If You Can't Take the Heat

Michael Ruhlman

$21.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Penguin Workshop
13 May 2025

General fiction (Children's&YA); Cooking & food (Children's&YA)

From James Beard Award-winning author Michael Ruhlman, a coming-of-age story about finding a new life and love in the kitchen...and trying not to get burned along the way. Out now in paperback!

From James Beard Award-winning author Michael Ruhlman, a coming-of-age story about finding a new life and love in the kitchen...and trying not to get burned along the way. Out now in paperback!

When high school football star Theo Claverback breaks his leg just weeks after a devastating break-up, he's forced to call an audible on his summer plans and put his college ones on hold. He soon finds himself in the most unlikely of places for a jock on crutches- the kitchen of an upscale French restaurant, where he'll work as a prep cook while his heart and leg heal.

But it's in the kitchen where Theo finds new purpose and a new romance. As he becomes a trusted employee to Chef and is welcomed into his inner circle, Theo begins to discover the true costs of running a restaurant-and what happens when you get into hot water with the wrong people.

Set in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1980, If You Can't Take the Heat is a gritty look inside the belly of an upscale kitchen where love and danger boil behind closed doors.

By: Michael Ruhlman
Imprint: Penguin Workshop
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 138mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 249g
ISBN: 9780593523452
ISBN 10: 0593523458
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
Recommended Age: From 14 years
Audience: Young adult , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michael Ruhlman is a trained cook and an award-winning author best known for writing about food, chefs, and the work of professional cooking. He has also written for the New York Times, the New York Times Sunday Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Gourmet magazine, and other publications. He lives in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews for If You Can't Take the Heat

""Food writer Ruhlman employs exacting verisimilitude to bring the heat of the kitchen and sensory details of the dishes to life in this vivacious debut.""—Publishers Weekly (starred review) ""This human story is the book’s real strength, as is the care given to detailing the operations inside a restaurant kitchen, lending power and authenticity.""—Booklist ""A refreshingly different take on the romance genre, written from the male perspective, and a great purchase for all libraries.""—School Library Journal ""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...The well-realized foodie elements are the highlight.""—Kirkus Reviews