Reviews

Chef's Kiss by TJ Alexander

Only show reviews with written explanations

poetkoala's review against another edition

4.0

Cute! Some characters are oblivious, some characters are asses, and there’s some really obvious miscommunication, but a fluffy read.

bethany6788's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Chef’s Kiss follows Simone and Ray, who are both working for a cooking magazine. Simone reluctantly is put in front of the camera and Ray helps her come out of her shell.

This one was so much fun! I found myself cracking up at the banter and witty dialogue. I also read this one so fast because I truly enjoyed the characters. Simone was so great. I loved how she knew what she liked and wanted, BUT she grew so much over the course of the book. I loved Ray. They were so fun, funny, and sweet. I really enjoyed their friendship, and how their relationship progressed throughout. I loved seeing the world through Simone’s lens, especially after she learned about Ray.

I also really loved the work film crew and producer. They were a blast and their support and love of Ray was so beautiful. I loved how they encouraged Ray to be who they were and not change anything. They were willing to go the distance, and they did! I LOVED how the last few chapters unfolded and that the group stuck together!

We also love a happy ending and the epilogue made me so smiley.

tierneytw's review

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informative inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ceruleanstar's review

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3.0

*2.75

aboxer6490's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

lacyparrish's review

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4.5

First up -- check content warnings before reading this ... this is a wonderful book, but it tackles several heavy themes.

There is a non-binary character who is not out at the beginning of the story and is misgendered/deadnamed before and after coming out. The workplace isn't 100% inclusive and many of the issues come from the leadership who believes a transphobic employee's complaints over those who are directly impacted. There is also a large chunk of time where the same character is recovering from post-op top surgery, including medical aftercare.

That said, I love Ray and Simone, independently and as they realize that they like each other. All of the content warnings provided earlier are woven beautifully into the daily story, honoring queer love, queer joy, and unconditional acceptance without making them feel any less typical than we are used to seeing in cis/het romances. If this had been just a little longer and with a bit more in the way of romantic times, it would have been a five-star ... it's so close!

Full Rating (out of 10 possible): 8.143 (based on a modified CAWPILE system)
Romance level (out of 5 possible): 3 (for on-page, intimacy scenes with some details)