Love & Other Disasters follows London, the first openly nonbinary contestant on a long-time running and beloved American cooking show, and Dahlia, their clumsy competitor as they fall in love with each other on set. Both dealing with their own detrimental issues, neither comes on the show to find the love of their life—yet that’s exactly what ends up happening while they’re competing against each other.
What an affirming romcom this turned out to be! London and Dahlia proved to be such interesting characters. My favourite romances are those where I’m equally invested in both characters’ separate lives as I am in their romance and Kelly truly delivered.
On one side, we have London, who entered the cooking competition because they want to make a difference for nonbinary individuals like them with the prize money—and on top of that—being the first openly nonbinary contestant on the show. Anxious about trolls and haters, they’re having a hard time focusing which isn’t made any better when Dahlia quite literally stumbles into their arms and life. And then we have Dahlia, who’s struggling with her finances after a divorce that’s left her reeling in more ways than one. Completely recalibrating her life, she is in desperate need of that prize money to alleviate some of her debt—if only there wasn’t that annoying yet total dreamboat London occupying her thoughts.
What I think Kelly did exceptionally well was how they balanced the sweet romance between London and Dahlia with the more hard-hitting topics of gender identity, divorce and bankruptcy. While London has to deal with misgendering, not only from strangers but also from someone in their family (which, by the way, is one of the best-laid subplots I’ve ever read in my life), Dahlia has her own struggles with her past and her being queer that are dealt with with such a tender touch in this novel. There’s also a plethora of discussions of the future, anxiety of not being where you want to be in your life at a certain age, and transphobic comments online that makes you want to punch someone. Yet these topics are all discussed with a delicate hand that offers more insight on who London and Dahlia truly are instead of overshadowing their dreams and ambitions.
The romance between London and Dahlia is also so well done. Both characters bring dry humour, witty banter and a whole lot of heart to their romance and their back and forth as well as the obstacles in their way felt so real that I was actually aching because I wanted a happy ending for them. The pacing flows nicely and just when you think this is going to be a super fluffy romance, Kelly throws a curveball with downright steamy scenes to make you fan yourself. I also love how neither of them has to change themselves for the other—London loves Dahlia and her chaotic mess of a life, and Dahlia is head over heels for their dry humour and general no-bullshitting-allowed stance in life. There’s such a genuine connection between them that I’m sure readers will have no choice but to devour this novel in one sitting.
I also really enjoyed the cooking competition. In books with similar premises this year, I always felt like the cooking show was just a backdrop that was ignored about a third into the book, yet here, we get the whole competition perfectly interwoven with the romance between Dahlia and London. I loved getting to know the other contestants and even seeing how London and Dahlia had to think quick on their feet when challenges arose that they didn’t see coming.
All in all, this is such an addictive, affirming and uplifting queer romance read. I kind of want to throw this book at everyone who ever intentionally misgendered someone who is nonbinary and hold this up as an example of just how validating and important it is to listen to queer people. This debut makes me so excited to read more from Kelly in the future.
If you’re a fan of baking competitions, authentic queer representation and lush, tender yet steamy romances, then Kelly’s Love & Other Disasters is the perfect read for you!
Love & Other Disasters is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 18th 2022.
Will you be picking up Love & Other Disasters? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable.” (Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate)
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 they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
