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A review by perpetualpages
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CWs: Explorations of divorce, some transphobia, brief descriptions of blood and cooking-related injuries, some sexually explicit content
This is a such a delightful cooking romance! It's rare that we get to see queer romances between a queer woman and a pansexual nonbinary person, and as a nonbinary person myself, it felt like reading this story was an act of healing, in a way, as the story brilliantly fills that void. Also, if you enjoy romances that are about cooking, reality shows, competitors-turned-lovers, or grumpy/sunshine relationships, I have great news for you: this book has all of those things and more!
Dahlia is such a fun, erratic, spontaneous, messy character who's very uninhibited and full of joy, which makes her all the more complex, because she's also dealing with the fall-out of her recent divorce and the consequences of quitting her job to compete in Chef's Special. Her life is full of uncertainty and she has no idea what she should do next, but she doesn't let that stop her from living in the moment and fully embracing the wild rollercoaster ride that is being on a reality cooking show.
I love the dynamic between her and London, who is much more focused and straight-laced, and who's come into this competition with a very clear goal in mind. London is very conscious of their visibility as a nonbinary person on television, and that's a responsibility they don't take lightly. Their goal is to be one of the first out-and-proud television personalities so that they can give other trans and nonbinary people hope and be a positive role model for younger generations. They also know that they would use the prize money to start an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization. So they're definitely a bit more put-together and focused, and I think they balance out Dahlia really nicely and vice versa.
I also really appreciate the ratio of cooking content to romance plot, because I think the story is able to strike a very fine balance. There's enough insight to the on-goings of the cooking show itself to give the reader a sense that these characters definitely know their way around a kitchen and understand the ins-and-outs of producing a high quality dish, while also making space for the characters to get to know each other, spend time together, and begin to break down each other's walls. You definitely get to feel the rising stakes of the competition and you see enough of it to want to root for both characters, but it doesn't detract from the characters spending time together off-camera.
I think it's also important to acknowledge how the story handles transphobia, because London is definitely being put in a position where their visibility also makes them a target in some ways. There are people in their life who don't respect or want to understand their identity, or who give them grief about not wanting to use their pronouns. The story is able to explore that all-too realistic experience without actually subjecting the reader firsthand to that kind of violence. For example, when London is misgendered, the reader isn't put in a position where they have to read the incorrect pronouns. When internet trolls are trying to tear them down online, the reader isn't subjected to having to read those comments. Those are very small details, but they really help to solidify this romance as a safe space for queer readers.
Furthermore, I love how the story embraces Dahlia's messiness. Like I said, she's starting a new chapter in her life where she doesn't have a clear-cut plan or a long-term goal that's she's trying to reach, and the story allows her space to work through that discomfort. I appreciate how the story celebrates that figuring out what *doesn't* work for you and being brave enough to walk away from it is a milestone in and of itself and how it can be a sign of your hard-won growth. The story contains a really important message about being true to yourself and learning to be okay with not having all the answers yet, which I think is so important, especially in adult romance.
With all that said, I did want a little bit more from London's storyline. It kind of feels like, at times, their entire narrative arc is about battling transphobia and proving the transphobes wrong just by existing—which is a worthwhile and important storyline, but I feel like they didn't have as much character growth as Dahlia did. There's also some staggering differences in social status, income, and wealth between Dahlia and London that I don't feel was ever properly reconciled.
Part of what makes this competition so important for Dahlia is that it A) gives her a sense of purpose and B) she could really use the prize money after her divorce depleted a lot of her resources and she quit her job. What's more, she picks up on London's comfort with money pretty quickly, which does unconsciously effect their dynamic in some ways. That monetary stress definitely adds to Dahlia's confusion and her desire to change, and I was a little bit disappointed that the solution to her problem was basically just to get with someone rich and then everything else will magically work itself out. That's one of my least favorite "tropes" in the romance genre, so to speak, and I just wish that conversation was more meaningfully addressed.
But even taking those minor quibbles into account, I still enjoyed this romance so much. It's funny, it's sexy, it's heartfelt, it has great cooking content that made my foodie heart soar, and it has an element of escapism and safety to it that makes it really enjoyable to read. Overall, I would definitely recommend this story and I cannot wait to see what Anita Kelly writes next, because their brand of queer romance is exactly what I need more of in my life!
This is a such a delightful cooking romance! It's rare that we get to see queer romances between a queer woman and a pansexual nonbinary person, and as a nonbinary person myself, it felt like reading this story was an act of healing, in a way, as the story brilliantly fills that void. Also, if you enjoy romances that are about cooking, reality shows, competitors-turned-lovers, or grumpy/sunshine relationships, I have great news for you: this book has all of those things and more!
Dahlia is such a fun, erratic, spontaneous, messy character who's very uninhibited and full of joy, which makes her all the more complex, because she's also dealing with the fall-out of her recent divorce and the consequences of quitting her job to compete in Chef's Special. Her life is full of uncertainty and she has no idea what she should do next, but she doesn't let that stop her from living in the moment and fully embracing the wild rollercoaster ride that is being on a reality cooking show.
I love the dynamic between her and London, who is much more focused and straight-laced, and who's come into this competition with a very clear goal in mind. London is very conscious of their visibility as a nonbinary person on television, and that's a responsibility they don't take lightly. Their goal is to be one of the first out-and-proud television personalities so that they can give other trans and nonbinary people hope and be a positive role model for younger generations. They also know that they would use the prize money to start an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization. So they're definitely a bit more put-together and focused, and I think they balance out Dahlia really nicely and vice versa.
I also really appreciate the ratio of cooking content to romance plot, because I think the story is able to strike a very fine balance. There's enough insight to the on-goings of the cooking show itself to give the reader a sense that these characters definitely know their way around a kitchen and understand the ins-and-outs of producing a high quality dish, while also making space for the characters to get to know each other, spend time together, and begin to break down each other's walls. You definitely get to feel the rising stakes of the competition and you see enough of it to want to root for both characters, but it doesn't detract from the characters spending time together off-camera.
I think it's also important to acknowledge how the story handles transphobia, because London is definitely being put in a position where their visibility also makes them a target in some ways. There are people in their life who don't respect or want to understand their identity, or who give them grief about not wanting to use their pronouns. The story is able to explore that all-too realistic experience without actually subjecting the reader firsthand to that kind of violence. For example, when London is misgendered, the reader isn't put in a position where they have to read the incorrect pronouns. When internet trolls are trying to tear them down online, the reader isn't subjected to having to read those comments. Those are very small details, but they really help to solidify this romance as a safe space for queer readers.
Furthermore, I love how the story embraces Dahlia's messiness. Like I said, she's starting a new chapter in her life where she doesn't have a clear-cut plan or a long-term goal that's she's trying to reach, and the story allows her space to work through that discomfort. I appreciate how the story celebrates that figuring out what *doesn't* work for you and being brave enough to walk away from it is a milestone in and of itself and how it can be a sign of your hard-won growth. The story contains a really important message about being true to yourself and learning to be okay with not having all the answers yet, which I think is so important, especially in adult romance.
With all that said, I did want a little bit more from London's storyline. It kind of feels like, at times, their entire narrative arc is about battling transphobia and proving the transphobes wrong just by existing—which is a worthwhile and important storyline, but I feel like they didn't have as much character growth as Dahlia did. There's also some staggering differences in social status, income, and wealth between Dahlia and London that I don't feel was ever properly reconciled.
Part of what makes this competition so important for Dahlia is that it A) gives her a sense of purpose and B) she could really use the prize money after her divorce depleted a lot of her resources and she quit her job. What's more, she picks up on London's comfort with money pretty quickly, which does unconsciously effect their dynamic in some ways. That monetary stress definitely adds to Dahlia's confusion and her desire to change, and I was a little bit disappointed that the solution to her problem was basically just to get with someone rich and then everything else will magically work itself out. That's one of my least favorite "tropes" in the romance genre, so to speak, and I just wish that conversation was more meaningfully addressed.
But even taking those minor quibbles into account, I still enjoyed this romance so much. It's funny, it's sexy, it's heartfelt, it has great cooking content that made my foodie heart soar, and it has an element of escapism and safety to it that makes it really enjoyable to read. Overall, I would definitely recommend this story and I cannot wait to see what Anita Kelly writes next, because their brand of queer romance is exactly what I need more of in my life!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Blood