Not one of Beers' better books, I felt like she phoned it in with this one. The characters nor their relationship was developed enough for my liking. Charlie was very wishy washy and pitiful, while Emma was just angry and combative; they both existed on a one dimensional plane. It felt like 80% of the book was conflict, contrived chemistry that was carried over from their past and then they 'get together. There just wasn't enough communication and intimacy to draw me into the romance.

This book for me was an up and down read. I find it confusing when you start a book by an author who you always enjoy the read and love their characters to find you do not like the first character that the book was following. I couldn't work out if I was the problem or if Charlie really was unlikable and if that was done on purpose. Charlie was a struggle to enjoy at first I did find as I continued to read she started to grow on me a little but no where near what I would normally like with Beers characters.

I found the story had a good foundation but didn't delve in deep enough to really have me fully invested. There was a lot of different stories to follow with many unfinished which I found frustrating. I felt a lot of the story covers fluff that doesn't really matter but never really answers or work through the character development.

So I enjoyed parts of this story but didn't enjoy other parts, so like I said at the start up and down read.

This cover is making me want a piece of pie so badly. I was also wishing there would be a recipe in the back for one of the pies like when you read those cozy mysteries, but alas, haha! I hadn’t had the pleasure of reading a Georgia Beers novel before and now that I saw she has written a lot of lesbian novels I may have to start reading through her back catalog.

This novel is full of sexual tension, second chances, and amazing food. Charlie and Emma are our two main characters that were each other’s firsts for a lot of things, but like most young love things broke apart while they were in college and a few bad mistakes were made. It’s been 5 years since Charlie was back in her small hometown and since she had last seen Emma – cue the amazing sexual tension that starts up almost immediately

Emma has all the right in the world to be weary of Charlie since Charlie basically took her heart and stomped on it. I definitely felt more Team!Emma in this novel and wanted Charlie to fix herself so they could be good together again. Emma also runs a restaurant and Charlie takes up a job at the local bakery making pies and man I really want to live in this tiny fictional town.

The novel’s plot goes the way you know it will go, but there’s a lot of really good growth coming from both the characters. I was quite pleased at how Georgia writes these characters and gives them flaws and opportunities to work on themselves. The only thing I wanted more of was seeing Charlie’s family and working on her relationship with them. I also would not mind if this became a small universe and we see books based on some of the other characters, but all wishful thinking! 4/5 stars!

This novel comes out April 14th, but is already available on the publisher’s website : https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/ — definitely going to spend some time on their site.

As always, received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a Georgia Beers book in years. I didn’t stop because her writing was bad but because I had found a new author and read all of her books back to back. When you do something like that then you start to see the similarities that the author brings to each book and I got burned out. It was nice to come back to her. I found the characters and the dialogue to be real. I loved that she did not immediately fall into her exes arms like some authors will write in.

Georgia Beers is one of my favourite authors and so I really had to read this book - and I loved it.

Charlie and Emma are great. I love them, especially Emma is cute and likeable and the one to whom I connected over the pages. Charlie is cute and I love her baking pies and helping in the bakery in general but she was a bit too selfish for my liking. Her developement never went as far as I thought and whished for.

But I loved the side characters and enjoyed the story itself very much,

So 4 stars for this one.

FLAVOR OF THE MONTH by Georgia Beers is a difficult book to review. On the one hand, it's a good read, even if the plot was a familiar one. The cooking scenes in the restaurant, as well as the baking in the bakery were enjoyable to read. Give me some peanut butter and chocolate pie! But, on the other hand, the characters weren' that believable. I found myself impatient at the amount of angst the two main characters keep wallowing in. And I found it difficult to believe that Emma could forgive Charlie so easily for causing her so much pain. I think that the book could have been much better if there had been less angst, less second guessing by the characters, and much more pie.

I will start by saying I am a huge fan of Ms. Beer and her writing but this particular book just didn't click with me. It isn't that I disliked this book it was just didn't really grab me in that 'can't put it down' way. Maybe I wasn't meant to be the target audience from an age perspective (the main 2 characters are mid/late 20s), and the characters felt a bit flat for me.

I liked that both Emma and Charlie were stand on their own millennial' gals, but the writing spent way to much on Emma's 'I hate her/I love her' monologue in her head. And Charlie, well she made a decision in college that came pack to bite her, but to much guilt was piled on that got a bit much. I did like that Ms. Beer did touch back on some of their history, but I guess it wasn't deep enough for me to really see why both characters were so beaten down by the whole thing.

The other issue I had was the the sub-characters were not flushed out at all, but yet time was put in to bring them in at key moments - Emma's mom was written about a few times as an alcoholic and bitter about Emma's dad leaving but yet by the end there was no understanding of why. Which brings me to Emma's dad, which was used as a catalyst to bring Emma and Charlie together but absolutely no resolution as to why he left in the first place, which could have come from Emma's mom, but that character was dropped 1/2 way through the book.

I did love the colorful writing Ms. Beers puts into the scenery and surrounding area/locations you find the characters in (small town, bakery, location) but it seem with this book more time was spent in that then really developing the characters (sorry).

Again, this isn't a bad book, I finished in in a few days, but it isn't one of those books I put in my re-read pile (these are in my re-read pile: Puppy Love series, Fresh Tracks, Blend).

I love Georgia Beers and have read or listened to almost every one of her books. One of the many things that I like about her work is her characters and the development of them. She does another wonderful job in Flavor of the Month, but this one had a rarity for me. I absolutely disliked the character of Emma. While I understand the hurt that she was going through with Charlie leaving at the beginning, but she carries that grudge for years afterward. She comes across as very vindictive and not a very approachable person. The HEA is there at the end, but I would have been just fine with Charlie leaving again. Emma never indicated that she was willing to forgive.

Overall, the story is very enjoyable and if you have read any of Beers' work before you will enjoy this one as well. While there are a couple of hot sex scenes, the story itself is about Emma and Charlie's relationship and trying to mend fences.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Whenever you hear that Georgia Beers has come out with a new book, as an avid romance reader, you have to get your hands on it as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, this book had a very slow pace and it took me longer than expected to actually finish it.

What I can actually appreciate was the character chemistry and the lack of drama. I guess that lack of drama can always be good as it makes the setting of the book more believable.

Overall, it was good but not Georgia’s best. I often go back to read her books at least twice, highly doubt I will pick this one up again, sadly.

Loved loved loved this book. From start to finish I enjoyed the characters and found myself thinking back over it after I’d finished and started reading another book.

I like both the main characters and loved the talk of connection between them. I’ve been in this situation myself and understand the pull of someone for no apparent reason. I loved the scenes when Em met her family and how supportive Charlie was

I also loved the side characters - Em’s mum, The girls in the bakery, Charlie’s dad and the warmth - or stress - of these relationships was easy to feel

I didn’t realise it was the second Giorgia Beers book i have read but I will definitely look for more. I loved it - and this one even more than the last.

Charlie's life has crumbled under her feet and she has to go home to her parent's place in Vermont because she has no place to live, she's unemployed, and she has barely any money left.

Emma also left and came back to the small town both women grew up in. But, she was back a few years ago, and has a restaurant, EG, in town. She has a bit of a problem with her Mom, but, other than that her life seems pretty perfect.

But, since Charlie broke her heart at the end of college she has not had any significant relationships.

When they meet again, at first it is not good. Lots of tension. But, then they do get closer (hey, it's a romance).

I really liked the baking and the cooking in the novel (and was most definitely hungry after reading it, yummm). It was a fun, and also on occasion thought provoking, novel. Can people really change?

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

A small-town, second chance romance from one of the queens of the genre. As always, a novel from Georgia Beers is going to be well-written, easy to read, and star two pretty femmes in their 20s or 30s. And I'm good with that. Flavor of the Month had a few problems for me. What happened to Emma's mother? Did she ever get help? How did she feel about Emma going to her Dad's funeral? How does a 28-year-old without rich parents get a business loan for a restaurant? How does a 28-year-old churn out perfect pie crust after years without doing it? (I consider myself a baker and I can NOT do pie crust.)

Charlie is not the first college graduate to aspire to life in the big city, so that didn't bother me, even if she did leave her family and girlfriend behind. When you're that age you only think about yourself. I did find it unrealistic that Darcy would turn Charlie out with no money though. That seems excessively heartless. I was rooting for Charlie and Emma to reunite. But I didn't feel 100% good about it without an epilogue. Maybe rather than a happily ever after, this is a happy for now story.

This is one of Georgia Beers better books. All her books are good, but this one is even better.

Charlie unceremoniously dumped her highschool sweetheart, Emma, in college for flashy Manhattan, flashy job and the powerful career woman, Darcy. She never looked back. That's until she lost it all.
Five years later she is back to her small hometown broke, jobless, homeless and dumped by Darcy. She gets a job at the bakery right across the street from Emma's restaurant. While embracing her old love of baking pies Charlie tries to mend her relationship with Emma and reconnect with her family and old friends.

The flashbacks of when Charlie broke Emma's heart are angsty. I think Emma was a bit too easy on Charlie considering how broken she was about the betrayal. Charlie still had to work hard to gain Emma's trust again tho. All the while struggling with the decision of staying or going back to the big city.

A book that will keep you reading in one sitting.

Right off the bat I want to mention that I'm an unashamed Georgia Beers fan. She's one of those rare authors who I'll pick up no matter what, without even reading the blurb!

In this latest story, Charlie and Emma were best friends and girlfriends, but Charlie let herself be lured away by a fancy new woman with a promise of a big-city life. It's been 5 years since Charlie left Emma, and now Charlie's been dumped by her new woman and is forced to return home and live in her parent's basement. Of course, her new job at the local bakery puts her right into the path of her old friend and lover, Emma, since Emma runs her own restaurant. Emma hasn't forgiven Charlie either, and the two become close again, Emma begins to wonder if Charlie has really changed.

I loved the tension between Charlie and Emma at the outset of this story. The push/pull was just right for me. I could have used a bit more romantic buildup, but the pacing felt right overall. There's an engaging cast of side characters, but I did find it odd that some showed up in the beginning but never came back later in the story. This left some of the subplots that these side characters were involved in feeling a bit unresolved to me in the end.

All in all, this is a very engaging read, but left me feeling a touch flat overall. It's a nice story and still still enjoyable, but I didn't connect to the main characters quite as much as I usually do for some reason. The food and sparkling cast of side characters absolutely stole the show in this one!
For me. 3.75 stars.

**Many thanks to Bold Strokes for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.**

Typically, I love all of Georgia Beers' book because I have been a fan since her first book many years ago. However, this book had several problems. Characters are two places at once. Charlie is supposed to be at the bakery, but she is also at a festival. Emma's deadbeat dad that left her and her mother is a racial stereotype. It just seemed too convenient to do this. Also, Emma's mother who is an alcoholic, the situation with her is never resolved. She was a minor character, but had a huge impact on why Emma is in the profession she is in. The characters, in my opinion, weren't very likeable. Charlie is too stuck in the past and complains, while Emma is very bitch, stuck in the past and not a very nice person. I had high hopes of this one, but came away with meh.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read a Georgia Beers book that I didn't love. Throw in a small town and I'm enamored. Charlie and Emma were High School sweethearts until they grew apart because of the distance between them. Then Charlie was swept off her feet by the glamorous and successful Darcy. Darcy got tired of her and sent her packing. No place to stay and no money. She comes home with her tail between her legs.
Charlie gets a job as a pie baker in the shop across the street from Emma's restaurant. The story is how they came back together but how they get there is fabulous. Taking a ex back requires a lot of trust which was broken. Georgia Beers did an excellent job conveying the emotions of love, loss and heartbreak. Both Charlie and Emma were very likable characters. I fell in love a little with them both. It also made me hungry for pie.

Georgia Beers writes another charming romance..Charlie fled her home leaving behind her high-school sweetheart Emma for the city life after falling for someone else. Years later she returns home after being dumped. What she didn't realize is that her former love has become successful as chef and owner of the go to restaurant in town. Emma was hurt badly when Charlie chose to step away from what they had. Now that the latter is back, they can't help feeling more alive in each other's presence. Charlie rediscovers her baking skills and slowly earns her way to win Emma over again.

Charlie left her small town to go to college and never looked back. During college, she is approached by Darcy Wells, an influential and successful businesswoman and offered a job to work for her. Excited about the job offer she called her girlfriend Emma to share the news but Emma didn't like that Charlie got the offer because of Darcy's reputation and told Charlie not to take the job. Five years later, after taking the job and breaking up with Emma, Charlie is on her way back to her small town jobless, homeless, and heartbroken. On her return home, she realized just how much she has to make up for her past decisions and feels guilt and shame over the way she left home. Moreover, she is regretful about leaving her first love Emma who lives in Shaker falls and owns a restaurant.
In her acknowledgment, Georgia beer stated that the book was about forgiveness, lost trust and change -whether a person can change or not. The concept was good and would have made for a great book if the main character wasn't so self-deprecating and full of so much shame and guilt, concerning the situation I think it was overdone. In trying to incorporate her concept of forgiveness, change and gaining back lost trust the author put too much pressure on Charlie's character - she had so much to make up for and no one there to support her and tell her that her choices made five years ago was humane.

This book was a 2/5 star read for me because I believe the concepts were not executed properly and needed to be done in order for readers to grasps what the author is trying to say.

This book is vintage Georgia Beer’s. It grabbed you from the first page and keeps you engrossed into you finish the book. The story revolves around Charlie and Emma to friends from middle school until they became lovers in high school with a love they thought would last forever. However during the college years both women were separated due to the different colleges they attended. When Charlie got an offer to go to New York to work with a high end advertising executive, Emma told her a relationship with this woman would not last yet Charlie went and broke Emma’s heart as a result.
Four years later when Charlie feels broken because she lost her job her apartment and her lover she moves back to a small town in Vermont we are one day she walked into a new restaurant and found Emma was there as the owner and chief. The two women have a visceral reaction when they see each other again, Charlie one of sadness and Emma one of her hurt so big she couldn’t seem to forgive Charlie. As the story moves on and Charlie gets a job baking pies ,which she enjoys and is very good at, she again encounters Emma on a daily basis when she delivers pies to her restaurant. Ever so slowly these two seem to find that they maybe could be friends again when of course Charlie gets a job offer in Boston. She’s torn between Boston and moving to a big city for a job she was trained to do or staying in small town Vermont baking pies. What is a woman to do?
This is a wonderful book so well written as you would expect from Beers.

4.25 stars

It's been five years since Charlie Stetko allowed a fancy woman and promises of a big-city life lure her away from her then best friend and girlfriend, Emma Grier. Now, Charlie's been dumped by said woman, forcing her to return home to live in her parents' basement. Her new job at the local bakery has Charlie running into Emma, who now runs her own restaurant in town. Emma hasn't forgiven Charlie for shattering her heart, but as the two fall back into their old ways, Emma finds herself asking if people really can change.

This was a really sweet and satisfying read, and not just because of the amazing descriptions of baked goods that Charlie makes. Both Charlie and Emma are really likable. The narration switches between third person limited POVs for Charlie and Emma, and I really enjoyed the inside look into both characters' thought processes, which is clearly laid out for us. Georgia Beers does a great job of articulating their feelings in a totally realistic way. It makes sense that Emma is reserved towards Charlie at the beginning, and Charlie seems truly sorry for her past bad decisions.

I liked the initial tension between Charlie and Emma, although the switch flips pretty suddenly around the halfway mark. After that, everything falls into place quickly, which meant that I never felt the plot dragging, but I do wish I had seen a bit more lead up to them making up (and out).

There was also a lovely cast of side characters, many of whom I would have loved to see more. The only thing was that there were some side characters that we see for a little bit in the first half and then don't see again, and the subplots that they're involved in feel unresolved by the end of the book.

All in all, an engaging read! I would definitely recommend.

*I received an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.