I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters! I want to start out with saying I loved the representation within the book. The story was cute and heartwarming and I really loved the development of the story. I will say the story fell flat in some aspects but overall it is a good read!

Anita Kelly is a star. Write it down now. This debut is the start of what I hope is a long and prolific career of writing beautiful, funny, complex, sexy romances. What a place to start. Kelly's writing is more confident than a debut author has any right to be. It had a stand out voice for both of the main characters. Dahlia is impossible not to love. She's funny and quirky, a little clumsy, and so feisty and sweet. London is prickly with a heart of pure honey. Together they are magic and the setting on a cooking show perfectly shoves them together and pulls them apart.

Anita Kelly is a star. You can count on it.

This is absolutely a modern romance that will take you on a fun ride through the new challenges dating life has to offer you. I also found this book is a great way to become versed in uncertainties that hover over the young mind in today's reality.
This was definitely a fun ride that Kelly takes us on 😄


LGBTQ+ community 🏳️‍🌈

3.5 stars

i really enjoyed this! london and dahlia had great chemistry, the cooking competition setting was fun, and i loved the discussions around identity and family and personal growth. my only issue with this book is that i wanted the romance to feel a bit more substantial than it was. it definitely wasn't instalove or anything, but things developed pretty quickly, and i didn't feel like there was quite enough buildup before london and dahlia actually got together. regardless, i'll definitely read whatever Anita Kelly comes out with next and i'm super excited for the other books that are going to be in this series!

Thank you to Grand Central for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars. I loved this book. Set on a cooking show, it's the story of exuberant Dahlia, who's just divorced her husband and quit her job, and reserved London, who's nonbinary and who's dealing with unacceptance from different areas. Dahlia is a hot mess at the beginning of the book, and we're there throughout the cooking competition as she and London fall for each other.

Dahlia and London are both such sympathetically drawn characters. They're definitely not perfect (and indeed, this becomes part of a love scene), but they are trying. Their chemistry is written so well; you get to see them both attracted to one another and understand why. Kelly uses the dual POV to good effect; you feel connected to both Dahlia and London (and their families).

The conflict is also completely believable. When they're having their big fight, it's something that reasonable people would fight about. And then when they reflect on the conflict, they work through their issues in ways that make sense and also seem to be real fixes rather than slapdash patches that will fall off as soon as the book ends. Dahlia will always be a little messy for London's taste. London will always retreat into what can seem like a gruff silence when they're stressed.

A fantastic own-voices debut that explores the main character being non binary without reducing anyone to stereotypes, I recommend it to anyone who likes love stories where you'd like to actually hang out in that world with the main characters. There's an epilogue too, which is always so satisfying.

I will definitely be rereading this one.

This was such an addictive read, it actually distracted me from work and I was physically unable to put it down.

As a non-binary person, I already loved Anita Kelly's first Moonlighters novella (I'm saving the second one for the holidays), and I was so glad to also see a non-binary character in a full-length romance novel! Especially since they also have a POV! It always makes me so happy to see my pronouns used on page, and since this book is written in 3rd person, that happened a lot.

Both of these characters felt so real to me, and I found them so relatable. I loved the setting of a cooking show, but even more I loved how much time Dahlia and London actually spent together in the novel, since as opposed to a lot of other books, this one didn't have the enemies to lovers trope and they started getting friendly really early on in the book.

Another aspect of the book I really appreciated is how there is a third act break-up but it actually served a purpose, whereas I tend to find that lacking in other books sometimes. The third act break-up gave both characters the space to work through personal issues and to grow as a person outside of a relationship, and I found that so valuable.

i really wanted to love love & other disasters because it had the perfect set-up for a book i’ll adore – and yet it let me down. i love the fact that it had a nb main character – i can say london was the only character i actually liked. i loved the cooking show parts – the challenges were fun to read about, but i wish we saw more of that. the show was just the background for the romance and i would’ve enjoyed it a lot more if we’d seen more of the casts or the judges, if the set-up was explored more.

while i did like london as a character, i didn’t think there was much chemistry between dahlia and them. they were constantly annoyed with dahlia at the beginning and then it just switched to instantly in love in a few pages – which kinda put me off a bit. i did enjoy the conversation on gender and how it was handled here, but i cannot comment on the nb rep, it’s not my place to do so. loved the relationship london had with their sibling – even if julie was barely present, i did like her from the few scenes she’s in.

dahlia, on the other hand, i couldn’t stand. she’s written as such a “not like other girls”, quirky character that it got on my nerves eventually, considering she’s a grown woman acting like a teenager. she said the most random things at the worst moments and the book tried to sell that as humor, but i didn’t really get it. she was such a “head in the clouds” character, but i could not connect with her at all.

the smut in here came as an uppercut, because even though i knew this was adult, i didn’t expect that. lets just say they bring fruits to the bedroom and i considered dnf-ing it because that scene made me so uncomfortable. the other sex scenes were a bit awkward, but alas.

i wish the book had some conflict in it – something to make it more interesting, because it was okay, but i found myself bored at times. the pacing was also off – the ending was rushed and that’s the part i was most interested in – the contest, and it was over in a couple pages. the side characters and the relationship between them and the two protagonists weren’t developed at all. they’re there just to move the plot along and they barely have anything to add to the story.

overall, i’m really sad this wasn’t the book for me, but it might definitely work for you. it’s a fun romcom, so if you’re into that, maybe give this one a try.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

What a treat! I loved the slow unfolding of London and Dahlia's relationship, and how they lifted each other up. The cooking scenes were all a delight to read, and I want the recipe for Dahlia's soup in particular; reading this made me so hungry! Such a delicious romance, full of complex characters and relationships, and a hopeful, real glimpse into the difficulties they face. This is not only an important book but a joyful one as well, and I look forward to reading many more of Anita Kelly's stories.

I really enjoyed the first half of the this! Dahlia and London were super cute and the plot was moving! But, the last half slowed down (especially once they got together). I really wasn't a fan of the main "drama/conflict" at the end which made me not totally love this one.

The side characters were all great and I'm hoping at least one of them gets their own love story in a sequel!

However, this is the first traditionally published romance with a nonbinary POV/love interest so I am still going to support this one a lot because it is so important to have love stories like this one published. I also can't wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!

TW: strained relationship with parents

I had the best time reading this. It's ridiculously cute, very funny, and heartwarming. This is one of those "feels like a warm hug" books for me.

Sometimes the right book comes along just when you need it, and Love & Other Disasters is currently that book for me.
The M/Cs, Dahlia and London, have an awkward meeting at a tv cooking competition when Dahlia runs into London, overshares, and then continues on as the show gets started.
London is non-binary and pan; Dahlia is queer. They’re attracted, but their lives are so far apart. Dahlia’s divorced, living in a small town in Maryland and just quit her job to do the show. London is in Nashville near their family, working as an audio engineer. They’re attracted to each other, and Dahlia is so far out of the dating game she doesn’t even realize she’s flirting.
An element I found interesting here is that cooking is something they both learned by choice; Dahlia, as her marriage crumbled, and London, from their nanny growing up. They like cooking for cooking. The layers of how they cook, and what they cook are important to their characters.
One discordant note is that Dahlia finds something out and I’m not clear if readers are supposed to think she told London off-page or what. It’s something that precipitates her reaction to something else, so it seemed like it should be, but it wasn’t tied together.
I really enjoyed the flirting and the cuteness of watching them both fall (and being somewhat clueless as to each other’s interest when everyone around them knows), and how both characters grow and handle disappointments in their lives. Being out of their comfort zones of home has them looking at what they truly want out of life, and what they’re learning about themselves and from each other. It was a really satisfying romance and I closed the book with a happy sigh.

I started this book at work on my lunch break which was a horrible mistake because that meant I couldn’t read it straight through in one sitting. Love & Other Disasters has occupied by every thought for the past day and a half as I read it. From the moment you start this book, you will not want to do anything but read it until the end.

Our two main characters Dahlia and London are two contestants on a reality cooking competition called “Chef’s Special.” They have a bit of a ‘crumby’ start, but find themselves in a ‘sweet,’ ‘sizzling’ romance throughout the recording of the show. (I promise the book is better than my half-assed food puns!)

This book has queer, pansexual, and nonbinary representation all within the two main characters. There are some plot points about transphobia, but Kelly treats London with love and respect. It is never coming from Dahlia or any heavily featured character.

Anita Kelly has proved herself to be a great talent in romcoms.

As a clumsy girl myself I loved this book. I, too, have fallen with tacos in hand.

This was a great read. I devoured the book in one sitting. It’s quick and cute and please pick this up! I was grinning and chuckling and it was great! I loved the non-binary rep and the conversation about transphobia this book bring along. Love love love. Cooking competition and falling in love. Say no more

*I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

While I am normally not picking up romances, Love & Other Disasters is easily one of my new favorites. I am so glad I picked it up because I was absolutely buzzing after reading it and have not stopped thinking about it since. The story follows Dahlia and London as they compete in the TV cooking competition, "Chef's Special," and navigate their feelings for one another. Notably, London is also non-binary, and their experiences with coming out and moving through life as non-binary are explored with respect and sensitivity, which I appreciated.

I found the romance a lot more realistic in terms of building interest in one another compared to most romances that I have read, and I think the book is a great gateway into more adult romance. It is fresh and engaging, and I read through it in just one sitting. Anita Kelly pulled off writing from both perspectives very well, which brought a lot more depth to Dahlia and London. Both were loveable characters, and their determination in trusting themselves as individuals. Overall, it is going to be a long-term favorite, and I am very excited to read more books by Anita Kelly in the future.

I received an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this opportunity.

I wasn’t expecting to love this book. I mean, I thought I was gonna like it or else I wouldn’t have requested it as an ARC but DAMN. This was so good. Like really really good. I was drawn in from the start and was not bored at all. I really liked the characters and the plot was interesting enough. I really loved this whole cooking competition thing and it would be so cool to read a book like this but for gameshows. Read this!! 4 ⭐️

DNF 30% I was really excited for this book when I saw that there was a non binary character, I really wanted to like it but it really was a struggle to read and I'm not ever sure why, it just bored me

Given that I read this entire book in just a couple of hours, it's safe to say that it was entertaining and really piqued my interest. I loved a lot about the concept and the characters. The only thing missing for me was a little more depth with the entire cast of characters. I really enjoyed Dahlia and London's relationship with each other, but struggled a bit with their relationships with the side characters since those didn't feel as developed. Overall, this was a satisfying and enjoyable read.

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly is a great, fresh, and fabulous contemporary romance that had me hooked from beginning to end.

I loved this book. London and Dahlia are fabulous. The dialogue, activity, wit, banter, and chemistry were spot on. I loved that they were real, flawed, imperfect, but recognized this and just really wanted to be happy in life…wanting to find a place, purpose, and a love.

I also enjoyed the concept of the culinary aspect…the contest…the cooking…the competition…it added another layer of interest and complexity to the story.

I loved the progression of the characters, and I enjoyed the ending.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

This is a truly delightful romance. Dahlia and London are fabulous and I rooted for them for beginning.
Overall, this was pleasant, sweet, and a wonderful escape.
Oh, and did I mention the cover works for me? Sweet! Treat yourself to this book!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.