Chef's Kiss was a book that, much like many of the dishes covered in it, acted like a perfect comfort food. While I'm often someone that clamors for more complicated depictions of queerness and queer characters in media, there is always something to be said for queer media that really captures the feeling of putting on a comfortable romcom.

While the plot wasn't complicated, it really didn't need to be: it spared space for the emotions of the characters (especially Ben) to really blossom into life, and also allowed for the truly stunning art to take center stage. Ben's struggle with figuring out where to go after college felt truly so understandable, it was captured in a way that really pointed to both the joys and the flaws in attempting to do that. Furthermore, the romance was sweet, with all the usual complications of being a person built in, and I genuinely enjoyed watching it progress.

Overall, I found this a truly charming story, that acted as a gentle emotion balm and a bit of comfort media on a dark fall day.

Ben Cook is searching for a job to gain experience but, as it happens, he can’t get a job with no prior experience, so he ends up getting the job he never thought would be such a perfect fit for him: a job at a restaurant.
But this is not ordinary restaurant, either. Among the delightful characters who wander these walls, there are two who get Ben’s attention from the start. Liam, a colleague covered in dreamy tattoos and muscles; and Watson, a pig. A literal, pink, four-legged animal who “works” as the judge in the different challenges Ben will have to go through in order to maintain his new job.
Oh my goodness, was this comic cute. Like, so, so, cute. I loved Ben’s personality and his insecurities were depicted in a really realistic way. His roommates were not as fleshed out as him, but they felt like real people with real struggles too. I kind of doubted if everything is seen from Ben’s point of view, because if not, Liam is quite literally perfect in every single way. They were really cute together and I thought the pacing of the relationship was just perfect.
And the food seemed so tasty! I must admit I do have this tendency to really like food in comic book and animation, but the plates here were on another level. It made me so hungry!

Chef's Kiss is a cute and fun romance for food lovers. A sweet story with yummy food, lots of laughs and a fresh art style.

Who doesn't love a good slow burn story? lol, but this isn't what the whole story is about. At the root of it, is Ben Cook. Just graduated college and trying to find a job with his degree. (Aren't we all?) He ends up being put to the test to see if he has what it takes to be a chef. While going through the weeks he's hiding the secret from his parents, which doesn't turn out so well. Then there's some soul searching and at the end a happy ending!

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Just maybe not while hungry. haha

This was SO cute, I really really enjoyed it! I was so invested in the characters and was utterly charmed. Can't wait to read more from this author!

First - I want to say that the graphic of this is so perfect. I loved turning each page and seeing the small details displayed throughout each panel. At the beginning of the graphic novel, we see the main character, Ben, go through a rough time in landing a job with numerous interviews. It was so relatable to see this on pages because I know many of us have gone through the interview process only to be let down because there was no professional experience listed on our resume.

The line, "How are you supposed to get experience when nobody will hire you unless you have experience?!" was something I said to myself numerous times when I graduated college and was looking for a job right out of school. I loved that the main character begins to cook because that's what he does to destress. This was so relatable on so many levels. He stumbles across a 'Help Wanted' sign and walks inside, only to stumble on his words when he meets the sexy Sous-chef, Liam. He finds a job as a Cook and well... Read to find out what happens!

This book was fantastic. And made me very hungry. It was a fun read, I loved the like sprinkle of romance and the absolute great friendship. It was very wholesome!

Rating: 4.5

This was such a delight! I could tell from the first page this was going to be a blast. The characters were well balanced and realistic, their relationships with each other were genuine and interesting. I feel like all the side characters were well fleshed out and had a purpose in the story.
This graphic novel is about following your dreams, cooking, romance and a clever pig.
I loved the romance however I wished it was a bit more romance-y. The main focus of this story really was Ben and his journey training to be a chef and completing challenges to be hired for the job.
It was a nice quick read and the artwork was perfect for the setting and story.
I would love to read more from these creators in the future!
If you’re looking for a quick, sweet LGBT romance, with a focus around cooking, definitely pick this up on release date!

(I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Ok, wait, I was not expecting to fall so in love with this book. The characters have my whole heart, and I felt the message conveyed was essential and one no one talks about it.

The novel starts by showing Ben and his three other roommates moving into their new home. Ben has just graduated and is ready to begin his life and a new career. Since majoring in English, he is going to interview for a job in this field. His parents pressure him to do something significant in the writing or publishing industry, but then he finds out that that's not what he wants to do with his life. This realization takes a while for him to cope with, and this is where the story takes off.

Everything about this book makes my heart swell with joy and is one of those stories that I know I will be thinking about for weeks to come. The only real issue I had was the dynamic between the head chef and Ben. It felt unnecessary and toxic that the chef could go from not remembering Ben's name to supporting him. But, overall, I adored this book and will recommend it to everyone I know, therefore getting five stars.

5/5

A sweet and queer new adult story! Writing major Ben Cook’s done everything he was supposed to do but after graduation he can’t find a job because he doesn’t have enough experience. Growing increasingly desperate he applies to a restaurant position with a “No Experience Necessary” sign. A successful home cook, he finds this is something he really enjoys even though he’s facing a series of challenges from the owner, is falling for one of the sous chefs, and has to lie to his parents because he’s not “properly” using his degree.

Many of you know I love a good graphic novel and when I heard this one also included cooking I jumped at the chance to pick it up! I enjoyed reading about all of the characters and their relationships with each other. I really liked Ben's friend group and how they were supportive of each other. Watson, the pig mascot of the restaurant where Ben works was a lot of fun! He judged all of Ben's dishes which was really cute! I loved the art style as well! It was really well done and brought the story to life. The plot was interesting and kept me entertained. I also liked the romance side plot. I only wish the book was a bit longer so that I could get to know the side characters a bit more. Overall a fun read!

This graphic novel ridiculously cute and fun and everything I never knew I wanted. From the first page I was hooked, and I just kept getting drawn in by how fun and wholesome it is.

Some of my favorite moments are when Ben (our MC) faces life as an adult post college and has to figure out who he is compared to the expectations of his family. It has a very millennial mindset on adult life and getting a job. The romance in this is subtle and more a side thing, where as the majority of the story revolves around Ben and his own personal journey.

The side characters are lots of fun and feel pretty fleshed out. I would have liked to see Ben have some more one-on-one time with all three of his roommates, but overall I felt like they added to the story more than they just took up space. I am also very much in love with Watson the pig and need a whole graphic novel just about him.

Chef's Kiss is a must read, so don't pass up on this wonderful story!

This was so utterly cute! I loved the characters and felt really attached to them. (The pig was especially adorable.) Great story about discovering yourself and finding what you love. More, please?

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Such a cute and wodnerful story! It's very good at describing what it feels like just getting out of college and struggling to get a job that matches with the degree you just earned. I felt all of those no your not qulified enough/don't have enough experience from those interviews. Ben Cook, yep gotta love a name that goes with the story, was so desperate for a job he started appying for anything and came across a restruant that was hiring. The cute guy behind the counter Liam, the sous chef, let Ben know it is an on the job training and no prior experience needed perfect! The catch though is a 3 weeks testing period to see if Ben has what it takes to live up to the head chefs standards but most importantly to the official taste tester. Ben learns to love cooking and romance is in the air with the cute Liam helping him out along the way. I cannot say enough about how utterly cute this book is! The story is nice and has some twist, like Ben's parents wanting him to go into writing, the thing he majored in and boy what that a roller coaster of emotions. The art is also really nicely done and the food looks so go I was drooling. Get this book if you like cute romances, food, and the post college experiece!




* I received an eARC/e-galley of this book via Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Very cute graphic novel about finding a job after college, standing up for yourself, and cooking! I definitely recommend this title. It will definitely make it to the shelves of our public library, and I know it will be well-read!

I have a few mixed emotions with this book. I’m not sure if I loved it, but I had a good time overall.
The characters for me are not so memorable and although I did identify with some of the situations that happened there, especially with the professional paths, I felt that something was missing. I’m not sure if that was because I didn’t read the final version, or if it’s going to continue but it just felt a bit off. The story had a lot of skips and I’m not sure what happened.

One thing I can tell for sure is that I LOVED the piggy story. At first, the character felt weird but that part was very funny and definitely the best part of this book. Only for that part, I would recommend it to everyone.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC.

I greatly enjoyed reading this. The art, characters, dialogue, the story itself! Definitely a book I'll be adding to my personal collection and recommending being added to the library I work at.

Okay, I LOVED this! I was laughing the whole time, between the characters being self-aware, the dialogue and jokes, and VLAD THE INHALER, I'm totally sold! The art was expressive and bright and the characters were well-rounded, lovable, and relatable. I also really appreciated the text choices; the highlighted bubble and the use of font changes (like bold, italics, uneven lettering) worked well to convey different feelings and emotions. Also, as a vegetarian, I appreciate the food choices, they look like they taste amazing! (I would even be interested in a recipe or two if possible.) Reading this was amazing, *Chef's Kiss*

Thank you NetGalley, Jarrett Melendez, and OniPress for the ARC.

Let's be real. The romance was adorable, but come on. Watson! That cute little pig came and stole the entire show! The art style was pretty, and I loved the characters. The cooking and food had my mouth watering! When this is published, I will be buying it for my personal collection for when I need a cute and cozy romance.

What a sweet romance this was. A very relatable book, through and through: Melendez perfectly captures so many different experiences here: struggling to find work after college, living inside your own head, navigating family expectations, and falling in love. I found the depiction of that post-college experience-- that heady mélange of vulnerability and invincibility-- to be very poignant. Our protagonist, Ben, is deeply relatable and extremely likeable, and he is surrounded by an array of friends and roommates who both support and challenge him. The art is beautiful and the writing superb-- every character is rendered unique and layered and interesting. Loved this!