Love from Scratch

Chapter One 

The man in front of me has a bee in his bonnet and cat hair on his coat. I know these things because from where I stand--smooshed into the back of a crowded elevator in the downtown Seattle skyscraper where my internship is located--the sleeve of his suit is only inches from my face. As such, I can see the white strands plain as day against the black fabric while he grunts at the phone in his hand--plus feel the tickle in my nose that says I m dangerously close to a sneeze. 

Lordhavemercy, I think, one big compound, catchall word I inherited from my mamaw and so many other Southerners, religious or not. It s what you say when you re in company too polite to say something worse. 

Mr. Business is testing my limits, though. He just couldn t be bothered to use a lint roller, could he? Nor to give me any personal space back here, in the midst of whatever turmoil he s dealing with in his email inbox. I hope my nose breath is making him hot. I press my tongue to the roof of my mouth, a trick I saw online somewhere to help put off sneezing, watching the floor numbers tick higher. 

Finally, the ding ding is for my floor and I adjust my grip on the tray of to-go cups I m balancing in the crook of my arm, reaching for my badge to swipe into the office with the other hand as I make the quiet, pardon me, sorry noises required to edge my way out of the crush of bodies. It s made a little easier today by the human Grumpy Cat, whose office must also be on floor forty-two, thus allowing me to slink through the wake left by his wide frame. 

That plan is working flawlessly, right up until he steps off the elevator and--I don t know--needs a moment to collect himself, or realizes he forgot to feed Fluffy or something. He stops short, with no regard for my or anyone else s presence a half step behind him. 

And because I do not stop short, I run smack into his cat-hair-covered backside,

Kaitlyn Hill

One of USA Today's Best April Rom-Coms 
One of Seventeen's 50 Best Teen Romance Books to Read While You're Crushing
One of Goodreads' 54 Buzzy YA Books for Spring

"A delectable rom-com full of enemies-to-lovers romance and baking adventures that will make your mouth water." PopSugar

"Sweet and satisfying. I loved the witty banter, the chemistry, and the way the characters felt like they could walk off the page." Jenna Evans Welch, New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato

"This story was the perfect recipe for romance: a heaping cup of flirty banter, a generous spoonful of humor, a handful of swoon, and a dash of angst. I savored every moment of it. Funny, charming, flirty, and fun!" Kasie West, author of Sunkissed

A sweet and savory delight. From the crackling rivals-to-lovers tension to the pitch-perfect Seattle setting to the mouthwatering descriptions of food I devoured it all. Kaitlyn Hill is a bold, exuberant new voice in YA. Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

"A deliciously funny and swoon-worthy nom-com . . . Reese and Benny's chemistry sizzles in and out of the kitchen." Auriane Desombre, author of I Think I Love You

"A swoonworthy cinnamon roll romance that doesn't shy away from the very real struggle of going viral. Love From Scratch is a total delight." Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos

"Top notch... This delicious romance is great for summer and a highly recommended purchase." School Library Journal

"The push and pull of the rivals will-they, won t-they tension is paired with Reese s feminist commentary, which readers will likely pump their fists in support of." Kirkus Reviews