Effie Olsen’s Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow #bookreview #contemporary #romance

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Title: Effie Olsen’s Summer Special

Author:  Rochelle Bilow

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: April 30, 2024

Page Count:  379 

My rating: 4 stars

About the book:

These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But a surprise summer reunion changes everything when it gives them the chance to turn up the heat.
 
Effie Olsen thought she’d never live on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie’s eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past.

Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline.

But their restaurant has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. Her salty seaside hometown might be the key to Effie’s sweet ending…if she can learn to let her heart lead the way in time.

Effie Olsen’s Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow is a new contemporary romance novel. The story in Effie Olsen’s Summer Special is one of a second chance for life long friends turning into lovers.

When Effie Olsen left her hometown of Alder Isle, a tiny Maine island, Effie never thought she’d be living there again. Effie had big dreams of becoming a top chef and traveling the world. Well, some of that has come true as Effie has spent the last sixteen years abroad working in some great restaurants.

Now however, Effie is forced to return home after her last job did not go so well and needs a job on island to save for her next adventure. For a tiny island Alder Isle does have a Michelin starred restaurant for Effie to apply to work but what Effie didn’t expect was for her ex-best friend Ernie Callahan to also work at Brown Butter. To Ernie Effie was the one that got away which broken down their friendship when she left.

Effie Olsen’s Summer Special is the first book I’ve read from author Rochelle Bilow so I wasn’t sure what to expect but let’s face it that cover drew me in and wouldn’t let me pass it by. I’m such a sucker for a lovely beachy setting whatever the genre is so I certainly settled right into the island life with our resident chef in action. This was a slow burn relationship as the main character wants nothing more than to leave for most of the book but the story was a fun one while waiting out the slow burn. When finished I’d definitely give this author another try in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online:

Goodreads  /  Amazon

About the author:

Rochelle Bilow is a food and romance writer who previously worked as the social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. A graduate of The French Culinary Institute, she has also worked as a line cook, a baker, and a wine spokesperson. Her first book, The Call of the Farm, a swoony farming memoir, was published in 2014. Raised in Syracuse, New York, Rochelle now lives in northern Vermont.