What do you think?
Rate this book
Aftertaste: A Novel in Five Courses
Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success.
Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, "wielding his whisk" with Grappa's new Mâitress d'. Mira's fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life.
Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn't just about delicious flavors and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others' needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfillment lies--even if the answers are unexpected.
Keenly observed and deeply satisfying, Aftertaste is a novel about rebuilding and rediscovery, about food passionately prepared and unapologetically savored, and about the singular contentment that comes with living--and loving--with gusto.
Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, "wielding his whisk" with Grappa's new Mâitress d'. Mira's fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life.
Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn't just about delicious flavors and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others' needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfillment lies--even if the answers are unexpected.
Keenly observed and deeply satisfying, Aftertaste is a novel about rebuilding and rediscovery, about food passionately prepared and unapologetically savored, and about the singular contentment that comes with living--and loving--with gusto.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2011
78 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
October 14, 2012
I was all ready to give this book 5 stars until the last third of the novel when it got repetitive, giving a whole lot of information on issues related to side characters while skimming over what was at the crux of the story, which is what happens to Grappa after Jake and Nicola take over? The whole "syndicate" plot line was really building up to intrigue, corruption and massive downfall for the arrogant, cheating Jake but instead there were 5 chapters about Richard's, the main character's gay friend, regression to alcohol, a relationship gone bad for him and his recovery from drunk driving accident. Wait a second! Who's the story about anyway? Richard was an interesting character until he became the focus of the novel, and then he just got tiresome. I started skimming the Dulce/Dessert section and finally skipped chapters altogether to get to the end of the book. I felt like the editor took a vacation-- "Okay, this is good enough, let's publish." Still, overall I enjoyed it and I'll definitely read more by Mileti, trusting that next time she and her editor work through to the end of the story.
January 23, 2012
First off, let me give five stars to the cover alone. I could stare at this beauty all day. I’m a big fan of foodie books, and I just knew this book was going to speak to me. Aftertaste, the debut novel from Meredith Mileti, follows Mira Rinaldi as she tries to pick up the pieces of her life after finding her husband cheating on her. Mira and husband Jake are co-owners to the wildly successful Manhattan Italian restaurant, Grappa, the same location where Mira finds Jake with Grappa’s newest waitress. Mira is shocked at Jake’s infidelity, especially since they welcomed their first baby just two months prior. Mira packs up baby Chloe and flees to Pittsburgh to be near her family. She struggles to fight for Grappa, stay sane for Chloe’s sake, and work through her divorce. Along the way, Mira must find what fulfills her life, what makes her happy and content.
Aftertaste makes it on my Favorites List, as this was such a satisfying novel. I found Mira so easy to relate to. Unlike a lot of novels where the woman finds her man cheating and slinks away to rebuild her life, Mira fought back. She attacked the mistress, got arrested, and was ordered to anger management classes. Those scenes made the story really come to life for me. Is it the best thing to turn to physical violence? Of course not. But it really put a human aspect to Mira’s character, and I was with her from the first page. Aftertaste has a ton of drama – I shed tears, I was furious with Jake, and I was rooting on Mira in every scene – and I didn’t want the story to end. Mira’s journey also gave me a sense of empowerment, and I love books that show a strong heroine never giving up. A must read in my opinion!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Aftertaste makes it on my Favorites List, as this was such a satisfying novel. I found Mira so easy to relate to. Unlike a lot of novels where the woman finds her man cheating and slinks away to rebuild her life, Mira fought back. She attacked the mistress, got arrested, and was ordered to anger management classes. Those scenes made the story really come to life for me. Is it the best thing to turn to physical violence? Of course not. But it really put a human aspect to Mira’s character, and I was with her from the first page. Aftertaste has a ton of drama – I shed tears, I was furious with Jake, and I was rooting on Mira in every scene – and I didn’t want the story to end. Mira’s journey also gave me a sense of empowerment, and I love books that show a strong heroine never giving up. A must read in my opinion!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2014
Honestly, My soul wasn't into "Aftertaste". I chose this during a thirty day trial period, from Kindle-unlimited picks.
I take full responsibility for my lackadaisical aloofness. It took me 'forever' to read this, longer than the 30 day trial!
It was my 'GO-TO' SAUNA BREAK read where I lay on my back, relax and read something I've downloaded on my OLD kindle.
If I didn't take a sauna for a few days, to give the author credit, I never forgot where I was in the story. I was well aware of the challenges Mira was dealing with, and the drama shenanigan's.
Mira and her husband own a restaurant together. Her husbands fKs another employee. Mira moves out --taking their baby Chloe to live with her. Somehow they still keep managing the restaurant together for most of the book.
Mira's 'ex' continues to fK the Stilettoes wearing Beauty. They are living together and she stays on working at the restaurant. Its one big happy suppressed-communicating family. The delicious cooking goes on. Grappa, Their New York Restaurant, continues to thrive.
There are other caring characters who often come to Mira's rescue. We watch Mira grow and get stronger in who she is. The time spent with her therapist proves to be helpful.
At the very start of this novel, Mira is sent to anger management class --sent for violent actions. This part of the story does not work well with the rest of the storytelling. The development never gets off the ground. Readers are left thinking, "Its no big deal to attack your husbands girlfriend". The author would have done better to have left all legal reference out of her book, because, truth is, being court assigned to anger management class is no joke.
I'm sure there are many woman who will enjoy this book. Its a lifetime movie type book. Will I recommend it? Honestly, I won't.
I take full responsibility for my lackadaisical aloofness. It took me 'forever' to read this, longer than the 30 day trial!
It was my 'GO-TO' SAUNA BREAK read where I lay on my back, relax and read something I've downloaded on my OLD kindle.
If I didn't take a sauna for a few days, to give the author credit, I never forgot where I was in the story. I was well aware of the challenges Mira was dealing with, and the drama shenanigan's.
Mira and her husband own a restaurant together. Her husbands fKs another employee. Mira moves out --taking their baby Chloe to live with her. Somehow they still keep managing the restaurant together for most of the book.
Mira's 'ex' continues to fK the Stilettoes wearing Beauty. They are living together and she stays on working at the restaurant. Its one big happy suppressed-communicating family. The delicious cooking goes on. Grappa, Their New York Restaurant, continues to thrive.
There are other caring characters who often come to Mira's rescue. We watch Mira grow and get stronger in who she is. The time spent with her therapist proves to be helpful.
At the very start of this novel, Mira is sent to anger management class --sent for violent actions. This part of the story does not work well with the rest of the storytelling. The development never gets off the ground. Readers are left thinking, "Its no big deal to attack your husbands girlfriend". The author would have done better to have left all legal reference out of her book, because, truth is, being court assigned to anger management class is no joke.
I'm sure there are many woman who will enjoy this book. Its a lifetime movie type book. Will I recommend it? Honestly, I won't.
September 16, 2011
This is a story of one woman trying to figure out what her plan B is (and who doesn't need a plan B). It's a story of love and life balance and pursuing what's important and what you love. I can totally see where Mira is coming from. She literally walks in on her husband umm... engaging in extracurricular activities with one of the employees that works in Mira and her husband's restaurant. I'd be angry too. There are some characters in various books that I wish I could shake some sense into them and tell them to just get over it. But Mira was different. You really feel for her. She worked so hard to set up her restaurant only to have her livelihood destroyed by her husband's roving eye. Mira is real. When the book opens, she's in the midst of an anger management class, which she fails at. I love reading about characters who have very human flaws. Eventually she finds what she's looking for though as so many of us do.
The other star of this book is the food, oh the food. Mira owns an Italian restaurant. She learned how to cook in Italy. The descriptions of the things that Mira and the other characters both cook and eat are written in such lovely, vivid detail that you feel like you can taste it. This book made me hungry! The author added a nice touch at the end by including some of the recipes that Mira and the other characters made in the book. Like Mira's food in the book, they are simple recipes filled with all sorts of gorgeous ingredients. You better believe that I will be trying some of these recipes.
Bottom line: This book has a lot of good food and a lot of heart; you'll eat this one right up!
The other star of this book is the food, oh the food. Mira owns an Italian restaurant. She learned how to cook in Italy. The descriptions of the things that Mira and the other characters both cook and eat are written in such lovely, vivid detail that you feel like you can taste it. This book made me hungry! The author added a nice touch at the end by including some of the recipes that Mira and the other characters made in the book. Like Mira's food in the book, they are simple recipes filled with all sorts of gorgeous ingredients. You better believe that I will be trying some of these recipes.
Bottom line: This book has a lot of good food and a lot of heart; you'll eat this one right up!
May 28, 2012
After the first few pages, I realized that Meredith had left me hopelessly behind with her food knowledge, but by then I was already giving not-so-silent advice to Mira about what not to do. I loved Mira and enjoyed watching her character grow as she worked to conquer her impulsive nature. Happily not all of her impulses are self-destructive, and I don't think she ever tames them into submission. Her wonderfully supportive friends were drawn with a sensitive pen. Some began almost as cardboard cutouts and were filled in stroke by stroke as the book progressed.
Thank you, Meredith Mileti, for letting us share Mira's life as she rebuilds her self-esteem and re-establishes her priorities. I look forward to reading more from you.
Thank you, Meredith Mileti, for letting us share Mira's life as she rebuilds her self-esteem and re-establishes her priorities. I look forward to reading more from you.
June 26, 2020
I haven’t read a foodie novel in a while and this one delivered delicious dishes! Sorry about the alliteration 😂
So I really enjoyed the story, although I really would have liked to see more comeuppance for Nicola and Jake, Jake got quite the punishment in the end but nothing serious seems to happen to Nicola?? She deserves all the worst days.
Absolutely loved Ruth and Fiona and baby Chloe and I’m sensing a theme here...most of the women in this book. Even Enid was pretty awesome. The men were a mix, but I seriously wanted to do dreadful stuff to Jake...what a complete jerk.
Anyway.
THE FOOD. DROOL. I want Mira to come cook for me. I am craving some awesome creative restaurant food now. When will restaurants even open back up here?? Who knows when I’ll have that experience again!
I came for the food, and got pulled in by the characters, and got hungrier and hungrier with all the fooooood someone feed me
So I really enjoyed the story, although I really would have liked to see more comeuppance for Nicola and Jake, Jake got quite the punishment in the end but nothing serious seems to happen to Nicola?? She deserves all the worst days.
Absolutely loved Ruth and Fiona and baby Chloe and I’m sensing a theme here...most of the women in this book. Even Enid was pretty awesome. The men were a mix, but I seriously wanted to do dreadful stuff to Jake...what a complete jerk.
Anyway.
THE FOOD. DROOL. I want Mira to come cook for me. I am craving some awesome creative restaurant food now. When will restaurants even open back up here?? Who knows when I’ll have that experience again!
I came for the food, and got pulled in by the characters, and got hungrier and hungrier with all the fooooood someone feed me
November 11, 2011
When the choices were published for potential Librarything.com Early Reviewer copies of recently published or to-be-published books the only book I requested for the month was "Aftertaste: A Novel In Five Courses" by Meredith Mileti. I had never heard of the author since this is her first novel. But the description was a natural pull for me…a novel about a chef, her restaurant, food, relationship, and love. So I was delighted when I was notified that I would be receiving the book! Let me say from the onset…this book captivated me and held me to the last pages. I was not disappointed. Mileti divided the book up into 5 courses and just as an Italian meals tempts you to want to eat more with its “antipasti,” begins to comfort you with its “primi,” then satisfies you with its “secondi,” adds a little extra with its “contorni,” and provides a delicious ending with its “dolce,” so does this story begin, develop and end…leaving you satisfied.
I found the characters well developed, not stereotypes but realistic personalities. The connecting force in all the dynamics is Mirabella Rinaldi, a young chef and new mother who is trying to deal with the various blows that befell her while life was in session…her unfaithful husband, the loss of her beloved restaurant, her return to her childhood home, the changing roles of mainstay persons in her life. It is understandable if she is thrown off course as she tries to managing her emotions. She lived her life the way she cooked. She is passionate…diving in and immersing herself in her family, friends, cooking and her anger. It is hard for her to restrain her emotions; this is her blessing and her curse.
There are many reasons that a reader connects with a character, and I connected with Mira. It could be her interests that seem to echo mine…her love of food, cooking, pulling together tastes, giving and nurturing those who matter to you by feeding them. It could be her personality and values. It could even be her surname…Rinaldi…which is my own maiden name. But I found myself understanding her and rooting for her as the story progressed.
The pace of the story also held me…smooth and conversational. Unless a story has the right pace, I tend to become impatient…skimming the lines to move it along. Not so in this case. I read every word.
I remember getting recipes from my Italian grandmothers. In place of exact measurements of ingredients would be the letters “q.b.” Salt…q.b.; water…q.b.; flour…q.b. Q.b. stands for the words “quanto basta” (when it is enough); something that is sensed…you just know it. Mira cooked her life this way…she knew when it was enough. When it was enough with her ex-husband, when it was enough in her reaction to her father’s new lady friend, when it was enough of New York. Not a bad way to cook a life.
In all, I highly recommend this novel. In the final pages are some recipes I am eager to try. The book left me with an aftertaste…for more by Meredith Mileti!
I found the characters well developed, not stereotypes but realistic personalities. The connecting force in all the dynamics is Mirabella Rinaldi, a young chef and new mother who is trying to deal with the various blows that befell her while life was in session…her unfaithful husband, the loss of her beloved restaurant, her return to her childhood home, the changing roles of mainstay persons in her life. It is understandable if she is thrown off course as she tries to managing her emotions. She lived her life the way she cooked. She is passionate…diving in and immersing herself in her family, friends, cooking and her anger. It is hard for her to restrain her emotions; this is her blessing and her curse.
There are many reasons that a reader connects with a character, and I connected with Mira. It could be her interests that seem to echo mine…her love of food, cooking, pulling together tastes, giving and nurturing those who matter to you by feeding them. It could be her personality and values. It could even be her surname…Rinaldi…which is my own maiden name. But I found myself understanding her and rooting for her as the story progressed.
The pace of the story also held me…smooth and conversational. Unless a story has the right pace, I tend to become impatient…skimming the lines to move it along. Not so in this case. I read every word.
I remember getting recipes from my Italian grandmothers. In place of exact measurements of ingredients would be the letters “q.b.” Salt…q.b.; water…q.b.; flour…q.b. Q.b. stands for the words “quanto basta” (when it is enough); something that is sensed…you just know it. Mira cooked her life this way…she knew when it was enough. When it was enough with her ex-husband, when it was enough in her reaction to her father’s new lady friend, when it was enough of New York. Not a bad way to cook a life.
In all, I highly recommend this novel. In the final pages are some recipes I am eager to try. The book left me with an aftertaste…for more by Meredith Mileti!
October 20, 2014
When your current "perfect" life implodes,how do you pick up the pieces and start all over? Denial,anger,bargaining,depression and acceptance. Much like grieving the death of a loved one, these are the stages that Mira goes through as she struggles to move on after catching her husband in flagranti with one of their restaurant employees.
A successful chef and restaurateur specializing in Italian cuisine, as well as being a new mom, Mira is blindsided and filled with rage. That rage is directed at the woman caught with her husband, landing her in jail and court ordered anger management classes.
Finally recognizing her marriage is over, she engages in a game of wits to save her ownership of her beloved restaurant, Grappa. When she finds herself without husband or her restaurant but with an unexpected pile of money, she reluctantly pulls up stakes and head home to Pittsburgh to live with her father.
Once there,the story follows her as she reconnects with family and past acquaintances, and forges new relationships.It is a bumpy rut filled road and she falls down time and again.And she gets up time and again, each time bruised and scraped but still moving forward. Once she gets over herself her vision clears a little at a time, allowing for movement in different directions.
Written in five parts, appropriately named after the five courses of an Italian feast, Mira tells her story with honesty and humor. Love and family all intertwined with food. There are even recipes from the fictional Grappa, that play a role in the story.
This is a debut novel from this author. She has whetted my appetite for more.
A successful chef and restaurateur specializing in Italian cuisine, as well as being a new mom, Mira is blindsided and filled with rage. That rage is directed at the woman caught with her husband, landing her in jail and court ordered anger management classes.
Finally recognizing her marriage is over, she engages in a game of wits to save her ownership of her beloved restaurant, Grappa. When she finds herself without husband or her restaurant but with an unexpected pile of money, she reluctantly pulls up stakes and head home to Pittsburgh to live with her father.
Once there,the story follows her as she reconnects with family and past acquaintances, and forges new relationships.It is a bumpy rut filled road and she falls down time and again.And she gets up time and again, each time bruised and scraped but still moving forward. Once she gets over herself her vision clears a little at a time, allowing for movement in different directions.
Written in five parts, appropriately named after the five courses of an Italian feast, Mira tells her story with honesty and humor. Love and family all intertwined with food. There are even recipes from the fictional Grappa, that play a role in the story.
This is a debut novel from this author. She has whetted my appetite for more.
March 19, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book. It isn't as much of a downer as the subject matter (female chef and co-owner of fine Italian restaurant finds her co-chef and co-owner husband in an affair with a staff member) might first suggest. It's basically about a woman finding her way in life again once the life she once knew falls apart.
February 8, 2022
I didn’t particularly like the characters, and some of it was a bit drawn out. but i liked all the food and descriptions of menus, long dinners, and deliciousness.
October 27, 2021
I enjoyed the food parts of this. Everything else? Not so much. I was interested in Mira getting her life sorted and beginning to live for herself and Chloe... but that didn't seem to happen It all felt rather thrown away. I didn't really get any of the characters apart from Ruth, Ben and Fiona. All the rest felt a little... unfinished. Like that weird side-step with Neil. And I really didn't get the whole thing with Jake. Not one iota of it.
An OK read... but I wanted it to be more than that.
An OK read... but I wanted it to be more than that.
May 28, 2011
Had a chance to read an advanced copy of this book. Place it on your wish list now, folks. This is a fabulous read from writer who obviously knows the restaurant business, food, AND how to write a great story. Be prepared to cry, hold your breath, smile, and of course, to be hungry. Bravo!
July 8, 2012
Great summer read, especially if you're from the 'burgh.
October 14, 2014
A nice and light food novel. Nothing amazing, but entertaining and fun!
Want to read
January 14, 2019Great women's fiction - beautiful writing - relatable female struggle. Enjoying immensely so far!
September 5, 2017
A good book to read curled up with a cup of tea and some biscotti. Just that. Nothing else.
December 20, 2020
I liked this a lot, but it felt a bit uneven at times. I can't really say what. Maybe the sections being so different just felt off? It was almost like her personality changed and she was a different character. So 4 stars, not 5, but overall, I enjoyed it.
The first section was almost painful to read. I was right with her in being angry at her husband and what he did to her just made everything feel so hopeless. I almost stopped reading by the end of that segment. But then the story goes on and I got into it again.
The only things I truly disliked about the book were the parts where her husband tries to suck her back in again. Or trick her. Or whatever he was doing. It's not very clear what he did or didn't know, did or didn't plan and maybe he's just a clueless and selfish idiot. But man, I hated him. But then, it's realistic to not be able to immediately walk away from someone you love, even if they treat you like dirt.
I do wish the end had given us more about what happened with Ruth & Carlos, and Richard. We technically know what they're doing, but I wanted an epilogue with them, not just with Mira (and Ben, who is pleasant enough, but this wasn't a romance novel, so he was nothing big).
But overall, a good read.
The first section was almost painful to read. I was right with her in being angry at her husband and what he did to her just made everything feel so hopeless. I almost stopped reading by the end of that segment. But then the story goes on and I got into it again.
The only things I truly disliked about the book were the parts where her husband tries to suck her back in again. Or trick her. Or whatever he was doing. It's not very clear what he did or didn't know, did or didn't plan and maybe he's just a clueless and selfish idiot. But man, I hated him. But then, it's realistic to not be able to immediately walk away from someone you love, even if they treat you like dirt.
I do wish the end had given us more about what happened with Ruth & Carlos, and Richard. We technically know what they're doing, but I wanted an epilogue with them, not just with Mira (and Ben, who is pleasant enough, but this wasn't a romance novel, so he was nothing big).
But overall, a good read.
August 20, 2018
i really liked this book. since i love to cook it was so good to read a book where the passion of food was so connected in the story to each of the characters.
i could not put this book down at first, but the last two or three chapters dragged just a little. still so worth reading... ending was predictable but i like a story with a happy ending.
i got this book several years ago at a Pittsburgh women's author book event and it sat in my drawer until a few weeks ago. im glad i picked it up to read. hoping the author will write another some day.
Well written, loved the story the main character Mira was a woman after my own heart. Her love of family and close friends was so heartwarming and every character so likable in their own way.
i could not put this book down at first, but the last two or three chapters dragged just a little. still so worth reading... ending was predictable but i like a story with a happy ending.
i got this book several years ago at a Pittsburgh women's author book event and it sat in my drawer until a few weeks ago. im glad i picked it up to read. hoping the author will write another some day.
Well written, loved the story the main character Mira was a woman after my own heart. Her love of family and close friends was so heartwarming and every character so likable in their own way.
January 27, 2021
Aftertaste starts with a woman scorned. Mira is not taking it well. She is, in fact, taking it so badly that she is in court ordered anger management classes.
Exiled from NYC and Grappa, the restaurant she loves, Mira takes baby Chloe back home to Pittsburgh.
I really loved the food descriptions in this book. While I do not have champagne taste in food, I enjoy reading about food and cooking.
About 2/3 of the way through Aftertaste I wanted to slap Mira upside the head and scream, "Wake up and look around you. You have so much, and all you do is whine about Grappa. Do not love things that cannot love you back."
Not to worry, the end is hopeful. Mira takes her head out of her ass and stops looking backward all the time.
Exiled from NYC and Grappa, the restaurant she loves, Mira takes baby Chloe back home to Pittsburgh.
I really loved the food descriptions in this book. While I do not have champagne taste in food, I enjoy reading about food and cooking.
About 2/3 of the way through Aftertaste I wanted to slap Mira upside the head and scream, "Wake up and look around you. You have so much, and all you do is whine about Grappa. Do not love things that cannot love you back."
Not to worry, the end is hopeful. Mira takes her head out of her ass and stops looking backward all the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2018
I would love to read more from this author. The most important thing for a novel for foodies is obviously that the author can transport you to kitchen or dining table and inspire you to cook or eat. That's what elevates a novel whose basic plot has been done and done and overdone in movies and other books. It's knowing where to highlight flavors, hurry up the service, let your diners linger, provide the perfect bite; a novel is a meal to be savored and remembered, and you'll remember the food.
August 15, 2022
aftertaste by Meredith Mileti...Oh my gosh! This book has far exceeded my expectations! The characters are so real and I felt a deep connection to the protagonist Mira! Maybe because of the anger issues? The love of cooking/food? And the whole NY vs Pittsburgh thing ( 2 places where I have lived and loved). Anyway, if you like foodie type/rebuilding your life type novels, I recommend this! 5 stars!!
May 2, 2018
Enjoyable, light and easy read. If you're looking for intensity and complexity, this isn't for you. I could appreciate the abrupt turmoil Mira's life was thrown into and how she worked at finding herself again. It presently mirrors my own circumstances. The finding oneself again proves difficult.
November 22, 2023
MIT\infidelity \CIA where upon zero hubs is frightened away by his own newborn,yet promptly impregnated ow! Love that h has to take anger management for pulling out clumps of ow hair upon discovery! Also love that ex will soon get his comeuppance in the form of losing every red.cent as ow' investors propogate an ongoing Ponzi scheme,while h will get new opportunities in business and love!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2024
Not my usual genre, but was left in a stack of books by a recently-passed family member so I decided to give it a look. Hallmark-y, but with decent character development and great descriptions of food. Although you can kindof see where it's going from the first 1/16 of the book, it didn't make me scream and want to pitch it into the ocean.
Solid meh.
Solid meh.
October 1, 2019
A solid 3 star book to me. I liked the story as a whole, but thought several of the side stories were unresolved or unexplained. Made me hungry though and I’d love to try the recipes at the end of the book!
July 27, 2020
This book was included on a local list of books to read during quarantine and honestly, it is so fitting. There is something very cozy and relatable about Mira's story (and not just the obvious set-in-Pittsburgh part). It is beautiful and full of heart and I really enjoyed it.
September 18, 2017
Just a fun book to read, especially if you like food described to you. Yum!
April 12, 2018
Amazing book, especially for those who have passion in cooking and Italian cuisine :)
May 8, 2019
I could hardly put this book down, I love to cook so I enjoyed that aspect of the story, along with Mira's journey in realizing what she really wanted from life
May 24, 2020
Surprisingly good. I bought the book on impulse (because GREAT cover). I loved being in Mira and Chloe's world for a couple of days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews