IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT

Sixteen-year-old Theo finds an unexpected job (and a girl to love) at an upscale French restaurant in this novel by James Beard Award–winning food writer Ruhlman.

Theo imagined that the summer of 1980 would be filled with practices in the lead-up to a successful football season playing for his private school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on the outskirts of Cleveland. After an accident during a game leaves his leg badly broken thanks to a previously undetected benign bone cyst, Theo finds himself out of the sport indefinitely. But he’s distracted from his blues after being hired as a prep cook at Restaurant Margaux. Chef Jackson is tough yet fair. Thanks to his mentoring, Theo comes to love the atmosphere, the cooking, and the profession—as well as server Julia. Ruhlman’s writing is at its best when Theo is in the kitchen. The hustle and passion that flow during service drop readers squarely in the middle of the action. Theo himself is a likable, honest character who’s both earnest and imperfect. Julia, on the other hand, has a surprising character arc that’s puzzling and handled abruptly. Though the two date, their romantic moments aren’t particularly swoonworthy. One storyline ultimately takes a turn that feels superfluous and is less interesting than the fast-paced action in the kitchen. Most cast members read white.

The well-realized foodie elements are the highlight of this uneven story.