Chef's Kiss

Chef's Kiss is my September book (well, author, really) recommended by a friend. Thanks, Lexi, for the most excellent recommendation! This is an extremely sweet (and mildly spicy) queer love story. Simone is a perfectionistic pastry chef whose world gets a bit more chaotic when she meets her kitchen's new manager. Then, the kitchen is in trouble and they have to work together to save it. I mean, romance PLUS baking?!? How could I not like this?? I sped through this book in about two days and I have the sequel waiting for me at the library as we speak. Need I say more?

I really liked the relationship between the main character and the love interest. I'm also always happy to find books with nonbinary characters

I really just adored this book so much - I raced through it, in part because the hold list at the library was massive and I didn't want to lose out before finishing, but mostly because this was just so enjoyable and FUN. It dealt with some pretty intense topics - definite CW for biphobia/homophobia/transphobia - but I thought it did a good job with those while also staying true to the tone the author was going for. I couldn't tell if Simone was intended to be neurodivergent or not, but I definitely read her that way, and that was an interesting layer as well. I need to buy this one so I have it on hand for a reread. I definitely want to come back to it.

(2022 Summer Romance Bingo: food on cover. Would also work for work rivals, loosely.)