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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This is a solid four for me. First, anything that takes me behind the scenes of a reality TV show -- Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, One to Watch, The Charm Offensive, and If The Shoe Fits, for examples -- rounds up a whole star, because I find production fascinating. Second, FINALLY we get a nonbianary person with real character development, real personality, and who gets to have real sex! No more panning away to the curtains (Insert Praise Hands Emoji). I hope that someday we get a character like London on real television that opens eyes like they did in the book. Well-paced, great supporting cast, a warm hug in 384 pages.
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
Yes
I thought this book was so good simply because it exists. Everything about it is both formulaic and groundbreaking just because of who London is and how this book tells their story. It’s a good, sweet, HEA, contemporary romance, but then it just SHATTERS the genre by bringing London and Dahlia together. I loved it. I cried. I wished there was more to it (I would have loved to have all the details of the solo interviews and other behind the scenes things, though I know they were left out purposely to help tell the story), because I wished there was more OF it to enjoy.
it weirdly made me want to cook, like a whole 4 course meal. I should definitely read more books about cooking shows.
Between secretly crushing on each other, mutual pining and great friendship, Dahlia and London had amazing chemistry and they are the absolute cutest.
This book took me out of a reading slump so if you’re looking for a simple and fun queer romance, i would definitely recommend Love and Other Disasters.
Between secretly crushing on each other, mutual pining and great friendship, Dahlia and London had amazing chemistry and they are the absolute cutest.
This book took me out of a reading slump so if you’re looking for a simple and fun queer romance, i would definitely recommend Love and Other Disasters.
I really wanted to love this book. Queer romance! Nonbinary main character! Cooking show antics! However, the plot lacked very little substance and character development past the first 50 pages. I ended up skimming the last half of the book just to see it through, and I’m a little disappointed because this had SO MUCH potential to be great.
Listened via audio.
I don't read much new adult, but this was very good! The way that the romance built and the main characters dealt with real fears and traumas while in the spotlight was all done very well. And smut was...effective. Listening to the narration while at work was a little awkward (I'm used to MG/YA books that don't have any romantic detail) but it was well written. A very cute and enjoyable story, I just wish that the show storyline wasn't so convenient.
I don't read much new adult, but this was very good! The way that the romance built and the main characters dealt with real fears and traumas while in the spotlight was all done very well. And smut was...effective. Listening to the narration while at work was a little awkward (I'm used to MG/YA books that don't have any romantic detail) but it was well written. A very cute and enjoyable story, I just wish that the show storyline wasn't so convenient.
This story is about two contestants on a Masterchef-like show who fall in love. Dahlia is recently divorced and trying to figure out what to do with her life next. She is usually delightful and spunky opposite London, the first nonbinary contestant on the show who is more serious and detail-oriented.
The story was fine, but not a lot stood out that would make this higher than three stars for me (though the scene with the cows on the farm, while brief, had me laughing out loud). Dahlia was my favorite character and had the best lines in my opinion. What dragged the book down for me a little was not using the cooking competition show backdrop enough. Challenges are briefly described (usually after they are over), and even big eliminations are done so fast you aren't even sure if it happened or the character was just imagining what could happen. I would have loved a little more cooking drama and getting to know the other contestants better. There aren't any really strong supportive characters because none of them get enough time to shine.
The nonbinary representation was good and showed the struggles without making it the only focus of the story. I feel like reading more books using they/them as pronouns is always helpful to make this more normal for everyone.
The story was fine, but not a lot stood out that would make this higher than three stars for me (though the scene with the cows on the farm, while brief, had me laughing out loud). Dahlia was my favorite character and had the best lines in my opinion. What dragged the book down for me a little was not using the cooking competition show backdrop enough. Challenges are briefly described (usually after they are over), and even big eliminations are done so fast you aren't even sure if it happened or the character was just imagining what could happen. I would have loved a little more cooking drama and getting to know the other contestants better. There aren't any really strong supportive characters because none of them get enough time to shine.
The nonbinary representation was good and showed the struggles without making it the only focus of the story. I feel like reading more books using they/them as pronouns is always helpful to make this more normal for everyone.
"Fuck anyone who doesn't see you" is my new motto fyi.
This book was so much fun!!!
I absolutely loved the characters. I loved the reality tv show setting. I loved the food. I loved the steam. I loved the discussions around sexuality and gender identity. I loved the humor. I loved the empowerment.
All of it– it was such a great time. It really checks off all the boxes on the romcom list. I highly recommend it to all lovers of romance, and of course to all lovers of food
This book was so much fun!!!
I absolutely loved the characters. I loved the reality tv show setting. I loved the food. I loved the steam. I loved the discussions around sexuality and gender identity. I loved the humor. I loved the empowerment.
All of it– it was such a great time. It really checks off all the boxes on the romcom list. I highly recommend it to all lovers of romance, and of course to all lovers of food