Chocolate Cake for Imaginary Lives

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

If, like me, you love food but occasionally find yourself uninspired, this is the book for you. It's not a recipe book, though there are recipes described within the stories. Technically you could successfully follow them, but it's not always the focus of each piece. The food is a setting for the emotions and relationships of the characters described - and the narrator.

This is a book that will make you crave every dish you've never eaten and long for all the ones you have. It'll inspire you to seek out unique ingredients in your local supermarket and pay closer attention to every dish you prepare. It inspired me to make rice pudding in a new way, no regrets there.

I have no real criticism of the book, I read it over the course of a week which is rare for me, but these are the type of short stories that are meant to be savored. It's something that I would re-read, and recommend to a friend. Each of the stories is as unique as their recipe focal point. I laughed, got teary-eyed, and even had goosebumps at one point (another reading rarity for me).

Favorite stories included: ‘Dead Dove', ‘The Borscht of Mirra, Magda, and Mimi', ‘With Great Rage: How To Sorta Cook A Pot Roast', ‘Sweetbreads and Scams', ‘Faraway Scent of Pain', and ‘Amour de Poulet on Rye'.