Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice

SO. FREAKING. DELIGHTFUL.This debut has everything I love in a rom-com: a self-deprecating and lovable heroine, genuinely funny banter, and a swoonworthy second-chance romance that had me rooting for Ellie and Alec from the start. The type-1 diabetes representation was very well done and thought-provoking and the sugar-free bakery was a great twist on a common (and beloved!) trope. Cynthia Timoti killed it with this debut and I can't wait to read more from her!

After an ultimatum from her mother and a viral proposal gone wrong, Ellie Pang is ready to start over. She breaks out of the box her parents have put her in and moves across the country to start her own sugar-free bakery. Except the minute she walks into her new store, she sees the disaster in front of her. Luckily/Unluckily for her, Alec Mackenzie – her old crush turned nemesis – is in town and has contacts to help her. All he needs in return is a fake girlfriend. Except, as we all know, fake dating has a way of turning into something all-too-real…Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is a cute story of enemies to friends to lovers. Cynthia Timoti’s debut novel has a lot of promise, although I had mixed feelings about the story overall.I was on board with Ellie’s move at the beginning. She’s determined to make the life and business that she wants, which I appreciated. But when Ellie gets around Alec, she can be kind of petulant and frustrating. Her reasons for being upset with Alec made sense when she was a teenager, but not so much years later. Alec is kind, hardworking, and a little stuffy. I liked him as a hero but wanted a bit more depth from him. The development of their romance was predictable with the expected obstacles, stubborn protagonists, and interfering third parties. It was entertaining enough, but not as much as I would have wanted from a love story. That being said, I think there’s a lot of promise and I want to see how Timoti’s work develops in the future.Where Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice shines is in the Type 1 Diabetes representation. Ellie has T1D and you can tell Timoti knows what she’s talking about. The way she weaves T1D rep into the story is fantastic and it was central to Ellie’s character without making it the only thing interesting about her. I really appreciated the care and attention to detail that was given to not just how Ellie managed her T1D but also how she stood up for herself in the face of others’ reactions to it. I also really enjoyed watching her build her sugar-free bakery and wish there was more time in this story devoted to it because it was wonderful. While I liked but didn’t love Ellie and Alec’s love story, there’s enough to enjoy about Cynthia Timoti’s writing that I’m very much looking forward to reading more of her work.

Brothers best friend, fake dating, and banter for days— Cynthia Timoti cooks up a perfect “sugar free” debut!I can’t say enough good things about this book! Super easy with realistic but lovable characters. You can’t help but root for Ellie and her dreams of opening a sugar free bakery!The chemistry between the two leads is wonderfully sweet and you can’t help but love the “it’s always been you” vibes! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by timoti!

This is a warm, emotional, and empowering read that completely stole my heart! I absolutely loved the Asian representation and was especially moved by the inclusion of a main character with Type 1 Diabetes. Seeing Ellie Pang navigate life, relationships, and her dream of owning a bakery while also managing her health felt so authentic and important. We need more stories that show characters with medical conditions living fully, not as side notes, but as the heart of the story. After losing her job (thanks in part to her overbearing mother), Ellie takes a leap of faith, moving to a new state to pursue her dream of opening her own bakery. However, fate has a sweet surprise, she ends up in the same town as her longtime crush, Alec Mackenzie. When the two realize they can help each other out, their partnership quickly turns into something deeper, with unspoken feelings finally coming to the surface. The dynamic between Ellie and her mom was a lot at times but it added real depth to Ellie’s journey and showed just how much strength it takes to set boundaries and follow your own path. This book had me feeling everything, from joy and frustration to hope and love.

"Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice" by Cynthia Timoti is a delightful debut rom-com that blends humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of spice. The story follows Ellie Pang, who, after a humiliating public proposal orchestrated by her controlling parents, decides to pursue her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery. Complicating matters, she enlists the help of Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and past heartbreaker, leading to a fake dating arrangement that blurs the lines between pretense and genuine affection.Timoti skillfully navigates themes of family expectations, personal independence, and cultural identity. A standout aspect is her nuanced portrayal of type 1 diabetes, offering readers an authentic insight into the daily challenges without resorting to stereotypes.The chemistry between Ellie and Alec is fun and well-developed, making their fake-dating dynamic all the more enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the book’s deeper themes of family expectations and personal growth, which added substance to the romance. Cynthia Timoti’s storytelling is both charming and impactful, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!