Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly: My Honest Book Review
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⭐ Quick Verdict
⭐ My Rating: 5 ★
💭 Quick Take: One of my favorite romances of 2026, Yes, Chef serves up exceptional grumpy sunshine chemistry, unforgettable found family, and a slow burn that’s every bit as satisfying as the incredible food.
👉 Read If You Love:
- romances that make you hungry
- emotionally guarded heroes with soft hearts
- watching two people rebuild their confidence alongside their relationship
- restaurant settings that feel completely immersive
- found families that become just as memorable as the romance
- slow burns where every cooking lesson and stolen glance builds the chemistry
🚫 Skip if:
- Food-centered stories aren’t your thing.
- You want a fast-paced romance over one that takes its time building the emotional connection.
Book Details
Release Date: July 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Only One Bed, Tortured Hero, Former Foster Child, Mental Health Representation, Social Influencer, Chef, Slow Burn
Series: Standalone
Steam Level: High
POV: Dual
What This Book Is About
Losing his job and a very public meltdown later, celebrity chef Jack returns to Florida to help resurrect a struggling restaurant, hoping one successful comeback will earn him another chance at landing the head chef position he’s always wanted in New York.
Poppy is tired of being seen as the directionless social influencer her family believes she’ll always be. Determined to prove she’s capable of more, she inserts herself into Jack’s new venture despite his protests. As the two spend more time together rebuilding the restaurant, they slowly discover they’re creating something far more meaningful than a successful business.
My Review of Yes, Chef
Grace Reilly absolutely dazzled me with Yes, Chef. It had already landed on my list of the most anticipated romance books of the summer, yet somehow still exceeded every expectation. This is easily one of my favorite romance books of the year and one I can’t stop recommending.
I don’t hand out five-star ratings often, but this one earned every single star. From the opening pages, Jack and Poppy have that irresistible enemies-to-lovers chemistry that immediately pulled me in, while their grumpy sunshine dynamic is executed about as perfectly as I’ve ever read.
The emotion behind this romance is what makes it so unforgettable. Jack has spent his entire life believing he’s disposable. After growing up in foster care, he’s convinced he’s unwanted, making it nearly impossible for him to trust that someone could genuinely choose him. Poppy, meanwhile, desperately wants to prove she’s capable after years of feeling dismissed by her family as the carefree, directionless daughter who will never measure up. Watching these two slowly become exactly what the other needs made every romantic moment feel completely earned.
Jack completely stole my heart. Beneath his sharp tongue, impossible standards, and no-nonsense attitude in the kitchen is an incredibly vulnerable man carrying years of hurt. His reason for returning to Florida and fighting so hard to revive the restaurant gave the story real emotional stakes, but it was his cooking lessons with Poppy that completely won me over. Those scenes became some of my favorites as their relationship deepened one recipe at a time.
Poppy was equally wonderful. She could have easily become the stereotypical wealthy influencer heroine, but Grace gives her so much depth. She’s funny, determined, endlessly optimistic, and refuses to let Jack push her away. Her struggles with feeling “good enough” for her family, along with her ADHD representation, is something that I think will really resonate with readers. I loved watching her discover just how capable she really was, both inside and outside the restaurant.
What makes their relationship feel so believable is that neither character is trying to fix the other. Jack gives Poppy the confidence to trust herself, while Poppy becomes the first person who refuses to let Jack believe he’s unworthy of love. They don’t simply fall in love, they become the first people to truly see one another for who they are, giving each other the confidence to stop chasing someone else’s approval and finally believe they’re enough.
Beyond the romance, the found family surrounding the restaurant was delightful. Add in the witty banter, mouthwatering descriptions of every dish coming out of the kitchen, and a slow burn that absolutely sizzles by the end, and I was completely hooked.
Grace Reilly has always been talented at balancing humor, emotional depth, and chemistry, but I truly think this is some of her strongest work yet. If you’re looking for a romance where two people slowly realize they’re worthy of love while building something meaningful together, don’t miss this one.
I received an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
What I Loved
- Jack and Poppy’s pitch-perfect grumpy sunshine chemistry.
- The cooking lessons that gradually deepen their relationship.
- Mouthwatering food descriptions and recipes that will absolutely leave you hungry.
- Two characters searching for purpose, confidence, and a place to belong.
- A found family that becomes just as memorable as the romance.
- A slow burn that steadily builds emotional and romantic tension until it absolutely sizzles.
Things to Know Before You Read
- You’ll definitely want snacks nearby because the food descriptions are incredible.
- One of my favorite executions of the grumpy sunshine trope in 2026
- Includes mental health representation and brief discussion of the foster care system.
- If you loved the intensity, kitchen chaos, and emotional energy of The Bear, you’ll appreciate a similar atmosphere here.
- It also gave me many of the same feelings as It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, blending humor, chemistry, and heartfelt character growth.
Final Thoughts
Yes, Chef is everything I want in a contemporary romance. It made me laugh, smile, ache for these characters, and completely believe in the love story they built together. Between the exceptional grumpy sunshine dynamic, the richly developed found family, and two beautifully layered characters learning they’re worthy of both love and belonging, this was an easy five-star read.
If you’re looking for a romance that delivers emotional depth, unforgettable chemistry, and one of my favorite heroes of the year, Yes, Chef deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. It’s one of the standout romance releases of 2026 and my favorite Grace Reilly novel to date.
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