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atreegrowsinbooks's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
AHHH I loved this book! I think I liked this one just slightly better than its sequel (I read them out of order but you can really read them in either order).
I loved the banter between characters, especially between Simone and Ray. At first Simone got on my nerves. It first appears that she has somewhat of an ego, but we soon learn that she's of course a flawed human and doesn't like change to her workplace. They also struggle with changing pronouns for Ray when Ray comes out as enby at work. Simone struggles with misgendering at first, and those bits are really enjoying. I get that when Simone first meets Ray, they haven't come out so their pronouns are unknown. But, I am glad that the misgendering doesn't take over the story. The slow burn between Ray and Simone is SLOW. You almost don't notice it until right at the end. Personally would have liked a little more burn.
I wish that we got a dual POV in this story, because I'd really like to hear what is going on in Ray's head. We don't get a ton of inner thoughts from them, and I think the story would have benefited from their perspective a bit more.
I thought it was really interesting to have a top surgery be a main plot point. I enjoyed that there are people around Ray that root for them and are on their side.
Also it goes without saying, but this story was very funny. I laughed so many times. I think the funniness also benefited from having a great narrator! Overall such a cute story, would recommend for those looking for diverse queer romances.
I loved the banter between characters, especially between Simone and Ray. At first Simone got on my nerves. It first appears that she has somewhat of an ego, but we soon learn that she's of course a flawed human and doesn't like change to her workplace. They also struggle with changing pronouns for Ray when Ray comes out as enby at work. Simone struggles with misgendering at first, and those bits are really enjoying. I get that when Simone first meets Ray, they haven't come out so their pronouns are unknown. But, I am glad that the misgendering doesn't take over the story. The slow burn between Ray and Simone is SLOW. You almost don't notice it until right at the end. Personally would have liked a little more burn.
I wish that we got a dual POV in this story, because I'd really like to hear what is going on in Ray's head. We don't get a ton of inner thoughts from them, and I think the story would have benefited from their perspective a bit more.
I thought it was really interesting to have a top surgery be a main plot point. I enjoyed that there are people around Ray that root for them and are on their side.
Also it goes without saying, but this story was very funny. I laughed so many times. I think the funniness also benefited from having a great narrator! Overall such a cute story, would recommend for those looking for diverse queer romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual content
chrisb913's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I read this on the plane ride back home from my work trip and it was an absolute delight!
I adored the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Simone and Ray — they were equally hilarious and awkward, which made it especially entertaining for me as a third-party removed from the fictional situation hahaha. Not only that, but the found family dynamics tugged at my heart. I am still giddy over them (the entire crew) all giving each other nicknames teeheeeee
While their love story is slow but steady, I also appreciated the commentary on how workplaces can be per formative and only focus on optics and how harmful that is! I was stressed for Ray but I want to assure you there is indeed a happy ending here!
I actually have the ARC of Chef’s Choice on NetGalley so I’m excited to dive into that one next hehe.
I read this on the plane ride back home from my work trip and it was an absolute delight!
I adored the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Simone and Ray — they were equally hilarious and awkward, which made it especially entertaining for me as a third-party removed from the fictional situation hahaha. Not only that, but the found family dynamics tugged at my heart. I am still giddy over them (the entire crew) all giving each other nicknames teeheeeee
While their love story is slow but steady, I also appreciated the commentary on how workplaces can be per formative and only focus on optics and how harmful that is! I was stressed for Ray but I want to assure you there is indeed a happy ending here!
I actually have the ARC of Chef’s Choice on NetGalley so I’m excited to dive into that one next hehe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol
sanziene's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
kshertz's review against another edition
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
4.0
This book is a lot like the book love and other disasters. I really enjoyed the aspects of learning about each of the characters. I enjoyed their journey. I enjoyed their love story. Definitely thought the protagonist was kind of annoying but they worked it out in the end. A good easy beach read
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Outing, and Gaslighting
kitaface's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia and Racism
theespressoedition's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
maeverose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
3.5
I was worried based on the synopsis that it would be overly cheesy but it’s really not. It is funny though, and the humor worked for me. You can tell a trans person wrote this book, they definitely understand trans issues and it’s reflected in the book. I loved the conversations about how trans people shouldn’t be expected to teach cis people everything about gender.
My only complaints are the misunderstanding trope and how long it takes for them to finally get together. I do like how everything played out in the end but it was mild torture having to read Simone constantly convince herself Ray didn’t like her. I just wanted them to make out already. But those are mild complaints, overall I had a good time.
I do want to note that there is a lot of misgendering of Ray throughout the story. For the first half everyone, including the main character uses she/her pronouns for them because they aren’t out yet, then once they do come out the antagonists of the book purposefully misgender them every time they interact, and it’s quite infuriating. So if that’s a trigger for you I’d be prepared for that.
I do want to note that there is a lot of misgendering of Ray throughout the story. For the first half everyone, including the main character uses she/her pronouns for them because they aren’t out yet, then once they do come out the antagonists of the book purposefully misgender them every time they interact, and it’s quite infuriating. So if that’s a trigger for you I’d be prepared for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, Medical content, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Fatphobia, Blood, Excrement, and Car accident
Graphic: misgendering, handling of bodily fluids after surgerycourtneyclouts's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a fun, queer, cooking-themed romance with grumpy-sunshine vibes at the front and center. Simone is grumpy, perfectionist pastry chef who just wants to create recipes and doesn't want to be in the spotlight. But when the company she works for, The Discerning Chef, hires Ray and decides to move towards video content, she has to work with them to produce themed videos.
I really liked Ray's sunny personality (they're a literal ray of sunshine, no joke, no pun) and it was enjoyable to see a character coming out in their twenties and being confident in their identity (most of the books I've read recently have featured characters coming out in their teens or already being out).
The way some members of The Discerning Chef treat Ray when they come out as non-binary is so horrible and insidious that I was glad to see Simone and Ray's other friends rally around them. Challenging anti-trans rhetoric is a big theme in the novel and it was satisfying those responsible for perpetrating transphobia encounter the consequences of their bigotry.
This is also one of the first romances I've read where a character has top surgery and we see the pain and aftercare and healing process in the weeks afterwards. (This isn't to say that other romances don't do this, it's just the first one I've personally seen it in.)
Overall, a very enjoyable queer romance, with strong messages about challenging transphobia in the workplace (when safe to do so) and supporting trans friends.
Content warnings for transphobia, misgendering, dead-naming, targeted harassment.
I really liked Ray's sunny personality (they're a literal ray of sunshine, no joke, no pun) and it was enjoyable to see a character coming out in their twenties and being confident in their identity (most of the books I've read recently have featured characters coming out in their teens or already being out).
The way some members of The Discerning Chef treat Ray when they come out as non-binary is so horrible and insidious that I was glad to see Simone and Ray's other friends rally around them. Challenging anti-trans rhetoric is a big theme in the novel and it was satisfying those responsible for perpetrating transphobia encounter the consequences of their bigotry.
This is also one of the first romances I've read where a character has top surgery and we see the pain and aftercare and healing process in the weeks afterwards. (This isn't to say that other romances don't do this, it's just the first one I've personally seen it in.)
Overall, a very enjoyable queer romance, with strong messages about challenging transphobia in the workplace (when safe to do so) and supporting trans friends.
Content warnings for transphobia, misgendering, dead-naming, targeted harassment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Medical content