Happy Thursday, book friends! After a few weeks where I had reviews to post on Thursdays, I’m back with another highlight from my TBR. We’re almost through the Book of the Month shelf of shame on my TBR cart. I’ve been a lot more realistic with myself the past few months about what I am and am not going to read, so I’ve wound up skipping rather than adding to the physical TBR stack. It feels nice to not let the TBR cart overflow quite so much as I read all of the amazing books I already have.

This week’s featured title from the physical TBR is…

Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Synopsis:

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.

Bookshop.org synopsis

Why It’s On My TBR

When I first read about this book, I was so excited. A cooking show romance! A cooking show romance with LGBTQ+ rep! But cooking show romances were really popular this year and by the time I grabbed my BOTM copy, I wound up reading several over a short span of time and getting a bit burnt out on the concept, and never got around to this one. I am still definitely looking forward to picking it up once I’ve had a little more space from this concept and can feel excited about it.

Have you read this one, book friends? I know it got a bit of buzz right around release but haven’t heard much more since then, so I’m curious to hear your thoughts!