Review by TeachinTeens -- Honesty is Key by Tayma Tameem
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Review by TeachinTeens -- Honesty is Key by Tayma Tameem
[Following is a volunteer review of "Honesty is Key" by Tayma Tameem.]
Atlas seems to have it all with his good looks, easy charm, and movie-star persona. However, his career is at an all-time low when he receives the offer to host a cooking show. He jumps at the chance despite knowing he is more likely to burn the studio down than cook a successful dish. Despite his best efforts, his antics attract audiences for their unintended comedic value rather than his culinary ability. With each show though, he finds himself growing more confident as a person and as a chef. He makes friends and enemies with the various guests who grace his show and finds himself growing closer to his gorgeous producer, Selina. At the end of the season, he finds himself wondering what is more valuable: his career or a shot at lasting love?
Honesty is Key displays a rich collection of characters primarily as the guests of Atlas’s cooking show. Some guests were delightful and witty while others were snide and contemptuous. My favorite guests included Margarita, the elderly gymnast who tosses ingredients into the audience as a means to flirt with the guests, and Verina, the admittedly brazen beauty intent upon winning Atlas with her flirty remarks and familiarity with food.
I found myself wishing Selina, the romantic interest of Atlas, was as interesting as Verina. Though beautiful, Verina stuck out because of her strong personality. She was determined to flirt with Atlas, displaying a sharp mind behind a beautiful face. When she later invites Atlas to dinner, she cooks for him, which could have been a cute interaction given his role as a television chef. Alternatively, Selina’s interactions with Atlas tend to happen over the phone. She treats him like a child, either chiding him or buoying his confidence with childlike platitudes such as “my little darling chef”. I was waiting for her to say or do something profound that showed me a strong, passionate woman worthy of being the main love interest in a self-proclaimed romantic comedy.
I was excited to be reading a romance novel. However, Honesty is Key rates 1 out of 4 stars. I was told that Atlas and Selina were in love when I would have preferred to experience the fall into love with them. The addition of more turbulence beyond Atlas's cooking antics would have provided a depth to each character that was sorely lacking. There is so much left to explore regarding the growth of Atlas from vane actor to relatable amateur chef alongside Selina's struggle with balancing her professional ambition with her personal desires. Tayma Tameem writes with confusing slang and odd phrases that often distract from the personalities of the characters rather than adds to them. Further, while edited for spelling errors, grammatical errors are littered throughout the writing.
This book was presented as a romantic comedy. However, Tayma Tameem focuses her writing more on comedy than on romance. True fans of romance would be disappointed to find so little chemistry and interaction between Atlas and Selina. I felt as if I knew the guests appearing on Atlas’s show better than I did Selina with their limited conversations. However, the romance and language of the writing are completely clean, so perhaps younger readers looking for just a hint of puppy love could enjoy the comedy without bemoaning the lack of passion.
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Honesty is Key
View: on Bookshelves
Atlas seems to have it all with his good looks, easy charm, and movie-star persona. However, his career is at an all-time low when he receives the offer to host a cooking show. He jumps at the chance despite knowing he is more likely to burn the studio down than cook a successful dish. Despite his best efforts, his antics attract audiences for their unintended comedic value rather than his culinary ability. With each show though, he finds himself growing more confident as a person and as a chef. He makes friends and enemies with the various guests who grace his show and finds himself growing closer to his gorgeous producer, Selina. At the end of the season, he finds himself wondering what is more valuable: his career or a shot at lasting love?
Honesty is Key displays a rich collection of characters primarily as the guests of Atlas’s cooking show. Some guests were delightful and witty while others were snide and contemptuous. My favorite guests included Margarita, the elderly gymnast who tosses ingredients into the audience as a means to flirt with the guests, and Verina, the admittedly brazen beauty intent upon winning Atlas with her flirty remarks and familiarity with food.
I found myself wishing Selina, the romantic interest of Atlas, was as interesting as Verina. Though beautiful, Verina stuck out because of her strong personality. She was determined to flirt with Atlas, displaying a sharp mind behind a beautiful face. When she later invites Atlas to dinner, she cooks for him, which could have been a cute interaction given his role as a television chef. Alternatively, Selina’s interactions with Atlas tend to happen over the phone. She treats him like a child, either chiding him or buoying his confidence with childlike platitudes such as “my little darling chef”. I was waiting for her to say or do something profound that showed me a strong, passionate woman worthy of being the main love interest in a self-proclaimed romantic comedy.
I was excited to be reading a romance novel. However, Honesty is Key rates 1 out of 4 stars. I was told that Atlas and Selina were in love when I would have preferred to experience the fall into love with them. The addition of more turbulence beyond Atlas's cooking antics would have provided a depth to each character that was sorely lacking. There is so much left to explore regarding the growth of Atlas from vane actor to relatable amateur chef alongside Selina's struggle with balancing her professional ambition with her personal desires. Tayma Tameem writes with confusing slang and odd phrases that often distract from the personalities of the characters rather than adds to them. Further, while edited for spelling errors, grammatical errors are littered throughout the writing.
This book was presented as a romantic comedy. However, Tayma Tameem focuses her writing more on comedy than on romance. True fans of romance would be disappointed to find so little chemistry and interaction between Atlas and Selina. I felt as if I knew the guests appearing on Atlas’s show better than I did Selina with their limited conversations. However, the romance and language of the writing are completely clean, so perhaps younger readers looking for just a hint of puppy love could enjoy the comedy without bemoaning the lack of passion.
******
Honesty is Key
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
