Caramel Hearts

by E.R. Murray

Liv Bloom’s life is even more complicated than that of your average fourteen-year-old: her father walked out on the family when she was young, her mother is in a recovery centre for alcoholics, and her older sister is struggling to step into Mum’s shoes. The only person she can turn to is her best friend Sarah, who gets out of scrapes at school and is a constant source of advice and companionship. One day Liv discovers a book of recipes written in her mum’s handwriting, which sets her off on a journey towards self-discovery and reconciliation – but a theft, a love rivalry and a school bully are just some of the many obstacles on the way.

Structured around real cake recipes, Caramel Hearts is a coming-of-age novel about love, disappointment and hope, and discovering the true value of friends and family, no matter how dysfunctional they are.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Irish Literature, Novels, Realistic Fiction, Cooking

300 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2016

About the author

E. R. Murray lives in West Cork, where she fishes, grows her own vegetables and enjoys plenty of outdoor adventures. Her debut, The Book of Learning, is the first book in her Nine Lives Trilogy (Mercier Press).

Elizabeth loves travel, and has taught creative writing in schools around the world, including Cambodia. She believes everyone has good stories to tell.

While travelling, Elizabeth also parachuted out of an aeroplane, swam with sharks and stingrays, and ate lots of insects. At home, Elizabeth likes reading to her dog, Franklyn.

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caramel Hearts is a lovely coming-of-age novel which tells the story of Liv who is struggling through her teenage years with an alcoholic mother and school bullies. When she finds her mother's old recipe book she discovers that she has a love for baking but money being tight makes it difficult. As her life begins to spiral out of control, Liv makes some poor decisions and she learns that doing the right thing isn't always the easiest.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Liv and her sister Hatty. Whilst their alcoholic mother is being treated, Hatty had to return home from university to look after her younger sister. She is struggling to be away from her friends and her studies but is trying her best to keep social services at bay. I liked that their relationship wasn't perfect; Hatty lost her temper sometimes and Liv didn't help out as much as she should have. They both said things in the heat of the moment that they didn't mean but you could tell that they both still cared about each other. I think the age gap made things more interesting too; Liv is still really young and so doesn't quite take responsibility for things whilst Hatty is older and knows more about "real life". Liv didn't quite get what her sister was feeling a lot of the time and it led to inevitable arguments but they soon find a way to connect with each other.

Absent parents, addiction and bullying are all dealt with realistically and represent real struggles that young people are going through every day. Some of the darker and emotional moments are hard to read (particularly the bullying) but a lot of readers are going to be able to connect and relate with that.

Caramel Hearts is beautifully written and I found myself flying through the pages. The recipes throughout the book are also such a nice touch but will definitely make you hungry! I'm craving various sweet treats now and may have to just try out a few!

[Margaret Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is not a bed of roses for fourteen-year-old Liv. Her Mum is in rehab, her father disappeared when she was a toddler and her sister, Hatty, has dropped out of college to take over the reins. The two girls are determined to make things work so they can avoid a social services intervention. They had been in foster care before and will do anything to keep Liv at home. As if this is not hard enough, Liv is now being targeted by the school bully and is losing her best friend, Sarah. When she finds an old hand-written book of recipes, she uses the world of baking to add some sweetness to her bitter life. But can some cakes and cookies make her pain melt away?

ER Murray has written a YA novel that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Liv is a teenager with a temper, but for a very good reason. She has had a difficult childhood and is torn between hating her alcoholic mother and wanting her approval and love. The discovered recipe book is a rare glimpse into her mothers happier moments and Liv hopes that some of the happiness will rub off on her. However, creating buns, fudge and cupcakes can be an expensive past-time and Liv struggles to find ingredients. Enlisting the help of the school dinner lady, she attempts to re-create her mother's dreams. All her plans go awry when, in a moment of madness, Liv does something terrible and it leads to a chain of uncontrollable events. The bullying increases, her friendship with Sarah collapses and the boy she has feelings for is slipping through her fingers. How can things get any worse?

It can be hard to discuss addiction with children. They have an image in their mind of what an alcoholic looks like, and if they have had no contact with one, they struggle with relating to their stories. In this novel the author has used a very real story, set in a very real world, to show that any one of us can be touched by addiction. Liv is a memorable character, with her sassy nature hiding her despair and loneliness. She is terrified she will be removed from her home and placed into foster care, and has painful memories of being separated from her sister. Like many kids who have never met their fathers, she has an idealised notion of him and thinks h may be the answer to all her prayers. In chapters reminiscent of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime, Liv decides to track her father down, meeting some strange and wonderful characters along the way.

This is a touching, yet honest look at what it is like to live with anger, fear and uncertainty in your life. To not know when there is going to be food in the fridge or whether you can afford to wash your clothes. It looks at the idea of hope and how children believe in its power. It also addresses reality, in a non-judgmental way. Children don't need to be spoken to in a condescending way, they just need the truth and to know that someone is watching their back. Bullying is cleverly interwoven throughout the novel, without sugar-coating it. Girls can be especially cruel and Liv is the victim they have hand-picked for their campaign. To balance the darker moments, ER Murray has included achievable recipes into the book, which are sure to tempt even the toughest teenager.

This YA novel is bound to be a hit with kids aged 12-16; that age where they are too old for toys, too young for deep relationships and have more questions than answers. It is written with love and hope and this flows through the voice of Liv. She may have a hard life but she is determined to make the most of it, even if she makes some mistakes along the way. Just like everyone of us...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard of Caramel Hearts I knew had to read it, and what makes this even more readable is the recipes that are featured in the book as part of the story. Recipes + book = perfection.

Liv and Harriet are trying to survive without their mum, who is currently in recovery. Harriet has traveled back from university in Edinburgh to stay with Liv, so she isn't put into care. Harriet is trying her best to keep the family together, but is also dealing with a lot of stress and resentfulness towards Liv. While looking through her mums belongings Liv finds a cooking book, with hand written recipes from her. Determined to bring back some happy memories into thier lives, Liv makes it her mission to cook the recipes in the book.

Harriet is somewhat resentful of having to care for Liv, and berates her for not looking after herself several times, not cleaning up, not getting her uniform ready, not having her own money, and while I like how Harriet gave up everything to come back home, I really didn't like how she behaved towards her sister, like it was Livs fault for doing this. Liv isn't the perfect sister, she does make mistakes and genuinely forgets to tidy up, and she does become slightly obsessed with baking. But it's not exactly an easy life for her either. She has to deal with jealous bullies, and struggles with her friendship with Sarah who often feels abandoned while Liv juggles two different sides of the friendship coin.

Caramel Hearts is a book that has the perfect blend of story and cooking. The recipes sound mouthwatering and I really can't wait to try one or two myself. I really liked how the recipes play an important role in the book, just as much as the characters, and how they help bring back memories, or apologise for mistakes. The story within the pages is heartwarming, sad, and has the occasional happy moment. It's about struggling to survive when you feel like everything is against you. About learning to overcome your demons and help others with theirs.

As a character I liked Liv, but as the story progressed I didn't really like the person she was becoming, the baking was taking over her life and she makes far too many mistakes in order to achieve this dream that baking will fix everything. I felt sorry for how she is torn in all directions, and that moment made my heart break for her. Harriet was someone who I alternated my feelings over. I really admire how she gave up her life to help Liv and keep her home, but I didn't like how she takes it out on Liv when she makes a mistake. To do what she does can't have been easy and I think trying to deal with it all was extremely hard for her.

Final Verdict
Caramel Hearts was a book that had me engrossed with all aspects of the story. I loved how it all made a nice read and the added bonus of baked goods makes this a book to re-read with goodies and coffee at hand.

[Aggie Unsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I just say that the Author is one of the loveliest ladies on twitter only with her help did I get hold of a copy of Caramel Hearts!

Caramel Hearts tells the story of Liv a teenager currently living with her older sister while her alcoholic mother is in rehab. In the mothers bedroom Liv discovers a book, one filled with recipes that her mother has written. She instantly feels the need to try and bake one of the delicious things in the book to get to know her mother better, the real mother, before the alcohol. Money however is one thing Liv and her sister haven't got spare so Liv has to come up with ideas to get the stuff that she needs, those ideas however aren't always her best ones. After some bad decisions Liv's relationship with her sister Hatty struggles more then ever. But when a boy shows interest in Liv her life spirals out of control even more...

This is such a realistic view on the problems families face when a member is struggling with alcoholism, its very touching and heart breaking. But this is far from being the only topic in this book, its also about bullying, not fitting in, about family and friendship and about finding something you love doing! This book is just so real and raw. The relationship between Liv and Hatty is just the right dose of love and annoyance and I cant help but love both of them.

But wait up, this isn't all of it, on top of all that you get actual recipes... yay!! And let me tell you they all sound delicious. Made my mouth water and I certainly want to try them all.

This book gave me all the feels. And I mean all of them. There was people I loved and people I really disliked. I was angry and sad and happy. And I cant say this enough but it is just so relatable and believable. I think especially for the younger readers this is something they can relate to in one way or another.

This has been a really well written story which I found myself picking up at every opportunity. I enjoyed it very much and I am looking forward to reading more from Murray in the future.

Relatable, real, touching and eye opening!

This is one book that shouldn't be missed.

Thank you very much to Alma Books for my beautiful copy.

[Aoife Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I've learnt a lot from this book,

- other than a recipe for baked Alaska and that Turkish delight can be put into rocky road -

I learned that anger is not a good emotion to have controlling your life,
that people have disgusting flaws,but that doesn't make them disgusting,
that the most important things in life, are indeed the hardest.

I think books like these are important for teenagers to read as it shows you how good people can be overthrown by bad scenarios and do stupid things such as stealing hand bags etc. and how to (and how not to) dal with these things.


Side note: I'm tired writing this so I'm sorry that how bland it is and how little sense it makes

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liv's mother doesn't handle being a single mother very well. Liv's father left them years ago and never returned. Her mother has been drinking ever since. She's in a recovery center for alcoholics, but Liv doesn't know if her mother can actually stay away from the bottle. Liv is fourteen years old and can't be on her own yet, so her older sister Hatty has temporarily left university to step in. This is to prevent social services from taking over. Taking care of Liv doesn't come naturally to Hatty and they are struggling. There's no normal daily routine and Liv and Hatty don't get along too well.

Liv only has her good friend Sarah to rely on, but that connection is also complicated. They used to be best friends with Maddy, but Maddy has changed, a lot. Liv can use someone to lean on and she badly needs comfort. When she stumbles upon a book filled with her mother's recipes she finds some of that and decides to give baking a try. This is the start of a series of events that completely spiral out of control. Liv is in trouble and she has to discover a way to get out of her tricky situation. Will she be able to make right what she's done wrong and can she make sense of everything that has been done to her?

When I saw the cover of Caramel Hearts I expected a sweet story, but E.R. Murray has written a book that is so much more than just cute recipes and their background story. Liv isn't perfect, which is something I loved immediately. She's impulsive, she sometimes takes the easy way out and she can be difficult. She's also kind and caring and she's often being misunderstood by both her family and friends. She doesn't feel safe anywhere and she's so young while she's already just trying to survive. My heart ached for her. Liv's story is complex and it's easy to forgive her the mistakes she makes, even if they're big and scary. Caramel Hearts is an impressive story about an interesting girl who's been damaged in many ways, but who's also still hopeful that life will have something better in store for her. I loved that E.R. Murray doesn't spare her main character, which results in a terrific honest and raw novel.

While I was reading Caramel Hearts I shed quite a few tears. E.R. Murray writes about difficult topics with empathy and understanding, but also with a surprising frankness that sometimes shocked me. Liv is being bullied and this was terrible to read about. I could feel the effects of dangerous unstable friendships, blackmail and the pressure of possibly being a target. E.R. Murray's writing is so good that the reader experiences all of the effects of the emotional rollercoaster Liv is on. The relationship with her mother is problematic, Hatty is too young to have so much responsibility and she has no idea what Liv had to go through with their mother when she wasn't there, Liv's friendships are complex and she has made a terrible mistake. Together this causes a tremendous amount of pain and sorrow. The story isn't only dark and sad though. Because of Liv's strong character and determination to keep going there's a good balance. The result is a fantastic intense story.

E.R. Murray combines Liv's beautiful, complicated story with delicious recipes. They're personal and fun to read. I loved her mouthwatering descriptions of the results of Liv's baking adventures. That she utilizes Liv's mother's recipes as a way to find a connection with the person Liv's mother used to be before she started drinking is very special. I admire the way E.R. Murray defines relationships between her main characters by using contrasts. For example, delicious food is a great way to bond, but it's also something that will put Liv at risk. Becoming good friends with someone might lead to happiness and to being bullied, etcetera. I loved these contradictions and couldn't wait to see how they would develop. Caramel Hearts is amazing, it's a beautiful heartbreaking story with many fascinating layers. I highly recommend this book to both teenagers and adults, it's absolutely brilliant.

[Shanayah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Full Review Here



Caramel Hearts is such a sweet story! Heh, get it? As soon as I opened the book and read the first chapter, I was hooked. The writing style is just as lovely as the cover. Each character has a distinctive voice, and I loved how I could hear their accent in my head as I read to myself. It’s a perfect read to brighten up your spirits on a rainy day.

All of the characters in the story were really well-developed and realistically flawed. I really felt for the girls! They’ve been through so much and I love the sisterly bond they have, and though it’s not perfect, it’s real. Even though Liv is your typical angsty teenager, her angst was believable and I didn’t get annoyed at her. I could really understand how she was feeling throughout the book, and I didn’t blame her for her actions, even though I didn’t agree with them all the time.

The recipes are adorable and make such a wonderful addition to a sweet story, and I love how they fit in perfectly with how the story is at the time. After finishing the book, I was really tempted to start baking. Although the premise of the book is sweet, the story itself isn’t sugar coated, which I found to work really well. The themes of bullying and addiction are there, and are laced throughout the story in a way that younger YA readers will be able to understand and gain an insight on.

I was so happy with how things ended! Although, I would’ve liked a little more about what happened afterwards. The only real downsides of the book were that I kept getting hungry, but couldn’t taste Liv’s creations.

Elizabeth “E.R.” Murray has been kind enough to write a guest post too! It’s about the recipes in the story and features a recipe for rocky road, it’ll be up on the 2nd of August, so be sure to head over to my blog and check it out!



I received a review copy from the publisher


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[Kat (Bookish Blades) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at the bookstore and I hadn’t heard of it before but I saw the title and when I thumbed through and saw the recipes I just HAD to buy it. I love baking and all the recipes sounded so good and they were so beautifully and happily written. I can’t wait to try every single one of them.
And the cover is so cute and pretty! so lovely!
And now to the book. It is a wonderful coming of age-novel with wonderfully complex characters, each of them having different facettes and different roles depending on which group they are with. Throughout the plot are more and more problems the main character, Liv, has to solve. Her life isn’t easy but she tries her best and she tries to cope with everything with baking, which I can relate to very much. The story is very realistically told, and remembering my teenage years only too well, I know that teenagers really behave like portrayed in this book. Liv faces so many problems, family, friends, no money but she tries so hard. And so does every other character too! all of them have problems and they all cope in different ways, which only shows how different human beings actually are.
I also loved the writing style, it kept me hooked from the first until the last page and it was so sweet, describing everyone indivually and giving every person their own voice. I was able to picture all the characters in my head and the whole story played out in front of me.
It was also one of those books where you’re sure it will have a happy end but you also can’t be sure because it’s so realistic and not everything in real life ends well. I loved the end though, but I have so many questions about what happens after. All in all, this was an amazing read, a roller coaster, heartbreaking and painful, but also so sweet and beautiful. And I can’t say it often enough… THE RECIPES OH MY, I NEED TO TRY EVERY SINGLE ONE.

[Kieran Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of teenager, Olivia (Liv) Bloom who lives with her alcoholic mum and older sister, Hatty. When her mum is taken into rehab, Liv must face the trials and tribulations of teenage life alone. And even if the readers life differs from Liv's, teenagers will immediately relate to the problems in Liv's - friendships, peer pressure, bullying, poverty, sibling rivalry and school. Added to the mix is the fact that Liv knows almost nothing about her absentee father, and naturally is curious.

The real strength of this book is in the characters. Each is especially well developed, flawed and believable. Liv herself is kind-hearted but fiery in temperament, stubborn, and appropriately immature. The other characters that populate the book are equally flawed which made me empathise with them - even the bully, Mad Dog. I particularly liked the fragile and fuel-soaked relationship she has with Liv. There is one particular gruelling bully scene, but the other encounters between the two are equally as frightening, and painfully real.

Because Murray's characters are so well-rounded and complex, the relationships between them feel very real to the reader. In fact, everything about this book feels REAL, which is why I loved it. The events and characters are so realistic, one wonders if there's quite a bit of autobiographical detail in here?

I thought the way the novel was structured around a recipe book was inspired and original. Indeed, I loved the title of Liv's recipe book so much I thought it would make a great title for the actual novel - Recipes to Make Happiness Bloom. But I like Caramel Hearts too!

This book is immensely readable, written in a language to reflect Li'v's life - simple, but underscored with emotion and complexity. A most enjoyable read!

[Ruth Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It's not my normal type of read but it sucked me right in and I couldn't put it down. A 2 day read is unheard of for me these days so it's a testament to the writing and the characters that I read it so quickly. And while it is a quick read, and easy to read, it is not an easy read. Liv's life, worries and fears are palpable and heart rending. The changes she goes through, her growth as a character and her effect on those around her are very moving. There is such hope here, but it's not a saccharine everything-will-be-fine ending. At the end everything is earned and yet precarious and all the more precious for that.

Thanks for a great read, Elizabeth!
(disclosure: I know the author)

[Girlwithapen93 · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know when you hear about a book for so long and can’t get your hands on it but it sounds good and by the time you get a copy everyone has read it and loved it and now it’s your turn to fall in love with it? Well that was me with this book. I found a copy of this book at a Lifeline book fair I went to last month and when I say it I grabbed it and didn’t let it go because I knew I wanted to read it even though I didn’t really know what it was going to be about.
The story follows a fourteen-year-old girl who is pretty much stuck with an awful family, in a poor town, with bullies all around her at school and of course no father. It is your usual kind of teenage story except for one thing; this girl, Liv, can bake. After her mother goes to rehab for her drinking again and her sister moves home from university to look after her, Liv finds herself more alone and angrier than ever before. Then she finds a handwritten recipe book, works out it’s her mothers and sets out to bake what’s in it to connect to her. But with no money to buy food or ingredients with, Liv turns to her teacher for help. As she tries to work out her feelings for a boy that is taking notice of her, whilst also protecting herself and friend from the awful school bullies, everything gets worse and worse for Liv as she struggles with her mother’s alcoholism, her sister’s ungratefulness and absent father.
“Hurt swells inside my heart, and I swallow hard. Creeping quietly into my room, I whack Johnny Cash up to full volume and throw myself on the bed, face to the ceiling and jaw clenched – not yet?” page 51.
I don’t know what to say about this book. I don’t think I like it but then other parts of me kind of did, a little bit anyway. First, it is set in England, which is not a problem. I didn’t like that mum was ‘mam’ because it just didn’t sound right. There was a lot that happened in this book. I didn’t like the scenes of the bullying and my god it gets hectic at times. It was a cringe worthy bit of the book and even though it happens in real life, I hate reading about it. The fact that her mother is an alcoholic is clique but not that bad because it explains a lot about the sisters. The sister is a brat and should really mind her own business and even though she turns it around by the end of the book, I ended up not believing her because of how long it took for her to change.
There is a lot that happens in this book and even though I like the cooking aspect of the book, I thought that it would kind of more focus on it, but it doesn’t. I think it just might be me who didn’t really like this book. I just didn’t connect with it. The only thing I did connect with and appreciate was the hurt and anger that Liv lives with and has within her. I think that is well researched and written because it is so connectable.
If you like teenage angst driven young adult books, then this is the book for you.

[Sarika Patkotwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating- 3.5

*This review was initially published on The Readdicts Book Blog. For more reviews, go here .

Caramel Hearts is the sad story of Olivia who goes through heaps of trauma at a very young age because of a father who left his family and an alcoholic mother. She lives with her sister, Hatty with whom she shares a very typical sister relationship where there are fights, rude comebacks and tension but who still are there for and love each other. Together, the two try as hard as possible to keep everything under control so that the social services don't take underage Olivia away.

While there were many positives about this book, for me, Olivia got on my nerves more than once. From the very beginning, I found her to be silly. Her actions seemed to contradict her beliefs. Most of the time, she knew what she was doing was reckless and wrong- and while I do understand teenage angst and the need to have purpose- she still made a bunch of mistakes while knowing she was making them and that is so silly. She knew her sister was working hard and yet she kept snapping at her. She could see her mother trying hard and yet she never gave her an opportunity to improve.

The positives in this one, like any young adult novel, was the importance give to family, friends and school. Olivia's family was not the perfect one, but then which family is perfect? Their problems and shortcomings were portrayed in a raw and real manner. Olivia goes through a roller coaster with her friendships but eventually, everything starts falling in place. Her school life was hard, and while she did mess up many, many times, the hardships always overpowered the silliness.

The most incredible part of Caramel Hearts was the way in which food was effortlessly incorporated in the story. When author E.R. Murray describes Olivia's state of being while she bakes the delicious treats her parents noted down, it was so easy to believe because I feel the same sense of calm and ease when cooking. The way food was involved in bringing people together was very well done. I am slightly tempted to try a few of the recipes on my own.

Overall, Caramel Hearts is a quick and great young adult novel that might seem silly at times but that is still very gratifying.

P.S: I had won this book from a huge Instagram giveaway by Bloomsbury Publishing!

[Sarika Patkotwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Actual rating- 3.5

This review was initially published at The Readdicts Book Blog. For more reviews, go here .

Caramel Hearts is the sad story of Olivia who goes through heaps of trauma at a very young age because of a father who left his family and an alcoholic mother. She lives with her sister, Hatty with whom she shares a very typical sister relationship where there are fights, rude comebacks and tension but who still are there for and love each other. Together, the two try as hard as possible to keep everything under control so that the social services don't take underage Olivia away.

While there were many positives about this book, for me, Olivia got on my nerves more than once. From the very beginning, I found her to be silly. Her actions seemed to contradict her beliefs. Most of the time, she knew what she was doing was reckless and wrong- and while I do understand teenage angst and the need to have purpose- she still made a bunch of mistakes while knowing she was making them and that is so silly. She knew her sister was working hard and yet she kept snapping at her. She could see her mother trying hard and yet she never gave her an opportunity to improve.

The positives in this one, like any young adult novel, was the importance give to family, friends and school. Olivia's family was not the perfect one, but then which family is perfect? Their problems and shortcomings were portrayed in a raw and real manner. Olivia goes through a roller coaster with her friendships but eventually, everything starts falling in place. Her school life was hard, and while she did mess up many, many times, the hardships always overpowered the silliness.

The most incredible part of Caramel Hearts was the way in which food was effortlessly incorporated in the story. When author E.R. Murray describes Olivia's state of being while she bakes the delicious treats her parents noted down, it was so easy to believe because I feel the same sense of calm and ease when cooking. The way food was involved in bringing people together was very well done. I am slightly tempted to try a few of the recipes on my own.

Overall, Caramel Hearts is a quick and great young adult novel that might seem silly at times but that is still very gratifying.

P.S: I had won this book from a huge Instagram giveaway by Bloomsbury Publishing!

[Read3r’z Re-Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caramel Hearts is mind blowing though I felt depressed reading this book, it was so insightful! A beautiful coming of age story however it’s realistic as it’s not just about teenage girls crushing on teenage boys or girls stressing about what to wear to their next party. This book focuses on Liv Bloom, whose life is more complex than other 14 year old girls as her father abandons the family and her mother is a recovering alcoholic, Liv’s older sister struggles to take care of her family and complete her studies. Through the madness, Liv discovers a book of recipes written in her Mum’s handwriting which Liv uses for her journey to self-discovery and reconciliation. As this book is structured around real cake recipes you find throughout the book that adds a light touch to an otherwise depressing storyline, it gave me the urge to get into my baking again. What I liked most about this book (besides the recipes) is it tells a realistic story and focuses on real socio economic issues that teens face and others forget or ignore. I recommend this to all Contemporary YA readers.

- Annie

[Victoria Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caramel Hearts is a beautifully written story about the difficult family life of fourteen-year-old Liv whose mother has problems with alcohol and whose older sister has to take a break from university to take charge of the family so Liv won't end up in foster care. With bullying at school to contend with and difficult choices to make when it comes to friends, Liv struggles to do the right thing and make sense of the chaos in her life. The only sunshine in her life comes from her mother's cookery book, and when she discovers a talent for baking, the broken ingredients of her life come together at last to turn this heart-breaking tear-jerker of a read into a story full of love and hope.

[Lyn Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why isn't there a recipe for how to do the right thing?'pg 203
Indeed, if only there were such a thing.
The sweet recipes within the pages of a secret book, combined with the enduring love of her sister, serve to soften the heartbreaking family dysfunction that threatens to overwhelm 14 year old Liv.
Her genuine questioning of the bleak world in which she finds herself, coupled with her passionate search for love and redemption make this a coming of age novel not to be missed.

[Susan Lanigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounding up to 5. A wonderful read whether you're into YA or not.

"Who decides what's right and wrong? Is it right that good people like my brother die young while bastards like my dad get to grow old in a jail cell? Or that some people are loaded and others are skint or sleeping on the streets? Nicking stuff isn't always wrong. Robin Hood was a thief, and he was a bloody hero.

The above words are uttered by Madeleine aka "Mad Dog", the school bully and purported villain of the piece. It is the only overtly political statement uttered in the whole of Caramel Hearts, a story of a young girl from a dysfunctional family who finds her way to salvation through her mother's old cookbook. But the book in its whole while apparently gentle in tone is a searing indictment of the failure of hope in the middle/north of England.

"Mad Dog"'s remarks are significant because they prompt the protagonist of the story, thirteen-year-old Liv Bloom, to commit an act that haunts her for the rest of the book. Murray skilfully structures Liv's story around this dramatic fulcrum while balancing a whole lot of other stories along with it: the non-existent relationship with her father and the fraught one with her alcoholic mother, Abigail; her struggles against Mad Dog who takes against her in a fit of jealousy over a love triangle; the valiant attempts by her sister Hatty to keep them away from the beady eye of Social Services due to Abigail's relapses; Liv's difficult balancing act between her friend Sarah and Mad Dog's viciousness; and of course Liv's attempts to cook the recipes in the book, including the one in the title.

Liv's wrongdoing, prompted by Mad Dog's Iago to her Othello, is directly linked to this desire to cook with proper ingredients and through that to better herself, both classwise and in her own character. Liv and Hatty's relationship is difficult and Liv acts out, partly because when Hatty went off to university for a year, Abigail completely lost the plot. Now Hatty has deferred her university classes to look after Liv, and while she sees the necessity of it and advocates for her sister, the stage is set for resentment to creep in on both sides. In their exchanges I sensed the only minor dramatic flaw as they tend to veer towards a climax or an explanation to the reader and then veer off again when Liv throws a tantrum at the right time. However it would be unfair to say this was out of character and is believable in the context of the book.

Poverty is addressed in concrete detail rather than abstract sermonising: at the very beginning of the story, Liv has to rub the collar of her blouse because Hatty has not put it in the wash and there is no spare. She decides to be defiant and attend school in outlandish clothes, but the mockery of her classmates persuades her to turn back. The demeaning situations not having extra money puts Liv into are spelled out for those of us who are not so unfortunate - and one can sadly understand only too well why she would betray the trust of a warm adult figure who shows compassion and interest in her baking.

Mad Dog is also masterfully drawn, with the typical bully's combination of a wildly aggressive temper with extraordinarily thin skin and an aversion to solitude. Her rage when she and her posse turn on Liv is truly frightening, but we are never allowed to write her off too easily as Murray skilfully demonstrates through her dialogue how she veers between needy and menacing. Ultimately she is as much a victim of circumstance as Liv, unattractive as she is to encounter on the page. Jack, the male interest, plays a less involved role, which is fitting for a novel which is focused on redemptive quest rather than romance as an end.

But with all the grimness involved, warmth is never far from the surface, both literally in the baking and narratively in the characters growing to understand each other. (I have to admit that after the first few recipes I skipped the rest as I was more interested in the story, though I will definitely try a few) Abigail does not have a come-to-Jesus moment, but she is allowed her own dignity and redemption. Liv eventually has her own quest to find out the truth about her background and comes to a realisation of her own. In the end, for this reader there was a conclusion that the author may not have intended, that there was really only one true villain of the piece and that is ::SPOILER ALERT behind tag:: Liv's self-interested, morally bankrupt, scumbag, adulterous, dishonest excuse of a father, Max, who steals from Abigail and impregnates her best friend, his adultery and desertion torpedoing her hopes to start a business. No wonder the poor woman was a lush. I think I can honestly say that I finished Caramel Hearts loathing the selfishness and profligacy of middle aged men who revel in the privilege of lifelong fertility. I was stomping around the house thinking "I hate men" for the rest of the day after reading it.

To sum up, Caramel Hearts is a superb novel and I would recommend it for any age group of 13 and up. I picked it up early one morning and did not put it down until lunchtime and I don't read that genre much. Hats off to Elizabeth Murray for a tour de force!

[Agyeiwaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was unfortunately overall mediocre and underwhelming.the characters in my opinion were sadly worse. The protagonist ‘Liv’, would constantly irritate me with her pessimism, dishonesty and hypocrisy. The only thing I liked was the fact she finally learnt to tell the truth at the end.

[Finley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I enjoyed this story it doesn't feel like it really came to an end, since the conflict with Liv's dad is unresolved and there's no evidence given as to why Liv's mother won't repeat the same cycle again and again. 2.8 stars

[Jess Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐'s. seems like a really cute book, with recipes and everything, but it's actually a book about a very trouble teenager navigating thru life and living and learning that life isn't always easy or fun or the perfect one we always dream about. good book ✨

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book, a bit predictable at times but overall an enjoyable read.

[Amina (aminasbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.R. Murray is a fantastic author and the characters she builds are complex and real. I'd definitely recommend this for a preteen.

[Stacey Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by Bloomsbury Publishing Australia in exchange for an honest review.

Review

'Caramel Hearts' was NOT as lovely as I had hoped it would be! The whole entire novel didn't sit well with me and the main character, Liv Bloom, was just too much for me. I felt like I was reading yet another depressing story about yet another troubled young girl who comes from a bad family and the only way she can resolve all her depressing problems is if she delves into the depressing past.
Are you depressed yet?
I was.
Seriously, the only major difference that I could figure out about this novel was that it attempted to appear happy and fool silly people like me into picking it up with the recipes it held inside. And as a lover of baking, I REALLY couldn't help myself.
"Stacey," I said, "Give this book a chance," I said. "It has such high/good ratings on Goodreads!" I said, "Maybe it will be one of those HAPPY coming-of-age novels!"
No. No. No. No.
I really shouldn't have picked up 'Caramel Hearts'. There was absolutely nothing sweet or romantic or happy about this novel. THE COVER IS LIEING TO YOU! DO NOT FALL FOR ITS COMPLETE AND UTTER GORGEOUSNESS!
Now, don't get me wrong: I don't HATE this novel. It just didn't live up to my expectations and if I reread it at a later date, I would probably enjoy it a lot more. My timing with reading this novel may have been a little off. *sighs with self-disappointment*
Now, let's talk about Liv Bloom. She's one hell of a girl! At first meeting, I actually was quite accepting of her and ready to understand and step into her shoes! Liv seemed like a struggling teen who knew of that bad things in her life and was ready to face them. She seemed sad but at least hopeful. She was almost "good" and I could see her changing and growing and becoming this character I would LOVE by the time the end would roll around.
Well, I didn't. I didn't like her at all by the end.
In fact, I was quite ready to get rid of her and dump the novel. Seriously, I was SO thankful to leave her behind. It was like the world was lifted off my shoulders! (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little but I just didn't like her as a person.)
Live Bloom had too many bad qualities in her and not enough “good” ones. She wasn't clever or wise. She was too selfish, conceited, and a liar. She let herself get stuck in this horrible world she loved in and only at the end did she realise. Thank GOODNESS!
The writing was great but I felt like the novel progressed too slowly for me and the recipes didn't make much sense being there. The plot wasn't overly unique or original and I put this novel down a lot more often than I picked it up.
Congratulations to E. R. Murray on publishing her first young adult novel!

Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!

[Katie Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: this book will make you HUNGRY. Seriously, the recipes in this story sound delicious. I’m no baker, and generally I’m a disaster in any kitchen, but this book made me want to go out, grab some ingredients, and get making some sweet treats.

Caramel Hearts follows fourteen-year-old Liv as she discovers her mother’s old recipe book filled with recipes from when her mother had aspirations to open a bakery. Enjoying finding a connection to her mother that separated her from her addiction to alcohol, Liv decides to work on some of the recipes and discovers that baking is a hobby she loves.

Liv is currently being looked after by her older sister, Hatty, who has taken time out of university whilst their mother is treated for her addiction at a recovery centre. This prevents Liv from being taken in to foster care, but also means that Hatty has to try and keep up with her studies whilst single-handedly being Liv’s guardian with only her student loan to financially support them both. This puts a huge strain on Hatty and leads to high tensions between the sisters.

The sibling relationship was beautifully told in this book, and as someone who has a younger sister myself, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be in Hatty’s incredibly difficult situation. Although they care for each other, they both end up saying things they don’t really mean under the stress of everything. I felt like a lot of the time Liv didn’t fully understand Hatty’s emotions, and jumped to conclusions about her sister’s actions. I loved that the story showed this because it reminds us that Liv is a teenager and she still has so much to learn about the world, whilst also seeing a really tough side of it so far in her life. This is a book that doesn’t present its main characters as perfect, it shows their flaws and their mistakes, which gave it real raw emotion and believability.

There might be sweet treats dotted throughout this book, but Caramel Hearts doesn’t sugar coat any of the issues within its pages. I adored that this story was told in the realist possible way, with low and gritty moments for the characters. Addiction is an evil demon to do battle with, and these characters are faced with every angle of it. But what’s important is that it’s also a story of hope, and the bonds of family.

Bullying is also featured in this book, along with a little slice of first romance and heartbreak. It perfectly deals with a lot of issues that teens are faced with, and I think that readers will definitely be able to relate to at least a little of Liv’s story. I also have to mention what a great UKYA novel this is. I’m constantly talking about how much I love YA books that realistically present Britain, and this is one them.

Caramel Hearts is filled with wonderfully written characters and a plot that ticks all the boxes. It’s also a great coming-of-age novel that can be enjoyed by readers of any age. Once I picked it up, it was very hard to put down again, and I flew through it in a matter of days! I’m so glad that I got to read Liv’s story and although it broke my heart a little at times, it left me with a smile on my face.

[Alix Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes there's nothing better than a good, simple coming-of-age story, and that's what Caramel Hearts undoubtedly is. The character of Liv was realistic, flawed and complex, and I enjoyed her character development throughout the story. At times I found her frustrating and the decisions she made questionable to say the least, however it's definitely important in YA to showcase realistic teenagers and their confused brains, and E.R Murray certainly did this. I also really enjoyed reading about the realistic, imperfect sister relationship between Hatty and Liv. Hatty was a great character and I thought she was really well developed. As a sibling myself I completely understood her frustrations at Liv, especially since she had to come back home from university to look after her younger sister, who happens to be too young to really understand the sacrifice her older sister was making.

I also adored the character of Sarah, and I really wish we could have learned more about her. She was such a good intrinsically good character and I really despised the way that Liv treated her at the beginning of the book. In Caramel Hearts I felt like the bad characters (Maddie, for example) were much more developed than the good characters, which obviously can easily happen, although I wanted much more space in the book to be dedicated to Sarah, Jack and Mrs. Snelling. Mrs. Snelling's dead son was mentioned in passing, and I thought it would be much more interesting for the story if he had more of a presence in Liv's moral dilemma.

I very much preferred the second half of the book to the first, especially when Liv makes the trip to London. Outside of her small town, I felt like I grew to know her character so much more, when she was stripped away from everything and everyone she knew and was used to. This was a section of the book of real self-discovery, and it drove the story forward brilliantly toward its conclusion.

I really liked the use of narration in the first person, and E.R Murray gave us an in-depth and realistic glance into a teenager's brain. The recipes sandwiched between the chapters helped to build the story and made me hungry every single time I read them! It also gave us a special insight into what Liv was reading, and the kind of person her mum was. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to the weekend that the family spent by the seaside - in these sections in particular the writing was beautifully detailed, eloqent and emotional. I felt as if more flashbacks into the girls' childhood would have given the reader a better insight into the emotions they were feeling, and would have given the reader an emotional depth of understanding into the way the story was unfolding.

Overall, I really enjoyed Caramel Hearts and I would definitely recommend it as a summer read that everyone will enjoy. It is a light and easy read, peppered with discussions of important issues such as growing up, alcoholism and bullying. If you haven't checked out E.R Murray before, I would recommend that you check her out!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out this review on my blog here!


Big thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had not heard of this book before requesting it and I am so glad I have now read it! This novel is a sweet coming of age story that also has some gritty and darker scenes. Definitely a novel perfect for fans who grew up reading Jacqueline Wilson.

This novel tells the story of Liv Bloom's life. Liv is a fourteen year old girl who has a complicated life. Her mum is an alcoholic in a recovery center so her older sister Harriet is taking care of her, their dad left them when they were young and she is also having difficulties at school with her friends and bullying.


This novel deals with a lot of important issues such as being the child of an alcoholic / emotionally abusive parent, coming from a single parent family, friendship, school, crushes and personal discovery. Murray has written so realistically and vividly about these hard situations that lots of people have to go through and has also shown that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Liv uses the recipes she found in a secret cook book that belonged to her mum as a way to not only find joy in something and cope with her current situation but also as a way to bring herself closer to understanding and having a meaningful connection with her mother.

The characters in the novel were great and very well written. Liv was hot tempered, moody, and a typical 14 year old but she was also fun, caring and loyal. I loved reading about her relationship with Harriet and even though they argued, it was clear their relationship was strong.
I also enjoyed Liv and Sarah's friendship and how close Liv was with Sarah's family. Jack was also a nice and fun character. I also enjoyed reading about Maddy and Liv's fascination with her as everyone else in school looked up to Maddy as being the "cool" girl in school. Maddy's character could have been delved deeper into in my opinion but I did love the development we did see.
The plot of the novel was intertwined with recipes and memories allowing the reader to get a full insight into Liv's life. I thought that the plot was entertaining and engrossing while also showing a darker side to life that lots of teens have to go through. I felt that a few twists were predictable and I wished the ending could have been fleshed out a little but overall highly enjoyed the way the plot moved through the novel.

I also really enjoyed reading a novel by an Irish author! If you have any Irish YA recommendations, please let me know in the comments.

Overall, a great novel about dysfunctional families, friends, hope and growing up. Definitely recommend this novel. The inclusion of recipes was such a sweet touch and I may even try a few out- even though I am terrible at baking!

[Eugenia (Genie In A Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This review and an interview with the author also appears on my blog Genie In A Book*

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Food, friends, fights, family and finding out how to be true to yourself...that's how I'd describe Caramel Hearts in a nutshell. This is a book that has a recipe for success as a YA contemporary - well developed characters within a plot which isn't completely predictable and takes a bite out of some very real issues facing many teens today. 

Even if you don't normally read with snacks nearby, with all the delicious treats which this book has recipes for throughout its pages - you'll definitely want some. What's special in this instance is that they actually do serve a purpose and are fundamental to the storyline. One of my favourite quotes is from this one for Rocky Road:

Because life isn't always straightforward, you need a few treats to remind you that there's still goodness in the world. Make when you're worried, give with love and enjoy with a happy heart.

They symbolise her mother's dreams before she became an alcoholic, and it was endearing to see how Liv found solace in this new hobby; even if it had its own set of challenges. In short, a book with a food focus? I'm in and sold on this one. 

Though 'dysfunctional families' are a facet of many YA novels, I found the sibling relationship between Hatty and Liv especially touching. Since their mother is in rehabilitation, Hatty has sacrificed many of her own aspirations to take care of her sister, and though they definitely had their share of fights (what siblings don't?), it was heartwarming to see how their bond prevailed. As a protagonist Liv was quite complex and faced moral dilemmas relating to how to react against a bully and your friends, when does a lie go too far, and how to eventually make things right. All of these issues are ones which teens will be able to identify with to some extent, and E.R. Murray managed to weave them in without coming across as 'preachy'. I also liked how the story emphasised that everyone has a backstory and reasons behind why they may act out or want to be the 'Queen B', and that putting the people you care about most first can be the best remedy of all. 

FINAL THOUGHTS



Caramel Hearts embodies all the characteristics which its title suggests. Sweet yet chewy, this is a contemporary that leaves food for thought that will soften your heart.

[Melissa Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caramel HeartsE.R. Murray
I sat down to read CARAMEL HEARTS one dreary afternoon and was transported by the opening chapters and warmed by the bond of the sisters in this book, Liv and Harriet. In a scene from the past, we see these sisters use a secret communication system they have created in order to signal to each other non-verbally when their mother’s mood ‘turns’. This nuance of connection between the two gently sets the tone for the story to come and really piqued my interest.

CARAMEL HEARTS is structured around recipes found in a hidden cookbook, discovered by the main character, Olivia Bloom. The recipes inside are concoctions that were written by her mother in happier days, before Liv’s father left them, and before her mother became an alcoholic requiring institutionalisation.

Very soon, I found myself at the first recipe in the book, and I thought, why not give them a go? My kids returned home from school to find warm, delicious heart shaped cookies for afternoon tea and were delighted. Later in the novel, I came across a fudge recipe. The double batch of the fudge was pounced upon and soon disappeared with requests for more! Even though recipes provide some structure for the book and are integral to understanding a different mother than the one the girls currently have, they are a yummy extra to what is actually a pretty gritty coming of age story.

The story deals unwaveringly with difficult family issues like alcoholism, teen drinking, violence, poverty, single parenthood, domestic violence, friendships and schoolyard bullying. There are many close to the bone scenes of adolescent bullying and cruelty, and one in particular that left me so incredibly glad I didn’t have to go through those years again. Any one who has had experience with an alcoholic will find this rings true.

Liv and her sister are thrust into a grown up world where they must try and manage social services, school, University and their mother’s unpredictable recovery, all while trying to escape the cycle of poverty and find their way. There is real sibling love between the two, the unconditional and warty kind, and this is what makes the book a wonderful read.

The best recommendation I can give, is to tell you I gave it to my teenage daughter to read on her school holidays. She’s not normally a quick reader, but once she started she couldn’t put it down, and she was finished in one day. It left her thoughtful and gave us a lot to talk about, which as any one with a teenager knows is a gift itself!

I am delighted that E.R. Murray has agreed to guest post about Caramel Hearts. Look out for that post in the next week!

Melissa
LOVEthatBOOK
melissa-sargent.com

[naymreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

the recipes in the book was a really cool touch. the writing in the recipes however, was overly sugary but i guess that was the point. fine.

but what i didn't like was that the main character doesn't take responsibility for her own actions enough. she should have owned up to the dinner lady herself and apologised.

[Anika Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and very cute read. Poor Liv really goes through a lot in a short time, and her story is such a sad, yet hopeful one.

But the best part is the recipes that are scattered throughout this book. I think I'll write my full review after I've tried one or two of them! Stand by.

Review posted on Tea in the Treetops in July 2016:

Caramel Hearts is a coming-of age story with feelings packed into the pages like the apples in a Fruity Custard Pastie (recipe on p222).

That’s right, Liv’s story is scattered with delicious recipies for sweet treats, from her mum’s Recipes to Make Happiness Bloom cookbook.

Liv’s Mam is currently in rehab, so her big sister, Hatty, has come home from university to look after her. Liv struggles with bullies and the ups and downs of high school life, but when she finds her mum’s old cookbook, she decides to try out of few of the recipes. Money is tight for the girls, and Liv can’t always source the ingredients for her baking adventures, but a series of bad choices lands Liv in trouble.

Liv is such a sweet and determined young lady – her heart is in the right place, she just makes some really unfortunate decisions along the way. It’s all part of growing up though, and she is lucky not to land in more serious trouble. Some of the bullying in this book is really nasty and it made me sad that the victims were so submissive for so long (something that reflects real life quite accurately).

The recipes in this book are varied, with some easy ones such as the Rocky Road to the more tricky ones like Baked Alaska. I actually made a batch of the Lovers’ Lemon and Choc-Chip Shortbread and it was amazing! I recommend making a double batch – the recipe only made about 8 cookies. One thing I particularly loved about Liv trying the recipes was that she experiments with taking shortcuts and wonders why the end results don’t turn out. I recognised my own baking journey in that – there’s a reason you’re supposed to follow baking recipes to the letter!

I don’t usually read much contemporary YA these days, but I found that this story drew me in – I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Liv, Hatty and their Mam.

Read this book if you are interested in a sweet coming-of-age story, with some tasty recipes thrown in.