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kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Title: Chef's Choice
Author: T.J. Alexander
Series: Chef's Kiss #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
I received a complimentary eARC from Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Comical • Tender • Delicious
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she’s a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don’t pay the bills.
Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire—which he’ll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play…for the right price. She’s got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn’t even know how to crack an egg, but she’s not going to let that—or any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierre—stop her.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I adored the plot of book one, Chef's Kiss in this series, so I was eager to receive an ARC of Chef's Choice. I was definitely expecting the same foodie vibes and queer representation. In fact, this is the first trans/trans romance I've read that has been traditionally published.
T.J. Alexander has delivered complex main characters yet again. Luna and Jean-Pierre are complete opposites, and I appreciate getting two different takes on the trans experience. In my opinion, a dual POV structure would have served this story better. Getting JP's inner dialogue would have given this story another layer and there were so many times I was curious to get into his head.
While I really sunk into their developing friendship, the budding romance felt too predictable, and not necessarily all that believable. There were also too many competing storylines. Because of these two factors I didn't feel a full fledged investment in their story. As this book tackles many plotlines, it got bogged down at times. A bigger focus on the actually cooking challenge would have allowed for a smoother reading experience.
Although Chef's Choice is technically part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Overall, the story was just okay, yet what I really appreciated was the representation and the open door sex scenes. I will continue to add T.J. Alexander's work to my TBR in the future.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fake dating enthusiasts
• readers looking for a queer love story
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"That is black-and-white thinking, and I live in a world full of color."
Author: T.J. Alexander
Series: Chef's Kiss #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
I received a complimentary eARC from Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Comical • Tender • Delicious
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she’s a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don’t pay the bills.
Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire—which he’ll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play…for the right price. She’s got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn’t even know how to crack an egg, but she’s not going to let that—or any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierre—stop her.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I adored the plot of book one, Chef's Kiss in this series, so I was eager to receive an ARC of Chef's Choice. I was definitely expecting the same foodie vibes and queer representation. In fact, this is the first trans/trans romance I've read that has been traditionally published.
T.J. Alexander has delivered complex main characters yet again. Luna and Jean-Pierre are complete opposites, and I appreciate getting two different takes on the trans experience. In my opinion, a dual POV structure would have served this story better. Getting JP's inner dialogue would have given this story another layer and there were so many times I was curious to get into his head.
While I really sunk into their developing friendship, the budding romance felt too predictable, and not necessarily all that believable. There were also too many competing storylines. Because of these two factors I didn't feel a full fledged investment in their story. As this book tackles many plotlines, it got bogged down at times. A bigger focus on the actually cooking challenge would have allowed for a smoother reading experience.
Although Chef's Choice is technically part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Overall, the story was just okay, yet what I really appreciated was the representation and the open door sex scenes. I will continue to add T.J. Alexander's work to my TBR in the future.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fake dating enthusiasts
• readers looking for a queer love story
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"That is black-and-white thinking, and I live in a world full of color."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Sexual content, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
callidoralblack's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment and Transphobia
madscientistcat's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Funny and precious and beautiful trans joy. Did I cry reading the acknowledgments? Yes, yes I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
analenegrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this one even more than the first book in the series! Alexander is a fantastic writer; Luna and JP came so alive in this book.
Plot-wise, I would have wanted a little more substance, but I think the characters and relationships were so much more important; the actual cooking plot felt like a B or C plot to the book. I loved Luna in the first book so I was excited to get more of her and the fake dating plot worked so well, especially with a character like JP.
Alexander did queer discourse in many ways in the book in a way that felt personal to the characters and their experiences while also taking on some important conversations had in the queer community.
I look forward to their next book!
Plot-wise, I would have wanted a little more substance, but I think the characters and relationships were so much more important; the actual cooking plot felt like a B or C plot to the book. I loved Luna in the first book so I was excited to get more of her and the fake dating plot worked so well, especially with a character like JP.
Alexander did queer discourse in many ways in the book in a way that felt personal to the characters and their experiences while also taking on some important conversations had in the queer community.
I look forward to their next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Cursing
caseythereader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Thanks to Atria Books for the free copy of this book.
- CHEF'S CHOICE has cemented me as a fan of TJ Alexander's bubbly, heartfelt romances. Besides, how could I not love a T4T fake dating story!
- I loved that Luna and Jean-Pierre were just a touch grumpy/sunshine, but also that they had some worldview differences to work through. Even better were that these were discussions that would only be had between queer and trans characters, something we don't often see in mainstream books in this genre.
- It's just the precise right blend of silly and serious. I loved it so much and I really hope there are more books to come in this series.
- CHEF'S CHOICE has cemented me as a fan of TJ Alexander's bubbly, heartfelt romances. Besides, how could I not love a T4T fake dating story!
- I loved that Luna and Jean-Pierre were just a touch grumpy/sunshine, but also that they had some worldview differences to work through. Even better were that these were discussions that would only be had between queer and trans characters, something we don't often see in mainstream books in this genre.
- It's just the precise right blend of silly and serious. I loved it so much and I really hope there are more books to come in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual content
uranaishi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Dysphoria, Medical content, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
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