The Butcher, the Baker, and Bubbe's Binder — Shari Malin

Michelin precision meets hometown heart in this delicious, enemies-to-lovers romance. Pastry Chef Penelope Penny Fine returns to her quirky Queens neighborhood after a brutal review calls her food devoid of warmth and soul. The only inheritance from her beloved Bubbe is a faded binder of recipes—recipes Penny can't perfect, no matter her training. The secret lies with Lev Cohen, the handsome, grumpy owner of the local kosher butcher shop. Lev, Bubbe's close confidant, refuses to share the traditional wisdom, viewing Penny's modern methods as an insult to his grief and Bubbe's legacy. As they reluctantly cook through the binder, cryptic notes reveal decades of family secrets—including a scandalous affair between Bubbe and Lev's own grandfather. Forced to confront their clashing views on perfection versus passion, Penny and Lev must learn that sometimes, the messiest ingredients—like love, tradition, and a little bit of fat drippings—are what create the deepest, most irresistible flavors.