Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander

But the more they work together, the more Simone realizes her heart may be softening like butter for Ray. When Ray accidentally becomes a viral YouTube sensation with a series of homebrewing videos, their eccentric editor in chief forces Simone to work alongside the chipper upstart or else risk her beloved job.

To make matters worse, Simone has to deal with Ray Lyton, the new test kitchen manager, whose obnoxious cheer and outgoing personality are like oil to Simone’s water. All she wants to do is create the perfect loaf of sourdough and develop recipes, but when The Discerning Chef decides to bring their brand into the 21st century by pivoting to video, Simone is thrust into the spotlight and finds herself failing at something for the first time in her life. Simone Larkspur is a perfectionist pastry expert with a dream job at The Discerning Chef, a venerable cookbook publisher in New York City. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.Īgainst the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.A high-strung pastry chef’s professional goals are interrupted by an unexpected career transition and the introduction of her wildly attractive nonbinary kitchen manager in this deliciously fresh and witty queer rom-com. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job.

Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” ( Time) Chef’s Kiss.Įli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander