Thank you to netgalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review!!!

Let’s just get to it, I freaking LOVED everything about this book. It is exactly what I needed to save myself from a reading slump I felt myself falling into. This book was fun, funny, honest, and heartfelt and that was due to how well the author wrote the characters and their relationship. The pacing for this book was magnificent and I found myself reading quickly towards the end because I wanted to see how it ended so badly. I was so excited for the characters to get their HEA because I genuinely felt like I knew them and they were my friends.

If you’re looking for a fun, heartfelt read that has well developed lgbtq+ characters or if you just need a book to make you believe in the contemporary romance genre again then look no further than Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly.

“She wanted to reassemble herself first, on her own, before she brought someone else into the mix of her confused heart.”

This is a romance about a recently divorced woman (Dahlia) and the first openly non-binary person on a cooking show (London).

Love and Other Disasters had me laughing from the first chapter and then swooning just as much throughout over the cute pining and tension. I adored the characters and the set up for this book and I think it’s going to be one of my fav romances of the year!

I also felt that Dahlia and London were really relatable as a generally confused but just sure you’re queer person lol.

Also, kind of grumpy/sunshine which I’m obsessed with.

Would recommend if you enjoy contemporary romances like The Charm Offensive.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC!

This book was so sweet. Two contestants of a cooking show, one a recently divorced queer woman and one a non-binary person who hasn't been in a relationship since coming out, meet on set and sparks fly around more than just their dishes. Can they compete against each other and still care about each other? Will they lose each other when one of them gets sent home from the show?

I really enjoyed this book and appreciate that it made the joys and the struggles of being non-binary very visible. Such a sweet and spicy book that left me wanting more.

If you set a romance on a reality cooking show, I’m there for it every time. Things are no different with Anita Kelly’s Love & Other Disasters, which was a great read with nuanced characters that I didn’t want to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Dahlia discovered her love of cooking after her divorce, and enters the Chef’s Special competition for amateur chefs. She’s not sure about her chances, but she really needs the $100,000 prize. On the set the first day, she meets her fellow competitor London. They are participating in the national competition as an out, non-binary person, and hoping to use the platform to make things better for other queer and gender non-conforming people. They befriend Dahlia, and as the competition goes on, their relationship becomes closer and more romantic.

Dahlia and London are sweet characters, but neither one is confident in their own skin. The cooking show brings out their fiercely competitive sides, and the food descriptions were fantastic. They inspired me to actually cook, which doesn’t happen often! I also loved the recurring theme of allowing another person to see the real you, and how tough it is to do that with anyone, be it a lover, friend, or family member.

I can’t discuss this book without mentioning the representation of non-binary and queer characters. It’s so well done! Identity is an important part of both Dahlia and London, and shapes their outlooks on life, love, and cooking. I hope, though, that sometime soon this book becomes one of many with non-binary stories so we simply can talk about what great, romantic characters the author has created.

Love & Other Disasters is a charming romance with characters you can’t help rooting for. Their gender and sexual identities give the story nuance and depth. If you are looking for a romance with a good story and intriguing characters, I definitely recommend it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful book! The writing is wonderful and the characters are complex, dynamic, and fun. Dahlia (she/her) is feeling a bit lost in her life when she enters a television cooking competition, while London (they/them) is an extremely talented chef who has a substantial support system and a dream for the future, but is lacking the support of their dad since coming out. Kelly handles complex issues with care and empathy, making London and Dahlia feel like real people who are falling in love amidst the chaos of their lives.

One of my favorite romances of the year so far. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC.

I cannot love this book enough. London is represented so well and they will have such a strong hold on everyone who needs to hear this story. Dahila and London are end goals and they understand communication. This book is amazing!

Dahlia and London are competitors on a cooking show, but the attraction between them is immediate. Friendship turns to more, but the fact is, they could be parted at any moment if one of them is eliminated. Is there any hope for a long-term relationship after they leave the bubble of the TV show and return home?

This is a light-hearted book apart from the discrimination London faces as a nonbinary person. This, along with the competition aspects of the story, account for most of the obstacles. Otherwise, Dahlia and London's relationship flows pretty smoothly. In the beginning, the plot is primarily made up of awkward incidents that some people might consider fun. For me, it was a slow-paced, low-stakes novel without much character growth. Still, it's well-written and well-crafted, dealing with important topics.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Dahlia Woodson and London Parker meet on the set of cooking competition show, Chef’s Special. Dahlia is a bit of a disaster and makes her national television debut by falling flat on her face. London is the show’s first openly nonbinary contestant, and after announcing their pronouns on TV to a national audience, they’re feeling a little cautious. After a less than friendly initial encounter, the pair give each other a chance, and sparks begin to fly.

This was so much fun! Love & Other Disasters was the first romance I’ve read with a non-binary main character, and I really hope that we see more of this representation in romances in the future. I can’t speak to the representation itself, but I loved London as a character, and loved that while gender identity is openly discussed in this narrative, there is so much more to the story here. Kelly’s main characters are complex with solid backstories, and the dynamics between Dahlia and London felt realistic to the characters and situation. While I often struggle with the Sunshine in a Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic (and Dahlia was still a little too Sunshine for me), I so enjoyed the relationship between Dahlia and London.

Other things I loved: THIS COVER! The pining! The depiction of consent and boundary-setting during the steamy scenes, the backdrop of a cooking competition show, the family dynamics for both characters, discussion of finances, depiction of a divorced character

I read the majority of this on audio, and Lindsey Dorcus’ narration was flawless. I had trouble putting this down, and can’t wait to read more from @anitakellywrites in the future.

Big thanks to @readforeverpub and @hachetteaudio for advanced digital and audio copies to review.

Happy pub day to this fun book! First of all I love cooking shows and I have found I love books about cooking shows. In this one Dahlia is ready for a change after her divorce . As a contestant on a cooking show her first big moment is when she falls flat on her face. Just like in life she pulls herself back up and puts one step in front of the other.
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More than falling on her face she falls for London, a fellow contestant. London makes history on the show announcing their pronouns. This was a sweet love story between London and Dahlia as London navigates what it means to be openly nonbinary and the struggle with the acceptance of their father.
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I also loved the character of Barbara in this. She was one of my favorite characters.

Warning do not read this book hungry!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

I appreciated this story so much for being a story about adults, not teenagers or folks in their early 20s, but adults at a time in their lives that many people think means you have it all figured out, on the cusp of thirty. I appreciated seeing characters in Dahlia and London who, in all facets of their lives, are thinking about who they are and what they really want, and take the leap and the risk of being on a reality cooking show to see where they go next. And in the process, they are messy and funny and real, and they find love where they least expect it.

This book also made me laugh, made me blush, and made me hungry with so many delightful descriptions of food. I appreciate so much what Love & Other Disasters adds to the canon of the new queer romance. I will be eagerly awaiting what Anita Kelly adds next!

"Messy and Vulnerable" is the line that I highlighted in LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS by Anita Kelly that is very fitting for this book. Dahlia and London must be vulnerable to be part of Chef's Special airing on national television. Additionally, they have to be vulnerable to open up and feel comfortable with themselves and each other for there to be any room for a relationship.

Life is also messy, and this book perfectly portrays navigating life and stumbling along the way. If you cook like me, that is also messy. Luckily, Dahlia and London are both excellent chefs and the added food layer to this book made it ever more enjoyable.

It was refreshingly, original and highly recommend. It would be a 4.5 stars, if I could add half stars.

I was really excited to read this book. The setting of the cooking show and being able to read a romance book with a non-binary character really intrigued me. However, reading about a reality tv cooking show was not as fun as I expected! It started to become a little boring in the middle reading about what happened week after week. It did pick up at the end and I just thought Dahlia and London’s romance was so sweet. I would totally pick up another book by Anita Kelly. Also, be aware, this one is spicy! I’ll never look at Honeydew Melon the same way again.

Read if you like: Top Chef, Alexandria Bellefleur, the forced proximity trope

👩🏻‍🍳 Calling all Top Chef fans! 👨🏻‍🍳

I just finished the most adorable romcom that takes place on the set of a Top Chef like show! It’s called Chef’s Special and our MCs, London and Dahlia are competing against each other and a group of amateur chefs for $100K.

On the first day of filming, Dahlia notices beautiful strawberry blonde hair and is immediately drawn to this person. London is preoccupied, as they are about to become the first non-binary contestant to compete on the show. London gets to tell their pronoun’s in their first on camera interview and that’s a very big moment. I loved that the show was so similar to Top Chef and the rivalry among contestants was really entertaining.

I just loved their genuine connection. They bonded over their love of food, but for both contestants, they are drawn to cooking with their personal lives. Both characters have personal issues, for Dahlia, it’s getting over her recent divorce, for London, it’s how their family is dealing with their gender status. Dahlia has money issues, London and their family are very wealthy. Both characters are so charming in their own ways, it’s very hard not to cheer for them both. It was also the perfect amount of steam for me.

Thank you so much to @readforever and @anitakellywrites for my gifted copy.

4.5 stars

Y’all, I don’t even have the words to tell you how much I loved this beautiful book. There was so much good here, I’m not even sure where to begin. First off, I adored the cooking competition setup, which is unsurprising as I’m an unapologetic GBBO fan. But what I loved best about the competition is that it brought Dahlia and London together. Those too had me all up in my feels as their friendship blossomed into more. I loved the representation in this book, which was as sweet and emotional as it was sexy. Absolute perfection.

If you’ve ever read a book where the main characters are a little TOO relatable, especially in ways that peel back your own layers and expose you in not-so-pleasant ways, then you probably have a good idea of what my experience reading Love & Other Disasters was like. That’s not to say this was a bad book at all; on the contrary, I really enjoyed this heartfelt queer rom-com, ostensibly about a reality cooking show but ultimately about purpose.

Our two leads are Dahlia, a recently divorced and unemployed copyeditor who taught herself to cook as a way to cope with the pain of her life trajectory being thrown off course, and London, an intelligent and driven nonbinary sound engineer who largely keeps their head down and only applied for Chef’s Special on a dare from their sister. The set of Chef’s Special, and by extension LA, gives both Dahlia and London a fresh perspective where they have space to reflect upon the issues they face back home… and of course, for chemistry to spark between them.

I don’t want to turn this review into a journal entry, but I can safely confirm large parts of both Dahlia and London’s character arcs and personal journeys hit compelling emotional beats. Dahlia’s struggle to find herself after her divorce from her high-school sweetheart and London’s navigation of lots of transphobia, both in their family and on the set of Chef’s Special, landed hard for me. So hard, in fact, that I had to pause and reflect on this novel for a few days to get past all the emotional dust it kicked up. If anything, I do think it speaks to the quality of the writing that it was able to evoke such a strong reaction in me, and that’s a point in the novel’s favor.

Seeing a well-written, well-paced and emotionally impactful romance novel with a WLNB romance in traditional publishing is a delight, which isn’t to be understated. London also identifies as nonbinary and pansexual on page, and as a nonbinary pansexual person, I think this is the first time I have seen that in ANY novel, not just romance, so I was delighted by that particular part. Both the plot between Dahlia and London and the plot of Chef’s Special are managed well in tandem, and I think the pacing was quite solid. There are explicit scenes that were both steamy and written with care, which also worked for me. I mean, I read this book in one sitting, so clearly, a lot was working for me.

I do have a few critiques. The first and biggest is that I would have loved to see a conflict in London’s character arc that didn’t revolve around transphobia. Again, as a nonbinary person, I completely respect the decision to include it, since everything London deals with is very realistic and some of it has happened almost beat for beat to me (with the exception of a sort of weakly constructed, mustache-twirling antagonist on the show itself). However, in romance in particular, what I aim for is escapism, and being reminded of the issues I personally face in real life made jarred me at times; it also took away space for London to be developed outside of their nonbinary identity. Others may find this inclusion and exploration cathartic or affirming, so take it with a grain of salt as always.

My second critique is the romance felt very insta-love to me; their initial attraction is purely based on physical elements and it was hard for me to believe the shift in feelings happening in so short a time frame throughout the novel. I recognize again this is a staple setup of the genre, and that it may partially be because my demi self often struggles with relationships built on a foundation of sexual attraction. For those who are fans or don’t mind insta-love setups, this may work differently.

Overall, this was a solid, enjoyable queer romance read with a cute and well-executed premise, and having a nonbinary lead certainly helped it in my estimation. If you like reality TV show drama, whirlwind romances with a summer vacation sort of feel, and character arcs with a whole lot of vulnerability and heart, Love & Other Disasters is one to check out for sure.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

That cover is incredibly gorgeous, and it actually accurately represents the main characters! Dahlia’s hair! London’s freckles! And like the cover, this book is just plain adorable. The authenticity of their feelings was such a breath of fresh air and I loved every bit.

Dahlia is still reeling from her divorce, but cooking is the one thing that makes her feel in control of her life, the one thing she’s good at. She quit her job to go on Chef’s Special, an amateur cooking reality TV show, and without the prize money, she’s not sure what she’ll do afterward. Well, to be honest, she’s not sure what she’d do with the prize money either, besides pay off debt. On the other hand, London, one of the other competitors, has vague ideas about what they’d do with the money (a non-profit for queer teens) but what they’re most worried about is coming out as nonbinary to, oh, the entire world. As the competition heats up, their relationship does, too, and before they know it they’re both having to resist the attraction between them. But is there any chance for them once they step out of the show kitchen?

“It was a valiant effort, though, right? At being angry?”
“You called me a jerk,” London affirmed.
Dahlia grinned. “See? That felt weird coming out of my mouth, but I said it anyway! Look at me.”


Their meet-cute on set is downright adorable. An anxious Dahlia literally runs into London and then babbles at them, but London’s so overwhelmed (in a grumpy way) with her hair that they can only grunt in response. Dahlia’s offended that they didn’t even accept her apology, so when she runs into them in the hotel bar later that day, she promptly calls them a jerk, then sits down and starts chatting at them. London’s bewildered and honestly not sure what to make of Dahlia, who goes from insulting her to befriending her with enough speed to make their head spin. In some ways, this is a grumpy/sunshine book, as Dahlia’s absolutely a ray of sunshine. It’s not that she’s unduly optimistic (especially about her prospects in the competition), but that she’s able to find joy in the little things. Not that everything is all roses and rainbows – Dahlia carries a lot of guilt over how her marriage ended, and she has some family strife as well. Family conflict is something London knows very well. Though they’ve been out as nonbinary for three years, her dad still constantly misgenders them. They understand how important being out as nonbinary on national TV is, but they’re also worried about the backlash.

“London wondered if Dahlia was even real. A woman who could fillet a swordfish like it was nothing, who carried a Swiss Army multitool in her bag at all times, who reveled in LA traffic. She made them sweat.”


This is a very slow burn romance. It’s one of those delightful ones where everyone both them realizes they’re flirting before they do (the COWS!), but there’s also a lot of deeper reasons for why they’re both hesitant to start something. After all, besides cooking, what do they have in common? But cooking is such an important part of Dahlia and London’s lives, so of course it’s a big part of the book as well. There’s so much delicious food, from desserts to soups to mouthwatering entrees, and I loved how their on-show interactions formed their off-show ones.

“When you were around someone who felt everything, it made you feel like you could feel everything, too. Like the depths of the world were suddenly limitless.”


One of the things about Chef’s Special, about the relationship that forms between London and Dahlia, is that they’re finally both able to extend the control they feel in cooking to other parts of their life. There’s also the realization that the bubble they’re in isn’t real life, that the rest of the world is going on without them. They’re both initially dismayed by the online reception, including all the trolls that sneer at London, but both find ways to leverage it. It’s two sides of the same coin, I think – being able to find the good amid the trash (like London focusing on the messages from queer kids overjoyed to see themselves in London) or spinning a failure into a new path.

Overall, wow. I read this book during a particularly rough week, and it’s no exaggeration to say that this book was an unbelievably bright spot during it. Highly recommended, and definitely a contender for one of my favorites of 2022!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ever read a book that reminds you why you love the romance genre? And makes you so overjoyed at the progress that the genre has made? Love & Other Disasters is that book for me.

I started reading romance novels when I was young - probably too young lol. It was all white washed and heteronormative - at least what was accessible to me. I didn't see me in them at all but I loved the hope and joy they made me feel, nonetheless.

Now I'm reading books that really reflect the world we live in - representation from all walks of life, reflecting all the beautiful folx that exist and it's just beautiful. The genre continues to teach me, as well. This book, in particular, challenged my own implicit heteronormativity and I loved that.

Love & Other Disasters features Daphne, a queer woman, divorced and trying to figure out where her life is going. She's spent the previous few years teaching herself to cook and now finds herself on a reality cooking competition, a la MasterChef, hoping this is the answer to not only her financial problems but that it will also magically mean she's got her shit together. There she meets London. <i>swoon</i>

London is a strong, silent non-binary person who uses they/them pronouns - and is the first non-binary person that is out on the show. There is chemistry between London and Daphne from the get. The writing is witty and charming, the action in the book is funny, at times vulnerable and just so incredibly honest, that you can't help but fall for the book, in its entirety.

Also, I loved that this was not a fade-to-black, closed door romance... It was open and real and hot as flippin' hell. Yes, please, and thank you!!!

Take a chance - you won't be disappointed.

I was provided a digital ARC of Love & Other Disasters from @readforeverpub and @netgalley by author @anitakellywrites in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, Alexis Hall’s baking show romance last summer, so I was very excited about another cooking show romance, and TL;DR—this book was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Dahlia and London’s Odd Couple vibe is so charming, and at the risk of sounding too cliché, their differences are the reason they work so well together. There’s also a forced proximity element at play—they aren’t sharing a room with only one bed, but as contestants on a reality show, their mobility is somewhat limited. Of course, they are allowed out in the “real world” (no pun intended), which leads to some of the best scenes in the book.

With so many reality shows out there, there are plenty of elements to pick and choose and Frankenstein together a unique show, but Kelly really knocks it out of the park with Chef’s Special. The worldbuilding is fresh and fun, from the cooking challenges to the personalities of the judges and other contestants.

Speaking of which, there is an antagonist, but she is not given very much on-page time at all. This was a good decision because more interactions with this person would have been needlessly exhausting and taken away from the feel-good atmosphere of the book.

There is some moderate angst that had me wanting to break the fourth wall, but it was a necessary step in order to achieve the growth and introspection needed to achieve the HEA.
I would absolutely recommend Love & Other Disasters. It’s so refreshing to have a non-binary love interest in a romance novel, and having them come out on a cooking reality show validates their gender identity, not just for themselves but for the entire country. There is so much more I could write in this review, like London’s relationship with their father, or how all the cooking made me hungry, or Dahlia’s need for change on the heels of a divorce, but I’m going to end by repeating that this book was everything I could hope for and more.


I received a digital ARC of this book from Forever/NetGalley.

Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. 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. 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 competition cooking show setting was super fun, and the chemistry between Dahlia and London was so good! I want to be honest about my feelings, and this was a just slow read for me. This may be because I read it in small chunks - rather than the one sitting I prefer. This was my first book with a nonbinary main character, and the they/them pronouns being singular slowed my reading down. Clearly, I need to read more widely, so that it becomes second nature. There were several passages in the book that felt very educational/informative (in a good way), and I think that the real gift of reading is being able to put yourself in new situations.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.