As someone who enjoys cooking, I found this book to be fascinating. It had a bit of everything and never failed to keep my attention.
I also loved how Isa had flashbacks to her time with her grandmother, Lala.
Romance is just weird when it it between step-siblings. Just don't. Please. Snake Eyes would have been a good possibility :-} (I mean, he didn't seem bad at all. I honestly don't know how he earned the nickname.)
However, there was some language and suggestive comments that would have been better left out.
Rating: 4 Stars
Content: 3 Stars
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. ( )

FROM AMAZON: A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen!

There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped...especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the chopping block.

Salty, Bitter, Sweet:

Is a YA contemporary #OwnVoices novel written by CNN producer Mayra Cuevas
Is a perfect book for foodies ages 13 and up and features a Latina main character who is trilingual
Explores complicated family dynamics and relatable themes of friendship, acceptance, and learning to care for yourself
Aspiring chef Isa’s family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. And after moving in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, Isa feels like an outsider in her father’s new life. She balances her time between avoiding the awkward “why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom” conversation with figuring out how a perpetually single woman can at least be a perpetually single chef.

The upside of Isa’s world being turned upside down?

Her father’s house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard’s renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order - and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in an haute kitchen. But Isa’s stress and repressed grief begin to unravel when the attractive, enigmatic Diego shows up unannounced with his albino dog.

How can Isa expect to hold it together when she’s at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with the mysterious Diego reach a boiling point?

Learn more about the food featured in Salty, Bitter, Sweet with Isa’s kitchen notes, available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

I listened to Salty, Bitter, Sweet because it was offered on Audiobook sync. At first, I wasn't sure I was enjoying this novel, but then I only wanted to listen and finish the novel.

Isabella finds her life upside down. Her father divorces Isa's French mother and marries another French lady who is about to have a baby. Therefore, Isa is about to be a sister! Isabella feels that her step-mother doesn't care for her, as she frequently declines to eat Isa's food. Isa's grandmother who taught her how to cook has passed away. This new life in Lyon, France is different. The only good part is that she's been accepted into a program/contest where she will work under the famous Chef Grattard, learning how to be a chef. Isa loves to cook. She spends all of her time practicing and hopes to win the internship from the cooking class to work with Chef Grattard in his kitchen. She discovers that cooking is a man's world, yet finds two good female friends in the class and enjoys the lady chef teaching them. It's grueling and stressful, but they are learning from the best!

More upends Isa's life when she arrives home to an intruder one day, only to discover this man is Margot's step-son, Diego. He and his albino dog crowd Isabella and set her on edge. They argue freuqently. She has plans and goals and a future planned. She creates order. Diego seems to have no plan, which Isa finds disturbing. He doesn't seem to respect her choices and makes her stressful competition in the kitchen (where she is in last place) even more stressful by his nonchalance.

Yes, this novel is a about finding oneself. Isabella has worked tirelessly to achieve a goal. Is the goal bringing happiness? Is the goal distracting her from facing the realities of her life? Isa has to find what she truly wants--is it this internship with one of the greatest chefs in France? Her character does change as she experiences new moments in life that prove choices are good. Sometimes tweaking our dreams brings more happiness. I really enjoyed listening to Isabella grow and change as she discovers who she truly is and what she wants to do to bring herself and others happiness. I am not a food person. This novel revolves around food--the aromas and flavors and the way food is shared to show love and to bring people comfort and company. I really enjoyed it, but I think food people will find more layers of pleasure. ( )

YA novel, romance, set in France, multi cultural and food. But really it is just a Romance. ( )

Author, Mayra Cuevas, speaking and teaching at Cavalcade of Authors 2023!