Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

Chef's Kiss by TJ Alexander

83 reviews

typedtruths's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia

Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Medical trauma

starlitpage's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Medical content and Outing

Minor: Emotional abuse and Racism

boutofbibliophilia's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Deadnaming

Minor: Vomit

minimaiasaura's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Sexism, Transphobia, and Medical content

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

mermaid_jpeg's review against another edition

emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming

mhirsch1213's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

A slow burn that feels like a warm hug. I think I had a smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading it. I love this book and I love queer joy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia

tmkutawrites's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Biphobia, Child abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Ableism and Vomit

The romance was cute. Speaking as a nonbinary person, it was exhausting

listening to Simone whine about Ray's new pronouns--

I get it, it's realistic, I have heard it a million times about my own. Transphobia from the POV MC in a f/x romance really threw me out of it and just made me hate Simone. Also if you are going to very clearly base a book off the BA Test Kitchen and then only kiiiind of address the scandal but not resolve any of the issues called out in said scandal.... yeah. I wish the ended had been further draw out; I love a good slow burn but this didn't feel like it resolved itself satisfyingly. While this book did a good job of juggling all the plot lines, sometimes I think it could have done with one less. This being said, I think Ray is adorable and Luna is too good for Simone. The pining was delicious.

misse3's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I hated Simone for the first 30% of this book and strongly considered DNFing it. She's obnoxious, self-righteous and mean. But after you hit that roughly 30% marker, she starts to grow as a person. Simone becomes more self-aware and is much kinder to those around her. Once she hits that place of growth, she becomes a lot more likeable.

Ray is a consistent ray of sunlight (pardon the pun) throughout and a deeply lovable character. So many things Ray said or did had me giggling or beaming. I also loved the side characters like Petey and Luna. These side characters effectively helped to develop the plot while still feeling like real people I might know in my life. That can be tough to do, so it was good work on the author's part (in my opinion).

My main criticisms for the book are

they never address the race issue of TDC that's referenced by Jake. In the ending, it's just...not acknowledged again, while the on-screen talent of the new show remains entirely white. Why make that a plot point if nothing is done about it?

I also would say that while Simone would be a great friend, she seems like the most exhausting person to date as a trans person. She is so well-meaning but so naive and ignorant about all kinds of trans issues. She is also the type to be set in her ways and stubborn, so if she feels she knows best on a trans issue, she may be difficult to convince otherwise. It feels like Ray will absorb all of the work Luna has to do with educating Simone as a cis person, which already seemed exhausting. I would have really loved to see some growth on Simone's part in this respect by the end of the book.

For those who followed the Bon Appetit debacle or who otherwise love cooking magazines/shows, you'll enjoy this read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Racism, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Sexual content

The medical content refers to

recovering from top surgery.

meg_leigh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

This book is EVERYTHING!! My queer little heart is overcome. My heart is full and fuzzy, and I just need to read everything this author has ever or will ever write. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia

Moderate: Homophobia