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Save the Cake
Eloisa Carreon, a 28 year old cake artist, works at her family bakery. She yearns for the independence she had while living abroad, but her cautious parents and over-protective brother monitor her every move. When she is tasked to create a masterpiece for a high society wedding, Eloisa meets handsome videographer Sean Alvarez, a cousin of the bride. They discover a shared worldly outlook on life and a mutual desire to escape the excesses of the nuptials. The attraction between them is undeniable, yet Eloisa is weighed down by family expectations and emotional baggage from the past. She must decide if she should take the risk and follow her heart, before she loses her mind. And when better to do it than during the year's biggest wedding?
- GenresRomance
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Stella Torres
5 books22 followersStella Torres is the author of Save the Cake, Crushingly Close and the short story "Be Creative from Kids These Days (Stories from Luna East Arts Academy Vol.1). In her previous life, she had worked in public relations, taught English as a second language, and even attended graduate school (twice!). She has lived in Indonesia, Honolulu, and Quezon City before moving back to her hometown of Los Banos in Laguna.
When she’s not writing romance or geeking out on the craft of creative writing, Stella can be seen taking walks around the UPLB campus and browsing bullet journal layouts on the Internet. She loves dark chocolate, hates flyaways, and is constantly searching for comfortable shoes.
Stella loves to hear from her readers! Visit her blog and Facebook page, or follow her on Twitter for more details on her upcoming work. You can also sign up for her mailing list to get the low-down on her latest projects!
When she’s not writing romance or geeking out on the craft of creative writing, Stella can be seen taking walks around the UPLB campus and browsing bullet journal layouts on the Internet. She loves dark chocolate, hates flyaways, and is constantly searching for comfortable shoes.
Stella loves to hear from her readers! Visit her blog and Facebook page, or follow her on Twitter for more details on her upcoming work. You can also sign up for her mailing list to get the low-down on her latest projects!
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 20, 2015
Being in a Baker's Shoes: A Review of Save The Cake by Stella Torres
My first reaction to the story was: why is everyone talking formally and without contractions (ex. I do not understand why women put on makeup)? Even if most of the characters are Hispanic or half-Hispanic...I'm not sure they talk like that today. Maybe a generation ago. Weirdly enough, there are some contemporary expressions like addressing women in a familiar way by saying "girl." I'm putting this up front because it was a distraction to reading the story.
Now, onto the story. I loved all the descriptions of the baking. Though, I didn't understand why Eloisa and Monica are always worried about their cakes falling apart (also, I'm not sure anyone would pay for a fondant-covered cake that had ribbons to cover cracks). It was nice to be in the kitchen and baking supply warehouse with Eloisa. That was when she was in her element. I had problems with her character, though, when it came to love. I felt that she was either repressed or had double standards. Why was everyone, including Eloisa, judgmental about Hazel getting married legally before getting married in church? This is especially worrisome when I find out what happened to Eloisa in Singapore. Why was she suddenly making out with Sean Alvarez the first chance she gets alone with him? She's 28 years old! Why would she be concerned about her older brother and father getting in the way of her relationship?
I liked how Eloisa changes from kitchen assistant to a woman with her own business. In fact, if the story revolved just around that I think I would have been satisfied. I feel that Eloisa is more inconsistent in her love life. I'm not sure if she's liberated or conservative. She certainly *acts* conservative but when I get to know more about her, she *thinks* in a liberated way. That would have been fine except she also *judges* in a conservative way. Don't get me wrong, I like complex characters. However, Eloisa's choices seem disjointed sometimes. I don't know where she's coming from. There was actually no conflict in the way of love. I just found it weird that she moved so fast with Sean. That was what led me to believe she was repressed. However, her relationship with Gino (flashbacks) made me rethink that. Maybe being far from her family emboldened Eloisa?
Lastly, I didn't think the conflict between Paul (her older brother) and Eloisa is so believable. Paul's concerns about Sean are too superficial. If Sean really had a hidden past, I would understand why he was so protective and unreasonable. But Sean is a perfectly nice guy with no history of fooling around with women. So Paul was overreacting *all* the time. I would have wanted more scenes where Paul was just being a jerk, in general, rather than concerned about Sean, just to bring up the fact that Eloisa and Paul really can't work together. I also found it strange why she would find any reason to blame her friends, Hazel and Denise, for the brouhaha in Singapore. That was her own fault (or Gino's, if you look at it another way). I didn't see how she could distrust her friends over that incident.
Overall, it was nice to be in a pastry chef's shoes. I would have wanted more baking and self-discovery and less fooling around with Sean.
My first reaction to the story was: why is everyone talking formally and without contractions (ex. I do not understand why women put on makeup)? Even if most of the characters are Hispanic or half-Hispanic...I'm not sure they talk like that today. Maybe a generation ago. Weirdly enough, there are some contemporary expressions like addressing women in a familiar way by saying "girl." I'm putting this up front because it was a distraction to reading the story.
Now, onto the story. I loved all the descriptions of the baking. Though, I didn't understand why Eloisa and Monica are always worried about their cakes falling apart (also, I'm not sure anyone would pay for a fondant-covered cake that had ribbons to cover cracks). It was nice to be in the kitchen and baking supply warehouse with Eloisa. That was when she was in her element. I had problems with her character, though, when it came to love. I felt that she was either repressed or had double standards. Why was everyone, including Eloisa, judgmental about Hazel getting married legally before getting married in church? This is especially worrisome when I find out what happened to Eloisa in Singapore. Why was she suddenly making out with Sean Alvarez the first chance she gets alone with him? She's 28 years old! Why would she be concerned about her older brother and father getting in the way of her relationship?
I liked how Eloisa changes from kitchen assistant to a woman with her own business. In fact, if the story revolved just around that I think I would have been satisfied. I feel that Eloisa is more inconsistent in her love life. I'm not sure if she's liberated or conservative. She certainly *acts* conservative but when I get to know more about her, she *thinks* in a liberated way. That would have been fine except she also *judges* in a conservative way. Don't get me wrong, I like complex characters. However, Eloisa's choices seem disjointed sometimes. I don't know where she's coming from. There was actually no conflict in the way of love. I just found it weird that she moved so fast with Sean. That was what led me to believe she was repressed. However, her relationship with Gino (flashbacks) made me rethink that. Maybe being far from her family emboldened Eloisa?
Lastly, I didn't think the conflict between Paul (her older brother) and Eloisa is so believable. Paul's concerns about Sean are too superficial. If Sean really had a hidden past, I would understand why he was so protective and unreasonable. But Sean is a perfectly nice guy with no history of fooling around with women. So Paul was overreacting *all* the time. I would have wanted more scenes where Paul was just being a jerk, in general, rather than concerned about Sean, just to bring up the fact that Eloisa and Paul really can't work together. I also found it strange why she would find any reason to blame her friends, Hazel and Denise, for the brouhaha in Singapore. That was her own fault (or Gino's, if you look at it another way). I didn't see how she could distrust her friends over that incident.
Overall, it was nice to be in a pastry chef's shoes. I would have wanted more baking and self-discovery and less fooling around with Sean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2014
This book made me hungry! As in, really, really hungry. I almost felt that I was starving! I'm craving for all those cake and empanadas and even those brownies. God. It all look delicious. I can forget about my so-called diet just to have those desserts.
Aside from the character of Lola Carmen, (who was sadly dead.) I love Pappy and Mom, Betsy, Neri, and Monica. Well I almost hate Paul but cracked up laughing when he handed out the condoms to his little sister. Way to go kuya! Haha.
My hate for him for being an uptight kuya disappeared when I found out Singapore. Well he was one hell of a kuya and I would love (or not?) to have a kuya just like him. Okay now let me give my opinions on the man who lets Eloisa to be happy.
To the Blue Bell Milk Kid, Sebastian Juan, I almost love you. Really. Almost, that it made me want to go to the grocery with you (At least I can think of an alternative since I don't have a bakeshop.) Scratch that! I love you. Aaaand I adore you.
I love the story. How it introduced me to another world. I love how the characters grow. It was worth reading. I didn't even let the Author's Note pass! *winks*
Aside from the character of Lola Carmen, (who was sadly dead.) I love Pappy and Mom, Betsy, Neri, and Monica. Well I almost hate Paul but cracked up laughing when he handed out the condoms to his little sister. Way to go kuya! Haha.
My hate for him for being an uptight kuya disappeared when I found out Singapore. Well he was one hell of a kuya and I would love (or not?) to have a kuya just like him. Okay now let me give my opinions on the man who lets Eloisa to be happy.
To the Blue Bell Milk Kid, Sebastian Juan, I almost love you. Really. Almost, that it made me want to go to the grocery with you (At least I can think of an alternative since I don't have a bakeshop.) Scratch that! I love you. Aaaand I adore you.
I love the story. How it introduced me to another world. I love how the characters grow. It was worth reading. I didn't even let the Author's Note pass! *winks*
May 31, 2017
Save the Cake was amazing. It's my kind of book because it has baking, cakes, food, romance, swoony moments and kissy moments. It is a Filipino romance written by a Filipino author ~ ownvoices, guys!!! Will say the hero is Filipino/Argentinian (hellooooo he's also Latino, this is rad tbh) I'm so pleased by this book, it's all kinds of adorable and thE FOOD MAN THE FOOD. It mentions so many things and I got hungry the minute I started reading this book *shrugs*
March 1, 2022
Save the Cake
[‼️Spoilers‼️]
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I read it last 2017 and loved it. I was the high school type of girl who easily swooned over cliched romances. But now that I reread it, it feels very lacking. The romance in the book feels very rushed. There is no connection at all. Everything that happens between the characters is so shallow. I remember myself loving the main lead and being in love with everything that he did. But now, it's so cringey 😅. It felt like I was reading a summarized version of someone's life because there was no substance at all.
The only part that I liked was when she decided to become brave and build her own second branch of the bakery that could accommodate special orders. I think this book would have become better if the problems and the family drama were more clearly explained in detail. It felt like everything had a solution, but they kept on finding more ways for more problems to arise. And then, in the end, the problem gets solved in an instant without being shown and explained how.
Overall, it's a 1 star read for me. It's not a bad book, and I think it's a good book for getting out of a reading slump or as an in-between read before continuing the succeeding book in a series.
⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
[‼️Spoilers‼️]
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I read it last 2017 and loved it. I was the high school type of girl who easily swooned over cliched romances. But now that I reread it, it feels very lacking. The romance in the book feels very rushed. There is no connection at all. Everything that happens between the characters is so shallow. I remember myself loving the main lead and being in love with everything that he did. But now, it's so cringey 😅. It felt like I was reading a summarized version of someone's life because there was no substance at all.
The only part that I liked was when she decided to become brave and build her own second branch of the bakery that could accommodate special orders. I think this book would have become better if the problems and the family drama were more clearly explained in detail. It felt like everything had a solution, but they kept on finding more ways for more problems to arise. And then, in the end, the problem gets solved in an instant without being shown and explained how.
Overall, it's a 1 star read for me. It's not a bad book, and I think it's a good book for getting out of a reading slump or as an in-between read before continuing the succeeding book in a series.
⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2017
I was walking around national bookstore when I found this book, it was such an easy read but more than anything relatable with respect to Filipino families and lives of late twenty singletons. Stella Torres spelt common anxiety and sifting thoughts of marriage, friends and past relationships in this book. The pressures of holding a reputable business but also find yourself in the career you're in was something that hit me. If you're working in the work that you love and giving it all you've got, the positive romantic side of me thinks all good things and good people will always follow through.
February 24, 2017
Meh.
I did not feel this story. At all. Like, from the very first time they kiss, I felt that it came out of nowhere. Eloisa and Sean's relationship didn't feel worked at all. Actually, lots of things didn't feel worked at all.
The premise of the story is nice, but there's a lot that is not said, not felt, not explained... It makes me sad because I really wanted to like this book, but, honestly, this felt like the short summarized cut version of the story.
I did not feel this story. At all. Like, from the very first time they kiss, I felt that it came out of nowhere. Eloisa and Sean's relationship didn't feel worked at all. Actually, lots of things didn't feel worked at all.
The premise of the story is nice, but there's a lot that is not said, not felt, not explained... It makes me sad because I really wanted to like this book, but, honestly, this felt like the short summarized cut version of the story.
November 20, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. It's a lighthearted romp through the world of high end bakeries where making the perfect cake is an art form.
Eloisa is a perfectionist when it comes to cake making. She inherited her skills from her grandmother, Lola Carmen, whose bakery catered to the highest society parties in Manila. Among Lola Carmen's claim to fame is making the delectable cake for debutante Betsy Verdadero on her 18th birthday. A beautiful cake for a beautiful woman.
Betsy happens to be the mother of heartthrob Sean Alvarez who meets Eloisa at her bakery. It turns out Eloisa is making the cake for her best friend Hazel who is also Sean's cousin, and Sean is doing the videotape for Hazel's wedding. This includes interviews with Hazel's friend, a taping of the preliminary cake tasting party, as well as observation of the cake making process, including a supply run and explanations of all of the materials that go into the cake.
Sean and Eloisa are attracted to each other immediately, but they barely have a moment of privacy, surrounded by friends, family, employees, and more family and friends. Each family member has his or her opinion and speculation runs rampant before the two principals can even figure out if they like each other enough to date.
The story is cute and sweet. Your mouth will water at the descriptions of the scrumptious desserts while you're hoping both Eloisa and Sean can get over past hurts and open their hearts to love. The story ends happily without much melodrama, and the real payoff is the warm feeling you get and happiness of being surrounded by friends and family who approve of your choices.
The best part of this story is experiencing what it's like to live as a single woman in a large and caring family in the Philippines where everyone has an opinion and doesn't hesitate to inquire and advise.
Eloisa is a perfectionist when it comes to cake making. She inherited her skills from her grandmother, Lola Carmen, whose bakery catered to the highest society parties in Manila. Among Lola Carmen's claim to fame is making the delectable cake for debutante Betsy Verdadero on her 18th birthday. A beautiful cake for a beautiful woman.
Betsy happens to be the mother of heartthrob Sean Alvarez who meets Eloisa at her bakery. It turns out Eloisa is making the cake for her best friend Hazel who is also Sean's cousin, and Sean is doing the videotape for Hazel's wedding. This includes interviews with Hazel's friend, a taping of the preliminary cake tasting party, as well as observation of the cake making process, including a supply run and explanations of all of the materials that go into the cake.
Sean and Eloisa are attracted to each other immediately, but they barely have a moment of privacy, surrounded by friends, family, employees, and more family and friends. Each family member has his or her opinion and speculation runs rampant before the two principals can even figure out if they like each other enough to date.
The story is cute and sweet. Your mouth will water at the descriptions of the scrumptious desserts while you're hoping both Eloisa and Sean can get over past hurts and open their hearts to love. The story ends happily without much melodrama, and the real payoff is the warm feeling you get and happiness of being surrounded by friends and family who approve of your choices.
The best part of this story is experiencing what it's like to live as a single woman in a large and caring family in the Philippines where everyone has an opinion and doesn't hesitate to inquire and advise.
April 3, 2015
I like to note on the creative concepts of the author, starting from the bakery idea up to the Blue Bell Milk Kid one.
If there are any flaws that I find in this book, these are probably on how the book keeps spitting tons and tons of names of cake ingredients, dishes, places in U.S., and people. They're too many to comprehend and most of them are like razzle dazzle that I want to skip reading. I also want point out how Paul is indecisive and moody. One second he gives Eloisa a condom then the next he is suspending her for just kissing Sean. Like, seriously, which side is he really on? (Ang gulo niya.) Lastly, the book is really a chick-lit than romance. It focuses on Eloisa's relationship with her brother and family and not with her leading man, Sean. Eloisa matured more in here than the smooth terms with Sean. (Yes, I do not see any complication with Sean for her to grow in here.)
Overall, the book is fine. I admire how the author transform the sex scene in here into a light and sweet one that may really pass the conservative culture of Philippines. And this is the first book I read in 2015 and the one I choose for preparing myself in a writing class this summer. Why? Because the blurb is good. It describes Eloisa as a strong woman and not a shy girl whose story revolves to silly secret crushes, cowardices, and the like.
If there are any flaws that I find in this book, these are probably on how the book keeps spitting tons and tons of names of cake ingredients, dishes, places in U.S., and people. They're too many to comprehend and most of them are like razzle dazzle that I want to skip reading. I also want point out how Paul is indecisive and moody. One second he gives Eloisa a condom then the next he is suspending her for just kissing Sean. Like, seriously, which side is he really on? (Ang gulo niya.) Lastly, the book is really a chick-lit than romance. It focuses on Eloisa's relationship with her brother and family and not with her leading man, Sean. Eloisa matured more in here than the smooth terms with Sean. (Yes, I do not see any complication with Sean for her to grow in here.)
Overall, the book is fine. I admire how the author transform the sex scene in here into a light and sweet one that may really pass the conservative culture of Philippines. And this is the first book I read in 2015 and the one I choose for preparing myself in a writing class this summer. Why? Because the blurb is good. It describes Eloisa as a strong woman and not a shy girl whose story revolves to silly secret crushes, cowardices, and the like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2015
Reading this book made me crave for sweets
I'm an avid fan of sweets. Sometimes I imagined myself as a pastry chef this book somehow made it possible.
What I love about this story about self discovery and how she became a better person than she was in the past.
Growing up in a conservative environment, you could totally relate to Eloisa Carreon's sentiments. I could feel her determination and being passionate on what she loves to do. She independent and smart. Eloisa wanted to prove to everyone she's capable of taking care of herself and she's no damsel in distress.
Sean is lovely and adorable in every aspect. I love that side of him. He showed genuine interest to Eloisa. I love how the author write their almost encounters in New York like fate have better plans for them but I find their romance a little rush.
I'm an avid fan of sweets. Sometimes I imagined myself as a pastry chef this book somehow made it possible.
What I love about this story about self discovery and how she became a better person than she was in the past.
Growing up in a conservative environment, you could totally relate to Eloisa Carreon's sentiments. I could feel her determination and being passionate on what she loves to do. She independent and smart. Eloisa wanted to prove to everyone she's capable of taking care of herself and she's no damsel in distress.
Sean is lovely and adorable in every aspect. I love that side of him. He showed genuine interest to Eloisa. I love how the author write their almost encounters in New York like fate have better plans for them but I find their romance a little rush.
February 6, 2017
I noticed this book at the corner of my eye as I was browsing through the national bookstore racks and shelves of novels and whatnot. After purchasing and upon reading its first contents, I was so glad I had spent Php190.00 on just this small book. It's a really nice read. I'm glad I went for the physical book and not the ebook. Worth taking a second- to third- read. And I'm definitely recommending this to my friends. One read through the synopsis at the back caught me with thoughts, "Oh, this book must be the one for me."
December 16, 2017
Dec. 16, 2017: Re-reading on progress...
May 2, 2016
You'll go looking for cakes or sweets after you finish reading this book ;D
December 3, 2017
Read full review here: https://louisedelunablog.wordpress.co...
Before anything else, I’d like to congratulate Stella on her world-building in this novella. Set in modern times, but almost completely removed from the type of world an average Filipina lives in, she discussed the intricacies of high society in such a way that even I understood.
She didn’t paint them as one-dimensional characters. In other forms of media, (I’m looking at you teleseryes) they’re either snobbish or completely pure-hearted. They sounded and felt like real people, with real problems – just with a different way of living.
Just look at Hazel and Vinny.
(I would love to read a story about these two. Mcdo dates? At seventh grade? YES.)
The novella does this by creating intergenerational relationships with the Reyna bakery family and the Valencia’s and Alvarezes. These relationships showed how the families became close without overusing exposition.
Before anything else, I’d like to congratulate Stella on her world-building in this novella. Set in modern times, but almost completely removed from the type of world an average Filipina lives in, she discussed the intricacies of high society in such a way that even I understood.
She didn’t paint them as one-dimensional characters. In other forms of media, (I’m looking at you teleseryes) they’re either snobbish or completely pure-hearted. They sounded and felt like real people, with real problems – just with a different way of living.
Just look at Hazel and Vinny.
(I would love to read a story about these two. Mcdo dates? At seventh grade? YES.)
The novella does this by creating intergenerational relationships with the Reyna bakery family and the Valencia’s and Alvarezes. These relationships showed how the families became close without overusing exposition.
March 15, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. It's a lighthearted romp through the world of high end bakeries where making the perfect cake is an art form.
Eloisa is a perfectionist when it comes to cake making. She inherited her skills from her grandmother, Lola Carmen, whose bakery catered to the highest society parties in Manila. Among Lola Carmen's claim to fame is making the delectable cake for debutante Betsy Verdadero on her 18th birthday. A beautiful cake for a beautiful woman.
Betsy happens to be the mother of heartthrob Sean Alvarez who meets Eloisa at her bakery. It turns out Eloisa is making the cake for her best friend Hazel who is also Sean's cousin, and Sean is doing the videotape for Hazel's wedding. This includes interviews with Hazel's friend, a taping of the preliminary cake tasting party, as well as observation of the cake making process, including a supply run and explanations of all of the materials that go into the cake.
Sean and Eloisa are attracted to each other immediately, but they barely have a moment of privacy, surrounded by friends, family, employees, and more family and friends. Each family member has his or her opinion and speculation runs rampant before the two principals can even figure out if they like each other enough to date.
The story is cute and sweet. Your mouth will water at the descriptions of the scrumptious desserts while you're hoping both Eloisa and Sean can get over past hurts and open their hearts to love. The story ends happily without much melodrama, and the real payoff is the warm feeling you get and happiness of being surrounded by friends and family who approve of your choices.
The best part of this story is experiencing what it's like to live as a single woman in a large and caring family in the Philippines where everyone has an opinion and doesn't hesitate to inquire and advise.
Eloisa is a perfectionist when it comes to cake making. She inherited her skills from her grandmother, Lola Carmen, whose bakery catered to the highest society parties in Manila. Among Lola Carmen's claim to fame is making the delectable cake for debutante Betsy Verdadero on her 18th birthday. A beautiful cake for a beautiful woman.
Betsy happens to be the mother of heartthrob Sean Alvarez who meets Eloisa at her bakery. It turns out Eloisa is making the cake for her best friend Hazel who is also Sean's cousin, and Sean is doing the videotape for Hazel's wedding. This includes interviews with Hazel's friend, a taping of the preliminary cake tasting party, as well as observation of the cake making process, including a supply run and explanations of all of the materials that go into the cake.
Sean and Eloisa are attracted to each other immediately, but they barely have a moment of privacy, surrounded by friends, family, employees, and more family and friends. Each family member has his or her opinion and speculation runs rampant before the two principals can even figure out if they like each other enough to date.
The story is cute and sweet. Your mouth will water at the descriptions of the scrumptious desserts while you're hoping both Eloisa and Sean can get over past hurts and open their hearts to love. The story ends happily without much melodrama, and the real payoff is the warm feeling you get and happiness of being surrounded by friends and family who approve of your choices.
The best part of this story is experiencing what it's like to live as a single woman in a large and caring family in the Philippines where everyone has an opinion and doesn't hesitate to inquire and advise.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews