Emily Arden Wells’ debut novel Eat Post Like serves up a complex emotional feast that explores the intersection of grief, identity, and the transformative power of culinary adventure. This contemporary romance follows Cassie Brooks, a burned-out New York lawyer whose carefully constructed life crumbles when her boyfriend James dies tragically in a car accident, only for her to discover his secret life as the city’s most influential anonymous food critic.
The premise alone—a grieving woman stepping into her deceased partner’s digital shoes—offers rich narrative potential, and Wells largely delivers on this promise while occasionally stumbling under the weight of her ambitious themes.
A Heroine Caught Between Two Worlds
Cassie Brooks emerges as a protagonist both relatable and frustrating in equal measure. Wells crafts her as the archetypal overworked professional—making partner at a prestigious law firm by 35, prioritizing weekend plans over endless work hours, navigating the demands of a high-pressure career while maintaining a relationship with the enigmatic James Colwell. When James’s death upends her world, Cassie’s discovery of his secret identity as @NewYorkSecretDiner becomes both a revelation and a betrayal that fundamentally reshapes her understanding of their relationship.
The author skillfully portrays Cassie’s complex emotional landscape, particularly her conflicted feelings about James’s deception. Wells writes with authenticity about grief’s disorienting effects, capturing how loss can make familiar spaces feel foreign and how the dead can feel simultaneously absent and omnipresent. Cassie’s decision to assume James’s digital persona reads as both a desperate attempt to maintain connection with him and a subconscious desire to escape her own unfulfilling existence.
However, Cassie’s character development occasionally feels uneven. Her transformation from grief-stricken lawyer to confident food influencer happens with surprising speed, and some of her choices—particularly her lies to her new travel companions—strain credibility. While Wells intends these deceptions to mirror James’s lies to her, the parallel sometimes feels forced rather than organic.
The Digital Age of Food Culture
Wells demonstrates impressive expertise in depicting the contemporary food influencer landscape. Drawing on her real-world experience as a food and cocktail content creator, she captures the intricacies of building an online food persona with remarkable authenticity. The @NewYorkSecretDiner account feels genuinely lived-in, complete with devoted followers, industry recognition, and the kind of cultural cache that opens doors to exclusive culinary experiences.
The author’s background in food photography and styling shines through in her detailed descriptions of meals, from molecular gastronomy experiments to traditional European cuisine. Her prose comes alive when describing food, transforming simple ingredients into sensory experiences that make readers taste the “salty, almost briny” seaweed tart that transports Cassie to Maine beaches or feel the “creamy fat” of foie gras “coating the tongue.”
Yet Wells doesn’t romanticize influencer culture entirely. She thoughtfully explores the tension between authentic experience and digital performance, particularly through Ben’s confession about caring too much about follower approval and Rebecca’s criticism of social media’s impact on genuine living. This nuanced approach prevents the novel from becoming a simple celebration of Instagram culture.
European Escapism and Culinary Tourism
The novel’s European travelogue sections represent both its greatest strength and most significant weakness. Wells excels at crafting vivid, immersive descriptions of Parisian restaurants, Champagne region vineyards, and Venice’s hidden culinary gems. Her attention to detail in describing multi-course tasting menus, wine pairings, and the subtle dynamics between food critics creates an aspirational world that readers will want to inhabit.
The cast of international food critics—particularly the wine expert Eamon and veteran critic Rebecca Riggs—feels authentic and well-researched. Their conversations about food philosophy, restaurant politics, and the changing landscape of culinary criticism add intellectual depth to what could have been simple food tourism.
However, the pacing in these sections sometimes drags, particularly during lengthy meal descriptions that, while beautifully written, occasionally halt narrative momentum. Wells seems more comfortable describing food than developing the interpersonal drama among her characters, leading to sections where plot advancement takes a backseat to culinary exposition.
Romance Amid Recipes
The romantic subplot between Cassie and Eamon provides emotional ballast to the novel’s heavier themes of grief and identity. Wells writes their attraction with restraint and authenticity, allowing their connection to develop naturally through shared meals and conversations about food culture. Eamon’s combination of charisma and genuine interest in Cassie’s perspective creates a compelling romantic interest who feels like more than just a plot device.
Their relationship serves as an effective counterpoint to Cassie’s complicated feelings about James. Where James kept secrets, Eamon encourages honesty; where James excluded Cassie from his passion, Eamon includes her in his world. Yet Wells doesn’t present this as a simple replacement romance. Cassie’s struggle to remain open to new love while processing old betrayals feels genuine and earned.
The romantic tension builds effectively throughout their European adventures, culminating in moments of intimacy that feel both inevitable and carefully earned. Wells writes their physical attraction with subtlety, focusing more on emotional connection than explicit passion, which suits the novel’s overall tone.
The Weight of Deception
The novel’s central ethical question—whether Cassie’s assumption of James’s digital identity constitutes honor or theft—provides its most compelling dramatic tension. Wells doesn’t offer easy answers, instead allowing readers to grapple with the moral complexity of Cassie’s choices alongside the protagonist herself.
David’s explosive confrontation in Venice serves as the novel’s moral reckoning, forcing both Cassie and readers to confront the implications of her deception. His accusation that she “stole” James’s life’s work carries weight precisely because it contains elements of truth. Wells writes this confrontation with appropriate dramatic intensity, though David’s character feels somewhat underdeveloped beyond his role as moral antagonist.
The aftermath of this revelation—Cassie’s flight home, return to legal work, and eventual decision to return to Europe—provides the novel’s most emotionally resonant sections. Wells captures the shame, regret, and self-doubt that follow Cassie’s exposure with painful authenticity.
Strengths and Shortcomings
Wells’ greatest strength lies in her ability to weave food culture authentically into her narrative. Her descriptions of restaurants, meals, and the social dynamics of food criticism feel genuine and immersive. She successfully captures both the glamour and pressure of influencer culture without falling into either blind celebration or cynical criticism.
The novel’s exploration of grief also deserves praise. Wells avoids easy sentimentality, instead presenting grief as a complex, ongoing process that reshapes rather than simply saddens. Cassie’s anger at James’s deception feels as valid as her love for him, creating a more nuanced portrait of loss than many contemporary novels achieve.
However, the book occasionally suffers from pacing issues, particularly in its middle sections where culinary descriptions sometimes overwhelm character development. Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, particularly the other food critics who serve more as atmosphere than fully realized individuals.
The novel’s resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives perhaps too neatly. Cassie’s professional success and romantic fulfillment feel somewhat convenient given the magnitude of her earlier deceptions and their consequences.
Contemporary Relevance and Cultural Commentary
Eat Post Like succeeds in capturing several relevant contemporary themes: the pressure of social media performance, the search for authentic experience in a digital age, and the way food culture has become intertwined with personal identity and professional success. Wells demonstrates understanding of how Instagram and other platforms have transformed not just how we share food experiences, but how we conceive of them in the first place.
The novel also offers subtle commentary on gender dynamics in professional spaces, both legal and culinary. Cassie’s concerns about being taken seriously as a female critic, her fear that romance might undermine her professional credibility, and her navigation of male-dominated spaces feel authentic and timely.
Literary Comparisons and Genre Positioning
Wells’ novel fits comfortably within the contemporary women’s fiction genre while offering more substance than typical beach reads. Readers of authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid or Christina Lauren will find familiar territory here, though Wells brings more culinary expertise and insider knowledge to her food industry setting.
The book shares DNA with food-centered novels like Delicious! by Ruth Reichl or The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, though Wells focuses more on food media culture than restaurant kitchen dynamics. Her background as both an architect and food media professional gives her writing a unique perspective that distinguishes it from other food-focused fiction.
Final Verdict
Eat Post Like represents a promising debut that succeeds more often than it stumbles. Wells demonstrates considerable skill in creating an immersive food world and crafting a protagonist whose flaws make her relatable rather than unlikable. While the novel occasionally prioritizes atmosphere over plot advancement, its exploration of grief, identity, and the search for authentic experience in a curated world resonates beyond its romantic comedy elements.
“Eat Post Like” works best when embracing its central questions about truth, performance, and the stories we tell about ourselves—both online and off. Wells doesn’t provide simple answers to these complex issues, instead allowing her protagonist’s journey to illuminate the messy reality of modern life where digital and physical identities increasingly intertwine.
For readers seeking escapist fiction with substance, particularly those interested in food culture or digital media themes, Eat Post Like offers a satisfying blend of romance, culinary adventure, and emotional depth. While not without flaws, it establishes Wells as a voice worth watching in contemporary women’s fiction.
Similar Reads for Food and Romance Lovers
Readers who enjoyed Eat Post Like might also appreciate:
- “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl – A novel by the former Gourmet editor that combines food media industry insights with personal transformation
- “The School of Essential Ingredients” by Erica Bauermeister – Explores how food connects people and heals emotional wounds
- “Garden Spells” by Sarah Addison Allen – Magical realism meets Southern cuisine in this story of sisters and second chances
- “Husbands & Lovers” by Beatriz Williams – Class, secrets, and romance set against the backdrop of exclusive social circles
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – Contemporary romance with depth, featuring writers finding themselves and each other
Eat Post Like offers a fresh take on familiar themes, serving up a story that’s as much about finding yourself as it is about finding love—with plenty of delicious descriptions along the way.