Officially introducing Jack Hartman and Poppy Winfield, mutual ADHD disasters, feat. lots of yummy food, sexual tension you can eat up with a spoon, and the cutest lizard killer of a cat ever. Let’s dive in!
Hi hi hi!
I meant to write a newsletter… a few months ago. I swear! But summer snowballed into fall, and I worked on Yes, Chef edits and then worked on edits again, and drafted the first third of a secret project (!!), and went to Connecticut for a dose of autumn, and now it’s November (!!) and we FINALLY have an absolutely perfect cover for YES, CHEF!
Can you hear me screaming? It’s been TORTURE to keep this gorgeousness a secret! I teared up as soon as I got the sketch; the team at Avon and Leni absolutely knocked it out of the park. I love the bold, pink lemonade vibe—perfect for a book set in South Florida!—and all the fun little accents (🍆😏). And Jack and Poppy, of course! I adore Jack’s scowl and floppy hair and chef’s jacket and his TATTOOS!!!!!! Poppy’s adorable braid and little smirk—because she loves to annoy Jack, haha—and her influencer-ready look. They are grumpy/sunshine perfection and I cannot WAIT to share this story with you all <3 (And don’t forget Gator! Wait until you meet him. He’s precious. Just not to lizards.)
One note: the release date has changed to July 21st, 2026. My team is working to give this release the best support possible, hence the slight date change. It will be worth it, I promise!
ABOUT YES, CHEF:
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 blond, bubbly, utterly infuriating daughter of his former boss, shows up at his dock.
Poppy needs to escape. From her disapproving family, her horrible 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, prickly, intimidating man she’s ever had the pleasure of throwing a shrimp at.
She knows Jack is desperate to come back from his unceremonious firing, so she proposes a deal: working together to open a revamped version of his mentor’s restaurant. He’ll handle the menu, and she’ll use her skill as a social media influencer to sell the hell out of its grand opening. If she and Jack can make the restaurant a success, it’ll be an accomplishment no one can deny—and a ticket for them both to return to New York.
Jack is intrigued, but only on his terms: if Poppy’s going to work for him, she must learn the ropes of the entire business. Including how to cook. From him.
As sparks fly both in and out of the kitchen and tensions reach a boiling point, Poppy and Jack are left wondering--could they be a perfect pairing? Or is this whole experiment a recipe for disaster?
THE TROPES!
If you’ve watched The Bear and wished it had more kissing, this book is for you. If you’re into dirty-hot men who love playing with knives, this book is for you. If you regularly think about the deli scene in When Harry Met Sally (like me, okay), this book is for you. If you’ve ever wished someone would sexily teach you how to make pasta, preferably while leaning you over a countertop… well, this book is really for you ;)
This book is a love letter to so many things that are important to me: food and cooking and the connections it brings us, to start. Family—especially the one we choose—and friendships. The process of starting over, and finding oneself, and having courage to live life without compromises. Living as an adult with ADHD. Jack and Poppy’s love story is hot, deep, and real, and I learned a lot about myself in the process of working on this book. I absolutely cannot wait to welcome you to Diamond Bay, Florida, and Jack’s houseboat, and of course Fable, one of the hottest new restaurants on the Treasure Coast. Bring a bathing suit, think of your favorite food memory, and get ready to settle in 🩷💛
More news will be coming soon re: ARCs, preorder campaigns, possible signings for next year, etc, but for now, let me leave you with the preorder links! Get ready for 2026: Hot Chef Summer with me! ⬇️
I hope you love it as much as I do!!!! Bye for now!
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.