The Reservation

by Rebecca Kauffman

The Reservation explores the loves and labors of an ensemble of more than a dozen restaurant workers as they strive to get perfect meals to table—for fans of “The Bear,” Elizabeth Strout, and Jennifer Egan.

Early morning on the day of the most important booking in this august establishment’s history, the discovery of the theft of 22 ribeye steaks roils Aunt Orsa’s. Hers is the finest restaurant in this midwestern college town and Orsa anticipates a large party that will honor a very special guest, the bestselling author, a writer of international renown.

And what’s up with the recent Yelp reviews, insulting to frankly terrible? Is Orsa, who wants only to be loved, being sabotaged on several fronts? And now no one is above suspicion, not the pretty Mennonite baker nor the tatted-up hard-ass chef de cuisine nor the various servers nor the great-looking, if unsure, co-ed working as hostess.

Rebecca Kauffman’s talent for crafting rich, empathetic characters is on full display in The Reservation, where she guides a vibrant cast through a single, high-stakes day in the life of a bustling restaurant. With her signature wit and spirit, Kauffman serves up a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the drama, grace, and grit it takes to bring a beautiful meal to the table—served with a side of chaos.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Food

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Kauffman is originally from rural northeastern Ohio. She received her B.A. from the Manhattan School of Music in Violin Performance, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from NYU. She currently lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.

4.5 stars

I LOVE a good fly on the wall restaurant story, where you see the mechanics behind how everything that it takes to get the food in the back door to your plate, so this was perfect for me; usually these books are non-fiction though, so it was nice to have a fiction example to mix it up a little. This was a bit of a mystery, plus a great character study of a number of people who work in the restaurant, the nicest one in a smallish college town.

Here, each person gets a chance to have part of the tale come from their point of view and then add to that a tease with John Grisham (maybe…..) I enjoyed every minute I spent with the owners, staff and guests of Aunt Orsa’s. Highly recommend this.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh- I had high hopes but this was a huge miss for me.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman

Set over the course of a single…high stakes day…The Reservation drops us into the elegant chaos of Aunt Orsa’s…a beloved fine dining restaurant on the brink of hosting its most important reservation yet. When 22 ribeye steaks go missing and a wave of brutal online reviews threatens Orsa’s carefully curated legacy…suspicion ripples through every corner of the restaurant. From the kitchen to the front of house to the diners themselves…we follow a rotating cast of characters whose lives intersect in the controlled frenzy it takes to get one perfect meal on the table🍽️✨

This book was an absolute delight. I loved the tight one day timeframe and the way Rebecca Kauffman zooms in on each role that makes a restaurant run…from hostess to server to chef…with such care and precision. As someone whose first job was hosting and then waitressing at a family owned restaurant…this stirred up so many memories. The accuracy of the dynamics…the quiet hierarchies…the stress and the small moments of connection felt spot on. I especially loved the added layers of mystery and the inclusion of the clientele’s perspectives…which made the whole experience feel rich and alive. This was my first Rebecca Kauffman novel and it definitely won’t be my last💛

Thank you Counterpoint for the ecopy

Releases 2/24

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[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My early Shelf Awareness review: In Rebecca Kauffman's sixth novel, the staff members of a fine-dining restaurant each have a moment in the spotlight during the attempt to solve a theft.

Aunt Orsa's is the top restaurant in its Midwestern college town. The staff has been gearing up for one momentous fall day: author John Grisham has reserved a table for dinner for his entourage, and Orsa is desperate to make a good impression to counteract some negative online reviews. To her dismay, everything starts going wrong: 22 steaks are stolen, the dishwasher breaks, and there's an injury in the kitchen--not to mention the daily frictions among her employees. Pantry chef Shannon is jealous of host Julia. Server Byron is rumored to be writing a novel about his coworkers. Julia and Byron were dating until he posted a Photoshopped image of her on Facebook. Orsa's nephew, operations assistant Danny, has a crush on the Mennonite pastry chef, Jane. However, when she needs a favor she confides in the prep cook, Edgar, instead of in Danny.

Kauffman explores her characters' interactions and backgrounds with aplomb in linked short stories--a format she's employed several times. The table of contents is presented as a "Menu" with 16 chapters, each focusing on a different customer or member of staff via close third-person narration. A number of chapters could even function as standalone short stories, with killer last lines. Two standouts expose economic and social realities: Edgar has a second job at a poultry plant and sends most of his earnings home to his family in Guatemala; a pair of diners realize their addict son hasn't reformed after all when the restaurant gift card he gave them is exposed as fake.

For the most part, the mystery takes a backseat to the character studies. When the narrative does prioritize Orsa's amateur investigation, it can feel a little hokey; long dialogues working through her list of suspects entail too much spelling out, and there is also some repetition across the chapters. But it's a pleasure to go deep with each character, discovering hidden sorrows and motivations--especially Orsa's childlessness and lead line cook Glen's brain damage from a childhood accident--while awaiting the finale of "Grisham Day." The Reservation is a big-hearted novel perfect for J. Ryan Stradal's fans.

(Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.) (3.5)

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Loved the premise of this novel - a light mystery at an upscale restaurant, the night that a famous author is expected to have dinner there. Each chapter is more or less from the perspective of a different employee at the restaurant. We get a quick, small insight into each employee's life, learning that things usually aren't always as they appear - everyone has secrets. This was a quick, easy read.

I thought the ending dragged a bit too long but I enjoyed the overall message of the book.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a Tuesday at Aunt Orsa's, the one fine dining restaurant in a small midwestern college town. Usually Tuesday evening is one of the slower nights, but best selling author John Grisham is dining at the restaurant after doing an event in the town. When Danny, the Operations Assistant, arrives at Orsa's in the morning he discovers that someone has stolen twenty-two rib eye steaks. He informs Orsa when she arrives of the theft and she wonders which of the employees could have taken them. The Reservation recounts the day and evening at the restaurant through the eyes of all the employees. Readalikes include Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman and Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan.

[Jessica O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem — if I was a foodie I’d be able to describe it as dish that warms you up, makes you feel good, and you just know it’s made with organic, farm fresh ingredients.

A fine dining restaurant prepares for an exclusive VIP, and the reader is taken on a journey with several different points of view leading up to the reservation. Each character is well drawn, empathetic, and not without their unique faults.

The author expertly reveals just enough about each character and event to keep you turning the page, but never loses the focus at the heart of the story — people all trying to survive based on their past and current circumstances. I loved this book.

[Ilyssa Wesche · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me SO MUCH of Kitchens of the Great Midwest, including having one chapter that 1) I did not totally understand and 2) kinda ruined my reading experience. In this case it was towards the end - I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say more.

What I did love about this book was having one chapter from each character's POV, learning so much about them in these chapters, and really feeling like I understood everyone's perspective and motivation.

[Annie Bentley Waddoups · Rating 4 out of 5]

This multi-perspective novel covers a day in the life of Aunt Orsa's, a restaurant in a midwestern college town. Twenty-two steaks are discovered missing and the restaurant is expecting none other than John Grisham for a 7 p.m. reservation. Part The Bear, part exploration of class and the anthropology of the modern restaurant kitchen, part whodunit--this is an enjoyable and insightful read.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC to read and review

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not published for some time. thanks to edelweiss and the publisher for a first look. I really like Kauffman’s writing. It’s accessible, character driven and relatable. This story is about a restaurant and the staff, their back stories and a few of the patrons. Told in segments focusing on different characters it’s both entertaining and wise.

[Dawn H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing in this book is good. But I’ve worked in fine dining and the author lost me when the fine dining restaurant was going to replace the missing meat at Walmart. As if this would ever happen in the world of fine dining. Smdh

Thanks to Netgalley and Counterpoint for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Kelsey (Kelseylovesbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book will be polarizing, but I really enjoyed it. Technically, nothing happens. We follow the staff at a small, high-end restaurant in a college town as they go through a hectic night. Each chapter is from the perspective of someone who works there. It’s not action-packed and it doesn’t cover much time, but it is a great fly-on-the-wall look at restaurant service life.

[Zoey Gulden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely felt exactly like working a busy fine dining dinner shift!!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and well-written with compelling characters and an absorbing story. Rings true to my restaurant work years ago as I was building up my freelance writing portfolio on the side. Recommended!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interwoven stories about one day at a restaurant

[lindsey]

Need immediately. RK is my fave!