Fresh out of college, English graduate Ben Cook is having a tough time finding a job that would, well, justify all the money that went into his education. But with rejection after rejection from every job, Ben stumbles upon a restaurant that just so happens to have an open position.

Spoilers ahead.

Plot and Pacing

This book was so freaking adorable and wholesome that I couldn't stop smiling my face off the second I opened it. I've come to realise just how big a role food plays in my day so reading about people who were genuinely passionate about the culinary sciences was perfect. I'm a bit conflicted on the plot. While I thoroughly enjoyed every panel of this gorgeous comic, I felt the tension and stakes could have been raised. Ben struggles to find a job and, as he puts it aptly,

"How are you supposed to get experience when nobody will hire you unless you have experience?!"

It's SO true. The standards for college graduates are ridiculous and it's like we're not meant to have lives until we retire. And there are so many paradoxes when it comes to finding your first job like the one quoted above. It does sometimes feel like everything is stacked against us. This was resolved fairly quickly when Ben just happened to find the job at the restaurant. I thought it might have been more interesting to really lean towards Ben's struggle and not just have opportunities fall into his lap. Even the whole not telling parents thing didn't seem like high stakes. I could understand why Ben did it, I would have maybe done something similar, but they just managed to land him an internship at the top literary magazine? Just like that? If his father had so many connections, why couldn't Ben have used them fresh out of college?

I do agree with Ben's decision to juggle the two jobs together and when he was debating his options, all I could think was, "¿Porque no los dos?" because I'm guessing the internship won't be a full-time gig and neither will the restaurant.

Regarding the romance, I totally swooned over Liam and I loved how flustered Ben got around him. The two of them were so cute together!

Characters

I loved Ben Cook SO much and could relate to his passion for reading and writing. And his fear of not meeting his parents' expectations. Also, the way he would get nervous with Liam really did make me laugh and I swear I blushed several times from secondhand embarrassment.

Liam was supermegafoxyawesomehot. Like, when I saw the panel where he's first introduced, my jaw actually dropped. I would have liked to see more character development for Liam. We don't really know much about him other than how attractive he is and that he got tattoos in honour of his Danish grandfather. The same goes for the other side characters. Ben's flatmates were quirky as hell but quite one-dimensional. Rachel had this Shakespearan phase she was going through which I was glad ended quickly because I did NOT like reading her giant blobs of text.

Chef Davis seemed a bit like a toxic person at the start but I did like the way he stood up for Ben in the end. Also, his story about Watson being bitten by a radioactive creature was hilarious.

Writing Style

I know I've been overly critical of this comic but I genuinely did enjoy it and devoured it in one sitting. It's light, fluffy and super cute! I love slice-of-life and it was refreshing to see a story focused on people in their twenties rather than high school students having love lives I definitely wasn't mature enough to have when I was in high school. I really hope there's a sequel!

Chef's Kiss is a big dose of nostalgia for my early twenties, when I was living with friends and generally freaking out about what I was going to do with my life (and how I would afford it!). I feel like I look fondly back on that time of roommate shenanigans, all of whom were taking different approaches to their post-college lives and trying out new things (spoiler alert: liberal arts school isn't exactly good at telling you what to do next).

This cute and .colorfully illustrated graphic novel focuses on Ben Cook, who graduated with an English degree but can't seem to find anyone to hire him on without "real life experience" -- which hah! he can only get from being hired. This leads him to try out his hand at cooking for a restaurant run by an overbearing Chef who has a penchant for hiring awesome people, including handsome and helpful Liam. There are a number of cooking tests that Ben must pass to come on full-time, and thru the montage of scenarios you get to meet the other members of the crew, as well as the resident taste-testing pig, Watson.

I loved the story and the characters, but found the tone a little bumpy. There are some very serious moments in this graphic novel, and also variety in the characters' personalities. I've seen a few people mention the Chef, who seems to run a very toxic workplace sometimes, and is supportive in others. Liz, Ben's childhood best friend, also felt inconsistent to me. The two have some conflict that felt both very familiar to me in my own friendships, as you try to navigate supporting each other while also pursuing your own interests, but also overly fraught. Maybe I just wanted this book to be a little bit lighter than it was at times!

This is certainly one of my most anticipated 2022 graphic novel releases -- and for everyone else who is obsessed with the number of cooking-related romances that have come out in the last few years, you will easily fall in love with this one as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

A sweet New Adult romance with beautiful art! I enjoyed all the immersive food elements of this story that were brought to life by the warm and cozy color palette. I wanted a little more character development for the characters, particularly the love interest, Liam. Overall, I enjoyed this story and think it's perfect for new grads looking to find their way in the world!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free graphic novel*

"Chef's Kiss" is about 20-something Ben who has just finished studying English and is looking for a job, but is quite unsuccesful. When he is hired at a local restaurant and he meets cute Liam who also works there. Ben is very undecisive about the future but a gifted chef in the kitchen. What will he do?

Graphic novel was *very* cute, gay, and it made me so hungry! The drawings of food looked so delicious, almost as bad as Studio Ghibli food! Would've loved to have a recipe section though.

If you're looking for something sweet and want to see mouth-watering drawing of food, this graphic novel is for you!

4 stars because the story was pretty predictable

Ben, a newly graduated English major, is searching for a job with little luck. He stumbles upon a job that doesn't require experience, and begins his journey towards figuring out what he actually wants to do.

My only gripe about the story is the Watson sub-plot - it was a little too surreal for my taste, despite the drawings of Watson being absolutely adorable. Everything else in the comic was based in reality, so to have a pig that judges food was a little out of left field. Otherwise, this story was delightful - cute, romantic, and delicious.

This was a really cute gay romance graphic novel! We follow Ben who’s struggling to find a job because everyone (even the trash workers) require you to have years of experience to even get halfway through an interview and although I live in a small town and don’t work or didn’t finish college, I feel like for big cities this is probably correct. Anyways, to the book review. I both loved and didn’t love this. The parts I specifically didn’t love is the kitchen, It was way too toxic for my liking and really soured my enjoyment and overall rating for the book. It was pretty much a toxic “relationship” until the end which I just couldn’t get on board with. Other than that, It was a really enjoyable read and I wouldn’t mind getting to know the roommates and their story more!

I picked up Chef's Kiss as it looked like a sweet, comforting read with a food theme... it fit the bill perfectly! I really enjoyed this graphic novel, there were highs and lows and a dash of romance. It fit the underused new adult range perfectly with characters fresh from college who were struggling to find employment and impress their parents. I would definitely read more books by this author, Chef's Kiss had a quirky edge to it that I wasn't fully expecting but it definitely made the story unique!

This Graphic Novel deserves 10 stars! Omg, it was so adorable, I love Watson the taste tester pig. And to watch Ben go through the freshly graduated from college panic, of how to find a job and is what you got your degree in really what you want to do with the rest of your life was "Chef's Kiss"! Heartwarming and definitely worth everyone picking up.

Chef's Kiss perfectly captures the pressures and anxieties after leaving college: having all answers, finding your dream job, the expectations of instant success. Ben, the main protagonist begins training as an assistant chef after a disappointing job search, failing to find a writing job that would meet his overbearing parents' approval. His new career path completely changes his perspectives, helps his confidence, and he even finds romance along the way.

I really loved reading this- it was such a sweet graphic novel that balanced all the romance/graduation/adulthood themes together. The visuals and artwork were vibrant and detailed, and how could you not love Ben's adorable colleague, Watson! I connected with the characters instantly, despite the length of the graphic novel; their was so much depth and care in the details of their lives, relationships and growth over the course of the narrative.

I hope that there's a sequel or an opportunity to see these characters again, it was such an enjoyable read! Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

OK I loved this so much I couldn't put it down once I started it. The characters were adorable and realistic. Ben Cook, the main character, was especially relatable and I was invested in his story arc. It had heartfelt, aspiring friendship goals throughout. The art was clear, bright and colourful, it conveyed the story beautifully.

Ben and his friends have just moved in together after finishing university. Ben majored in literature and is job hunting with no experience in the literature world. He stumbles across a wanted ad and applies and this is where we follow his story through his career choices, family relations and changing friendship dynamics. Oh, and there is a pig.

The only thing I wanted more of was the friends' stories. Hopefully that will come with further issues. Would definitely recommend this comic.

Super sweet MM romance with food! The writing was accessible and fast paced and the art was just adorable! Would recommend this to anyone 16+ who loves a romance with food! ❤️

I dont usually read graphic novels, but I have been looking to get into them. This, I think, was a great introduction! The story was fun and cute! The relationship between the 4 friends was so great! O really enjoyed the relationship between Ben and Liam, they were super cute! I hade a really good time with story!

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I enjoyed Ben's character, but I did find the book in general to be a bit toxic. It is a beautiful comic though

Life rarely goes as planned, and new graduate Ben is learning this firsthand. He can’t seem to find a job in the career areas he planned for, but while he can’t find a job in his chosen passion of reading and writing, maybe cultivating a new passion may put him on just the path he needs.

Food, books/reading, good friends, great messaging, sweet gay romance, diversity, well laid out storyline, and good art… this is definitely a winner!

Ben Cook is a writer in search of a writing job straight out of college. But when each job requires three years of experience right out of the gate, he doesn't know where to turn - that is, until he spots the Help Wanted sign on a restaurant he's passing, and meets the ridiculously hot sous chef.

This was such a feel good story. I loved the art, the friendship between the four roommates, and ESPECIALLY Watson. It was the perfect blend of whimsy and the real life dilemma of "what am I going to do when I grow up?

The assortment of characters each had their moments to shine, and you got a sense of each of their personalities even though the focus was on Ben. The restaurant was a great setting. In addition to the mouth watering food descriptions and illustrations, there is a story with real heart and meaning. What a treat!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This graphic novel is perfectly ridiculous wholesome fun.
Ben, having recently graduated college, is confronted with the problem all of us young adults face — the dreaded endless line of interviewers looking for years of professional experience when you have none. Fortunately, he comes a cross a “no experience necessary” sign on a restaurant and sees this as the perfect opportunity to buy himself some time (the hot guy who works there a definite bonus). Unbeknownst to Ben the official taste-tester and whose tastebuds he must appease through various challenges is none other than the adorable pig Winston.
I loved this. The art is beautiful. The story is simple but covers a period of life I wish more did. Ben’s core friend group had enough development to be individuals and are so supportive and I appreciated seeing them work through the fights they had with each other. It’s funny, adorable, and the food visuals did *not* disappoint (All vegetarian might I add!). My only issue is I wish Liam, the love interest, was more developed. It’s a minor complaint as the focus of the story is on navigating the directionless post-college-pre-career period of life more so than romance. Chef’s Kiss is the chef’s kiss!

Chef's Kiss is a graphic novel follows Ben Cook, who, after graduating with an English degree, has been on a long, unsuccessful job search for anything relevant to reading or writing that will take him with no professional experience. Just as he's about to give up and go home to live with his parents, he sees, like a sign from the beyond, a restaurant hiring people, no experience required. He makes it through the interview, given by Liam, the cute sous chef, and is hired on a trial basis, where each week for three weeks he will train under a different chef at the restaurant and present a dish from the restaurant's menu for approval to a pig that belongs to the head chef, and then present an original dish at the end. If he makes it through the three weeks, he'll be hired. He loves the job, but is struggling throughout the book with the debate of if it's worth giving up his previous aspirations for.

Ben was pretty likable. My main qualm with him is that, despite having only had home cooking experience ever, we're supposed to believe that he is able to improve on every single dish that the professional chefs who went to culinary school are teaching him, which felt a bit too unrealistic to me. In a situation where competence would have been above-average considering his background, the author wants us to believe that he is extraordinary, which is something that always irks me a bit unless the character is actually a prodigy. I suppose my main issue with the entire book is that Ben just doesn't develop much as a character; while he does develop enough of a backbone to make a career decision towards the end, that process is very much skipped over, which I think robs us of a lot of the emotional core of the book.

The side characters were all fun and lovable, if not terribly fleshed out. This also extends to Ben, but none of the characters seemed to have any flaws, besides Ben's parents who were the obvious villains of the story. Nobody felt three-dimensional. I understand that it's supposed to be a fun story, and that it's fairly short, but a little character depth does always help a bit with that. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the dynamics among Ben's roommates and among his colleagues at the restaurant a lot; they both read like very natural friend groups. Ben's best friend, Liz, and Rachel, one of his other roommates, were my favorite characters by far. The pig, Watson, was also adorable.

The romance wasn't great; Liam's character and personality weren't really fleshed out at all, so it was difficult to ship them when the love interest basically amounts to a hot cardboard cutout. A little more page time to allow for that development would definitely have made the plot as a whole feel much more successful.

I did really enjoy the cooking challenge aspect of it; it provided a nice structure for the book, basically splitting it into five sections (before being hired, the first trial, second trial, third trial, and the original dish trial). It was also just really fun to read; I sped through it in an afternoon. The plot isn't super deep, but it does touch on some themes about adulthood and figuring out what you actually want from your life, and those moments were definitely something I appreciated; I just wish the book had leaned into them a bit more, because they felt a tad skimmed over.

The artwork wasn't my favorite style ever, but it was still very attractive and easy to digest. There were definitely some awkward panels where it was a bit hard to tell what order one was supposed to read in (and I read a lot of graphic novels), but it was still very readable overall.

I did thoroughly enjoy Chef's Kiss. It wasn't overly deep or thoughtful, but it's light and fluffy and definitely a feel-good story. I'm giving it four stars; there were several aspects of it that I think could have been greatly improved to make it a stronger book, but I did like reading it. I'd recommend this to anybody who likes graphic novels, cooking, competition stories, workplace romances, or just someone who is looking for a quick, light read.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full discussion at https://casperintherye.wordpress.com/2021/12/10/arc-book-review-chefs-kiss-by-melendez-brine-jones-otsmane-elhaou/

Welp, this one's going to be a crowdpleaser! Let's see, we have:
• An adorable MC who gets all uwu shy boi around his crush
• Artistic renderings of food that will have you starving
• A diverse cast of wonderful, supportive friends
• Realistic plot of a new adult struggling to find writing work with his degree
• A taste-testing pig who determines our MC's fate

Go into this one with the mentality that you're reading a lighthearted lgbt romance about a young twenty-something struggling to find his footing in life and you're sure to enjoy it. The artwork and font is crisp and legible throughout. There's enough humor infused into the story to keep reader engaged.

The only thing I was hoping for was a little more conflict. Being a new graduate and not being able to find work that agrees with your major is beyond stressful and difficult. It felt like Ben had a lot of things falling into his lap, and while there was minor conflict with his parents and friend group, his parents were always willing to financially support him and even use their connections to find him great opportunities. That's something that so many young adults don't have at their fingertips and I think it takes away a bit of the relatability. I'm also not sure if the ending is what's best for our MC, but HFN will hit just right for romance fans.

Other than that, highly recommended to readers who are looking for lgbt characters, food themes, and a lighthearted read that is ultimately romance lite.

This was such a cute story! I really liked the plot and the characters were brilliant. It was fun reading the change and growth in the main character, and the quirky traits of his friends and new colleagues. I LOVED the illustrations. Stunning!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this graphic novel!

Food and romance, this book made me swoon.

Fresh out of school, Ben is ready to start his writing career. The only problem is that nobody will hire him without some experience. When he finds a sign outside of a restaurant that is hiring he heads inside. Hot supervisor, weird boss, and pig with great food taste ahead. Only it turns out to be more than a filler job. He loves what he's doing there. Now he has to figure out who he is and what he wants to do with his life.

OMG! I am so in love with so much in this book. It has so many of my favorite things. Books, cooking, gay romance. The MC is super adorable and the love interest is seriously yummy. Making the couple easy to ship. There are references to books that pretty much any reader knows at least a few. And there is FOOD. My secondary passion, outside of reading, is cooking. I love food and I love to cook. This book made me hungry and made me want to waste time recipe browsing. I already waste far too much time doing this. Whether from the food or the romance, this is a seriously swoon-worthy book.

Now for what I didn't like about this book..........That's right, I got nothing. The story and the art were utterly enchanting.

I highly recommend this to all romance lovers. Especially if you like MM romance. I would say ages 16+ due to some vague references to a particular drug paraphernalia.