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What Would Mary Berry Do?
For fans of The Great British Bake Off, this is a story about family life, unfriendly rivalry and flat Victoria sponges.
Marie Dunwoody doesn't want for much in life. She has a lovely husband, three wonderful children, and a business of her own. Except, her cupcakes are crap. Her meringues are runny and her biscuits rock-hard. She cannot bake for toffee. Or, for that matter, make toffee.
Marie can't ignore the disappointed looks any more, or continue to be shamed by neighbour and nemesis, Lucy Gray. Lucy whips up perfect profiteroles with one hand, while ironing her bed sheets with the other. Marie's had enough: this is the year it all changes. She vows to follow - to the letter - recipes from the Queen of Baking and at all times ask 'What would Mary Berry do?'
Husband Robert has noticed that his boss takes crumb structure as seriously as budget sheets and so puts on the pinny: serious redundancies are on the horizon. Twins Rose and Iris are happy to eat all the half-baked mistakes that come their way, but big brother Angus is more distant than usual, as if something is troubling him. And there is no one as nosey as a matching pair of nine-year-old girls . . .
Marie starts to realise that the wise words of Mary Berry can help her with more than just a Victoria Sponge. But can Robert save the wobbling soufflé that is his career? And is Lucy's sweet demeanour hiding something secretly sour?
This is a delicious feast of a funny novel, perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Allison Pearson.
*** This is a work of fiction, in no way endorsed by Mary Berry, and where neither Mary Berry herself nor her recipes feature. ***
Marie Dunwoody doesn't want for much in life. She has a lovely husband, three wonderful children, and a business of her own. Except, her cupcakes are crap. Her meringues are runny and her biscuits rock-hard. She cannot bake for toffee. Or, for that matter, make toffee.
Marie can't ignore the disappointed looks any more, or continue to be shamed by neighbour and nemesis, Lucy Gray. Lucy whips up perfect profiteroles with one hand, while ironing her bed sheets with the other. Marie's had enough: this is the year it all changes. She vows to follow - to the letter - recipes from the Queen of Baking and at all times ask 'What would Mary Berry do?'
Husband Robert has noticed that his boss takes crumb structure as seriously as budget sheets and so puts on the pinny: serious redundancies are on the horizon. Twins Rose and Iris are happy to eat all the half-baked mistakes that come their way, but big brother Angus is more distant than usual, as if something is troubling him. And there is no one as nosey as a matching pair of nine-year-old girls . . .
Marie starts to realise that the wise words of Mary Berry can help her with more than just a Victoria Sponge. But can Robert save the wobbling soufflé that is his career? And is Lucy's sweet demeanour hiding something secretly sour?
This is a delicious feast of a funny novel, perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Allison Pearson.
*** This is a work of fiction, in no way endorsed by Mary Berry, and where neither Mary Berry herself nor her recipes feature. ***
421 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2014
28 people are currently reading
1783 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
August 30, 2014
I'm actually a little bit in love with this book! What Would Mary Berry Do? is a fun and quirky story that doesn't sugar coat a single damn thing... well other than the cakes that is! It's laugh out loud funny in places and 100% unputdownable with a heart-warming and stereotypically British family at it's core.
Marie Dunwoody is a working mum of three (Angus 15 and brooding and the twins Iris & Rose, 9 and mischievous) with a full-time job and a husband to boot. She doesn't exactly have time to be housewife of the year as well, meaning her culinary skills are a little on the mediocre side. That is until her darling daughters forget to inform their mother that she has to bake the Show Stopper for the school fete. With no time to spear Marie pops into the local shop and buys the first thing she sees and it doesn't exactly go down well with the schools PSA. The book follows the Dunwoody family over the next year as Marie promises that next years fete will be better. But with her husband Robert having problems at work, her children constantly up to something and an arch nemesis of a neighbour will Mary Berry be enough to help her get ready for her next Show Stopper challenge?
The only negative note I did have bout the book was having the main character as Marie and her constantly referring to Mary got a little on the confusing side. But, I mean, how tiny an issue is that?
I felt like I was part of the family, and the third person perspective made it all the more enjoyable. As a reader you are able to engross yourself into the Dunwoody dynamic. I loved the fact that this family wasn't portrayed as perfect or completely falling apart. They were the right blend of reality and their flaws only made them all the more endearing.
With The Great British Bake Off just around the corner (in fact I believe it starts tomorrow EEP) this book is exactly what I needed to get me in the mood. With a serious case of Berry loving and the constant thought of who would kick whom's arse - Marry Berry or Mr Hollywood - I'm totally stoked and ready to bake! Intriguing characters and a heart-warming story that shows one family's journey to the perfect baked goods, What Would Mary Berry Do? Is the PERFECT summer read.
I recommend you read this book with a cup of tea and a rather large slice of cake. Your choice, but I'd go with the Victoria Sponge - keep it classy.
Marie Dunwoody is a working mum of three (Angus 15 and brooding and the twins Iris & Rose, 9 and mischievous) with a full-time job and a husband to boot. She doesn't exactly have time to be housewife of the year as well, meaning her culinary skills are a little on the mediocre side. That is until her darling daughters forget to inform their mother that she has to bake the Show Stopper for the school fete. With no time to spear Marie pops into the local shop and buys the first thing she sees and it doesn't exactly go down well with the schools PSA. The book follows the Dunwoody family over the next year as Marie promises that next years fete will be better. But with her husband Robert having problems at work, her children constantly up to something and an arch nemesis of a neighbour will Mary Berry be enough to help her get ready for her next Show Stopper challenge?
The only negative note I did have bout the book was having the main character as Marie and her constantly referring to Mary got a little on the confusing side. But, I mean, how tiny an issue is that?
I felt like I was part of the family, and the third person perspective made it all the more enjoyable. As a reader you are able to engross yourself into the Dunwoody dynamic. I loved the fact that this family wasn't portrayed as perfect or completely falling apart. They were the right blend of reality and their flaws only made them all the more endearing.
With The Great British Bake Off just around the corner (in fact I believe it starts tomorrow EEP) this book is exactly what I needed to get me in the mood. With a serious case of Berry loving and the constant thought of who would kick whom's arse - Marry Berry or Mr Hollywood - I'm totally stoked and ready to bake! Intriguing characters and a heart-warming story that shows one family's journey to the perfect baked goods, What Would Mary Berry Do? Is the PERFECT summer read.
I recommend you read this book with a cup of tea and a rather large slice of cake. Your choice, but I'd go with the Victoria Sponge - keep it classy.
July 27, 2019
I loved this book so much!! I haven't read anything by Claire Sandy before and after this I feel I want to read more!! This is a lighthearted but very well written book with great characters. The main character - Marie and her husband Robert are immensely likeable and very real. Their twin daughters were great fun and the teenage son Angus and his admirer Chloe were oh so real!! At times I laughed out loud at some of the events that happened. Aileens description of the male member and sex is hilarious - so much so that I found myself reading it out to my husband who also thought it was extremely funny. I would highly recommend this book!!
September 19, 2020
Viegla un jautra lasāmviela, ar ko izvēdināt galvu. Par kūkām, draudzību un veinkārši sievietes dzīvi. Diemžēl jāatzīst ka kārtējo reizi latviešu tulkojums ir ļoti vājš.
August 21, 2020
Grāmatu man ieteica bibliotekāre, kad nezināju, ko īsti vēl paņemt, jo vēl joprojām paši apmeklētāji nevar tikt pie bibliotēkas plauktiem. Esmu ļoti priecīga par to, jo ļoti uzrunāja autores humors, tēli un arī stāsta atrisinājums.
Darbā ir attainots viens gads Marī un viņas ģimenes dzīvē. Marī ir apņēmusies nākamajā gadā pārsteigt visus ar fantastisku pašceptu kūku labdarības dienā skolā, kad stāsts iesākas ar nopirktu kūciņu pasniegšanu šajā pasākumā. Nejauši viņas rokās nonāk Mērijas Berijas recepšu un padomu grāmata un ceļojums kūku pasaulē var sākties.
Patika arī autores atsauces uz šovu "Lielbritānijas labākais cepējs", kuram nereti sekoju līdzi arī es un mani bērni.
Līdz ar to lieliski izklaidējos, negaidīti.
Latviski šis darbs saucās "Saldā dzīve".
Darbā ir attainots viens gads Marī un viņas ģimenes dzīvē. Marī ir apņēmusies nākamajā gadā pārsteigt visus ar fantastisku pašceptu kūku labdarības dienā skolā, kad stāsts iesākas ar nopirktu kūciņu pasniegšanu šajā pasākumā. Nejauši viņas rokās nonāk Mērijas Berijas recepšu un padomu grāmata un ceļojums kūku pasaulē var sākties.
Patika arī autores atsauces uz šovu "Lielbritānijas labākais cepējs", kuram nereti sekoju līdzi arī es un mani bērni.
Līdz ar to lieliski izklaidējos, negaidīti.
Latviski šis darbs saucās "Saldā dzīve".
August 10, 2014
Originally posted on:>http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
What Would Mary Berry Do? was an utterly brilliant book, that I just could not get enough of! I will point out that this is a complete work of fiction and nothing to do with The Great British Bake Off, although it got me really excited to watch it again, so it definitely a must read book for fans of Mary Berry and #GGBO.
Also how utterly delicious does that cover look?! If that is not enough to just convince you to pick this book up, hopefully my review will.
What Would Mary Berry Do? centers around the lovely and hilarious Dunwoody family. They will never fail to make you laugh and I loved their intertwining stories. Marie is told on the day of the school fete by her michevious but brilliant 9 year old twins that she has agreed to do the Showstopper. Marie isn't the best baker and with no time to start her career in baking she quickly buys something from the supermarket. After her embarassment at producing her shop bought Showstopper and being shown up by the perfect baker Lucy from across the road, Marie, with the help of Mary Berry, Marie embarks on her baking mission!
I totally loved the Dunwoody family! The twins were especially my favourite characters. They were clever and funny and particularly liked how they tried to help their brother Angus find a girlfriend. They depicted a normal family, that wasn't completely falling apart or completely perfect and this was made them so relatable and I loved immersing myself in their world.
I laughed practically on every other page of this book. I read it so quickly because I just kept wanting to get back to it and read. This is a proper can't put it down book because it is just so funny and feel good.
An absolutely fantastic debut that is hilarious and feel good. Claire Sandy is definitely an author to watch. More please!
What Would Mary Berry Do? was an utterly brilliant book, that I just could not get enough of! I will point out that this is a complete work of fiction and nothing to do with The Great British Bake Off, although it got me really excited to watch it again, so it definitely a must read book for fans of Mary Berry and #GGBO.
Also how utterly delicious does that cover look?! If that is not enough to just convince you to pick this book up, hopefully my review will.
What Would Mary Berry Do? centers around the lovely and hilarious Dunwoody family. They will never fail to make you laugh and I loved their intertwining stories. Marie is told on the day of the school fete by her michevious but brilliant 9 year old twins that she has agreed to do the Showstopper. Marie isn't the best baker and with no time to start her career in baking she quickly buys something from the supermarket. After her embarassment at producing her shop bought Showstopper and being shown up by the perfect baker Lucy from across the road, Marie, with the help of Mary Berry, Marie embarks on her baking mission!
I totally loved the Dunwoody family! The twins were especially my favourite characters. They were clever and funny and particularly liked how they tried to help their brother Angus find a girlfriend. They depicted a normal family, that wasn't completely falling apart or completely perfect and this was made them so relatable and I loved immersing myself in their world.
I laughed practically on every other page of this book. I read it so quickly because I just kept wanting to get back to it and read. This is a proper can't put it down book because it is just so funny and feel good.
An absolutely fantastic debut that is hilarious and feel good. Claire Sandy is definitely an author to watch. More please!
May 6, 2016
As a fan of The Great British Bake Off, I requested this book from NetGallery and in a little twist of fate, started reading just as the programme returned.
Marie has a busy and chaotic life, but is happy with it. She has a great family, she works her dream jobs as a dentist and has two great assistants. She isn’t very good at baking though, and after her failed attempt to do a showstopper for a school event, she is determined to learn how to bake. Her neighbour, Lucy, however is very good at baking. She’s pretty, calm, on top of things, and lets Marie know. With her Mary Berry Cookbook, Marie decides to turn her life around. Meanwhile, Marie’s husband is having trouble at work, and he also decides to learn how to be more adept in the kitchen in order to suck up to his boss. While several problems in life suddenly appear, will baking help Marie make impovements and guide her through her problems?
Marie is such a wonderful main character. She’s honest, and funny, and knows what her best and worst features are. The family was very reaslistic, with many problems that any family would face, making them very believable. Whilst Lucy and her family across the street are very different, everything isn’t as perfect as it seems. I love the way Lucy’s story unfolds and intertwines with Marie’s.
This was a lovely story about friendship and perseverance.
For this review, and others like it, see: https://tumblingintowonderlandbooks.w...
Marie has a busy and chaotic life, but is happy with it. She has a great family, she works her dream jobs as a dentist and has two great assistants. She isn’t very good at baking though, and after her failed attempt to do a showstopper for a school event, she is determined to learn how to bake. Her neighbour, Lucy, however is very good at baking. She’s pretty, calm, on top of things, and lets Marie know. With her Mary Berry Cookbook, Marie decides to turn her life around. Meanwhile, Marie’s husband is having trouble at work, and he also decides to learn how to be more adept in the kitchen in order to suck up to his boss. While several problems in life suddenly appear, will baking help Marie make impovements and guide her through her problems?
Marie is such a wonderful main character. She’s honest, and funny, and knows what her best and worst features are. The family was very reaslistic, with many problems that any family would face, making them very believable. Whilst Lucy and her family across the street are very different, everything isn’t as perfect as it seems. I love the way Lucy’s story unfolds and intertwines with Marie’s.
This was a lovely story about friendship and perseverance.
For this review, and others like it, see: https://tumblingintowonderlandbooks.w...
August 1, 2014
Warning – this book will make you want to have your cake and eat it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Marie is happily married with great kids, and passionate about her work as a dentist. A baking disaster at the school fete leads her to a decision – she is going to embrace baking with the help of Mary Berry, who is going to become her guru. We then follow her over the next year, watching her progress in the cake department as well as everything else life throws at her. I particularly enjoyed it when her husband decides to get in on the act with the help of Paul Hollywood. I loved the Mary would beat Paul every time banter that took place between them. The book has some excellent, fun characters – especially Aileen her receptionist, who I really enjoyed reading about. I especially liked how the relationship evolves between Marie and her baking rival Lucy – there are some great moments between the two of them and I loved the way they come to an understanding in the book. Now, I just have an urge to get out there in the kitchen and bake, bake, bake.
If you want a good, fun read and adore cakes of all shapes and sizes, then this book is really a recommended read. Many thanks to the publishers for an advance copy for review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Marie is happily married with great kids, and passionate about her work as a dentist. A baking disaster at the school fete leads her to a decision – she is going to embrace baking with the help of Mary Berry, who is going to become her guru. We then follow her over the next year, watching her progress in the cake department as well as everything else life throws at her. I particularly enjoyed it when her husband decides to get in on the act with the help of Paul Hollywood. I loved the Mary would beat Paul every time banter that took place between them. The book has some excellent, fun characters – especially Aileen her receptionist, who I really enjoyed reading about. I especially liked how the relationship evolves between Marie and her baking rival Lucy – there are some great moments between the two of them and I loved the way they come to an understanding in the book. Now, I just have an urge to get out there in the kitchen and bake, bake, bake.
If you want a good, fun read and adore cakes of all shapes and sizes, then this book is really a recommended read. Many thanks to the publishers for an advance copy for review.
May 5, 2023
sirsnīga, priecīga grāmata ar laimīgām beigām. šausmīgs tulkojums.
February 20, 2019
This book was way too long for what it was, super predictable, and there wasn’t nearly enough Bake-off involved. It was also a quick, easy, and fun read.
September 28, 2019
Mīlīgs stāsts par ğimenes vērtībām un krīzītēm. Ko sabiedrība sagaida no sievietes-protams, perfektu mammu, mājsaimnieci un darbinieci. Kă ar to sadzīvot, nepazaudējot sevi un sev mīļos. Lielisks humors un vērtīgas atziņas.
August 1, 2014
Once again having failed to produce a showstopper cake for the school fair, Marie Dunwoody, wife, mother and dentist, vows that next year she will deliver a masterpiece that her children can be proud of. With Mary Berry's Baking Bible in hand, and spurred on by an imagined rivalry with neighbour Lucy Gray, Marie is determined to work her way through the recipe book for the next year and return triumphant.
Despite first impressions, What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy is about much more than baking the perfect Victoria Sponge or Doboz Torte, it is a warm and witty story about family, friendship and love.
Marie's nine year old mischievous twin daughter's, Rose and Iris, are happy to support their mother's baking dreams but fifteen year old Angus is preoccupied with other matters including a secretive penpal, an attack of the 'Clones' and the attentions of a lovesick neighbour. Husband Robert is initially bemused by his wife's new passion but when his position at work becomes tenuous he decides to turn to Paul Hollywood for consolation turning out perfect buns and muffins with which to impress his boss. Domestic goddess Lucy, Marie's self proclaimed nemesis, is desperately trying to ignore the cracks in her marriage and make peace with her stepdaughter Chloe.
With appealing characters, snappy dialogue and lighthearted domestic drama, What Would Mary Berry Do? is a delicious treat for every reader.
PS. For those unaware, Mary Berry, along with Paul Hollywood, are real chefs and are the co-judges of The Great British Bake Off, a reality baking show on BBC
September 6, 2014
I received a copy of What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy in exchange for an honest review.
Marie and her husband Robert are parents to a teenager and nine year old twins. Marie can make a cake to save her life, while it seems that her neighbor Lucy seems to have a knack for creating any desert known to man. Marie is determined to be a culinary genius and Mary Berry is her new friend, while her husband Robert’s career seems precarious her decides to bake up some treats to sweeten up his boss and maybe solidify his work situation. Armed with Mary Berry as her accomplice Marie is sure to create many a culinary delight. As Lucy and Marie form a friendship some things come to life that Marie could not imagine and what seemed like perfection on the outside is seriously flawed. This book was immensely funny and although it touched on some serious issues it maintained a balance that was really nice. Relationships between family and friends blossomed and grew and the emotional support for the characters evolved when originally they felt they were alone. Great book, great characters and real issues.
Marie and her husband Robert are parents to a teenager and nine year old twins. Marie can make a cake to save her life, while it seems that her neighbor Lucy seems to have a knack for creating any desert known to man. Marie is determined to be a culinary genius and Mary Berry is her new friend, while her husband Robert’s career seems precarious her decides to bake up some treats to sweeten up his boss and maybe solidify his work situation. Armed with Mary Berry as her accomplice Marie is sure to create many a culinary delight. As Lucy and Marie form a friendship some things come to life that Marie could not imagine and what seemed like perfection on the outside is seriously flawed. This book was immensely funny and although it touched on some serious issues it maintained a balance that was really nice. Relationships between family and friends blossomed and grew and the emotional support for the characters evolved when originally they felt they were alone. Great book, great characters and real issues.
January 6, 2018
Super cute book. Love that in a book the main character has a strong marriage. The book involved a year of Marie & her life & how discovering a cookbook by Mary Berry, became determine to make her family proud of her baking skills. The story told the tapestry of the daily life of Marie her husband Robert , kids , & neighbors. Each character has their own story going on & all tied together in the end. Really great book. Charming & loved the strong normal family life
August 3, 2014
How often does it happen to you that you want to eat the cover? It was the case here, the cake on the cover looks maybe not perfect but so, soo, soooo delicious! Having said that, I have just made it to my Cover of the Month. And actually, not only the cover did it for me, after reading the blurb I knew that this is my sort of book. Well, there is everything I love: baking, cooking, cakes, crazy family with moody teenagers and very direct twins. And I was totally right, it was a brilliant, entertaining book with a WOW and LOL effect and some very delicious cakes. Thank you Lucie of Pan Macmillan for letting me be a part of this delicious Blog Tour and for this brilliant book!
Marie agreed to bake a show - stopper for the school fete, forgetting that she CAN'T bake. She can't, end of story. To avoid total embarrassment, she buys the cake but well, it's not a hit either. Having spotted a cook book by Mary Berry on one of the stalls she buys it and fell in love with Mary and everything she says and promises herself to bake the best ever show - stopper cake for the next fete. In the meantime, Marie has some other problems. She's a dentist, and she's just earned a competition just on the other side of the street. Situation at her husband's work is not too rosy as well, and to convince his young boss to himself he also decides to start baking and cooking. Well, when his young colleague Caroline brings cupcakes to work, Magda (the boss) is very happy. Then there are the three children, teenager Angus who is a very cagey young man and twins, Rose and Iris who, other way round, are very open. And there is also Lucy, the perfect neighbour, baking the most wonderful cakes in the world.
I fell in love with all the characters immediately. They were all larger than life, believable, warm, wonderful people. Marie's marriage and the banter between her and her husband, the notes that they used to leave for each other just made my heart beating faster and I could feel love, baby, love in the air, real love in the family. This feeling was almost palpable through the pages, this relationship was written like a masterpiece and so much feeling from the author, it was a championship, my respect Clare! Each character was brilliantly written and larger than life and felt totally realistic, and they all added so much to this book!
I loved Marie from the very first scene with her and felt in some ways connected to her. I guess it is so because she leads a normal life, is a working mum, not perfect at all, tries to juggle her career and domestic life and sometimes fails. I adored the way she was, the way she raised her children, how open and easy - going she was. She also said what she thought and her thoughts about the world or, especially at the beginning, about her neighbour Lucy were brilliant! Her marriage with Robert was one of the greatest I have ever read about, they loved each other but they also liked each other, and you could see it in every gesture and word they shared. And their baking rivalry and fighting for the kitchen was hilarious!
I had a feeling that there is more to Lucy than I thought, especially when she had her little "breakdown" at the party. I really felt for her after reading about her situation and wouldn't like to be in her shoes.
All the children in the book were fantastic! Funny and just popping out of the pages and the things they did or said felt so, so real. The author has wonderfully captured the nature of either the twins, or all the teenagers, their behaviours, the way they talked and all their problems with growing up were like the ones that we all had.
And to think that I used to be just like Marie! I have possessed more cook - and bake books than any others together and still everything that came out of my oven was inedible. Until I made a cake from - no, not Mary, sorry! - but Nigella recipe and it was great! Since then I haven't produced a single one cake that was not good, tada! So really, I have totally felt Marie's pain and embarrassment re: her first show stopper, and I totally enjoyed her journey through ups and downs into baking perfectland.
But. It was a book not only about baking. The action unfolds slowly, but quick enough to keep the interest, and the brilliant, humorous dialogues and one - liners entertain you through the whole way. We have secrets teenagers keep, we have work problems, either with a rival dentist on the other side of the street in case of Marie or just loosing the heart after working for many years and giving the soul to the job in case of Robert. Then we have a wonderful, problem - free life on the surface, and under the surface there is a mentally bullying husband (in case of other person, don't want to spoil which one!). The story is a perfect mix of all those above mentioned and much, much more.
It takes us on a journey of baking through the whole year, from one school fete to another one next year. I have really, really admired Marie because there are still cakes that I haven't dared to make, and Marie has, and I mean this spectacular wedding cake that I can't even repeat the name, although it's a very popular one (yes, yes, it is a croquembouche :) ) The book is written through Marie's point of view in the third person but we also hear other characters' point of views, and those of Angus in the form of e-mails to his mysterious mail - pal are one of the most expressive. I laughed out loud reading the letters the twins wrote to their grandma. There is nothing better as a honest child, and if you have two... well, look out what you say about your mother - in - law :) The humour, the comedy of the book is the cherry on top of the cake (pun intended) that pop up from every page.
Although there is a lot of baking, it doesn't dominate the story too much. It just perfectly fits to the plot and adds a lot of enjoyment but if you are hungry or in need of something sweet, first eat and then dive into the book. Believe me, this is a great book and you can read it anywhere and anytime, as it has a lot of feel good factor, it's optimistic, uplifting and heart - warming, filled with brilliant characters and original plot. I am looking forward to Claire Sandy's next book and I hope it comes out sooner rather than later!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
Marie agreed to bake a show - stopper for the school fete, forgetting that she CAN'T bake. She can't, end of story. To avoid total embarrassment, she buys the cake but well, it's not a hit either. Having spotted a cook book by Mary Berry on one of the stalls she buys it and fell in love with Mary and everything she says and promises herself to bake the best ever show - stopper cake for the next fete. In the meantime, Marie has some other problems. She's a dentist, and she's just earned a competition just on the other side of the street. Situation at her husband's work is not too rosy as well, and to convince his young boss to himself he also decides to start baking and cooking. Well, when his young colleague Caroline brings cupcakes to work, Magda (the boss) is very happy. Then there are the three children, teenager Angus who is a very cagey young man and twins, Rose and Iris who, other way round, are very open. And there is also Lucy, the perfect neighbour, baking the most wonderful cakes in the world.
I fell in love with all the characters immediately. They were all larger than life, believable, warm, wonderful people. Marie's marriage and the banter between her and her husband, the notes that they used to leave for each other just made my heart beating faster and I could feel love, baby, love in the air, real love in the family. This feeling was almost palpable through the pages, this relationship was written like a masterpiece and so much feeling from the author, it was a championship, my respect Clare! Each character was brilliantly written and larger than life and felt totally realistic, and they all added so much to this book!
I loved Marie from the very first scene with her and felt in some ways connected to her. I guess it is so because she leads a normal life, is a working mum, not perfect at all, tries to juggle her career and domestic life and sometimes fails. I adored the way she was, the way she raised her children, how open and easy - going she was. She also said what she thought and her thoughts about the world or, especially at the beginning, about her neighbour Lucy were brilliant! Her marriage with Robert was one of the greatest I have ever read about, they loved each other but they also liked each other, and you could see it in every gesture and word they shared. And their baking rivalry and fighting for the kitchen was hilarious!
I had a feeling that there is more to Lucy than I thought, especially when she had her little "breakdown" at the party. I really felt for her after reading about her situation and wouldn't like to be in her shoes.
All the children in the book were fantastic! Funny and just popping out of the pages and the things they did or said felt so, so real. The author has wonderfully captured the nature of either the twins, or all the teenagers, their behaviours, the way they talked and all their problems with growing up were like the ones that we all had.
And to think that I used to be just like Marie! I have possessed more cook - and bake books than any others together and still everything that came out of my oven was inedible. Until I made a cake from - no, not Mary, sorry! - but Nigella recipe and it was great! Since then I haven't produced a single one cake that was not good, tada! So really, I have totally felt Marie's pain and embarrassment re: her first show stopper, and I totally enjoyed her journey through ups and downs into baking perfectland.
But. It was a book not only about baking. The action unfolds slowly, but quick enough to keep the interest, and the brilliant, humorous dialogues and one - liners entertain you through the whole way. We have secrets teenagers keep, we have work problems, either with a rival dentist on the other side of the street in case of Marie or just loosing the heart after working for many years and giving the soul to the job in case of Robert. Then we have a wonderful, problem - free life on the surface, and under the surface there is a mentally bullying husband (in case of other person, don't want to spoil which one!). The story is a perfect mix of all those above mentioned and much, much more.
It takes us on a journey of baking through the whole year, from one school fete to another one next year. I have really, really admired Marie because there are still cakes that I haven't dared to make, and Marie has, and I mean this spectacular wedding cake that I can't even repeat the name, although it's a very popular one (yes, yes, it is a croquembouche :) ) The book is written through Marie's point of view in the third person but we also hear other characters' point of views, and those of Angus in the form of e-mails to his mysterious mail - pal are one of the most expressive. I laughed out loud reading the letters the twins wrote to their grandma. There is nothing better as a honest child, and if you have two... well, look out what you say about your mother - in - law :) The humour, the comedy of the book is the cherry on top of the cake (pun intended) that pop up from every page.
Although there is a lot of baking, it doesn't dominate the story too much. It just perfectly fits to the plot and adds a lot of enjoyment but if you are hungry or in need of something sweet, first eat and then dive into the book. Believe me, this is a great book and you can read it anywhere and anytime, as it has a lot of feel good factor, it's optimistic, uplifting and heart - warming, filled with brilliant characters and original plot. I am looking forward to Claire Sandy's next book and I hope it comes out sooner rather than later!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
July 12, 2023
Underhållande feelgood med spännande karaktärer och sidohistorier. Lämpligt att ha goda bakverk till hands eftersom man blir sugen på att äta när man läser (i alla fall jag). Historien växer genom boken och en oväntad tvist på slutet lyfter betyget.
August 20, 2019
What a delicious read! Just what I needed.
March 15, 2020
Det tog mer än halva boken innan jag kom in i den. Därav tre stjärnor. Tanken på boken får mig dock fortfarande att må bra.
October 19, 2020
Pretty decent, I loved the twist at the end . Stellar character development and quite humorous.
January 25, 2025
I loved this! Humour was right in my alley. Maybe a bit too much of a happy end but still. What a way to tell a story. I could relate to almost every single thing and I loved the characters. Well written!
July 27, 2014
I am delighted to be kicking off the tour for What Would Mary Berry Do? My post today is a review, but make sure to stop by the other tour stops to see what fabulous things they have for you.
When I received What Would Mary Berry Do? in the post I was intrigued over what it was about, and immediately felt hungry from seeing this amazing, if somewhat wonky, cake on the cover. When I was asked to participate in the blog tour I quickly accepted, and moved this book up to the top of my TBR pile.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is mainly told by Marie, however, there are emails from Angus to his online friend that break the chapters up. Other characters, like Robert or Lucy, also get to share their story in a less official way, by adding it into the chapters rather than their own chapters each.
The story of What Would Mary Berry Do? is told over period of a year, from one bake sale to another, as we see how Marie attempts to make her offering for this sale less embarrassing for her family (I wont go into details exactly but let me just add this one thing..French Fancies), with lots of cake trials, from failure to success, and it definitely made me hungry along the way.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is a refreshing book for me to read. Marie is cynical, which comes out loud and clear in the pages, but also tells it like it is with no holds barred. Marie doesn't hold back on telling us her thoughts about certain aspects of her life, especially her neighbour Lucy and her show stopping cakes, fudges and assorted baked goods. I enjoyed getting a look into Marie's thoughts about Lucy's baked goods, and her own lack of baking skills. I did enjoy seeing the slow change over the course of the book, and some of the cakes made sounded absolutely fantastic, but far out of my own league. There were a few moments were bonds were made and friendships were formed, and I like how they came about. The 'war' between Mary and Delia was hilarious, and I liked how the title fits in perfectly with these 'wars' and dilemmas.
What Would Mary Berry Do? was not what I expected, but really enjoyed it. I thought this book would focus a lot on recipes, baking, cakes, etc, but there is so much going on within the pages that have nothing to do with food at all. I love how these different side plots have blended together, and just like ingredients, an amazing piece of work is the end result.
When I received What Would Mary Berry Do? in the post I was intrigued over what it was about, and immediately felt hungry from seeing this amazing, if somewhat wonky, cake on the cover. When I was asked to participate in the blog tour I quickly accepted, and moved this book up to the top of my TBR pile.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is mainly told by Marie, however, there are emails from Angus to his online friend that break the chapters up. Other characters, like Robert or Lucy, also get to share their story in a less official way, by adding it into the chapters rather than their own chapters each.
The story of What Would Mary Berry Do? is told over period of a year, from one bake sale to another, as we see how Marie attempts to make her offering for this sale less embarrassing for her family (I wont go into details exactly but let me just add this one thing..French Fancies), with lots of cake trials, from failure to success, and it definitely made me hungry along the way.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is a refreshing book for me to read. Marie is cynical, which comes out loud and clear in the pages, but also tells it like it is with no holds barred. Marie doesn't hold back on telling us her thoughts about certain aspects of her life, especially her neighbour Lucy and her show stopping cakes, fudges and assorted baked goods. I enjoyed getting a look into Marie's thoughts about Lucy's baked goods, and her own lack of baking skills. I did enjoy seeing the slow change over the course of the book, and some of the cakes made sounded absolutely fantastic, but far out of my own league. There were a few moments were bonds were made and friendships were formed, and I like how they came about. The 'war' between Mary and Delia was hilarious, and I liked how the title fits in perfectly with these 'wars' and dilemmas.
What Would Mary Berry Do? was not what I expected, but really enjoyed it. I thought this book would focus a lot on recipes, baking, cakes, etc, but there is so much going on within the pages that have nothing to do with food at all. I love how these different side plots have blended together, and just like ingredients, an amazing piece of work is the end result.
August 13, 2014
Marie has a busy and chaotic life and she's happy with it. She has a great family, she loves her husband and her three children very much. She works as a dentist, which is her dream job, and she has two great assistants. She isn't very good at baking though. When she needs to provide the showstopper at a school event she fails miserably with old store bought cakes. Her neighbor Lucy however is good at baking. She's pretty and immaculate plus she is calm and on top of things. She wants Marie to know how superior and perfect she is too. After the school event Marie decides this has been the last time. She has a copy of a Mary Berry book and decides to turn her life around. Meanwhile Marie's husband Robert is having trouble at work. He also tries to learn how to be more adept in the kitchen, so he can suck up to his boss with delicious rolls. Marie's twins, Iris and Rose, are usually up to no good and her son Angus is quiet and distant. Something is troubling him, but Marie has no idea what it is. Will baking help Marie to make improvements in her life? And will Mary's wisdom guide Marie when she has to solve several problems that are suddenly occurring?
When I saw the cover of What Would Mary Berry Do? I immediately wanted to read the book. I'm so glad I've received a copy of this novel via Netgalley. The story is as wonderful as the cover. Marie is such a great main character. She's honest and funny and she knows what her best and worst features are. I found the twins endearing. Angus is a great teenage boy. Marie and Robert's marriage is a great example and is quite realistic. The family across the street is very different, but they aren't as perfect as they want everyone to believe. What Would Mary Berry Do? is a story about friendship and perseverance. Marie is determined to learn how to bake and soon she's starting to love it. I liked reading about pies, sponges, icing and glaze, it was great. There's a lot of love in this book which is its strongest feature. The novel is both delicious and delightful and I enjoyed reading it very much!
When I saw the cover of What Would Mary Berry Do? I immediately wanted to read the book. I'm so glad I've received a copy of this novel via Netgalley. The story is as wonderful as the cover. Marie is such a great main character. She's honest and funny and she knows what her best and worst features are. I found the twins endearing. Angus is a great teenage boy. Marie and Robert's marriage is a great example and is quite realistic. The family across the street is very different, but they aren't as perfect as they want everyone to believe. What Would Mary Berry Do? is a story about friendship and perseverance. Marie is determined to learn how to bake and soon she's starting to love it. I liked reading about pies, sponges, icing and glaze, it was great. There's a lot of love in this book which is its strongest feature. The novel is both delicious and delightful and I enjoyed reading it very much!
August 6, 2014
www.iheart-chicklit.blogspot.com
Who exactly is Mary Berry? Baking goddess? Celebrity baker? Bestselling cookbook writer? TV host? All of the above, people. I was so excited to get into Claire Sandy’s debut novel, What Would Mary Berry Do? and being a fan of food-themed books, it was such a treat from the beginning to the end!
What Would Mary Berry Do? follows the story of wife and mother of three, Marie Dunwoody who has the perfect life. Sort of. She has the most loving husband, a gorgeous house and a successful job. BUT she can’t bake to save her own life. After a humiliating incident at her children’s school fete, she vowed that she’d make a showstopper in the following year’s fete. But is she taking on something that is too much for her to handle?
As I’ve mentioned, I’m a huge fan of books which revolves around food and in What Would Mary Berry Do?, Marie bakes! Or attempts to bake! I really enjoyed reading about the challenges she makes herself go through and her baking ups and downs, but I would love for more baking antics though. The plot is well-written and I loved reading about each and every character’s stories, including Marie and her husband, Robert’s struggles at work, their son, Angus’s love woes and the Terrible Twos’ naughty antics.
The characters in the book are such a lovely bunch. I adored Marie’s twin daughters, Iris and Rose! They are mischievous, sassy and very sneaky. The Terrible Twos! Ha. I thought the heroine carried herself through the entire novel very well and there were some funny moments that really made me laugh.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is a story of cake, cake and loads of cake. Okay, maybe there’s more to life than cake. It’s about family, love, motherhood and friendship and cake. Funny, original and absolutely delightful. Highly recommend this book to fans of Jenny Colgan!
Who exactly is Mary Berry? Baking goddess? Celebrity baker? Bestselling cookbook writer? TV host? All of the above, people. I was so excited to get into Claire Sandy’s debut novel, What Would Mary Berry Do? and being a fan of food-themed books, it was such a treat from the beginning to the end!
What Would Mary Berry Do? follows the story of wife and mother of three, Marie Dunwoody who has the perfect life. Sort of. She has the most loving husband, a gorgeous house and a successful job. BUT she can’t bake to save her own life. After a humiliating incident at her children’s school fete, she vowed that she’d make a showstopper in the following year’s fete. But is she taking on something that is too much for her to handle?
As I’ve mentioned, I’m a huge fan of books which revolves around food and in What Would Mary Berry Do?, Marie bakes! Or attempts to bake! I really enjoyed reading about the challenges she makes herself go through and her baking ups and downs, but I would love for more baking antics though. The plot is well-written and I loved reading about each and every character’s stories, including Marie and her husband, Robert’s struggles at work, their son, Angus’s love woes and the Terrible Twos’ naughty antics.
The characters in the book are such a lovely bunch. I adored Marie’s twin daughters, Iris and Rose! They are mischievous, sassy and very sneaky. The Terrible Twos! Ha. I thought the heroine carried herself through the entire novel very well and there were some funny moments that really made me laugh.
What Would Mary Berry Do? is a story of cake, cake and loads of cake. Okay, maybe there’s more to life than cake. It’s about family, love, motherhood and friendship and cake. Funny, original and absolutely delightful. Highly recommend this book to fans of Jenny Colgan!
August 17, 2014
I'm going to give this 3.5/5, so we'll round it up to 4. It started off well and there were a few jokes that made me laugh out loud but as I mentioned in one of my updates, it got a bit slow around the 2/3rd mark; I felt like I was treading water with all of the story lines being set up for the big reveal at the end.
*spoilers*
Naturally for a rom-com chick-lit book such as this, *everything* has to work out in the end. Lucy and Tod split and Lucy starts eating (shock, horror) and selling her antiques; Chloe meets her biological mother who is obviously no domestic goddess; Angus was two days away from Nev from Catfish helping to unravel his complicated email relationship; Robert finally gets rid of Caroline and Magda and sets up business *across the road* from Marie... Oh, I could go on but it's all just a little too predictable. The two girls working in Marie's dentist were incredibly annoying, especially Lynda with her need to keep calling out baby names throughout the last 50 pages of the book. The other one (Aileen) was a miserable cow and if had been Marie, I'd have fired her sorry arse long ago!
The book was easy to read and overall, I liked Marie and Lucy and the way in which their relationship changes over the course of the book. I also quite liked Robert and I could picture the mischievous twins in my head, running around and plotting adventures.
I think I'm chick-litted out after this; I liked the idea of it (even though I had no idea who Mary Berry was at the start) but I just thought it could've done with a few more twists and turns. Ultimately, I paid £4 from WH Smith so I don't feel too hard done by that it wasn't amazing.
*spoilers*
Naturally for a rom-com chick-lit book such as this, *everything* has to work out in the end. Lucy and Tod split and Lucy starts eating (shock, horror) and selling her antiques; Chloe meets her biological mother who is obviously no domestic goddess; Angus was two days away from Nev from Catfish helping to unravel his complicated email relationship; Robert finally gets rid of Caroline and Magda and sets up business *across the road* from Marie... Oh, I could go on but it's all just a little too predictable. The two girls working in Marie's dentist were incredibly annoying, especially Lynda with her need to keep calling out baby names throughout the last 50 pages of the book. The other one (Aileen) was a miserable cow and if had been Marie, I'd have fired her sorry arse long ago!
The book was easy to read and overall, I liked Marie and Lucy and the way in which their relationship changes over the course of the book. I also quite liked Robert and I could picture the mischievous twins in my head, running around and plotting adventures.
I think I'm chick-litted out after this; I liked the idea of it (even though I had no idea who Mary Berry was at the start) but I just thought it could've done with a few more twists and turns. Ultimately, I paid £4 from WH Smith so I don't feel too hard done by that it wasn't amazing.
August 9, 2015
A 4/4.5 book at the end. This book had a slow start for me and I disagree that the book had a laugh on every page. But once I got into the book I loved it! I loved the journey,
The friendships, the relationships all surrounding the story. This book tells the journey of Marie, someone who buys cakes to bring to the summer fair and can't bake and she undertakes a journey to be able to produce a showstopper for the next year after a disastrous one. Each chapter flits between perspectives which is sometimes confusing but works generally really well. The chapters are split into certain bakes as well. I loved the brewing of friendships and relationships a lot!! And obviously the cake part was good! There were lots of different characters and the book has a feel good feeling to it. I love bake off and I am a big fan of Mary Berry and I found this book complimented that so well and shows how much the bake off is being taken into everyday life :) really enjoyable and loved the ending! If you don't mind a bit of slow start,
Love cakes and books about family and relationships, or just bake off, I think you may love this ;)
The friendships, the relationships all surrounding the story. This book tells the journey of Marie, someone who buys cakes to bring to the summer fair and can't bake and she undertakes a journey to be able to produce a showstopper for the next year after a disastrous one. Each chapter flits between perspectives which is sometimes confusing but works generally really well. The chapters are split into certain bakes as well. I loved the brewing of friendships and relationships a lot!! And obviously the cake part was good! There were lots of different characters and the book has a feel good feeling to it. I love bake off and I am a big fan of Mary Berry and I found this book complimented that so well and shows how much the bake off is being taken into everyday life :) really enjoyable and loved the ending! If you don't mind a bit of slow start,
Love cakes and books about family and relationships, or just bake off, I think you may love this ;)
January 23, 2015
Calling all Bake Off fans!! You'll love this. A brand new fun, fiction book paying homage to the Berry - 'What Would Mary Berry Do?' is the tale of Marie Dunwoody, mother of three, there's not much she can't do but the art of baking eludes her. Runny meringues, rock hard biscuits - she's determined to make a change, she turns to the Queen of cakes, Mary Berry, vowing to follow the Berry recipes to the letter. But as Marie asks 'what would Mary Berry do?' with baking, she realises that maybe the wise Berry words could help in all aspects of life.
I loved this book!! Such a little gem of a read. If you love the Bake Off and the fabulous Mary Berry then you will love this. In fact even if you aren't a Bake Off fan – you will love this. Light hearted and with brilliant laugh out loud moments on pretty much every page this is a great easy read. I cannot put across how much I loved reading this so I urge you, if you're thinking about it then just do it!
I loved this book!! Such a little gem of a read. If you love the Bake Off and the fabulous Mary Berry then you will love this. In fact even if you aren't a Bake Off fan – you will love this. Light hearted and with brilliant laugh out loud moments on pretty much every page this is a great easy read. I cannot put across how much I loved reading this so I urge you, if you're thinking about it then just do it!
January 19, 2016
"When a creature that licks its lips at a snotty tissue refuses your cooking, it hurts. "
I'm not an overly fluffy sort of person, but this spot-on, precision-targeted, unerringly accurate portrayal of family life in Britain was so gorgeously captivating that I literally couldn't put it down. I even went back to reread sentences, just to laugh at them again. I don't even watch GBBO, but of course I know the names and that was, truly, enough. Of course I have seen An Officer and a Gentleman, but even if I hadn't, Angus was superb. The twins were delightful. Robert was so genuine and his relationship with Marie so "right" that just reading about them is enough to make me misty-eyed. This is, without doubt, a feel-good book to read cuddled up on the sofa. Preferably with a slice of homemade cake.
I'm not an overly fluffy sort of person, but this spot-on, precision-targeted, unerringly accurate portrayal of family life in Britain was so gorgeously captivating that I literally couldn't put it down. I even went back to reread sentences, just to laugh at them again. I don't even watch GBBO, but of course I know the names and that was, truly, enough. Of course I have seen An Officer and a Gentleman, but even if I hadn't, Angus was superb. The twins were delightful. Robert was so genuine and his relationship with Marie so "right" that just reading about them is enough to make me misty-eyed. This is, without doubt, a feel-good book to read cuddled up on the sofa. Preferably with a slice of homemade cake.
June 23, 2019
Jag har som princip att alltid lösa ut en bok jag påbörjat. Detta är dock ett undantag för på sidan 175 ger jag upp. boken är full av fantastiskt roliga liknelser och talesätt som man skrattar högt till men det händer absolut ingenting som för berättelsen framåt. ingen spänning, ingen cliffhanger, inget som gör att jag vill ta upp boken och fortsätta läsa. det händer absolut ingenting mer än en massa svammel. en riktigt stor besvikelse och jag höll på de sista 50 sidorna och försökte bestämma om jag skulle avsluta eller inte men det är absolut inte värt att läsa färdigt. Det finns ingenting som gör den här boken läsvärd. några fantastiskt roliga liknelser och skämt som gör att man skrattar högt gör inte att jag kan läsa färdigt den här boken utan någon som helst anledning. platt, tråkig, trist och bortkastad tid
July 15, 2014
This was a lovely read. After having to resort to putting a few battered boxes of fondant fancies onto a cupcake stand- Marie vows to master this baking lark. She chooses her 'guru'- Mary Berry. Her neighbour Lucy always seems to make the perfect cake without hours of fretting and disasters.
Robert, Marie's husband is worried about losing his job and alongside Marie turns to baking- but chooses the more manly Paul Hollywood to emulate!
The book goes through the year marked by several baking adventures- including a spectacular wedding cake for her dental nurse that brings the two neighbours together in friendship.
I loved the way the story took us along with it- enjoying all the descriptive cake creations and the family turmoil.
Robert, Marie's husband is worried about losing his job and alongside Marie turns to baking- but chooses the more manly Paul Hollywood to emulate!
The book goes through the year marked by several baking adventures- including a spectacular wedding cake for her dental nurse that brings the two neighbours together in friendship.
I loved the way the story took us along with it- enjoying all the descriptive cake creations and the family turmoil.
March 26, 2018
And so my bad run of books continues....
I thought this book would be charming fluff. Instead it's got a plethora of annoying and rather unlikeable characters. Marie is especially off-putting to me: she's not very nice to her husband, she's quite daft and she's got a superiority complex that's a mile long.
A few other reviewers have stated they only stuck with it because of MB/GBBO bits and I can't help but wonder if that (the title et al.) were the backbone of the whole project.
Life's to short to read books one doesn't enjoy so I'm going to bail at the halfway point. *sigh*
I thought this book would be charming fluff. Instead it's got a plethora of annoying and rather unlikeable characters. Marie is especially off-putting to me: she's not very nice to her husband, she's quite daft and she's got a superiority complex that's a mile long.
A few other reviewers have stated they only stuck with it because of MB/GBBO bits and I can't help but wonder if that (the title et al.) were the backbone of the whole project.
Life's to short to read books one doesn't enjoy so I'm going to bail at the halfway point. *sigh*
March 11, 2015
Delightful, amusing, and despite the frivolous title and wobbly cake on the cover there is more to this than meets the eye. Marie is a lovely main character and her family are easily likeable, her neighbours and work colleagues are all believable. Family life, friendship, love all pulled together under the therapeutic link of baking and eating cake.
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