The Cooks pulls the reader into a world directed by routine and habit rather than love. But love is what each character is seeking and hopes to find in John Sebastian’s Tuesday evening cooking class. The students are from varied walks of life: Mandy, a small-time fashion designer; Clyde, the geeky founder of an online brothel; Lola, a business executive with a knack for numbers; Will, a mellow assistant editor at an entertainment rag; Paul, a realtor with a penchant for bowling; Dana, an actress intent on breaking out of “B” movies; and Devon, lyricist and guitarist in a band aiming for an abstract sound.Facas nicely sketches out each character as a distinct and believable entity, such that the reader will appreciate the unique chemistry—reminiscent of a mandatory high school assembly—that is created when all are placed in the same room. The Cooks is a quick, inoffensive read that is related to the standard cookie-cutter romantic comedy, but not constrained by the stereotyped cast, and that is sure to please a reader seeking comforting entertainment.Reviewed by Kasey Beduhn