Review: Chef's Choice by TJ Alexander
Thank you Atria Books for my copy of Chef’s Choice! All thoughts are my own.
Last Summer I read Chef’s Kiss and absolutely fell head over heels for Ray and Simone’s story. If you haven’t read it, you MUST. So I was very excited for TJ' Alexander’s next book in this interconnected series that centers around celebrity chefs and the high stakes world of restaurateurs. Spoiler alert, I loved it. I read this during the Trans Rights Readathon and it came at the perfect time. The banter was fantastic, the food descriptions and the heart aching joy made me smile while also being true to the hardships these characters face.
Synopsis:
“When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she’s a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don’t pay the bills.
Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire—which he’ll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play…for the right price. She’s got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn’t even know how to crack an egg, but she’s not going to let that—or any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierre—stop her.” —StoryGraph
What I Liked:
The Banter—I love a grumpy Frenchman and JP delivered! I loved Luna and JP’s banter. Luna is such a sharp and witty character and I loved how they could go back and forth.
The Tropes—Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows I love Fake Dating. It’s theatrical enough for a book or movie and filled with the best kind of tension. I also have never read a T4T Romance before, so I was really excited to add this to my shelf!
The Characters—I will forever be obsessed with Ray from Chef’s Kiss so it was so nice to see them again! But I really was so obsessed with everyone in this book, from the main characters to the friend group.
What Didn’t Work:
I wanted like 30 more pages in Paris—I just wanted a little more development for the ending, especially with the appearance of Jean-Pierre’s parents! But
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5
Content Warnings:
transphobia, body shaming, bullying, harassment, dysphoria