Love and Hot Chicken: A Delicious Southern Novel

As an aficionado of both queer romances and slice of life stories, I thought I would absolutely adore Love and Hot Chicken. It’s got all the building blocks of a cozy read; the small town charm, the friendship blossoming into romance, the search for contentment in the place you grew up, the list goes on. And while the first few chapters enchanted me with the Southern-infused charm of their prose, after a while it became a chore to get through the visually and metaphorically cluttered paragraphs instead of immersing me in the story like I think was intended.

Surprisingly, unlike most contemporary queer romances, there isn’t an ounce of homophobia involved in the story, and what conflict is present is quickly and easily resolved. But the characters themselves are difficult to root for in any kind of romantic capacity because there simply isn’t a lot of chemistry to work with. If you’re looking for fiery romance you can sink your teeth into, this one might not be for you. But if you’re in the mood for cozy fiction with a heavy emphasis on a Southern setting, give Love and Hot Chicken a read!