Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was delightful to read a non-saccharine romance between NB and F characters! I enjoyed a lot of the on set reality show drama and thought the author did a good job of making food central but not killing ua with detail just to show they could. I always struggle with a dramatic, totally unnecessary third act break up, and the same was true here - there was some skimming through that section. Overall a fun read and extra points for the queer/enby rep.
Dahlia is ready for a change and needs to reinvent herself. What better way to do that then by participating in a reality cooking competition show. Things start off with a bang on the show when Dahlia falls flat on her face in front of everyone. When she meets London, they become quick friends. As Dahlia and London get closer, reality starts to fall away and feelings come to the surface. Falling in love was never part of the plan but fate may have something else in mind.
This was such a delightful queer romance. For me I loved reading about Dahlia and London. I really loved how London is non-binary and has they/them pronouns as this is not something I’ve read often. This book explored the challenges they have faced because of who they are. The banter between London and Dahlia was just top-notch, simply amazing. The romance between them was beautiful and spicy. I absolutely loved that this was set on a reality cooking show. Those are my favorite shows to watch so it was fun to read about. This book had me hooked from the beginning and held my interest, I didn’t want to put it down. I absolutely loved the ending. The author promises a happy ending to her books but even knowing that I was worried there for a while.
If you are looking for a steamy and fun queer romance with lot of engaging plot, then check this one out.
This was such a delightful queer romance. For me I loved reading about Dahlia and London. I really loved how London is non-binary and has they/them pronouns as this is not something I’ve read often. This book explored the challenges they have faced because of who they are. The banter between London and Dahlia was just top-notch, simply amazing. The romance between them was beautiful and spicy. I absolutely loved that this was set on a reality cooking show. Those are my favorite shows to watch so it was fun to read about. This book had me hooked from the beginning and held my interest, I didn’t want to put it down. I absolutely loved the ending. The author promises a happy ending to her books but even knowing that I was worried there for a while.
If you are looking for a steamy and fun queer romance with lot of engaging plot, then check this one out.
I absolutely loved this book. I've only really started reading romance in the last year, but I've been devouring every queer romance I can get my hands on. To finally have one that centers a non-binary lead who, like me, hasn't dated anyone since coming out, has been a revelation. This is one book that i know i will come back to over and over again
so cute. main characters are overall very likable and the conflicts felt genuine but the resolution fell short for me
Dahlia Woodson and London Parker meet on the set of cooking competition show, Chef’s Special. Dahlia is a bit of a disaster and makes her national television debut by falling flat on her face. London is the show’s first openly nonbinary contestant, and after announcing their pronouns on TV to a national audience, they’re feeling a little cautious. After a less than friendly initial encounter, the pair give each other a chance, and sparks begin to fly.
This was so much fun! Love & Other Disasters was the first romance I’ve read with a non-binary main character, and I really hope that we see more of this representation in romances in the future. I can’t speak to the representation itself, but I loved London as a character, and loved that while gender identity is openly discussed in this narrative, there is so much more to the story here. Kelly’s main characters are complex with solid backstories, and the dynamics between Dahlia and London felt realistic to the characters and situation. While I often struggle with the Sunshine in a Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic (and Dahlia was still a little too Sunshine for me), I so enjoyed the relationship between Dahlia and London.
Other things I loved: THIS COVER! The pining! The depiction of consent and boundary-setting during the steamy scenes, the backdrop of a cooking competition show, the family dynamics for both characters, discussion of finances, depiction of a divorced character
I read the majority of this on audio, and Lindsey Dorcus’ narration was flawless. I had trouble putting this down, and can’t wait to read more from @anitakellywrites in the future.
Big thanks to @readforeverpub and @hachetteaudio for advanced digital and audio copies to review.
This was so much fun! Love & Other Disasters was the first romance I’ve read with a non-binary main character, and I really hope that we see more of this representation in romances in the future. I can’t speak to the representation itself, but I loved London as a character, and loved that while gender identity is openly discussed in this narrative, there is so much more to the story here. Kelly’s main characters are complex with solid backstories, and the dynamics between Dahlia and London felt realistic to the characters and situation. While I often struggle with the Sunshine in a Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic (and Dahlia was still a little too Sunshine for me), I so enjoyed the relationship between Dahlia and London.
Other things I loved: THIS COVER! The pining! The depiction of consent and boundary-setting during the steamy scenes, the backdrop of a cooking competition show, the family dynamics for both characters, discussion of finances, depiction of a divorced character
I read the majority of this on audio, and Lindsey Dorcus’ narration was flawless. I had trouble putting this down, and can’t wait to read more from @anitakellywrites in the future.
Big thanks to @readforeverpub and @hachetteaudio for advanced digital and audio copies to review.
***NetGalley ARC +Libro.fm ALC***
This was so very good!
The non-binary representation in this book was wonderful!
I absolutely loved the reality tv cooking show and how it wasn't too much.
I really liked the side-characters and the conflict between them and the MCs.
Great read!
This was so very good!
The non-binary representation in this book was wonderful!
I absolutely loved the reality tv cooking show and how it wasn't too much.
I really liked the side-characters and the conflict between them and the MCs.
Great read!
So hard to give a star rating. it was such a comfort book, but also I didn't hype it enough for 4 stars? I would tend towards 3,5 stars.
I loved the story and the writing was good too but I just wasn't invested enough in the characters. Even though it maybe wasn't as hot I really liked the spicy scenes bc it was sooo much more realistic and "real" in comparison to many other books I read! I don't know if I didn't found it that sexy bc of that or bc they weren't that long?
This was actually my first romance with an enby and I would love to read more!
I loved the story and the writing was good too but I just wasn't invested enough in the characters. Even though it maybe wasn't as hot I really liked the spicy scenes bc it was sooo much more realistic and "real" in comparison to many other books I read! I don't know if I didn't found it that sexy bc of that or bc they weren't that long?
This was actually my first romance with an enby and I would love to read more!
I had a lot of fun with this book! Dahlia and London were both great and well-balanced characters to pin the story on, and their romance arc at least pertaining to their time on the show was super believable and lovely. I think I wanted more from the TV show aspect of it all, we had the briefest glimpse into but I wanted that to go so much further in terms of how both of the MCs dealt with it. As far as I'm aware, London never even knew, which is a huge miss, I feel like their whole approach to the show could've been different based on that. That said, I AM glad that the show itself wasn't a villain or open antagonist to London's coming out. I messaged my friend who had just read the book when I was about 100 pages in saying "If they air the first episode and they decided to edit out London's coming out and this whole story turns into London having to advocate for themself and their narrative, imma be pissed" and it thankfully wasn't that at all. Yes bigotry and transphobia did still exist, both on screen and off, but the romcom aspects of Dahlia and London did have enough room to take center stage.
But yes, very solid story, pretty mild spice, and I loved reading about a nonbinary character who had so much more to their story than just that identity. There are absolutely things I would've wanted to see added to make this narrative more one that I was going to LOVE, but all of those pertain to focusing more on the reality TV aspect because that's the shit that fascinates me. It was still a very very good book without that.
Spoiler
the show manufacturing the #TeamLondon vs #TeamLizzie outcome for the final two narrativeBut yes, very solid story, pretty mild spice, and I loved reading about a nonbinary character who had so much more to their story than just that identity. There are absolutely things I would've wanted to see added to make this narrative more one that I was going to LOVE, but all of those pertain to focusing more on the reality TV aspect because that's the shit that fascinates me. It was still a very very good book without that.
So I got this from BOTM and picked it up without knowing anything about it and I ended up liking it quite a bit! Since I'm not a huge romance book fan generally, I definitely wouldn't consider it to be the best book I've ever read. I enjoyed the cooking show setting and the relationship between Dahlia and London (I also love London so much they are amazing) but I thought the side characters could've been a bit more fleshed out, and because of the setting I feel like the story felt stagnant at times. All in all I'd recommend this, especially if you got it from BOTM like me and haven't read it yet!