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Writer's pictureKayla Isabel

Hot Mess by Emily Belden

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Sweetbitter meets The Devil Wears Prada in this riveting and provocative novel set in the trendy Chicago restaurant scene.

Twenty-something Allie Simon never imagined she’d fall for a recovering drug addict—but that was before she met Benji Zane, Chicago’s hottest up-and-coming chef, who’s known as much for his hard partying ways as for his unparalleled culinary skills. Six months into their relationship, the food and chemistry are out of this world, but the reality of living with a cooking wunderkind hasn’t exactly been all hearts and flowers. Still, Allie’s convinced that her love is the key to fixing this talented man’s broken soul—so when Benji is offered his dream job as chef de cuisine for a new restaurant opening on Randolph Street, Chicago’s foodie hot spot, Allie agrees to invest her life savings in his future. But less than a month after she goes all in, Allie learns a heartbreaking lesson: addicts lie. Benji cracks under the pressure, relapses and disappears, bagging out not only on the restaurant, but on her, too. Left with nothing but a massive withdrawal slip and a restaurant that absolutely must open in a matter of weeks, Allie finds herself thrust into a world of luxury and greed, cutthroat business and sensory delight. Lost in the mess of it all, she can either crumble completely or fight like hell for the life she wants and the love she deserves.

With razor-sharp wit and searing insight, Emily Belden serves up a deliciously dishy look behind the kitchen doors of a hot foodie town.

*Before I begin this review, I want to than Edelweiss+ and Graydon House for providing me with an eARC of this book for review. Also, warning for spoilers in the second to last paragraph*

Allie is used to playing it safe, that was before Benji came into her life and changed things upside down. Benji Zane, the number one most watched chef in the Chicago food scene, a recovering Coke addict who has the temper of a toddler. Allie has dedicated the past several months to making sure Benji is sober and stays sober, until everything goes wrong and he leaves her for drugs. When he leaves her, he leaves behind a restaurant he convinced her to purchase and his cooking knives which tells her that he’s never coming back. Allie now has to pick up all the pieces and find a way to keep this restaurant going without having worked a day in the food business before. Being Benji’s girlfriend has put her in the public eye for awhile, countless people are waiting for her to leave him or for him to implode and take her with him. But she proves them wrong.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. I am more of a YA contemporary reader than an adult contemporary reader, but I DEVOURED this book. Benji Zane is as addictive as his personality, all of his feelings are intense which makes sense. He loves Allie in this primitive, animalistic way she has never experienced before him.

At first I was really rooting for Benji and was getting fed up with Allie, I thought she was naive and didn’t know what she was doing. My feeling towards their relationship were mixed, I was attracted to Benji for the same reasons Allie seemed to be too. He’s reckless and unpredictable. But the more we get to know Benji, the more I realized that he is hiding something and he’s way to good at it. Allie’s friends and parents are all wary about their relationship, not wanting to get to involved knowing that he will eventually break her heart.

Allie supports him in everything but it seemed like Benji just didn’t care. Which isn’t surprising, he’s only been sober for three months and doesn’t seem so set on turning his life around. This story really gives a new look into the reality of a relationship with someone who is a recovering addict.

I dont think Allie realized the severity of what was going on before Benji relapsed, she seemed so happy that he loved her. But yet she was always doubting him in her head, their relationship seemed to be a lot of sex and then Allie getting trapped in her own head.

I loved Allie after Benji left. She was finally able to be her own person, she separates herself from who he was and takes over this restaurant. I’m not going to lie, I really thought Allie was going to fail. I thought she prided herself on being Benji’s girlfriend and didn’t really have anything else to her. But then she quits her job and learns how to run a restaurant with the help of some people in the industry. When he left, she reconnected with her friends and parents.

I really loved this book. I loved watching Allie develop into this independent, strong business women who is able to come to terms with her past relationship and get over Benji. SPOILERS COMING UP IN THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH:What made me the most proud of Allie is when Benji returns and she tells him off, she doesn’t fall back into his trap which is something SO MANY books that are written about these types of relationships,, happens.

I really recommend this book for people who love Colleen Hoover, food, love, happy endings and new beginnings.

Expected Release Date- March 20th, 2018.

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