Take a photo of a barcode or cover
readwithrhys 's review for:
Chef's Kiss
by TJ Alexander
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Chef’s Kiss follows Simone, a perfectionist pastry chef at her dream job at The Discerning Chef, a cookbook publisher in NYC. That is, until the new, very attractive, kitchen manager shows up. Simone just wants to write her cookbooks and bake, but is thrust into the spotlight when a video goes viral of Ray, the attractive kitchen manager, and she is forced to make videos with them.
I went into Chef’s Kiss expecting a funny and heartwarming rom-com, and I got that but also MORE. I loved every god damn second of this.
Simone: Simone grows so much alone in this book. She’s a cis bisexual woman, and she realizes she has the cisgender privilege. When Ray comes out to her, Simone makes mistakes. It’s a normal process when someone close to you comes out as trans* in anyway. And to see that in literature? That it’s not black and white? God yes, I need more. As a trans person, mistakes by cis people are bound to happen. It’s a normal thing. Simone tries her hardest, but even then it’s sometimes not enough. Simone always feels bad about using the wrong pronouns. I love that she recognizes her mistakes and wants to practice. That’s what I need more of in literature.
Ray: I want to hug Ray. Can I? Ray needs a hug. I say so. They are just amazing.
One thing I was not expecting was top surgery. Ray gets top surgery, and Simone looks after them for a while (along with someone else). But the talk of top surgery? SPOT. ON. Everything Simone researched/read on is what I went though. When reading the scene when Ray comes home from surgery was a whirlwind of emotions. It was like I was back in the hospital after my surgery. I beg of authors, please I want more of the medical transition talk for trans characters.
The romance is so slow burn I wanted to scream into a PILLOW. BUT it was worth it. I loved every second of it. AND this is a grumpy/sunshine story TOLD FROM THE GRUMPY POV. How else can I convince you to read this book?? Its got everything you should want.
Chef’s Kiss follows Simone, a perfectionist pastry chef at her dream job at The Discerning Chef, a cookbook publisher in NYC. That is, until the new, very attractive, kitchen manager shows up. Simone just wants to write her cookbooks and bake, but is thrust into the spotlight when a video goes viral of Ray, the attractive kitchen manager, and she is forced to make videos with them.
I went into Chef’s Kiss expecting a funny and heartwarming rom-com, and I got that but also MORE. I loved every god damn second of this.
Simone: Simone grows so much alone in this book. She’s a cis bisexual woman, and she realizes she has the cisgender privilege. When Ray comes out to her, Simone makes mistakes. It’s a normal process when someone close to you comes out as trans* in anyway. And to see that in literature? That it’s not black and white? God yes, I need more. As a trans person, mistakes by cis people are bound to happen. It’s a normal thing. Simone tries her hardest, but even then it’s sometimes not enough. Simone always feels bad about using the wrong pronouns. I love that she recognizes her mistakes and wants to practice. That’s what I need more of in literature.
Ray: I want to hug Ray. Can I? Ray needs a hug. I say so. They are just amazing.
One thing I was not expecting was top surgery. Ray gets top surgery, and Simone looks after them for a while (along with someone else). But the talk of top surgery? SPOT. ON. Everything Simone researched/read on is what I went though. When reading the scene when Ray comes home from surgery was a whirlwind of emotions. It was like I was back in the hospital after my surgery. I beg of authors, please I want more of the medical transition talk for trans characters.
The romance is so slow burn I wanted to scream into a PILLOW. BUT it was worth it. I loved every second of it. AND this is a grumpy/sunshine story TOLD FROM THE GRUMPY POV. How else can I convince you to read this book?? Its got everything you should want.