Good Taste

by Caroline Scott

With delectable prose, a sharp heroine ahead of her time, and an adventure across the English countryside in search of great food,  Good Taste  is the perfect historical novel for fans of  Dear Mrs. Bird  and  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society . You can tell a lot about a person from what they like to eat… England in 1932 is in the grip of the Great Depression. Author of a much-loved but not very successful biography, Stella Douglas is a bit depressed herself. When she’s summoned to see her editor in London, she dreads being told her writing career is over before it’s even started. But much to her surprise, she finds she is being commissioned to write a history of food in England and how the English like to eat. It’s to be quintessentially English and will remind English housewives of the old ways, and English men of the glory of their country. The publishers hope such a book will lift the spirits of the nation. The only problem is—all English food is actually quite terrible (and anything good is from elsewhere).  So Stella sets about inviting recipes from all corners of England, in the hope of discovering a hidden culinary gem. But what she discovers is oatcakes and gravy and lots and lots of potatoes.  Longing for something more thrilling, she heads off to speak to the nation’s housewives. But when her car breaks down and the dashing and charismatic antiques dealer Freddie springs to her rescue, she is led in a very different direction... Full of wit, life, and—against all odds—delicious food,  Good Taste  is a story of discovery and one woman’s desire to make her own way as a modern woman.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Food, Romance, Book Club, Adult Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2023

About the author

After completing a PhD in History, at the University of Durham, Caroline Scott worked as a researcher in Belgium and France. She has a particular interest in the experience of women during the First World War, in the challenges faced by the returning soldier, and in the development of tourism and pilgrimage in the former conflict zones. Caroline lives in southwest France and is now writing historical fiction for Simon & Schuster UK and William Morrow.

Reviews

[Jessie Weaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I've sat on this review for awhile after finished Good Taste, because I didn't want to be too hasty.

In all honesty, I think a lot of people will really like this book. I picked it up because I'm willing to read anything where food and fiction intertwine. In this novel, it's the 1930s in England. Stella has just lost her mother and moved away from London back home to watch over her father.

Meanwhile, she's working on a second biography when she's told by her publisher they want her to write a history of English food.

Through interviews, letters, and travel, Stella finds that harder than she initially thought. Meanwhile, she struggles with knowing how much to babysit her father, how to stretch her pennies, and trying to deal with her male best friend's new relationship.

The plot summary for this book focuses entirely on Stella's food writing. I think if the book had stuck to that, it would've been a fun ride. I understand obviously this is a novel and other things have to happen to the heroine, but I felt like they were disjointed. And while you could see the ending for her relationship status, I was really disappointed at the resolution not even being on the page.

I'll be curious to see what other people think - but for me, I just couldn't develop sympathy for Stella as a character and didn't quite understand where the author was going.

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Scott’s newest novel is a fun,witty and charmingly nostalgic romp through British culinary history, and follows 1930s food writer Stella Douglas. Dealing with the grief of loosing her mother, the disappointingly low sales of her new book and her best friend (who just might be the love of her life) announcing his engagement to someone else, things are certainly looking bleak.

The country is in the grip of the Great Depression and to raise the nation’s spirits, Stella has been tasked with writing a book about the history of British food. It’s to be quintessentially English and will remind English housewives of the old ways, and English men of the glory of their country. The only problem is –much of English food is really from, well, elsewhere . . .

So Stella sets out to unearth recipes from all over the country, in hopes of finding a hidden culinary gem. But what she mostly finds is countless recipes for gravy, stewed prunes and oatcakes. After her car breaks down and the charismatic Freddie comes to her rescue, Stella finds herself led in a far different direction…

I genuinely enjoyed this and loved the vibrancy of the descriptions and larger than life characters that we encounter. Freddie and Cynthia weren’t characters that I particularly liked given their actions (and attitudes throughout the book) but they did enliven and add plenty of tension to the plot which I found thoroughly entertaining.

Likewise, I absolutely loved our determined, career oriented protagonist, Stella who moves from London back north to help care for her grieving father. Even when her plans are hindered Stella manages to put everyone around her first—her father in particular, who makes some rather rash decisions that affect Stella greatly. She’s even happy for her best friend when his whirlwind romance leads to a spur of the moment engagement—to a woman who clearly dislikes her, but Stella still tries to make friends all the same.

I was impressed with the level of detail into Stella’s life—from her clothing and what she eats, to the places she visits and people she meets—it was incredibly immersive and really brought 1930s England to life. The economic crisis that Britain was experiencing at the time and the struggles many had to endure is also as startlingly relevant now as it was ninety years ago.

Though a little disheartening, Caroline Scott’s social commentary also manages to provide a glimpse of hope—for the generosity of friends, family and communities shows that kindness and compassion is hardly a modern invention, and that for generations communities have rallied around, supported one another—and shared some good food.

If you love cosy, food based historical fiction then I definitely recommend checking this out.

A huge thank you to Random Things Book Tours and Simon & Schuster UK for the finished copy.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the story is set in 1932, I did sometimes forget this as so much about the tone of the story felt relevant today. Magazine feature writer and struggling author Stella Douglas’ previous book about Elizabeth Raffald, an eighteenth century English cook, has received disappointing sales and her publisher summons her to a meeting where she fully expects to be given the worst news. However instead of continuing with her current planned biography of another cookery writer she is given a new project and armed with a £40 advance, she sets out to discover the history of English food. Not as easy as she first imagined, as so much has its foundations in food from other shores.

Good Taste is not just a story of oatcakes and offal, but also tells of Stella’s personal journey; the loss of her mother, the grief of her father, being badly let down, honesty and deceit and watching someone you care for fall for someone else. Stella was such an engaging character – independent and forthright in many ways but vulnerable, guilt-ridden and feeling so very alone at times. The book is peppered with letters from members of the public with their own family recipes and local dishes that Stella attempts to incorporate into her book – not always with the desired results. However what I found the most moving were the notebook entries from her mother Elizabeth – they said so much about the relationship between Stella and her beloved mother and although Stella didn’t always realise it, were an inspiration as well as a revelation.

I mentioned that Good Taste seemed to have a modern relevance – thriftiness, soup kitchens and a difficult economic climate (contrasting with examples of affluence and excess) were the backdrop to Stella’s research. Stella discovers the difference between a Bath Bun and a Sally Lunn (never having heard of a Sally Lunn I turned to Google) whilst William Wordsworth gets her into a spot of bother….

Caroline Scott’s writing is descriptive and evocative with supporting characters that both drew me in and horrified me. Stella’s story is a reminder of how important family and good friends are and also a lesson in never giving up.

In all honesty, I can’t say that I will be trying out any of the recipes mentioned any time soon, although the rum butter did sound delicious, I will pass on the blackbird pie and eels but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Stella and her quest to discover the best of English food. The story was both light hearted and poignant and I was rooting for Stella as she attempted to deal with various complications, both in her professional and personal life. Definitely recommended.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

England 1932. When Stella is commissioned by her publisher to write a history of British food, she expects she is going to get a lot of recipes for oatcakes and other bland food. She is right, of course. She begins traveling around England, searching for interesting food that is uniquely British. What she learns instead are lessons about food, about being British, and even about herself.

This is an interesting trip to England back in 1932. With Stella, we explore the popular British foods of that time, and we learn about what makes a food become the heart or identity of England or any country. Stella also finds herself exploring class differences and what the people of different classes of England ate, especially during the Depression. Stella is a likable character and the lessons she learns will make the reader think. This is an enjoyable and thought-provoking book that foodies and fans of British history will enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Mom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: the following review is my opinion and mine alone, I don't expect anyone to agree with me.

This book was completely gross in its description of food. I did not appreciate the full account of skinning and preparing the meat from animals that were killed. Talking about the blood, the skin, the eyes in full detail for every meal throughout the book. If it needed to be told, one time would have been sufficient, not every time a meal was discussed.

The constant mention of smoking, cigarettes, and drinking throughout the book was also of great annoyance to me. I realize that during the time period this book was supposed to have taken place there would have been smoking and drinking, but the emphasis on this behavior is tiring. I think the story would have survived without it.

The antagonist of the story is also overdone. The protagonist of the story gets many hints that his behavior is unsavory, but she continues to expose herself to him while telling herself not to. She is supposed to be a smart, worldly woman. The fact that she realizes it makes it unbelievable that she would continue the relationship. This also goes on so long and is so tiresome that I almost quit reading the book. When she finally comes face to face with his deceitfulness it's almost too late. All of this goes on and on almost through the whole book.

The love interest/friend is sprinkled throughout the book in tiny doses. When they finally realize that they truly love each other and should have been together the entire time, there is little mention of it. The end of the book is fed in little snippets, leaving you wanting more. It isn't worth the agony of making it through this book.

Parts of the book are engaging and move along quickly, but there are pages of agonizing filler. There are letters the main character supposedly received in researching for her book and I found them boring and tedious. The time that this book was supposed to have taken place was not believable; adding details of history doesn't put you in the time period that it was supposed to have taken place.

[Rebecca Tredway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this story more than the execution of it. 😑

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating hovers between 2.5 stars and 3 stars. I put 3 stars here because I finished it and it wasn't a mind numbingly boring or difficult read. I do want to note that the writing style, where the author had every character speak in questions constantly, drove me up the wall. There wasn't a page that went by that wasn't littered with rhetorical questions. No character had their own distinct way of speaking. I don't believe everyone always speaks in rhetorical questions. It's something that bothered me so much, I commented on it to people I know in real life.

Another thing I wasn't sure was realistic was Lucien, the French chef who is roommates with the guy (Michael) our main character is in love with, was vocal about being in love with Michael too. Now, I was born long after the 1930s, when the story takes place, and I am not European, but is this something a French guy in the early 1930s would do? I always thought homosexuality was illegal back then. I thought he could've been thrown in jail or worse. Even if our main character (Stella) was being touted as having modern sensibilities, I thought it'd be more realistic for Lucien to be quiet about his true feelings. Also, two sets of unmarried couples end up living together at the end, and wasn't that taboo in the early 1930s? I feel as if the way people think and act in 2023 was placed upon 1930s characters.

I didn't love the main couple, but it could be because I didn't love Stella and thought Michael deserved better than her. For most of the story he's dating a rich society woman named Cynthia. It was a shame this book fell into the cliche of Cynthia being a horrid, rude, self-centered woman. There should be books where the rival love interest isn't terrible, and to the main characters horror! she actually likes and becomes friends with the other woman.

The story was best when Stella was doing research for her book, learning about the history of food in England. I wish there was more of that, more of her traveling throughout the country, meeting different people, and less about her romantic life.

[Rae | The Finer Things Club CA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story that reflects on adulthood, relationships, and—of course—food. In the early 1930s, Stella Douglas is a women’s magazine and nonfiction writer who has recently been requested by her publisher to write a history of English food. To do so, she travels the country, researches and tastes local dishes, and puts out ads calling for traditional recipes from readers. As Stella grapples with the assignment and tries to make the topic defined, authentic, and interesting, she also deals with the recent loss of her mother, misunderstandings with her widower father, and a somewhat eventful love life. Overall, I found the novel pleasant and I appreciated how it touched on women’s independence, globalization, and the nature of writing with honesty and integrity. I do wish, however, that more time was spent fleshing out the romantic plot line and adding more depth to the characters involved, as I felt they were a bit flat and predictable. 3.75 stars rounded up. Thank you to William Morrow for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda Woodfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and loved Caroline Scott’s three previous novels and although this one is very different in style (similar to the Emmy Lake chronicles by A J Pearce which I also love), I was not disappointed. As always, the author’s descriptions really conjured up the settings, whether out in the countryside or inside Stella or Dilys’ cottages, right down to cobwebs, dust and damp. I could almost taste Dilys’ homemade wines. The various characters were all well depicted; I loved Stella and Lucien particularly, but even the not so nice characters left an impression!

[Lynn]

Half way through and I give up. I have been forcing myself to read this and it’s just not worth it.
Moving on.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Taste left a bad taste for me. Clearly I didn’t inherit my own taste in food from my English ancestors, because most of the food described in this book sounded either bland or disgusting. I usually look forward to books about food! It’s also incredibly heavy on questions isn’t it? It felt like there were one or two a paragraph, didn’t it? This writing habit drove me crazy. I also didn’t really care for Stella, the protagonist tasked with writing the book. She comes across as judgmental at times and rather oblivious at others. The book itself is too long, and too ambitious in its scope. Instead of a primary plot supported by a secondary plot, Scott has four different storylines competing with each other for the reader’s attention. There’s the storyline with her and her father, after her mother’s death from cancer. A storyline with her friend that she’s in love with that gets engaged to a society woman. The storyline about meeting a man she doesn’t know how to read when traveling to do research for her book. And last but not least is the storyline about putting together the book itself, which goes off the rails and causes her problems. It made it really hard to enjoy the book or feel like it ever got into any kind of rhythm. If a stronger emphasis had been placed on the history of English food and how people made it their own and how it reflected their lives it would have been a much more interesting story for me. Instead it meandered from storyline to storyline without motivating me to care about the protagonist or her personal or professional choices. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Caroline arrow_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 50% 😭 just could not connect with the story or characters

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I love food fiction and in this case, the main character is an author tasked with writing a history of English cooking. I loved all of the food, cooking, and recipes, and I really loved the historical info included about the English recipes. But the MC had a lot going on, and I got bored with all of the different dramas in her life. I struggled with a lot of the food, people, placed, and pop culture references. But this made a lot more sense to me once I realized this book was published over in England a year ago.

Normally I finish food or cooking-related books very quickly. But in this case, it took me around six weeks to finish it. It's a cute story, and ultimately I think it will be most loved by more serious foodies or fans of British history and culture.

Thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.

[Lauren Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this fun, humorous novel - it has something for the food lover, the historical fiction fan, and the romantic! Happy ending without the sappiness. I liked the characters - it's a feel good story and fun to read.

[Kalee Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming!! Learned so much about England. Felt historical and modern at the same time.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read about my favorite stuff! Food! A fun romp through the British food scene with interesting characters. Thanks to my sweet friend for sending this book to me!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Barely 3.5 stars. Reviews were pretty spot on here. I usually LOVE foodie novels but this one was very dry, the plot kind of sluggish and even the "romance" parts felt like afterthoughts, especially at the end. I liked Dilys and Lucien as supporting characters and everyone needs a bestie like Michael but I also felt he was wishy washy and a bit spineless so I didn't have much respect for him as a male lead even though he was kind and funny.

Freddy got on my nerves from the beginning. Enough said without spoilers. As far as Stella herself, she bore NO resemblance to the lead character in my very FAVORITE book, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is mainly why I was attracted to this book. I thought if this book was even half as good as that one I would love it.

It wasn't. I didn't. Read it at your own risk, you might like it if you like slow evolving plots but otherwise it really wasn't anything special and the foodie and travel parts weren't even that fun. Disappointed.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea - tho the blend of food and historical fiction is a literary meal I enjoy, this was “underproved and overbaked.” Long and meandering story interspersed with fun crisp cookbook recipes and cookery chat as our MC collects family recipes to preserve these techniques and memories in a cookbook, yet simplicity was complicated by too much unnecessary plot drama with sudden turns. It just wasn’t fun nor was I engaged (I hit the 3x speed for audio and could still understand it yet was still sleepy). Others may find it a nostalgic read so please enjoy with a full tea cake tray (note: search out trigger warnings, surprised by sudden sexual assault off/page and that dinged it a star for me - even books written by women must stop using this device to stir up plot, it’s just as harmful as the new trend of babying our women disguised as taking good care of them.)

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing heroine, a vividly drawn between-the-wars setting, the complications of family and friendships, a mission that proves to be a greater challenge than she ever expected, the many wrong steps she takes along the way… this book was everything I wanted it to be, and I loved every moment.

Stella has had to leave her London life behind, now at Hatherstall in the West Riding of Yorkshire to care for her recently widowed and grieving father. She keeps her head above water and covers the rent on Celandine Cottage – not the rural idyll it might seem – by writing a column for a women’s magazine, the content now distinctly less glamorous to match the needs of the times. The book she’s written and is so proud of with its meticulous research and copious footnotes – the biography of Mrs Raffald, an eighteenth century cook – has had disappointing sales. But she now has a new and exciting commission – to write a history of English food – and a very welcome £40 advance, and sets about her research by placing an advertisement in a number of regional newspapers asking readers to send her their traditional recipes.

The results are desperately disappointing – far too many oatcakes and seedcakes and potatoes, and anything remotely interesting having its roots anywhere other than England. So she decides to do her own on-the-ground research, travelling to gather her own examples and supporting anecdotes, losing hope with every encounter – until, during an unexpectedly extended stay in Gloucestershire, her path crosses with that of Freddie, antique dealer and rogue, who suggests the solution of entering the realm of hypothetical history.

For the foodie, this book is an absolute delight – the notes and anecdotes that arrive in response to her advert pepper the narrative, diverse and quite fascinating, setting her off on various paths for her own discoveries, and new fodder for the flights of fancy that she decides to include. But they also provide a clear picture of the state of the nation – the colourful and exotic, and the plainer sustenance that’s really keeping the country fed.

But this book is about far more than the food – it’s about Stella’s own journey, making many mistakes and errors of judgement as she finds her path between right and wrong while pursuing the new freedoms and opportunities as a woman of her time. There’s a thwarted romance in the background – a close friendship that never looks to become anything more, but a source of support – and another that causes particular complications. And there’s a quite wonderful supporting cast, many of them not being quite what they at first appear to be – I had a particularly soft spot for Lucien, an unexpected ally, with his photograph of Ivor Novello on his bedside table. And I really loved her father – making her life so much more complicated (and her house even more cramped than it already was), but moving on from his grief, bringing a few surprises.

The writing is just wonderful – despite her choices, Stella is an immensely sympathetic character, and you ache for her as her choices begin to backfire. The book’s emotional touch is just perfect – and there are plenty of touches of humour and lightness to bring delight, along with moments of darkness giving light and shade. The research for this book must have been immense – as well as the whole culinary scene, the 1930s setting and the social divide has an exceptional authenticity. I’ll admit that this book might not have been quite what I expected, but I thought it was a real triumph – very highly recommended.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading several books about weighty matter, I felt the need to settle on somewhat lighter fare and settle on Caroline Scott's Good Taste. Young writer, Stella is tasked with writing a book about English food. Her editor, Mr Williams says:
“More like all history.” He said it almost casually. “A history of English food—of what is particular and peculiar to our nation.” He took a sip of his tea before he pressed on. “Why we’ve come to eat what we do and what it says about us. An examination of our favorite dishes and an explanation of where they’ve come from. That sort of thing, do you see?”

The time is the 1930s, between wars, in the midst of depression and Hitler beginning to ramp up. Stella gathers letters from readers and travels throughout England gather information, recipes and stories of food.

This could well have been a really insightful, wonderful book, but fell short. This of course distracted me and my mind kept focusing on my quibbles with it. Scott, has a PhD in history and focuses on women's history from WWI and the time between wars, so she has a certain expertise. This indeed is a rich time and while issues are apparent in the book, they could have been perhaps a bit more assertive.

I love both books about travel and food and if that book were just that, I would have quite loved it and those parts were often quite interesting:

Stella turned through the pages and saw the pikelets, pea-and-ham soup and the boiled mutton and capers of her childhood. Here was her mother’s wimberry pie, her damson jam and her gooseberry fool. Where recipes came from relatives and friends, her mother’s handwriting noted the case: the method for hot-water pastry had been handed down from her grandmother; the parsley in her suet dumplings came from her cousin; the parkin was her great-aunt’s recipe.


There was the ultimate meet cute in this book and I wish, no but I won't say it because than it will give it all away.

There was just so many opportunities and so much potential for this book which didn't quite go for the golden ring that it was a bit of a disappointment. it was the light fare, I longed for and it was about food and about traveling England, so who am I to complain?

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this book was light, yet emotional at times. I loved the different styles of writing that together made up this story (alongside the main character narrating the story you had letters from the public telling their individual stories). There was a lot of description that made you really feel like you were there with the character. I also enjoyed that the language used was of it's time. There were words and references that I didn't recognise as of this present time and I liked being transported to the 1930s via the language.

The chapters were a mix of lengths. They were generally shorter at the beginning and the end and longer in the middle. I therefore felt that I was introduced to the story quickly and the end was quickly wrapped up. I liked that at the end of some of the chapters you got to see the letters that the main character had sent in to her from the public.

I loved the main character. She was very relatable and I enjoyed being on her journey with it's ups and downs.

The settings were excellent. I loved the descriptions of the places and the main character's thoughts whilst she was in those places. I enjoyed being taken round the UK and it was eye-opening to see the similarities between what people ate.

Overall a lovely book with a good mix of adventure and emotion.

✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this for a variety of reasons – Stella, the main character, was intelligent and honest; the topic of writing a book about the food of England provided a compelling framework, plus the humorous misadventures and heartwarming outcome earned this novel 5 stars.

Why rewrite the publisher’s description: “With delectable prose, a sharp heroine ahead of her time, and an adventure across the English countryside in search of great food, Good Taste is the perfect historical novel for fans of Dear Mrs. Bird and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. You can tell a lot about a person from what they like to eat… England in 1932 is in the grip of the Great Depression. Author of a much-loved but not very successful biography, Stella Douglas is a bit depressed herself. When she’s summoned to see her editor in London, she dreads being told her writing career is over before it’s even started. But much to her surprise, she finds she is being commissioned to write a history of food in England and how the English like to eat.”

I highly recommend this book!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of Stella who is trying to become an author of cookery books. She is asked to write a history of English cookery and what makes it special. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.

It also hints at changes in society during the depression of the 1930s in England. We don't read much about that time in England. Stella has two very good friends: Lucian and Michael. A large part of the book is about them and I don't want to give that away.

Overall, a fun book, although a bit of dragging in the middle.

[Rae O’Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story although I did think the heroine was being frustratingly naive, but the main problem with the book is that it was way too modern in outlook. The only thing that made me aware it takes place in 1932 were specific references to Hitler and Mussolini and what a pound would buy. In 1932 a respectable man wouldn’t just move in with his house cleaner either and a young woman would not have just moved in with her fiance’ so cavalierly.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was conflicted when the second half of this book shifted greatly from her Stella’s food journeys to her love life. It was always there but I felt like the search for food was set on a back burner. The last quarter of the book felt rushed to me, 6 months went by in like 100 pages compared to only like 2 months in the first 300 pages. Overall it was a sweet book but it was a little longer than necessary

[Kelly A. Kazmierski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. It seems like a book I’d like: English author sets out to write a book about the history of English food, encountering challenges and moments of growth along the way. It even featured scenes in Ely and Ely Cathedral, near where I lived for a few years, which was exciting. The book was fine, but the characters seemed to lack depth and heart. Neither of the love interests were…well, interesting. No real tension was built. Overall, just kinda fell flat.

[Stacie Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this delightful novel about traditions (especially around food and recipes), but also about culture and what it means in the 1930s to be English. Fun anecdotes about life and food that I’ve never heard of kept popping up and made it a fun page turner. I’m inspired to look into the inspiration of this novel and have a go at some of the recipes!

[Steph Ollman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tale of a 1930s independent woman who is writing a book on the history of English food whilst dealing with a number of complications in her personal life. This book was interesting and heart-warming.

[Virginia B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, liked the heroine, a food writer in 1930’s England, a fairly new idea at the time, and her travails with various other characters, mostly on her side. One truly horrible character almost messes up her life, another almost ruins her. Some almost-recipes, but mostly to do with the vagaries of British cooking.