all the stars! i LOVED this. plot? entertaining. characters? good. art style? phenomenal. cute animals? yes. slow burn romance? yes yes yes yes yes!

This was overall a super cute read! I loved the art style, in particular the colouring. I think the romance between Ben and Liam was adorable, and I really enjoyed being able to see Ben's shy nature and slight awkwardness when he was around Liam. Very endearing.

There were some elements that didn't quite hit home for me, but overall a fun, quick read that I would happily suggest to others!

AWWWW!!!! This was so sweet! I was not expecting to love this so much 💖

Ben is fresh out of college and dealing with the biggest struggle this generation of new adults and graduates are facing. "I'm sorry, you need at lead [x] years of experience for this position."

Oh, that hit home, especially since I've only just now found a job after nearly a year of searching (with a master's degree and three years of experience in the field) and have been told the same. exact. thing.

Ben, I feel your pain.

But Ben catches a break when he spots a sign advertising for a job with no experience required. His new job? Assistant chef. Definitely not the job he was hoping for but he has bills to pay and his very attractive coworker makes the sacrifice worth it. 👨‍🍳💋

And as Ben learns the ropes and starts to prove himself to his new boss (and the boss' adorable taste-testing pig 🐷), he starts to discover that the things he thought would make him happy and successful might not be the only things that will bring him joy.

There is so much I loved about this book! The story was so sweet, the characters relatable and very modern, and the issues incredibly relevant to today's 20 somethings.

Ben's roommates are a fantastic and varied group of people. Everyone is dealing with post-college drop in their own way. I really appreciated the author addressing "personal passions versus parental expectations" because it's something all young people have to face at some point. Whether you're like Rachel and they don't care enough, or you're like Ben and they care too much, or somewhere in the middle, the way others think your life should go and the way you choose to go often don't line up and it can be a struggle.

Ben and Liam's relationship was incredibly well-done. Starting off slow and growing into mutual attraction the more confident Ben grew in the kitchen and in life.

The illustrations and coloring were some of the best I've seen in new books lately. I will definitely be checking out more by the people who worked on the art in this book! The drawings are detailed and the colors crisp, the overall style was incredibly delightful to look at and matched the tone and maturity of the story perfectly.

Chef's Kiss is a deliciously queer (get it? delicious?) graphic novel about the struggles of new adulthood, finding what makes us happy, and food fit enough for the finest of pigs.

Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Pig: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Final rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I liked this book. The main character was very relatable, and the art style was nice, but I prefer my graphic novels to have less text. I like it better when the story is mostly told through the art. Still, I enjoyed this. The romance was really cute, and I particularly like the yoga class scene. If you’re into comics I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book.

This was such a cute and funny story, the growth the main character goes through is very relatable. The artwork is wonderful as well. 10/10 would recommend!

My first LGBTQ+ read of the year and it was a great kick-off! Ben is such a relatable character. A mountain of books and stress about the future and adulting what more could I ask for from a character as lovable as this one. It felt like a real experience, Ben graduates from college and then places won't hire him due to "not having enough experience" and he finds something he's passionate about.

My only wish was that I wanted the book to be longer so that each milestone or conflict could have more page time.

Overall the book was funny, fun had amazing characters and the cutest pig I'd ever seen!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4499868202

Absolutely delightful graphic novel about a college graduate who's life takes an unexpected turn post-graduation. A story about the different types of love we find in life, following your passion, and navigating adulthood.

A must read for fans of Check, Please.

This book is absolutely adorable both in story and in the art! (And the pig!)

My favorite romance books either take place in a bookshop or a bakeshop, and this graphic novel checked all the boxes. A fun new adult romance in the form of a graphic novel, which will appeal to a whole different audience of my customers. I'm excited to be able to recommend this book and add it to my Valentine's Day displays. Totally worth the afternoon and evening you will spend reading this.

4 Stars

To be published on 1st March 2022.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy.

Chef’s Kiss is a lovely story with nice characters and fun aspects. It definitely made me hungry and I loved the foodie moments. Also obviously loved the pig. The romance is a very soft aspect of the graphic novel that focuses on self discovery.

It definitely touches something that many of us can relate to – the pressure of finding the right job and realising how difficult it is, how doing your best at school is simply not enough anymore. Some of us will be employed before we graduate, some will struggle as every entry level job looks for someone with years of experience. And let’s not start with the other question – do we even want to do what we studied for? I related to Ben’s struggle a lot.
Some of us know who we are since we are young, some struggle to realise for a while. And there is the pressure of seeing others succeed, of parents having expectations. Chef’s kiss definitely was spot on here.

Now for the few problems;
While I enjoyed the art style, I felt it was sometimes missing the right facial expression.
The jokes weren’t that funny – the conversations were quite stiff and lecture-ish and so were the characters – it all felt a little cardboard cutout which made it difficult to care or get attached. Some of the moments felt unnatural.
Also I loved the pig but… it was a a little bit “huh?”

I think Chef’s Kiss needed… more. Either to be more funny or more loveable or with more focus on romance or more on friendship or characterisation? I guess it focused on the message which was great and relatable but only that and a slight taste of everything else was not enough.

I’d still recommend it for a nice evening read.

This was just so stinking cute!!!
The characters are all fantastic. Watson is just perfect.
The friendship's in this are so adorable and sweet.
It's relatable and well written. Such a treat from the first page! Warning it will make you hungry, so have a snack ready to go. The ending was just the cherry on top of the cake.

LOVED IT!

**this was given to me by Netgalley**

Barely out of college, Ben is ready to start his career as a writer. The only trouble is, no one hires him without experience. When he finds a sign outside a restaurant everything changes. The problem turns out to be when it becomes more than a fill-in job. Now he has to figure out who he is and what he wants to do with his life.

This graphic novel is gorgeously drawn and the illustrator focused plenty of attention on the food scenes, and all the coloring and sketching are stunning.

One thing that was not to my total liking was the restaurant owner's anger and grumpiness towards Ben; it seemed very forced, it came out of nowhere and seemed like it was unpleasant for no reason. Similarly, the conflict with Ben's parents also felt like it came out of nowhere, and escalated very quickly.

Characters:

I liked Ben Cook and related to his passion for reading and writing, as well as his fear of not living up to his parents' expectations. And seeing the way he was nervous about Liam made me laugh.

As for the secondary characters, I would have liked to see more character development. We don't know much about them and they are pretty one dimensional.

Pacing:

I found the pacing of this book to be a bit fast and by the same token, it failed to fully develop the characters and even make the ending somewhat rushed. Also, the romance felt very underdeveloped. But overall, I enjoyed the experience of reading this novel.

Good Points:

The one thing I did enjoy was reading about the difficulty in getting a job after college. The standards for college graduates are ridiculous and it's as if they are not meant to have lives until they retire.

I give it this rating mainly because of how much I loved the drawings and for relating somewhat to Ben.

This was too cute. Ooh how I did get hungry and planning to probably try any of the recipes in the book 😂. Favorite character was Watson and chef, they make the best companions, haha. Ooh cute and sweet, Liz yoga instructions was so calming, I felt like I was in the class too.

Totally recommended

Chef's Kiss offers some hard truths and deep thoughts (my favourite being the difficulty of getting a job without experience as I myself have struggled a lot with that as well), but so beautifully wrapped into comedy and joy, paired with beautiful illustrations, that it's easy to digest. It makes you think without making you anxious or sad. I originally expected a romance story with some background plot built around it to give it a frame, but what I received was a well-presented plot just spiced with enough romance that did not steal the spotlight. An absolutely delightful read, and the illustrations are a pleasure to the eye. Quick, joyful read, perfect to sneak in after a more serious book, maybe a historical or nonfiction, to put a smile on your face again, and to let you know that you're not the only one struggling with the little (or not so little?) things in life.
(Little note to the publisher, if they see this before release date: When Ben is job-hunting, his resume/CV is visible in one employer's hand, and it says Ben Baker instead of Ben Cook. Since this is an uncorrected proof, there's a chance that it has been corrected since then, but just wanted to let you know in case it went unnoticed.)

**3.5**

**Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc**

This was a really fun story that also touches upon some important topics. Ben has recently graduated from college and cannot find a job that has anything to do with his degree. Interview after interview has been a fail because everyone wants him to have more experience. I think this is something that so many people experience fresh out of college. It is beyond frustrating, but completely relatable! I think one of my favorite parts is the pig! It was such an odd concept but brought a great source of humor to the plot! I really liked the artwork, and I will be purchasing this book to my collection!

I did find a few parts to drag a little. For example, at the Yoga studio, I felt all the Yoga talk was too long and did not add anything to the plot.

Rating: 4.25 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Genre: Romance
Type: Comic
Worth?: Yes!

First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read for free in exchange for a honest review. I wasn't too sure how this story was going to go but I loved it. You see the struggle of the male lead and figuring himself out after graduating. What I really wish there were more of was the romance aspect of the book. It seemed to kind of build but it was faint and then at the end they hit you with it. I would have liked to see more build up so we could build our own connection with it as readers.

I really hope there is another volume coming out. I enjoyed the ride of the story!

Chef’s Kiss is an adorably human take on finding yourself and your dreams. The characters are real and lovable and the plot is light but realistic. Filling the journey of Ben, a young writer, who finds a temporary job cooking. You’ll be cheering for Ben along with his friends and hoping he makes the right decision.

Although I will not be adding this book to my curriculum, I will definitely be buying a copy for my classroom and recommending it to students. This story is universal and one we all need to hear. Because sometimes it takes time to find what you love.

This was adorable.
A relatable main character with a character arc that was easy to understand and connect to. A fabulous and supportive group of friends that won't hesitate to call one of their own on his bullshit when he's not being so nice. A swoony love interest that made for a charming romance. Great humor and overall fun.
I absolutely loved this.

I received the arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a delightful read! It feels like a warm cup of tea and being wrapped in a cozy blanket!

As someone who is queer and 20-something, and freaking out about life - this graphic novel caught my attention immediately. This is a story about Ben, who recently graduated, only to find out that he is underqualified for all of the jobs he applies for. The employers are all looking for someone with experience, and he has none. Feeling desperate he gets a job as a cook (no experience needed!), intending for it to be only a temporary solution. But life is often unexpected, and he finds himself rethinking his career path.

First, I have to mention, I absolutely loved the art in this novel! While I loved the story as well, a big part of a graphic novel is the art style, and I thought it was amazing. The illustrations are lovely, the overall color palette is great, and the art just adds so much warmth and loveliness to the story.

As I mentioned, I found this story very relatable and the characters seem very authentic. Alongside Ben, we follow his friends, with who he lives, and I enjoyed their relationships so much. They all seem like wildly different people but despite their differences, they are very supportive of each other and always looking out for their friends. They all seem like interesting and well-rounded characters.
Ben also meets people at his new restaurant job, and I very much enjoyed them too. We first meet Liam, the sous-chef, who Ben is immediately interested in. Their interactions and relationship overall are very cute and I was so happy reading about them. The romance is not the main focus, but I loved their dates and I thought they were really cute. The rest of the restaurant staff is great, they are warm and supportive of Ben. Even the chef, who at the beginning seems unfriendly, ends up being there for Ben when he needs it. And I absolutely loved Watson the food critic (who is also a pig).

This is a fun and quick read about growing up and figuring out where life will lead you. Ben starts the novel looking for jobs related to his English degree and ends up getting a job at the restaurant, which is a complete 180. It also deals with expectations, as Ben's parents put a lot of pressure on him to find a job in his field and "not waste his life". I think Ben goes a long way, even though the novel is short - from someone who is terrified of what comes next, to someone who knows what he wants. I think his relationships with friends also mature with him, and he learns to be happier.

This was a very cute book, with a lovely romance sprinkled in. I do wish the novel was a bit longer, as I definitely wanted to read more. I would wholeheartedly recommend this, especially if you're looking for something short and sweet!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Chef's Kiss was an absolutely lovely read. From the amazing illutrations, to friendships, and to delicious food, I had so much fun reading this! The story's pacing was a little fast, but it matches the cute and light heartedness of the novel. highly recommend!

This is the cutest graphic novel I've ever read! It's such a sweet story; the characters are incredibly complex and real, the drawings are amazing and the writing gives the best companionship.
I love this story. - I mean it's food and gay - it doesn't get better than that.
My biggest pet peeve is how much some things were explained. if you skipped them the story would be the same.
Overall a great experience.
4.5/5
Maria Lourdes.