So You’ve Landed the Dream Job and the Dream Boyfriend. Everything Should be Perfect . . . Right?
Coming August 2026!
Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is proud to announce the return of Alex Award–winning and Eisner- and GLAAD-nominated graphic novel CHEF’S KISS AGAIN! Bringing back all the steamy recipes and steamy romance from Chef’s Kiss by series co-creators Jarrett Melendez and Danica Brine, the new volume features Ben and Liam experiencing the ups and downs of new love, new jobs, and new dreams. From food journalist, comic writer, and cookbook writer Jarrett Melendez (Young Men in Love, My Pokemon Baking Book, Persona: The Official Cookbook) and Irene Flores (Shojo Fashion Manga Art School, Heavy Vinyl, Adventure Time) comes the next chapter in Ben and Liam’s love story, in stores everywhere August 26, 2026!
Ben Cook seems to have it all. An awesome new cooking job at Cochon Doré, a steady writing gig, amazing roommates, and—best of all—super-dreamy boyfriend, Liam. Even better, reservations at the restaurant have skyrocketed thanks to Ben’s recent viral article, and the staff is buzzing with excitement. But between the pressures of the growing restaurant, looming writing deadlines, and nosy parents, Ben is worried about making sure everything is perfect in his new relationship with Liam. When Ben can’t quite figure out the perfect Halloween couples costume or the perfect Christmas plans, and Liam gets more and more overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities at Cochon, the new couple starts to grow distant rather than rely on each other. When pressure mounts and signals get crossed, will Ben and Liam be able to overcome their anxieties and learn that striving for love is better than striving for perfection?
“The response to the first volume of Chef’s Kiss was better than I ever could have dreamed,” said Jarrett Melendez. “I knew right away I wanted to pick up where our dear crew leaves off. Now we get to see the aftermath of Ben’s article, what that does for the restaurant, Watson’s ego, and the relationship between Ben and Liam. Like the first volume, this chapter is deeply personal to me, and I hope it will resonate with readers as it deals with all sorts of new universal problems: how to balance life and work, the horrors and delights of a new relationship, and the many varied flavors of anxiety. This volume is bigger, gayer, and has what volume one was missing: DRAG!”
PRAISE FOR CHEF’S KISS
“Fresh, funny, and romantic. This coming-of-age story about friendship, finding yourself, and following your dreams will melt your heart and teach you how to bake a mean pear tart!”— Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Creatures and Teen Titans: Raven
“This graphic novel has everything—delicious foods, even more delicious gay romance, and an actual food critic pig. Chef’s Kiss explores the messiness of young adulthood in the most delightful, heartening ways, and I want to follow Ben and his friends on a million more culinary adventures, eating up every word. 10/10 recommend.” — Robbie Couch, author of The Sky Blues
“Chef’s Kiss is part rom-com, part sultry anime, and part instructional cookbook, there may not be another book out right now that ticks so many of my entertainment needs. Ben and Liam taught me what it means to ship.” — Sohla El-Waylly
“Chef’s Kiss is the perfect recipe of humor and heart.” — Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die and Mera: Tidebreaker
“Probably the best food-related comic ever made!” — John Layman, writer of New York Times bestseller Chew
“Recipe for a splendid graphic novel: two dashes romance, three parts self-discovery, one charming protagonist.” — New York Public Library “Best New Comics of 2022 for Adults”
“Serve over 160 pages of phenomenal artwork and you have an instant classic.” — New York Public Library “Best New Comics of 2022 for Adults”
Perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Check, Please!, eighty-six all your other plans when CHEF’S KISS AGAIN debuts on August 26, 2026!
About the Creators
Jarrett Melendez is a GLAAD Media Award– and Eisner Award–nominated comic and graphic novel writer, cookbook author, and food journalist. He’s best known for the award-winning graphic novel Chef’s Kiss, a queer romance set in a restaurant, which he cocreated with Danica Brine. Jarrett has also contributed to award-winning and nominated anthologies, including Young Men in Love, All We Ever Wanted, and Young Men in Love 2: New Romances. Jarrett is currently working on Tales of the Fungo: The Legend of Cep, to be published by Andrews McMeel; Fujoshi Warriors, an action comedy comic miniseries and love letter to both fujoshis and magical girl anime and manga; and a yet-to-be-announced licensed Webtoon. As a cookbook author and food journalist, Jarrett has written countless articles and developed hundreds of original recipes that have appeared in Bon Appetit, Epicurious, Saveur, and Food52. He’s written a total of 10 cookbooks to date, including My Pokémon Baking Book, RuneScape: The Official Cookbook, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Official Cookbook, The Official Wednesday Cookbook, The Official Borderlands Cookbook, Persona: The Official Cookbook, and The Official White Lotus Cookbook. Jarrett grew up on the mean, deer-infested streets of Bucksport, Maine, but currently resides in Watertown, Massachusetts, with his partner, Theo, and a collection of Monokuro Boo plush pigs.
Irene Flores is an illustrator, occasional author, karaoke aficionado, and full-time coffee drinker. Growing up in the Philippines, she was heavily influenced by both Japanese animation and American comics. She currently lives and works in West Seattle with her wife and several fat birds. Her career started in 2004 as the cocreator and illustrator of Mark of the Succubus, a three-volume series for TOKYOPOP. She went on to illustrate and cowrite a series of art instructional books, including the bestselling Shojo Fashion Manga Art School, published by Penguin Books. Her other work includes illustrating and inking several projects for BOOM! Studios, including R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond: Monstrosity, Heavy Vinyl, and Labyrinth Coronation. Most recently, she illustrated the graphic novel Disney’s Mirrorverse: Belle for VIZ Media.