The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe

by Catherine Greer, Lucy Bell (Narrator)

A woman's midlife reinvention and a beach village of eccentric Aussies collide with stupendous results in this witty, razor-sharp and immensely enjoyable debut from author Catherine Greer.

Audrey Sweetman wakes up one morning next to her husband, excited for the promotion she's been working towards for years. But by nightfall, everything in her life has been upended.

She escapes to the seaside village of Whitehaven Bay, but her plan to hide is derailed by her meddlesome new neighbours. The Coffin Cheaters bikie gang. A cranky pensioner with a habit of naked swimming. Shez, the dubious 'CEO' of the holiday flats. A mouthy teen who's nothing but trouble. And a handsome yet elusive retiree, Dr Flood.

When Audrey learns she's facing financial disaster, the villagers help her launch the haphazard Bittersweet Biscuits. Targeting divorce parties for Sydney's elite, Audrey begins selling fortune cookies that tell the bitter truth.

With a little help from her unpredictable friends, Audrey just might be able to make the outlandish business work—if the law doesn't catch up with her first.

'Funny, heartbreaking and rich with characters, grit and determination. A page-turner.' SUSAN DUNCAN, bestselling author of Finding Joy in Oyster Bay

'A sparkling novel with a tender heart, The Bittersweet Bakery Café offers a delicious take on reinvention. Who would have guessed that a fortune cookie could transform your life?' SOPHIE BEAUMONT, bestselling author of The Paris Cooking School

'I want to move in next door to the Bittersweet Bakery Café so Audrey can become my best friend. Every woman deserves a bestie like Audrey. This is the coming-of-middle-age feel good fiction we all need. A delectable feast of a novel!' TESS WOODS, bestselling author of The Venice Hotel

'Get reading, be inspired, then get ready to cook!' CATRIONA ROWNTREE

'Life-affirming and joyous . . . Audrey will inspire you to raise a glass to a bigger, better, brighter future.' JOSEPHINE MOON, author of the bestselling The Cake Maker's Wish

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Australia

Audible Audio

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Hello, I'm Catherine Greer. Thank you for being here, and for taking the time and care to share your thoughts on the books that I write with love and put out into the world. If you're a reader and / or a writer, you'll know that it takes years to write and bring a book into the world -- and our greatest hope is to find readers who enjoy resonate with a story.

My debut YA novel was sophisticated and felt very Atwood-esque, based on her compelling poem "Siren Song". I'm sorry that I didn't redeem the main character, Annie, who is an unreliable narrator and also a girl living with quite a lot of pain. I love her still, and all she went through in Love, Lie, Repeat.

My new novel is for adult women like me. It's called The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, and I poured everything I am into this book. Baking, recipes, community, love, grit, determination and a willingness to keep going...no matter what the odds are. If you love UpLit or Feel Good Fiction, you might love this one. If you're a crime or thriller reader, or want to read on the dark side, it's probably not one for you.

But if you love to curl up in bed and read about a spirited woman who wins...and who learns to fall in love with HERSELF, then you might just love The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. Please do try the family recipes in the book. They are all fantastic...my favourites are the chocolate cake and the classic carrot cake. And the cinnamon buns! You'll see quite a lot of readers making these recipes on Instagram, and I've loved seeing that.

If you want to hear from me every week, I write a free, upbeat and simple Sunday newsletter at LoveOurAge dot com.

Thank you for being here. Writers want to share their stories and their hearts with the world. I hope you feel that my books are "for you". If you want to share a critique of what I could be doing better, please do email me at my website. I'm a human learning how to improve, like all the rest of us, and probably a lot like you. Thank you for your support of my work in the world. Catherine x

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Sweetman wakes up one morning after a restless night’s sleep, knowing today she’s going to give her best advertising pitch and she has no idea it will be one of the worst days of her life. Audrey was completely blindsided and feels like a fool, she hops in her car and leaves Sydney and drives to the seaside town of Whitehaven Bay, a place she visited as a child with her late mum.

Here she meets real estate agent Lem and his girlfriend and motivational speaker and owner of the holiday flats Shez, Buddy a grumpy old man who likes to go for his morning swim starkers and it's not his fault he can’t get his budgie smugglers on, a nonbinary rebellious teen called Billie, the handsome Dr Justin Flood and Stumpy, Smokey and Tiny members of the Coffin Cheaters bikie gang.

Audrey’s life is a mess, she’s lost her job and husband, house and money and the locals decide she should open a bakery in Buddy’s rundown building and she makes the most delicious biscuits, cakes, and fortune cookies with quirky and straight to the point messages. Audrey has one person in town standing between her and possible success and she’s the head of the Whitehaven Community Association and Billie’s mother.

I received a copy of The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. This debut novel is a delightful read, it makes you think and highlights relevant topics such as aging and how older women are treated and feel invisible, the loss of a job and spouse, childlessness and people judge women without children and it's very hurtful, aging and alcoholism, a misunderstood teenager and bikie's and most people give them a bad rap as well.

I adored The Bittersweet Baker Cafe it’s a great hope filled and endearing story, the characters are wonderful, funny and unique and all the recipes are listed at the end and I love to bake and I'm going to make the choc chip hooray chocolate biscuits and five stars from me.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender story about Audrey, who is navigating personal reinvention during midlife, after both personal and professional upheavals. This is feel-good fiction at its best, featuring determination, richly memorable characters, and there are even recipes from the story at the back of the book!

‘It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, everything is bittersweet.’

This is a fantastic debut novel, from Australian Catherine Greer.

4.5 stars (rounded up)

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Get ready for your senses to tingle and your mouth to water as the delicious sweet food is highlighting in this enchanting, favourable, sprightly and appetising foodie read.
The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe tells the story of Audrey who arrives in Whitehaven Bay after fleeing the city from a chaotic day.
First she finds out her husband is having an affair with his young assistant and the promotion she has been working on, Audrey is passed over for someone else.
Planning to keep to herself she is met with a collection of eccentric town characters and then begins a new venture of baked goods.
But things don’t always go to plan…..
When financial disaster surfaces and with the help of her new friends, things prepare to turn around.
The writing is inviting, the plot is enthralling, the characters are loveable and the setting is welcoming.
There’s romance, fun, joy, charm, heart, spirit and among all this delectable delights is a list of topical, social issues that feature throughout.
A spunky, daring and lively tale.

[Catherine Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, my friends and readers! It's Catherine Greer here...the author of The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. It's dusk in Sydney, Australia, and I'm smiling sitting at my desk tonight, thinking some of you may be surprised that I'm reviewing The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe.

But who would I be if I didn't love and believe in my own book?! The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe took years to bring into the world, and I'm so proud of my grit and determination. It wasn't an easy path, and I tried my very best to create a page-turner that sings...Feel Good Fiction that feels relatable and funny, and gives every single human the chance to be respected and loved. I spent so many hours (years, actually) thinking of you and writing a book that would be uplifting, funny and filled with grit. I hope you love it, too. And if it's not for you, I hope you find many, many books that you do love.

Huge thanks to everyone for reading and helping me along the way. If I can help you, too, please reach out. We need so many writers and readers, and all of us are here, finding a way to walk each other home. Catherine x

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely gorgeous book!
Audrey Sweetman has an ideal life which falls to pieces suddenly with her quitting her job and finding out her husband is cheating on her. She decides to go to a small coastal town her mum took her to as a child and it’s there she rebuilds her life.
The story has a cast of interesting characters of all ages, eat with their own quirks, but all with their likeable side. But it also touches on a range of topics such as alcoholism, aging and how women are treated as they get older, not being able to have children and gender with a non binary teenager as one of the main characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jean Ives · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about and for real people: complicated, flawed, quirky, needy, lonely, and loving. The story twists and turns, delivering a few gasps and laughs, accompanied by the background of exquisite images of sea and sky. Some of the characters have been slammed by life a few are just plain mean spirited, and others are golden spirits in funky costumes; you know who they are right away and you probably know them in real life. Favourites are: Billie, Stumpy, Buddy, Tiny, Shez
I read BSBC in two sittings, something I haven’t done for years, because the characters grabbed my attention and involvement as soon as they showed up. The book isn’t perfect, any more than life is perfect, but it is very human. Thank you Catherine Greer for reminding me of so many, many people. Thank you also for some great looking recipes.
Some favourite lines: “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, everything is bittersweet”, “Don’t play leapfrog with a unicorn”, “The world’s a big unpredictable place. You never know when the magic will find you”, and “one hour, one minute at a time”.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe is a bittersweet story of starting over (see what I did there). 😉 What starts as a short holiday for Audrey soon becomes the catalyst of a long held dream. Audrey loves to bake and has always dreamed of running her own bakery.

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe is chock-full of laugh-out-loud moments with plenty of drama and setbacks through themes of ageism, alcohol abuse and domestic abuse, as Audrey rebuilds her life with sugar, flour, butter and love. Fabulous feel-good fiction and a must read for contemporary romance readers.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard of this exciting new novel by fellow Canadian-Australian author, Catherine Greer, from another reviewer friend who highly recommended it. And I was delighted I had the privilege of reading and reviewing it thanks to Allen & Unwin. First off, The Bitter Sweet Bakery Café stands up to its title as it explodes with a mixture of life’s opposite ingredients. Just as in recipes, the combination of bitter and sweet can create stunning, mouth-watering treats. In this case forge new paths to happiness. Yes, food is part of the plot’s mix and the joy it can bring to those who need comfort and encouragement. But it is also about uncovering long buried dreams that get lost in the everyday grind of social existence. Throw in some unexpected twists and wicked drama that upsets the apple cart and what do you get? Change brought on by the force of trials. Change that sometimes is necessary for pushing us out of our comfort zone to discover there is more to us than meets the eye! Often it is what we need to bump us out of a rut so that we can develop courage to take a nose dive off the cliff into the sea of unknown.

I adored this novel as Catherine Greer hits home all the points that mid to later life women deal with so often. This makes her story very relatable. We may not all have had issues with wayward husbands, financial, property and job losses, alcoholism, childlessness, etc. but I bet most older women have felt short-changed or misjudged due to their age, appearance, social standing and so on, at one time or another. The struggle to stay or look young to compete with much younger women for our jobs, marriages and businesses is often all too real. Well, Audrey is the poster woman for all the battered souls out there who have carried or experienced the same losses and grievances. But despite all those horrible things that pile up on Audrey, she does not stay down. She learns from the experiences and draws strength from the memories of her mother—and moves forward with the support and kindness of her new friends to start again. When she has lost everything of material and social worth, she discovers there’s beauty in the wreckage. And she is not alone to fight her battles. Even more she starts counting and betting on herself, giving herself credit for what she can do. She does not need to appease or please others to succeed. And when she grabs this fresh vision, she is free to be the best she wants to be. Through this sometimes chaotic process, she spreads a lot of joy to those around her. And it is this joy that shines like a million glittering stars across the pages of this story.

The author presents through her characters insightful gems—realities that explode like fortune cookies for eager eyes to read little messages of truth inside. The writing style is exceptional, the tension perfect, the pace sings and the plot unfolds like the layers of petals in a flower. The dialogue is appropriate and riveting. The banter is fun and faithful to the story. Audrey’s thoughts reveal her fears, struggles and decisions. All spectacularly written, not a wasted word. I have read many women’s fiction novels that address some of the topics we see in The Bitter Sweet Bakery Café but this story presents it all in such a mature seasoned way. This is a testament to the author’s craftsmanship and the fact the material is based on what real people go through.

The eclectic unforgettable characters are captivating. They are fun, charming and delightful. And under the priceless humour runs some very poignant truths that hit the heart like a sledge hammer. Audrey is a friend we’d all want to know. Along with those who circle her like Buddy, Billie, Shez, Emily, Dr. Flood and even the bikie Coffin Cheaters! You cannot help but love these people who come into her life after the disasters hit her. And it is easy to be annoyed by the negative characters who were the bumps in her road. But even they could not steal Audrey’s thunder. Because when her big promotion fails, her husband betrays her (in more ways than one) and her previous work associate blocks her new plan, her escape to the seaside village to Whitehaven Bay is where all the magic and regrowth starts. With the help of some village friends, her heart and life are reshaped and revitalised. Armed with fresh vision, her Bittersweet Biscuit business takes off despite all the roadblocks in her path. She makes delicious lemon pie from the lemons that life tosses at her! And speaking of recipes: the story is filled with delectable treats. As a bonus, you can find them at the back of the novel to cook as well.

This is a wonderful package filled with heart, honesty, love, laughter and endless truths. As we watch Audrey rise and fall and rise again like the waves on the shore, we cannot help but cheer her enthusiasm, courage and charisma and grab a bit of that sparkle for ourselves. This is where the magic of a novel rubs off the pages and into our hearts. Reminding us we can overcome anything and we are not alone in our struggles. For often there are friends willing to help us over the rough spots.

Like the cover says: “sometimes losing everything is the only way to win.” Audrey had everything taken from her but like Job (in the Bible) she receives back a whole lot more. Every-one will love this novel for although its main focus is on mid-life challenges, it also covers other ages, too— including seniors and teens. Plus, solutions against bullying experienced by persons with quirky personalities. I kept thinking while reading The Bitter Sweet Bakery Café, fans of Joanna Nell’s books will love this novel. It’s a winner that you just cannot miss! I adored it and highly recommend it. It’s good medicine for the soul and a feast for the heart. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a paperback review copy.

[Belinda Nussbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bitter Sweet Bakery Café by Catherine Greer is an absolute gem! I adored every page of this beautifully written book. The characters felt so real and relatable—especially as a middle-aged woman myself, I found so much of the story resonating deeply with me.

It’s the kind of book that wraps around your heart and pulls you in completely. I was hooked from the first chapter and ended up devouring it. There’s warmth, charm, and a quiet strength woven through the entire narrative, and I found myself both smiling and tearing up at different moments.

I could even taste some of the delicious recipes through the pages (can't wait to try some of them myself).

Catherine Greer doesn't just write about characters, she introduces you to new friends. I'm already missing them, wondering what they're doing now that I've closed the final page. Can't wait to press this book into the hands of every woman in my life who needs a reminder that second chances come in unexpected packages.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer is a warm and tender novel about starting over and rising to the occasion.

On the morning of an important pitch at work which she expects will lead to a promotion to Creative Director, advertising executive Audrey Sweetman-Brown is forced to backtrack to retrieve her forgotten laptop from the car, only to discover her husband of 25 years and his disheveled personal assistant in the backseat. Devastated but determined to at least secure her career Audrey gives her presentation but when the position is instead awarded to her much younger colleague, Audrey resigns in despair. With her life in tatters and a need for time to consider her next steps, Audrey escapes to the small coastal village of Whitehaven Bay.

I had a great deal of sympathy for Audrey who was blindsided by her husband’s betrayal and the sudden loss of her career. It makes sense that she’d seek comfort in a place, and a hobby, that connects her to her beloved late mother’s memory. I think many women will relate to her character in some way and support her struggle to build a new life for herself.

I liked how organically Audrey, despite her desire for solitude, becomes part of the community of Whitehaven Bay. The supporting cast, which includes elderly landlord Buddy who enjoys a daily naked constitutional; Billie, a rebellious non-binary teen; ambitious entrepreneur Shez and her boyfriend Lem; and the handsome Dr Flood; are a delightful bunch of characters, and the dynamic of this group adds such warmth to the story.

It’s with the not-so-gentle support of her new friends, that Audrey finds the courage to launch her baking business, though it brings more challenges. If you are a foodie you’ll love the mouthwatering descriptions of Audrey’s treats. Generously, Greer has included a dozen recipes in the book that all sound delicious, including Audrey’s Bittersweet Biscuits and Emma’s Blackberry Afternoon Tea Cake (and a playlist to listen to while you bake).

With its snappy dialogue, there is plenty of humour in The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, but Greer does touch on some serious themes such as marital betrayal, ageing, family dysfunction, bullying, and alcoholism. The highs and lows of the drama in the plot are well paced, and the ending is uplifting and satisfying.

If you are looking for a treat, pick up a copy of The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, and enjoy it with some homemade biscuits or a slice of cake.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This healed a part within me that’s scared to age and reinvested the thought that we, as women, are so much more than our age, the number on the scale and the amount of greys in our hair.

[Rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Sweetman suddenly finds everything in her life has been upended. She escapes to the seaside village of Whitehaven Bay, but her plan to hide is derailed by her meddlesome new neighbours, bikie gang, a cranky pensioner, a dubious 'CEO' of the holiday flats, a mouthy teen, and a handsome yet elusive retiree, Dr Flood. Facing financial disaster, the villagers help Audrey launch the haphazard Bittersweet Biscuits. Targeting divorce parties for Sydney's elite, Audrey begins selling fortune cookies that tell the bitter truth.

This book was an unexpected dark horse! It really exceeded my expectations. I was expecting a simple, sickeningly-sweet small town rom-com with a mature-age main character. But this turned out to be a powerful self-discovery, self-love hero journey to achieve greatness!

Surprisingly, this story wasn’t just about Audrey. It was about all the unique characters in Whitehaven Bay and most importantly, Billy. They really captured my heart immediately. I even found myself sympathising with Ruth, who was a harsh and judgemental mother, as her heart was in the right place. I still didn’t agree with her methods though, but I thought Audrey said it best when she said even though they didn’t agree with each other, it was always best for women to support each other. That line really hit me in the heart.

This story did everything right by me. It was the right amount of bitter, and the right kind of sweet. It even got me craving for macaroons. It was definitely a standout read for me this year. I’d highly recommend this to everyone!

(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave the sample of this a go on Libby and devoured the rest in two days. Maybe it was the Sydney setting that felt so familiar, but this was like a gooey choc chip cookie straight out of the oven for me.

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The Bittersweet Bakery Café is a brilliantly written, character-driven novel that I connected with on so many levels. At times, it’s heartbreaking; at others, laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s always thoroughly enjoyable.

Audrey Sweetman wakes up expecting a well-earned promotion, but by nightfall, her entire life has been turned upside down. In search of escape, she lands in the quirky seaside village of Whitehaven Bay—only to find herself surrounded by an unforgettable cast of characters. From a local bikie gang to a cranky pensioner with a habit of swimming naked, and Shez, the self-appointed CEO of the holiday flats, Audrey’s plans for solitude don’t last long. And when financial disaster strikes, she’s forced to get creative, launching Bittersweet Biscuits, a wildly unorthodox business selling brutally honest fortune cookies.

Audrey is an absolutely gorgeous character—witty, resilient, and so deeply relatable. As a 50-something woman myself, I felt a true kinship with her. I shared in her wins, her losses, her joys, and her sorrows, and when the book ended, I genuinely didn’t want to say goodbye. My only consolation? The delicious recipes at the back of the book, which I can’t wait to bake!

Catherine Greer has crafted something special here—one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I truly can’t wait for her next book!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer was such a comforting and heartwarming read—I ended up binge listening to the entire book! Audrey felt like a cherished friend, and I was completely drawn into her world. I couldn’t help but wish I could sit down with her in her cozy kitchen and soak in her warmth. The perfect blend of sweetness and depth made this book impossible to put down. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a comforting escape!

[Hemmie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, moving, and uplifting debut novel about Audrey Sweetman, working in an advertising agency, until a pitch fails badly, so she leaves Sidney and heads for Whitehaven Bay, where she used to holiday with her late mother.
There, she meets a quirky cast of characters, who challenge her and also bring her much needed support. Audrey has lost her marriage, job, and money but she is not one to let a mid-life crisis crush her, and the community encourage her to open a bakery after tasting her delicious pies and cakes. But nothing is plain sailing for Audrey.
This novel transported me to the beautiful Australian beaches and community, and Audrey is a character you can get behind.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Audrey loses out on a promotion and discovers her husband is having an affair, she quits her job in Sydney and takes off for Whitehaven Bay, a beach town she visited when she was young. The residents of Whitehaven are a quirky bunch. There's Audrey's landlord Buddy (who swims naked every morning), Billie (a teenager who is nursing a world of hurt underneath their tough exterior), and Shez (a flamboyant dresser and owner of the local holiday flats). However, what will Audrey do to make a living? Luckily, Audrey is a fabulous baker. Can she make enough money with her floral fortune cookies to stay afloat? The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe is a delightful story of second chances, friendship, and community. A great choice for readers of Freya Sampson and Clare Pooley.

[Marg · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rtc

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a first-time author, Catherine Greer, has written an impressive novel in The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. It has many interesting aspects and is certainly not predictable. It is lovely to welcome an Australian author, who has set her story in Sydney and country New South Wales.
The main character is a fifty-three-year-old woman, Audrey, who is smart and courageous. There are several other characters who are well rounded and interesting. It is the solutions to problems and the development of relationships between characters which hold the reader’s attention.
Audrey was a very smart businesswoman who had just developed a publicity advert entitled “Love your age. Live beautifully.” She was passionate about promoting older women as visible members of the community. However, her promotion had to go before the board of the company for acceptance.
On that board was a young woman who scorned Audrey and coveted her role. Convincingly she managed to sway the directors into rejecting the promotion and at the same time offered her ideas for youth and beauty in the ad. When Audrey realised, she would have to report to Summer, the young woman, she resigned and left her position.
This was easy for Audrey as she had a stable marriage, a small mortgage on her large home, no children and a supportive husband. When she arrived home to break the news to her husband, she found out he had been having an affair with his secretary. So, two dramas in the one day. Audrey packed her bags and left for the small coastal town that she and her mother lived in during her childhood. She just needed time to clear her head.
It is here that the local characters begin to interact with Audrey. Buddy walked to the beach each morning on his walker naked, except for a towel slung around his shoulders. Shez was the local beauty advisor and Billie, a trans gender teen all help Audrey to gradually recognise what was important in her life.
The Bittersweet Bakery Café is hopefully the first of many novels from Catherine Greer.
reviewed by Grasshopper 2 for Allen and Unwin and Bluewolf Reviews.

[Gail Amendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read much chick-lit, but this one was written by the sister of a relative, so I thought I would give it a try. It was surprisingly good, and a perfect vacation read. The story begins with the worst day of Audrey Sweetman's life, as she discovers her husband's infidelity and loses her job on the same day. She runs away from her troubles to a tiny beach town of which she has happy memories from her childhood. She finds herself in a run down apartment above an even more run down bakery, surrounded by some very colorful local characters who just won't leave her alone to wallow in her misery. Slowly an old dream is re-kindled, along with much help from her new friends. I loved the sensitive inclusion of troubled non-binary teen Billie, who I came to love. I also enjoy that a number of recipes are shared at the end of the book. Being Canadian, I enjoyed the snippets of Australian culture and lexicon. This was a really good book, and I'm not just saying that because my sister-in-law expects me to.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel for adults from Catherine Greer and it was such a heartwarming and emotional read.

Audrey Sweetman wakes up pumped for the promotion she has been working towards for years, only to have her whole life turned upside down in the space of a day. Needing to lay low she heads to a place she remembers from her childhood, the seaside village of Whitehaven Bay. However her plan to hide, quickly comes unstuck due to nosy neighbours, a bikie gang, a cranky old man and a difficult teenager. Discovering that she is on the brink of financial ruin she has the idea to launch Bittersweet Biscuits. With help from her eccentric new friends she may just be able to make this work, if the law doesn’t catch up with her first.

What a brilliantly written and entertaining read. Audrey was a very relatable character and seeing her life come unravelled so quickly was a bit of a wake up call that things can change in the blink of an eye. I was so angry on Audrey’s behalf at the injustice and the dismissive attitudes towards middle aged women. I love that Catherine has portrayed Audrey so authentically and made her such a proud and bravely independent woman.

As well as Audrey, I absolutely adored Billy. Their one liners and banter with Audrey were hilarious and I loved the bond they shared.

The food aspect of this novel was also completely delectable and I cannot wait to bake some of the recipes from the back of the book.

Although funny and heartwarming, the book also touches on some heavier topics including ageism, alcoholism, gender identity, bullying and family violence but this is balanced by humour and baking.

The Bittersweet Bakery Café was a wonderfully tender and engaging story full of warm hearted characters, friendship and a beautiful tale of starting over.

[Maria Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a joyful read about a woman who decides not to let life catastrophes ruin her and tries everything she can to turn her life around. She meets other people younger and older on the way that she befriends and they help her to find her dream. She also helps them muddle through their own private issues. Her kindness and selfless attitude is inspiring. Staying true to herself in this world where it is very hard to do,

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a feel good, positive book but addresses many current issues people of all ages face in today’s world. Loved it, could not put it down. Highly recommend.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the characters in this. It dragged a little at times but ultimately we got there. The relationships between Audrey & Billie & Buddy were gorgeous.

[Cheryl Shurtliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A delicious story about love, resilience, and second chances — best savoured slowly, like the perfect pastry.”

Review of The Bittersweet Bakery Café by Catherine Greer

Rarely do I find a book that pulls me into a story from the very first page, but The Bittersweet Bakery Café did exactly that. I was completely drawn in and had such a hard time putting it down! In fact, I started limiting how much I read each day so I could savour every morsel of this delicious story.

Each of the characters brought something unique and unexpected to the story in ways I could never have imagined. Catherine Greer’s storytelling is warm, evocative, and filled with heart — the kind of writing that lingers long after the final page.

Although I picked this as one of my summer reads, it’s the kind of story that feels perfect any time of the year. Warm, hopeful, and beautifully written — an absolute treat from start to finish.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book about Audrey who was once married and a successful advertising executive until it all came crashing down. Reinventing herself by moving to a seaside town that she remembered staying when a child she meets an interesting group of locals and starts baking fortune cookies. Loved the dynamics between herself and young Billie and her landlord Buddy who walks to the beach naked!

Readers of women’s fiction will love this story!

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Sweetman is primed to have an exceptional day.
She has a fabulous husband and today she is giving an advertising pitch that is going to make the agency a massive success and earn her that promotion. In a matter of hours, everything is turned on its head and Audrey finds all that she believed in has evaporated. Feeling betrayed by husband and angry with the agency, Audrey needs to get out of Sydney. Whitehaven Bay, a place she visited as a child with her Mum, seems like a good spot, where she can be a nobody and hide from the big bad world. The locals have a different idea, an elderly landlord who doesn’t mind a bit of nudity, a teenager with a ton of attitude and a locally appointed self-help guru and CEO of the holiday flats are all eager to make Audrey’s life a bit more complicated as they try to help. Audrey finds going back to what she loves, baking provides her with a way to heal and just maybe, start anew.

Audrey as the main character is thrown the biggest curve ball on the wrong side of 50. Her husband has been unfaithful, the financial security she thought they had has gone through his bad investments and he is happy to throw her previous failings back in her face. Audrey struggled through IVF and several miscarriages, the disappointment took its toil and drinking became an outlet. Audrey is recovering and wrestles with the drink. Her career at the advertising agency, highlights how older women can be overlooked for what men see as the next young, bright and bouncy thing. When Audrey arrives in Whitehaven things kick up a gear. The locals and Audrey’s relationship with them becomes central. As Audrey is beginning to spiral into a real sad sack of depression. However, as she develops bonds with the locals she realises how they are hurting and how they too have a limited voice. As Audrey learns more of her husband’s deceit, her need to create a financial future becomes paramount. Through baking and fortune cookies that tell like it is, Audrey finds herself, and finds real friendships.

Buddy, her landlord is elderly, lives alone, loves the drink and loves to walk to the beach in the morning naked. This to some of the locals means he should be placed into a nursing home, that he is unable to care for himself. Though he is a grumble bum, he and Audrey develop a deep level of respect. Billie, a nonbinary teenager, is struggling with school, with their parents, being allowed to determine their own future. Though Billie and Audrey initially butt heads again they learn to hear and respect each other. The other characters are well developed and lift off the page.

There will be many women who relate to Audrey with some or all of the situations that she has to overcome. Like being a trailblazer at work but continually having to fight to be recognised and heard. Greer has brought together a wonderful bunch of diverse characters, created a feel good read, with plenty of humour, while gently dealing with some serious issues. The added bonus is that at the end there are recipes and the musical playlist. Perfect for book club meetings.

Thanks to Net Galley and Allen & Unwin for a really enjoyable read.

[Lilaaaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read other books with the same structure of main female character has a job > quits/is fired > break up > starts a business > meets someone.

Although I’ve seen this structure, I didn’t find the story predictable. I was honestly expecting a cliche romance between Audrey and Dr Flood, but I was glad it didn’t happened and it remained in between the lines, because the story is about a woman in her 50s who has to reinvent herself in different aspects of her life. It’s a self discovery, a deconstruction and reconstruction of herself and her life, and that’s what I found amazing on this book. It’s yourself and your life before anything else.

I also liked to see a middle-aged woman as a main character (quite unlikely for what I’ve been reading lately) and I could sympathise with her challenges just be seeing other women that I know facing the same things. Other things I liked: Billie as a gender neutral character and how society is still ignorant towards LGBT+ and the ideia of love without being the romantic love, but the friendship love.

The only thing that I didn’t like was the messages of the fortune cookies. I didn’t find them funny at all (maybe due to a language barrier??), but cringe and kinda petty. I still give 5 stars for this book anyway!!

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey was living the perfect life, she has a loving husband and is about to make the perfect advertising pitch. Things don’t go to plan and she ends up going to the coastal town, Whitehaven Bay, that she used to visit with her mother. I really enjoyed Audrey’s story, the small town setting and the friendships she made.

I loved the way Greer explored a number of tricky topics feeling invisible in midlife, infertility, alcoholism and non-binary gender. I really felt for Audrey at times as she faced discrimination for becoming older in the workplace and not being a mother. I loved her unlikely friendships with Billie a non-binary sixteen year old finding their way and Buddy her drunk landlord who likes to go swimming naked. I loved seeing Audrey find her way again with her love of baking. All the food sounded delicious and I loved the sound of the sarcastic fortune cookies and loved how she managed to go viral with her new business (I don’t want to spilt anything there. Complete with a playlist and recipes! For fans of Catherine Newman and Sophie Green.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read and who doesn’t love a book that not only comes with recipes but a playlist. I could see this book as a move/tv series (Ray Meagher/Alf Stewart as Buddy)