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shaunashares's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
rabelais's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
1.75
Of course there's transmisogyny *when the author is intending it to be trans-positive*. That's what you get when an author who isn't a trans woman writes a trans woman character. Luna was more full of a character in the first book, and doesn't have much depth here. Her existence within all relationships is transactional, which is really gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Outing, Homophobia, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Classism, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Deadnaming, and Misogyny
There is so much transmisogyny in this book. We didn't need this.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
starrysteph's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was so charming!
We follow Luna, who has just been fired from her already-slightly-demeaning office job in NYC. She’s got a great friend group and a lot of dreams, but is worried she won’t be able to afford rent. That all changes when she has a chance encounter with Jean-Pierre, the French heir to a massive culinary empire. But to get his fortune, he’s got to a) cook his snobby grandfather’s renowned menu and b) get a girlfriend.
Jean-Pierre makes Luna an offer she can’t possibly refuse: a massive amount of money (as in, a sum that would make Luna’s dream of becoming a yoga teacher and running a center in the Catskills very possible) in exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend through the end of the competition. And as the pair learn to cook from the ground up, they also lean into each other and discover some very real feelings.
Luna & Jean-Pierre are both trans and both have incredibly different experiences with and opinions of identity and queerness. They talk a lot about different aspects of privilege (financial privilege and how that relates to the trans experiences comes up a lot). They share heartwarming moments of understanding and also respectfully challenge each other and learn and grow.
There was a really fun & earnest cast of side characters as well. I loved all the friendships highlighted - and really, the friends-who-become-family. Luna has an incredible community. We also witnessed the highs and lows of parental figures, whether they’re well-meaning but clueless or aggressively ignorant and toxic.
While all the dialogue felt very sincere and real, the relationship as a whole felt surface-level to me. I would have loved the arc of the story to have shifted a little faster so we could have deeper conversations and get to know them a bit more as a couple. Luna went from 0 to 100 really quickly (from a strong dislike to battling intense romantic feelings).
I think it was also tricky to not really hear more of Jean-Pierre’s perspective at the end (not necessarily a POV chapter, but even just to hear him express to Luna what was going on in his head - he went through SO much growth).
Chef’s Choice was often delightfully silly and I had some laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, I had a great time reading!
CW: transphobia, body shaming, toxic relationship (with family), sexual harassment, dysphoria, blood/injury (very brief), sexism, explicit sexual content
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Transphobia, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
gummifrog's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
God I loved this book! Not only is it deeply refreshing to see trans characters take the spotlight for a romance in a way that feels natural and respectful, but this book is a damn good romance to boot. JT Alexander is extremely talented - the sexual and romantic tension is palpable on every page, the food writing is exquisite, and Luna's interior dialogue is hilarious and relatable. I highly recommend this for a fast read, especially if you need something to lift your spirits!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment and Emotional abuse
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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