Eliza, from Scratch

“A savory rivals-to-lovers romance peppered with top-tier banter and profound emotion. Sophia Lee has a fresh, relatable voice that makes her charming characters easy to root for. This one is for all the overachievers who've veered off course—and a reassurance that sometimes the wrong path can bring you to an even better destination.” - Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow and Past Present Future

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. 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 being 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.

What happens when the only thing standing between you and a perfect GPA is the one person you can’t stand?

• Enemies to Lovers: She’s an overachiever who can’t cook. He’s the infuriatingly talented star of the culinary class. When they’re paired together, the only thing hotter than the stovetop is their chemistry.
• AAPI Romance: A heartfelt story featuring a proud Korean American protagonist and a charming Thai American love interest, exploring family, food, and cultural identity.
• Finding Your Passion: For Eliza, success has always meant a perfect GPA. But discovering her grandmother’s Korean recipes might just teach her that the best things in life can’t be graded.
• High School Competition: With her salutatorian rank on the line, Eliza must win the midterm cooking contest. The only problem? Her biggest competition is her new class partner.