With or Without You – Eric Smith
Hardcover | Inkyard Press | November 7, 2023
The Gist
Two teenage foodies who have big dreams land on a reality TV show that requires them to fake hating each other and along the way, they learn some stuff about love.
Read if you like
Rom-coms
Food, specifically Philly cheesesteaks
The Verdict: A Fun & Quick Read
While the rivalry between Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz's food truck is a thing of legend in Philly, it’s all for show. Jordan and Cindy are in love and making plans for the future. But their romance is put to the test when their fake rivalry lands them on a pilot for a new reality show. As the annual truck-off event nears, Jordan and Cindy learn more about their parents’ secrets and shortcomings and come to terms with what they really want once the summer ends. Smith writes an easy and quick read. The story follows a standard rom-com arc, but Jordan and Cindy’s character development isn’t cheesy. Where Cindy learns the need to give up control, Jordan comes to understand that love isn’t just about the person, but their passions too—as Jay Sherry says, It’s about being the other’s guru. Smith’s writing really shines during cooking scenes and dialogue between multiple characters. It gives With or Without You a cinematic quality that is fitting for two characters who find themselves on a TV show.
