Hi there! I’m here with my fifth post in my 2023 Buzzword Reading Challenge series! **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
This is the fifth installment of my Buzzword Reading Challenge series of posts for 2023. In case you’re new here, the Buzzword Reading Challenge (also called Buzzword-a-thon or the Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the third year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Each month we search our shelves for books with either specific words in the title, or title words that fit a specific theme. Previous years I’ve done recommendations, or multiple books for each month, but in 2023, I think I’m just going to stick to one book per prompt, as to [hopefully] prevent burn-out later on in the year. This is a reading challenge after all, and it’s supposed to be fun. In May, the theme was “flavors, seasonings, and spices in the title,” and this was probably one of the hardest prompts I’ve had to fulfill but I’d been saving an anticipated 2022 release for this exact reason.
“flavor, seasoning, spice” – A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
I was familiar with Kosoko Jackson from his debut, a YA sci-fi called Yesterday is History, which I reviewed here on this blog back in 2021 (you can read my thoughts about it here). Since then, he’s published an additional YA sci-fi / dystopian and two adult romances, all of which include queer characters like his first. A Dash of Salt and Pepper has been on my TBR since its release in December of 2022, and I’m glad I was able to read it to fulfill May’s Buzzword prompt. The story follows Xavier Reynolds who, after getting passed over for a prestigious fellowship and dumped by his boyfriend, finds himself back in his home town of Harper’s Cove, Maine. Struggling to find a way to pass the time and earn the money he needs to get back on his feet, the last thing he wants to do is be a prep chef in the town’s top restaurant, The Wharf. The owner, Logan O’Hare, isn’t sure what to make of Xavier, but he needs help in the kitchen as his daughter can only do so much. The two strike up an unexpected connection but when things get tough are they able to handle the heat or will they have to get out of the kitchen? I did enjoy my time with this book. At the beginning we find Xavier resenting his circumstances that led him back to Harper’s Cove, a place he’s been wanting to escape nearly all his life. He runs into high school classmates that stuck around and will most likely stay in town for the rest of their lives, and for a while he thinks himself better than them. It takes a lot for Xavier to really open his eyes and see the errors in his thinking. There is a bit of an age gap, with Logan being a single dad and almost ten years older, so at times it felt a bit weird for me but that’s totally a personal preference thing and there was nothing wrong with their interactions in the book itself. I wish we could have gotten Logan’s perspective as Xavier’s character took some getting used to – there were times when, as a reader, I just wanted him to start taking things seriously instead of treating everything with sarcasm or trying to make a joke. I didn’t fall in love with the characters or the story but there were really important moments and discussions I liked, such as lessons in the kitchen where Xavier had to learn how to work on a team when he’s used to being a solitary worker, when Logan had to pick up his daughter, Annie, from a sleepover early because she had defended her dad from other girl’s mean comments, or how Xavier felt he needed to contain his anger to an extent otherwise people would assume he was dangerous. There were moments that shined through and made this read an enjoyable one, and while I definitely would still recommend you pick this up if it sounds like something you’d enjoy, it won’t be a book I turn back to reread in the future.
In conclusion, not my favorite read for this challenge but still a pretty solid installment. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
Where to find A Dash of Salt and Pepper:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Kosoko Jackson’s site
Thoughts About Things 