3.5 stars

This was an enjoyable read. Not too much conflict but addresses gender identity well. This is one instance where I think having sex be off the page would have been a better fit. There were only two scenes and they just didn’t seem to fit the rest of the book. Overall, I enjoyed the story and Ray is a fun character that is a good introduction of a nonbinary person.

This is the second cooking show themed queer romance I've read this year, and it's only the third week of January! Pastry chef Simone is as proper, discerning, and uptight as her name implies - trained by the Culinary Institute of America, she has her dream job perfecting recipes for an American institution of a cooking magazine - but in a sudden attempt by the editor to change or die, is informed that video content and social media, both of which she eschews, are the wave of the future and she can get on board with tweeting and offering How to Cook Kale videos or risk losing her job. Along with a layoff of the marketing department, her kitchen has retired and in her place is tall, comparatively boisterous Kay. Kay launches a informal homebrewing series that gets a lot of hits, but also a lot of flack from the hired guy who wants to be on trend and pay attention to SEO. It's Ray and Simone's show, based on Simone's fresh takes on updating Ray's outdated 1950's canned and prepackaged dishes, that garners millions of hits and speculations they like one another.

When Kay reveals her gender neutral pronouns, Simone and a handful of staff immediately get on board - but management and the image rehauling team, not so much. Simone is bi but not out at work, lives with a trans person who schools her on being the best ally, and slowly wakes up to calling out transphobic behavior, and noticing that it's only the video crew that's made up of people of color. When Ray takes some earned vacation time to have top surgery, it's Simone who stays the first night to help them through the post-op healing (and is challenged by Ray's ex for doing so, until they agree to take nursing shifts).

It takes a little while for the couple to finally get together. The subplot of gender identity is strong and provides insight for cis-het readers and recognition and representation for non-binary readers. The food descriptions are salivating.

I received an advance reader's review copy of #ChefsKiss from #NetGalley.

Adorable rom com, that I personally connected with as a pastry chef! And its queer! What could be better!

Foodie, flirty, and fun - and queer! A recommended purchase for collections where culinary romances are popular.

Queer love and pastries? I’m in. Beautifully written, wonderfully heartwarming, and simply captivating.

Chef's Kiss was fun and funny and relatable and informative. The spicy romance at the end seemed sudden after 99% of the story was a crush that neither of the main characters believed the other felt but this was a cute story.

This book was nothing like I expected and everything I wanted. I had never read a book with the main character being non-binary and it was so informative and important that I did! I really enjoyed this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: anxiety, use of dead name, transphobia, toxic workplace environment, discrimination, misgendering,

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-f/nb office romance
-frenemies to idiots to lovers
-mutual pining
-it annoys me how attracted I am to you
-sick/comfort
-caring for someone by cooking for them
-found family
-slooooow burn

I adored this book. A mix of fiction and romance, all about trusting the world and someone else with seeing your true self. How to be an ally. Both Simone and Ray were flawed in honest and true ways that people are. A slow burn,, and even though I was yelling at these two to realize they both liked each other this book was wonderful. The banter, the frustration, the pining. Completely understandable misunderstandings.

My favorite part might have been the way that food was used to show you care for a person. Both Simone and Ray struggled to show the other that they cared. An amazing debut that I enjoyed every moment of and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Steam: 3

While this book is classified as a romance, I'd say it was more "women's fiction". My understanding of "women's fiction" is that it is about more than romance, it's about a woman's journey and might, or might not, have romantic elements. However, a good chunk of the book deals with gender issues so to call this book women's fiction is a complete travesty. Then, again, it's more than a romance. Let's just say it's a well-written book about people of various genders learning about themselves and each other.

My only disappointment is that the bullies didn't get their comeuppance.

One thing I really appreciated about this book is the insight into gender issues. As a cis-gender, heterosexual woman, I was thankful to get an insight into gender issues that I would otherwise be unaware of. As a teacher, it will help me to be a better ally to my non-binary and LGBTQIA+ kiddos.

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to

This fun workplace slow burn rom-com hits the right notes—funny, heart wrenching, set in the culinary world with mouth-watering food descriptions, great non-binary and bisexual representation.

This was such a cute book! I read it just after finishing Battle Royal so it was a great follow-up baking/ chef romance to read. As a baker myself, I appreciate when the author does their research to actually understand the culinary world.

*Thank you to Atria books, TJ Alexander, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Simone is a high-strung perfectionist at her "dream job" in NYC as a pastry chef at a cooking magazine. She likes her routine and is happy to do that for the rest of her career. But the magazine is not doing well. It needs to bring in fresher content, so they decide to rebrand by posting cooking videos on YouTube. And then they bring in a new
Kitchen Manager and Simone is not happy, but feels an instant attraction to Ray, as Simone is also bi-sexual.

This was a cute book but in places fell flat. It felt a little preachy, but also unrealistic. They could have sued the company for their behavior in addressing Ray after she comes out as non-binary. There were parts that were very sweet. The friendship between Ray and Simone is enviable and when they become lovers, it all makes sense. I really enjoyed this book

I want to give this book the biggest hug! Chef's Kiss is an utter delight, filled with sumptuous food, and adorable banter. This is the first time I've read a book with a nonbinary love interest, and I was cheering for Ray and Simone the entire time. At times, it can be heart-wrenching, but above all it is the ultimate feel-good read, something I will be recommending to everyone!

Cute rom com in book form. I didn't know how I was going to feel about it going in, but I ended up loving it.

I picked this book on a whim. I really like chef romance. I am an amateur chef, and I enjoy reading stories about chefs. I'll admit I don't know much about the Nonbinary gender. This book helped me to see behind the scenes of the bias surrounding them. The love story was definitely a slow burn. It was a camaraderie until the last 20 minutes when the characters decided to act on their feelings.

Simone is a NYC pastry chef and food writer at her dream job, a Bon Appetit-like magazine. Life is pretty routine but she likes it that way, until things start to shake up. Her struggling company decides to rebrand by producing viral web content—meaning shy Simone has to cook on camera. And there’s a new kitchen manager, the annoying cheerful (and attractive) Ray. Simone does her best to avoid Ray, but is intrigued despite herself.

This was so sweet. A large part of the plot (no spoilers) centers around Ray coming out as nonbinary at work, and the repercussions and varied reactions of the people around them. Management felt a little too mustache-twirly evil, but I think TJ Alexander knows of what they speak, so I can only hope that their own coming-out wasn’t as painful as Ray’s. But Simone and Ray develop a lovely friendship, plus they’re surrounded by a great supporting case of coworkers.

I would not recommend reading this on an empty stomach, as Simone’s many food creations all sound delicious. Would some recipes in the back of the book be too much to ask? (Please?)

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book I've read recently which is set in a cooking magazine/blog and I am here for more of them. Simone is focused, dedicated to her job, and not good with change. Ray is a whirlwind, friendly, challenging, and pretty opposite to Simone. I loved the discussions of gender and sexuality, the focus on authenticity and change, but there were a few things that felt a bit off to me. When Simone got upset at Ray's decision to step back and toe the line, she seemed to forget that there was a whole part of herself she'd been hiding for years and continued to hide from the rest of the company as well. I also got a bit annoyed at her constant questioning of her friends for permission on what to say or do, which I know was the point but it felt a bit much. Overall I loved the story and wish it wasn't so rushed at the end. I'd love to know more about the brewery and tv show!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.