You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
Complicated
This was a fun and spicy queer read and I loved all the representation in this! This was the first romance novel I read with a non-binary MC! It was challenging to differentiate the voices of the MCs via audiobook.
This was fast paced and entertaining book! I enjoyed the reality tv trope, and found it witty and enjoyable. I like Dahlia and London as characters, and saw their lovable sides early on. The “Uhaul” queer trope definitely fits for Dahlia and London. I appreciated the more passionate spicy scenes, along with the intimate and endearing ones. That was so refreshing.
Be aware that there are multiple instances of transphobia directed at London by another competitor and their dad, who doesn't accept them coming out. While I know this is the reality for many queer and trans folks, I would have enjoyed the novel more without the discrimination plots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia, Alcohol
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
As an ace person, reading romance novels can be weird because it's hard to identify with or understand different experiences and feelings. like when someone turns you on so much you want to lick the scar on their hand or having any desire to have someone's toes in your mouth. So naturally there were some parts of this story that felt so unnatural to me though I imagine others would find them equally natural.
I do like the story though. And I appreciate that both the characters had their own insecurities to work through, goals to discover and work towards, and relationship challenges both inside and outside the romantic relationship to overcome. I did feel like the some aspects were too rushed. But overall it was good
I do like the story though. And I appreciate that both the characters had their own insecurities to work through, goals to discover and work towards, and relationship challenges both inside and outside the romantic relationship to overcome. I did feel like the some aspects were too rushed. But overall it was good
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A formulaic reality TV romcom with the added dimension of transphobia and gender identity issues. London and Dahlia are really adorable, even if I was mostly just so-so on the cooking bit. Given that the author themself is non-binary, I felt it was all handled really well, especially the spicy scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun and spicy queer read and I loved all the representation in this! I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I wished to and it was hard to differentiate their voices but it's always nice to read adult sapphic novels! Not the best book for me but it could be for you.
Be aware that there are multiple instances of transphobia directed at London by another competitor and their dad, who doesn't accept them coming out. I love reading queer books but I love them even more when they're not filled with discrimination plots...
Be aware that there are multiple instances of transphobia directed at London by another competitor and their dad, who doesn't accept them coming out. I love reading queer books but I love them even more when they're not filled with discrimination plots...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Gaslighting
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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:
No
Cozy queer romances are always such a great spot of respite in the sea of darker books I sometimes find myself reading. Love & Other Disasters was such a great palate cleanser for me, I feel like my mood improved 1000% after reading it!
Dahlia quit her job and flew across the states to enter the number one tv show cooking competition in America, she is adrift in life, coming off a divorce and trying to find herself. The prize money from winning could change her life, and allow her to pay off her bills and crawl out of the pit of crushing debt she has found herself in.
London is nonbinary and dreams of being able to start a nonprofit back in Tennessee for LGBTQ kids, but soon finds themselves being thrust further into the spotlight then they anticipated, being the first openly nonbinary contestant on the cooking show.
As the episodes continue and people are eliminated one by one, the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another, and becoming close. But at the end of the day it *is* a competition, which puts a deadline on whatever it is they are starting to have with each other.
Sizzling chemistry and A++ spicy scenes sprinkled through the book just enhance Anita Kelly's humorous writing style, I was laughing one second and fanning myself the next! The characters are so lovable, well rounded, and everyone had a happy ending. (Except for any "bad guys" of course!) I am going to keep my eye on the author, I know whatever they write next will be a book I'll wait in line for.
The Cover
The cover and title is so sweet but really I wish it conveyed in any kind of way what the book is about, or the fact that food is so entangled with the themes and plot. The book ended and opened with Dahlia cutting an onion, it would have been nice to have seen maybe an onion motif of some kind.
That aside it is such a bright joyous cover. I love the style that Dahlia and London are depicted in, they actually look like their character descriptions which is always a plus. It is such a sweet and well designed book cover, from the title font to the way the characters look at each other. I do really love the cover, but again I wish it was a bit more in line with the book themes. (The cover or the title would do well to have been shifted to convey how fantastic this book was, as it is the title is a bit basic)
Cover & Title by Hattie Windley
Dahlia quit her job and flew across the states to enter the number one tv show cooking competition in America, she is adrift in life, coming off a divorce and trying to find herself. The prize money from winning could change her life, and allow her to pay off her bills and crawl out of the pit of crushing debt she has found herself in.
London is nonbinary and dreams of being able to start a nonprofit back in Tennessee for LGBTQ kids, but soon finds themselves being thrust further into the spotlight then they anticipated, being the first openly nonbinary contestant on the cooking show.
As the episodes continue and people are eliminated one by one, the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another, and becoming close. But at the end of the day it *is* a competition, which puts a deadline on whatever it is they are starting to have with each other.
Sizzling chemistry and A++ spicy scenes sprinkled through the book just enhance Anita Kelly's humorous writing style, I was laughing one second and fanning myself the next! The characters are so lovable, well rounded, and everyone had a happy ending. (Except for any "bad guys" of course!) I am going to keep my eye on the author, I know whatever they write next will be a book I'll wait in line for.
The Cover
The cover and title is so sweet but really I wish it conveyed in any kind of way what the book is about, or the fact that food is so entangled with the themes and plot. The book ended and opened with Dahlia cutting an onion, it would have been nice to have seen maybe an onion motif of some kind.
That aside it is such a bright joyous cover. I love the style that Dahlia and London are depicted in, they actually look like their character descriptions which is always a plus. It is such a sweet and well designed book cover, from the title font to the way the characters look at each other. I do really love the cover, but again I wish it was a bit more in line with the book themes. (The cover or the title would do well to have been shifted to convey how fantastic this book was, as it is the title is a bit basic)
Cover & Title by Hattie Windley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Read during the #TransRightsReadathon March 20-27, 2023..
Sweet, silly, spicy, serious, sensual. This is a contemporary rom-com between two cooking show contestants who are each experiencing a bit of a quarter-life crisis. Dahlia (f/queer) is recently divorced from her high school sweetheart and feels disappointing and directionless. Teaching herself how to cook and develop warm, comforting flavors has helped her get through the worst of it. Winning the $100k competition prize might help her get through the rest. London (nb/pan) is settled in their non-binary identity even if they're still unsettled by their father's lack of acceptance. They're hyper-focused and prepared — to put the strained relationship with their father aside, to ignore the trolls, and to establish their place as the first non-binarycontestant winner of a major cooking competition so they can use the prize money to start a nonprofit for LGBTQ kids. There's an undeniable spark between the two, but is there a future together ahead of them?
An entertaining and enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud in places even as I cringed at others. The writing is vivid and tactile. Which is generally great, but ... I don't ever want to recall someone's hands working with raw chicken when they're in the middle of a sensual massage. There's also a large cast of secondary characters and not nearly enough time to develop them, and a background of socioeconomic disparity that's not explored much. Overall, a really good debut with excellent LGBTQ rep!
Sweet, silly, spicy, serious, sensual. This is a contemporary rom-com between two cooking show contestants who are each experiencing a bit of a quarter-life crisis. Dahlia (f/queer) is recently divorced from her high school sweetheart and feels disappointing and directionless. Teaching herself how to cook and develop warm, comforting flavors has helped her get through the worst of it. Winning the $100k competition prize might help her get through the rest. London (nb/pan) is settled in their non-binary identity even if they're still unsettled by their father's lack of acceptance. They're hyper-focused and prepared — to put the strained relationship with their father aside, to ignore the trolls, and to establish their place as the first non-binary
An entertaining and enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud in places even as I cringed at others. The writing is vivid and tactile. Which is generally great, but ... I don't ever want to recall someone's hands working with raw chicken when they're in the middle of a sensual massage. There's also a large cast of secondary characters and not nearly enough time to develop them, and a background of socioeconomic disparity that's not explored much. Overall, a really good debut with excellent LGBTQ rep!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Transphobia, Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Excrement, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
misgendering (alluded to and explored without being explicitly written), coming out, unaccepting family, internet trolls (alluded to and explored, not explicitly written), cooking gore and detailed descriptions of animal proteins, food-related sex play, public sex, divorce (backstory), pressure to have kids (backstory), socioeconomic pressure and disparity