A Sweet Mess: A Novel

by Jayci Lee Narrated by Natalie Naudus

Overview

Jayci Lee delivers “a perfect balance of impeccable wit, laugh out loud hilarity, and off the charts chemistry. A Sweet Mess is a sinfully decadent romantic comedy.”-New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting

Aubrey Choi has been content running her highly successful bakery Comfort Zone and with its first expansion taking up all of her time, dating has been the least of her priorities. Then a one-night-stand with gorgeous Korean hunk Landon Kim makes her want things she didn't think she had time for. Too bad it turns out he's a celebrity food critic whose scathing review of Comfort Zone goes viral and nearly destroys Aubrey's business-and her fond memory of their night together.

Landon tries to clean up the mess he made by offering Aubrey a spot on the new celebrity cooking show he's producing. She agrees to use this as a way to save her bakery and her reputation-no thanks to him-but vows to guard her heart. Now Aubrey and Landon find themselves sharing a villa in California wine country, which is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. For the next three weeks, baker and critic will tempt each other as they struggle to resist admitting that they have all the necessary ingredients for love.

“A rich, vibrant romance that's a feast for all the senses.”-#1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Griffin

Editorial Reviews

AUGUST 2020 - AudioFile

Aren’t one-night-stands the worst? This delightful rom-com performance by Natalie Naudus begs to differ. Aubrey Choi, a successful baker, quenches her dry spell by hooking up with handsome, charming Landon only to discover that he is the very same food critic who wrote a nasty review of her business due to a mixed-up order. Landon later apologizes for his review by offering to work with Aubrey in a seemingly doomed business partnership. Naudus depicts both Aubrey and Landon as hardheaded individuals who fail to keep their emotions in check. All this is a setup for a humorous story, and the moments when these characters do connect are warm, tender, and sincere. A memorable performance for romantic comedy lovers. G.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

04/13/2020

Lee (Temporary Wife Temptation) whips up a sweet but uneven rom-com that plays out on the set of a cooking show. Baker Aubrey Choi has a one-night stand with Landon Kim without knowing he’s a food critic, and Landon pans Aubrey’s bakery without knowing she’s the owner after a mix-up leads him to choke on a gummy worm in a Bundt cake. To apologize for his hasty judgment and possibly business-ending review, Landon gets Aubrey a spot as a guest star on a cooking show. Landon and Aubrey must share a villa during filming, and despite their efforts to stay friends, neither can forget their one-night stand. Lee grounds this classic will-they-or-won’t-they in cultural specificity, but the facile use of common ethnic stereotypes (“When she smiled, her almond-shaped gray eyes tilted up in the corners, adding to her ethereal beauty,” she writes of Aubrey) will disappoint readers hoping for fresher characterization from #OwnVoices fare. Though the lavish descriptions of gourmet desserts are mouthwatering, the overwrought writing slows the pace and lessens the impact of key emotional moments. Foodies and rom-com readers not particular about their prose will gobble this down, but others may find it tough to swallow. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (July)

From the Publisher

Book Riot, "Sweet as Sugar Romances for Spring (and Summer)"

"Korean American author Jayci Lee is on metaphorical fire this year and A Sweet Mess will make you want Netflix to hire her to write a slate of witty rom-coms, STAT." - Cosmopolitan

"Lee's lush romance is a delectable delight." - Booklist

"Lee’s (Temporary Wife Temptation) latest is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Amy E. Reichert’s The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. Readers will get lost in Aubrey’s sugary creations while rooting for the characters to find their happily ever after." - Library Journal

"Lee is a gifted writer, particularly when writing about the all-consuming power of desire." - Entertainment Weekly

"A perfect balance of impeccable wit, laugh out loud hilarity, and off the charts chemistry. A Sweet Mess is a sinfully decadent romantic comedy!" —Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

"A rich, vibrant romance that's a feast for all the senses!"- Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"A wonderful twist on a classic romance...this is a fun summer read that is best enjoyed poolside or at the beach." - Lit Up, Southern California News Group

Library Journal

04/01/2020

Aubrey Choi's bakery business is thriving—until a scathing review from a famous food critic, who happens to be someone she had a previous connection with, puts all her hard work into jeopardy. Critic Landon Kim cannot stop thinking about Aubrey. He learns that his review was unfair and based on a misunderstanding and feels horrible. However, he believes that he cannot retract his review since it will shed light on their previous encounter and damage their careers. Instead, he offers Aubrey the chance of a lifetime to help her struggling business and hopes it is enough to warrant a second chance with her. VERDICT Lee's (Temporary Wife Temptation) latest is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Amy E. Reichert's The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. Readers will get lost in Aubrey's sugary creations while rooting for the characters to find their happily ever after.—Ashli Wells, Vanderbilt Univ. Law Lib., Nashville

AUGUST 2020 - AudioFile

Aren’t one-night-stands the worst? This delightful rom-com performance by Natalie Naudus begs to differ. Aubrey Choi, a successful baker, quenches her dry spell by hooking up with handsome, charming Landon only to discover that he is the very same food critic who wrote a nasty review of her business due to a mixed-up order. Landon later apologizes for his review by offering to work with Aubrey in a seemingly doomed business partnership. Naudus depicts both Aubrey and Landon as hardheaded individuals who fail to keep their emotions in check. All this is a setup for a humorous story, and the moments when these characters do connect are warm, tender, and sincere. A memorable performance for romantic comedy lovers. G.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177077260
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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