Kiss My Cupcake by Helen Hunting Book Review

“I’m going to say something, and I don’t want you to take offense to it.”

“Does that mean it’s going to be offensive?”

Ronan chuckles. “I think it could be misconstrued as an insult when that’s not how I intend it.”

“Go ahead then.”

(pg. 137)

About

Author: Helen Hunting

Genre: New Adult Romance

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When Sparks Fly (Spark House #1)—- Coming soon!

Synopsis

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn’t spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.

From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there’s also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they’re forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it’s possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.

Review

Spoilers Contained Below

To the cupcake and booze fanatics,

I LOVE a good romance that involves baking, snark, and love-hate. I mean, what better ingredients could you have for a classic, but endearing rom-com 😆. That being said, I really liked Kiss My Cupcake. I’ll admit though, it was a very steady read where I did not feel any big conflict so this was not like a OH MY GOSH OBSESSED read, but it was a cute, albeit kind of promiscuous read.

I say promiscuous because every five seconds Ronan was hard over nothing 😂 and it just seemed no matter what Blaire said, this guy would be aroused. And DO NOT get me STARTED on how he named his *you know what* or how he referred to it as a thing—-like a living thing. I’m sorry, do people actually do that? Don’t tell me, I don’t, really don’t, want to know 😆. If it is a thing, then, no judgement, but as someone who’s obviously never heard of people naming their private parts and making it a living entity, it was weird.

“This conversation is stimulating.”

“Oh.” I glance down and back up a few times. “Oh! Are you aroused.”

(pg 217)

IF you listen to Wild Til’ 9 by Lauren and Jermey Michael, you would know the grey sweatpants ween is real 😂. Someone get my head out the gutter.

I swear, Ronan had to always excuse himself to get a handle on his thing. It was veeeerrry uncomfortable. Like if you’re getting aroused at the drop of a word, then that’s just . . . I don’t to be judgy or anything. I thought the whole Blaire holding his boxer briefs and waving it around the kitchen was weird 🤪. Not weird in a bad way, just an uncomfortably random way that I just did not find funny or necessary. The girl literally just got invited to his house and she wants to mock his underwear and parade it around the kitchen and hold it ini her fingers. If I was her, I would have ignored the underwear and live in the awkward conversation that would be about his underwear lying in the kitchen. But what a very on-brand male thing to do. Boxers in the kitchen.

Their whole relationship was kind of weird . . . again, not in a bad way. Honestly, I don’t know if it was just me but I didn’t really feel the connection or love between Ronan and Blaire. They were cute. They had their cute moments.

I liked how Ronan would go to B&B everyday and buy a cupcake. No guy who does not like a girl would just go out of his way and spend money on someone if he did not like her. The whole love-hate thing reminded me of how people say boys mess with girls they like because that’s how they show they like the girl. Not a fan of this way of showing a girl you like them, and if you like a girl, I will tell you it is MUCH more purposeful to just tell the girl you like her and just be nice to her. Most girls respond kinder to a chivalrous sweet boy rather than a stuck-up f-boy. I say most girls because, you know, all girls are different. And the same thing goes for my guys out there, ladies, just tell him you like him and be kind. The same goes to any person out there, no matter your sexuality or identity. Being honest about your emotions saves you the time and trouble of this whole game . . . but if you like the game, by all means, go for it. It makes for a fun story. But just be careful to protect yourself and know you deserve the best in the world.

Apart from my tangent, Ronan obviously liked Blaire but was playing this whole boy-love-hate-chase game. I recently read the Cul-de Sac War by Melissa Ferguson and the leading man, Chip reminded me of Ronan. They were on the same wavelength because for some GOSH DARN reason, guys think that annoying women is fun 🙄. I’m so sorry, it is not fun.

“And I have to admit I kind of like how easy it is to get under her skin. It’s addicting, really.”

(pg 69)

Addicting?

Irritating women is addicting? More like a d***-thing 😂.

No seriously. Stop irritating women because you think it’s funny. The women ain’t laughing, she is either 1) PEEZED off like Blaire or 2) she’s overthinking and questioning your motives.

Again, just be straightforward and nice.

Blaire and Ronan were always in each other’s hair in the beginning of their blooming relationship because they were so focused on ticking each other off. The beginning of the book reminded me of the Cul-de Sac War in how Blaire got so fired up and already declared war on Ronan without really getting to know him or giving him another chance. Nope, they were ready to go in swinging and firing and I just wanted Blaire to take a deep breath and calm down. Because, yes, she had every right to be angry at Ronan’s cockiness and rudeness, but I think declaring an all out enemy battle was a bit of an overreaction. Their war was funny while it lasted.

I liked the whole glitter balloon thing. I mean, glitter really does get everywhere and is the hardest thing to clean up. But I liked how Ronan felt really bad and he paid her for the cupcakes she couldn’t sell. I liked how he also offered to eat them so they wouldn’t go to waste. Because he did that, I knew he wasn’t a bad person and he just wanted to play a joke on her, which is what one does in a feud. But I respected that he knew when he messed up and he needed to make up for it. He didn’t want to hurt her business either. I appreciated that.

It was uncomfortable when Blaire made Ronan ad vagina cupcake. I honestly knew Blaire was going to make the center filling vanilla because somehow people think the va-jay-jay tastes like vanilla 😂. I don’t know. But that was aka-awkward and weird. the whole bridal shower was weird. The way Ronan ate cupcakes was WEIRD. I mean, just bite the darn cupcake and eat it. Don’t make it rated R. Gosh, this guy really played up eating a cupcake and made it sexual and it was uncomfortable. What are they 13 year olds at a birthday party? I’m surprised no one drew a *thing* on one of their signs or something like true 13 year olds. Their whole fight was petty.

Oh, and don’t get me started on when Ronan caught her sniffing his plaid shirt. I’m sorry, sis, you do not just sneak into a man’s office to smell his shirt!!!! 😆I would have been mortified! I would have dropped low and stayed in a fetal position until he left because that was embarrassing. I just imagined Blaire taking a good whiff—you know like they do in the detergent commercials—MORTIFIED. At least Ronan did not make it awkward.

Honestly, disappointed the cover didn’t depict Ronan in a plaid shirt 😆. Ronan would be offended.

I thought it was funny when he sent her unicorn cup back to Blaire. Blaire was obsessed with those cups and it felt like an unhealthy obsession. I also liked how they had themed nights, which was so cool! I never heard of businesses doing themed nights to draw customers. I really enjoyed hearing the thinking that goes into a small business thinking. I truly loved how this story highlighted small business because I have never seen a book do that before. I mean, I guess I read stories where main characters owned a bakery or a restaurant, but it never talked about how difficult it can be for someone to start a business among large corporations. Other stories also never talked about the struggles the owner went through to keep the business afloat. So I liked how we got to see Blaire and Ronan’s business mindset in saving their businesses, working together, and creating all these events.

“Chain restaurants are notorious for killing off small business. They’re huge competition. I don’t know about you, but I have Reno costs I still need to recoup and losing business to that nightmare is going to make it that much more of a struggle.”

(pg 199)

The pandemic is terrible and horrible and all the worst adjectives I can say. But one thing it did shed light on was small businesses. I never knew the importance of buying local or supporting small businesses before last year when soooooo many small businesses could not stay open. Small businesses lost money and were forced to close. Even well-loved small businesses that generated money could not stay open still because it wasn’t enough. And I am beyond devastated and heart-wrenched for those businesses. If you are a small business owner, I just want you to know that you should be proud of what you have accomplished and know that this is not the end of your journey. Right now is a very heavy time, but it will be okay. It might not feel like it, but it will be. And I hope to gosh you can open up again one day when the world is a healthier and safer place because your dream and the love and passion you put in your business will curate thousands of customers who will come back and support you. Even if you are not open right now or had to close down, know that there are people who still support you and are rooting for you. I am rooting for you 💙. If you do not own a small business and you read my spiel, this is your reminder to support the small businesses in your community or just in general. Go on Etsy, look on Instagram/social media, etc. Do what you have to do to make a big impact on someone’s passion.

One of the things I admired most about Blaire was her flair (rhyme intended) and her boss beach energy.

I give this woman sooooo much credit for leaving her rich family name business to start her own “little bakeshop.” Gosh her family was soooo condescending and unsupportive and I’ll get into that later. Blaire did not want help from her family because she knew if she asked her family for help or for money, it would come with strings attached. I’m proud that Blaire didn’t ask her family for help because sometimes when you do ask for help—-money-wise—-the person you borrow from or who helps you, tends to think that they can have a say now in your business. And that’s not fair because that’s not their business. So strings attached, especially with family and business is not really a good thing.

I also just admire anyone who starts from nothing/the ground up and puts in the time, work, effort, and love into his/her work to make their goal/dream come true. And Blaire was that person. I admired how she did not listen nor did not care what other people thought of her dreams or her business. I also admired how dedicated she was to ensure her business was successful. She was the genius behind the themed days and the street fair idea, and it’s her creative mind that is going to get her far in her success. I also liked how she chose her own path and not being a stuck-up prick like her family.

Let’s talk about the family because what a fam-ily! Gosh, they sucked. The whole sister-stealing-cousin romance complication is a drama waiting to happen. And the parents switcharoo is a movie coming soon 😂. I mean, wow. No wonder Blaire was like, “Peace, I’m out!” Blaire’s dad didn’t seem bad. He seemed like a nice portly man who actually supported Blaire’s dream. I also liked Buster the Butler. I laughed at that one. Oh, let’s take a second to also appreciate how Blaire started her business with no financial help from her rich family. Her family really popped off with their mansion and statues and butlers. But it goes to show money does not mean peace.

Her mom and sister are condescending and they need to talk to a nutritionist because they have a very unhealthy relationship with food.

“I like carbs more than I like food deprivation.”

(pg 155)

You can say that again 😆.

Yea, but in all honesty, it made me sad how the women in her family wouldn’t eat Blaire’s creation because they didn’t want to gain weight. Or how if they did eat Blaire’s creations, they would nibble on a measly piece and then talk about how much they needed to detox or exercise later. I know it was meant to be funny, but as someone who has struggled with an eating disorder and an unhealthy relationship with food and myself, it didn’t feel funny. It felt sad. Sad because it was true. I know what it’s like to not eat carbs because “it’s bad” or to say you’re not going to eat a dessert because “it’s bad.” I’ve been there, done that. And it’s not healthy and it doesn’t make a person happy. So I really hope the women in Blaire’s life get the help they need because their perception of food should be shifted. I also didn’t like how they instantly made a comment about Blaire’s body/weight the minute they laid eyes on her. I talked more about this in my I’ll Be the One book review, which I’ll link below. But I don’t think it’s coincidental that it’s always the women who make comments about a person’s weight or appearance when seeing them. I think it comes out of a place of someone’s own insecurities. We need to normalize saying, “Hi, how are you? Wow, you have such a positive energy” or something that does not make appearance the forefront of our conversations. Because NOT YOUR BODY, NOT YOUR BUSINESS.

I liked how Ronan tried to play the boyfriend when they were still in that love-hate phase. I liked how he got mad on behalf of Blaire because I think Ronan saw Blaire as this respected force to be reckon with—someone with such fire, that seeing her be so complacent and accepting of the punches her family were throwing at her, didn’t seem right. So I liked how he supported her and made her family question their support of Blaire. He really was a good boyfriend, if a bit wield. Seriously, no one likes someone’s face in the middle of the dinner table. If anything, he should have done the Game Plan thing where he liked his thumb and rubbed the food off Blaire’s cheek. Licking someone’s face? Let alone someone who was the “enemy”? AWKWARD.

I also liked when Ronan got Blaire’s family to come to her “little bakeshop” and the street fair thing. Calling Blaire’s bakeshop “little” was patronizing because it invalidates and belittles her dreams to nothing. It also equates her dream to the Easy Bake oven.

After the Thanksgiving dinner with Blaire’s mess up family, I liked how they had a heart-to-heart on the drive back. I liked how Ronan admired and respected Blaire even more because she came from riches and started by herself. He also admired how she did not turn out like her family because Blaire could have chosen self-hate and to be angry at the world, but she turned out stronger and resilient. And I like to believe that came from somewhere. Blaire reminds me of me in kind of reining yourself to be more than your family.

Ronan and Blaire had another heart-to-heart before leaving for the dinner where he asked Blaire why she dressed as a pinup girl.

“You give off this classy pinup girl vibe crossed with a fifties housewife, but you’re an entrepreneur. It’s sort of a contradiction, isn’t it? And here you are, all dressed up at nine in the morning, making me coffee and whipping up buttercream icing.”

(pg 137)

I thought this was an interesting thing to point out. Because it did seem contradicting that here was a boss beach dressed as a housewife, serving others. And I think Ronan thought if she dressed in a business suit, that she would be taken more seriously, so it begged the question why she hid behind this pinup look when she could be a boss beach with a blazer? I understand she dressed as a pinup girl to go with her favorite show, but I also think that maybe there’s a deeper reason. Like maybe Blaire hides behind this pinup, happy girl look because deep down she’s confused in trying to figure things out. Oh, and there was that part where Blaire said she dressed as a pinup girl because it gave people something to talk about rather than her messed up family dynamics. And it’s just sad that Blaire felt the need to hide who she was because of her family. I mean, does she like the pinup look?

I don’t know. I think Blaire has more pizzazz In her to be more than just a pinup girl with a bake shop.

But who am I to judge her fashion when Ronan always wore plaid. I liked how he wore plaid because it reminded him of his parents and his dad. I liked how Blaire wanted to do the cute couple-y thing of having matching outfits.

“Ta-da!”

Ronan’s eyes shift back and forth between the shirt—in his size—and the dress. “I don’t get it.”

I roll my eyes. “you’re such a dude. Look at the colors.”

(pg 207)

You’re such a dude! 😂

I swear, sometimes you do a surprise for a guy or you’re really excited to tell them something and then they absolutely do not get it 😂. On point 👌🏼.

OOOOOh, but it was slightly weird too when Blaire bought matching plaid lingerie for him. I mean, sis knew exactly what she was doing 😏. She’s a kinky one.

Blaire and Ronan also relate in many ways. Ronan took over the Knight Cap—his Grandpa and Grandma’s bar—-in exchange for one day opening up his own brewery. His Grandpa was going to help him once the Knight Cap was back on its feet. So Ronan and Blaire shared this business dream in starting from nothing. They understood each other and I thought if they really looked beyond the hate they created for each other, they would like each other. And you know what . . . they did. And they worked better as a team.

I really liked the Grandpa and when Ronan explained Youtube and the videos 😂. The Grandpa was super funny and cute about it. I also liked when Blaire had that cute convo about Dottie (the Grandpa’s wife). The Grandpa met Dottie at the Knight Cap and he just knew she was the one. A cute meet cute, if you will. I honestly, respected that Ronan didn’t date anyone he worked with and how self-respecting he was to know how mixed up that could be. I think any guy who is self-aware of his role is good.

I didn’t really feel like the Tori competition was the most exciting factor of the book. I felt like it was a subplot that was just there and then sometimes forgot about in terms of Blaire and Ronan’s life. In some ways I’m not sure it was needed. I think it would have been better to just focus on who Blaire and Ronan were and their relationship, and build up the small business versus big corporation plot without the need for this outside Youtube competition. I get why it was included—-to raise small businesses and to generate customers, but I didn’t really care for the competition on who got featured on some girls’ Youtube.

But I did like how it caused Blaire to think about how she wanted to win.

“I want him to succeed, but I want my own success as well.”

(pg 296)

And she should. I think that’s what’s hard about being in a relationship with someone who has the same profession—it can get competitive. You want them to do well, but you also want to. But at the end of the day, someone won’t be doing well. I knew Blaire wasn’t going to win because of course Tori would choose a hot guy who wears plaid as the winner. I didn’t appreciate how his ego seemed to inflate because he won. He didn’t even seem to care how Blaire felt. To Blaire, I understood why she was upset and angry at his flakiness. I would have been too. I think Blaire thought the worst in Ronan—-that him liking her was a ploy to win—-was her way of displacing the anger she felt that she lost. It was also her anger at the situation because her business wasn’t already doing too well with the D&B across the street, so she wanted something to be mad at. So she was angry at Ronan. I also understood how she felt like a used partner because of her relationship with that Paris baker. Michael, was it? That situation would leave a person seeing the worst in other people and like other people have motives.

But Ronan wasn’t a flake. He was talking to Tori about highlighting all the small businesses, which gosh, do I appreciate. I liked the small business empowerment. I think Blaire has to tell Ronan she second-guessed his motives at some point because she just forgets about it later on. But I liked how cute the Valentine’s Day market thing was and how it brought business to all those shops.

I knew eventually that Ronan and Blaire would combine businesses because DUH! 😆 It had to happen, especially with how well they worked together and how well their businesses were doing when they had shared events. So I liked how they wanted to break down a wall and put a door between their shops. They should put the door where the axe throwing place meets where her unicorn shelves used to be. Gosh, they should break down the wall with an axe 😂. Seems fitting.

I also liked how they would both still have the individual businesses they built, so they weren’t taking from each other, but still their own people. It seemed healthy to do it this way. They were going to become The Knight Cap and Cupcakery, which I loved.

“Grams always said it wasn’t about fixing broken things; it was about giving them a lift to make them feel new again.”

(pg 347)

I am not too sure how I feel about Ronan putting off his dream, but I think it’s okay. Because at least he’s not giving up on starting a brewery entirely. Because sometimes dreams change and when we start it changes. Right now, his dream was to be with Blaire and to work on the business they had with each other.

“I know I’ve always talked about not compromising my dream, but I realized I really love adding a partner. Having the right partner.”

(pg 346)

I liked when Blaire said this because she had her fair share of not-so-good partners, but she found someone who she could work with and trust—-someone who understood her dream and would share it with her.

The ending involved some really cute moments between Ronan and Blaire. The whole I love you on Youtube was very cute. Ronan’s a romantic at heart and I could tell 💙. We love a guy who is not afraid to show his love to the world, and to the one he loves. I also liked how after they agreed to create a door between their two shops, that Ronan proposed!!!!!

WE LOVE A PROPOSAL SCENE!!!

I knew something was up when Lars and Gramps got all weird and were giving each other these looks. The Gramps was so funny in pushing/wanting them to get married. A pov: you’re the Gramps. Literally, I am the Gramps. I love love.

Even though it was romantic they got engaged and they were in love, still something just felt missing from the love story. I don’t know what, but something was. They had their heart to hearts and their cute moments, but I don’t know, I just didn’t feel the connection—-I wasn’t head over heels for them.

Also, I love a good book wedding because gosh knows authors never write the day when the OTP get married 🤪. Highly appreciated. I liked how the wedding paralleled Gramps and Dottie’s story and I liked how the wedding was in the bar too. And I love a happily ever after. Who doesn’t?

Overall, the book was just the right amount of cute to make you keep coming back, but there was something a bit off that you can’t put your finger on. Or that’s how I felt anyway. Still such a cute story and written with humor and heart. I would have liked to see more character growth from Ronan and Blaire and to understand them more as people. I also would have liked to see a bit more development with Blaire’s family and their relationship. I would have also liked to know if Daph and Lars were becoming a thing? 😏 Did someone saw book two?

Kiss My Cupcake was an adorably creative title, but not a good comeback 😂. It’s probably something I would say because gosh knows I’m not good at comebacks.

Anyway, what was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite part? Anything I mentioned that you want to discuss more about?  What’s your favorite cupcake place? Any small businesses you know or love? Comment small businesses or your small business below! 💕

I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.

And as always, with love,

Rating

3.45 Full Bloom Flowers

Characters: Blaire sure has drive and flare and Ronan has plaid underwear. . . I don’t really know that, but we’ll assume

Writing: Cute, sweet, and plaid

Plot: I loved the love-hate relationship and emphasis on small businesses.

Romance: Sweet like a cupcake, but a tad awkward.