Thank you so much to Letizia Lorini and Victory Editing NetGalley for this arc! If you like age gap, single dad, forbidden romance, this one is for you! Holy cow was this spicy, it had me blushing!!! Overall it was a good book.

More like 3.5 stars for me

This book was solid. It was even more intriguing to me when I found out that it was being written in Aaron’s POV. I usually prefer dual POVs but this one works way better as just Aaron’s.

I really liked Aaron but Cherry/Charlotte for me was just okay. I knew what I was getting into with an age gap romance but she was SO immature sometimes that it was a little off-putting. So was Aaron a bit tbh, but that was a bit more forgiving. That being said, it is SPICY! Definitely not one to read where someone could look over your shoulder haha

I really enjoyed Amelie, I didn’t realize she and Ian had their own book already, so I’ll definitely give that a read. And Sadie was so sweet, so was probably my favorite part of the book.

Absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down!!

I usually don't like when we get only get one characters pov but I loved it for this book. Seeing the story from the male main character was awesome and I can't wait to read the rest of this author's books.

100% recommend, you will love it and won't want to stop reading!

Thank you so much to Letizia Lorini and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op doe the eARC of this book. This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. This book was a perfect light hearted rom com. This book is completely written in the MMC POV, which was different and refreshing. If you like age gap, single dad, forbidden romance, this one is for you!

I’m feeling a bit torn after finishing this one, and honestly, it leaves me a little disappointed. I've been really enjoying this series of interlinked romances, but this installment fell short for me compared to the others. What kept me going, more than anything, was the chance to revisit familiar faces from previous books—those returning characters were definitely a highlight and the main reason I’m still looking forward to what’s next.
That said, I struggled to connect with the central couple this time. Despite wanting to be on their side, I found their behavior often immature, and some of their decisions left me scratching my head. I also found it difficult to fully engage emotionally because I didn’t feel their chemistry or growth as strongly as in previous pairings.
This story also ventures into more serious subject matter—issues like eating disorders, abuse within the family, and alcohol dependency. While I appreciate the attempt to explore weightier themes, I don’t think all of them were treated with the depth or sensitivity they required, which left parts of the story feeling a little unbalanced.
That being said, one element that stood out in a good way was the narrative choice. Getting the story solely through Aaron’s point of view added a refreshing layer that worked better than I expected, and gave the book a different flavor than the others in the series.
So, while this wasn’t a personal favorite, I still found moments to enjoy—and I’m hopeful the next installment will recapture the spark I loved in earlier books.

📚With A Cherry On Top📚
Arc review
Rating 4🌟
Release date: 13th June 2025
I was so happy to be accepted to read this book before it came out
I loved this book. This is part of a series, but it's a standalone. Even though Charlotte is only 23, she is mature for her age, which i liked. The chemistry and the love you could just feel it even though it was hard for them. I absolutely loved Sadie so much and was kinda upsetting at the end of the book with what happened with her dad and Charlotte

Letizia wrote a book that had an amazing plot and fantastic main characters. This book was fun to read and I enjoyed how the story developed and how it was easy to follow and I definitely fell in love the characters who had personalities that I enjoyed reading.

with a cherry on top review

thank you net galley for providing me with the chance to arc read this!

This was so so cute and made me realise i need to read more single dad books. Aaron was such a fun and messy character to read about. I’ve never read a book like this before. I couldn’t stop laughing I loved Sadie she was so cute. i think i need a sequel i loved this! I’ve never read anything from this author before but I loved how healthy Charlotte and Aaron’s relationship was for how big of an age gap they had. I ate this book up (pun not intended) i finished it in 2 days and i need more of these two!

What an absolutely adorable rom-com! With a Cherry on Top is the perfect lighthearted escape—funny, flirty, and full of heart. I couldn’t stop smiling as I followed Charlotte and Aaron’s sweet and steamy journey.

The chemistry between the two leads was off the charts. Charlotte is a refreshingly unique character—smart, confident, and unapologetically herself, including her work as a cam girl. What really stood out was how this aspect of her life was portrayed with warmth and respect, and how Aaron’s response made me love him even more. He didn’t just accept her—he genuinely admired her and supported her dreams in every way he could. That kind of emotional depth made their relationship feel not just swoon-worthy, but also genuine.

A delight from start to finish!

With a Cherry on Top (arc) - @letizia 🍒💋

4.5⭐️

This is my fourth @Letizia book and each one has been devoured in a single sitting!!

In this story, we follow Aaron and Charlotte. Aaron is in the process of navigating a new career, dealing with strained family relationships and being a single dad. Enter Charlotte… his new boss’s daughter, fourteen years younger than him and where they initially meet online where she’s working doing ..adult things 😏 And so the story and drama ensues…

I must say .. going into a book where’s it’s only Male POV, I was a bit worried 😅 but queen Letizia absolutely ate and left no crumbs with this !!! I cannot believe how much I enjoyed having this book written this way???

Charlotte - sis absolutely walked him like a dog and I couldn’t have been more obsessed!! She was so…. Unapologetically Charlotte? She was loud, she was sexy, she was passionate. I loved the depth Letizia gave us with insight into her relationship with her mother, with food and just her inner demons in general. My heart absolutely broke for her seeing the way her mother treated her and seeing her feel so comfortable and seen when she found Aaron was beautiful.

Aaron - complete opposite to Charlotte but he never ONCE dimmed her light. He was so supportive and loyal and loved her with everything he had. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders (and everyone else’s weight) so it was so cathartic for him to find someone so perfect for him. His awkwardness coupled with his quirks made me all the more gagged when the spicy scenes came out I MEAN COME. ON 🥵

This part deserves honourable mention: when reading a book - I love to feel something and to be outraged and when I say for some damn reason, the spice scenes written by Letizia have me in a chokehold. The way this woman writes these scenes is unmatched and unparalleled to anything I’ve read! Maybe it’s the way she writes the characters and story so well, that when we get to the scenes, we’re all on the edge of our seat?? (No pun intended).

If you haven’t read Letizia’s writing, I certainly recommend it as you will have the best time humanely possible !!

Thankyou so much @letizia for an advanced copy of this book! ❤️

4.25⭐️

With a Cherry on Top is an age-gap, single dad, black cat FMC, forbidden romance with a twist—he’s a chef working for her mom, and she’s forbidden fruit 🍒 (pun intended). Told entirely from the male POV, as opposed to the classic dual or FMC only POV, this narrative choice works surprisingly well and adds a unique perspective that doesn’t detract from the story at all.

This book explores self-worth, personal growth, learning to own your mistakes and standing up for what you deserve, and the people who see your value even when you don’t. While the story remains funny, flirty and cozy, it also explores deeper themes, including family estrangement, emotional abuse, parental neglect and mental health issues, with care and nuance.

The characters are messy (affectionately), imperfect and realistic, and their growth felt authentic and earned. The MMC’s story—juggling single fatherhood, rebuilding a broken relationship with his brother, and a high-pressure new job—all while catching major feelings for someone very off-limits, was handled with heart and authenticity. The emotional journey hit hard in the best way, and the flirty banter and tension balanced it out perfectly.

I also loved seeing familiar faces from the previous books in the Love & Other Recipes series. While this one can be read as a standalone, knowing the backstories definitely adds context to some of the characters’ reactions—plus, the earlier books are fantastic and absolutely worth reading!

The first two books in the series were major standouts for me, and while this wasn’t my personal favorite of the series, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and will continue to read anything Letizia Lorini writes! Her blend of emotional stories with signature rom-com charm continues to impress!

Thank you to Letizia Lorini, Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

5 ⭐️
Tropes: age gap, forbidden romance, single dad, male only POV, no third act breakup, found family, secret identity

With a Cherry On top is the fourth book in the Love & Other Recipes series and I continue to be absolutely obsessed with not only the characters, the story but also Letizia Lorini’s writing - it’s seriously addictive! Little side note this was my first male only POV and I absolutely loved it 😍

Aaron is a single dad trying his best to raise his daughter and restart with an entirely new career as a chef. Amile and Ian (from the Wedding Menu) helped Aaron hone in on his true passion which is cooking. They also gave him a family and supported him to get through some very hard things. With all the changes and his responsibilities Aaron basically put himself and love on the back burner and the last thing he needed was a gorgeous and feisty redheaded distraction like Charlotte.

Aaron and Charlotte met in a very unconventional way but they both represented exactly what the other was needing: freedom and excitement. Charlotte is a young model / cam girl and the daughter of Aaron’s first private chef client…so now sprinkle in some forbidden love in there and it was a recipe for disaster.

Charlotte had three rule: no kissing, no s€x, and no relationships. Aaron gave Charlotte everything that she was missing and chipped away at her three rules by showing up and simply being there, something that she was not used to. Yes their love was messy and complicated but it was also safety, support and understanding - and I absolutely loved them together. Letizia gave me yet another fictional man to obsess over and I loved every minute of it! Aaron and Charlotte have my heart!

I cannot recommend this book, this series AND this author enough! Yes these books can be read as standalones BUT you’d be doing yourself a disservice. Do yourself a favor and read every single book in order, you won’t regret it 🩵

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley co-op and Letizia Lorini for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read a male POV romance in SUCH a long time but honestly I loved this book so much
If you’re looking for an age gap spicey romance this is the book for you.
I really loved the way these characters first met and how their relationship developed through so many touching issues.
I hate Beatrice like capital H
The pet names in this book were * chefs kiss* 🤣
Charlotte is such a boss female main character and I loved her and I loved how she handled everything that was thrown at her, at times you can definitely tell that there is an age gab between these two. This truly shows if it is the right person you can make it work if you really put the effort despite being scared!!

I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it completely pulled me in. I especially enjoyed that the whole thing was told from Aaron POV, it gave the story a more personal and honest tone, and it worked really well here. Aaron and Charlotte have a connection that’s intense but also layered. He’s going through a lot, and his side of things really hit me. Charlotte, on the other hand, is strong and confident but clearly carrying her own weight too. Their relationship felt like more than just attraction, it had a lot of tension, care, and growth. The drama, the emotions, the chemistry, it all just worked. This was my first book by this author, but I’m definitely going to check out more. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

This book.... WHEW!

I experienced all the emotions while reading this one. We get the story for the MMC's POV, which was a refreshing take. At first I was worried, but the author does a really good job. Plus, there are a lot of details in the MMC's head that we wouldn't get if the POV was split IMO.

The single dad aspect was heartbreaking and delicious all at once. Heartbreaking because the reason he was in the role gutted me a bit. Delicious because #Daddy.

I love age gap books (I blame it on my love of older men), and this one gives us this in excess. Not in a creepy way. More like I need him BIBLICALLY please and thanks.

Anyway, this review is getting a bit unhinged. Read the dang book. It's a good time.

Thank you to the publisher, Letizia Lorini, and NetGalley for the early copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for the eARC.

I was super intrigued by this book because it’s told entirely in the main male characters point of view which I don’t think I’ve ever read. This was a super refreshing take on a forbidden age gap romance. I really felt for both characters as they both had a lot of baggage to deal with. There’s a lot of sensitive topics in this book that are handled really well.

Overall, I really enjoyed the unique perspective with the male point of view but I felt the book went on a bit too long. I did find out that this is the fourth book in a series and I do plan on reading the others!

The story perfectly captured their forbidden yet magnetic connection. She’s forbidden fruit—he’s willing to risk it all for just one taste. Aaron Coleman is a man burdened by guilt and caught in a storm of betrayal he can’t undo. Redemption isn’t easy, especially when he knows Charlotte is everything he shouldn’t want. She’s fourteen years younger, his boss’s daughter, and a walking temptation who lives her life freely—selling pleasure online, turning fantasies into reality with nothing but confidence and fire. He knows better than to watch her the way he does, especially during her late-night streams, but Charlotte is more than just desire—she represents everything he’s been starving for but too scared to touch.

Charlotte. She’s been through so much, yet her strength never wavered. I truly admire her resilience. Despite living under the control of a mother who constantly belittled her and treated her like she wasn’t her own daughter, Charlotte still found the strength to stand up for herself. She just needs more support—because carrying that kind of emotional weight alone isn’t easy. And let’s be real—I adore that she’s into older men, just like me. She’s strong, bold, and unapologetically herself, and I loved watching her fight for her own freedom.

Aaron. The amount of restraint this man showed? Absolutely wild. He’s constantly painted as the villain, but all he ever really wanted was to do right by those he loved. It honestly made me mad how people around him kept jumping to conclusions without hearing his side. Still, he stayed composed—even while dealing with a messy divorce, single fatherhood, and a reputation that’s taken hit after hit.

Their relationship was intense in all the right ways. I loved Aaron and Charlotte’s dynamic as a couple—it felt raw, passionate, and emotionally charged. The story had me switching between smiling like a fool and feeling genuinely frustrated because of how many things kept happening all at once, the emotional whiplash was real. I also didn’t realize this was part of a series, so finding out that other characters had their own stories was such a pleasant surprise.

I would totally recommend this book if you enjoy forbidden romance and age gap! I didn't think that I'd enjoy this but I absolutely did and other people should get to read this book as well!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Aaron is a chef, raising a daughter as a single Dad, totally lacking any movement in the relationship department. He’s given a gift card to a website that has live cam and photos, and stumbles on a profile for hot but very young Cherry. When he goes to a new employer’s home as their hired chef, he’s shocked that Cherry is actually Charlotte, a 23 year old model still living with her controlling mother. Will Aaron be able to keep his attraction under wraps?

***Completely MMC POV
***Age gap (37/23)
***Single Dad
***Steammmmmm

So I loved that this was written totally from Aaron, the male lead’s POV. Definitely a first time for me. This did have some heavier topics than I was surprised to see represented. All and all, I enjoyed this one, and will continue to read novels by the author.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

With a Cherry on Top had me hooked from the very first page. Sweet, sexy, and utterly captivating, this story was an absolute treat. I gave it four stars for its unique perspective told from the MMC’s point of view and the delicious age gap dynamic. The black cat female lead added a compelling layer of mystery and intensity, making this a page turner that I couldn’t put down. Leticia Lorini’s writing sparkles with wit , making every chapter feel like a secret you can’t wait to uncover. A thoroughly enjoyable read that left me wanting more. Highly recommended

*arc review*

Love love love! Ive never actually read anything from this author until this book but now I need to read them. I really enjoyed Charlotte and loved the healthy mature relationship she had with not only Aaron but also herself. For being only 23 I really enjoyed the way she handled things and she wasn’t immature even with the huge gap and different stages of life. Thanks for the fun read!