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The Cake House
Part mystery, part compelling coming-of-age tale, The Cake House is a riveting debut novel that re-imagines the classic story of Hamlet amidst the hills of suburban Los Angeles.
Rosaura Douglas's father shot himself when her mother left him . . . or at least that's the story everyone is telling. Now her mother has remarried and Rosie is trapped in a new home she calls The Cake House, a garish pink edifice that's a far cry from the cramped apartment where she grew up. It's also the house where her father died—a fact that everyone else who lives there, including her mother, Dahlia, and her mysteriously wealthy stepfather, Claude, want to forget.
Soon, however, her father's ghost begins to appear; first as a momentary reflection in a window, then in the dark of night, and finally, in the lush garden behind the house where Rosie spends most of her days. After he warns her that Claude is not to be trusted, Rosie begins to notice cracks in her new family's carefully constructed facade. Dahlia is clearly uncomfortable in her marriage; her stepbrother, Alex, is friendly one second, distant the next, and haunted by troubles of his own; and Claude's business is drawing questions from the police. And as the ghost becomes increasingly violent--and the secrets of The Cake House and her family’s past come to light--Rosie must finally face the truth behind the losses and lies that have torn her life apart.
Rosaura Douglas's father shot himself when her mother left him . . . or at least that's the story everyone is telling. Now her mother has remarried and Rosie is trapped in a new home she calls The Cake House, a garish pink edifice that's a far cry from the cramped apartment where she grew up. It's also the house where her father died—a fact that everyone else who lives there, including her mother, Dahlia, and her mysteriously wealthy stepfather, Claude, want to forget.
Soon, however, her father's ghost begins to appear; first as a momentary reflection in a window, then in the dark of night, and finally, in the lush garden behind the house where Rosie spends most of her days. After he warns her that Claude is not to be trusted, Rosie begins to notice cracks in her new family's carefully constructed facade. Dahlia is clearly uncomfortable in her marriage; her stepbrother, Alex, is friendly one second, distant the next, and haunted by troubles of his own; and Claude's business is drawing questions from the police. And as the ghost becomes increasingly violent--and the secrets of The Cake House and her family’s past come to light--Rosie must finally face the truth behind the losses and lies that have torn her life apart.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
13 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
About the author
Latifah Salom
2 books13 followersLatifah Salom was born in Hollywood, California, to parents of Peruvian and Mexican descent. As a teenager she attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she learned the building blocks of artistry and imagery that eventually led her to her love of writing. She holds degrees from Emerson College, Hunter College, and the University of Southern California Masters of Professional Writing program. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
Debut novel THE CAKE HOUSE will be released spring of 2015 by Anchor/Vintage Books.
Debut novel THE CAKE HOUSE will be released spring of 2015 by Anchor/Vintage Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 23, 2015
Welcome to the Cake House.
This was the answer (or exit) to Rosie’s mothers’ decision to seek a better life (or out). But this and other decisions made only opened up more chaos leading to the death of Rosie’s father.
A continuing domino effect occurs, affecting everyone – no matter well-intended. Include cover-ups, denial, even greed and then you question those well intentions.
And in the midst of all this is the relationship that develops between Rosie and Alex.
It’s part coming-of-age, part suspense thriller. I am not too sure about the ghost aspect in the story – wished there had been a better means to convey those scenes, albeit the ghost. Now perhaps I missed it but I wanted more symbolism surrounding the “cake house.”
I enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to reading more of her work. I would not mind a sequel.
Disclaimer: I received this book as Goodreads First Reads win in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
This was the answer (or exit) to Rosie’s mothers’ decision to seek a better life (or out). But this and other decisions made only opened up more chaos leading to the death of Rosie’s father.
A continuing domino effect occurs, affecting everyone – no matter well-intended. Include cover-ups, denial, even greed and then you question those well intentions.
And in the midst of all this is the relationship that develops between Rosie and Alex.
It’s part coming-of-age, part suspense thriller. I am not too sure about the ghost aspect in the story – wished there had been a better means to convey those scenes, albeit the ghost. Now perhaps I missed it but I wanted more symbolism surrounding the “cake house.”
I enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to reading more of her work. I would not mind a sequel.
Disclaimer: I received this book as Goodreads First Reads win in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
January 31, 2023
Another book I chose to read in 2023 that's been on my TBR for too long. Sadly, just an okay read which as a reimagined Hamlet, disappointed me. Passing this on to the donated books box. Onward and upward.
Not recommended.
Not recommended.
March 13, 2015
This book was down-right bizarre at times, though I do appreciate the new, modern take on Hamlet. As a sucker for retellings, I had to read it. I was totally expecting a murder and I got . I also wasn't really a fan of Rosaura, who is the equivalent of the Prince of Denmark. She was a freaking weirdo, riding her bike naked down the street, sleeping in the closet, stacking her clothes on the floor and her books in the dresser drawers, taking pictures of people (almost in a stalkerish way), etc. And the freaky relationship between her and Alex was sick. She was barely fourteen and he was I think like seventeen or eighteen -- it was just creepy. The whole thing with the photography and the ghosts didn't really go anywhere and got annoying after awhile. If it's just the house that's haunted, why is she seeing her Dad's ghost in the dressing room at the mall? I liked that Dahlia, the mother, was actually a somewhat sympathetic character in this one though, without the whole hanging over her, it was easier to fee l sorry for her. Overall though, this one was a little too "artsy, contemporary adult-angst/blowhard professor" for me personally. Maybe other people will like it. I will say one thing, it kept my attention and it was very readable, it just wasn't for me personally.
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, on NetGalley. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book was published on March 3rd, 2015.*
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, on NetGalley. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book was published on March 3rd, 2015.*
January 31, 2015
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
So I want to start off by saying my review of this book has nothing to do with the fact that the author said it's like a retelling of Hamlet because I can't recall all of the details from that book and i read this one just as I would any other novel and didn't compare it to Hamlet.
That being said I was really feeling this book. The way the author writes with so much detail and thought, you really get a sense for your characters and it makes the story so much better. The book flowed great and I didn't feel the pace was too fast or too slow. The story was great, it was different and kept you interested every second of the story. I felt really invested in this book and i wanted so badly for it to end in a certain way( which it didn't) but none the less it still had a decent ending. I do feel the ending was a bit too fast as far as how quickly everything went down at the end. I would LOVE a sequel to this book with the story taking place a few years later where Rosie and Alex reunite.....I felt robbed of the romance I wished the two had had. But I can't blame the author for that one not all stories can go how I want then to. :) I do recommend that you give this book a chance, it will not leave you disappointed!
So I want to start off by saying my review of this book has nothing to do with the fact that the author said it's like a retelling of Hamlet because I can't recall all of the details from that book and i read this one just as I would any other novel and didn't compare it to Hamlet.
That being said I was really feeling this book. The way the author writes with so much detail and thought, you really get a sense for your characters and it makes the story so much better. The book flowed great and I didn't feel the pace was too fast or too slow. The story was great, it was different and kept you interested every second of the story. I felt really invested in this book and i wanted so badly for it to end in a certain way( which it didn't) but none the less it still had a decent ending. I do feel the ending was a bit too fast as far as how quickly everything went down at the end. I would LOVE a sequel to this book with the story taking place a few years later where Rosie and Alex reunite.....I felt robbed of the romance I wished the two had had. But I can't blame the author for that one not all stories can go how I want then to. :) I do recommend that you give this book a chance, it will not leave you disappointed!
August 8, 2015
This novel had a lot of potential for me. Part mystery, part coming-of-age story, part ghost story, part dysfunctional family dynamics – it has many elements of stuff I love in books. Ultimately I didn’t really connect with it and I think that’s because there was just TOO much going on here.
Initially, I was intrigued by Rosie and wanted to get to know her better. She behaves in some bizarre ways – sleeping for days, bicycling around her neighborhood naked, trying to get together with Alex’s friend, then actually getting together with Alex (her new stepbrother I guess?) – but then again, her life has been turned upside-down. I suppose that gives a person license to do some crazy things. At times she seemed very smart and perceptive, but other times she seemed incredibly naive for fourteen. I guess what I’m trying to say is her character felt inconsistent for me and as a result, I never really connected to her.
The ghost thing was an interesting twist but it never fully integrated into the story for me. What the ghost seemed to be doing was warning Rosie to keep her distance from Claude, but the ghost was MEAN. And I never fully understood if her dad was mean when he was alive so it didn’t make sense to me. Also I kind of hated the Rosie and Alex dynamic – basically he was using her (as teen boys who think with their hormones are prone to do) but she was too young and in too emotional of a place to understand that’s what was happening. It felt sloppy and sad and just out of place in the overall story. But that could just be me.
I didn’t hate the book. I liked Salom’s writing. I kept reading because of that and because I was genuinely interested in finding out what was the deal with Claude. Salom gave just enough clues throughout the book to keep the reader engaged in that story and for me at least, I raced through the end to get to the truth.
I think The Cake House could have improved with some more cohesion and tightening up of the many, many elements of the novel. I didn’t enjoy the book much but as I said, I didn’t hate it either. I’d be open to reading Latifah Salom’s future novels as this one did show promise.
Initially, I was intrigued by Rosie and wanted to get to know her better. She behaves in some bizarre ways – sleeping for days, bicycling around her neighborhood naked, trying to get together with Alex’s friend, then actually getting together with Alex (her new stepbrother I guess?) – but then again, her life has been turned upside-down. I suppose that gives a person license to do some crazy things. At times she seemed very smart and perceptive, but other times she seemed incredibly naive for fourteen. I guess what I’m trying to say is her character felt inconsistent for me and as a result, I never really connected to her.
The ghost thing was an interesting twist but it never fully integrated into the story for me. What the ghost seemed to be doing was warning Rosie to keep her distance from Claude, but the ghost was MEAN. And I never fully understood if her dad was mean when he was alive so it didn’t make sense to me. Also I kind of hated the Rosie and Alex dynamic – basically he was using her (as teen boys who think with their hormones are prone to do) but she was too young and in too emotional of a place to understand that’s what was happening. It felt sloppy and sad and just out of place in the overall story. But that could just be me.
I didn’t hate the book. I liked Salom’s writing. I kept reading because of that and because I was genuinely interested in finding out what was the deal with Claude. Salom gave just enough clues throughout the book to keep the reader engaged in that story and for me at least, I raced through the end to get to the truth.
I think The Cake House could have improved with some more cohesion and tightening up of the many, many elements of the novel. I didn’t enjoy the book much but as I said, I didn’t hate it either. I’d be open to reading Latifah Salom’s future novels as this one did show promise.
March 6, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts out with a literal bang. Rosaura and her mom are on the run from her dad, who finds them and commits suicide in front of her mom. After these shocking events, the story takes on a surreal quality as Rosaura processes the events and her new situation with her stepfather and stepbrother.
The jacket copy says this is a reimaging of Hamlet, but I have to admit, I've never actually read Hamlet, so I don't have a basis for comparison. I know the gist of the story and The Cake House roughly tracks with that.
Overall, I liked this book. The beginning draws you in with the shocking death of Rosaura's father, and the surreal life she lives afterward keeps you interested. I liked that Rosaura isn't a shrinking violet, even though she's a teenage girl who's been traumatized. She still manages to be smart and tough while her mom falls completely apart. I'd definitely recommend this book to people who have read Hamlet (which I should now probably do) and mystery/thriller fans.
This book starts out with a literal bang. Rosaura and her mom are on the run from her dad, who finds them and commits suicide in front of her mom. After these shocking events, the story takes on a surreal quality as Rosaura processes the events and her new situation with her stepfather and stepbrother.
The jacket copy says this is a reimaging of Hamlet, but I have to admit, I've never actually read Hamlet, so I don't have a basis for comparison. I know the gist of the story and The Cake House roughly tracks with that.
Overall, I liked this book. The beginning draws you in with the shocking death of Rosaura's father, and the surreal life she lives afterward keeps you interested. I liked that Rosaura isn't a shrinking violet, even though she's a teenage girl who's been traumatized. She still manages to be smart and tough while her mom falls completely apart. I'd definitely recommend this book to people who have read Hamlet (which I should now probably do) and mystery/thriller fans.
March 8, 2015
I received this from a Goodreads giveaway. If I could give this 3.5 stars I would have. To me, it's not quite to what I consider 4 stars, but it's better than most of what I give 3 stars to.
It took me a bit to get in to the plot line, but once I was in about 4 chapters, it was hard to put down and became a quick read. I think the challenge was getting to figure out the characters and their relationships, which was also what the protagonist Rosie was also trying to do, so that's probably what the author intended. The plot was mysterious trying to figure out what was going on with the step father's line of work (crime?) and what the stepbrother's involvement was kept the pace of the book going for me. Overall, I found the ending a bit of a let down (I would have liked more closure between Rosie and Alex, and also between Alex and his father), but I did like how the reader is left wondering if Rosie and her mother kept any of the money for themselves. I think Rosie is a survivor and will come out ok in the end, I also hope that her mother develops into a stronger woman.
It took me a bit to get in to the plot line, but once I was in about 4 chapters, it was hard to put down and became a quick read. I think the challenge was getting to figure out the characters and their relationships, which was also what the protagonist Rosie was also trying to do, so that's probably what the author intended. The plot was mysterious trying to figure out what was going on with the step father's line of work (crime?) and what the stepbrother's involvement was kept the pace of the book going for me. Overall, I found the ending a bit of a let down (I would have liked more closure between Rosie and Alex, and also between Alex and his father), but I did like how the reader is left wondering if Rosie and her mother kept any of the money for themselves. I think Rosie is a survivor and will come out ok in the end, I also hope that her mother develops into a stronger woman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2015
This book is really well-written. Despite having multiple elements that I dislike, I kept reading it.
What did I dislike? (One mile spoiler here) The mother who is so messed up she can't/doesn't look out for her own child; the cliche of teen step-siblings sleeping together; high school kids drinking too much and doing drugs.
The beginning of the book was so disturbing to me in so many ways - primarily because of the messed up mother. The reader knows from the beginning that SOMETHING is not right with Claude - but it does take the whole book to figure out exactly what it is and how the pieces all fit together. But I got caught up in the "what will go wrong next" and "what is Claude really up to anyway?"
All in all, my summary is "not a great book, but well written and easy to read after the first few chapters."
What did I dislike? (One mile spoiler here) The mother who is so messed up she can't/doesn't look out for her own child; the cliche of teen step-siblings sleeping together; high school kids drinking too much and doing drugs.
The beginning of the book was so disturbing to me in so many ways - primarily because of the messed up mother. The reader knows from the beginning that SOMETHING is not right with Claude - but it does take the whole book to figure out exactly what it is and how the pieces all fit together. But I got caught up in the "what will go wrong next" and "what is Claude really up to anyway?"
All in all, my summary is "not a great book, but well written and easy to read after the first few chapters."
April 9, 2015
After reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading this book. The author takes her reader and slams them right into the story line. It took me a bit of reading to regain my equilibrium but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel in all it's glorious confusion.
April 11, 2015
At times I felt like I was reading a YA book. The ghost in this story made no sense. A girl who just turned 14 is having sex with her confused step brother, her mother is not with it & the strange relationship with her step father is just odd. Just shaking my head on the ending.
October 19, 2021
DNF- sex between step siblings is uncomfortable enough but when one of them is a MINOR I have to put the book down. No thank you. And the author acts like its okay because the guy is “cool” and indie and prefers listening to vinyls and wants to hear her sing and blah blah blah. Barf. No thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
April 9, 2016I badly wanted to like this, but I just couldn't get into it.
August 10, 2017
It was one of those books I just couldn't put down. I read it till 6 this morning.
March 2, 2022
I was intrigued by the description on the book's cover. The mystery was laid out early on and I wanted very much to put each puzzle piece in place until I had the answers.
I loved how the author wove small details into pieces of a scene that came together like a puzzle.
I found the writing to be quite lovely throughout alongside very heavy subject matter.
"She left the bathroom, trailing smoke behind her. As she went under the shadow of the doorway, it seemed as if the smoke took the shape of a man that reached for her, grasping for her shoulder, missing by mere inches."
I found myself in great anticipation of the ghost's next appearance. I wondered what he was trying to communicate. I feel this was the best part of the story.
I wish I had known, on the front side, about the storyline of the adolescent main characters and their physical relationship. I felt the book could have been even stronger without this element.
I wouldn't have allowed my kids to read this when they were in high school. So for that age group I personally would find this book inappropriate.
I'm in my upper 50's and reading about adolescents sharing intimacy is something I find off-putting and disturbing. But maybe the author's intention was to highlight the disturbing element of a love relationship between sister and step-brother.
I probably would have passed the book by had I realized this was such a significant part of the storyline. But once I began reading I wanted to know how it all ended. This says a lot about the author because I was willing to get through pieces I didn't find appealing to see it through to the end.
I'm grateful for the ending. I truly didn't know which decision Rosaura would make when faced with a choice in the final pages. But I found her decision to be satisfying as a reader. I wished from the very start that Rosaura could find happiness and stability. I finished the book believing she was on her way.
I loved how the author wove small details into pieces of a scene that came together like a puzzle.
I found the writing to be quite lovely throughout alongside very heavy subject matter.
"She left the bathroom, trailing smoke behind her. As she went under the shadow of the doorway, it seemed as if the smoke took the shape of a man that reached for her, grasping for her shoulder, missing by mere inches."
I found myself in great anticipation of the ghost's next appearance. I wondered what he was trying to communicate. I feel this was the best part of the story.
I wish I had known, on the front side, about the storyline of the adolescent main characters and their physical relationship. I felt the book could have been even stronger without this element.
I wouldn't have allowed my kids to read this when they were in high school. So for that age group I personally would find this book inappropriate.
I'm in my upper 50's and reading about adolescents sharing intimacy is something I find off-putting and disturbing. But maybe the author's intention was to highlight the disturbing element of a love relationship between sister and step-brother.
I probably would have passed the book by had I realized this was such a significant part of the storyline. But once I began reading I wanted to know how it all ended. This says a lot about the author because I was willing to get through pieces I didn't find appealing to see it through to the end.
I'm grateful for the ending. I truly didn't know which decision Rosaura would make when faced with a choice in the final pages. But I found her decision to be satisfying as a reader. I wished from the very start that Rosaura could find happiness and stability. I finished the book believing she was on her way.
October 15, 2019
So much happened here that I don't even know where to start.
Let's see, we've got:
A very loose Hamlet retelling with a 14 year old girl as the Prince of Denmark.
A 14 year old girl that sees her father's ghost; partially hates/needs her mother who is equal parts whacked out of her mind or too deep into her melancholy to be anything other than a ghost; hates/fears her stepfather but spends a lot of time with him for a plot point that goes nowhere; and creepily stalks and has sex with her step-brother who might be a violent drug-dealer.
Ponzi-schemes, drug addictions, parental abandonment.
A lot of things that went absolutely nowhere.
I was entertained though. You know, when I wasn't creeped out by this 14 year old girl emotionally blackmailing her stepbrother that she was weirdly obsessed with.
Let's see, we've got:
A very loose Hamlet retelling with a 14 year old girl as the Prince of Denmark.
A 14 year old girl that sees her father's ghost; partially hates/needs her mother who is equal parts whacked out of her mind or too deep into her melancholy to be anything other than a ghost; hates/fears her stepfather but spends a lot of time with him for a plot point that goes nowhere; and creepily stalks and has sex with her step-brother who might be a violent drug-dealer.
Ponzi-schemes, drug addictions, parental abandonment.
A lot of things that went absolutely nowhere.
I was entertained though. You know, when I wasn't creeped out by this 14 year old girl emotionally blackmailing her stepbrother that she was weirdly obsessed with.
June 9, 2023
Probably a 2.5 rounded up to 3 really.
I picked this one up at a library sale awhile ago and picked it out as I'm trying to ready through things I've had sitting around TBR but were forgotten about.
I don't think it was a bad book, but it always wasn't amazing. It's from POV of a 13-14 year old, who'd had trauma in their life, so I think for some of the adults that read this they might struggle to go back to that age when looking at how Rosaura was thinking through things and how she reacted. Were some of her actions weird? Yeah, but she was 13 and horribly depressed and not sure how to handle what had been thrown at her so I also have some understanding and empathy. She really needed an adult like Mrs Wilson to care, listen, help, etc. A stable person like that could have been so helpful.
I picked this one up at a library sale awhile ago and picked it out as I'm trying to ready through things I've had sitting around TBR but were forgotten about.
I don't think it was a bad book, but it always wasn't amazing. It's from POV of a 13-14 year old, who'd had trauma in their life, so I think for some of the adults that read this they might struggle to go back to that age when looking at how Rosaura was thinking through things and how she reacted. Were some of her actions weird? Yeah, but she was 13 and horribly depressed and not sure how to handle what had been thrown at her so I also have some understanding and empathy. She really needed an adult like Mrs Wilson to care, listen, help, etc. A stable person like that could have been so helpful.
October 4, 2021
Excellent writing! The author’s writing is clear, crisp, and easy to follow. So much so, it made the book a quick read as I finished it on a 3 hour flight. The book is promising as it has potential murder mystery and romance.
However, I found the book lacked follow through and balance. The mystery seemed heavily focused on in the first few chapters, then faded away to the romance which was towards the middle of the book. That, also faded towards the end of the book. It seemed like these stories where left unfinished. In addition, the ending felt a bit abrupt and neatly packaged. There were a lot of unanswered questions.
In all, the writing was great… storytelling, not so much.
However, I found the book lacked follow through and balance. The mystery seemed heavily focused on in the first few chapters, then faded away to the romance which was towards the middle of the book. That, also faded towards the end of the book. It seemed like these stories where left unfinished. In addition, the ending felt a bit abrupt and neatly packaged. There were a lot of unanswered questions.
In all, the writing was great… storytelling, not so much.
October 7, 2019
I have a feeling my book club is going to be mad at me for choosing this book. I was expecting a ghost story, but when the ghost made a rare appearance it made no sense. It was never explained why Dahlia married Claude. And come on, cheating people out of money doesn’t make for an interesting villain. The only twist was that Rosie’s dad did actually kill himself and wasn’t murdered by Claude, or Alex, or Dahlia. Anticlimactic to say the least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2017
Loved it all the way through. Very well written. Couldn't put it down.
October 27, 2023
Hard to put down.
July 8, 2025
DNF at page 100.
February 5, 2015
Rosaura Douglas and her friends are making plans for the summer when her mother abruptly whisks her away from the old, cramped apartment she’s shared with her parents and takes her to the home of Claude Fisk and his son, Alex. Suddenly, everything in Rosaura’s world has changed. Her father is dead, by his own hand, people say. She has this new home, a large lumbering place that reminds her of a monstrous pink dessert.
Here is where Rosaura sees her father’s ghost . . . here is where her father died . . . here is where she now lives. Here in The Cake House.
Rosaura narrates this tale of a dysfunctional family, ultimately revealing the harsh truth of Claude’s involvement with her father, of Alex and his friends from the high school they both attend, and the lengths to which some will go to realize their own selfish dreams.
Alternately cringe-worthy and sympathetic, Rosaura’s haunting story unfolds as she navigates her way through her broken life to find her true place in the world. The harrowing narrative plays out to a largely predictable end; readers know this house of cards will tumble one day, but just how is everyone involved? The compelling, page-turning conclusion will leave readers amazed at Rosaura’s vulnerability and her strength.
Recommended.
Here is where Rosaura sees her father’s ghost . . . here is where her father died . . . here is where she now lives. Here in The Cake House.
Rosaura narrates this tale of a dysfunctional family, ultimately revealing the harsh truth of Claude’s involvement with her father, of Alex and his friends from the high school they both attend, and the lengths to which some will go to realize their own selfish dreams.
Alternately cringe-worthy and sympathetic, Rosaura’s haunting story unfolds as she navigates her way through her broken life to find her true place in the world. The harrowing narrative plays out to a largely predictable end; readers know this house of cards will tumble one day, but just how is everyone involved? The compelling, page-turning conclusion will leave readers amazed at Rosaura’s vulnerability and her strength.
Recommended.
November 26, 2015
In a very short period of time, Rosaura’s life has changed drastically. Rosaura’s mother, Dahlia, left her husband and took refuge with his well-to-do business partner, Claude. But Rosaura’s father followed them and then supposedly shot himself. Now Dahlia and Claude are married, the ghost of Rosaura’s father has started appearing to her, and the Cake House—the name which Rosaura has given to Claude’s home—is full of secrets that she can’t seem to penetrate. What does Claude do? How does his son, Alex, fit in? And what really happened to Rosaura’s father?
In this dark and somewhat cryptic novel, young teenage heroine Rosaura struggles to fully understand her own past and the lies that have defined it. "The Cake House" is gorgeously written, full of imagery that is both poetic and shocking, stark in its examination of how the truth can destroy both the present and memories of the past. At times, it can be a bit hard to follow the story as it twists and turns, but it is well worth working through; this book faces down the full spectrum of human emotion without fear, and readers who see it through will feel validated by the ending.
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
In this dark and somewhat cryptic novel, young teenage heroine Rosaura struggles to fully understand her own past and the lies that have defined it. "The Cake House" is gorgeously written, full of imagery that is both poetic and shocking, stark in its examination of how the truth can destroy both the present and memories of the past. At times, it can be a bit hard to follow the story as it twists and turns, but it is well worth working through; this book faces down the full spectrum of human emotion without fear, and readers who see it through will feel validated by the ending.
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
October 9, 2015
How do I describe this book? I guess you would say it is part mystery and part ghost story. It is about a 13 year old girl, Rosaura, who’s mother has taken her and left her father for another man who lives in a big pink house she thinks looks like a cake - hence, cake house. Her father follows them and kills himself in the house. What follows is Rosaura trying to make sense of her new life that includes her new step-father and step-brother. Rosaura starts seeing her father’s ghost shortly after he dies and he seems to be trying to warn her about her step-father. I thought the mystery in the book was really well paced and unveiled itself at the right moments. I enjoyed the suspense and the writing.
August 5, 2015
This was a very strange book; in a good way. Very odd characters tell a strange complicated tale. Their story sucks you in just to see what strange thing might happen next, making for a relatively fast read. Although at times I felt disconnect amongst the characters I found this to be more part of how the story unfolds and not affecting badly but enhancing the book. Great job Ms. Salom on an entertaining read.
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
February 5, 2016
This story is told from Rosaura Douglas' point of view. Rosie (as her new step-father calls her) is a 14 year old girl from a family struggling to make ends meet, when tragedy strikes in the form of her father's suicide. Rosie and her mother immediately move in with the mysterious Claude and his son, Alex. As Rosie struggles to make sense of her new life, she also struggles with understanding why her father's ghost is haunting her, and the message the ghost is trying give her. Part coming of age and part mystery, this is an interesting story by a new author. Even if the reader recognizes much of the plot from Shakespeare's Hamlet, this is worth reading.
March 21, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The novel was very compelling at the beginning. I was anxious to learn about all the secret relationships between the characters and I really liked the narrative voice of Rosaura. I also felt that the ghost was a believable plot device. As an English major, I was hooked in by the connections to Hamlet. However the book became repetitive and I was somewhat unsure about the sexual precociousness of the 14 year old protagonist. The ghost eventually becomes an underused plot device and the novel's secrets are not that compelling.
April 13, 2015
I won this book from Read it Forward and so glad that I did! This was one of those books that I took a quick look to see where to put in in my TBR stack and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. I just love when that happens! Rosaura Douglas's dad shoots himself after being left by her mother. She ends up at the Cake House when her mother remarries a weathly man a little quickly. It's hard to believe that this is Latifah Salom's first book but I will be watching for her next one, that's for sure
October 30, 2015
I randomly picked this book and was surprised by it. It is strange, with a gost, but not in a way that I wanted to quit it. On the contrary, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. At the start of the book, I had many questions about the event on the first pages: why did Rosaura's father kill himself, what was the role of Claude in this, who is this Claude anyway with his vague business? And then there is his son Alex, who is involved in another vague way. It kept me going on. I liked it a lot up until the end.
2015 Books #40
2015 Books #40
February 12, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. This is a ghost story with a twist. Rosie's dad kills himself when her mother leaves him for his business partner. Rosie doesn't like Claude, her new step dad but she does like his son Alex. Strange happenings are happening in the ugly pink house that Rosie has designated the cake house. The police are investigating Claude and Rosie realizes that her dad is being investigated too. An unusual story of a young girl growing up in a situation where she has no control.
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