I didn’t realize it at the time, but this has many similarities to Bloom, but with enough of a twist/reversal that it makes sense that I read it right after. It was purely coincidence though, this was one of the half dozen graphic novels/manga that were immediately downloadable from my local library. I won’t compare too much as it’s not really fair to either, but I just got a kick out of that realizing it now as I sit down to write my response (months later—whoops).
Continue reading “Book 1,036: Chef’s Kiss – Jarrett Melendez”
Toward the end of January 2024, I was coming out of an intense January term course and entering my final semester of grad school and I needed a break so I leaned HEAVILY into graphic novels. It started a random evening when I passed the bookshelf in our bedroom where my graphic novels live on the top shelf. I was like “OH I could read all of #Hockey! tonight as a palate cleanser.”
I have had this book on my radar for as long as I can remember. Definitely long before the 2017 adaptation (which I still need to watch), but I’m not sure when or how I heard of it. I’m sure it was back in the early 2010s not long after it was originally written, and I was desperate to find LGBT love stories. What a world we’re in now where there’s a plethora of all genres and all tastes!
This is the classic jock and art/nerd student getting together trope, but with the added layer of said art student being the jock’s older brother’s best friend. Cliff, the jock, is a first year and making waves in the basketball world. He’s winning games and really making an impact on campus with his popularity. Brennan is the “failed” artist coming back to school to rekindle his mojo and find his inspiration.
This is probably my least favorite of the series. Nathan is Eamonn’s ex (from