I love Georgia Beers, but this one did drag a little bit for me, compared to her others. The steamy scenes definitely worked. The one-dimensional narcissistic baking millionaire confused me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my second book by Beers and I keep loving her stuff! I really liked that this took place at a baking retreat, instead of a televised competition, but still held on to elements of the latter.

This was a fun read, and inspired me to do some baking of my own! The descriptions of the food was delightful.

I thought our MCs worked great for each other- they balanced each other out. And it also got quite steamy!!

I love Beers' heartfelt writing. You can really tell that these characters are well-developed and can understand their thought processes. I appreciated that the conflict was balanced, instead of one person being completely in the wrong. This approach to the conflict (and thus the resolution) makes the writing that much more relatable.

If you're a vibe/seasonal reader like me, this book is set first in NYC then at a fancy retreat outside of NYC (I can't remember the name? the Hamptons?) There is a significant event that takes place during the fourth of July. As a Canadian, I felt a bit weary as we approached this holiday (considering our current political climate), however, the 4th was described far more about fireworks, picnics, and spending time with loved ones rather than America is Great patriotism (not that I would expect that from Beers, but still made me anxious as we approached the July fourth celebration in the book). There is also a significant event that speaks to Pride, which was a really lovely part of the book! In all, this is a great summer book to read during June/July. I recommend reading it with your favourite fancy pastry (or five!)

Can't wait to read more of Beers' work!

Whisk me away, a sapphic spicy rom-com about Ava Prescott and Regan Jennings, both succesfull pastry chefs who get the opportunity of a lifetime to meet their bakery idol Liza I dont know what, in a 8 week reatreat, only down side? they strongly dislike each other.
Good side? They are both beautiful, talented and mature so they got this.. right?
This was such a confort read, as a reader I'm not that much into rom coms because they always rely on the same tools, miscommunication, ( if there's any communication at all ) straight up dumb situations, supposedly funny, BUT this book has none of it, the two main characters are to strong women ( not teenagers ) in charge of themselves and of their sexuality ( so refreshing ) and they handle everything life throws at them with grace.
It was A MA ZING
Was it a life changing read? No, but is a cozy read, its sweet, short, sapphic with lots of bakery included.
This author turned into a insta read for me.
I recommend it for any sapphic loving readers, specially those who are tired of the same storyline repeated over and over.
( The spicy level its like a really tasty sauce, you dont need too much because its reaaally good, if thats what you want to know)

Thanks NetGalley and to BSB for this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions here stated are my own.

I am a huge fan of Georgia Beers and this bookmdid not disappointed!
If you like Ms. Beers you must read this! If you don't know who she is, you must acquaint yourself with her now!
I highly recommend this book!

As someone who’s obsessed with baking and can rewatch MasterChef on a loop, this book was such a fun little escape.

It follows Regan and Ava, two pastry chefs who land a spot at this super exclusive baking retreat run by a celebrity chef. But here’s the twist—Ava and Regan have history. Like, awkward, unresolved tension kind of history. And now they’re stuck sharing a room.

The retreat itself feels like a dream at first but soon, the host gives off mysterious villain vibes. She’s cold, unpredictable, and honestly kind of mean sometimes. But somehow, that makes the story even more fun to read.

What I really loved was how well the side characters were written. Each of them had their own thing going on, and it made the whole setting feel super real. And Regan and Ava’s slow shift from awkward ex-friends to something sweeter and wholesome.

It was definitely cozy, dramatic in the best way, (and I love dramas) and full of warm, queer energy and baked goods. Basically: if The Great British Bake Off had a little more emotional damage and romantic tension, this would be it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Georgia Beers for giving me a copy of this book to read.

This is such a cosy comfy read! It captured both the sweetness and the edge of watching a baking show, with the added bonus of the goings on behind the screen. I loved getting to know the characters, their motives and drive and the ins and outs.

I LOVED the aspect of the two mcs having known each other beforehand, I thought that was such a good plot device and a good way to set up the actual romance between them. Such a good touch. AND THE WRITING!!!!!! I love love love books with this much depth and lore and such a cosy rainy-day-read kind of writing style, which the author has perfected massively.

Just an overall really lovely book! I’ve already recommended to my friends and family

I love Georgia Beers and I loved this book! So much so that I bought a copy for my best friend. I enjoyed the romance between Ava and Reagan but I also loved the dynamic between all the bakers on the retreat. I hated the chef with a passion!! The only little middle for me was the very very ending, which I didn’t lové. But the rest of the book made up for it ❤️

This was a beautifully gorgeous story. I had a really good time reading it and thought it to be genuinely lovely and just wholesome. I love a good sapphic story with emotional warmth and a good plot. Both main characters proved to be well written and interesting, leading the story to new heights. I really enjoyed this :)

5 stars ⭐
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Whisk Me Away has all the good ingredients for a good book - enemies to lovers, baking, beautiful scenery, and steamy scenes. I couldn't put this book down. Ava and Regan run into each other years after a not so great end to their working relationship and can't believe they're looking to do the same baking competition together. Their time out of the real world and competing in a wild woman's whimsical (not in a good way) competition brings lots of excitement and unexpected turns.

I found the characters to be interesting and the dialogue real. I didn't entirely love the ending - I thought it was a bit too easily done - but aside from that I loved the whole book. It made me want to learn to bake. But I'm not good at baking so I'll leave it to Ava and Regan.

Regan and Ava secure a spot on a very selective retreat by a very famous chef and they could not be more thrilled. That is until they find out about the other's presense. Turns out these two have history.

Georgia Beers never fails to get me invested even though I gotta be honest I wasn't realy looking for a story about chefs. Those kind of stories always leave me so hungry. But the chemistry was there and the other chefs were diverse and entertaining. I wish we could have seen more background story on them.

I hated the famous TV chef with a passion and hope she slips on a banana peel in her kitchen. One can dream right.

An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

Whisk Me Away is set in a baking retreat that started out as the ideal place for Ava, Regan and four other young chefs to hone there baking skills with a successful tv chef who soon turns it into a highly competitive challenge. Regan has issues with Ava from a previous job and can’t believe her bad luck to be roommates with her and find out that she really isn’t the same person she once worked for.

This is Beers in her happy place, surrounded by ingredients to make a romantic love story amongst delicious desserts. These two bounce off one another from the start and create some heat, in and out of the kitchen. I enjoyed it.

I like the concept but this book reminded me too much of some of the other recent sapphic books I have read with the opposites attract storyline.

I reaaally wanted to love this book! I thought the premise was so interesting and could make for such an interesting interplay between the characters. However, I found the largest complication of the novel to be heavily cliche/expected (built up and therefore predictable) and I didn't wholly agree with who was in the wrong there (especially due to the emphasised past between the characters). That being said, I did like the characters and their romance + the development that was present over time despite the shortness of the novel (short and sweet perhaps). Moreover the end was very tied-in-a-bow and expected albeit a nice simple addition (I'd have loved a later epilogue but that's just me). Overall it may be worth a read for avid romance readers as a short and sweet book but for myself I found it off putting at times in its stereotypical adherence to the genre and microtropes (it felt a lot longer than it was!!!).

Whisk Me Away is must-see TV. When the famous host arranges a retreat for up-and-coming pastry chefs, Regan Callahan applies. Everything she’s been working for is served up hot and delicious right under her nose: recognition of her self-taught skills, learning from a master, there’s even been a secret prize hinted at that just might give her the means to buy her boss’s bakery when he retires. It’s not supposed to be a competition, but if it is, she’ll do anything to win.

Ava Prescott has no intention of allowing that to happen. Not that she’s worried. Regan doesn’t have what it takes. Just like she couldn’t excel with Ava as her boss when they worked together at the high-end restaurant in New York City. Their rivalry sharp as a lemon tart, Ava’s going to win, then she’ll ditch the high-pressure kitchen and open a small restaurant where she’ll have the creative freedom to follow her instincts, and her unique desserts will blossom.

I adored this story! Georgia Beers is the queen of cozy romance for me, and I really enjoyed this food-centered delight! Ave and Regan were perfect, their chemistry was hot, and the retreat was the perfect setting for a romance. Loved this! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Tension and drama all the way!

Regan applies to a retreat for pastry chefs that is run by her idol and host of the TV show Whisk Me Away, Ava has also applied and she and Regan have a past. The retreat isn’t a completion, but Ava is determined to win the prize on offer at the end.

Right from the start there was drama in this story. Regan and Ava being at the retreat together brought instant tension in such a good way, especially when fate also had them sharing a room. For a long while they avoided talking about the issue they had with one another, but in a way only fate can it had other plans for them. When events bring them closer together, denial they have feelings for one another is then the catalyst as they try to hold onto past resentments. Again events take turns beyond their control though and make sure they are going to brought closer together, their emotions and hearts have other plans. They were surrounded by other attendees at the retreat that also brought extra levels to the story with their own worries and dreams to win, so it wasn’t just a rivalry between Regan and Ava that could change their ability to win.

While Ava and Regan were opposites, they actually did have a lot in common, especially their admiration for their idol. There was more than just their abilities to bake being tested at the retreat, and some of the tasks really took their toll on them all. More than once Ava took a knock and her confidence suffered. While Regan could have used that to her advantage, she didn’t, and that really won me over. I knew she was just hurt by what happened between her and Ava and had been protecting herself before, but when it really came down to it she really cared about Ava and went out of her way to support her, try to build her up, and help her in any way she could when she was allowed to. It was an interesting play on reality competitions without it being a television show that really exposed true natures of people when under pressure and feeling threatened. It also held an important messages that kindness always wins out and should be practiced always. After all, you never really know what someone else is going through.

Really loved the story and it had all I have come to know and love from a Georgia Beers romance. I cannot wait to read this story again, it was fun, yet deeply emotionally charged.

Georgia Beers’ latest novel, Whisk Me Away, invites readers into a world where ambition meets artistry in the high-stakes arena of elite pastry chefs. With its cozy-yet-competitive setting, familiar warmth, and a dash of romantic tension, the novel has all the ingredients of an enjoyable read. While it may not rise to the heights of Beers’ most emotionally stirring stories, Whisk Me Away still offers a charming escape filled with sugar, spice, and a touch of rivalry.

At the center of the novel are Regan Callahan and Ava Prescott, two talented bakers with a tangled professional history. When they’re both chosen to attend an exclusive baking retreat hosted by a celebrity chef, they’re forced to share space, confront old wounds, and—possibly—discover something new between them. The set-up promises a classic slow burn: rivals with history, forced proximity, and emotional baggage. There’s a natural tension built into the premise, and Beers uses it to create an appealing framework for a story about growth, forgiveness, and second chances.

For some readers, however, the romance between Ava and Regan may feel a little too easy. The story introduces their past conflict—Ava’s role in Regan losing a job—but resolves it quickly, with little of the lingering tension or gradual emotional buildup that characterizes Beers’ best romantic arcs. While the story certainly embraces warmth and optimism, those who crave more complexity in their love stories might wish for a few more layers and slower development. Still, for readers who enjoy a gentler romantic journey without prolonged angst, this approach could feel like a refreshing change of pace.

One of the more polarizing elements of the novel is the retreat host, a larger-than-life TV chef who brings a strong (and sometimes perplexing) presence to the story. Her actions—tough love or just plain tough—spark tension throughout the retreat. While her character arc may leave some readers scratching their heads, it does add dramatic flavor and raises interesting questions about mentorship, expectations, and the cost of ambition.

Where Whisk Me Away truly shines is in its immersive story world. Beers excels at creating settings that readers can simply lose themselves in, and the retreat, with its cozy kitchen drama and low-key reality TV vibes, feels both aspirational and intimate. The ensemble cast of diverse pastry chefs brings texture to the story, offering moments of humor, camaraderie, and friendship. And, as always, Beers’ accessible prose and natural dialogue keep the story flowing smoothly.

That said, the novel sometimes feels caught between two tones: it flirts with being a sharp-edged competition story, while also leaning into the warmth of a mentorship retreat. This tonal ambivalence may make the story feel a bit uneven in places. Still, there’s an underlying sweetness that carries the narrative, and many readers will appreciate its lighter touch.

In the end, Whisk Me Away may not be Georgia Beers’ most layered or emotionally intense offering, but it remains a pleasant, easy-to-digest romance. It’s a gentle read with a compelling premise, likable leads, and just enough kitchen drama to keep things interesting. Fans of Beers’ comforting style will find much to enjoy here, even if the emotional impact is a little softer than expected. For newcomers, it serves a solid introduction to her lovely storytelling style, delivering a feel-good experience with heart, humor, and a spoonful of sweetness.

Another good read by Georgia Beers. It was engaging enough that I finished quickly, but it missed that spark that she knows how to add to her books. I felt that the wrap up/letter from the Martha Steward wannabe was ridiculous and the break up/make up happened way to quickly. Like I said, I know she can write better stories than this because I've read all of her books - she's written books that have made me cry and read countless times. This unfortunately isn't one of those books. That's not to say it wasn't a good read - it just wasn't what I was hoping for.

Solid read but not the best, I was promised by someone else I would love it because it was just like the <Aubrey McFadden Is Never Getting Married > but I disagreed. All in all, I enjoyed it but not my favorite.

Another book by the one and only Georgia Beers. Another book that I just had to read, so I did. Ava Prescott, along with Regan Callahan were chosen to join four other pastry chef’s to attend a retreat run by none other than Master Pastry Chef Liza Bennett-Schmidt. Each year she chose six pastry chef’s to come to her very private retreat.
Regan and Ava didn’t know any of the other chef’s but they did know each other. Having worked together in a restaurant but they did not get along. Regan felt Ava was too much of a know it all, while Ava thought Regan didn’t have the chops to work in the finer restaurants. It did give Ava a chance to fire Regan. They haven’t seen each other since but they didn’t forget what had happened.
All the chef’s were here to learn all they could from one of the best pastry chefs, Ms. Bennett-Schmidt. Over her career has grown using her TV show, numerous cook books, and even has her own line of cookware. What she didn’t tell them was that they'd have a chance to win a hundred thousand dollars.
Oh, did I mention Ms. Bennett Schmidt had room set up for the pastry chefs, two to a room and just their luck, Regan and Ava had to share. Ms Georgia still surprises me with the journey her characters go through. Lots of laughs along the way make this one a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

Ava and Regan have both been invited by their idol to a sort of 8 week intensive master class with 4 other bakers. Except, it turns into more of a competition. And, even though Ava and Regan have a bit of a past, they get closer. But, then, thanks to the famous chef and a bunch of other stuff too, it gets even more complicated for the two of them.

I didn't love the end, or the part right before the end. It seemed imbalanced and just made me wince, hard, repeatedly. I did like all the characters, well, except for the famous chef, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to like her. It was a solid book. Not my most favorite, but, not the worst I've read either.