Wonderful romcom , loved the pace and the mc. I also appreciated how the author took her platform to support non-binary individuals and even wrote Landon pov using pronouns they/them.

Dahlia Woodson and London Parker meet when they are both contestants on the cooking show Chef's Special. Dahlia is newly divorced and looking at where she wants to go with her life. London is the competitions first non-binary contestant, who is hoping to prove themself to family and others.

This is a delightful book - it's a queer romance that takes place on a reality cooking show. The lead characters, a queer woman and a non-binary person, are both so charming, I was rooting for them to find each other. While elements of the story were predictable,, I mean it's a romance, so it's pretty obvious how it's going to end. The author did manage to work in some suspense around the reality show - I honestly had no idea how that would resolve.

I enjoyed that there were supporting characters that were actively involved in the plot, it's refreshing that the leads interact with other people who are well developed, versus just interacting with blank slates (or not interacting with anyone else at all).

I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series to get to spend some more time with these characters!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 Q: if you had to make one signature dish to show who you are on a reality tv cooking show what would it be? Mine would be bruschetta with thick crusty bread. I would likely be kicked off right away 😆.

Food love, self-love, love-for-another love. Anita Kelly’s Love & Other Disasters had me swimming in—I’m gonna say it again, love—& it was just wonderful.

I’m trash for foodie romances, especially when they involve a competition. The enticing food descriptions 🤤 , the stakes of it all, how the leads express themselves through food, the ways they show care through every morsel…& those things were reflected in my reading of this book.

Dahlia Woodson is pretty recently divorced & wants to use the cash from winning reality tv show Chef’s Special—a show featuring amateur chefs—to apply to her debt. Stuck in a rut, living a life that she doesn’t love, she believes in herself when (almost) everyone else thinks she’s a long shot.

London Parker wants to open an LGBTQ nonprofit with the winnings. For them, the show offers the extra challenge of telling viewers that their pronouns are they/them, all the while being aware that those are pronouns their own dad refuses to use.

Dahlia & London’s first couple of interactions are so cute & when Dahlia repeatedly keeps being exactly who she is—someone who is initially only reluctantly appreciated by London 😆😆—my heart squeezed.

Soon the chemistry between them gets as hot & vital as oil warming in a pan (one point for that food analogy 😆), although it takes a while for Dahlia to see/recognize the romantic nature of it & it takes even longer for them to act on.

With a hilarious moment involving a cow, a heartwarming story that gives everything a person could want in a romance, lovely full circle closing lines, & two leads whom it’s a pleasure to root for, Love & Other Disasters is soothing & hot & altogether satisfactory.

5 ⭐️. Release date: 01/18


TW: transphobia


[ID: an ebook rests on an aqua pot holder. To the upper left is a white bowl w/ a floral pattern holding an onion; to the upper right is a baguette on a white towel; & to the right of the ebook is a dark aqua ramekin w/ red & orange grape tomatoes inside.]

I savored and devoured every single word of LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS (food puns intended). I highly recommend this book to romance readers, foodies, reality tv lovers, queer pals, and anyone who loves great character-driven stories.

LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS is a dual pov, f/enby queer romance between two contestants on a cooking show. The setting was excellent, and I loved all of the descriptions of food and recipes. Warning: do NOT read this book while hungry.

I read romance novels for the characters, and L&OD did not disappoint. I loved Dahlia and London’s character arcs - both as a couple and as individuals. MINOR SPOILER: there was a pretty substantial third act break up. However, I thought Anita Kelly made good use of this plot device and actually let the characters learn things about themselves during the time they spent apart. Plus, I must report that the 3.5 smutty scenes were amazing. 🔥

I think London’s non-binary representation will mean a lot to GNC readers. Their story was handled with so much care, but they also got to have a complex and wonderful emotional arc that went beond their identity. Likewise, Dahlia’s relationship with her queerness as a divorcee was great to follow too. It’s so exciting to see a rising number of well-rounded queer identities and love stories in traditional publishing!

LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS is an incredible debut romance novel for Anita Kelly. They are now an auto-buy/read romance author for me, and I need to read their previous novellas ASAP.

I absolutely loved Love And Other Disasters!! This was the first trad published romance with a nonbinary MC I’ve picked up. Anita Kelly did such a tender, lovely, expert job with London, creating a beautiful bubble where this character existed purely as themself (eg there was no on-page misgendering, even though it happens during the story). Dahlia and London have sizzling chemistry, and the settings go well beyond the TV kitchen that hosts the central plot line of an amateur cooking competition. No spoilers, but the competition definitely held surprises for me! Altogether an emotional, personal, tender story filled with self-discovery.
**I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Love & Other Disasters was okay for me. I loved the premise and was excited to see a non-binary MC, but I felt like both the characters and relationship felt pretty one dimensional. It was cute but I wasn’t in love with it like I hoped.

This was a breath of fresh air after reading several straight romance books. There are not nearly enough queer adult romance books in the world, and especially not enough queer romance book with a non-binary main character. The switch between perspectives was flawless as both Dahlia and London were flushed out, well-developed characters with both real world problems and wonderful attributes. I will read anything else that Anita Kelly writes in the future, please publish more of their books.

Love & Other Disasters is a top notch kitchen battle romance that will defy standards for ages to come. Anita Kelly defies gender stereotypes and relationships In her new novel.

Ever wanted to compete on a cooking show? Our two main characters, Dehlia and Liz have both dreamed of cooking on Chef’s Special and winning the 100,000 prize. Dehlia, fresh off her divorce, wants to pay off her debt. Liz, a proud non-binary cook, wants to use the money to start a nonprofit for LGBTQ cooks. Liz: ready to come alive to the world as they/them share their pronouns for the first time to the world. Dehlia: questioning her sexuality. What these two cooks don’t realize is that they are falling for one another fast and hard, episode by episode. But will love conquer all in the kitchen and on TV? Or will the competition allow the winner to take it all and leave the loser in shambles?

Love & Other Disasters sets the standard tone for non-binary romances. Readers will want to root for Liz as they/the, put themselves out there on national TV. The match made between Dahlia and Liz has sparks flying off the page by the first half of the novel. With gut wrenching and steamy scenes, Anita Kelly has a stunning story in her hands. Those will pick up this story will come out with the biggest smile and emotions all the way up their selves. In the end, it’s all worth it for some love, some food and some laughter. The message is true to the tale: be who you are and you’ll shine.

So I was reading this book one evening, and my family interrupted to say, "You are really enjoying this book." Apparently, I had laughed so many times in the previous minutes that it stood out. And I think that's the best summary I can give. I really enjoyed the cooking antics, and this book regularly made me smile and laugh. But it also made me think and made me emotional.

Dahlia and London are both contestants on a cooking show in Los Angeles. After a hilarious opening meet cute, they get off to an awkward start. London comes out as nonbinary and shares their pronouns in the first episode of the cooking show. The book has really heavy moments with misgendering and dealing with family drama. I really loved reading about London, though it took me a bit to warm as much toward Dahlia.

There are such great meals (and I had to get chips and guacamole during one scene that just kept describing them). Have yummy food at the ready when reading. I highly recommend this for all who enjoy steamy, queer romances.

Thank you so much to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

The romance was good, London and Dahlia were cute together. And can we appreciate, applaud and celebrate the fact that London was the first non-binary contestant on a cooking show??? Like it might have already happened in real life but I don't keep up with American TV, regardless if that isn't already the case, then it definitely should be.
As I mentioned above, the romance was good but the story still fell short for me. Considering the main premise of the show revolved around a cooking show, there was a lack of spice but if you're not looking for a full course meal and just a dessert, this one might be for you!

3.02/5✩

A big thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweet romance book set around a super clever premise! I loved Dahlia and London as characters, and I thought that it was super cool getting to read a romance novel with a non-binary love interest! The conversations London and Dahlia had surrounding identity, bodies, and intimacy was super cool in that regard, something many romance novels in particular don't always get into. I also loved the way the book tracked the internal growth of both characters, as their experiences shifted their lives and gave them new tools to be unafraid about asking for what they want. Overall Dahlia and London were both also just really solid characters and I really like both of them from the start. I also just love to see queer characters getting their HEA! I will say though, even though I bought into the connection between London and Dahlia, the plot was a bit too insta-love-y for me. I know other folks love that trope, but I just personally found it hard to buy into the immediate flame of passion that seemed to erupt between them and so while I enjoyed reading the book and rooting for their relationship, it didn't pull me in on the level I was hoping it would and I was a bit bored at times.
This said, I still would recommend the book to readers who enjoy romances that get to the romance part quickly. It's a thoughtful story, with two headstrong and complicated people who are daring to take a chance on themselves and on each other (while making a lot of tasty food!).

Love and other disasters is a rom com about a non binary person and a woman falling in love while being contestants on a cooking show

This story was great. It was fun and exciting and left me rooting for the main couple at every turn. I really like the inclusion of both main character's relationships with their siblings. It really let us get a better look into the characters backstories.

The reason that I only gave it 4 stars is because for me personally, it had to many spicy scenes. But I think that is a personal preference type thing.

I also really liked the friendships with other contestants that were formed. It really gave a good observers perspective to the main relationship.

Love and other Disasters comes out January 18th 2022 and I definitely recommend everyone buy a copy!

This book was SO CUTE!!! I flew through it because I just fell in love with Dahlia and London from the start. I am a sucker for a cooking competition so this backdrop was the perfect story for me to read.

I love the rep so much too. London being nonbinary and having a third person POV in the book was so cool! For anyone who claims “they/their” cannot be used as personal pronouns, this book is a perfect masterclass in how it is done!

I was really happy to see a new romance coming out with a nonbinary main character/love interest. I've read a few romance novels with nonbinary or trans characters, but I don't think there are nearly enough out there. I really liked the portrayal of London's character - they are out as nonbinary on a nationally televised cooking competition show and they seem pretty badass and are regularly described as sexy by Dahlia, the other main character, but Kelly doesn't gloss over the fact that lots of people are not friendly to or accepting of nonbinary folks, so there are several important characters here who seem to have issues with London's existence as a nonbinary person. Which, don't get me wrong, sucks, but also seems pretty realistic. especially in our increasingly polarized society. I also liked Dahlia as a main character and felt like the author was sensitive in handling her guilt over her divorce, the difficulty she's having trying to figure out who she is and what she's going to do, and how she navigates entering her first relationship post-divorce - and her second relationship ever. I have to say that the setting of this - with two MCs who are competing against each other on a cooking competition show - stressed me out a bit, but overall I really enjoyed this.

Really enjoyed reading this one and loved the story overall. If anyone is looking for a good romcom, here it is! I honestly had a hard time putting this one down. Will be recommending to others. Thanks for the opportunity to read early!

Dahlia and London are both hoping to win cooking show Chef's Special - but that's not the only thing on their minds. Dahlia is clumsy, divorced, and nearly bankrupt; London is nonbinary and struggling with their dad's lack of acceptance of their identity. Will this cooking show be the beginning of a beautiful relationship?

This book reminded me a bit of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, but I preferred this one due to the characters. It was easy to connect with both Dahlia and London, and I could see how these outsiders would be attracted to each other. I loved seeing the queer representation. The cooking show plot moved along well, and the featured dishes definitely made me hungry! I appreciated the family subplots on both sides - they added a lot to the characters' stories.

One warning: this book is STEAMY. There were a few scenes I had to skim through as a more prudish reader. I'd definitely recommend this book to romcom readers - just don't read it on an empty stomach!

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Posted to Goodreads 9/11/21, posted to Instagram 12/9/21.

No book is perfect, but this is damn near close. It does what it set out to do (and what I needed it to do) exactly, and I devoured it. It is sweet and clever and thoughtful and often a little bit sad, and I appreciated that it kept one foot in the reality of its fully-fleshed-out characters' complicated lives (and real issues like gender and class!) as well as being fizzy cooking-show escapism. I love this book, and I love London and Dahlia; thank you for writing it and letting me share their story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, but my opinions are my own and we’re not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This is a solid 4.5 but I am going to round up, but perhaps more relevant is the steam scale. This book is very steamy in a way that is incredibly well done and so rare. The cover belies the level of steam but this book is hot.

Dahlia is recently divorced and in debt and enters a cooking show competition because she loves cooking but also really needs the money. London is the first non-binary contestant on the show and the sparks fly between them and Dahlia. I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop and watching the friendship develop into more.

This is the first book I read with a non-binary character so while I have used they/them pronouns for others in real life this is my first time reading about it. I think seeing it written will help people understand how these pronouns can be used seamlessly.

I adored Dahlia as a character and loved seeing her with other characters. My only complaint was that I also loved London and wanted to see more of them with other characters.

I hope this book takes the world by storm.

DRC provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: bisexual white half-Italian protagonist, pansexual non-binary white protagonist, queer tertiary character, tertiary characters of colour.

Content Warning: anxiety, transphobia, mention of misgendering, alcohol, stress.

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly is a fun adult contemporary romance novel dealing with being open about oneself, new romances after difficult times and family bonds, set on the backdrop of a cooking competition.

After divorcing her ex-partner, Dahlia Woodson discovers cooking as a new passion and decides to quit her job to participate in a prominent cooking competition recorded in Los Angeles. She expects everything one would expect from such a show, but not to meet London Parker, the first non-binary contestant in the history of the show, and certainly she does not expect them to be so handsome.

Anita Kelly consolidated herself a special place as one of my favourite authors with this novel. I had the chance to read their writing earlier this year because Anita gifted me with an early copy of her second novella in their indie series Moonlighters, called Our Favorite Songs (do check it out), which devastated me in the most beautiful of ways, so I was aware I would be in for a good ride.

Nevertheless, I started reading Love & Others Disasters expecting the typical romance novel and having a mental image of how events would play out, but I ended up being surprised at every turn, although I was not shocked by how good it was going to be (one could say I am maybe not too familiar with romance novels, but I think I know enough). The character development and the spicy and hilarious intimate scenes are definitely two of the best selling points of this novel and in addition we get deliciously depicted dishes. Anyhow, I finished this novel with tears pooling in my eyes (mostly tears of joy) and only at the thought of it, I start tearing up gain because I felt seen (especially by one of the comments a fan left London on their Twitter). Non-binary main characters are such a rare encounter in novels, especially as point-of-view ones and this book managed to make me feel good about myself and my identity.

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly is an exuberant contemporary adult romance which is going to take over the United States and the United Kingdom in January of next year!

THIS WAS SUCH A CUTE READ! I really enjoyed so many things about this book. I'm not really a great cook, nor do I enjoy cooking (at all), but I'm a huge foodie and I simply adore descriptions of food in books--and Anita did not disappoint! I wanted to eat everything that was the characters in this book cooked.

Anita crafted two really lovable, real characters, and I was immediately and deeply invested in both London and Dahlia's growth as individuals as well as a couple. They were both such colorful characters, and this book had so many cute, intimate moments between them that just my heart so happy. The two main characters are complemented with a great cast as well! I love so many of the side characters, including Barbara, Hank, and Julia. There's so much to love in this book, and although it deals directly with some forms of transphobia, LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS generally stays light-hearted, fun, and sweet. Totally delicious! (Can we talk about that scene with the nectarine???)