Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Title: Love & Other Disasters
Author: Anita Kelly
Genre: Contemporary / LGBTQIA+ / Romance
Author Info: Female Author / LGBTQ
Setting: Los Angeles, California
Month Read: January, 2022
Book Type: E-Book!
Publication: January 2022
Pages: 384
*I received an E-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this opportunity. I'm incredibly grateful!
TRIGGER WARNING-
Transphobia / Alcohol Consumption / Sexual Themes
"Let us both be sorry. Let's be very sorry people eating barbecue. Okay?"
No Spoiler Summary:
Love & Other Disasters is a Queer Rom-Com set during a prime-time cooking competition, Chef's Special. You follow London (a serious, grumpy, out non-binary contestant), and quirky, clumsy recently-divorced Dahlia as they navigate their way through the competition and maybe also find themeselves (and eachother) on the way.
Review:
I'm so thrilled to have gotten an arc of this book, since I (stupidly) didn't put it in my January Book of the Month box (because I wanted to read more romances in Feburary for Valentine's. I cannot shout from the rooftops enough about how much I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely following the cutesy romance roadmap, but honestly, with everything going on the past few years- it's a little nice to read something slightly expected, and even nicer to curl up with a book that constantly gives you the warm-and-fuzzies.
I was a little nervous going into this book about how Anita Kelly would put the cooking competition show aspect into the book, and was delighted to see how while being a HUGE part of the plot, it wasn't as in the forefront as I thought it would be? I love cooking competitions and absolutely live for Master Chef & Top Chef, but it was interesting to see what London, Dahlia, and the other contestants did outside of the show, and the taping schedule, and all the things you don't really get to see much behind the cameras on the shows. I also loved the snippits of the other characters on the show that we got to see, and I thought the villain in this was someone you'd see on TV. Nothing about this book felt forced, or even fictional.
I also loved London. I haven't read a ton of books in general featuring non-binary characters, but I'm really glad that books like this are becoming mainstream. I enjoyed their family dynamic, and that there was so much support for them. I would say that the only thing I would have wanted a lot more of was Hank- I feel like as much as we learned about them, we never really got to know them the way I would have liked.
I also felt the chemistry between the two leads was SO spicy, and they were so cute, and would love another book following London and Dahlia if ever the chance arose. Anita Kelly has definitely made me a fan, and I can't wait to pick up their next book slated for next year! (2023)
Recommendation:
LGBTQ Romance Reads:
Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli (YA)
Here's to Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli (YA)
They Both Die in the End by Adam Silvera (YA)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (YA)
Simon and the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (YA)
"In that moment, both of their bodies felt, if not perfect, then real, wonderfully so"
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