Who Would Like This Book:
Charming, heartfelt, and perfect for fans of queer romance and reality baking shows! "Love & Other Disasters" invites readers into a competition kitchen where slow-burn chemistry, banter, and delicious food are front and center. The dual POV offers a genuine look at both Dahlia - a freshly divorced, delightfully chaotic queer woman - and London - a pansexual, nonbinary contestant making history on TV. Their sweet (and at times steamy) journey thoughtfully explores privilege, gender identity, and healing, all while serving up plenty of fun for anyone who enjoys found family, grumpy/sunshine pairings, and diverse, authentic representation.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the pacing a bit slow and wished for a stronger utilization of the cooking competition element. Those not into open-door romance or explicit scenes might be put off by a few spicy moments - including one particular scene that split opinions. If you aren’t a fan of the manic pixie dream girl trope or prefer main characters who are crystal clear from the start, this may not hit all your marks. Finally, the story does touch on sensitive topics like misgendering and transphobia, which readers should be aware of going in.
About:
Dahlia unexpectedly finds herself as a contestant on a popular cooking show after her divorce, hoping to win to ease her financial burdens. As the competition unfolds, the romance between Dahlia and London blossoms amidst the challenges of the show. The book is filled with longing, yearning, and adorable moments, all intertwined with the cooking competition setting. Anita Kelly's writing style is smart and clean, crafting well-developed characters and a beautifully paced romance with a touch of spice in the sex scenes.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of misgendering, homophobia, and transphobia.
Has Romance?
The romance between the main characters is a central focus of the story and is described as light, funny, and cute.
From The Publisher:
The first openly nonbinary contestant on America's favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut that USA Today hailed as "an essential read."
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef's Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying-not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she's focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.
After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They're there to prove the trolls-including a fellow contestant and their dad-wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.
As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London's steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen-and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
Ratings (13)
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (41):
Read It (15) | |
Want To Read (18) | |
Not Interested (8) |
2 comment(s)
Switched to audio
Found this book incredibly boring! Read Chef's Kiss and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. Much Better stories.
What can you read after
Love & Other Disasters?
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