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.