In the book Within Arm’s Reach, Gracie and Lila lead the effort to make sugar cookies for Easter lunch. The lunch introduces us to the McLaughlin Clan, a spirited, Irish-American family working through past and present trauma that both draws them together and pulls them apart. Grab your Easter bunny and egg cookie cutters and…
Category: NetGalley
A Method to the Madness
In the book By Any Other Name, Emilia has to suffer through an abusive marriage. She spends much of her time doing whatever she can to provide bread for her family. In one scene of the book, Emilia stands up to her husband, Alphonso, while taking a swig of ale and a bite of bread….
A Filtered View of the Marvel Universe
In the book Breaking the Dark, Jessica spies on Amber’s teenage son, Fox, while he is at a restaurant for his friend’s birthday dinner. She hasn’t eaten a proper meal in days, and the author goes out of her way to describe the warm, flaky bread that was served. We hope to give Jewell’s description…
Corporate Calamity
In the book The Same Bright Stars, Jack struggles with the decision to sell his family restaurant to the corporate juggernaut DelDine. As he wrestles with navigating life after the restaurant, he starts teaching himself how to make pies. One of the first pies he shares with his friends, Andie and Deacon, is a lemon…
Sisters Banding Together
In the book Sisters Under the Rising Sun, Norah and Ena care for a little girl named June whose mother had died when their ship, the Vyner Brooke, wrecked. After being imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp, the women and children suffered through fierce starvation and abuse. A few times in the book, the women find opportunities…
Generational Deceit
The Heiress BY Rachel Hawkins In The Heiress, Camden and Jules face nothing but bitterness and spite when they pull up to Ashby House. The only person who seems to welcome them is Cecilia, the housekeeper, who leaves a comforting homemade casserole in the fridge for them. Jules describes the casserole as “something with chicken,…
The Unmagical World of Children’s Entertainment
Mister Magic BY KIERSTEN WHITE In Mister Magic, the Circle of Friends plays a game where they call out a color, and everyone can “taste” it. Kitty, Val’s sister, always calls out. “Sprinkle!” even though it is not a color. Give a nod to Kitty’s color choice and make your kid palate sing with this…
Influencing a Killer
Dark Corners BY Megan Goldin In Dark Corners, Rachel goes undercover at Buzzcon, a conference for mega-influencers. As she digs into her delicious grilled shrimp appetizer, she realizes that everyone else is photographing their food instead of eating it. Some even send it away without taking a single bite. I’m not one to send grilled…
Locked in Silence
Happiness Falls BY Angie Kim In Happiness Falls, Mia’s boyfriend, Vic, visits the Parsons right before Eugene begins telling his story. Knowing the family is exhausted after the long interview, Vic makes them the only thing he knows how to cook– macaroni and cheese with salad on the side. Bake up the ultimate comfort food…
Where Credit is Due
A Likely Story BY Leigh McMullan Abramson In A Likely Story, Isabella’s godmother, Glenda, takes her out for a birthday dinner at Barney’s. Glenda orders to pair Dom Perignon along with two Madison Avenue Salads. Replicate this famous salad using this recipe for Mark’s Madison Avenue Salad Recipe, an excerpt from The Freds at Barney’s…
Baking Through Book Club 