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A Family Recipe
The brand-new feel-good story from bestseller Veronica Henry -
a perfect mix of family, friends and delicious food.
What's the secret ingredient to your happiness?
Laura Griffin is preparing for an empty nest. The thought of Number 11 Lark Hill falling silent - a home usually bustling with noise, people and the fragrant smells of something cooking on the Aga - seems impossible. Laura hopes it will mean more time for herself, and more time with her husband, Dom.
But when an exposed secret shakes their marriage, Laura suddenly feels as though her family is shrinking around her. Feeling lost, she turns to her greatest comfort: her grandmother's recipe box, a treasured collection dating back to the Second World War. Everyone has always adored Laura's jams and chutneys, piled their sandwiches high with her pickles . . . Inspired by a bit of the old Blitz spirit, Laura has an idea that gives her a fresh sense of purpose.
Full of fierce determination, Laura starts carving her own path. But even the bravest woman needs the people who love her. And now, they need her in return . . .
*****
Praise for Veronica Henry:
'A delight from start to finish' Jill Mansell
'Truly blissful escapism' Lucy Diamond
a perfect mix of family, friends and delicious food.
What's the secret ingredient to your happiness?
Laura Griffin is preparing for an empty nest. The thought of Number 11 Lark Hill falling silent - a home usually bustling with noise, people and the fragrant smells of something cooking on the Aga - seems impossible. Laura hopes it will mean more time for herself, and more time with her husband, Dom.
But when an exposed secret shakes their marriage, Laura suddenly feels as though her family is shrinking around her. Feeling lost, she turns to her greatest comfort: her grandmother's recipe box, a treasured collection dating back to the Second World War. Everyone has always adored Laura's jams and chutneys, piled their sandwiches high with her pickles . . . Inspired by a bit of the old Blitz spirit, Laura has an idea that gives her a fresh sense of purpose.
Full of fierce determination, Laura starts carving her own path. But even the bravest woman needs the people who love her. And now, they need her in return . . .
*****
Praise for Veronica Henry:
'A delight from start to finish' Jill Mansell
'Truly blissful escapism' Lucy Diamond
374 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2018
362 people are currently reading
1646 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Henry
68 books1,591 followersVeronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
January 29, 2025
The PERFECT COZY FEELGOOD TALE!
For me, this WAS a real FEEL-GOOD READ. It’s heartwarming, fun, and it has a GREAT MESSAGE.
Some things are handed down in families - like recipes. But Moral Strength, Confidence and Courage aren‘t inherited - or even come in your genes.
No, those you have to earn.
Like my grandmother did...
The times I was with my grandmother when I was a kid were among the best in my life. She was a bit like Veronica Henry’s character Kanga. My grandmother was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. My parents at times found her intolerably old-fashioned. But not me!
Old-fashioned was where I wanted to be!
So like the women in this wonderful book, I went charging full steam ahead on a straight and narrow course... for disaster.
A disaster we all must deal with, and do it well! Sooner or later.
For the world will never tolerate old-fashioned goodness for long.
And we’re never finished till we’ve proven our worth - in Hand to Hand single combat with the Dark Side of Life.
But back then my grandmother was my greatest childhood role model...
She taught me to be rigorous with my own behaviour, but kindly and indulgent when others go astray.
A hard act to follow - and a Procrustean bed to try to find rest in, when the World of Duty starts to scream at you, and keeps waking you up from your slumber.
And when you have responsibilities for your family’s welfare on top of it!
Like she and Kanga had.
They were true Heroines of the Straight and Narrow Path.
Laura‘s grandmother Jilly - or Kanga, the name her infant granddaughter first pronounced on meeting her and her name to all her family circle - learned Moral Strength, Confidence and Courage young, and the hard way: under the Terror of the Blitz.
Remember that?
That unnerving period of intense bombing and firebombing, that Incredibly Stressful Time when the omnipresent posters in the Underground told you in a nerve-wracking monotone (quite ironically, though correctly) to Keep Calm and Carry On?
That was her version of the Ordeal by Fire we are all given.
She learned to be a doughty survivor, resilient and resourceful. Hard on the outside, like my grandmother. But clinging to her Ideals throughout.
A stranger in a strange land, but ready to win.
And she pitched in with her family recipes when they were badly needed by fellow survivors in the War Effort.
And she succeeded in the end, through bitter experience, to learn the Three Moral Strengths - and play her part in the practically unending battle against the Dark Side.
Laura, on the other hand, has an ideal, modern, peaceful life. A home, husband and adoring daughters. Pure, as yet untested bliss. Soft on the inside AND outside - too soft.
Until the day her world starts crumbling around her. Then crashing to the ground!
Then, she must EARN these three prizes of moral toughness tor the first time - on a wild and hazardous ride through the lonely and uncharted territory of middle age.
But those family recipes play their part for her, too, in her own journey toward the crowns of maturity: moral strength, confidence and courage.
Kanga and Laura must play their part TOGETHER, too, as the drama darkens in their now-unfamiliar world.
For Kanga is right there for her. Even if she has ongoing crises of her own.
And in the end, they learn the two greatest lessons of life, which neither has yet really grasped:
Love and forgiveness!
Becoming truly tough on the outside, truly soft on the inside.
And then, all the loose ends of this saga are tied together triumphantly at the end - with a red Christmas ribbon!
And all’s well that ends well.
Four Stars for this ultimately Triumphant Family Novel from one very happy reader!
For me, this WAS a real FEEL-GOOD READ. It’s heartwarming, fun, and it has a GREAT MESSAGE.
Some things are handed down in families - like recipes. But Moral Strength, Confidence and Courage aren‘t inherited - or even come in your genes.
No, those you have to earn.
Like my grandmother did...
The times I was with my grandmother when I was a kid were among the best in my life. She was a bit like Veronica Henry’s character Kanga. My grandmother was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. My parents at times found her intolerably old-fashioned. But not me!
Old-fashioned was where I wanted to be!
So like the women in this wonderful book, I went charging full steam ahead on a straight and narrow course... for disaster.
A disaster we all must deal with, and do it well! Sooner or later.
For the world will never tolerate old-fashioned goodness for long.
And we’re never finished till we’ve proven our worth - in Hand to Hand single combat with the Dark Side of Life.
But back then my grandmother was my greatest childhood role model...
She taught me to be rigorous with my own behaviour, but kindly and indulgent when others go astray.
A hard act to follow - and a Procrustean bed to try to find rest in, when the World of Duty starts to scream at you, and keeps waking you up from your slumber.
And when you have responsibilities for your family’s welfare on top of it!
Like she and Kanga had.
They were true Heroines of the Straight and Narrow Path.
Laura‘s grandmother Jilly - or Kanga, the name her infant granddaughter first pronounced on meeting her and her name to all her family circle - learned Moral Strength, Confidence and Courage young, and the hard way: under the Terror of the Blitz.
Remember that?
That unnerving period of intense bombing and firebombing, that Incredibly Stressful Time when the omnipresent posters in the Underground told you in a nerve-wracking monotone (quite ironically, though correctly) to Keep Calm and Carry On?
That was her version of the Ordeal by Fire we are all given.
She learned to be a doughty survivor, resilient and resourceful. Hard on the outside, like my grandmother. But clinging to her Ideals throughout.
A stranger in a strange land, but ready to win.
And she pitched in with her family recipes when they were badly needed by fellow survivors in the War Effort.
And she succeeded in the end, through bitter experience, to learn the Three Moral Strengths - and play her part in the practically unending battle against the Dark Side.
Laura, on the other hand, has an ideal, modern, peaceful life. A home, husband and adoring daughters. Pure, as yet untested bliss. Soft on the inside AND outside - too soft.
Until the day her world starts crumbling around her. Then crashing to the ground!
Then, she must EARN these three prizes of moral toughness tor the first time - on a wild and hazardous ride through the lonely and uncharted territory of middle age.
But those family recipes play their part for her, too, in her own journey toward the crowns of maturity: moral strength, confidence and courage.
Kanga and Laura must play their part TOGETHER, too, as the drama darkens in their now-unfamiliar world.
For Kanga is right there for her. Even if she has ongoing crises of her own.
And in the end, they learn the two greatest lessons of life, which neither has yet really grasped:
Love and forgiveness!
Becoming truly tough on the outside, truly soft on the inside.
And then, all the loose ends of this saga are tied together triumphantly at the end - with a red Christmas ribbon!
And all’s well that ends well.
Four Stars for this ultimately Triumphant Family Novel from one very happy reader!
May 7, 2018
This is Veronica Henry at her best as she weaves a story from two different family generations living at 11 Lark Hill in the city of Bath, about friends, family, adversity, and learning to handle the curve balls that life throws at you. Laura is beginning to experience empty nest syndrome as Willow, her youngest daughter who she has nursed and worried over through the years with her debilitating and life threatening Asthma, starts life as a student at York University. Her other practical and independent daughter, Jasmine, is already at university. She wonders what she will do with her life, and has diffidently thought of doing up and renting out two attic rooms on airbnb. Her widowed grandmother, Kanga, named after the character in Winnie the Pooh, gave up her huge home to Laura and Dom to bring up their family while she lives in a purpose built smaller home on the same property. Henry gives us a narrative set in two time periods with Jilly aka Kanga as a young woman living through the Blitz in WW2 in 1942 with Bath suffering severe destruction and a huge loss of life under German bombardment and with Laura in the present day.
Jilly, best friends with the more extrovert and flamboyant Ivy, uncharacteristically sneaks out of home at night to meet a trainee fighter pilot, Harry Swann, on the night Bath is bombed by Germans. Her parents are killed looking for her, and Jill is drowning in a sea of guilt and grief, Supported by Ivy, Jill does what her parents would have done, helping those who needed help and opening up her home to the homeless Norris family. She discovers she is pregnant but Harry does not want to know. Jill finds comfort in following her mother's recipes for jams and chutneys, and makes her own additions and adjustments to the recipes. The courage she finds to live life as a single mother and survive the war years is thanks to Ivy, and she eventually finds love again with a man content to bring up her daughter, Catherine, as his own. Laura's world is shattered when she learns her beloved husband, Dom, has had an affair with his conveyance solicitor, Antonia. Not being able to cope with this, Laura throws herself in two projects, that of letting out rooms on Airbnb and using her great grandmother's and Kanga's recipes to make chutneys and jams for an artisan market. Kanga has to face the heartbreaking ill health of her life time best friend, Ivy, who has always been there for her.
Laura for the first time learns to stand on her own two feet, becoming independent and becoming more self aware, as she begins to understand her marriage and her role in its difficulties. Is there any chance that she can steer her marriage and her family back to all it used to be? Henry does a sterling job in giving us two wonderful central female characters in Jilly and Laura, drawing on the family recipes and the ingredients that went into the dishes, to help them cope with desperate and challenging times in their lives. Both have to find the ingredients and strength to adjust to new realities and create a new version of family, a new family recipe, where from the ashes arises a stronger woman with a more stable and enduring sense of family, informed by a greater self knowledge. Laura's best friend, Sadie, plays as an important role in her life as Ivy did with Kanga. This is just such a lovely read, Henry has outdone herself. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Jilly, best friends with the more extrovert and flamboyant Ivy, uncharacteristically sneaks out of home at night to meet a trainee fighter pilot, Harry Swann, on the night Bath is bombed by Germans. Her parents are killed looking for her, and Jill is drowning in a sea of guilt and grief, Supported by Ivy, Jill does what her parents would have done, helping those who needed help and opening up her home to the homeless Norris family. She discovers she is pregnant but Harry does not want to know. Jill finds comfort in following her mother's recipes for jams and chutneys, and makes her own additions and adjustments to the recipes. The courage she finds to live life as a single mother and survive the war years is thanks to Ivy, and she eventually finds love again with a man content to bring up her daughter, Catherine, as his own. Laura's world is shattered when she learns her beloved husband, Dom, has had an affair with his conveyance solicitor, Antonia. Not being able to cope with this, Laura throws herself in two projects, that of letting out rooms on Airbnb and using her great grandmother's and Kanga's recipes to make chutneys and jams for an artisan market. Kanga has to face the heartbreaking ill health of her life time best friend, Ivy, who has always been there for her.
Laura for the first time learns to stand on her own two feet, becoming independent and becoming more self aware, as she begins to understand her marriage and her role in its difficulties. Is there any chance that she can steer her marriage and her family back to all it used to be? Henry does a sterling job in giving us two wonderful central female characters in Jilly and Laura, drawing on the family recipes and the ingredients that went into the dishes, to help them cope with desperate and challenging times in their lives. Both have to find the ingredients and strength to adjust to new realities and create a new version of family, a new family recipe, where from the ashes arises a stronger woman with a more stable and enduring sense of family, informed by a greater self knowledge. Laura's best friend, Sadie, plays as an important role in her life as Ivy did with Kanga. This is just such a lovely read, Henry has outdone herself. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
August 31, 2024
For all strong women who weren't born that way - who never LEARNED how to be strong but EARNED it - READ THIS BOOK!
It'll warm your heart and nourish your soul.
All this coming from a GUY - who LOVES it!
It'll warm your heart and nourish your soul.
All this coming from a GUY - who LOVES it!
February 9, 2020
Another winner from Veronica Henry!!!! This. One I read in a day. It was a dual time line, and was such a lovely story with a happy ending. It starts off in present day and then switches back to 1940. It describes the bombing of Bath which was horrendous. I have read 4 of Veronica’s books and they have all been brilliant.
If you want a lovely, gentle read this one is for you.
If you want a lovely, gentle read this one is for you.
July 26, 2018
Wow what a fascinating and enthralling story, I was hooked from the beginning, and given chapter 1 was set during WW2 and I'm not a history fan, that is saying something.
In fact I was very interested in the occasional wartime chapter which was telling the story of Jilly and Ivy as young women.
The present day storyline featured Laura, her husband Dom, grown up children Willow and Jas and her grandma Kanga.
At the heart of both past and present stories is the house, its garden and the family recipes that have passed through the generations.
The book has fabulous writing, interesting storytelling, and a knack for transporting you between the pages so that you forget your real life exists.
Even when I wasn't reading this my mind was still on the story, it really got under my skin, and with the various perspectives gave a good look at all the key characters and their motivations.
A top notch read from an always talented and one of my favourite authors, Veronica Henry,
Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
In fact I was very interested in the occasional wartime chapter which was telling the story of Jilly and Ivy as young women.
The present day storyline featured Laura, her husband Dom, grown up children Willow and Jas and her grandma Kanga.
At the heart of both past and present stories is the house, its garden and the family recipes that have passed through the generations.
The book has fabulous writing, interesting storytelling, and a knack for transporting you between the pages so that you forget your real life exists.
Even when I wasn't reading this my mind was still on the story, it really got under my skin, and with the various perspectives gave a good look at all the key characters and their motivations.
A top notch read from an always talented and one of my favourite authors, Veronica Henry,
Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 8, 2020
Uma história deliciosa sobre o amor, a família, o perdão... Passado entre duas épocas... foi um pouco difícil ler alguns capítulos por me identificar com Laura, mas gostei muito do seu crescimento, da sua força de vontade, a batalhar por cada conquista.
September 19, 2024
4,5 - a lovely book with so much heartwarming and beautiful moments and interesting characters, it got me invested and i have to admit i got tearful a few times 💗 would definitely try another one from Henry!
February 1, 2019
The main character, Laura, is a whiny, self-absorbed, self-pitying, spoiled little girl of about 40. She's spent most of her married life expecting her husband to work hard to support her & their daughters, but apparently without ever bothering to get involved in listening to his plans (he's a property developer) or about their finances. She spends all her time worrying obsessively about her younger daughter, Willow, who's asthmatic. The older daughter, Jaz and the husband, Dom, presumably worry too, but Laura is the only important person here. Meanwhile Willow feels smothered, and really wants to get away to university, 3 hours from home, as soon as possible. Laura insists that she & Dom have to drive Willow to York from their home in Bath, and all 3 of them stay the night in an expensive hotel, so she can have an extra night with Willow. She ignores Dom's request to go home or stay somewhere cheaper, though it's obvious he's incredibly stressed by money (& it turns out, an affair he's been having).
Laura finds out about the affair on the way home, drives off & leaves him stranded, and refuses to talk to him for the next few months - apart from asking him to come back to spend the night and pretend everything's OK when the girls come home for a surprise visit.
I found it very difficult to sympathise at all with Laura, even though she's the "wronged" party. The reason I kept reading was Laura's drama alternates with the story of her grandmother, Jilly, and her best friend Ivy, in Bath during the war. Jilly is a much more likeable character, tho her saintliness is a bit over the top.
It all of course has a happy ending, as Laura has managed to start a couple of successful home based businesses, and taken over Dom's after the poor man has a heart attack.
Laura finds out about the affair on the way home, drives off & leaves him stranded, and refuses to talk to him for the next few months - apart from asking him to come back to spend the night and pretend everything's OK when the girls come home for a surprise visit.
I found it very difficult to sympathise at all with Laura, even though she's the "wronged" party. The reason I kept reading was Laura's drama alternates with the story of her grandmother, Jilly, and her best friend Ivy, in Bath during the war. Jilly is a much more likeable character, tho her saintliness is a bit over the top.
It all of course has a happy ending, as Laura has managed to start a couple of successful home based businesses, and taken over Dom's after the poor man has a heart attack.
May 16, 2018
Laura is living in her family home- her grandmother sold them her house and she lives in the grounds. 11 Lark Hill sounds a wonderful house and we hear about the history as we follow a dual narrative. Kanga, her grandmother lived there through the war years. She started a recipe box which is now one of Laura's favourite possessions.
Laura is a busy mum, who has had to nurse her youngest through several severe asthma attacks and now she's due to leave for university, Laura is facing an empty nest. Secrets unravel her perfect happy home and we follow her as she makes her way through a new chapter. She is planning to open up the house to air b&b and I loved the plans she has. I could imagine booking a couple of nights stay.
We also follow Kanga and her friend Ivy during the war years with the huge difficulties that they all faced. Ivy is that dependable, loyal friend who retains a spark of mischieviousness but will always have your back.
I loved the whole book which drew me deep within it's pages and made me reluctant to put it down. The characters are so warmly drawn that you soon grow to love them. The recipes add to the overall warm and cosy feeling and it reminded me of the recipe journal that we compiled for my nieces 21st. Everyone wrote their favourite recipe in their own handwriting.
I always love Veronica Henry's books and I was delighted to receive an Arc of this book from Orion.
Laura is a busy mum, who has had to nurse her youngest through several severe asthma attacks and now she's due to leave for university, Laura is facing an empty nest. Secrets unravel her perfect happy home and we follow her as she makes her way through a new chapter. She is planning to open up the house to air b&b and I loved the plans she has. I could imagine booking a couple of nights stay.
We also follow Kanga and her friend Ivy during the war years with the huge difficulties that they all faced. Ivy is that dependable, loyal friend who retains a spark of mischieviousness but will always have your back.
I loved the whole book which drew me deep within it's pages and made me reluctant to put it down. The characters are so warmly drawn that you soon grow to love them. The recipes add to the overall warm and cosy feeling and it reminded me of the recipe journal that we compiled for my nieces 21st. Everyone wrote their favourite recipe in their own handwriting.
I always love Veronica Henry's books and I was delighted to receive an Arc of this book from Orion.
April 29, 2018
What a wonderfully heart melting read!
11 Lark Hill has been in the family for quite a few generations. It's great to see a house with so much history stay with in the family and I could very much feel the love within those walls. Sadly Laura and her husband Dom seem to be going through some difficulties but I think it reminds us of how much we can take the other one for granted.
Laura and her grandmother Kanga (Jilly) were my favourite characters. We get to know Kanga better in chapters that take us back to the war and I really admired her determination and out look on life. I'm sure everyone would love the friendship that her and Ivy have as they really do show what the true meaning of it is. Laura is someone that has probably always lent on others and hasn't had to really stand on her own two feet before. I loved how she pulls herself together though and surprises the people around her.
A Family Recipe had all the perfect and wholesome ingredients for me. It's like a good old fashioned stew and dumplings or a delicious treacle sponge and custard pudding. Something that will warm you to the very core of which you want to savour every delicious moment. A story that will warm the cockles of your heart and will remind us that whatever life throws our way, you can handle it.
11 Lark Hill has been in the family for quite a few generations. It's great to see a house with so much history stay with in the family and I could very much feel the love within those walls. Sadly Laura and her husband Dom seem to be going through some difficulties but I think it reminds us of how much we can take the other one for granted.
Laura and her grandmother Kanga (Jilly) were my favourite characters. We get to know Kanga better in chapters that take us back to the war and I really admired her determination and out look on life. I'm sure everyone would love the friendship that her and Ivy have as they really do show what the true meaning of it is. Laura is someone that has probably always lent on others and hasn't had to really stand on her own two feet before. I loved how she pulls herself together though and surprises the people around her.
A Family Recipe had all the perfect and wholesome ingredients for me. It's like a good old fashioned stew and dumplings or a delicious treacle sponge and custard pudding. Something that will warm you to the very core of which you want to savour every delicious moment. A story that will warm the cockles of your heart and will remind us that whatever life throws our way, you can handle it.
August 6, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️With hard times about us currently, I was attracted to this title given many thumbs up by a fellow GR reviewer. A Family Recipe does give one much to mull upon, given our current situation with COVID, and I found myself reflecting on the days during WWII in Bath, England when the populace had their lives upended, uncertain as to when the next strike might come and wondering if life would ever return to normal. The resolute nature of its people comes through, and I found it very encouraging. The novel shifts between then and the present, (before COVID), within the same family, when a personal crisis suddenly shifts lives of the granddaughter Laura, her husband and the grandmother Jilly.
The family recipes of the title are threaded throughout, marking the strength of generations changing with the times, using innovative approaches under dire circumstances and putting their individual stamp on each dish as availability of food and modern conveniences shifted.
I quite enjoyed this cozy tale, with some well written characters and its thoughtful description of the war years in Bath.
Three and half strong stars, rounded up to four.
The family recipes of the title are threaded throughout, marking the strength of generations changing with the times, using innovative approaches under dire circumstances and putting their individual stamp on each dish as availability of food and modern conveniences shifted.
I quite enjoyed this cozy tale, with some well written characters and its thoughtful description of the war years in Bath.
Three and half strong stars, rounded up to four.
April 11, 2021
Such a lovely read. The family recipe takes you on a journey from the Bath Blitz in 1942 to present day and the bond & friendship that Jilly & Ivy have throughout their life. Its a rollercoaster of emotions & all the characters are so lovely & believable. I really got engrossed in this book just as I did with The Forever House also by Veronica Henry.
September 20, 2018
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2018/0...
A house is much more than the bricks and mortar and 11 Lark Hill, owned by the same family, has witnessed much through the ages.
During WWII, the story takes us back to Kanga (Laura’s grandmother) and her heartbreaking experiences during the time Bath was blitzed. I had much admiration for Kanga and best friend Ivy. Veronica Henry has captured the fear and strength alongside those indomitable spirits so very well. Kanga still shows that strength of spirit in present day even though aged 93, fighting behind the scenes to protect her own.
When Laura returns from dropping daughter Willow at university in September 2017 I had a shiver down my spine at the energy 11 Lark Hill was giving out. It might sound a bit ‘woo woo’ but I bet you’ve been in a room or a place that has made you feel differently (and not because of the people who are there). The silence and emptiness felt heavy and portentous… Laura’s determination was an inspiration. When one connection became clear I wondered which way the story would go. Would it happen? What would that mean? I loved the market! and the fact that the family recipes connected 4 generations of women. That really is something special.
The move between between WWII and present day was seamless. I didn’t have a favourite timeline which is unusual for me. I was invested emotionally in both Kanga and Laura, identifying with them both. Their lives caught me up emotionally for different reasons. It made a refreshing change to experience a WWII setting that was outside of the major cities with a window into what life was like for those who lost close ones and their homes.
The ending completed the beginning – not what I was expecting at all! and gave me another emotional punch. Perfect.
A Family Recipe is a feel-good read with characters you will identify with and take to heart. Recommended for romance and saga readers. One for your wishlists.
A house is much more than the bricks and mortar and 11 Lark Hill, owned by the same family, has witnessed much through the ages.
During WWII, the story takes us back to Kanga (Laura’s grandmother) and her heartbreaking experiences during the time Bath was blitzed. I had much admiration for Kanga and best friend Ivy. Veronica Henry has captured the fear and strength alongside those indomitable spirits so very well. Kanga still shows that strength of spirit in present day even though aged 93, fighting behind the scenes to protect her own.
When Laura returns from dropping daughter Willow at university in September 2017 I had a shiver down my spine at the energy 11 Lark Hill was giving out. It might sound a bit ‘woo woo’ but I bet you’ve been in a room or a place that has made you feel differently (and not because of the people who are there). The silence and emptiness felt heavy and portentous… Laura’s determination was an inspiration. When one connection became clear I wondered which way the story would go. Would it happen? What would that mean? I loved the market! and the fact that the family recipes connected 4 generations of women. That really is something special.
The move between between WWII and present day was seamless. I didn’t have a favourite timeline which is unusual for me. I was invested emotionally in both Kanga and Laura, identifying with them both. Their lives caught me up emotionally for different reasons. It made a refreshing change to experience a WWII setting that was outside of the major cities with a window into what life was like for those who lost close ones and their homes.
The ending completed the beginning – not what I was expecting at all! and gave me another emotional punch. Perfect.
A Family Recipe is a feel-good read with characters you will identify with and take to heart. Recommended for romance and saga readers. One for your wishlists.
May 14, 2018
Wow, did this book really get to me. Beautifully written, which we all know is a trademark of the fabulous Veronica Henry, A FAMILY RECIPE is so much more than a great story - the characters and everything that they have been through and are experiencing now comes alive in front of your eyes and I defy you not to fall in love with this family and everything it represents.
Laura Griffin is a little lost now that her children have flown the coop. Having spent most of her time nurturing and worrying about her daughters, especially Willow who battles with asthma, Laura isn't quite sure what the future holds for herself and her husband Dom now that they have more time to rediscover themselves. But her life takes a sudden turn when she discovers something that threatens the foundations of her happy family. At least she can count on her wonderful grandmother, Kanga, who has been there for her every step of the way, a strong woman who survived the Blitz and oozes kindness and compassion. Maybe with the help of those she loves, Laura can find her own strength and forge a new path for herself and for her family ...
The story moves from Kanga's past during the war to the present day which works really well as you get to see the foundation of Laura's family from the beginning, and Kanga is some woman, everything you would want and love in a friend and mother!
A FAMILY RECIPE by Veronica Henry has drama, scrumptious food that will make your mouth water, love, friendship, heartache, and everything else that life can throw at you, all set against the stunning backdrop of Bath which will make you want to book a flight as soon as possible. I laughed, I teared up, and I felt the ups and downs of this beautiful family on every single page, and when I finished it I felt a little dazed at what I had read. And after all of my nattering on, this book can be summed up simply in one word: perfection.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Laura Griffin is a little lost now that her children have flown the coop. Having spent most of her time nurturing and worrying about her daughters, especially Willow who battles with asthma, Laura isn't quite sure what the future holds for herself and her husband Dom now that they have more time to rediscover themselves. But her life takes a sudden turn when she discovers something that threatens the foundations of her happy family. At least she can count on her wonderful grandmother, Kanga, who has been there for her every step of the way, a strong woman who survived the Blitz and oozes kindness and compassion. Maybe with the help of those she loves, Laura can find her own strength and forge a new path for herself and for her family ...
The story moves from Kanga's past during the war to the present day which works really well as you get to see the foundation of Laura's family from the beginning, and Kanga is some woman, everything you would want and love in a friend and mother!
A FAMILY RECIPE by Veronica Henry has drama, scrumptious food that will make your mouth water, love, friendship, heartache, and everything else that life can throw at you, all set against the stunning backdrop of Bath which will make you want to book a flight as soon as possible. I laughed, I teared up, and I felt the ups and downs of this beautiful family on every single page, and when I finished it I felt a little dazed at what I had read. And after all of my nattering on, this book can be summed up simply in one word: perfection.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
May 17, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about the house at 11 Lark Hill and the two women who lived there, Laura and her grandmother Kanga.
Kanga survived the Blitz together with her friend Ivy, and the two of them have gotten through the intervening 75 years as well, with their friendship as strong as ever. Kanga is now living in a cottage in the garden of No. 11, close to her granddaughter Laura and her husband Dom, but maintaining her own space and giving Laura and her family theirs.
Laura is happy in her marriage with Dom but then suddenly something happens to change everything for them. She also has their second child going off to University and her house feels kind of empty all of a sudden. Laura takes inspiration from her grandmother and starts to carve a different path for herself.
This was a different story to what I thought I was going to be reading about, nevertheless I really loved reading about these two different women and their stories, and I was cheering them on and commiserating with them along the way.
4.5 stars from me :)
Thank you to NetGalley, THE Book Club and Orion for the read. All opinions in this review are my own.
Kanga survived the Blitz together with her friend Ivy, and the two of them have gotten through the intervening 75 years as well, with their friendship as strong as ever. Kanga is now living in a cottage in the garden of No. 11, close to her granddaughter Laura and her husband Dom, but maintaining her own space and giving Laura and her family theirs.
Laura is happy in her marriage with Dom but then suddenly something happens to change everything for them. She also has their second child going off to University and her house feels kind of empty all of a sudden. Laura takes inspiration from her grandmother and starts to carve a different path for herself.
This was a different story to what I thought I was going to be reading about, nevertheless I really loved reading about these two different women and their stories, and I was cheering them on and commiserating with them along the way.
4.5 stars from me :)
Thank you to NetGalley, THE Book Club and Orion for the read. All opinions in this review are my own.
April 14, 2018
I would give this book far more than the five stars if I could as so amazingly heartwarming and full of families, friends and romance along with breakups and food. So well written it had me hooked from the first page and highly recommend anyone to read this book. So true to life and how families are and a complete delight to read.
Very well written as covers two different years and you first have Laura who is happily married and both her children are now at uni with the youngest going and she feels her home will be very empty. She also loves cooking for the family with her wonderful aga and also she always includes her grandmother who brought her up when she was little after her mum died but you also hear her story of when she was growing up. How her parents died in the war and she thought she had met mister perfect but wasn't to be and shows you how she got friends with her best friend ivy. Laura thinks all is happy but when she's on her way home from dropping off at uni she gets told that her husband is having an affair with the family solicitor. She doesn't want anyone to know and she throws herself into baking and being with friends. Her greatest comfort is her grandmothers cookbook which has been added to over time. Laura has a great idea as she knows everyone loves her jams chutneys and pickles so it gives her a new sense of purpose. Can she be happy and can she sort out her marriage out or not and can the family live happily ever after and can the grandmother be happy and does she get a surprise that may change everything.
Well worth reading.
Very well written as covers two different years and you first have Laura who is happily married and both her children are now at uni with the youngest going and she feels her home will be very empty. She also loves cooking for the family with her wonderful aga and also she always includes her grandmother who brought her up when she was little after her mum died but you also hear her story of when she was growing up. How her parents died in the war and she thought she had met mister perfect but wasn't to be and shows you how she got friends with her best friend ivy. Laura thinks all is happy but when she's on her way home from dropping off at uni she gets told that her husband is having an affair with the family solicitor. She doesn't want anyone to know and she throws herself into baking and being with friends. Her greatest comfort is her grandmothers cookbook which has been added to over time. Laura has a great idea as she knows everyone loves her jams chutneys and pickles so it gives her a new sense of purpose. Can she be happy and can she sort out her marriage out or not and can the family live happily ever after and can the grandmother be happy and does she get a surprise that may change everything.
Well worth reading.
April 17, 2018
I am a big Veronica Henry fan, and was delighted to have the chance to read her new novel. I was hooked by this one from the very first page. I have absolutely loved Veronica's style of writing and depth of expression in all of her novels that I have read, but I think that she has excelled with this particular story.
This book tells the tale of one woman at two stages of her life and of her granddaughter, the whole story being tied together by recipes carried through the years. The 'action' takes place in 1942 and present day; the narrative skilfully skips from one time to the other without confusion. In 1942, we meet Jill, who is suddenly plunged into the reality of World War II as her home city of Bath is bombed and loved ones are lost to her. In the present, her granddaughter, Laura is struggling with the departure of both daughters to university as well as the stress of an overworked and distant husband. Both ladies are soon turning to the box of family recipes to help them through difficult times.
I have only good things to say about this book. It is full to the brim with strong characters and interesting situations. Then there is all the lovely, mouthwatering foods. When Laura turns to making jams and preserves, I could almost taste them, especially the plum cheese. I would heartily recommend this book; definitely story telling at its finest.
This book tells the tale of one woman at two stages of her life and of her granddaughter, the whole story being tied together by recipes carried through the years. The 'action' takes place in 1942 and present day; the narrative skilfully skips from one time to the other without confusion. In 1942, we meet Jill, who is suddenly plunged into the reality of World War II as her home city of Bath is bombed and loved ones are lost to her. In the present, her granddaughter, Laura is struggling with the departure of both daughters to university as well as the stress of an overworked and distant husband. Both ladies are soon turning to the box of family recipes to help them through difficult times.
I have only good things to say about this book. It is full to the brim with strong characters and interesting situations. Then there is all the lovely, mouthwatering foods. When Laura turns to making jams and preserves, I could almost taste them, especially the plum cheese. I would heartily recommend this book; definitely story telling at its finest.
May 17, 2018
What a lovely book! Very honest and true-to-life, and so very enjoyable.
Laura lives in a lovely family house in the beautiful city of Bath. The house has been in her family for several generations and although it is quite grand to outsiders, to the family it's just home. But with her older daughter at university and her youngest daughter about to leave home for her fresher year, Laura is facing empty nest syndrome.
With both girls happy settled for the first term, Laura will have a lot of extra time on her hands and is considering doing something constructive with it but before she can come to any firm decision a crisis overtakes her life, leaving her with a whole different problem.
This is a dual-aspect novel - not only about the family, but also about the house and the generations who have dwelt there. The storylines go in several directions, resulting in a very interesting and readable novel. The characters are well-rounded, the writing is smooth, flowing and it's very entertaining. It is a book to lift your spirits and definitely leave you with a feel-good vibe. Highly recommended.
My grateful thanks to Orion Publishing for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Laura lives in a lovely family house in the beautiful city of Bath. The house has been in her family for several generations and although it is quite grand to outsiders, to the family it's just home. But with her older daughter at university and her youngest daughter about to leave home for her fresher year, Laura is facing empty nest syndrome.
With both girls happy settled for the first term, Laura will have a lot of extra time on her hands and is considering doing something constructive with it but before she can come to any firm decision a crisis overtakes her life, leaving her with a whole different problem.
This is a dual-aspect novel - not only about the family, but also about the house and the generations who have dwelt there. The storylines go in several directions, resulting in a very interesting and readable novel. The characters are well-rounded, the writing is smooth, flowing and it's very entertaining. It is a book to lift your spirits and definitely leave you with a feel-good vibe. Highly recommended.
My grateful thanks to Orion Publishing for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
March 31, 2020
”Familjereceptet” är ännu en vacker bok av Veronica Henry. Jag tycker om de två starka parallella historierna med nutid och dåtid under andra världskriget som vävs samman så fint. Det är starka och berörande kvinnoporträtt som skildras och där huset på Lark Hill har stor betydelse. Det här är riktigt bra - det är fint, mysigt, men också sorgligt och berörande.
June 7, 2018
I absolutely loved this read.
Within the first 30 pages I was in tears , then there were a roller coaster of emotions throughout this fabulous read.
Wonderful characters , great plot and this book has definitely improved my reading slump over the last few weeks!
Within the first 30 pages I was in tears , then there were a roller coaster of emotions throughout this fabulous read.
Wonderful characters , great plot and this book has definitely improved my reading slump over the last few weeks!
June 10, 2018
Wow....This was so good.I was hooked in the 1st chapter...brilliant storyline...beautiful setting ...and lovely believable characters...all mixed together really does make for a very tasty family Recipe...I really enjoyed devouring every single morsel...totally recommend.
November 11, 2018
To read full review visit mariesbookboutique.wordpress.com/2018...
This front cover really has a quaint feel to it; with the market stall which has a canopy over the top in red and white stripes; with bunting , the table-cloth is a green chequered pattern. The stall is full of home-made produce ready to be sold. A blue table and two chairs are situated at the side of the stall. Veronica's name is in a lovely turquoise colour; which ties in with the table, chairs and table cloth. The title is coloured in a shiny gold which glistens in the light.
As some of you will know I am quite a fan girl when it comes to Veronica's books. She has a lovely writing style and her characters are always intriguing to get to know!
In A Family Recipe we meet Laura; married to Dan and they have two girls; Jasmin who is about to start her third year in uni and Willow who is just about to start. Laura was brought up be her grandmother Kanga after her mother passed away when she was four. Kanga has been a great help to the family; cooking meals; while Laura was at hospital with Willow; who has asthma and suffers from attacks. But now Willow is doing well and is excited about moving on in the next stage of her life. Laura on the other had is riddled with anxiety, but she has made up a book of recipe's which Laura has lovingly copied from Willow's great great grandmother. After seeing her daughters off Laura who has just been a mother for so long need's to find something else's to occupy her time, so she turns to her great grandmothers recipe cards. Meanwhile her husband Dan has been acting very distant and seems to always be worrying about money. How will Willow get in at Uni? Will she manage? What will Laura do with her time? What's going on with Dom? Will him and Laura be ok now their baby's have flown the nest?
The reader is also taken back to when her great-grandmother was younger during the First World War. Showing her life and how it was an awful time. There's a bit of a mystery surrounding her romance!!!! What's the mystery surrounding Laura's great grandmother? How did these delicious recipes come about?
A Family Recipe is packed full of mystery, family life, utterly yummy food!, uncertain times and new beginnings. The story it's self really I'm afraid to say didn't really pull me in as Veronica's book usually do; which was a bit disappointing. The pace was slow, and the characters were likeable to a degree, there were just times I felt they were a bit floppy (if you know what I mean). Having said this Veronica's description was perfect in every way, especially when it came to the food!!! (Be prepared to raid your cupboards when you reading this!!!!) Also I really liked that Veronica has added some of her own family recipe's at the end of this book, which is a lovely personal touch on her part! I'm certainly not deterred from reading more of Veronica's book in the future, because lets face it we can't all like everything!
This front cover really has a quaint feel to it; with the market stall which has a canopy over the top in red and white stripes; with bunting , the table-cloth is a green chequered pattern. The stall is full of home-made produce ready to be sold. A blue table and two chairs are situated at the side of the stall. Veronica's name is in a lovely turquoise colour; which ties in with the table, chairs and table cloth. The title is coloured in a shiny gold which glistens in the light.
As some of you will know I am quite a fan girl when it comes to Veronica's books. She has a lovely writing style and her characters are always intriguing to get to know!
In A Family Recipe we meet Laura; married to Dan and they have two girls; Jasmin who is about to start her third year in uni and Willow who is just about to start. Laura was brought up be her grandmother Kanga after her mother passed away when she was four. Kanga has been a great help to the family; cooking meals; while Laura was at hospital with Willow; who has asthma and suffers from attacks. But now Willow is doing well and is excited about moving on in the next stage of her life. Laura on the other had is riddled with anxiety, but she has made up a book of recipe's which Laura has lovingly copied from Willow's great great grandmother. After seeing her daughters off Laura who has just been a mother for so long need's to find something else's to occupy her time, so she turns to her great grandmothers recipe cards. Meanwhile her husband Dan has been acting very distant and seems to always be worrying about money. How will Willow get in at Uni? Will she manage? What will Laura do with her time? What's going on with Dom? Will him and Laura be ok now their baby's have flown the nest?
The reader is also taken back to when her great-grandmother was younger during the First World War. Showing her life and how it was an awful time. There's a bit of a mystery surrounding her romance!!!! What's the mystery surrounding Laura's great grandmother? How did these delicious recipes come about?
A Family Recipe is packed full of mystery, family life, utterly yummy food!, uncertain times and new beginnings. The story it's self really I'm afraid to say didn't really pull me in as Veronica's book usually do; which was a bit disappointing. The pace was slow, and the characters were likeable to a degree, there were just times I felt they were a bit floppy (if you know what I mean). Having said this Veronica's description was perfect in every way, especially when it came to the food!!! (Be prepared to raid your cupboards when you reading this!!!!) Also I really liked that Veronica has added some of her own family recipe's at the end of this book, which is a lovely personal touch on her part! I'm certainly not deterred from reading more of Veronica's book in the future, because lets face it we can't all like everything!
May 20, 2018
I think this is the best Veronica Henry book I have read to date. With a dual timeline of 2017 and 1942, it's like two books in one and as I discovered the history behind 11 Lark Hill, my heart was warmed by the heat from the Aga, sitting in pride of place in the busy kitchen.
Laura has always been overprotective of her youngest daughter as Willow suffers from chronic asthma. The thought of Willow going off to university in York is absolutely terrifying for Laura as she won't be able to keep such a close eye on her anymore. When Laura and her husband, Dom, are driving back from dropping Willow off in York, Laura discovers a secret that Dom has been keeping from her. Not only is her marriage under threat but also the home that has been in her family for generations.
Number 11 Lark Hill was a very different place in 1942 as the bombs fell on Bath and everyone had to keep up a stiff upper lip. Jilly fell in love the night the bombs fell but, with Harry off to fly in the airforce and suddenly finding herself alone in her home, the future isn't quite what she dreamed of as she takes in a family whose home was destroyed in the blitz. With the help of her exuberant friend, Ivy, Jilly is the perfect embodiment of wartime spirit, especially when the household is set to get a new addition.
I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved A Family Recipe. The female characters are so strong that you can't help but admire them and the whole family unit brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. The friendship between Jilly and Ivy is so heartwarming as they have been inseparable for decades. Despite it being 2017, I felt Laura showed her wartime spirit as she kept calm and carried on. Family is so important to both main characters as we discover the tears and laughter both in their past and present.
Filled with family drama across several decades, A Family Recipe is so deliciously moreish that I could have quite easily devoured it in one day, but instead I savoured every single exquisite page that I read. A Family Recipe is a mouth-watering feast for the eyes and there's even a yummy recipe for apple and date chutney that I just have to try for myself. A highly recommended read from the delectable pen of Veronica Henry.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Laura has always been overprotective of her youngest daughter as Willow suffers from chronic asthma. The thought of Willow going off to university in York is absolutely terrifying for Laura as she won't be able to keep such a close eye on her anymore. When Laura and her husband, Dom, are driving back from dropping Willow off in York, Laura discovers a secret that Dom has been keeping from her. Not only is her marriage under threat but also the home that has been in her family for generations.
Number 11 Lark Hill was a very different place in 1942 as the bombs fell on Bath and everyone had to keep up a stiff upper lip. Jilly fell in love the night the bombs fell but, with Harry off to fly in the airforce and suddenly finding herself alone in her home, the future isn't quite what she dreamed of as she takes in a family whose home was destroyed in the blitz. With the help of her exuberant friend, Ivy, Jilly is the perfect embodiment of wartime spirit, especially when the household is set to get a new addition.
I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved A Family Recipe. The female characters are so strong that you can't help but admire them and the whole family unit brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. The friendship between Jilly and Ivy is so heartwarming as they have been inseparable for decades. Despite it being 2017, I felt Laura showed her wartime spirit as she kept calm and carried on. Family is so important to both main characters as we discover the tears and laughter both in their past and present.
Filled with family drama across several decades, A Family Recipe is so deliciously moreish that I could have quite easily devoured it in one day, but instead I savoured every single exquisite page that I read. A Family Recipe is a mouth-watering feast for the eyes and there's even a yummy recipe for apple and date chutney that I just have to try for myself. A highly recommended read from the delectable pen of Veronica Henry.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 4, 2018
Veronica Henry is one of my all time favourites. Why? Because every book is wonderful. Veronica had such a beautiful way of writing. That hooks the reader from the very first page until the very last. They have wonderful characters that you really feel for, are set in beautiful settings and make you laugh and cry and leave you feeling good. Veronica’s books are a hug in book form and this couldn’t come at a more perfect time for me.
This beautiful book is everything I have said above and more. It made me smile every time I picked it up and read it, and it transported me to the pages of the book. Which to me is a form of magic in the modern day world.
If you haven’t read a book by Veronica then I highly recommend that you do and this book is the perfect book to start with.
Laura is preparing for the nest to empty. All her children are flying the nest and she cannot wait to spend nite quality time with her husband. Just like the old days before they had children. But things don’t exactly go according to plan and a secret is exposed that can rock the entire core of Laura’s foundations. Not knowing what to do. Laura turns to the one thing that always gives her peace. Baking and more precisely recipes from her grandmothers recipe book. The recipe book in question dates back to the Second World War. Looking for a new purpose in life the book sparks a flame that turns into another great adventure for Laura. It will take faith, trust, love, believing in herself and family support to pull this off and in turn it makes her family realise just how much they love and need Laura in their lives.
This book is just perfect and I absolutely loved reading it. A massive 10/5 for me.
This beautiful book is everything I have said above and more. It made me smile every time I picked it up and read it, and it transported me to the pages of the book. Which to me is a form of magic in the modern day world.
If you haven’t read a book by Veronica then I highly recommend that you do and this book is the perfect book to start with.
Laura is preparing for the nest to empty. All her children are flying the nest and she cannot wait to spend nite quality time with her husband. Just like the old days before they had children. But things don’t exactly go according to plan and a secret is exposed that can rock the entire core of Laura’s foundations. Not knowing what to do. Laura turns to the one thing that always gives her peace. Baking and more precisely recipes from her grandmothers recipe book. The recipe book in question dates back to the Second World War. Looking for a new purpose in life the book sparks a flame that turns into another great adventure for Laura. It will take faith, trust, love, believing in herself and family support to pull this off and in turn it makes her family realise just how much they love and need Laura in their lives.
This book is just perfect and I absolutely loved reading it. A massive 10/5 for me.
September 15, 2018
Compelling family tale
On a Saturday evening in 1942, after having supper with her parents, Jilly creeps out of the house to meet up with a young would-be pilot; that night the Germans drop their bombs on Bath, and her parents are killed, leaving Jilly with terrible grief and survivor guilt.
Her friend Ivy doesn’t let her wallow but encourages her to join the rescue mission to save those still trapped or newly homeless. Exhausted they return to number 11, Larkhill, Jilly’s family home only to return to the streets the next day. Jilly is able to offer a home to Helena who with her three young children, has lost everything.
More than seventy years later number 11 is home to Laura, Jilly’s granddaughter, and her family. Laura’s younger daughter, Willow, is about to leave for university, which Laura is having a hard time dealing with.
Having taken Willow to York, on the way home Laura and husband Dom stop for coffee at a service station, where Laura learns a shocking truth.
This novel resonated with me as I grew up in Bath and it stirred many memories. The characters are many and varied and each plays a pivotal part in the portrayal of the lives of one family over several generations; each leap off the page, fully formed and raring to go.
Sensitively written, this is a really enjoyable novel for anyone who enjoys a family saga with a bit of drama and good old-fashioned grit. The women are strong, self-reliant and inspirational as they cope with life’s vagaries, not without problems but proactively. The men come off less well.
The Family Recipe reference refers to a box of recipes Jilly inherits from her mother Catherine, and which passes to Laura and her daughters.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
On a Saturday evening in 1942, after having supper with her parents, Jilly creeps out of the house to meet up with a young would-be pilot; that night the Germans drop their bombs on Bath, and her parents are killed, leaving Jilly with terrible grief and survivor guilt.
Her friend Ivy doesn’t let her wallow but encourages her to join the rescue mission to save those still trapped or newly homeless. Exhausted they return to number 11, Larkhill, Jilly’s family home only to return to the streets the next day. Jilly is able to offer a home to Helena who with her three young children, has lost everything.
More than seventy years later number 11 is home to Laura, Jilly’s granddaughter, and her family. Laura’s younger daughter, Willow, is about to leave for university, which Laura is having a hard time dealing with.
Having taken Willow to York, on the way home Laura and husband Dom stop for coffee at a service station, where Laura learns a shocking truth.
This novel resonated with me as I grew up in Bath and it stirred many memories. The characters are many and varied and each plays a pivotal part in the portrayal of the lives of one family over several generations; each leap off the page, fully formed and raring to go.
Sensitively written, this is a really enjoyable novel for anyone who enjoys a family saga with a bit of drama and good old-fashioned grit. The women are strong, self-reliant and inspirational as they cope with life’s vagaries, not without problems but proactively. The men come off less well.
The Family Recipe reference refers to a box of recipes Jilly inherits from her mother Catherine, and which passes to Laura and her daughters.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
April 21, 2018
I am a big fan of Veronica's books and I absolutely loved this one. Veronica always has one character that you feel you can relate to. I loved Laura from the start, her kids have left home, she is not sure what to do but then when a secret rocks her marriage, she decides to start making her grandmother's jams and chutney's. I love how the story unfolds and how her grandmothers recipe box helps her and her daughter. The sound of some of those jams and chutney's sound absolutely divine. A great summer read.
July 20, 2018
Wonderful
Another outstanding book following a family during war time and now and how they grown up nothing was ever straight forward in war time and how they helped each as best they could following jilly and ivy and the amazing friendship they had that lasted a life time
Another outstanding book following a family during war time and now and how they grown up nothing was ever straight forward in war time and how they helped each as best they could following jilly and ivy and the amazing friendship they had that lasted a life time
February 24, 2019
Becoming a huge fan of her books!
November 4, 2020
Já tinha lido o livro anterior da autora e tinha adorado, este gostei mas custou-me a entrar na história. Isto porque ela é contada a várias vozes e em duas épocas diferentes. Mas não me arrependi nada da leitura e confesso que fiquei com pena de no final não saber mais, porque a história parece inacabada... será que a autora nos irá brindar com mais histórias do número 11?
A premissa do livro parecia ser a de uma família perfeita, e eu já estava a imaginar ao fim de algumas páginas qual o cataclismo que iria acontecer, quem iria morrer ou ficar doente, mas não foi nada disso! O livro fala sobre as relações familiares, mas acima de tudo em como essas relações são beneficiadas com o contributo das mulheres fortes daquela família!
As duas histórias paralelas retratam-nos Kanga, avó de Laura, e a própria Laura. Ambas mulheres fortes da sua época e dedicadas à família como ninguém. Mas o que acontece quando essa família é afectada por acontecimentos inesperados? Vemos descritos dois momentos distintos, Kanga que é afectada pela pior das guerras e se vê sozinha no mundo sem os pais e, Laura por uma traição e pela saída de casa das suas filhas, ficando com um ninho vazio. O que ambas fizeram? Lutaram! Há pois sim! Ao invés de se entregar ao sofrimento de vazio e perda, Laura ruma a uma mudança: na sua casa, no seu contributo para a sociedade e acima de tudo ela própria. Laura investe-se de recursos que resultam numa mulher conciente de si própria, capaz de traçar o seu caminho e imaginem que se vê a gerir um negócio de airbnb, um negócio próprio tendo por base as receitas da sua família e no final até o do seu marido para salvar a sua adorada casa, o número 11!
Gostei da maneira como história foi apresentada, não perdemos o fio à meada mas o final esse foi precipitado e eu não gosto de finais assim, ficou muito por dizer e acima de tudo tivemos somente um vislumbre do futuro. Espero ter mais notícias do número 11, pois gostei muito desta família!
A premissa do livro parecia ser a de uma família perfeita, e eu já estava a imaginar ao fim de algumas páginas qual o cataclismo que iria acontecer, quem iria morrer ou ficar doente, mas não foi nada disso! O livro fala sobre as relações familiares, mas acima de tudo em como essas relações são beneficiadas com o contributo das mulheres fortes daquela família!
As duas histórias paralelas retratam-nos Kanga, avó de Laura, e a própria Laura. Ambas mulheres fortes da sua época e dedicadas à família como ninguém. Mas o que acontece quando essa família é afectada por acontecimentos inesperados? Vemos descritos dois momentos distintos, Kanga que é afectada pela pior das guerras e se vê sozinha no mundo sem os pais e, Laura por uma traição e pela saída de casa das suas filhas, ficando com um ninho vazio. O que ambas fizeram? Lutaram! Há pois sim! Ao invés de se entregar ao sofrimento de vazio e perda, Laura ruma a uma mudança: na sua casa, no seu contributo para a sociedade e acima de tudo ela própria. Laura investe-se de recursos que resultam numa mulher conciente de si própria, capaz de traçar o seu caminho e imaginem que se vê a gerir um negócio de airbnb, um negócio próprio tendo por base as receitas da sua família e no final até o do seu marido para salvar a sua adorada casa, o número 11!
Gostei da maneira como história foi apresentada, não perdemos o fio à meada mas o final esse foi precipitado e eu não gosto de finais assim, ficou muito por dizer e acima de tudo tivemos somente um vislumbre do futuro. Espero ter mais notícias do número 11, pois gostei muito desta família!
November 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this story - a dual time line, one set in the present day and one in the WW11 years. Same family and same house and same town. A story of the empty nest, inattention in a marriage, long lasting friendships and new ventures. Well told.
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