The Essential Elizabeth Stone

by Jennifer Banash

From the author of The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana comes an emotional and empowering multigenerational family saga about a mother and daughter, and the secrets they keep from each other—and from themselves.

For more than thirty years, Elizabeth Stone has been an irreplaceable fixture in homes around the world, a food and lifestyle icon with a brand as warm and inviting as New England brown bread. Until, after her sudden passing, she leaves her legacy and her multimillion-dollar empire to her daughter, Juliet, who is expected to step seamlessly into her shoes.

Juliet finds herself at both a personal and professional crossroads in her life, fearing she won’t be good enough to maintain the image and brand of a woman she adored. With the company in financial trouble, Juliet is urged to write the definitive biography of her mother—self-made entrepreneur, perfect mom, and homespun everywoman whose own childhood in Maine was filled with comfort food and simple elegance. But other than what little Juliet has been told, she doesn’t know much about her mother’s past.

The truth is, no one does.

As she digs through her mother’s possessions, tracking down those who knew her, Juliet is stunned to uncover a lifetime of secrets and lies. As she uncovers the truth, she is forced to reckon with her grief over missing someone she isn’t sure she ever really knew. Faced with decisions about the fate of her mother’s empire, as well as Juliet’s own marriage and future, she will first have to answer the question on everyone’s mind—who was Elizabeth Stone?

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Family, Historical Fiction, Family Drama

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Banash was born and raised in New York City. She now lives in Southern California with her beagle, Sigmund, and her vast collection of designer shoes.

Check out my blog at jenniferbanash.wordpress.com

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Harold approached, taking her hand in his own and squeezing it reassuringly, looking over with an encouraging smile. His full head of salt-and-pepper hair shone in the light, and his suit of cream-colored linen was one of the many he'd had tailored at a small shop on Madison Avenue. 'You know what to do,' he whispered gently, the low timbre of his voice barely audible over the buzz of the courtyard. 'Just be yourself.'
She nodded, her lips stretching into a smile, one unadorned by lipstick, just a swipe of clear gloss that glistened in the late-afternoon sunlight - golden hour, her mother had always called it. The white cotton shift she wore set off the beginnings of her summer tan, and a curtain of butterscotch hair grazed her shoulders in a neat line. Just below her wide blue eyes, a spray of freckles dotted her nose and cheeks like the faintest dusting of nutmeg on a peach tart.
Be yourself. But who was that exactly?

ABOUT 'THE ESSENTIAL ELIZABETH STONE': For more than thirty years, Elizabeth Stone has been an irreplaceable fixture in homes around the world, a food and lifestyle icon with a brand as warm and inviting as New England brown bread. Until, after her sudden passing, she leaves her legacy and her multimillion-dollar empire to her daughter, Juliet, who is expected to step seamlessly into her shoes.

Juliet finds herself at both a personal and professional crossroads in her life, fearing she won’t be good enough to maintain the image and brand of a woman she adored. With the company in financial trouble, Juliet is urged to write the definitive biography of her mother—self-made entrepreneur, perfect mom, and homespun everywoman whose own childhood in Maine was filled with comfort food and simple elegance. But other than what little Juliet has been told, she doesn’t know much about her mother’s past.

The truth is, no one does.

As she digs through her mother’s possessions, tracking down those who knew her, Juliet is stunned to uncover a lifetime of secrets and lies. As she uncovers the truth, she is forced to reckon with her grief over missing someone she isn’t sure she ever really knew. Faced with decisions about the fate of her mother’s empire, as well as Juliet’s own marriage and future, she will first have to answer the question on everyone’s mind—who was Elizabeth Stone?

MY THOUGHTS: The Essential Elizabeth Stone is not a particularly long book, but it took me almost a week to read. I would go back and reread phrases, whole paragraphs, turning the words over in my mind, savoring them. I would unconsciously stop reading, my mind wandering off to some place that something in the book triggered (in a good way!). It led me to examine my relationship with my own mother.

I was totally immersed in the narrative - I could see Elizabeth; I could feel Juliet's frustration and anger; I could feel the warmth of the summer sun on my face and taste the delicious food Elizabeth prepared.

The characters are so real, they could step off the page. Eunice is a revelation - I loved her, possibly more than Elizabeth. Juliet is a bit of an enigma; she has lived in her mother's shadow and allowed her to orchestrate her life. Following her mother's death she is rudderless, ill-prepared and swamped by conflicting emotions.

There are three generations of women and two of motherhood examined in this novel; Elizabeth's rocky relationship with her own mother, Grace; and her relationship with her own daughter, Juliet.

I loved this quiet and absorbing novel. There was never a moment I was bored or irritated by the characters. I loved the family dynamics in both Elizabeth's and Eunice's families and loved watching Juliet grow into her own person.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#TheEssentialElizabethStone #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Banash lives and writes in Los Angeles, California, with her partner, Willy Blackmore, and their daughter, Story.

DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for the advance reader copy.

One thing I can tell you about this book for sure is that it never bored me. Yes, I am telling you this if you’re going to consider if the book is going to take up more time reading it when it comes out.

I feel you will surely like this book if you enjoy stories and writing by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Kristin Hannah. I like reading their books and this one gives similar vibes with their work.

It is the story of a daughter whose glamourous mother’s demise puts her in a position to succeed her legacy.

In the process of writing a biography of her famous mother (whose books used to sell like hot cakes!), she comes to know who her mother really was and the secrets she didn’t tell anyone.

Well, I was expecting these bits to be revealed in such a pace that would spread out with the entire length of the book. This is where a little bit of my disappointment comes.

The actual plot gets revealed a little late in my opinion towards the end of the book. However, I also feel that this is the charm of the book as well.

Overall, a good story. Good writing. Good character development and a good ending.

Yes, go for it.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into The Essential Elizabeth Stone expecting a compelling mother-daughter story, but what I got was something much deeper, and an intimate, emotionally layered exploration of legacy, identity, and the complicated truths we inherit.

The book follows Juliet, grieving the sudden loss of her mother, Elizabeth Stone, a wildly famous lifestyle icon (think: a cooler, more elusive Martha Stewart). As Juliet begins writing a biography to honor her mother’s life, she starts peeling back the polished, public image to find a far more complex and human story. The dual timelines; Juliet in the present and Elizabeth in her early years, are seamlessly woven and kept me completely hooked.

What I loved most was how real this felt. Juliet’s grief, her confusion, her need to reconcile the woman the world adored with the mother she barely understood, and it all felt incredibly raw and honest. And Elizabeth’s story? Fascinating. Ambitious, flawed, determined, and often heartbreaking. Banash writes with such texture and empathy that both women came alive on the page.

There were moments that moved slowly, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I found myself savoring the atmosphere, the beautifully detailed prose, and the emotional revelations. It reminded me a bit of works by Jodi Picoult or Taylor Jenkins Reid, especially in how it navigates fame, reinvention, and the weight of a public persona.

If you love multi-generational stories with heart, secrets, and women finding their voices on their own terms, this one is definitely worth reading. I closed the final page feeling both heartbroken and hopeful.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book when I read the blurb and was not disappointed. In fact I enjoyed it even more than expected.
The internal struggles of both Jules and Elizabeth were very compelling and I could relate easily to both characters. I was so drawn into their story that when they were hurting I became upset, as if it were happening to me. I would have liked to get to know some of the other characters a little more, especially Noah..
In my opinion there was more description than what I usually like. I prefer to be given just enough to convey the general vibe and then I imagine the rest. I did end up skim reading through some paragraphs because of this. I also like to be hooked into a story straight away, it did take a couple of chapters to really get into this novel because the overwhelming description of Jules grief seemed to delay the progression of the plot. However, don’t let this prevent you from reading on because once you get past the first couple of chapters you won’t be able to put it down. Don’t start reading if you need an early night!
The author has weaved this story together so elegantly and I think that anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction will love this book as much as I have!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to reading this amazing novel.

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book because when I read the synopsis it really caught my attention. However, Jules, the main character ruined it for me. I just didn’t like her and could not feel sympathetic for her in any way. She just ran away from everything - time and again- it just got really boring.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I suppose we all have parts of ourselves that we hide not only from others but from ourselves as well. But rarely do we craft a life to be what we want it to be that is such a facade that no one, not one’s spouse, not their child, not their colleagues, and not their book publisher nor their adoring fans really know us, not even after we die. But that is exactly what Elizabeth Stone did.

Reading the first paragraph of what I’ve written, I shake my head, because that is exactly what my oldest friend did. Those who knew them knew a different piece. I, who was present when the facade hardened, did not know the depths of the fantasies they were immersed in. So why should I be surprised when, after her death, Elizabeth Stone’s daughter learns the truth not only about her mother but about herself?

In this book, I wasn’t surprised at all, as the hackneyed literary devices that are the essence of this story hit the reader over the head so much that this reader's head hurts. The Essential Elizabeth Stone is replete with essentially boring characters, most of them intent on keeping the myth of Elizabeth Stone alive after she dies. Parts of it are simply not believable, especially the end, where the daughter, Jules, an apparent artist and photographer, just sits down and writes a bestseller about what she has discovered, posthumously, about her mother. And, of course, in the process, about herself.

I was bored by this story and bored by the characters, despite how interesting it looked like it could be.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the cover of this book, and it didn't disappoint.
Jules, the daughter of Elizabeth, a Martha Steward like woman, is grieving the death of her mother. There is a lot of grief, anger, depression, etc in this book, but I admired the way it was resolved.
Jules is approached to complete a memoir of her mom, but with a ghostwriter. He discovers that the well crafted story her mom had given to the public (and Jules) all these years wasn't true at all.
She sets off on a journey to find the real Elizabeth.
I'm not sure I was intrigued by a couple of the characters, but it wasn't off putting.
Give this one a read. I think you'll enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to read this novel.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a totally different book about a Martha Stewart-type mom told from a daughter’s viewpoint. Jennifer Banash set up a very real and human story about a mother - daughter relationship where the death of the mother revealed hidden secrets that could have altered her memory forever. After investigating the facts, though, and feeling and finding additional information, the daughter Juliet understands what she needs to in order to move on. A very relatable story about the volatility and fragility of relationships.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

[Joana (Miss Known) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Stone is basically a Martha Stewart. She is a brand. She represents a lifestyle. She is an idol. And now, with her death, her company is facing some financial problems. Juliet is called to run operations, but she has no idea what she’s doing. And writing a book about her late mother is a way for her to begin the healing process and keep the name Elizabeth Stone alive. And all throughout the book, this is the mood. A sense of sadness, melancholy and wandering. There is a romance subplot that doesn’t even change the tone. Juliet lost her mother, and she is suffering. That is a constant.

The writing is lyrical and overly descriptive. Towards the end, I started to skim some paragraphs describing a scene with far too much detail than I had patience for. This is something I wish to find in more books, and then when I have a book that gives me that, I don’t like it. I’m guessing this is also related to other elements of the story that didn’t work for me. Possibly, it was the mixture of it all that put me off on the writing style.

The story is told between the past and the present, jumping from the perspective of Juliet to her mother over the years. At first, I didn’t like it. It interrupted an already slow development in the present to a new perspective. It also presents what happens in the past before the main character discovers that information in the present. So, the reader knows more than the main character. And that usually removes the objective of the character. Why follow her daughter trying to uncover secrets when her mother can show them? But quickly, Jules' perspective changes its focus to her dealing with everything. And so, it becomes Elizabeth herself telling her story. At that point, her perspective becomes more enjoyable and more fast-paced.

Something that surprised me was Elizabeth Stone's relationship with food. That’s how she starts her career, and that isn’t apparent in the beginning. I wish even the writing style would grab the food theme and ran with it. Exploring Elizabeth and Juliet’s life through food. The different experiences it can offer. And in that sense, Elizabeth was very in tune with her cooking. It was intentional, a piece of herself every time she cooked, and I loved that. I wanted to read more about that. I wanted the food to be the theme that would join both perspectives. Can you tell I’m very passionate about food?

In a way, The Essential Elizabeth Stone reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The creation of this iconic character spawns further from the page. A character that lives outside the book. And it didn’t work out the same way. Maybe because Elizabeth is not a good character. She’s deeply flawed. She made many questionable decisions. But that’s the point of the story. Of a daughter learning who her mother truly was. Realising she wasn’t a goddess, the personification of perfection. And how she is going to deal with these realisations on top of her grief.

Maybe because of the tone of the story, I couldn’t like Juliet. I felt she lacked a lot of personality. Like she was a grey cloud hovering over the whole story. Granted that she’s lost, grieving, doesn’t know who she is or who she wants to be. Her mother’s biography is more of a journey of self-discovery for her than about her mother. She is learning who she is away from her mother and learning to forgive past mistakes.

When I picked this book up, I was more interested in the family drama and secrets. And the story isn’t as dramatic as I was hoping for. The mixture of slow development with grief sets a mood that doesn’t leave room for me to delight in the drama. It’s a serious telling, and I was expecting something more lighthearted. While I didn’t fully connect with this book, there isn’t anything wrong with it. It just needs the right reader. And I wasn’t one.

[Brianna Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone rich and famous who was hiding a secret and also having secret financial issues- say it isn’t so?! No really though, the things that the FMC found out about her mom made this one super interesting and it helped develop a really cute romance. I love a good hunt for secrets and this one didn’t disappoint. I also love how she had to figure out the direction and pull herself up to make some tough decisions. Very relatable in that aspect.

[Stroop · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a famous home cook and lifestyle guru passes away, her daughter Juliet is left to pick up the pieces and ensure her mother’s legacy stays intact. Juliet is struggling to manage everyone’s expectations of her and when a ghostwriter hired to write her mother’s biography suggests her mother may have been lying about her identity, everything Juliet knows about herself and her mother is called into question.

The story unfolds in two timelines - the present with Juliet and 30ish years ago with Elizabeth. It took me a while to get into this story and, once I did, I was entertained. Elizabeth’s storyline was much more compelling, as was Elizabeth. We don’t really get to know Juliet all that well, which makes it a little harder to empathize with her and understand her motivations.

Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I started this book and at first thought it was hard to get into, it was a slow burner, I however persevered and went on to thoroughly enjoy reading it. It was a joyous heartwarming story! I highly recommend this book.

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gorgeous cover of THE ESSENTIAL ELIZABETH STONE by Jennifer Banash grabbed my attention immediately, and once I read the first line of the synopsis, I just knew that I had to read it:

“𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙫𝙖 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙖 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨.”

Yesssss. You all know that family dramas are my jam, especially when they involve mothers and daughters. This novel gave me major Elin Hilderbrand vibes. The overall writing style and characters felt reminiscent of one of her novels. There’s tons of drama, romance, heartache, and mystery. The character of Elizabeth Stone felt very Martha Stewart-like. She built a culinary and lifestyle empire, and now her daughter is struggling to hold up and carry on her legacy after her death. Tasked with writing her biography, she quickly realizes that she didn’t really know her mother at all.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Mother/daughter relationships
- Family drama and secrets
- Marriage and motherhood
- Driven female protagonists
- Food and entertaining
- Rags to riches storyline
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Mystery and intrigue
- Flip-flopping timelines
- Maine setting

Just a heads-up, don’t read this book on an empty stomach—have snacks handy! The food descriptions made my mouth water! Foodies will definitely appreciate this one. Overall, I was very impressed with this novel and will definitely read more from Banash in the future. THE ESSENTIAL ELIZABETH STONE is currently free to read and listen to on kindle unlimited, so take advantage and download it now! 4/5 stars!

[Sarah Bay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was 4 stars. I really enjoyed it. The familial story lines fit perfectly and left me feeling whole and completely immersed in each woman's story. Of course, as usual, I prefered the story line deeper rooted in history - this one being Elizabeth.

The writing was 2 stars. I just can't with all of the flowery, fluffy, descriptive over-detailed writing (pun intended here). Literally every page had a paragraph that made me roll my eyes. It felt like a high school creative writing contest: 'Jules was glad for the warmth of the coffee, if only to wrap her hands around, the steam rising from the Inky liquid. She reached for the metal pitcher of cream, pouring it into her mug until the color lightened to a creamy beige.'

So, we meet in the middle at 3 stars.

[Megan Bygness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m definitely biased since the author is my friend and former grad school officemate. The book, however, is absolutely splendid and it is a beautifully written encapsulation of the relationship between mother and daughter and the often fragmented knowing of one another. Filled with gorgeously described food and interiors, the inspiration of the novel’s eponymous Elizabeth Stone seems clear, but the book is about much more than a self-made early influencer. The final third of the novel avoids cliches and brings a satisfying, though incomplete, conclusion.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Barbara Mank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like it but I was disappointed by excessive descriptive language. It was pretty, but too much. Where it shone for me was the slow reveal of her mother’s character

[Moshita · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the turn of the last page, I wasn’t a 100% sure about what was essentially Elizabeth Stone. Was it her determination to leave her world behind and transform herself, or that she had grit to succeed against all odds, or was it her compulsion to hold her cards close to her chest and keep everyone around her on their toes, guessing to who or what is Elizabeth Stone?
You read about Elizabeth when she is already dead, and forward pages reveal a woman who was so determined to leave her mark in the world that she did not care about the damage she left behind. Ruthless and callous, we read how Elizabeth, a pastiche of Martha Stewart, has left behind a daughter, Julia, who is encumbered by her mother’s legacy. She neither has the emotional grasp to make decisions for the company, nor does she have the gumption to go through with a humble thanksgiving dinner, a favourite of her dead mother. The only time she shows any backbone is when she realises that her mother may have had a secret life before she became Elizabeth Stone.
Thus begins the book. We race through past and present, anecdotes and events collide, and we learn about the mysterious past of Elizabeth that she told no one.
The exposition of the story might falter, but the narrative pace does not. I found myself engrossed as Julia uncovered every hidden bit of her mother’s hidden past.
The plot would have veered in to trite territory with the mother-daughter relationship, but thankfully it does not. There is a clear emotional attachment and slight physical resemblance between Elizabeth and Julia, and that is the crux of the book, its driving force. It is obvious when Julia tries to engage with the other characters in the book, it doesn’t develop well or mean the same as to when we hear or read about Elizabeth; her character might be dead in the book, but she is almost treated as being alive by everyone.
I don’t know if the other characters were written to be this weak or was Elizabeth just too strong a woman, even in past and present that the plot only moves forward because of her.

She is essential to the book, but I am still wondering what was essential about her.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Thai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esse é um livro super diferente da maioria, sobre uma mãe estilo Martha Stewart. E a grande sacada é que a história é contada do ponto de vista da filha. A autora contou uma história muito realista e humana. Uma história muito compreensível sobre a volatilidade e fragilidade dos relacionamentos. Na minha opinião, esse livro tem longos parágrafos descritivos, muito a mais do que normalmente gosto. Prefiro receber apenas o suficiente para pegar a vibe do cenário geral e então imagino o resto. Precisei de alguns capítulos para realmente entrar neste romance, porque o relato devastador da dor de Jules parecia atrasar a progressão da história. Porém, depois que engatei na história não consegui largar. Nunca tinha lido nada dessa autora mas ela teceu essa história com muita elegância e acho que qualquer pessoa que goste de ficção contemporânea vai adorar este livro tanto quanto eu!

This is a book that is super different from most, about a Martha Stewart-style mother. And the great thing is that the story is told from the daughter's point of view. The author told a very realistic and human story. A very relatable story about the volatility and fragility of relationships. In my opinion, this book has long descriptive paragraphs, much more than I normally like. I prefer to receive just enough to get the vibe of the big picture and then figure out the rest. It took me a few chapters to really get into this novel, because the devastating account of Jules' grief seemed to slow the story's progression. However, once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. I had never read anything by this author but she weaved this story with great elegance and I think anyone who likes contemporary fiction will love this book as much as I did!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Tammy O · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She bowed her head, covering her face with her splayed hands…It’s like prayer, she thought in disbelief as the tears came faster, this kind of grief.”

There were several things going on in this book, and I was interested in all of them:

*Juliet’s relationship with her mom took center stage. I thought the author’s description of Juliet’s grief and pain over her mother’s death was very poignant.

*Next there was Elizabeth Stone’s business, and Juliet struggled to make the decisions her mother would make while wondering who was trustworthy.

*Then there was Elizabeth’s book editor who wanted Juliet to write her mom’s biography. This is when we learned Elizabeth Stone had a mystery past, and Jules set out with ghost-writer Noah to search for answers.

*And finally we were introduced to a young woman named “Billie”, her mother Grace, and the wealthy Archibald family. Descriptions of Eunice Archibald’s gardens overlooking the sea were beautiful.

It was hard to stop reading at this point because the story snowballed and everything started happening. Some things were a little over the top with high drama, and the descriptions grew heavy on words, but I still thought it was very well done and I enjoyed the read.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm afraid I finished this book a little disappointed. I don't really know why I think I just expected something more from it. It a dual timeline book telling the story of a mother and daughter. The daughter is searching for the truth about her mother after her death. The mother had been a famous, well loved TV cook and the daughter is trying to deal with her death by trying to become her instead of being herself. This seemed like a very jaded tale to me that's been told too many times before. The author does it very nicely but I'm afraid it was the same story once too often for me. There's also far too many descriptions of food and clothes although I loved the ones of the cities.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Booksandcoffeemx]

What a captivating and engrossing story!
Beautifully written, with a bit of mystery, drama, a beautiful setting and lots of delicious food. A moving story about identity and finding yourself with strong female characters. I loved every page.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 by Jennifer Banash released September 10, 2024.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s ok, but Banash’s writing is tortured. She finds six ways to describe every emotion and every feeling, and I found myself skimming the page until I got to the next bit of dialogue. The ending is way too predictable.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash is a highly recommended domestic drama about a Martha-Stewart-like character and her daughter.

Through her renowned parties, books, and TV show, Elizabeth Stone was a food and lifestyle icon for thirty years before her sudden death. She left her multimillion-dollar empire to her daughter, Juliet. A year later Juliet is still mourning the loss of her beloved mothers and is struggling to fill her mother's shoes. The company is in financial trouble and the idea of writing the definitive biography of her mother is set forth as a way to keep the company solvent.

While researching her mother's past with writer Noah Sharpe, he discovers that Elizabeth Stone never existed and the story she often told about her childhood in Bar Harbor, Maine, was a fabrication. The two set out together to discover who Elizabeth Stone really was. They find out she was originally Billie (Elizabeth) Abbot and did not come from a life of privilege. She worked her way up from nothing to become the entertainment brand known across the world.

The narrative alternates between chapters following Juliet's research into her mother's past and chapters set in the past as Billie struggles to make her way in the world. The alternating viewpoints works out quite well in the plot and will keep interest high in both time lines. It makes a clear point that secrets and lies are not always what they seem to be and not always devious.

With each new fact, emotional details, and surprises uncovered, Juliet's emotions are expertly captured and shared. Billie's emotions are equally well presented. Readers will come to appreciate both of these complicated women, mother and daughter, and what they encounter along the way. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...

[Sally M · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a beautiful coincidence when the morning after I watched a certain documentary on a certain popular streaming service about a certain well-known entertainer and homemaker, I opened my Kindle to find this book in my recommended reads. I’m the girl who spent my younger life fascinated by and my adult life envious of women like Ina and Martha, who seem to be able to do it all—making putting together a tasteful event with mouthwatering food and beautiful floral arrangements, keeping a perfect garden, being the doting wife and mother, look so effortlessly easy. I, as I’m sure many other women can agree, have always looked at them and felt an inadequacy that has festered, especially since becoming a wife and mother. Keeping a perfectly clean home, with that warm, inviting feeling, cooking three square meals a day, cleaning dishes after every meal, while also being an attentive and caring wife and mother, has always felt like an unrealistic aspiration, but one that I’ve striven for nonetheless. After reading this novel and watching that documentary, I realize now, that there’s a give-and-take. There’s a difference between true happiness and the facade that these women who made being portrayed as the “perfect entertainer” their livelihood put on for the world to see. This story beautifully tells how the untold lies of a “perfect” mother affected the next generation as Juliet sought to discover who Elizabeth Stone really was. While Juliet navigates the stages of grief, she’s faced with one surprise after another as she tries to make peace with the loss of a mother she now knows she never truly knew. I highly recommend this book to any woman who feels the same way I do. We’ll never be “perfect”, we weren’t meant to be, the “perfect” woman seems to end up riddled with regrets at the end of life. All we can do is strive to be present, be honest with ourselves and our loved ones about who we are, and shower our family and friends with all the love we can muster.

[Chantelle Andercastle · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 35 / 100 in 2024
✍️ Women’s Fiction
⭐️ 5 stars

The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash
title releases September 10, 2024

for readers who enjoy books with....

secrets, cookbooks, Maine, dinner parties, roasted walnuts, only children, matching linens, first love, summer people, grief journey, oysters, books about writing, mothers and daughters, tablescapes, coming of age, multiple POV

(Thank you to @netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance digital ARC copy!)

Months after Elizabeth’s death, Juliet discovers her mother might not be who she said she was - which Juliet now has to navigate alongside her grief, her marriage, and leading her mother’s brand while coming to terms with what this all means for her personally.

With themes of people who are closest to you being even likelier to surprise you, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was easy to fall in love with these characters as they invented themselves (and re-invented themselves).

I do love a well-titled book and appreciated the reference to cookbooks in the title. I selected this one from NetGalley with a working cover and didn’t see the actual cover until after reading, but I think it’s a great fit. Books about books are always some of my favourites - this would be a great companion read for The Editor by Steven Rowley.

I felt fully immersed in Banash’s description-rich writing and could totally relate to the experience of choosing which details about yourself you want to be the main plot points of your life.

Read more reviews on Instagram @mybookshelfawareness

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Essential Elizabeth Stone by new to me author J. Banash, published by Lake Union Publishing is a full length, stand alone. An intriguing read, literally unputdownable, gives all the feels.
Blurb:
For more than thirty years, Elizabeth Stone has been an irreplaceable fixture in homes around the world, a food and lifestyle icon with a brand as warm and inviting as New England brown bread. Until, after her sudden passing, she leaves her legacy and her multimillion-dollar empire to her daughter, Juliet, who is expected to step seamlessly into her shoes.
Juliet finds herself at both a personal and professional crossroads in her life, fearing she won’t be good enough to maintain the image and brand of a woman she adored. With the company in financial trouble, Juliet is urged to write the definitive biography of her mother—self-made entrepreneur, perfect mom, and homespun everywoman whose own childhood in Maine was filled with comfort food and simple elegance. But other than what little Juliet has been told, she doesn’t know much about her mother’s past.
The truth is, no one does.
As she digs through her mother’s possessions, tracking down those who knew her, Juliet is stunned to uncover a lifetime of secrets and lies. As she uncovers the truth, she is forced to reckon with her grief over missing someone she isn’t sure she ever really knew. Faced with decisions about the fate of her mother’s empire, as well as Juliet’s own marriage and future, she will first have to answer the question on everyone’s mind—who was Elizabeth Stone.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Elizabeth Stone’s character was likened to Martha Stewart, so while there were mentions of food, home decor, and recipes, I found this to be a captivating story about family secrets and forbidden romances.

After Elizabeth’s death, Juliet is trying to preserve the empire and reputation that her late mother built. But when asked to write her mother’s biography, Juliet discovers that her mother kept many secrets. The mystery of these secrets and Juliet's journey with her co-writer to track down people who may have known Elizabeth before she became successful kept me intrigued as they pieced her life together.

As a fan of family dramas and romances, this book was a perfect blend for me. Juliet's emotional journey, her grief, and her sense of betrayal from her mother, along with the heartaches both she and her mother faced, drew me into their lives. I found myself thoroughly engaged and hoping for them to find resolution and peace, and the author delivered a satisfying ending.


🎧 The audiobook production was very well done, with Jenn Lee’s narration bringing warmth and emotion to these characters.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @jbanash and @brilliancepublishing for a spot on tour and the gifted audiobook.

[lori pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Jenn Lee narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job!!. I highly recommend the audio version!

Julia has lost the most important person in her world, her mother, Elizabeth Stone. Elizabeth is a version of Martha Stewart, if you will, amassing a significant entertaining and cooking empire. After her sudden death of Elizabeth from cancer, Julia finds herself adrift and lost. As she tries to step into her mother's enormous shoes, she discovers that she did not really know her mother at all. This is the story of Julia's discovery of who her mother was and who Julia is.

This is such a well written story that I thoroughly enjoyed! The prose describing food, scenery, fabrics, and people is so colorful and visual that you find that you can feel, smell and taste what is being described. I loved the characters who were so well developed. The pacing is perfect and the writing superb. I highly recommend this familia story and discovering who Elizabeth was along with Julia!!!

[momma g · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash is a character-driven exploration of legacy, identity, and the complexities of family relationships. The novel centers on Juliet Stone, daughter of the iconic lifestyle mogul Elizabeth Stone, who is forced to confront her mother’s true past after her sudden death. Elizabeth, who built a Martha Stewart-esque brand of domestic perfection, turns out to have a hidden history full of secrets and contradictions. As Juliet embarks on writing a definitive biography of her mother, she uncovers shocking truths that challenge everything she thought she knew.

The novel alternates between Juliet’s present-day perspective and flashbacks to Elizabeth’s earlier life, revealing a woman who rose from humble beginnings to create her empire. This dual narrative structure adds depth to both characters, but some readers may find the pace slow, with a heavy focus on grief and personal discovery rather than high drama. Juliet’s journey is less about glamorous revelations and more about processing loss, coming to terms with imperfections, and finding her own path.