Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly is a debut novel unlike any other first romance book you’ve ever read, and I say that in the best way possible. First of all, you won’t believe she isn’t a seasoned author without an extensive backlist. Secondly, the characters and relationships are developed page by page over the 300+ pages, so you have time to get to know them and watch them grow, which is such a treat. For those who complain about insta-love you will really enjoy this one.
The background of the story is a reality TV cooking competition, based not so loosely on Top Chef, but incorporating elements of other cooking shows and even Project Runway. Since I am a rabid fan of all of those shows this really hit home for me. If Laurin Kelly isn’t a chef she is definitely a really well educated foodie. Most of the story is about the competitions the chefs must go through over a period of several weeks. This is food porn at its finest. Eat something before you sit down to read because this will have you craving good food from the start to the ending. I might have demolished an entire box of cookies as well as other snacks while reading, and I now have a few more cooking ideas in my recipe arsenal for future meals. While this isn’t a cookbook (no recipes are actually written out) the descriptions offer enough information for you to take it from there.
Setting the cooking and food prep aside for now, let’s take a look at the MCs. The show starts off with 12 excellent chefs. Two of them, Zachary and Nate, are both gay but initially not entirely drawn to each other. Nate, whose POV informs the reader, is sweet, charming, and gets along with almost everyone. Zachary is the ice prince, smug, self-assured, and nobody’s friend. He is an outstanding chef and knows it. Nate isn’t far behind in his own confidence but he has just enough modesty and ability to compliment everyone else to keep him off that edge of arrogance.
As the pages turn, the other contestants are eliminated, one by one. Some you are happy to see go, others, you feel bad for but since you are rooting for Nate and Zachary anyway, they are collateral damage. Carmen, the feisty single mom, is only a secondary character because this is an mm romance. She fills the story with her presence and flair for cooking. As Zachary finds his humanity and humility, Nate falls in love with him. With the cameras on them 24/7 they find it more than difficult to express their affection. Because of that, there is limited on-page sex, but when it’s there it is scorching! And as they find out later, the cameras and viewers caught more than either Nate or Zachary thought.
In the end three of the original twelve competitors are the finalists and after bonding with them as the reader and the three having become close throughout the competition, it’s difficult to wish for any one of them to win over the others. Ms. Kelly is very adept at giving us heart melting emotion with just enough angst that produces a real, oh-my-goodness HEA.
If you are a foodie or a cook or even a chef, this is the romance for you. If you love seeing two people fall in love under difficult circumstances, this is the romance for you. If you enjoy a book with a great HEA, this is the romance for you. I can’t express how much I enjoyed this delightful book.