
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Themes:
Friends to Lovers
Misfit / Socially Awkward
Reality Show
Heat Level:
Hot & Steamy (full, graphic description of sexual acts occurs and may include crude language)
Archetypes:
Chef / Caterer / Baker / Foodie
Setting:
Radio Station / TV or Recording Studio
Sexual / Gender Identity:
Lesbian
Nonbinary / Gender Fluid
Queer
Transgender
Trigger/Content Warning:
implied misgendering, enbyphobia, homophobia
Love & Other Disasters
By Anita Kelly
The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut that USA Today hailed as “an essential read.”
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.
After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.
As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if t