Will This Make You Happy: Stories & Recipes from a Year of Baking

by Tanya Bush, Forsyth Harmon (Artist)

“Will This Make You Happy is an ode to the wild pleasures of transformation . . . I gulped it down, eager for every last crumb.”—Leslie Jamison, bestselling author of Make it Scream, Make it Burn

“Beautiful—smart, funny and effortlessly lyrical.” —Ruby Tandoh, bestselling author of Cook As You Are

“This is an entirely different kind of cookbook, one that makes you want to curl up and read cover to cover. I loved it.”—Sohla El-Waylly, James Beard Award winner and author of the bestselling cookbook Start Here

For fans of Nora Ephron and Nigel Slater, this hybrid memoir and cookbook brings together over fifty inventive baking recipes with a lyrical coming-of-age story about desire and dessert. Perfect for home cooks, lovers of literature, and anyone who finds comfort in the kitchen.

Tanya Bush is adrift in the uncertainty of her early twenties—unemployed, uninspired, and stuck in a long-term relationship that's lost its spark. One day, just to do something, she decides to bake a cake. It's gooey in the center, woefully underbaked, an absolute disaster—but it also reminds her of the pleasures of sugar crystals under her fingernails, flour in her hair, and the hard-earned satisfaction of following the steps of a recipe to the end.

Over the course of a year, Tanya embarks on a journey that carries her from her tiny apartment to the sunlit kitchens of an Italian agriturismo to the basement of a bustling Brooklyn bakery, where she rediscovers her appetite for pleasure, indulgence, and meaningful work.

A culinary memoir and love story, interwoven with over fifty innovative and approachable baking recipes, Will This Make You Happy is for readers and bakers looking for something messier, more experimental, and honest than the typical aspirational cookbook.

COMPELLING From the co-founder of the James Beard-nominated literary magazine Cake Zine, pastry chef at Little Egg, and contributing writer for the New York Times T Magazine, this part propulsive and witty coming-of-age story, part baking book is as satisfying to read as it is to cook from. It’s meant to be devoured curled up on the couch or with the mixer whirring in the kitchen.

FLEXIBLE The recipes in the book are designed to be mixed, matched, and adapted to the season. Whether you’re a new baker or an improvisational one, Will This Make You Happy encourages play and experimentation. Featuring recipes for Neapolitan Pavlova, Hojicha Tiramisu, Blueberry Jam Corn Muffins, Dark Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Birthday Cake, Cardamom Crullers, and more.

A BEAUTIFUL With lush full-color illustrations by Forsyth Harmon and striking photographs, this book lives equally well on the kitchen counter, nightstand, or coffee table.

Perfect for:
• Fans of food-themed books and memoirs
• Dessert lovers
• First-time bakers and seasoned bakers
• Readers of contemporary literature and personal narrative

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking

344 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

Tanya Bush is a Brooklyn-based writer and baker. She is the co-founder of Cake Zine, the pastry chef for Tables of Contents and the Brooklyn-based restaurant Little Egg. In 2023, her cruller was dubbed NY Mag’s Best Pastry. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, i-D, Guernica, Eater, Bon Appetit, etc. She has an MFA in creative writing from Hunter College. Follow her: @will.this.make.me.happy on Instagram.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely cookbook and coming-of-age memoir with more than 50 recipes such as Cardamom Crullers, Dark Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Birthday Cake, and Hojicha Tiramisu. Features stunning full-color art and photos. Delightful and delicious!

[Cara Achterberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the memoir portions of this book. I'm not a baker and don't generally eat sweets, but I still loved the descriptions and the journey of a youngish adult trying to find her way. My only complaint is that the recipes get as much or more page-time as the memoir. Bush has a wonderful writing voice and I would have enjoyed more of it.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review.

[Gabriella Burnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm lucky enough to live near Little Egg, the restaurant where Tanya Bush is a baker. If I didn't live nearby, I'm not sure I'd ever get in -- people line up down the block to taste Bush's pastries, particularly her cruller, which remains light, fluffy, and crisp without skimping on the glaze. Her glazes literally drip. It's remarkable to learn, then, in this memoir how Bush became a baker; given her talent and fame, it's actually astounding that she taught herself to bake through trial and error in her small Brooklyn kitchen during the pandemic. Astounding and quite inspiring. I've been thinking a lot about Mary Shelley recently, who wrote Frankenstein, and the fact that she was only 18 years old when she wrote what became one of the most iconic and symbolic novels of humankind. Think about that-- the quiet musings of an 18 year old girl have taken on such meaning that we still consider them today to make sense of our modern world.

Anyway, that's all to say that I loved this book. It is about the details of a baker's life-- I loved reading the descriptions about how much cleaning is involved in baking. Bush is constantly wiping down countertops, she's always covered in flour. I didn't know what a silpat was until I read this book, and now I too kind of loathe them. And what are all these details for? The pre-dawn mornings, the failed bakes, the endless wiping. To make a birthday cake that will bring a brief moment of joy to someone's life, before it's eaten. Reading this book, it made me believe there is no other way to describe life, in fact. that the only way to measure happiness is in grams, in units of sugar.

[Barbara Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although her life is a mess when the book opens, there's something tender and likable about Tanya Bush, and I was drawn into Will This Make You Happy from page one. Maybe because I once considered going to pastry school, maybe because I baked my way through The French Culinary Institute’s The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Pastry Art, maybe because I've fallen into rather than crafted my career, whatever the reason, I found myself rooting for Tanya to find her happiness. I cheered her on and read voraciously as she baked her way out of her post pandemic, post job loss, relationship crisis slump. Never whiney or victimized, Tanya is self-critical and owns her mistakes as she continues forward to find her place in the world.
For Tanya, baking begins as doing something, anything, that had brought her joy in the past and turns into her profession. One enthusiasm leads to another in the pursuit of happiness until face to face with choices she’s made, she has to choose the path to follow in love and life. Tanya writes about the struggles we all face while coming of age. Doubts mingle with certainties, because there are many possible lives to live but can we be happy living the one we’ve chosen? Would we have made these choices if we knew how it would really be?
Tanya's writing is real, honest, and beautiful all at once. She teases you with descriptions of sumptuous sweets, and you have to wait until the end of a season to get to the precise and professional recipes.
Half memoir, half cookbook, Will This Make You Happy was a delightful book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for offering an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yes, this lovely, well-written book, which hooked me from the very first page, and weaves a coming-of-age culinary memoir, recipes, and beautiful illustrations, most definitely made me very happy. Early on, the author says that she doesn’t understand people who read cookbooks like novels, because many cookbooks are just a set of instructions, with “no heart.” I disagree because for me, a good cookbook is also a snapshot of a period in time and hopefully provides insights into the author’s life. That’s what WILL THIS MAKE YOU HAPPY did for me, in spades! I’ve never read a book quite like this one, which combines stories chronicling the author’s honest and powerful year-long journey of self-discovery (broken out by the four seasons) with over 50 recipes that even I, a non-baker (except for the occasional box mix), am eager to try.

I loved Ms. Bush’s humor, courage to try something new, and determination to see things through, whether it’s trying a new recipe or taking another step in her life’s journey. And when talking about “The Boyfriend,” she shares her heartfelt and often touching take on her relationship. Yes, life, like the countertops she’s always cleaning up, can get very messy! Although she’s four decades younger than I am, she’s someone I really loved spending time with, and I was rooting for her from the beginning. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this delicious and inspiring digital ARC. I can't wait to receive the hard copy I've already pre-ordered.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! My opinions are my own.

I've been an avid baker for as long as I can remember. There's something incredibly soothing about taking simple ingredients, combining them in a precise way, and creating something new and delicious with your own hands. When I'm struggling with stress and feeling lost, I often turn to the kitchen as a form of therapy. Reading Tanya Bush's memoir-meets-cookbook made me feel incredibly seen: her struggles with depression, lack of purpose, and longing for fulfillment were all things I had experienced more than once in my life. Her exploration of baking is also an exploration of self: she begins without a true plan for her life, in a relationship she's not sure still lights her up inside. We see her grow from baking in an off-the-cuff manner, without a recipe, to traveling to Europe for a internship that turns out to be more indentured servitude than culinary education, and finally finding her place in a small bakery that's near her home.

I enjoyed Bush's honest, confessional writing style. At its heart, this book is about finding meaning and light after a long period of darkness, and the way the book is structured (through the four season of the year) made a lot of sense to me. The simple illustrations interspersed throughout the book were incredibly effective and added a bit of joy throughout the pages even when the subject matter was heavier.

Each segment of the book contains a selection of recipes that she developed while in a particular period of her life. Bush's recipes are often classics with modern flavors; I can see them satisfying not only baking novices but those who have more adventurous palates. I can't wait to try the sour cherry, pistachio, and chocolate orange scones and the cinnamon roll focaccia.

At its heart, this book is a love letter to baking. It's a time capsule of a woman who struggled to find purpose and meaning and managed to do so one recipe at a time. I think you'll enjoy this book if you enjoy the stories behind the recipes and have ever turned to the kitchen to find joy and comfort. I've never been to Bush's bakery, but after reading this book, I hope to visit one day.

[Peace, Books, and Harmoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you ever read a book that’s just so right for you in the moment? While it might not be for everyone, it was specifically for this time in my life. This is a cookbook that also reads as a memoir with relatable stories and delectable recipes.

The story focuses on being lost in your 20’s and trying to find what will make you happy. For some it might be a career change, for some it might be a new hobby and hey, maybe it’s both. Your 20s are for being a little selfish and figuring out what you want but you also have to remember the other people in your life in the way this may affect them. The cause and effects of this hard to learn lesson are clearly shown but we also see the author learn from their mistakes and grow as a person within the pages. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of baking, self-help books, or if you’re feeling the constant need for change.

Having recently taken up baking, I appreciate how this book candidly portrays the learning curve, including the inevitability of errors like cake imperfections and pan sticking, even with proper preparation. It takes practice and learning the science of baking. Everything has a purpose- temperatures matter, ingredients matter, EVERYTHING matters when it comes to baking!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me of Julie and Julia, and much like Julie and Julia, I think it would have been better as a blog. Because the truth is, Julie Powell was not very interesting as a person. Or at least she didn’t present herself in the most interesting light. And neither does Tanya Bush. There’s a juvenile quality to Bush’s writing, self-absorbed and overly precious. The sentence structure rarely varies, making it obvious just how many of them begin with ‘I.’ So the memoir element falls flat. (Man, it can be weird reviewing memoirs. You're generally not supposed to review what you think about the author. But if that's what they're putting out there? It is what it is.)

On the other hand, the recipes are helpful and reasonably foolproof, especially considering how complex some of them are. I especially appreciate Bush including and emphasizing ingredient weight in grams. Forsyth Harmon’s illustrations are cute and cozy, bringing a good vibe to the pages.

Together, those elements make for a three star experience, so three stars this book gets.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today’s review is brought to you by Will This Make You Happy: Stories & Recipes from a Year of Baking by Tanya Bush. This is a collection of essays and recipes from a year in the author’s life as she begins her journey into the culinary world. The art and recipe photos paired nicely with the author’s quip about cookbooks being too dry to read.

The essays scratch a similar itch to Julie Powell’s memoir Julie and Julia. A woman struggling to find her place in the world, in her life, decides to try to find it in the kitchen. I enjoyed the writing and found Bush’s story interesting but it won’t be for everyone

The memoir of a New Yorker, ignorant of the privilege that allows themselves to have a quarter or midlife crisis. So assured in their health, housing, and general survival, they have the space for ennui. Those stories and experiences are valid but in the days of ICE raids, rising fascism, and people choosing between rent, groceries, and insulin, it’s hard to make space for that struggle.

A few of the recipes sounded interesting. I may try them sometime. It’s an interesting take on a cookbook. 3.75/5

[Jennifer Poskanzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am only a seldom baker myself, this wonderful coming of age love story certainly leads one to want to break out the eggs and flour.

It's a beautiful (due in part to the vibrant illustrations) slice of life from an uncertain but hungry (the pun is too easy to pass up) young woman, and is as easy to eat up as the pastries described and recipe'd throughout. While heartfelt and touching at times, I found myself most inclined to laugh out loud at the author's dry humor.

Something strange happens when reading this Novel x Cookbook; the pages fly by, Bush takes you along on her little life, is anything happening? just life I suppose, always mediated by a baking endeavor, a struggling relationship, the spark of something new, the disillusionment of passions turned obligations, gratitude and hope. Before you know it, you've consumed a deceptively simple and delicious treat, mouth watering for more.

To the kitchen I suppose.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a free read on NetGalley and Chronicle Books. I’m not one to read cookbooks - just not my genre - but I thought I’d give it a chance and see what I could learn from the read. I’m very glad I did as this was a marvelous experience in culinary exploration, art and storytelling.

As the author writes on her Substack blog, Cake Zine, this book explores the experience of baking along side the experience of living. It’s about the journey of creation with all its messy iterations just as in and is life. Along the way we are treated to beautiful recipes and a coming-of-age story that gives hope to the ability to find one’s self, create and finally enjoy. I admired the author’s determination - so supported by “the boyfriend” - to get past her depression. Along this journey the insights she gained I think brought about all those yummy recipes.

Loved the pictures and the beautiful illustrations in this book. This would make a lovely gift for anyone with a store to bake desserts.

[Megan Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't gush over books but I absolutely love this book! The combination of food, recipes and prose is beautiful and binge worthy. I finished this in a day and couldn't put it down. I love the focus of the recipes and life events through each season! I just couldn't get enough of this book!

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new read especially something tranquil and cozy, anyone who loves reading cookbooks like novels (like I do), and who is looking for new recipes to try out! As a baker, the baked goods themselves spoke to my doughy soul and I'm ready to go into the kitchen and start making a sourdough starter before winter hits.

I can't thank the author Tanya, the publisher and NetGalley enough for giving me the opportunity of reading this ARC book! It's been my favorite read of 2025;

[Anna Jaskiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for an advanced e-book edition of this book.

I appreciated how much I resonated with this memoir. I also often feel like I don’t know what I want or what will make me happy. I’m impressed Tanya had the tenacity to go after what she discovered was making her happy (baking!).

I started liking this book more as it got further along. I didn’t feel like the creative writing was as strong in the first quarter of the narrative. It felt choppier and there were way too many similes in the earlier part, but as the story progressed I felt the writing got stronger.

Themes of this book include: baking, depression, long-term relationship struggles, LGBTQ+, and coming of age.

A solid three stars for me because I admired the go-getter author and enjoyed the recipes, but only somewhat liked the writing style. The story was in itself pretty good.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly moved me. From the very first page, I found myself completely drawn in. I didn’t want to put it down. What stood out to me most was how beautifully Tanya Bush captures the way a single year can change everything. Her honesty, her self-reflection, and her willingness to face uncertainty made the story feel so real and deeply human.

I especially loved watching her character unfold and grow. There’s something powerful about watching someone take a leap of faith, not knowing exactly where it will lead, but trusting that it’s the right step toward finding themselves. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we have to let go of comfort to discover what truly makes us happy.

This book left me inspired, comforted, and a little braver.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

WILL THIS MAKE YOU HAPPY by Tanya Bush is a thoughtful and deeply reflective read. The writing is beautiful, encouraging the reader to slow down and fully immerse themselves in the moment. Blending memoir with a love of baking, the book feels like reading someone’s personal baking journal - rich with memories and lived experiences - rather than a traditional how-to cookbook. Each entry is written with emotional openness, making the book especially moving and relatable. The watercolor illustrations add a soft warmth and perfectly complement the reflective tone of the text. This is a book to savor slowly, one to return to whenever you need something calming and heartfelt, and to feel inspired to head to the kitchen to bake one of the beautiful pastries with Bush’s unique touches.

[Kendall P · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet (pun intended) read! Coming of age, and coming-of-cooking skills wrapped up in a cookbook memoir. I love reading cookbooks like an actual book and Will This Make You Happy reinforces that love! As always, I recipe test before posting a cookbook review and these were all instant classics in my kitchen . Personal favorites include:

- Hazelnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies (are you kidding me??? also note they cook wonderfully from both frozen and fresh!!)
- Neapolitan Pavlova
- Strawberry n' Cream Cookies (bury me with a dozen of these)

To top everything off, the cover art and illustrations/pictures throughout are stunning. This is a great book to display! I plan on gifting this book to a few fellow cooks in my life once it's published.

Really well done all around.

[Derin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often that I get hold of a book that captivates me so much that it’s the first thing I think about when I wake up and I’m still thinking about it as I’m falling asleep. I missed my stop on the subway and got off 5 stops later because of this book. The way it’s written is whimsical, intense and cozy — reminds me of Ottessa Moshfegh but warmer.

Also, the dessert recipes are truly unique. The Miso Caramel sauce improves everything it touches and is so easy to make. Safe to say this book made me very happy.

[Stroop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling memoir/cookbook with lovely illustrations and recipes for delicious desserts. The format is interesting and is divided into four seasons. In each season, we are treated to short chapters (each named after a dessert) about Tanya’s personal life and her quest to become a (better) baker. Then, we are presented with recipes and photos for the desserts that are described.

I loved it! I’m off to make some cinnamon roll focaccia and the carrot cake with cream cheese mousse!

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Diane Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya Bush’s collection of stories and recipes reads like a baking memoir. The book is written with four seasons of baking, including photos and lovely illustrations. I’ve marked the orange almond cake, the raspberry lemon cheesecake tart and the blueberry lime hand pies to bake. There are many other fun recipes with flavor twists to try. As the co-founder of Cake Zine and pastry chef at Little Egg, Tanya has impeccable credentials that shine through in her book, bringing together travel, baking and personal growth.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute and fun little memoir.. it’s like a biography and recipe cookbook mixed together. Over the span of one year, Tanya talks about going from her journey from a small apartment to the kitchens of Italy. This has over fifty recipes inside pavlova, muffins, tiramisu, etc…lovely coming of age story that is a satisfying treat to read. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the adventure the author took in trying something creative! Such as Cardamom Crullers with Plum Drizzle, or Fish Sauce Peanut Brittle. As well as the basics, like Banana Bread and Pastry Cream. I thought it was very brave of the author to take this journey, and to share it with others. The watercolor illustrations are also a beautiful touch. This book is something I will cherish, and highly recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tanya Bush for the ARC!

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will This Make You Happy by Tanya Bush is a narrative cookbook filled with stories, recipes, and illustrations from a difficult year in her life. The pandemic changed all of us and it made her re examine her personal desires and learn to become a baker. I commend her for her brutal honesty in sharing her story and I’ve already dog eared a bunch of pages with recipes that I want to try out in the future.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me Julie and Julia vibes and I ate it up. I enjoyed Tanya Bush's experience with baking and following a recipe to the end because I exceed with a recipe then remembering on top of my head.

The book has 50 recipes inside to choose from to try and make yourself which is always fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I’d be so riveted by what I thought would be a cookbook but was actually a beautiful coming of age story that I related to in ways that surprised and moved me. The author has emboldened me to take on baking a novice. I’m especially excited to try the Neapolitan pavlova. Thank you Tanya Bush- excited for what’s next from you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the read.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many of the memoir/cookbooks I’ve read recently offer a whiny/poor me/restaurant life is the pits/the head chef is a horror narrative. Although there is a bit of that here, overall Will This Make You Happy is a refreshing change and an enjoyable read as the author finds her way out of an almost crippling lethargy through baking.

[Isabella Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique cookbook layout and scrumptious list of recipes. An extremely vulnerable and lovely story. A very fun read!! Don’t miss it.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I tend to read many memoirs and biographies and I like to see recipes so I thought this one would work out really well for me. While I DID like it, I didn't like it as much as I was hoping I would. Most of the recipes ended up being foods I wouldn't really have an interest in giving a shot and the memoir portion didn't keep me as interested as much as usual. I did like hearing about trying new things to see what makes you happy and I am all for people looking for what that is. So many of us just sit and talk about it but never actually go out there and try anything new. The pictures were great, I will say that.