Happy Monday and Happy July!
I have many reviews for Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge to catch up on, and I’m going to try to get through as many as I can before I have to go back to work in late August.
Prompt #1: Read a novel about a trans character written by a trans author.
Book Choice: Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly.
Love & Other Disasters is an absolute gem of a novel that beautifully captures the essence of love and friendship. This book follows Dahlia, still processing her life and guilt after her divorce and London, who is so determined to make their mark. Both characters have been accepted onto a well-known reality cooking show, and both have excellent reasons for wanting to win and claim the title and prize money. Kelly’s writing style is delightful, filled with witty banter, and heartfelt emotions that tug at the heartstrings. From the very first page, I was captivated by Dahlia and London. They are both intense in different ways, and I loved seeing their amazing chemistry unfold as they learned more about and with each other. As an added bonus, the descriptions of food left me hungry every time I picked up the book to read!
One of the most refreshing aspects of Love & Other Disasters is its inclusive representation of queer (Dahlia) and nonbinary (London) love interests. Both characters feel authentic, flawed, and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys. Dahlia and London are portrayed with nuance and sensitivity, breaking away from stereotypes and instead leaning into authenticity. Kelly doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges Dahlia, and especially London, face in a world that is often unaccepting or ignorant, while still celebrating their resilience and joy. By embracing and celebrating queer and nonbinary love, this book sets a great example for inclusive storytelling and the power and impact that can have on readers.
Dahlia and London are so easy to love. Each struggles with her or their own issues, and both make choices throughout the story that made me want to hit my head against a wall. However, rooting for them is not hard. The book expertly explores the complexities of relationships, portraying the highs and lows of love with a refreshing and realistic approach.
Love & Other Disasters is a fun, quick, engaging read. I always talk about it in my reviews, but I am a sucker for character growth and firmly believe that if the main characters of a book don’t experience some kind of book, the book isn’t worth it. Thankfully, we see growth in Dahlia and London, and the ending of their story left me feeling incredibly satisfied. I recently downloaded Kelly’s book Something Wild and Wonderful on my Kindle and I’ve heard only good things, so I look forward to reading it.
Happy Reading Friends!
The Bookish Bird 