Chef's Choice - T.J. Alexander

[goodreads]

Title: Chef's Choice (Chef's Kiss #2)
Author: T.J. Alexander
Genre: Chick-lit, LGBTQA+
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 336 pages
Date read: October, 2023

When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her 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 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 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.


Not as good as the first book, unfortunately. I loved "Chef's Kiss", but never felt I got to know Luna and JP as well as I did Simone and Ray - nor was I as charmed by them.

A shame, as I usually love the fake-dating trope (and that part was done really well), but since I felt the relationship was a lot more tell than show, I never truly bought that their feelings changed.

That said, I did appreciate that it was more "slow-burn" than "third act break-up", and I loved the confrontation with JP's grandfather near the end.

So a good book - but not a great one.