Ratings5
Average rating4
“As cozy as a cup of tea and cake.”—People “One of those books you just want to hug to your chest. I loved it so much.”—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of While We Were Dating A huge-hearted, redemptive coming-of-old-age tale, a love story, and an ode to good food Nothing could be more out of character, but after fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband Bernard’s health declines, and her friends' lives become focused on their grandchildren—which Jenny never had—Jenny decides she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on the prime-time TV show Britain Bakes. Whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras and timed challenges, Jenny delights in a new-found independence. But that independence, and the stress of the competition, starts to unearth memories buried decades ago. Chocolate teacakes remind her of a furtive errand involving a wedding ring; sugared doughnuts call up a stranger’s kind act; a simple cottage loaf brings back the moment her life changed forever. With her baking star rising, Jenny struggles to keep a lid on that first secret—a long-concealed deceit that threatens to shatter the very foundations of her marriage. It’s the only time in six decades that she’s kept something from Bernard. By putting herself in the limelight, has Jenny created a recipe for disaster?
Reviews with the most likes.
Jenny is 77 and feels she hasn’t accomplished enough in life, she has a “silly” dream to the popular baking show. On a whim she applies and she gets on the show, it starts to stir up some old memories, a secret.
I didn’t really get this. Everything just chugs along, nothing really happens. Nothing is thrown Jenny’s way, no big hurdles. And there are other characters in here but it feels like she never really interacts with them, everything feels very superficial.
I would have loved a book about a woman doing something for herself, maybe some ageist people standing in her way and she saves the day because of her age and experience.
A few figures: 75% of my time reading this book was spent crying, but not in a sad way. Also it wasn't until around two thirds of the book that I realized it wasn't a part of the Winner Bakes it All series by a completely different author. 4 stars, recommended.