Chef's Kiss

I’ll admit: I approached *Chef’s Kiss* skeptical of yet another ‘grumpy/sunshine’ romance, but TJ Alexander’s sharp, specific writing won me over within chapters. Simone isn’t just ‘difficult’—she’s a Black woman in a cutthroat, white-dominated industry, and her defensiveness reads as survival, not trope. The audiobook elevates this further thanks to Em Grosland, whose narration makes Simone’s internal monologues *hilarious*. Their delivery of her dry asides (‘*I don’t have time for emotions, I have a soufflé*’) had me laughing out loud, while their softer tone during Simone’s quieter moments—like when she’s experimenting with flavors late at night—adds a intimacy that text alone might miss. The romance with Ray unfolds at a pace that mirrors real attraction: awkward, halting, then suddenly inescapable. Their dynamic avoids the pitfall of making Ray a ‘magical fix’ for Simone’s problems; instead, their relationship grows from mutual respect, and the audiobook’s dual-POV narration (handled seamlessly by Grosland) lets you feel the push-pull from both sides. My only critique? The kitchen scenes, while vivid, occasionally get *too* technical—unless you’re a pastry nerd, you might zone out during the third explanation of tempering chocolate. And while the ending satisfies, a subplot about Simone’s family feels rushed compared to the meticulous build of the romance. Still, these are quibbles. The audiobook’s production is polished, Grosland’s performance is a masterclass in tonal range, and the story? Like Simone’s signature dessert, it’s rich, a little bittersweet, and worth every calorie.