e-ARC, 352 pages
Release Date: March 9, 2021
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Read from: March 26 – April 3, 2021
Stand-alone
Source: Edelweiss (I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW:
For fans of: Contemporary, Romance, Coming of Age Stories, LOL, Foodie Favorites, Realistic Fiction, Stand-alone, YAA delicious love story with all the toppings, Lauren Morrill’s It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story is a contemporary YA rom-com about love, friendship, and pizza, perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.
After her mother gave birth to her in the bathroom of a local pizzeria, Beck Brix been given the dubious privilege of having minor fame, free pizza for life, and a guaranteed job when she turns sixteen—a job she unfortunately can’t afford to turn down.
Stuck with her geeky co-workers instead of taking Instagram-ready shots with her wealthy, photogenic friends, Beck finally realizes what she’s spent her whole life trying to hide: that Hot ‘n Crusty is a part of her.
Then disaster strikes the beloved pizza parlor that’s become like home, and Beck realizes that it takes losing something to really know what it’s worth.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Ever since I started that series Good Eats, Good Reads on my blog, I’ve been super interested in reading this story. And when the time finally came, I could tell I chose well! The pizza in this book left something to be desired, BUT it definitely wasn’t the entire story!
“I immediately deflate. Of course he’s not actually looking at me. His eyes are on the extra large pepperoni pizza in front of me. Because pizza is irresistible. Whereas, I’m just… me. Being overshadowed by pizza is basically the story of my life.”8%
Most people born into a legacy are proud and want to keep it going as they get older. And then there’s some like Beck. She just wants to escape her hometown and all the pizza puns and mentions of “Pizza Princess.” Since she was born in bathroom of a pizza place called, “Hot N Ctusty” she’s been Bathroom girl ever since and she’s ready to change that. But then when its time to get a job, no one will hire her so she goes back to the one place that said she’d always have a job, Hot N Crusty. But during her journey there she realizes its not as bad as she believed. She forms new relationships (including with herself) and so much more.
“As I pass by the stainless steel ovens, I catch my reflections in their doors. My ponytail has doubled in size from the heat and humidity, of the kitchen, and several long bits of frizz have made their escape from beneath my hat and are plastered to my forehead and neck with sweat. […] I am – literally – Hot N Crusty.”18%
The very best part about this book is the storytelling and the humor. I don’t know the last time I cried real tears because I read something in a book. (That woods scene, man I’m still laughing when I think about it.) And the way she told it really helped. Morrill definitely has a way to show and not tell us what’s going on. I could see the “congealed cheese” and just how the cute the petit fours her mom made were. I enjoyed reading this found myself waiting until the next thing happened and I could laugh hard enough to wake up my husband again.
“If you really want to make me feel better, you’d let me hold th bag,” I say. “I’m not that nice, Pizza Princess,” he says.”35%
However, I did not care for the romance. I was glad it was with the person who it was with (because I wasn’t a fan of that other one since the beginning) but I felt like it needed more. I mean, for it to be called a romance, it was a little light on it? There was no flirting until the end and just as fast as the romance came up, it disappeared again. I didn’t feel exactly drawn to it. I thought it would have been better called a Coming of Age story. But that’s just me.
“Beck, I’m in trouble,” she says, her chest heaving. Her hands are knotted in front of her, the nails of her right hand working steadily at the cuticles on the left. She’s seconds away from drawing blood. My first thought is that she’s going to ask me to help her hide a body.”69%
The characters were basically my favorite part tho. I really enjoyed getting to know both groups of friends and I really enjoyed getting to see Beck get to know herself. It was a journey, but that discovery is never easy for anyone. It was nice to be part of that journey of discovery as we learned more about the “girl who sat alone at her lunch table” but also about the “snarky rich girl.”
“Isn’t it kind of… loud?” “And you don’t deserve to be heard? Tamsin asks.”73%
And, I thought the ending felt rushed. I would have preferred if the “big event” happened earlier in the story to give the rest of the events time to get worked out and done. It just didn’t seem realistic to give that type of time frame to what happened. But I realized teens wouldn’t notice that, so again, this is just me. I just would have felt better with a better time line.
“Everyone has the potential to surprise you.”78%
And, if you’re reading this on an empty stomach: DON’T. Not only is there pizza, but there’s salad, garlic knots, smores, bbq hot dogs, sliders, and desserts galore. I was trying to decide if I really wanted to use pizza or something else for my Good Eats, Good Reads post because there was so much to choose from!
“It’s because you’re so terrified of being yourself, and you’re worried that isn’t good enough. So instead, you’re playing pretend with this made up idea of what Beck should be. And the only person who even gives a shit is you. […] Just be you instead of who you think everyone else wants you to be. “I don’t know what that means.”.”84%
Lastly, I really liked the title! I know this is a weird thing lol but it makes sense. Beck hates pizza puns, so naturally a book about her had to be one lol And it WAS cheesy. But it was such a fun comical cheesy that I don’t think anyone will mind. Even me, someone who doesn’t like puns at all really like this one. It was cute and worked really well with what the book was all about.
“If your friends make you so anxious, then they’re not your friends.”89%
I read this just at the right time. I definitely needed something fluffy and funny and that’s exactly what I got. I hope I see this on more people’s TBR. It’s definitely a cute love story filled with friendships, romance, and foo you’re sure to love!
Overall, I give this
