Chef’s Kiss follows Simone, a perfectionist NYC pastry chef working at The Discerning Chef, a cookbook publisher. Simone likes the routine her life has offered her. But when the struggling magazine is forced to rebrand and wants to start producing viral web content, her beloved routine goes up in flames. Suddenly, Simone finds herself not only having to cook on camera but having to deal with the annoyingly cheerful and attractive new kitchen manager Ray. When Ray accidentally becomes a viral YouTube sensation, Simone is tasked with working alongside the chipper upstart or risk losing her job. But the more time they spend together, the more Simone’s defenses melt like butter. When Ray comes out as nonbinary at work to mixed reactions, Simone must choose between the career she fought so hard for and the person who might just be the cherry on top of her life.
Simone and Ray are definitely an incarnation of the grumpy meets sunshine trope. Simone is very much set in her ways and likes things the way they are, so the new focus on social media instead of print is definitely not for her. Not to mention that she feels like she has nothing to contribute to YouTube videos and the likes while Ray seems to absolutely flourish in those fields. And speaking of Ray, they’re literal sunshine. Always happy to help, constantly in a good mood and up for new endeavours and just incredibly charming.
I loved the dynamic between Simone and Ray. From initial frenemies to sweethearts in mutual pining, they were such a cute couple to follow. There’s a lot of mutual pining and funny “how dare you be so attractive that I can’t focus on my work” moments that had me chuckling to myself. And I loved how both had misconceptions about the other that were dealt with in a supportive manner and there are definitely moments where their co-workers come to the rescue which makes Simone realise how many people are rooting for her in her life without her even being aware of them.
Food, of course, plays a central role in this story. Beyond the salivating descriptions of Simone’s creations, there are also fun times when Simone and Ray work together to overhaul old recipes and give them a breath of fresh air. What I liked most, though, was how food was used to show that people care about you. I won’t give anything away, but Simone and her roommate have a sweet relationship in which exchanging food for help is a staple and I thought that was so sweet.
I also think Chef’s Kiss did a great job at discussing how to be an ally. Without giving too much away, Ray faces some discrimination at work when they come out as nonbinary and though Simone is of course enraged and wants them to fight back, there are certain reasons for why Ray can’t rock the boat and face losing their job there which Simone initially doesn’t get. That conflict showed how support is great and all but that everyone’s background and private life (as well as financial and living situation) heavily impacts whether they can stand up to others’ discrimination or whether they’re forced to conform to keep their health benefits and the likes. I really appreciated this representation and thought Alexander did a great job of having Ray show Simone what true support means without ever talking down to the reader.
The only thing about Chef’s Kiss that bugged me a bit was the pacing. Let’s just say that if you’re a fan of slow burn, then this book is definitely going to be excruciatingly delicious for you. But if you’re like me and spoiled by the quick turnaround in most romances, then prepare for a very long wait. Different strokes for different folks, though, so don’t take this too seriously if you’re a fan of slower-paced romances.
Chef’s Kiss combines a sugary sweet romance with an intricate narrative arc of what it means to be a good ally. With a charming cast of queer, diverse characters and food descriptions that will have you salivating, this one’s perfect for fans of Love & Other Disasters and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake.
Chef’s Kiss is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 3rd 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A high-strung pastry chef’s professional goals are interrupted by an unexpected career transition and the introduction of her wildly attractive nonbinary kitchen manager in this deliciously fresh and witty queer rom-com.
Simone Larkspur is a perfectionist pastry expert with a dream job at The Discerning Chef, a venerable cookbook publisher in New York City. All she wants to do is create the perfect loaf of sourdough and develop recipes, but when The Discerning Chef decides to bring their brand into the 21st century by pivoting to video, Simone is thrust into the spotlight and finds herself failing at something for the first time in her life.
To make matters worse, Simone has to deal with Ray Lyton, the new test kitchen manager, whose obnoxious cheer and outgoing personality are like oil to Simone’s water. When Ray accidentally becomes a viral YouTube sensation with a series of homebrewing videos, their eccentric editor in chief forces Simone to work alongside the chipper upstart or else risk her beloved job. But the more they work together, the more Simone realizes her heart may be softening like butter for Ray.
Things get even more complicated when Ray comes out at work as nonbinary to mixed reactions—and Simone must choose between the career she fought so hard for and the person who just might take the cake (and her heart).
