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Wish #7
I Only Have Pies for You
Dacey Culpepper Biel comes from a long line of pie bakers. Her family's shop, Pies N' Prattle, is legendary in her small Texas town. But Dacey didn't inherit a gift for baking. Her pies always end up as messy or burnt disasters. Even worse? Business has been slow lately, and Dacey wishes she could do something to help.
Then opportunity knocks: A popular TV show wants to feature the shop! But that means Dacey will have to spend time with Chayton Freedel, her arch-rival and the cute son of the show's host. And when clues arise about a long-hidden family recipe, life at the shop may never be the same.
With a sprinkling of luck and some Southern charm, will Dacey be able to find the recipe, work alongside Chayton . . . and save her family's legacy?
Then opportunity knocks: A popular TV show wants to feature the shop! But that means Dacey will have to spend time with Chayton Freedel, her arch-rival and the cute son of the show's host. And when clues arise about a long-hidden family recipe, life at the shop may never be the same.
With a sprinkling of luck and some Southern charm, will Dacey be able to find the recipe, work alongside Chayton . . . and save her family's legacy?
288 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2018
159 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Nelson
21 books647 followersWhen she was in kindergarten, Suzanne Nelson jotted down in a school keepsake album that she wanted to be a “riter.” Though she clearly had issues with spelling, she persisted, composing cryptic poems about rainbows, fairies, mud, and even "Star Wars" in spiral notebooks all through elementary school. When she was seventeen, she filled four journals with her handwritten first novel, titled “The Dream Keeper.” To escape her chores, she often lied to her parents about what time her shift started at the local fast food joint so that she could spend an extra hour writing in the parking lot in her mom’s faded Buick. Her first published novel was The Sound of Munich, followed by Heart and Salsa, The Ghoul Next Door, Cake Pop Crush, and Dead in the Water. She is a shameless fan of “The Sound of Music,” Hershey’s kisses, Charlotte Bronte, and Jane Austen, and can often be caught daydreaming of romping about gothic castles in lovely Victorian gowns. She was born in New Jersey, grew up in Southern California, attended college in Texas, and spent eight years as a children’s book editor in New York City. She now lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 16, 2019
I liked this story! The tale of a small Texas town and how a very special pie recipe could bring all the townspeople together was heart warming. Dacey is a lovable character with a close-knit family( unusual in most books today). She has a hair-trigger temper, however, and there are lessons to be learned from the damage she causes when she loses her cool.
My only criticism was that the storyline would have been better if the ages of the main characters had been older. The dialogue between Chayton and Dacey, and the sweet developing romance just seemed off for two twelve year olds. I think it would have been more believable if they had been fourteen or fifteen.
My only criticism was that the storyline would have been better if the ages of the main characters had been older. The dialogue between Chayton and Dacey, and the sweet developing romance just seemed off for two twelve year olds. I think it would have been more believable if they had been fourteen or fifteen.
April 20, 2020
This series is so cute I am wondering why Hallmark didn't adapt the whole series into movies because they really give that vibe
so this time we meet Dacey who is the grand daughter of a famous baker but she can't bake anything, but she have a mission to find a lost recipe and make her own stamp on the legend
I liked the story well enough and this series overall is such a good series to read during quarantine :)
so this time we meet Dacey who is the grand daughter of a famous baker but she can't bake anything, but she have a mission to find a lost recipe and make her own stamp on the legend
I liked the story well enough and this series overall is such a good series to read during quarantine :)
April 22, 2019
I like this book because it keeps you on your toes. The beginning might not make you want to stay reading, but it gets better. In the story, Dacey's arch-nemesis, Chayton came back to town. Dacey thought that she still hates him because of what happened when they were 10 at the parade, but as you read on, maybe things will turn unexpectedly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2020
That was ALL SORTS of cute. I loved Dacey, and the middle grade romance aspect was really sweet. I am so glad I found this series.
February 5, 2019
Adorable in every way possible.
October 17, 2024
I loved this so much when I was 10, I thought Chayton was the best and then I reread it (I’m literally 15 now) and what the hell was I thinking 😭
THEY ARE TWELVE YEARS OLD. WHAT TWELVE YEAR OLD IS HAVING THESE KIND OF ROMANTIC EXPERIENCES AT TWELVE.
THEY SHOULD BE AT LEAST 14 😭😭
THEY ARE TWELVE YEARS OLD. WHAT TWELVE YEAR OLD IS HAVING THESE KIND OF ROMANTIC EXPERIENCES AT TWELVE.
THEY SHOULD BE AT LEAST 14 😭😭
September 23, 2019
{My thoughts} – Dacey is and interesting girl. Her mom owns Pies N’ Prattle and it’s said to be a very famous or well known pie shop in Texas. However, even though the shop has been in the family for generations, it doesn’t mean that all members of the family have the ability to bake such wonderful pies. Dacey doesn’t seem to have inherited the family pie baking gene and it shows every time she tries to bake a pie and fails miserably at it.
A few years back a classmate of hers Chayton had moved away. She kind of liked him and kind of didn’t. His mom became the star of a television show and she has dragged him along for the ride. Her show seems to be losing ratings so now she is back to her hometown and Dacey and Chayton are back in school together. It takes some time but they find common ground to become mutual friends in a sense.
Dacey’s great-grandma had a famous pie she use to bake that everyone loved. Chayton’s mom wants that recipe so that she can use it as a means to try and save her show. Dacey wants it so she can try and save the family pie shop. Chayton’s mom ends up getting her hands on it, however, things don’t play out the way one would expect in a situation such as this one.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a soft boy/girl crush book with limited disaster in the relationship aspect. It isn’t difficult or awkward to read in terms of understanding the characters and their feelings. It shows more or less what most children their age might be feeling and I think that’s a good thing.
I also like that how at the end of each of the books are some of the recipes that are mentioned within the pages of the book. This allows children the opportunity to try and be like the character within the pages of the book. My daughter has often asked me if we could recreate some of the recipes within the pages of the books. I really do think that it could be fun! I just don’t have to cooking/baking desire my daughter does!
I look forward to reading the next book in the series Shake it Off very soon!
A few years back a classmate of hers Chayton had moved away. She kind of liked him and kind of didn’t. His mom became the star of a television show and she has dragged him along for the ride. Her show seems to be losing ratings so now she is back to her hometown and Dacey and Chayton are back in school together. It takes some time but they find common ground to become mutual friends in a sense.
Dacey’s great-grandma had a famous pie she use to bake that everyone loved. Chayton’s mom wants that recipe so that she can use it as a means to try and save her show. Dacey wants it so she can try and save the family pie shop. Chayton’s mom ends up getting her hands on it, however, things don’t play out the way one would expect in a situation such as this one.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a soft boy/girl crush book with limited disaster in the relationship aspect. It isn’t difficult or awkward to read in terms of understanding the characters and their feelings. It shows more or less what most children their age might be feeling and I think that’s a good thing.
I also like that how at the end of each of the books are some of the recipes that are mentioned within the pages of the book. This allows children the opportunity to try and be like the character within the pages of the book. My daughter has often asked me if we could recreate some of the recipes within the pages of the books. I really do think that it could be fun! I just don’t have to cooking/baking desire my daughter does!
I look forward to reading the next book in the series Shake it Off very soon!
June 6, 2019
In this sweet treat read we meet Dacey a girl from a small town in the south of America where businesses are closing down fast.
Her family's famous pie shop is kept going by it's regular locals and the legend of her great grandma's pie being magical in it's healing properties helped especially as since the recipe was hidden no more successful copies of that Heartstring pie have been made.
Dacey however isn't naturally talented at pie making and has a quick fiery temper that gets the better of her, unlike her family and gets along better naturally with animals like her vet dad and she dotes on her horse Ginger.
Upon hearing from her best friend Zari that her nemesis Chayton is back in town she is super unhappy however her mum is overjoyed as his mum Julip has a TV show which could boost the town and provide some much needed tourism.
As the town revitalises itself, dealing with a sick horse, addressing her true feelings over Chayton, especially with Caroleen after him and trying to find and save her grandma's Heartstring pie recipie, there's an endless supply of drama I such a small town!
Suzanne writes such sweet stories love and food wise not only was the title another great pun but the mystery of where the recipe is keeps us intrigued and guessing along too. I loved the southern aspect especially as I love country music so animal lovers will especially enjoy the book.
Her family's famous pie shop is kept going by it's regular locals and the legend of her great grandma's pie being magical in it's healing properties helped especially as since the recipe was hidden no more successful copies of that Heartstring pie have been made.
Dacey however isn't naturally talented at pie making and has a quick fiery temper that gets the better of her, unlike her family and gets along better naturally with animals like her vet dad and she dotes on her horse Ginger.
Upon hearing from her best friend Zari that her nemesis Chayton is back in town she is super unhappy however her mum is overjoyed as his mum Julip has a TV show which could boost the town and provide some much needed tourism.
As the town revitalises itself, dealing with a sick horse, addressing her true feelings over Chayton, especially with Caroleen after him and trying to find and save her grandma's Heartstring pie recipie, there's an endless supply of drama I such a small town!
Suzanne writes such sweet stories love and food wise not only was the title another great pun but the mystery of where the recipe is keeps us intrigued and guessing along too. I loved the southern aspect especially as I love country music so animal lovers will especially enjoy the book.
July 11, 2019
I would give this book one star, but it deserves a second star for two reasons, 1) I got a craving for pie even though I don’t like pie, and 2) the avengers reference. Now let’s get into why it’s a bad book. I Only Have Pies for You is such a standard cookie cutter book that I knew what the ending was before I got halfway through. It’s the most disappointing type of book, the main character has a weirdly specific flaw that’s a bigger deal than it should be, the childhood rival is suddenly attractive, the small town/business/school/library is in trouble, and there is one (1) adult who is the antagonist (usually part of some large company). Then by the end of the book, one to three Large Terrible Events take place and suddenly our main character is overcoming their weirdly specific, largely unimportant flaw, confessing their love, and saving the small town/business/school/library from being destroyed by “Big Corporate” I guess. Whoops that’s the end and wait, it was only 200 pages? So that’s why it felt so rushed, haha how silly of me for not noticing! What a disappointment. I would recommend this book to no one because it was bad.
Review by Masha K., 13, Boston Mensa
Review by Masha K., 13, Boston Mensa
September 12, 2021
Super cute book! An easier beach read, it was easy to get wrapped up in the mystery, and has just enough subplots that the focus was still on our main character, Dacey. The only thing keeping this book from reaching perfection was the ages of the characters and how the books romance was marketed. The characters were supposed to be 12, which made me a little uncomfortable (would have been better if they had been 15) considering the talk of love and kissing and all the little romance things that come with these types of books (however, their ages aren’t that relevant to the plot, so it is easy to imagine them as being older). Additionally, I assumed this book was going to be an enemies to lovers story from the description, but it turns out that it was resolved around the 60-page mark, so I would have preferred if it was marketed more as the male lead being infuriating rather than her arch rival. However, this book is still super great, and I would definitely recommend checking it out.
June 19, 2019
I LOVED it!! Everything was PERFECT! My favorite book is this book. Chayton and Dacey are the PERFECT match, and it was super sweet when Chayton helped Dacey with Ginger. Chayton seemed to be there whenever Dacey really needed him. At first, I thought I was going to hate Chayton, by the way Dacey described him. But, he turned out to be really sweet and the right guy for Dace! I literally shouted "YES!" when Dace found GG Hazel's Heartstring pie recipe and when Dace and Chayton shared their first kiss. It was an amazing story, and I wish there was a second book: I Only Have Pies For You 2! Also, at the end of the book was great, but, why would Dace's favorite pie be 'Head Over Heels Pie'? I thought it was GG Hazel's Heartstring. Anyways, 500 stars for the book. You made my favorite book, Suzanne! Go Dacey and Chayton!!
May 17, 2024
It was a nice book that a middle schooler is sure to enjoy. It fits perfectly into the "tween romance" genre. But it wasn't a book that I felt had a lot of meaning. Maybe that's my fault for picking such a lighthearted book, but it's more of a read for when you are bored and just want a casual read.
What I'm trying to say is that it's no Pride and Prejudice. It doesn't get you thinking about the deep stuff, so book snobs, don't come in this direction.
Still, I enjoyed it. I've read a couple of the Wish novels, and it seems to me that Suzanne Nelson is perfecting the formula for gushy, tween romance books. No matter how cheesy, you do want to read some more.
And one more thing:
When she writes about the food section in her series of wish novels, that is when I feel some sort of passion. Seriously, she knows how to get my mouth watering. None of her books have failed to make me hungry!
What I'm trying to say is that it's no Pride and Prejudice. It doesn't get you thinking about the deep stuff, so book snobs, don't come in this direction.
Still, I enjoyed it. I've read a couple of the Wish novels, and it seems to me that Suzanne Nelson is perfecting the formula for gushy, tween romance books. No matter how cheesy, you do want to read some more.
And one more thing:
When she writes about the food section in her series of wish novels, that is when I feel some sort of passion. Seriously, she knows how to get my mouth watering. None of her books have failed to make me hungry!
May 15, 2022
This book was an easy read. Unlike the other wish books I like how this book had a mystery to it that i tried to solve.
Dacey is like me short tempered, and she bakes. This book was really easy for me to connect with because I was so much like the character.
The plot and EVERYTHING was so GOOD!!
By far this ties with Bacon me crazy!
🥧
Dacey is like me short tempered, and she bakes. This book was really easy for me to connect with because I was so much like the character.
The plot and EVERYTHING was so GOOD!!
By far this ties with Bacon me crazy!
🥧
June 4, 2022
TELL ME WHY these 13 year olds literally have a cuter relationship than i’ll EVER have😭. sigh.
anyways this has got to be one of the cutest books i’ve ever read i loved it so much! the romance was actually ADORABLE and i loved the little lighthearted mystery. this book brings back such good memories and brought such a smile to my face. i love it with my whole heart
anyways this has got to be one of the cutest books i’ve ever read i loved it so much! the romance was actually ADORABLE and i loved the little lighthearted mystery. this book brings back such good memories and brought such a smile to my face. i love it with my whole heart
August 4, 2022
I thought these were very fun light romance books. although I think they were a little young to be having the feelings they were1. I have a 12 year old and am very thankful she isn't at this stage yet!!!
I loved how each book seemed to be well researched . knowing about dance, Spanish, Italian horse riding act. just fun reading!
I loved how each book seemed to be well researched . knowing about dance, Spanish, Italian horse riding act. just fun reading!
August 11, 2022
51% percent
I just found out where they found the recipe and I HAD TOTALLY SEEN THIS COMING. I KNEW FROM THE MOMENT THAT SHE THREW THE ROLLING PIN! This is a case of poor plotting or maybe I've read so many of these I've gotten good at guessing the plots.
Overall:
Good light read but VERY KIDDISH. I guess I'm too old for this series now. probably won't continue it. Until I awfully miss it.
I just found out where they found the recipe and I HAD TOTALLY SEEN THIS COMING. I KNEW FROM THE MOMENT THAT SHE THREW THE ROLLING PIN! This is a case of poor plotting or maybe I've read so many of these I've gotten good at guessing the plots.
Overall:
Good light read but VERY KIDDISH. I guess I'm too old for this series now. probably won't continue it. Until I awfully miss it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2023
I did like the starting of this book with them being on the never ending hunt for The Heartstring Pie recipe. I like the drama when Chayton came back into town and Dacey has to get along with him after the mishap when they were 10. I love reading and baking so this series was right up my alley. When Julia Freedel got the recipe it was really scary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
Dacey Culpepper Biel and her family own the Pies N' Prattle shop in their small town of Bonnet, Texas. And coming from a long line of bakers, everyone thinks that Dacey will eventually come into her own and be a wonderful baker as well. But unfortunately, every time she attempts to bake something it turns into a disaster, which leaves her feeling very frustrated. Even more so because business has been slow lately, and she wants to do something to help her family's business.
So Dacey thinks that if she can find her great-grandmother (GG) Hazel Culpepper's famous Heartstring Pie, that that will help. But no one knows where GG Hazel had hidden the recipe, and those who attempted to recreate the pie never quite got it right, thinking there is a supposed curse surrounding it.
When a popular cooking and lifestyle television show wants to feature the pie shop, everyone is excited, except for Dacey, because the son of the show's host is her archrival, Chayton Freedell.
I loved this cute and sweet story; and the mere mention of pies made my mouth water and wishing for a slice! Dacey is a wonderful character, as is Chayton, loved their interactions.
So Dacey thinks that if she can find her great-grandmother (GG) Hazel Culpepper's famous Heartstring Pie, that that will help. But no one knows where GG Hazel had hidden the recipe, and those who attempted to recreate the pie never quite got it right, thinking there is a supposed curse surrounding it.
When a popular cooking and lifestyle television show wants to feature the pie shop, everyone is excited, except for Dacey, because the son of the show's host is her archrival, Chayton Freedell.
I loved this cute and sweet story; and the mere mention of pies made my mouth water and wishing for a slice! Dacey is a wonderful character, as is Chayton, loved their interactions.
May 10, 2023
This and Cake Pop Crush are my favorites of this series thus far. I loved, loved, loved the touch of magical realism in this book that reminded me of Wendy Mass books. Vastly entertaining, engaging, and heartfelt; more plot than romance, which I prefer. I recommend this title.
August 2, 2024
I love these books. This one was a little Joanna Gaines meets Ree Drummond in it in a way. Julep made me so mad! But just reading about the town and the families was so sweet. A little bit of old time charm in a word being built up with high rise apartments and warehouses. It was lovely.
January 1, 2019
Ive read " i only have pies for you " .. i really enjoy the books of this author ,, i gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars
March 20, 2019
I read this and I instantly fell in love with it. It has so much love and heart.
April 16, 2019
This book was great! The whole town is a big family, and they learn what is the most important ingredient for a pie.
Read
December 6, 2019Was a very interesting story! Almost like a romance...
January 8, 2020
3.5 stars. It's rather hard to understand 12 year olds would act the way they do here. It would be more believable if they were 16.
April 13, 2020
I loved it!
May 2, 2020
Nelson has done it again! Such a good book!! The character development was great, I LOVE the recipes in the back too!! <3 Definitely a favorite in Nelson's Wish Book Series!
May 3, 2020
Well written, believable characters. Only drawback is that 12-year olds were acting like 16 in the romance scenes.
May 16, 2020
Another fun and light read from the Wish series. I just love Suzanne Nelson's lighthearted reads for tweens. This one was super cute with delicious recipes to boot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews