Reviewed by Christy
Jenny is 77 and has been married to
her beloved Bernard for almost 60 years! Unlike some of her friends, Jenny
never had any grandchildren of her own so she spends her time baking and doting
on her late sister-in-law's grandchildren Poppy and Max. Poppy seems keen on
baking herself, and Jenny loves to share her old family recipes with her. Jenny
has built a quiet and happy life but she can't shake the feeling that the time
for adventure might be over. And she doesn't like that. She doesn't like that
at all.
One night Jenny impulsively applies
to be a contestant on Britain Bakes,
a very popular baking competition show. She doesn't think anything will come of
it, and her mind starts to settle once that is out of her system. But, of
course, she is accepted. Through a whirlwind of currants and cameras, jam and
judges, Jenny relies on family recipes to inspire her. Many of these recipes
conjure up old memories – including a long-buried secret no one knows. Not even
Bernard.
I've been drawn to "character
study" types of books lately, and this novel caught my eye (the colorful
cover didn't hurt either!). I expected a cozy, wholesome read with descriptive
baking passages (and it was that),
but I did not expect to cry as much as I did. Jenny and Bernard are so sweet
and still in love, and it was a delight to read about them. I only wanted good
things for them! Jenny's shameful secret is devastating, and I felt so awful
that anyone would have to go through what she did. (Though I don't think what
she did was particularly shameful. How others treated her, however, certainly
was.)
Ford's writing is very sentimental,
almost saccharine at times, but I loved it. It worked for me because all of it
felt genuine. And I just wanted Jenny to be happy! This was a wonderful read
and my first five star read of the year.
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