Eliza, from Scratch

Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Rachel Lynn Solomon, this charming, poignant rom-com follows an academics-obsessed teen who learns big truths about love, family, and herself when a scheduling snafu lands her in a culinary arts class.

Eliza Park’s senior year will be perfect: She’s going to be salutatorian, give a tear-jerking graduation speech in front of her parents, and enjoy her last year with her equally ambitious best friends. But when a scheduling mishap enrolls her in Culinary Arts, Eliza is suddenly the most clueless person in the class. In this rivals to lovers rom-com, her typical title of star student belongs to the aggravatingly arrogant Wesley Ruengsomboon, a charming Thai American boy whose talent in the kitchen leaves Eliza both awed and annoyed.

With her rank on the line, Eliza’s only hope is to snatch the midterm cooking contest win from Wesley, however improbable that may be. Add in the flavor of her grandmother’s Korean recipes, the heat of forced proximity as class partners with Wesley, and the sweetness of unexpected feelings—and Eliza must now rebuild everything she knew about success, love, and what it means to be herself, from scratch.

She only cared about her GPA, so what happens when she starts falling for her biggest competition?

• Academic Rivals: He’s the undisputed king of the kitchen, and she’s the salutatorian who needs to beat him to protect her class rank.
• Foodie Romance: From disastrous first attempts to delectable creations, Eliza and Wesley find a connection through the heat of the kitchen and the comfort of family recipes.
• Heartfelt Self-Discovery: More than just a competition, Eliza learns to reconnect with her mother, her Korean heritage, and what it truly means to succeed on her own terms.
• Grumpy Sunshine: She’s an overachiever obsessed with perfection; he’s the effortlessly talented charmer who drives her crazy. It’s a recipe for disaster… or love.