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readereverafter 's review for:
Yes, Chef
by Waitlyn Andrews
Finally! I can get a well rounded romance, that doesn’t have a heavy focus on a sexual relationship, that’s not from Stephanie Perkins! This book had me smiling like an idiot, gushing over the relationship and how it evolved, and heartbroken over the past trauma of our main character. This is easily one of my favorite reads so far this year, I don’t doubt I will be rereading it before the year is over.
Spoiler section
As I said above, my favorite thing is the focus of the relationship is not the sexual relationship between Claire and James. Instead it focuses on Claires journey to be able to trust herself and her own inhibitions, while James is supportive in whatever way she needs him to be. He doesn’t push for more that she might not be comfortable with, he doesn’t even make a move until he’s 100% certain that she’s reciprocating. He does things to test the waters, and when he’s turned down he doesn’t pressure her into more, he drops it. When Claire tells James that she choose abstinence for herself, he respected her. Which I have a problem with Henry telling her that’s not very feminist of her to decide for herself, feminism is all about women deciding what to do regardless of others opinions. It is, in fact, very feminist of her to decide she would rather save herself for one person. Just as it would’ve been if she decided to sleep with anyone she wanted.
My favorite part was seeing Claire's journey on gaining her agency back. She was in a manipulative relationship to the point she couldn’t make her own decisions without there being backlash from Henry. On top of being in a terrible car accident and loosing her grandmother. Seeing Claire decide that she’s not going to let anything keep her from her dreams and prove to herself everyday that she’s alive and pushing through the lingering pain just to prove to herself how far she’s come is inspiring. She tries to live every single day to the fullest.
Spoiler section
As I said above, my favorite thing is the focus of the relationship is not the sexual relationship between Claire and James. Instead it focuses on Claires journey to be able to trust herself and her own inhibitions, while James is supportive in whatever way she needs him to be. He doesn’t push for more that she might not be comfortable with, he doesn’t even make a move until he’s 100% certain that she’s reciprocating. He does things to test the waters, and when he’s turned down he doesn’t pressure her into more, he drops it. When Claire tells James that she choose abstinence for herself, he respected her. Which I have a problem with Henry telling her that’s not very feminist of her to decide for herself, feminism is all about women deciding what to do regardless of others opinions. It is, in fact, very feminist of her to decide she would rather save herself for one person. Just as it would’ve been if she decided to sleep with anyone she wanted.
My favorite part was seeing Claire's journey on gaining her agency back. She was in a manipulative relationship to the point she couldn’t make her own decisions without there being backlash from Henry. On top of being in a terrible car accident and loosing her grandmother. Seeing Claire decide that she’s not going to let anything keep her from her dreams and prove to herself everyday that she’s alive and pushing through the lingering pain just to prove to herself how far she’s come is inspiring. She tries to live every single day to the fullest.