voice. She is the reason I picked up this book and honestly did a fantastic job!
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 1/5 - Doesn’t Exceed Kissing
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up!
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
June 10, 2023
This book was fine. The story had promise, and the settings/situations were occasionally interesting, but overall it was just average.
Claire, former Dallas socialite, is a journalist for a wedding magazine in Nashville. She had a spectacular fall from grace after betraying her past employer and embarrassing her family, but she has worked hard to move on from that disgrace and reinvent herself. When her magazine is in jeopardy, she comes up with a plan to save it, but it means pairing up with Dominic, a wedding influencer. When her little sister gets engaged, Claire has to confront her past mistakes and decide what she wants for her future.
I liked the southern charm that this book oozed. The author really brought the Nashville wedding scene to life. Dom was an interesting character that I wanted to learn more about. Claire, unfortunately, was not. She was not very likable and didn't get much better throughout the book. Everything was "woe is me" for her. I did like her growth toward the end of the book, but I almost wanted this to be a women's fiction book v a romance, .
Will I give this author another chance? Probably. She seems like she has a hand on the pulse of Southern culture, but could use some editing.
Claire, former Dallas socialite, is a journalist for a wedding magazine in Nashville. She had a spectacular fall from grace after betraying her past employer and embarrassing her family, but she has worked hard to move on from that disgrace and reinvent herself. When her magazine is in jeopardy, she comes up with a plan to save it, but it means pairing up with Dominic, a wedding influencer. When her little sister gets engaged, Claire has to confront her past mistakes and decide what she wants for her future.
I liked the southern charm that this book oozed. The author really brought the Nashville wedding scene to life. Dom was an interesting character that I wanted to learn more about. Claire, unfortunately, was not. She was not very likable and didn't get much better throughout the book. Everything was "woe is me" for her. I did like her growth toward the end of the book, but I almost wanted this to be a women's fiction book v a romance, .
Will I give this author another chance? Probably. She seems like she has a hand on the pulse of Southern culture, but could use some editing.
July 3, 2023
2.5- 3 stars
I feel like listening to the audio book for this one deeply impacted why I didnt rally enjoy this one as much as I thought I did. This is more of a personal preferences but I dont really enjoy the book as much when one voice actor voices both characters. Going into the book I was super intruiged by the plot and I felt like the Author did a really good job with it. It had suspense and romantic moments that I really enjoyed at times.
SPOILER ALERT INCOMING!!!!!!!!!!
Towards the end of the book when the book was coming to a close and it didnt seem like the two main characters weren't going to end up together I was strangely relieved and not at all heartbroken. I kind of liked the idea of them maybe growing apart and doing what they both needed to and then POSSIBLY getting together in another book (COUGH, i think these two need a second book following their relationship because I really enjoyed their chemistry.) but then they did eventually get together the last line of the book and I felt content but not head over heels happy. All in all, i thought it was a cute, fast read. I enjoyed all the characters, the plot and the romance between the two characters.
If youre looking for:
- Sister friendship
- workplace romance
- current pop culture references
- cute, fast read
- no spicy
- happy endings
I feel like listening to the audio book for this one deeply impacted why I didnt rally enjoy this one as much as I thought I did. This is more of a personal preferences but I dont really enjoy the book as much when one voice actor voices both characters. Going into the book I was super intruiged by the plot and I felt like the Author did a really good job with it. It had suspense and romantic moments that I really enjoyed at times.
SPOILER ALERT INCOMING!!!!!!!!!!
Towards the end of the book when the book was coming to a close and it didnt seem like the two main characters weren't going to end up together I was strangely relieved and not at all heartbroken. I kind of liked the idea of them maybe growing apart and doing what they both needed to and then POSSIBLY getting together in another book (COUGH, i think these two need a second book following their relationship because I really enjoyed their chemistry.) but then they did eventually get together the last line of the book and I felt content but not head over heels happy. All in all, i thought it was a cute, fast read. I enjoyed all the characters, the plot and the romance between the two characters.
If youre looking for:
- Sister friendship
- workplace romance
- current pop culture references
- cute, fast read
- no spicy
- happy endings
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2023
"Piece of Cake" is a cute lovestory, set in the heartwarming southern USA with the wedding industry as the backdrop. The story flow was smooth, like buttercream on cake. While it didn't sweep me off my feet or change my life's trajectory, I must admit, it was a delightful distraction. No long-lasting effect? Nope. But did I have fun? Yes. But here's the twist. While I was happily savoring this feel-good romance, there was this tiny nagging thought. The full caucasian, heteronormative, higher-class cast shedding tears over their generational wealth left a sour taste in my mouth. If you're in the mood for a slice of charming romance, this one might just be the icing on your literary cake!
I received a copy of this book on NetGalley. Thank you to the author and publisher for an audiobook ARC.
I received a copy of this book on NetGalley. Thank you to the author and publisher for an audiobook ARC.
June 28, 2023
As the middle daughter to wealthy successful Dallas socialites, Claire Sommers has always had to compete for her parents' affections and approbation. Her elder sister Evelyn was always the best at everything she did and now runs three thriving businesses, oh and she and her husband are expecting their first child. Her younger sister Lucille is a lawyer, universally adored, and engaged to a guy the family all loves.
Claire has now moved to Nashville after some events that disappointed her family, where she works on a bridal magazine called Piece of Cake. Having worked her way up, Claire is now a journalist on the magazine but the print world is in decline and the magazine is facing a digital-only future unless it can find new revenue streams or increase subscriptions.
Claire has now moved to Nashville after some events that disappointed her family, where she works on a bridal magazine called Piece of Cake. Having worked her way up, Claire is now a journalist on the magazine but the print world is in decline and the magazine is facing a digital-only future unless it can find new revenue streams or increase subscriptions.
July 27, 2023
A southern belle disgraced after a massive mistake that, not only left her reputation in tatters but also her trust fund frozen, Claire is trying to make it on her own in Nashville. Unfortunately, the wedding magazine she works for is going under and it's up to her and New Yorker, Dominic, to turn things around. This was a cute audiobook that had a fun, interesting angle. I appreciate it when books have unique storylines--reading about all the different weddings, the issues that can arise, being a content creator, etc was fun. The romance itself was cute and I liked Dominic and their banter, however, Claire in particular was a tad annoying. She acts like she is completely destitute even though her millionaire parents are a phone call away and she can access her trust fund when she turns 40. This made it a little hard to relate to her, but overall, this was a good audiobook and I enjoyed the narration.
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing a NetGalley ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing a NetGalley ALC in exchange for my honest review!
January 8, 2024
1.5 rounded up
This is a story about an entitled girl from a very wealthy family, who was a privilege of nepotism to get her first job that she ended up losing because she was manipulative and sneaky and terrible. She was apparently trying to make a name for herself without the help of her rich family, and also due to the fact that there was a clause in the inheritance that she had to be a good human. She was generally unlikable and cold/ mean to people around her for the most part, but somehow still ended up getting everything that she wanted in the end.
This is a story about an entitled girl from a very wealthy family, who was a privilege of nepotism to get her first job that she ended up losing because she was manipulative and sneaky and terrible. She was apparently trying to make a name for herself without the help of her rich family, and also due to the fact that there was a clause in the inheritance that she had to be a good human. She was generally unlikable and cold/ mean to people around her for the most part, but somehow still ended up getting everything that she wanted in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
4ish stars
This was a fun, dramatic rom-com. Although I had mixed feelings about many of the decisions the characters made, I also understood some of them and appreciated most of what the writers were trying to do. I enjoyed this book (as well as their last co-creation) and will most likely check out whatever they create together next.
An ARC of this audiobook and ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun, dramatic rom-com. Although I had mixed feelings about many of the decisions the characters made, I also understood some of them and appreciated most of what the writers were trying to do. I enjoyed this book (as well as their last co-creation) and will most likely check out whatever they create together next.
An ARC of this audiobook and ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
While I realllllly did enjoy this, there's just something about a full caucasian cast crying about losing their generational wealth over something that a lot of people can't afford.
I guess it's a good read, like I said, I enjoyed it. But eh.
While I realllllly did enjoy this, there's just something about a full caucasian cast crying about losing their generational wealth over something that a lot of people can't afford.
I guess it's a good read, like I said, I enjoyed it. But eh.
July 7, 2023
Thanks to Libro.fm for the alc of this title.
Piece of Cake is a fun summer read. I don’t know about you but for me summer says wedding season. And this book delivers a fun look at the craziness that is extravagant weddings.
I enjoyed that this romance wasn’t always easy, and that there was a bit of growth that need to happen before the HEA.
Piece of Cake is a fun summer read. I don’t know about you but for me summer says wedding season. And this book delivers a fun look at the craziness that is extravagant weddings.
I enjoyed that this romance wasn’t always easy, and that there was a bit of growth that need to happen before the HEA.
July 4, 2023
Such a cute story! The whole time, I was thinking this would make a perfect hallmark movie! It is predictable but has some great twists and turns that are unpredictable and funny, laugh out loud moments!
December 8, 2023
Meh. The vibes were there at the beginning, but (imo) it just sort of fizzled from there. Dnf at 61%ish. Cute plot, MMC was adorable, but Claire just wasn't relatable, and really didn't do a whole lot :) Read the reviews, and do with them what you will!
May 29, 2025
I gave this book 5 stars because I usually don’t like romance novels, but this book was so lighthearted and cute! It’s such a fun read with a good message. It also references lots of things in the DFW area that I know, which was a fun little addition!
July 6, 2023
I’ve loved this book! So fun and light! This is all of my girly-ness in book form (as with the first book Without A Hitch)!
July 12, 2023
Beach read
September 4, 2023
2.5 unlikable main characters
March 1, 2024
It is never too late to grow up and figure out who you are as a person. This is a romance with a bit of substance.
How did this book find me? It was a Hoopla recommendation.
How did this book find me? It was a Hoopla recommendation.
May 22, 2024
Written like someone who’s never been to Nashville
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews