Simmer Down sounded delightful the moment I read the synopsis! Upon finishing however, I feel like I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would despite it being an entertaining ride. I was initially excited about Simmer Down because I found out that it’s an adult rom-com novel featuring Filipino cuisine and the rivals-to-lovers trope, which are two things that I would have loved to see in a book! But what I thought was going to be an exciting and ultimately romantic read, lacked a couple of factors that would have made this a spectacular read.
Simmer Down follows Nikki DiMarco as she confronts the owner of a food truck who absentmindedly parked on her and her mother’s regular spot. She tries to be nice, but Callum shows her that he’s nothing but an asshole. What happens next though is a cat-and-mouse rivalry that goes viral, a food truck war, unprecedented sexual tension, the start of a casual relationship, the influence of social media, and more.
The writing was light and funny, and I liked that it offered a personal touch to Nikki’s perspective, especially when it comes to a few somber and emotional scenes. On the other hand, there was some dialogue that I thought were awkward, plus the overuse or “growl” and “howl” also felt perplexing for me. As a result, instead of the scene feeling romantic or sexy, I was only left cringing.
The characterisation also felt a little insufficient for me, especially when it comes to the two main characters. It’s as if I couldn’t get a better sense of their personality. Because of this, I also found their chemistry and romance quite off, so I wasn’t really rooting for them. Yes, their whole ordeal was entertaining, but I didn’t feel for them and I didn’t get invested in them. For me, this was such a shame because I love tropes like this. Rivals who learn to tolerate each other and then fall in love? I’m in! However, with Nikki and Callum, it just fell flat and I didn’t find their relationship much interesting.
On the other hand, I love the food truck life and the overall food scene in this book. As I read the story, I was reminded of the movie Chef (2014), which was such a great movie that I loved! All the chaos and satisfaction of being a food truck owner/chef? It was great to see!
Of course, I also loved that I got to see some well-loved Filipino dishes featured in the pages of this book, which had me craving them! I wish there was more of it though, and there were some parts that baffled me, such as the part where Nikki served deconstructed lumpia. For reference, lumpia is a traditional Filipino-style spring roll that’s usually deep fried. It’s a finger food that’s loved by all Filipinos. But the idea of a “deconstructed” version? It’s a no for me.
When it comes to the plot, it felt a lot like classic romcoms with those melodramatic scenes and grand gestures of love. I feel like some parts were predictable though, and the miscommunication trope was overdone. I kept thinking the main characters could have resolved a number of their conflicts by talking to each other and clarifying things, but clearly that wasn’t going to happen in the book. So instead, there were some misguided angst and foolish mistakes as the story moved towards the finale.
Overall, I feel like this was a decent read. It’s not entirely mind blowing, yes, but I think this will be a great choice for those who are looking for a fun, amusing, and romantic read.
Simmer Down is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 13th 2020.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.
Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.
But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.
The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
