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Will This Make You Happy: Stories & Recipes from a Year of Baking
“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
“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
344 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
9 people are currently reading
6543 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Bush
2 books26 followersTanya 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 1, 2025
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!
March 6, 2026
Recipes looks wonderful and very approachable, and I love the illustrations by Harmon, but the writing and narrative part of this really didn’t work for me. It felt a little childish for the most part, and wasn’t written in a believable way - excited to cook from it though!
February 27, 2026
A very cozy memoir intertwining life and baking. I love how the book is a one year journey split up by seasons. The main character/author was not the most likeable at times either done of her decision making but I was still rooting for her the whole time. The illustrations were beautiful and such a nice addition to the book. Can’t wait to try these recipes!
Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this eARC!
Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this eARC!
March 5, 2026
Gorgeous! I loved the stories, with the descriptions of emotions so palpable that it made them feel like a true shared experience. And the descriptions of the food were so beautiful that I’ve already tagged half a dozen recipes, purchased a food scale, and am recommitting to spending time in the kitchen to get back to what I love about baking
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you've always wondered - like me - about the secret lives of bakers, which are certainly much messier than their impeccably turned out cakes and cookies, then this is the perfect cookbook cum memoir.
I've loved following the writer on her journey through life's ups and downs and how baking provided by turns solace challenge or pure indulgence.
I've loved following the writer on her journey through life's ups and downs and how baking provided by turns solace challenge or pure indulgence.
November 16, 2025
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.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review.
October 21, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was very kindly given an e-ARC audiobook of this book via Netgalley and Tantor Media.
In theory, this is a book I love. It's food, it's a little bit of memoir, it brings so much of what makes food and baking and cooking so wonderful onto a page and beautifully unfurls its petals in prose. And for the most part, that's what this book delivered. Interesting recipes, a great call to arms about loving how we bake in our own kitchens and that something doesn't have to beautiful or fancy, it has to taste good - all the right ingredients. But my issue is something trickier. Thornier.
Memoirs are hard to review. Someone is telling you stories from their life and you are invited to listen to them and will, inevitably, have thoughts on the individual and the behaviours they demonstrated. Reading this book, I did not like the author on a personal level. I've been through severe depressive episodes myself - I've even used cooking and baking as a way to try and pull myself out of them. But the way she acted in the stories she told in this book really grated against me. It was childish. The world seemed to conspire against her, even when she tried hard. Which I know is a thought process a lot of us with depression have, but come on. When you're writing something like this and reflecting and thinking back, surely you do that with a different frame of mind than how you experienced it?
The way she treated the people around her, the way these major events happened and she thought there would be no consequences to her actions. She tells a story of putting a certificate of achievement she got from a bad internship in Italy in the recycling bin and offending her hosts - I cannot conceive of why a person would do that and think it wouldn't be found or have an impact. Even the way she treated her boyfriend! At one point, I just thought 'honey, you don't need to make a cake, you need therapy'. It was difficult to put aside the individual and try to focus on the writing or the way she spoke about food because that part was great. But for a book where the self and the subject are so deeply intertwined, it left a sour taste on my palate by the time I finished it.
I feel very conflicted, because on the one hand I loved the food writing in this but on the other, I found the self-pitying tone of the narrative difficult to swallow.
'Will This Make You Happy' is available from March 3rd.
In theory, this is a book I love. It's food, it's a little bit of memoir, it brings so much of what makes food and baking and cooking so wonderful onto a page and beautifully unfurls its petals in prose. And for the most part, that's what this book delivered. Interesting recipes, a great call to arms about loving how we bake in our own kitchens and that something doesn't have to beautiful or fancy, it has to taste good - all the right ingredients. But my issue is something trickier. Thornier.
Memoirs are hard to review. Someone is telling you stories from their life and you are invited to listen to them and will, inevitably, have thoughts on the individual and the behaviours they demonstrated. Reading this book, I did not like the author on a personal level. I've been through severe depressive episodes myself - I've even used cooking and baking as a way to try and pull myself out of them. But the way she acted in the stories she told in this book really grated against me. It was childish. The world seemed to conspire against her, even when she tried hard. Which I know is a thought process a lot of us with depression have, but come on. When you're writing something like this and reflecting and thinking back, surely you do that with a different frame of mind than how you experienced it?
The way she treated the people around her, the way these major events happened and she thought there would be no consequences to her actions. She tells a story of putting a certificate of achievement she got from a bad internship in Italy in the recycling bin and offending her hosts - I cannot conceive of why a person would do that and think it wouldn't be found or have an impact. Even the way she treated her boyfriend! At one point, I just thought 'honey, you don't need to make a cake, you need therapy'. It was difficult to put aside the individual and try to focus on the writing or the way she spoke about food because that part was great. But for a book where the self and the subject are so deeply intertwined, it left a sour taste on my palate by the time I finished it.
I feel very conflicted, because on the one hand I loved the food writing in this but on the other, I found the self-pitying tone of the narrative difficult to swallow.
'Will This Make You Happy' is available from March 3rd.
November 13, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
November 30, 2025
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.
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.
December 8, 2025
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.
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.
December 11, 2025
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!
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!
March 3, 2026
3.5 stars
The book is divided into the 4 seasons and each "chapter" is the name of a dessert (ex. yellow cake) and the chapter tells the (autobiographical) story of what's going on in the author's life and what leads her to make that dessert.
Taking place after the covid lockdown, we progress through depression (winter), adventure to Italy (spring), excitement of goals (summer), settling into real life (fall).
I enjoyed reading through the book and recipes. As a hobby baker who loves recipes and has limited ability to experiment, it was both interesting and shocking to me how she randomly substituted and altered recipes, especially in winter when she didn't seem to have much baking knowledge and then was surpused when things didn't come out well. If she mentioned what she did prior to the pandemic / having no job, I don't remember, but was agast with her willingness to buy expensive ingredients, not follow the recipe and then throw out the result.
I appreciated that the recipes were consolidated at the end of each season.
I'm looking forward to trying some od the recipes and will update my review after.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The book is divided into the 4 seasons and each "chapter" is the name of a dessert (ex. yellow cake) and the chapter tells the (autobiographical) story of what's going on in the author's life and what leads her to make that dessert.
Taking place after the covid lockdown, we progress through depression (winter), adventure to Italy (spring), excitement of goals (summer), settling into real life (fall).
I enjoyed reading through the book and recipes. As a hobby baker who loves recipes and has limited ability to experiment, it was both interesting and shocking to me how she randomly substituted and altered recipes, especially in winter when she didn't seem to have much baking knowledge and then was surpused when things didn't come out well. If she mentioned what she did prior to the pandemic / having no job, I don't remember, but was agast with her willingness to buy expensive ingredients, not follow the recipe and then throw out the result.
I appreciated that the recipes were consolidated at the end of each season.
I'm looking forward to trying some od the recipes and will update my review after.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 26, 2025
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
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
February 25, 2026
This Will Make You Happy by Tanya Bush fits one of my favorite book formulas: a memoir blended with food and recipes. That combination is almost always a win for me, though I think there’s a delicate balance — too much focus on either the personal story or the food can throw things off.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going in, but I ended up really appreciating this portrait of a woman in her twenties figuring out who she is, moving through life’s uncertainties, and channeling so much of her emotion into baking. She stumbles, makes mistakes, and learns as she goes, which made her incredibly relatable. I could see my younger self in her — living alone in my twenties, trying to understand who I was. (That was also when I discovered my own love of baking.)
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful illustrations throughout the book. They perfectly capture the mood and emotional texture of the story and added so much to the reading experience.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going in, but I ended up really appreciating this portrait of a woman in her twenties figuring out who she is, moving through life’s uncertainties, and channeling so much of her emotion into baking. She stumbles, makes mistakes, and learns as she goes, which made her incredibly relatable. I could see my younger self in her — living alone in my twenties, trying to understand who I was. (That was also when I discovered my own love of baking.)
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful illustrations throughout the book. They perfectly capture the mood and emotional texture of the story and added so much to the reading experience.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!
October 21, 2025
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.
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.
November 29, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thoughts on Will This Make You Happy? cookbook:
The recipes in this book look amazing, and I would definitely try making several of them. However, I didn’t enjoy the layout of the book. Each section shares stories about different dishes, but the recipes aren’t included right after those stories. Instead, all the recipes for each season are placed at the end of the section.
For me, that structure felt time-consuming. Having to read through multiple stories and then flip (or scroll, especially on an e-reader) to the end to find the recipe made it harder to stay engaged. As someone with ADHD, this format made me lose interest at times.
Personally, when I read a cookbook, I prefer to read the story behind a dish and then immediately see the recipe that goes with it. While the content and recipes themselves seem great, the layout didn’t work for me — which is why I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.
The recipes in this book look amazing, and I would definitely try making several of them. However, I didn’t enjoy the layout of the book. Each section shares stories about different dishes, but the recipes aren’t included right after those stories. Instead, all the recipes for each season are placed at the end of the section.
For me, that structure felt time-consuming. Having to read through multiple stories and then flip (or scroll, especially on an e-reader) to the end to find the recipe made it harder to stay engaged. As someone with ADHD, this format made me lose interest at times.
Personally, when I read a cookbook, I prefer to read the story behind a dish and then immediately see the recipe that goes with it. While the content and recipes themselves seem great, the layout didn’t work for me — which is why I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.
February 27, 2026
A depressed young woman tests the limits of her live-in boyfriend’s patience as she embarks on a mission to find her passion. One of her passions is baking, and the accompanying 128-page PDF is a testament to her creativity and accomplishments as a pastry chef. Most of these delicious-sounding and ambitious recipes are read line-by-line in the audiobook, but I soon learned I could fast forward through them after their introductions. I have bookmarked several to try in my home kitchen. Since they are a lot of work, I appreciate that these are for 9x13 pans or larger, so they make enough for a party or to enjoy and freeze extras.
Her story kept me engaged as she navigated bad jobs and imposter syndrome to find her own path.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @TantorMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of and recipes from #WillThisMakeYouHappy for review purposes. Publication date: 3 March 2026.
Her story kept me engaged as she navigated bad jobs and imposter syndrome to find her own path.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @TantorMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of and recipes from #WillThisMakeYouHappy for review purposes. Publication date: 3 March 2026.
November 6, 2025
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;
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;
November 10, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book feels like I'm too old for this book! I couldn't really relate to the author in the memoir portion of the book, but that's ok. I'm sure that I'm not part of the target audience. I definitely appreciated the beautiful illustrations throughout the book, but the photography in the recipe segment left a lot to be desired. I love a cookbook that features a photo for each recipe and with less staging and more of a focus on the food.
The recipes, however, are SOLID! If you're an aspiring pastry chef or want to elevate your baking skills you won't be lacking inspiration. I appreciate that the recipes are organized seasonally as well.
The recipes, however, are SOLID! If you're an aspiring pastry chef or want to elevate your baking skills you won't be lacking inspiration. I appreciate that the recipes are organized seasonally as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A charming, short book in which the author guides us through how baking changed her life during the pandemic. She starts at home, goes to Italy to learn, then works at a bakery. The people are just people living their lives, making mistakes that sometimes hurt others but not maliciously.
There's some artwork that I find quite charming. It gives a large variety of recipes baked goods that I'm quite excited to try as they seem scrumptious. I also had the audiobook which also had ways to get the written recipes, but I didn't love listening to each recipe read aloud. Either way, it's a sweet book.
ARC provided by Netgalley
There's some artwork that I find quite charming. It gives a large variety of recipes baked goods that I'm quite excited to try as they seem scrumptious. I also had the audiobook which also had ways to get the written recipes, but I didn't love listening to each recipe read aloud. Either way, it's a sweet book.
ARC provided by Netgalley
Read
March 3, 2026I didn’t think it would be fair to rate this book when I didn’t read or make any of the recipes and maybe I read this book all wrong in the first place?
This was one of my most anticipated non-fiction titles for the spring, and I imagined it would be cozy and contemplative. Instead, this is one of those memoirs that I wonder why someone would ever put out into the public realm due to its intensely personal nature, and reading about depressed people is one of my very least favorite things to do. So, this was a deeply unsatisfying reading experience for me, but I only read it for the memoir parts and perhaps I’m just not the intended audience.
Source: free digital review copy via Edelweiss
This was one of my most anticipated non-fiction titles for the spring, and I imagined it would be cozy and contemplative. Instead, this is one of those memoirs that I wonder why someone would ever put out into the public realm due to its intensely personal nature, and reading about depressed people is one of my very least favorite things to do. So, this was a deeply unsatisfying reading experience for me, but I only read it for the memoir parts and perhaps I’m just not the intended audience.
Source: free digital review copy via Edelweiss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Media for the ARC AB of Will This Make You Happy.
While I have enjoyed memoirs on cooking in the past this was a bit of a miss for me. I enjoyed the portions of the book where the author told stories of self discovery and learning to cooking but, there was not nearly enough of them. This did not work for me as an audiobook, some chapters would start with a story leading up to the recipe while others were just the recipe with no intro or explanation. It is not very entertaining to just listen to 4-5 recipes in a row being read with no story or lead up. I rate it 3 stars as I did enjoy the story parts of the book.
While I have enjoyed memoirs on cooking in the past this was a bit of a miss for me. I enjoyed the portions of the book where the author told stories of self discovery and learning to cooking but, there was not nearly enough of them. This did not work for me as an audiobook, some chapters would start with a story leading up to the recipe while others were just the recipe with no intro or explanation. It is not very entertaining to just listen to 4-5 recipes in a row being read with no story or lead up. I rate it 3 stars as I did enjoy the story parts of the book.
November 13, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Review of advance copy
A cookbook that reads like a novel (my favorite kind of cookbook/book). I was pulled between the desire to continue reading, so enthralled was I by the sentences and story, and the impulse to rush into my kitchen and bake Tanya Bush's delicious recipes. In gorgeous narrative writing, WILL THIS MAKE YOU HAPPY charts the journey of a young woman living in Brooklyn as she finds her way to pleasure and selfhood through baking. This book will make you laugh and weep, and it'll make you hungry—an extraordinary feat.
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