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Simmer Down
by Sarah Echavarre SmithPublished by Berkley on October 13, 2020
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: AudioBook
Pages: 336
Narrator: Donnabella Mortel
Length: 11 Hours And 22 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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?
In 2025, I’m determined to tackle my physical TBR shelf at home, beginning with Simmer Down by Sarah Smith. Thanks to my local library, I also borrowed the audiobook version, which let me listen while on the go and doing chores. The narrator, Donnabella Mortel, brought the story and characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to your books.
The FMC, Nikki DeMarco, gave up her life and job to help her mom hand out mouthwatering Filipino dishes to the beachgoers of Hawaii. The issue is that another food truck in town is taking over her usual spot, and they should know the rules about not taking over other food trucks’ spots. In comes the competition, Callum James, who is in Hawaii to help his brother with his food truck business. Nikki may be taken aback by Callum, especially since he’s British and is definitely easy on the eyes, but she means business when it comes to her mom’s food truck. Their rivalry will definitely cause a stir in the area, especially when there is about to be the Maui Food Festival competition, and Nikki is determined to win.
This book would have easily been a five-star read for me if it weren’t for the last half of the book. But first, let me get into what I loved about the book. I loved the banter between Nikki and Callum initially, and how they didn’t like one another at first. It’s a true Enemies to Lovers (Rivals to Lovers) storyline, until they end up eventually together on a flight to London, and that is when they agree to a truce with one another, while visiting family. That truce leads to other things between the two where they have instant chemistry, and Nikki finds out another side of Callum. He’s not always so mean; he actually is a sweet British guy who has a very protective side. When they return from their trip, that chemistry is still there, but unfortunately, they can’t risk their relationship getting out due to the rules of the Food Festival they are competing in.
The second half of the book is where I lost interest. The miscommunication trope between Nikki and Callum took over the story, and one of them not being able to admit their feelings to the other became frustrating. There was also additional drama that had me losing interest, too. As a result, I found myself disengaged from the story and simply hoping it would wrap up with a happily ever after. While the book does end on a positive note, the heavy miscommunication made it unmemorable for me.
I wish I had enjoyed this book more because it had potential and certainly made me hungry with all the food descriptions. Unfortunately, the miscommunication was too much for my taste. Overall, I give it three stars.
Single/Dual POV: Single POV. (FMC’s POV only)
Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I’ll still recommend it to romance readers, especially those who enjoy food-themed stories, just be prepared to be hungry afterward, and also readers who love reading Enemies to Lovers (Rivals to Lovers).
What to Expect:
✔️Multicultural Romance
✔️Foodie Romance – Food Trucks
✔️Enemies to Lovers/Rivals to Lovers
✔️Miscommunication
About Sarah Echavarre Smith
Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie’s stash of romance novels. She’s been hooked ever since. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe.
You can find Sarah on Instagram and TikTok at @authorsarahs.
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