Praise for Chef's Kiss

Named One of the 125 Best Romance Books of All Time by Parade MagazineNamed One of the 100 Best Books of 2022 by Time Magazine"It’s hard to say what’s sweeter: the slow-burn romance or the drool-worthy descriptions of decadent desserts." —Time Magazine"The way to a lover’s heart is often through their stomach. That’s why gastro-romance is an official subgenre of love stories. Toss in our love of cooking shows on TV and online—not to mention romance’s open-arms policy for new objects of desire—and you’ve got T.J. Alexander's Chef’s Kiss." —Parade.com“Alexander accomplishes a masterful juggling act: the banter is snappy, the chemistry between Simone and Ray sings, the commentary on social media fame is poignant without ever verging on precious, and the exploration of Ray’s nonbinary identity within the structure of a romantic comedy hits exactly right…one of the most intricate and satisfying queer romances in years. Fans of Casey McQuiston will be wowed.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)“[D]elicious… Alexander whips up a delectable couple with Ray and Simone; they are each on their own journeys for self-awareness and self-confidence, which they gratifyingly achieve on an individual level. Alexander’s romance confronts workplace discrimination, internal biases, and issues like transphobia and misgendering with ease. Baked to perfection.” —Kirkus Reviews“[L]ike a dish of comfort food you’ll want to devour.” — Washington Post"I want to give this book the biggest hug! CHEF'S KISS is an utter delight, filled with sumptuous food, and adorable banter. This is the first time I've read a book with a nonbinary love interest, and I was cheering for Ray and Simone the entire time. At times, it can be heart-wrenching, but above all it is the ultimate feel-good read, something I will be recommending to everyone!"—Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of DIAL A FOR AUNTIES"With its adorable grumpy-sunshine pairing, plenty of pining, and sumptuous descriptions of food, CHEF'S KISS is a sweet treat of a romantic comedy. But beyond the delicious recipes and the playful banter between the charming leads is a story about the sometimes difficult realities of the queer experience, and Alexander effortlessly tackles heavier topics without ever losing sight of queer joy and the happily ever after these characters deserve!"—Alison Cochrun, author of THE CHARM OFFENSIVE and KISS HER ONCE FOR ME"CHEF'S KISS is a luscious dessert of a novel, a romantic comedy as classic as it is modern, as satisfying as it is groundbreaking." —Camille Perri, author of WHEN KATIE MET CASSIDY"A truly delightful debut, as queer as it is sweet. Cheerful Ray and prickly Simone are a match made in a test kitchen. This tasty, modern rom-com celebrates loving fiercely, living authentically, and eating well." —Georgia Clark, author of IT HAD TO BE YOU"Sweet and so deliciously written! This charming foodie romance is brimming with delectable baking and memorable characters. Simone and Ray’s connection started out a bit grumpy/sunshine, but with a pinch of kindness, a dash of mutual support, and a heavy splash of acceptance, their relationship baked up into a sweet treat that is sure to melt your heart! An enjoyable debut!" —Farah Heron, author of ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED and TAHIRA IN BLOOM

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Praise for Chef's Choice

2024 Lambda Literary Awards FinalistJune 2023 Indie Next List PickOne of Library Journal's Best Romance Books of the Year (So Far)“Classic romance tropes are deployed to charming effect… Like Luna’s beloved cheese plates and charcuterie spreads, this appetizing romance has something to delight a wide variety of readers. A first choice for contemporary romance collections.” —Library Journal (starred review)"Urgent and intimate."—The New York Times Book Review“Generous, tender, decadent, and sparklingly funny, Chef's Choice is a revelation as sublime as biting into an eclair. I found myself howling with laughter, ugly-crying, and falling in desperate love with Luna and Jean-Pierre. As with a perfect meal, you'll want to savor every moment and share it with everyone you love.” —Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch“Chef's Choice is a total delight, filled with queer joy and found family and so much warmth. Luna and Jean-Pierre stole my heart. Jean-Pierre is a tour de force of grumpy depressed European queer chaos and I would personally die for him.” —Cat Sebastian, author of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb“Start with two charming, lovable main characters, add a lot of laughs, and finish with a healthy pinch of spice and you've got Chef's Choice. I devoured every morsel of this delicious romance.” —Amanda Elliot, author of Best Served Hot and Sadie on a Plate“With hilarious banter, culinary delights, meaningful self-discovery, and two hot idiots I couldn’t wait to watch fall in love, this novel is everything I wanted and more. TJ Alexander’s blend of humor and heart is unmatched.” —Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved“Chef's Choice is at once an enormously fun romp of romance tropes while also being incredibly important—by turns genuinely hilarious and swooningly romantic, and all the while, unabashedly, joyously trans. I love both Luna and Jean-Pierre with my whole heart, and I couldn't put their story down. I am so glad this book exists.” —Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters“A love letter to the trans community, Chef's Choice is a heartwarming delight! TJ Alexander's writing is a feast for the senses, sizzling with wit, charm, and the kind of characters that keep you chasing pages long into the night. Get ready to fall hard for Luna and Jean-Pierre!” —Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love“TJ Alexander’s witty and insightful voice, complex characters, and full-throated celebration of the joy of queer community make Chef's Choice a treat worth savoring.” —Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood“In a world where content is increasingly stale, TJ Alexander is delectably fresh. Their characters are always vivid, their stories always delightful. Chef's Choice adds some much needed trans rep to the romance genre and is equally a story of both escapism and resistance. You don’t need to look much further for your next favorite book!” —Katalina Gamarra, author of Ben & Beatriz“[S]woony... The banter between leads is addictive with Alexander balancing fish-out-of-water linguistic comedy with achingly sincere emotional beats to excellent effect...the exploration of the characters’ gender identities makes many well-trod romance beats feel fresh. As long as Jean-Pierre and Luna are on the page together, readers will be delighted by their odd couple dynamic.” —Publishers Weekly

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Praise for Second Chances in New Port Stephen

A December 2023 Indie Next PickA Publisher's Weekly Top Ten Pick for Fall 2023 Adult Romance & Erotica“Alexander (Chef’s Choice) has written a super-steamy queer holiday romance that deals with serious topics, such as substance addiction, identity exploration, and family strife, while still managing to be uproariously funny and incredibly romantic. This contemporary romance is a must-have for all libraries and for readers who relish a bit of angst and a lot of joy with their happily-ever-afters.” —Library Journal (starred review)“[A] playful and sweet second-chance romance… Readers wishing for breezy, reassuring queer romance will take joy in Eli and Nick’s love.”—Publishers Weekly"Alexander’s thoughtful romp through small-town queer life with a side of Florida fun is well-written, engaging, and deeply heartfelt, Fans of Alexis Hall and Ashley Herring Blake will adore this book."—Booklist“This is one of those books that you finish and immediately hand off to someone else, hoping you’ll be able to talk about your favorite scene.” —Book Reporter"[A] funny, steamy and tender read." —Reader's Digest“Second Chances in New Port Stephen is a uniquely charming and unapologetically queer holiday romance. It trades kissing-in-the-snow for an exquisite, sun-drenched slow burn that will leave you smitten over Eli and Nick. With an authentic voice and a dash of steam, Alexander captures the timely complexities of returning to a home you've outgrown while also rediscovering a love you've never let go of. An absolute gift to readers!” —Timothy Janovsky, author of You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince“From start to finish, this hilarious and tender rom-com stole our hearts! It’s joyfully queer, laugh-out-loud funny, and scratches every small town and holiday romance itch possible. (And did we mention the hot single dad???) Five second chance stars!” —Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, authors of A Merry Little Meet Cute"Second Chances in New Port Stephen absolutely blew me away; Eli and Nick are the perfect pair and I rooted for them every step of the way. Nick's father, Mr. Wu is my hero, for not only accepting Nick just the way he is, but for fishing without ever catching a fish." —Lyn Liao Butler, author of Crazy Bao You"In Second Chances in New Port Stephen , TJ Alexander offers tender characters who bring wit and resilience to each obstacle in their way, including the mishaps and miscommunications of their own making. Eli and Nick are the best type of Florida men—all heart, super hot, at home with baby manatees and maybe even with each other—and I adored every page of their story." —Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman“In a world that feels increasingly dark, this book is a light. Second Chances in New Port Stephen is sexy, hilarious, heartwarming, and gloriously queer.” —Camille Kellogg, author of Just As You Are"A small-town romance with a great big heart. You’ll rooting for Nick and Eli as they find the courage to change, to seize second chances, and to love each other." —Jenny Holiday, author of So This is Christmas"TJ Alexander's newest rom com brings holiday cheer and second chances for not just Nick and Eli, but the people nearest and dearest to them. An amazing read that will pull at your heartstrings!" —Codi Hall, author of Along Came Holly

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Praise for A Gentleman's Gentleman

“A Gentleman’s Gentleman is an endearing and tender romance which delivers the unique joy of finding that person who can love you for exactly who you are. This book was a delight and TJ Alexander a welcome and exciting voice in historical fiction.”
—Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal“Full of yearning and hope, A Gentleman's Gentleman brims with feeling. A wonderful new voice in Historical Romance, Alexander brings trans and queer joy to the Regency Era with deft depth, romance, and fun. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Emma R. Alban, USA Today bestselling author of Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend"A Gentleman's Gentleman is a thoroughly charming confection of a romance. If you're looking for a tender, gentle slow burn, this is the book for you."—Cat Sebastian, author of We Could Be So Good“TJ Alexander’s first foray into historical romance blew me away. A Gentleman's Gentleman is Alexander at their best: witty, romantic, gorgeously queer, and frequently poignant. I inhaled this story in two sittings, and I know I’ll be reading it again.”
—Rachel Runya Katz, author of Whenever You're Ready"With a quick wit and the slowest of burns, A Gentleman’s Gentleman is intimate, lively, and perfectly measured—much like a well-tailored, eccentric wardrobe fit for the unusual, charming sort of man at the novel’s center. The instant connection but patiently built trust between Christopher and Harding, his new, mysterious valet, was a thrill to read. TJ Alexander has given us daring carriage races through London, elaborate bird-themed balls, and a delightfully trans rendition of the Historical Romance Tiny Delicate Buttons Scene—a gift all around." —KT Hoffman, author of The Prospects"A Gentleman’s Gentleman is exactly the sort of historical romance I love, featuring two deeply lovable characters, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, wonderful period detail, and a happy ending that feels so perfectly, wonderfully right. Alexander’s writing is lovely and their characters are incredibly carefully drawn, while the quick pace makes this book difficult to put down. This is a beautiful—and wonderfully queer—romance that reminds us of all the many sorts of love stories this genre can encompass, and reading it felt like a gift." —Martha Waters, author of To Love and to Loathe"Witty, exhilarating, and achingly tender, A Gentleman’s Gentleman lavishes its trans hero with the elegant waistcoats he desires and the love and acceptance he’s resigned himself to living without. His reserved valet stole my heart. I adored this!"
—Felicia Davin, author of The Scandalous Letters of V and J"A Gentleman's Gentleman is a total delight from beginning to end. You will adore Lord Christopher and his quest for love and authenticity.” —Alison Goodman, author of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies“A Gentleman's Gentleman is a delicious romp through Regency England and exactly the romance we need right now. TJ Alexander builds the heat between their unforgettable heroes with an achingly slow sweetness while giving tropey historical hijinks the most sumptuous queer flair. A love story for the ages!” —Joanna Lowell, author of A Shore Thing"In The Earl Meets His Match, TJ Alexander deftly handles historical romance as well as they do their contemporary work: just as queer, just as trans, just as delightfully told, with a perfect balance of humor and vulnerability. I loved Christopher and Harding from the start, and felt so safely wrapped inside Eden Abbey and the rest of their world. The ending in particular felt so important to me. I'm so glad to be a reader at a time that TJ Alexander is a writer. A new personal favorite." —Anita Kelly, author of Love and Other Disasters

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Praise for Triple Sec

June 2024 Indie Next List PickAmazon Editor's Pick Best of Romance June 2024Apple Books Best of the Month“Told in three parts and featuring a wide spectrum of LGBTQIA+ characters, including a strong nonbinary love interest, Alexander’s (Second Chances in New Port Stephen) fresh take on the genre is a must-buy for any romance collection.”
—Library Journal (starred review)“In this appealingly fluffy triad romance, Alexander (Chef’s Choice) explores sweet and authentic queer relationship dynamics… Readers hungry for representation of community-supported nonmonogamy that doesn’t skimp on either love or sex will happily gulp this down.”
—Publishers Weekly“Saying we need more books like this sounds trite, but it’s true. It’s true because TJ is a queer author writing queer characters with depth, authenticity, and skill. It’s true because polyamory in the genre is woefully underrepresented. But it’s also true because this book is hilarious and hot as hell, with characters you can’t get enough of.”—Meryl Wilsner, bestselling author of Cleat Cute"Triple Sec is a perfectly balanced cocktail of sharp humour, complex characters, and sweet romance spiked with delicious heat. I loved it."—Rachel Reid, bestselling author of Heated Rivalry"I read the whole book with a smile on my face. A delightful, joyful romance with tempting cocktails and three unique, lovable characters."—Jackie Lau, author of Donut Fall in Love“Putting polyamory front and center, Triple Sec is like nothing else I’ve ever read, in the best possible way. It’s sweet! It’s sexy! It’s a completely charming celebration of queer romance, where every person is loved and cared for in the exact way they deserve. I adored it.”—Bridget Morrissey, author of That Summer Feeling

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Signed Copies

Want a signed copy of my books anytime of year? Order through the links below and my local indie, Word Up Community Bookstore, will hook you up. Please use the Comment box on the order page to request personalization, such the name to be signed to.

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Content Warnings for Chef's Kiss
(Contains Spoilers)

CHEF'S KISS contains the following:○ A nonbinary character who uses they/them pronouns, who is not out in the workplace at the beginning of the story, and who is referred to as she/her until they come out○ Misgendering after the coming out (accidental from allies & purposeful from non-allies)○ A fatphobic comment from a huge jerk○ Alcohol (social drinking; a character gets drunk)○ Mild blood and prescribed drugs in a post-surgery context○ Mentions of past child neglect (a now-grown character was kicked out of the house as a teen for being gay)

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Content Warnings for Chef's Choice
(Contains Spoilers)

CHEF'S CHOICE contains the following:○ Depictions of transphobia○ A brief accidental misgendering○ A moment of street harassment of a trans woman (resolved quickly with the perpetrator frightened away)○ Discussions of various gender affirmation surgeries○ A scene involving needles for hormone replacement therapy shots○ A trans character has a panic attack because of a fear of airport security

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Content Warnings for Second Chances in New Port Stephen
(Contains Spoilers)

SECOND CHANCES IN NEW PORT STEPHEN contains the following:○ A main character who is a recovering alcoholic, is sober, and does not backslide/relapse○ A main character whose mother died in a car accident a few years prior to the events of the book○ Mentions of anti-Asian racism & stereotyping in the gay community and society more broadly, as well as allusions to institutional anti-Black racism in the public school system and politics○ Mentions of anti-trans legislation and growing anti-trans sentiment in Florida law○ A divorced couple who are amicable but develop a child custody issue○ Non-penetrative sex between a trans man and a cis man

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Content Warnings for Triple Sec
(Contains Spoilers)

TRIPLE SEC contains the following:○ Accidental misgendering of a genderqueer main character with they/them pronouns by very minor characters○ Alcohol and drinking, not usually to excess (a side character gets drunk once)○ Legal drug use (cannabis) by a side character○ Sex scenes involving combinations of the main characters that include: frottage, oral sex, fingering, dirty talk, mild domination, exhibitionism, mutual masturbation, & sex toys.

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Content Warnings for A Gentleman's Gentleman
(Contains Spoilers)

A Gentleman's Gentleman contains the following:○ A trans man main character who has been living as a man for many years and has not shared his transness with anyone○ Past familial deaths (both parents and sibling); minor character death○ Love scene where main character and love interest engage in non-penetrative sex. Language used for body parts includes "center" and "hole" (back).

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Upcoming Events

A Romantic Soirée
Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30-9:30PM @ Steamy Lit Bookstore, Deerfield Beach
Join us for a romantic soirée with some of your favorite authors to kick off the Miami Book Fair weekend with the Steamy Lit team. This event is ticketed and will feature appetizers, beverages, and music.Miami Book Fair
Sunday, Nov. 24
10-11AM @ Room 3290, Building 3, 2nd Floor
“The Art of Romance” Panel with TJ ALEXANDER, J.J. ARIAS, LIANADE LA ROSA, ADRIANA HERRERA,K. ARSENAULT RIVERA, ANALEIGH SBRANA; moderated by DANICA NAVA.11AM-12PM outside Room 3290: signing with all panelists4-4:50PM @ The Steamy Lit Booth: I'll be signing booksLove Y'all Fest
Feb. 14-16 @ Atlanta, GATuscon Festival of Books
March 15-16 @ Tuscon, AZRomance Con
Sept. 5-6 @ Milwaukee, WI

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Contact

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