I haven't been reading a lot of YA romance lately, but The Secret Recipe for Moving On has such a cute premise and that cover art is to die for, so I just couldn't resist!

First thing, Bischer's writing is fantastic! I was super surprised that it looks like this is the author's first novel? It feels like the writing of a seasoned pro. I loved the dialogue and genuinely giggled at several points in the book.

What impressed me the most was how the teenagers were written. They felt realistic, without being overly mature or too childish. Basically, they acted like teenagers without making me want to cringe or roll my eyes. There was a great balance of having a grounded story with characters who were experiencing relatable real-life issues mixed with the characters also experiencing the superfluous drama of being teenagers. The Secret Recipe for Moving On has all the regular trappings of a coming of age novel, but it is framed in such a way that it feels fresh because the characters don't feel overdrawn. They react to situations in ways that are understandable and, even when they are in the wrong, you know why they made those choices.

The romance in this was also just sweet. You can see why the characters like each other, and they have great chemistry. You can see they like each other in the moments they are together without the characters having to explicitly point it out. I also appreciated how you really get to understand why Ellie dated her ex for so long despite him being an obvious dick. It made for a more interesting story and explained why Ellie would date him.

Overall, this was a very sweet story and I would definitely recommend it for a light fluffy read.