Salty, Bitter, Sweet
- Fiction
- Publisher: Blink (HarperCollins Focus)
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped … especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the line. Isa’s family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. And after moving in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, Isa feels like an outsider in her father’s new life. She balances her time between avoiding the awkward “why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom” conversation and her di ligent aspiration to become a premiere chef. Despite Isa’s world being turned upside-down, h er father’s house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard’s renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order—and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in an haute kitchen. But Isa’s stress and repressed grief begin to unravel further when the enigmatic Diego shows up at the house unannounced. How can Isa expect to hold it together when she’s at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with Diego reach a boiling point? Mixing up only the best ingredients, Salty, Bitter, Sweet: Is a clean and wholesome rival - to - lovers trope set in a cutthroat kitchen environment Is a perfect book for foodies ages 13 and up, and features a Latina main character who is trilingual Explores complicated family dynamics and relatable themes of friendship, acceptance, grief, and learning to care for yourself Perfect for TV fans of Top Chef, Chopped, and T he Great British Bake-off, as well as YA titles such as With the Fire on High or A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Has authentic representation of Mayra Cuevas’ background
Endorsements (6)
“A story that will fill your heart and warm your belly.”
“Poignant and heartfelt, Salty, Bitter, Sweet has it all. Full of culture, love, and loss, every page is a feast for the senses in a story that never shies away from exploring complicated family dynamics. Cuevas’s writing is pure magic.”
“Salty, Bitter, Sweet sparkles with wit, humor, and heart. Cuevas’s debut is as delectable a morsel as the gourmet creations aspiring chef Isa creates along her journey to find her place in her family, the culinary world, and her first romantic relationship. I devoured this charming novel in one sitting and can’t wait for more from this talented author.”
“Sweet, delicious, and beautifully layered—not unlike the perfect mille crêpe cake. You’ll want to devour this book immediately.”
“Both deeply poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, Mayra Cuevas’s Salty, Bitter, Sweet expertly blends heartbreak, romance, and the joy that comes from letting go of expectations and learning to love yourself—the perfect ingredients for this deliciously satisfying debut!”
“What a magnificent treat. This novel is delicious and nutritious, with a captivating romance garnished in family drama. Cuevas has crafted a page-turning tale that explores our most private motivations.”
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