This was my first book by Adib Khorram and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I know this author is better known for his YA, but I thought this was a really solid segue into adult romance.

Things I loved in this book:
• The diversity of our MCs (Farzan is Iranian-American and David is Black)
• Learning about Farzan and David’s culture and traditions
• THE CHARACTERS AGES! It’s about damn time we see mid-to-late 30 year olds finding love!!!
• The side characters 🥰 I absolutely adored them all.

I will definitely be picking up book 2 in this series!

A case of mistaken identity leads to a steamy friends with benefits relationship in I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram.

This dual POV romance follows Farzan, unmoored and insecure after deciding to take over his family’s Iranian restaurant, and David, a work-obsessed wine connoisseur studying to be a sommelier. The two meet at David’s wine bar and in hilarious fashion, David mistakes Farzan for a notorious food critic. A steamy hookup ensues, but even after David and Farzan rectify the case of mistaken identity, they can’t fight the chemistry buzzing between them.

It was refreshing to read about two characters falling in love in their 30’s. David and Farzan are queer men with lived experiences that have shaped their wants and desires. They are communicative about what they want in a partnership and I loved how they were able to readjust expectations as their relationship developed. For all the spice fans out there, this book is full of intimate scenes that will have you fanning yourself. The attraction between these characters is palpable and the sex scenes show just how in sync David and Farzan are physically. Khorram also does a great job at establishing Farzan and David’s connection outside of the bedroom. Between watching movies together, helping each other achieve their career aspirations, and nursing one another back to health, readers are given front row seats to the sweet, tender moments that solidify their relationship.

The perks of having an aspiring sommelier and restaurant owner as main characters were that the story was full of delectable food and wine descriptions. My mouth was watering reading about Farzan’s home cooked Iranian dishes and the characteristics of David’s wine recommendations. I felt like these descriptions opened up another layer of Farzan and David’s personalities and I was able to understand them deeper through their passions.

Many thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up. There was a lot to like in this rom-com. It's always refreshing to read about a couple in their mid-late thirties. I really liked the characters in this one, which was a good thing since it's pretty light on plot.

The spice level's pretty high here, which usually isn't my thing, but I liked seeing how the main relationship evolved. There's definitely a lot of humor and heart in this book.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This queer love story had me smiling from ear to ear and craving Iranian food! I absolutely loved it!

I loved both the MC’s - Farzan and David.

Farzan’s insecurities were so relatable - I know very well how it feels to be the only single sibling in the family while your other siblings seem to be more successful in life. I also appreciated his passion for cooking and how he wanted to maintain his family’s legacy by taking over his parents’ restaurant. It was so heartwarming that he had such supportive friends and how accepting his family was.

I also enjoyed the plot device of having an expiration date for the romance given that David’s plan was to move away for a bigger, better opportunity once he passed his master sommelier test.

I loved how David’s idea of success changed, which shows how life goals can change over time.

I appreciated how their relationship evolved from being friends with benefits to falling in love. This romance novel was also very steamy! 🔥🔥🔥

3.5
this was sweet!! adib khorram’s books are always very charming and this was no different!!
really enjoyed how each character had full lives outside of the main romance, with their own specific conflicts and support systems. also really enjoyed how surprisingly smutty this was!
that being said!! idk it kind of didn’t do much for me? it has a very traditional romcom story and story beats and it didn’t really have anything that wow-ed me but i still had a good time.
i hope adib writes more adult!!

Overall this was pretty mid range for me. If it wasn't for the queer ownvoices aspect I very likely would have DNFd. The relationship between the two was just okay. It jumped from hookup to love a little fast though. I did really love the food and wine part!

Overall, I know this will be a hit for many. For me it just didn't work as well.

Rating: 4.25/5
Spice: Multiple Open Door Scenes

What a delightful adult debut! I absolutely love how the traditional elements of a romance novel were woven throughout this story of growth, but still had the light hearted touches that were just pure magic.

I absolutely loved how the miscommunication at the beginning, while important to the plot, was easily resolved because Farzan and David talk as the adults that they are. It’s so refreshing to see healthy communication. There are even other moments throughout the book where they talk to solve their problems.

I also love the story of self discovery that Farzan goes through! He’s struggling with his path in life after making change after change, and it’s a really relatable story. All can see elements of themselves in the journey.

Overall, this was a fun story to read that seemed like it could be 100 percent real! Bravo Adib, it was a beautiful story!

This book is proof, if proof is needed, that "relatability" is not a straightforward proposition.

I have never enjoyed alcoholic beverages of any kind, and as I managed somehow to resist the pressure to "learn to like" them in my youth, every passage dealing with wine in the novel mostly passed me by. I have never cared for cooking, and my appreciation for food is mostly of the, "now I'm no longer hungry" variety. In short, it would be fair to say that I have nothing in common with a Black sommelier or an Iranian substitute teacher-cum-cook, plus I'm a straight woman, and they're both gay men, two full decades younger than me. One could easily think that I would find nothing to relate to in their story; when, in fact, I read the whole thing, all three hundred and sixty something pages of it, in a couple of sittings, and laughed and cried, and sighed, and read the last line with a smile in my heart.

The book is narrated from the points of view of the lead characters, in alternating chapters; despite what the cover seems to indicate, this is not a story about twenty-somethings. Farzan Alavi and David Curtis are both thirty seven year old single gay men living in Kansas City--and that's all they have in common.

On the surface.

David is driven and goal oriented; in his first career, he blazed through college and climbed the corporate ladder enough to earn substantial annual bonuses--and start to hate himself. Fortunately for him, he managed to make a couple of solid friends along the way, friends who wholeheartedly support him as he pursues his new goal: to become a master sommelier. A dark-skinned Black master sommelier. In the U.S.

As far as he's concerned, David really has his stuff together; for the past decade he has worked and studied, tasted and tested. Now the ultimate goal is but a mere three months away; once he has passed the test, he'll be set; the world will truly be his oyster, and he'll finally be able to ensure that his parents are financially secure for the rest of their lives.

It's true that focusing exclusively on the sommelier test and work means that he has no life outside of work; that not only has David neglected his friendships so badly they're now on life support, but he can barely remember the last time he actually got laid. And as for relationships, they are just not part of his life plan. But it will all be worth it, soon. Eventually. In the end.

The son of Iranian immigrants, Farzan is the oldest sibling of three, and the only one without a proper career, financial success, or a stable relationship. He has tried, boy has he ever!, but nothing seems to stick, career-wise. Teaching was rewarding, but so stressful, he burned out after a few years; since then, he has bounced between side gigs and occasional jobs, from waiting tables to substitute teaching, essentially doing whatever he can to make ends meet.

Personally, all Farzan wants is a stable relationship, marriage, a family; someone to love, who loves him back for who he is. Over the years, he has contorted to fit what a succession of boyfriends and dates, all of whom have invariably left him behind, in some cases with extreme prejudice.

His two best friends, also the sons of Iranian immigrants, and also gay, have had his back for going on thirty years now, and, despite their own cultural norms, his parents barely blinked when he came out to them. They all love him, and yet, he can't but feel that he's his parents' only failure, and a disappointment all around.

When Farzan and David meet, the physical attraction between them is mutual and explosive; what neither of them expected is just how easy and comforting it is to spend time together, regardless of setting or social occasion.

For the first time in his life, Farzan can relax with a man he's attracted to--and, okay, having sex with--in the same way and to the same degree as he's always been able to do with Arya and Ramin. And David is, frankly, smitten. He's charmed by Farzan's openness and generosity, and wary of letting him in too far; he does not want to harm a man as lovely as Farzan, but his path is set, and staying in Kansas City is not in the cards.

Which complicates both their lives considerably.

Despite my utter lack of interest in wine and cooking, I was entranced by these two as they navigated the ups and downs of being friends, catching feelings, and finally coming together. Because it turns out that they have a lot in common, and where they don't, they complement each other, filling each other's empty spaces with joy and love.

Seeing David realize what he actually wants from life, and Farzan start to accept his own worth, is just beautiful.

The worldbuilding is fantastic. The sense of community and permanence in Shiraz Bistro; the building of family amongst the staff at Aspire; the diversity in race, ethnicity, religion, and gender that make up the city; and the many little inconveniences and dangers that make up the reality of lives that aren't straight, white, and male, are all woven organically into the narrative.

Farzan sitting at the pick up line at the airport, being careful not to catch the eye of the many cops and security guards around; his having a "white people name"; the Alavi family dynamics, and their love of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, born out of the lack of positive representation of Iranian people, especially men, in media. The myriad microaggressions David faces every day at work. The lasting legacy of Reagan's policy during the AIDS epidemic. The multiple secular Christian customs and holidays that people who aren't Christian have adopted and adapted into their own celebrations, from Friendsgiving to Friendmas.

The awkwardness, for queer people, of discussing their lives and relationships with straight people, even those who love them.

The sex scenes excellently written; not only is the discussion of consent comprehensive--up to and including David's twists--, it's erotic. Each of them manifests caring for the other at every step, and honestly, there's little more romantic than that. And the sex itself is realistic. I'm not referring here to the gymnastics, but to things like preparing for anal sex, having both lube and "sex towels" at the ready, and so forth.

Also, not one non-white person is described using food terms. David is Black, Farzan is light brown, and his family and friends are either lighter or darker brown. No caramel, no chocolate, no honey; just colors and shades. So incredibly refreshing!

This is not a perfect book, however; I have quibbles!

There were a few repetitions as the main character's internal dialogue introduces their backstories, and as they grapple with their feelings. There is also more emphasis on clothing than I'd like--although it is in the context of how Farzan and David see each other, so it's not entirely superfluous detail.

My main complaint is having two men under forty, in generally good physical condition, moaning and bitching so much about how old they are, how their knees creak, how their six packs are history, and so forth. It's not that it's entirely impossible, mind you; aging, like most everything, is different for everyone; it's just that thirty-seven is not old. Just ask anyone who's starting sixty in the face.

I'll Have What He's Having gets a 9.25 out of 10, and I am looking forward to Mr Khorram's next adult novel.

This is such a sweet romance! I really enjoyed the characters and rep. The cooking scenes were fun to read and Farzan and David are adorable together.

I absolutely loved this book. This book had me smiling, laughing and crying! As well as looking for the nearest Iranian restaurant. There are so many things to like in this book:
1- pretty originally story with queer and diverse characters
2- the love story between a substitute teacher that has never felt like enough and a hot sommelier that thinks his whole identity revolves around what he achieves
3- their meet cute! David who is the sommelier thinks Farzan is a food critic who just walked into his restaurant and serves him so much food and wine with a side of flirting (of course)
4- found family
5- realistic sex - people actually sweat and fart and have food coma!
6- both main characters are close to their 40s
I just want more books like this in traditional publishing with imperfect and lovable characters

I love it when you can tell that a YA author wants to write a sex scene but then is like no I will wait till I write an adult book and then knocks it out of the park. The novel is smutty, but still holds space for what a relationship actually is. Was happy that my expectations were met.

3.5 - This was such a cute LGBTQ+ romance and it was STEAMY!! Maybe a little bit too steamy for me, but if you love spice in books and want a good romcom this will definitely be perfect for you.

Farzan's love life is falling apart as he once again failed to get a boyfriend on his last date. Farzan goes to David's restaurant, where David is a wine expert, and after pretending to be a restaurant critic, David spends the night trying to woo Farzan into liking the food and drink. The two hit it off, and quickly begin hooking up. It is clear from the start that Farzan and David have chemistry, and also that both are very into each other and developing feelings fast, although neither wants to admit it. At the time, David is too busy studying for his Somalia test to make time for a relationship, although they establish a friends with benefits relationship as an excuse to keep seeing each other.

I loved the focus on family and food in this book! It was so pure to see Farzan's love for cooking and his families restaurant, and David's love and passion for wine come to life. As Farzan begins to take over and expand his families restaurant and David prepares to take his test and move to a new city, the two have to decide whether they are ready to sacrifice what they once thought were their dreams to be with each other, or ignore the feelings they have developed. Their relationship was so cute and heartfelt, I loved how they supported each other and helped each other through their different challenges! And the chemistry was great :)

Thank you to Forever Pub and Netgalley for providing me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!!

It's no secret I love Adib Khorram's work, Darius the Great is Not Okay was incredibly impactful for me and so it was no surprise I adored Adib's debut into adult romance. There are countless things to love about this story. The characters are well developed, the third act breakup makes sense and furthers character development, this is the single best use of mistaken identity as a plot device I have ever read, I could go on forever. But there are a few things that stand out to me and I especially want to give space to. First, the normalization of platonic love between men and displays of platonic love between men. Nearly every, if not every, conversation with Farzan's best friends included a hug and I love you. Farzan was seen sharing these embraces with his siblings as well. Second, both main characters cry on page. It was so natural for David to cry and receive comfort from his mom. Seeing both men give these feelings space and experience them in healthy ways did not go unnoticed by me and I hope we continue to this in media and in real life. I'll Have What Hes Having breaks down toxic masculinity in a natural way and gives space to a healthy queer relationship and sets an example for men everywhere.

Contemporary diverse M-M romance. Alternating POV.
At thirty-seven, Farzan Alavi thinks his love life is a disaster after his most recent heartbreak. There are times he thinks his whole life is messed up and going nowhere. He’s not particularly happy being a substitute teacher but what are his options? When his two besties aren’t available for a night out, Farzan goes alone to the new restaurant and gets a table for one. He’s surprised by the flirting by the hot sommelier but he’s free and single and goes with it.
David Curtis is told that a famous and influential food critic is at the restaurant and he offers up a supreme bottle of wine. The two flirt through dinner and more. It’s only the next morning, both David and Farzan realize the error but they’ve had a great night and laugh it off.
When Farzan inherits his family’s bistro, he knows just the person to call to help improve the wine list and make the restaurant a destination. But their fun can only be short term. David is moving to Los Angeles. And even though they both start falling in love, their future doesn’t appear to be together.

This was a lovely tour of wine and Iranian food. I could feel the love and longing between Farzan and David while they tried to figure out their futures. There was also a good cast of side characters - the staff at both restaurants, both families, and friends all around, especially Ramin and Arya. I’m kinda hoping Arya gets a story, and we can see more of Ramin and Todd’s romance.

"I'll Have What He's Having" by Adib Khorram is a captivating and heartwarming tale of gay love and self-discovery.

While more explicit than I was prepared for, I found the diverse representation and relatable themes of family, identity, and following one's passion to be incredibly engaging. The dynamic between Farzan and David is both humorous and heartfelt, making their journey towards love and understanding a joy to read. The witty banter and unexpected twists kept me eagerly turning the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC.

I'll Have What He's Having is supremely cute. I love a good multiple accidental meetings. There's something about fate smashing two people together even when we've said goodbye. Because we never know when it'll stick. From the beginning, I loved the chemistry between Farzan and David. From the beginning they very much have an 'idea' of how things will go. And watching it evolve in I'll Have What He's Having is a delight. It's about when we have a plan, an idea, and then we find that life doesn't work that way.

Farzan is a gay man in his 30s whose career and love life haven’t gone has he had hoped. He’s the ultimate romantic but also suffers from low self esteem. David is managing a wine bar and studying for his master sommelier test while attempting to avoid attachments until he runs into Farzan. These two have instant and very sweet but steamy chemistry right from the start. Farzan’s friends and family make the book a lot of fun and overall this was a nice lighthearted queer romcom. The descriptions of wine and food also had my mouth watering more than once!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for this eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the arc. This is a light, queer rom com, with two older (for romance) MCs and a lot of sex. Farzan Alavi is an adorable Iranian man who takes over his family restaurant after his parents announce their intention to close it and retire. A self-proclaimed disaster, his low self-esteem is relatable and heartbreaking. Whereas, David is a sommelier, studying for his master sommelier intent on getting the hell out of Kansas City after he completes his exam. Farzan doesn’t do casual, and that’s all David does. After a hilarious mix-up where David thinks Farzan is Frank Allen, Kansas City’s most influential food critic, the two hit it off and have a marvellous night together. It's supposed to be just one night, but…

I really enjoyed this, it’s light and fun, but with great depth and an at times too real exploration of the pitfalls of low self-esteem. Farzan, his friends and his family stole the show. While I enjoyed David’s POV his more insular lifestyle left his chapters less rich than Farzan’s. If you are looking for a diverse, steamy, queer rom com, look no further.

This is giving The Pairing a run for its money for the horniest book of the year. Farzan and David were very lovable. And the food!