I dont usually read graphic novels, but I have been looking to get into them. This, I think, was a great introduction! The story was fun and cute! The relationship between the 4 friends was so great! O really enjoyed the relationship between Ben and Liam, they were super cute! I hade a really good time with story!

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I enjoyed Ben's character, but I did find the book in general to be a bit toxic. It is a beautiful comic though

Life rarely goes as planned, and new graduate Ben is learning this firsthand. He can’t seem to find a job in the career areas he planned for, but while he can’t find a job in his chosen passion of reading and writing, maybe cultivating a new passion may put him on just the path he needs.

Food, books/reading, good friends, great messaging, sweet gay romance, diversity, well laid out storyline, and good art… this is definitely a winner!

Ben Cook is a writer in search of a writing job straight out of college. But when each job requires three years of experience right out of the gate, he doesn't know where to turn - that is, until he spots the Help Wanted sign on a restaurant he's passing, and meets the ridiculously hot sous chef.

This was such a feel good story. I loved the art, the friendship between the four roommates, and ESPECIALLY Watson. It was the perfect blend of whimsy and the real life dilemma of "what am I going to do when I grow up?

The assortment of characters each had their moments to shine, and you got a sense of each of their personalities even though the focus was on Ben. The restaurant was a great setting. In addition to the mouth watering food descriptions and illustrations, there is a story with real heart and meaning. What a treat!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This graphic novel is perfectly ridiculous wholesome fun.
Ben, having recently graduated college, is confronted with the problem all of us young adults face — the dreaded endless line of interviewers looking for years of professional experience when you have none. Fortunately, he comes a cross a “no experience necessary” sign on a restaurant and sees this as the perfect opportunity to buy himself some time (the hot guy who works there a definite bonus). Unbeknownst to Ben the official taste-tester and whose tastebuds he must appease through various challenges is none other than the adorable pig Winston.
I loved this. The art is beautiful. The story is simple but covers a period of life I wish more did. Ben’s core friend group had enough development to be individuals and are so supportive and I appreciated seeing them work through the fights they had with each other. It’s funny, adorable, and the food visuals did *not* disappoint (All vegetarian might I add!). My only issue is I wish Liam, the love interest, was more developed. It’s a minor complaint as the focus of the story is on navigating the directionless post-college-pre-career period of life more so than romance. Chef’s Kiss is the chef’s kiss!

Chef's Kiss is a graphic novel follows Ben Cook, who, after graduating with an English degree, has been on a long, unsuccessful job search for anything relevant to reading or writing that will take him with no professional experience. Just as he's about to give up and go home to live with his parents, he sees, like a sign from the beyond, a restaurant hiring people, no experience required. He makes it through the interview, given by Liam, the cute sous chef, and is hired on a trial basis, where each week for three weeks he will train under a different chef at the restaurant and present a dish from the restaurant's menu for approval to a pig that belongs to the head chef, and then present an original dish at the end. If he makes it through the three weeks, he'll be hired. He loves the job, but is struggling throughout the book with the debate of if it's worth giving up his previous aspirations for.

Ben was pretty likable. My main qualm with him is that, despite having only had home cooking experience ever, we're supposed to believe that he is able to improve on every single dish that the professional chefs who went to culinary school are teaching him, which felt a bit too unrealistic to me. In a situation where competence would have been above-average considering his background, the author wants us to believe that he is extraordinary, which is something that always irks me a bit unless the character is actually a prodigy. I suppose my main issue with the entire book is that Ben just doesn't develop much as a character; while he does develop enough of a backbone to make a career decision towards the end, that process is very much skipped over, which I think robs us of a lot of the emotional core of the book.

The side characters were all fun and lovable, if not terribly fleshed out. This also extends to Ben, but none of the characters seemed to have any flaws, besides Ben's parents who were the obvious villains of the story. Nobody felt three-dimensional. I understand that it's supposed to be a fun story, and that it's fairly short, but a little character depth does always help a bit with that. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the dynamics among Ben's roommates and among his colleagues at the restaurant a lot; they both read like very natural friend groups. Ben's best friend, Liz, and Rachel, one of his other roommates, were my favorite characters by far. The pig, Watson, was also adorable.

The romance wasn't great; Liam's character and personality weren't really fleshed out at all, so it was difficult to ship them when the love interest basically amounts to a hot cardboard cutout. A little more page time to allow for that development would definitely have made the plot as a whole feel much more successful.

I did really enjoy the cooking challenge aspect of it; it provided a nice structure for the book, basically splitting it into five sections (before being hired, the first trial, second trial, third trial, and the original dish trial). It was also just really fun to read; I sped through it in an afternoon. The plot isn't super deep, but it does touch on some themes about adulthood and figuring out what you actually want from your life, and those moments were definitely something I appreciated; I just wish the book had leaned into them a bit more, because they felt a tad skimmed over.

The artwork wasn't my favorite style ever, but it was still very attractive and easy to digest. There were definitely some awkward panels where it was a bit hard to tell what order one was supposed to read in (and I read a lot of graphic novels), but it was still very readable overall.

I did thoroughly enjoy Chef's Kiss. It wasn't overly deep or thoughtful, but it's light and fluffy and definitely a feel-good story. I'm giving it four stars; there were several aspects of it that I think could have been greatly improved to make it a stronger book, but I did like reading it. I'd recommend this to anybody who likes graphic novels, cooking, competition stories, workplace romances, or just someone who is looking for a quick, light read.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full discussion at https://casperintherye.wordpress.com/2021/12/10/arc-book-review-chefs-kiss-by-melendez-brine-jones-otsmane-elhaou/

Welp, this one's going to be a crowdpleaser! Let's see, we have:
• An adorable MC who gets all uwu shy boi around his crush
• Artistic renderings of food that will have you starving
• A diverse cast of wonderful, supportive friends
• Realistic plot of a new adult struggling to find writing work with his degree
• A taste-testing pig who determines our MC's fate

Go into this one with the mentality that you're reading a lighthearted lgbt romance about a young twenty-something struggling to find his footing in life and you're sure to enjoy it. The artwork and font is crisp and legible throughout. There's enough humor infused into the story to keep reader engaged.

The only thing I was hoping for was a little more conflict. Being a new graduate and not being able to find work that agrees with your major is beyond stressful and difficult. It felt like Ben had a lot of things falling into his lap, and while there was minor conflict with his parents and friend group, his parents were always willing to financially support him and even use their connections to find him great opportunities. That's something that so many young adults don't have at their fingertips and I think it takes away a bit of the relatability. I'm also not sure if the ending is what's best for our MC, but HFN will hit just right for romance fans.

Other than that, highly recommended to readers who are looking for lgbt characters, food themes, and a lighthearted read that is ultimately romance lite.

This was such a cute story! I really liked the plot and the characters were brilliant. It was fun reading the change and growth in the main character, and the quirky traits of his friends and new colleagues. I LOVED the illustrations. Stunning!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this graphic novel!

Food and romance, this book made me swoon.

Fresh out of school, Ben is ready to start his writing career. The only problem is that nobody will hire him without some experience. When he finds a sign outside of a restaurant that is hiring he heads inside. Hot supervisor, weird boss, and pig with great food taste ahead. Only it turns out to be more than a filler job. He loves what he's doing there. Now he has to figure out who he is and what he wants to do with his life.

OMG! I am so in love with so much in this book. It has so many of my favorite things. Books, cooking, gay romance. The MC is super adorable and the love interest is seriously yummy. Making the couple easy to ship. There are references to books that pretty much any reader knows at least a few. And there is FOOD. My secondary passion, outside of reading, is cooking. I love food and I love to cook. This book made me hungry and made me want to waste time recipe browsing. I already waste far too much time doing this. Whether from the food or the romance, this is a seriously swoon-worthy book.

Now for what I didn't like about this book..........That's right, I got nothing. The story and the art were utterly enchanting.

I highly recommend this to all romance lovers. Especially if you like MM romance. I would say ages 16+ due to some vague references to a particular drug paraphernalia.

I loved thid book! It's an easy and fast read with a great plot and amazing characters! The artwork is gorgeous and the relationships between the characters are very realistic! I loved how issues between friends were handled in a way that was responsible and mature! I also really enjoyed seeing Ben choose his future based on what he wanted instead of what his parents wanted for him! Ben's relationship with Liam is adorable and I'm looking forward to see how things work out for them in the future!
I'm definetely excited for a possible sequel!

4.5/5⭐️
This is releasing in March of 2022.

I love cute, fluffy, happy, finding oneself reads. Going into Chef's Kiss I had all those expectations and more. I was not disappointed. There were so many moments of "aww" and "UGH MY HEART" that I was a pile of goop by the end of those 160 pages.

So this story follows a young college graduate named Ben Cook. Ben moves in with his 3 best friends and is trying to find a job. Like many of us, Ben is struggling with the world of job searching. Everywhere he applies either says he "doesn't have enough professional experience" or "not fit for the job". It comes to the point he is ready to take any job, including becoming a garbage man. Until he comes across a sign for a chef at a restaurant. He is thrust into the world of Sou Chef Liam and Chef Davis, and Watson the pig. Having to compete in challenges everywhere, Ben is starting to think of what his dream life actually is. Is it following what his parents told him to do, or is it following his own dreams?

Also, by the way, I have never been big into Graphic Novels. I have never been a fan of the art style or in general, the realm of graphic novel's like I am manga. However, Chef's Kiss blew me away in both art style and formatting. When we think graphic novels we think super hero's, marvel, etc. At least's that what I think. The art style was gentle and bold at the same time. The color scheme the artist came up with was gorgeous. The character style was charming. I definitely would read graphic novels more if they were like this one!

There are so many themes that can be found in this lovely graphic novel!
• Life after college
• Living your dream vs. your family's dream
• Finding yourself after college
• Finding your dream job
• The struggle of job hunts after college
• Found Family
• Love/Romance
• Food!!!

And multiple more!

I found myself in a lot of the scenarios that Ben Cook faced. The biggest was the after-college struggles of the job hunt. I remember applying to almost 100 jobs and every single one either said I didn't fit for the position or "you don't have enough professional experience". I remember being despaired, like Ben, and wondering how can ANY college graduate have experience. We are just out of college. Or the weeks of having no job and wondering if I have failed, if I will need to move back home. So many of Ben's experiences reflected in my own life that I connected to him on a deep level.

Besides the many theme's sprinkled throughout the plot, there are so many funny and deep moments. Ben is finding himself falling in love with the idea of being a chef on top of falling for the beautiful chef Liam. Yet, struggling with keeping secrets and lying to his parents about what his job actually is. I loved how each panel brought life to the characters and brought life to the plot. The plot flowed so easily from page to page and the moments between all of the characters felt real.

In the end, I think my only teeny-tiny want is the romance to be more in-depth. Yes, we saw Ben crush on Liam but how did that turn into love and a relationship in the end. Also, Liam didn't really give many hints to liking Ben at all. I would have loved to have more development in that area.

I definitely recommend you pick up Chef's Kiss to everyone. If you are right out of college and feeling like a failure for not having a job, guess what you are not alone. This graphic novel cover's everything from the after-college blues to falling in love and finding one's true dream.

A nice and long comic book on falling in love for young gay males. Drawing in a quick and easy reading style, Easy to connect with and very good to connect with.

I read this one in one sitting. It was adorable, lovely and it made me smile. The story was so nice and I enjoyed the message of find out what you enjoy doing and not let others interfere with your choice, it is a story about adulthood and trying to find the job for you even if it isn’t one you expect and I relate so hard to that. The characters were great, there’s good representation in the book which is nice to see.
The artwork was good and I enjoyed it. It fit the story really well and I just really liked it. Overall a fun quick read that I will be recommending to people!

I'm not sure if American BL is a good summary for this but it's what I felt while reading it. Ben Cook is a recent graduate who cannot get a job despite having done everything right - we went to college, wrote for the right publications, and took the right internships. But now no one will hire him. Getting a stop-gap job at a restaurant seems like a good holdover until he finds himself falling for the sous-chef Liam as well as his new passion for cooking. If you're a fan of queer meet-cute romances, and the GBBO, you'll enjoy Chef's Kiss.

4.5 stars ^

I loved this so much! It was such a light-hearted and quick read. Ben was super relatable as he’s a huge bookworm with a wall full of bookshelves. The friendships are really wholesome and I found myself laughing at quite a few of their jokes. His parents on the other hand; I hated them so much but I’d assume that’s what the author wanted us to feel. They’re the stereotypical controlling parents who only want their child to be happy if it conforms to their idea of a perfect future.

The art style was also really cool. And the story itself was good. I usually find with graphic novels that I love the characters & art but the plot is a bit lacking, whereas this wasn’t! It’s plot felt like a contemporary romance.

The ending was cute but the only reason it’s not 5 stars is it felt a bit abrupt. I really wish it was longer or has a sequel to show us what happens after the final plot twist!

Overall I highly recommend this & I think I’m actually gonna end up buying a copy when it’s published!

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc of this book!

This is such a great story about life after college, and how it isn't always so easy despite the promises society makes. Go to school, work hard, get a great job, make money. Seems simple. But sometimes it's not, and sometimes what you worked so hard for ends up being something you may not have been passionate about in the first place. I loved watching Ben try to parse through what he really wanted in life and where he wanted to go. His friends/roommates were so funny and sweet, and I loved all the side characters. Each of them brought something different to the story, and that's hard to do when you're working with a short graphic novel. The romance was sweet and slow, but the ending was happy, and honestly what more could I ask for?

Definitely recommend for a quick, feel-good read!

Chefs kiss was super sweet romance graphic novel. A great coming of age story, following Ben on his path to find his true passion, as well as love along the way. Not to mention the illustrations are amazing too. A super quick, light hearted read, definitely one I would read again!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute gay romance graphic novel. Perfect for a light read. The illustrations are beautiful, and I loved the restaurant setting. Definitely speaks to the current employment situation for new grads struggling to find work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Chef's Kiss was a cute story about Ben, a recent graduate with an English degree, and how he finds a job working in a restaurant and the romance that blossoms there. The friend group was supportive and well developed, and overall, the plot played out neatly. Chef's Kiss was a treat for the eyes and the soul.

Art: Danica Brine
Story: Jarrett Melendez
Colors: Hank Jones
Lettering: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

This one didn’t quite work for me. I was excited about this queer romcom that’s centered around cooking and that features a (mostly) post-grad cast of characters. I enjoyed the initial panels that introduced the roommates setting up their apartment, as well as the sequence depicting Ben’s struggle to find a job as an English Literature grad (relatable!). I love the idea of stumbling into something you’d never imagined could make you happy––like a fulfilling career that you’ve never considered, but that ends up feeling right. I was excited for Ben to figure that out through his cooking, but instead of presenting a nuanced ~emotional~ journey, the writer brings in a strange and derivative series of “cooking trials” that could been replaced with panels that depicted a growing bond between Ben and his love interest, Liam. The reader learns very little about Liam––practically nothing beyond his name and his job––and while I did enjoy the few existing romantic panels, the “romcom” aspect of the book was severely underdeveloped. The overarching stakes also disappoint. Ben hides his new job from his parents, who have specific expectations for him, and when they find out where he’s working, they’re so horrified that they use their connections to get him an internship at “one of the biggest literary magazines in the country.” Not only is their classist attitude never addressed, but the main conflict becomes Ben having to decide between this fancy literary position (which he’s excited about) and the restaurant job (which he also enjoys). It’s difficult to sympathize or root for a character whose main conflict feels so trivial (he’ll be happy either way!), and who ultimately makes zero sacrifices and figures out how to “have it all.” Ultimately, though I was impressed with the quality of the art in this book, the poor writing, confusing plot, and underdeveloped characters overshadowed my reading experience.