Anita Kelly | Love & Other Disasters

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The Plot (from Goodreads):

Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.

After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.

As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.

The Review: 

Apparently cooking show romances are all the new rage. Recently I’ve read Rosaline Palmer, Battle Royal, and now Love & Other Disasters. I love this setting! It’s always interesting to hear the contestants’ thought processes and read the descriptions of the dishes. It always makes me crave really good food!

Love and Other Disasters is an own voices nb/f romance. This was also the first book I’ve read with a main character that uses they/them pronouns, which I love to see! I’ve read a few with nonbinary side characters, but this is the first MC. I hope to see many more romances with nonbinary main characters in the future!

I adored London. I’m a sucker for a closed-off grump turned softie, and they certainly fit the bill. I liked that neither character was perfect but that both showed growth throughout the book. In the beginning, Dahlia read much younger than her age to me, but as the book progressed she seemed to grow up a lot. Both characters seemed to have great relationships with their siblings, and I would have liked to see more scenes between them.

This is no closed-door romance–it was way steamier than I was expecting, in the best way possible. That fruit scene!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted romance. I’m excited to see what Anita Kelly does next–a Hank or Julie spinoff?? 

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