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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
It was ok? I was expecting a little bit more, to be honest. I’m obsessed with cooking shows, so as you can probably tell, I was expecting to be head over heels with this book. I was not. I have to say I’m happy to have read a book where one of the main characters are non-binary, so that was a great point. Besides that, I love books where the characters connect through their feelings about food and eating as a positive experience. But this one felt… pretty bland? The sex scenes were great, the characters had great chemistry between them; but the whole thing felt pretty empty when it came to knowing each other, it felt rushed, they all felt so many intense emotions and moods over so little. I remember thinking I had read like half of the book and so much had happened over nothing? Like all the feelings and actions just came out of nowhere, no actual build up of almost anything. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time reading it, because I did. It just felt… not enough? Either way, I might read another one from the same author, just to check if I can connect with it a little bit more.
“Dahlia Woodson was a firefly in the darkness, a hummingbird at your window. Maybe you got to see her brightness for a fleeting moment, but you couldn’t chase her. She didn’t deserve to be caught.”
“Dahlia Woodson was a firefly in the darkness, a hummingbird at your window. Maybe you got to see her brightness for a fleeting moment, but you couldn’t chase her. She didn’t deserve to be caught.”
Thank you Forever for our gifted review copy.
I am a sucker for a book featuring a reality TV competition show. Make it a food or cooking-related show & I’m even more invested. Add in lovable characters with amazing narration & I’m a goner!
This book was so wonderful. That’s the review – okay, I’ll give a bit more detail. For starters, I highly recommend the audio, but I still want a print copy for my shelves. London, a nonbinary contestant on a reality show, is so great and Dahlia, a recent divorcee competing on the same show is awesome too. The tension is there and the stakes are high for each of them.
No spoilers, but the first and last lines of this book is my new fave. They tie in together so well & it just made me squeal. While I’ve read books featuring characters whose pronouns are they/them, hearing London referred to as they/them repeatedly on the audiobook really made me aware of how my brain recognizes those words. by about halfway, my brain quit asking me “who is they?” and recognized that “they” is London. I hope that makes sense – I don’t think I would have had that realization reading print & I’m grateful for it.
I highly recommend this book to all my fellow romance lovers. Also, if you’re not a huge romance fan, this may be a gateway for you! It’s so easy to fall in love with these characters!
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly has the following:
Reality TV tie-in
Queer characters
Fresh start after divorce
Conversations about pronoun use
Sexy times on the beach
Crashing a wedding
Characters who communicate
I am a sucker for a book featuring a reality TV competition show. Make it a food or cooking-related show & I’m even more invested. Add in lovable characters with amazing narration & I’m a goner!
This book was so wonderful. That’s the review – okay, I’ll give a bit more detail. For starters, I highly recommend the audio, but I still want a print copy for my shelves. London, a nonbinary contestant on a reality show, is so great and Dahlia, a recent divorcee competing on the same show is awesome too. The tension is there and the stakes are high for each of them.
No spoilers, but the first and last lines of this book is my new fave. They tie in together so well & it just made me squeal. While I’ve read books featuring characters whose pronouns are they/them, hearing London referred to as they/them repeatedly on the audiobook really made me aware of how my brain recognizes those words. by about halfway, my brain quit asking me “who is they?” and recognized that “they” is London. I hope that makes sense – I don’t think I would have had that realization reading print & I’m grateful for it.
I highly recommend this book to all my fellow romance lovers. Also, if you’re not a huge romance fan, this may be a gateway for you! It’s so easy to fall in love with these characters!
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly has the following:
Reality TV tie-in
Queer characters
Fresh start after divorce
Conversations about pronoun use
Sexy times on the beach
Crashing a wedding
Characters who communicate
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was so much fun!! I was emotionally attached to the main characters from the beginning. It was warm, feel good story with a comfortable ending.
I loved reading a book with a non binary protagonist! And who doesn’t love a cooking show themed. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t The toe sucking sex scene. I was listening to this at work in my headphones and was like HOLD UP. Anyway. It was a cute read.
But the ending. Wtf was that. Are you laying the groundwork for something or was the knife just suspenseful lol.
But the ending. Wtf was that. Are you laying the groundwork for something or was the knife just suspenseful lol.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was such an adorable queer competitors to lovers romance! The two mains, London who is non-binary and has dreams of opening a non-profit with their winnings and Dahlia who is just trying to figure out her life after a messy divorce become fast friends and ever faster to lovers. In some instances it may have seemed a little too fast paced but their relationship was so sweet - and a little bit steamy - that it makes up for any feelings of being rushed.
I enjoyed the cast of secondary characters. They did seem to be a little more flat instead of fully within the story but they did the part of moving the plot and the main characters personal growth along as the story went. Their support of London and Dahlia - relationship and personal life wise - was really nice and the scene with London’s family at the end of the story was one of my favorites.
I really liked how the author handled the heavy topics of the story - transphobia, divorce, self-worth - without one seeming like the more important problem. London and Dahlia each had their things to work through and the story gave them the time and positioning to do so.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the early digital copy to read and review - sorry this is a little late!
I enjoyed the cast of secondary characters. They did seem to be a little more flat instead of fully within the story but they did the part of moving the plot and the main characters personal growth along as the story went. Their support of London and Dahlia - relationship and personal life wise - was really nice and the scene with London’s family at the end of the story was one of my favorites.
I really liked how the author handled the heavy topics of the story - transphobia, divorce, self-worth - without one seeming like the more important problem. London and Dahlia each had their things to work through and the story gave them the time and positioning to do so.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the early digital copy to read and review - sorry this is a little late!