Yes, Chef
by Grace Reilly
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Reviewed by PJ
If you can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.After a public meltdown in the dining room of one of Manhattan’s most elite restaurants, Chef Jack Hartman is back in his South Florida hometown. Angry, grieving, and saddled with the unwanted storefront his late mentor left him, his life is spinning out of control. And that’s before Poppy Winfield—the bubbly, infuriating daughter of his former boss—shows up at his dock.
Poppy needs to escape. From her family, her ex-boyfriend, and her reputation as someone who has never taken anything seriously. But more than that, she wants to prove herself—and she has just the plan to do it. Unfortunately, that plan involves Jack Hartman, the most arrogant, intimidating man she’s ever had the pleasure of throwing a shrimp at.
Poppy proposes a deal: they work together to open a revamped version of his mentor’s restaurant. Jack will handle the menu, and she’ll use her social media influence to sell the hell out of its grand opening. If she and Jack can make it a success, it’ll be a ticket for them both to return to New York.
Jack is intrigued, but only on his terms: If Poppy’s going to do this, she must learn the ropes of the business. From him.
As sparks fly both in and out of the kitchen, Poppy and Jack are left wondering, could they be a perfect pairing? Or is this whole experiment a recipe for disaster?
PJ's Thoughts:
Yes, Chef was my first Grace Reilly book but it sure won't be my last. Once I started reading, these characters and their journey refused to be set aside.
This book included some delicious tropes including grumpy - sunshine. It is one of my favorites and, boy howdy, do Jack and Poppy deliver. I'll take Jack's grumpy, "I'm in control" chef vibes every day and gladly ask for more. It's like book catnip but Reilly pairing it with emotional wounds, ADHD challenges (for both Jack and Poppy), and organic character growth take it up another level. I'm not especially fond of influencer characters but, again, Reilly gives Poppy emotional complexity, complicated family dynamics, and a genuinely good heart that make her an intriguing character, one with whom I felt an emotional attachment and could happily cheer for.
In addition to the grumpy-sunshine trope, there's also forced proximity (kitchen lessons and a houseboat), enemies-to-lovers, beach town vibes, and found family (both two and four legged).
Reilly nailed the beach town setting. I live just north of where this book is set and everything in the book felt authentic and familiar.
And then there was the food. I felt like I was right there in the kitchen with them, drooling over the fresh seafood, beautifully described entrees, and delicious desserts.
If you enjoy steamy romance with humor, heart, emotional depth, drool-worthy food, found family, and a hard-won happy ending, I happily recommend Grace Reilly's Yes, Chef. It's a fun, smile-inducing book I didn't want to put down.
I can't wait to see what Reilly brings readers next!
