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How to Bake a New Beginning
Three sisters. One trip to Italy. The chance to change their lives.
Amanda has always taken the role of big sister seriously. She has her life in order; a fantastic job in a great restaurant, a wonderful house and a best friend who’s a Rockstar. But, Amanda’s beginning to realise that her life is missing one monumental piece…
Sabrina is living the high life in LA. Her Instagram is full of lavish parties, her tweets are brimming with celebrity names, but in reality she’s stuck behind a desk working for a boss who is determined to make her suffer. Is it time for her to stand up and take charge of her life?
Louisa has always been drowned out by her sister’s successes. As the university drop-out she’s always felt third best. But a chance encounter in a little Italian village may be about to change that…
When their beloved grandfather passes away these sisters are forced to take another look at their lives. These three sisters are about to embark on a journey of self-discovery that could just lead them down a road of romance (with a little help from the kitchen)!
Perfect for fans of Jenny Oliver, Carole Mathews and Lucy Diamond.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2018
177 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 6, 2018
Do you ever take a luxurious bath or visit a beautiful location or indulge in a decadent treat and think, “That was just what I needed to feel rejuvenated. That was good for the soul!” That is how I felt reading this book. I would describe this book as pure, sweet, filled with love, replenishing to my spirit, heart-warming, and tantalizing (specifically referring to the settings and recipes there). This is a wonderful book for anyone looking to escape to the beautiful hills of Italy and delve into a sweet story for a day! My friend Berit (on the blog tour later this week!) actually said to me about this book that there is nothing like getting to travel without leaving your bed. I loved that!
About the Book
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa are three sisters who are different as can be, but filled with sisterly love and support all the same. Each is at a crossroads in their life, needing to make some decisions. When their grandfather passes away, they take a trip to Italy to visit his family and experience the place he grew up.
Amanda is the oldest sister and is more serious than her siblings. She has inherited her grandfather's love of cooking, and is creating a cookbook to honor his special approach to food and caring. Amanda works in a restaurant, which she thought made her happy, but now she isn't so sure. Add to that a crush on her best friend, and it's a recipe for disaster!
Sabrina is living an enviable life in LA working for publicity and talent management firm. From the outside, her life seems perfect. But inside she is struggling. Her boss treats her terribly, and she isn't able to be with the one person she loves because of her job. Is it time for Sabrina to take her talent elsewhere and truly live her life?
Louisa is the baby of the family, and has the insecurities to prove it. Though she wants a career in fashion, Louisa feels like she'll never live up to the success of her older sisters. She sometimes feels abandoned that they left home to live their lives elsewhere. Can Louisa find a way to turn her passion into a career?
Their trip to Italy couldn't come at a better time. Each sister seeks answers to the next step in their lives. And maybe a little bit of love is in the cards as well...
Reflection
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa are completely loveable characters. Though they think they have had some distance, with Louisa feeling abandoned by her sisters and lost in her career, they actually are incredibly supportive of one another. Reading how much they love eachother and want the best for eachother, well anyone with a sister knows how special that type of sister relationship is! It made me miss my own sister. Similar to the sisters in this book, we live far apart and don’t see eachother very often. But sisters are always there for you, even when you fight!
Sprinkled throughout this book are the family recipes of the three girls, compiled into a cookbook. The recipes not only look delicious, but they are peppered with adorable quirks about the way their grandfather cooked food and loved food. That love for food and respect for cooking is so central to their family, and documenting those recipes was such a beautiful, touching way to keep their grandfather with them. When they cooked, their food was so filled with generations of love and family. I loved this aspect to the book!
I have much more to this review in my blog post! This is my first blog tour and I'm honored to participate :) See my blog here!
About the Book
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa are three sisters who are different as can be, but filled with sisterly love and support all the same. Each is at a crossroads in their life, needing to make some decisions. When their grandfather passes away, they take a trip to Italy to visit his family and experience the place he grew up.
Amanda is the oldest sister and is more serious than her siblings. She has inherited her grandfather's love of cooking, and is creating a cookbook to honor his special approach to food and caring. Amanda works in a restaurant, which she thought made her happy, but now she isn't so sure. Add to that a crush on her best friend, and it's a recipe for disaster!
Sabrina is living an enviable life in LA working for publicity and talent management firm. From the outside, her life seems perfect. But inside she is struggling. Her boss treats her terribly, and she isn't able to be with the one person she loves because of her job. Is it time for Sabrina to take her talent elsewhere and truly live her life?
Louisa is the baby of the family, and has the insecurities to prove it. Though she wants a career in fashion, Louisa feels like she'll never live up to the success of her older sisters. She sometimes feels abandoned that they left home to live their lives elsewhere. Can Louisa find a way to turn her passion into a career?
Their trip to Italy couldn't come at a better time. Each sister seeks answers to the next step in their lives. And maybe a little bit of love is in the cards as well...
Reflection
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa are completely loveable characters. Though they think they have had some distance, with Louisa feeling abandoned by her sisters and lost in her career, they actually are incredibly supportive of one another. Reading how much they love eachother and want the best for eachother, well anyone with a sister knows how special that type of sister relationship is! It made me miss my own sister. Similar to the sisters in this book, we live far apart and don’t see eachother very often. But sisters are always there for you, even when you fight!
Sprinkled throughout this book are the family recipes of the three girls, compiled into a cookbook. The recipes not only look delicious, but they are peppered with adorable quirks about the way their grandfather cooked food and loved food. That love for food and respect for cooking is so central to their family, and documenting those recipes was such a beautiful, touching way to keep their grandfather with them. When they cooked, their food was so filled with generations of love and family. I loved this aspect to the book!
I have much more to this review in my blog post! This is my first blog tour and I'm honored to participate :) See my blog here!
September 9, 2018
Emotional! Italian! Scrumptious!
This was a fabulous debut! Filled with so much heart, family, and food! I have read quite a few books lately with sisters that have pretty toxic relationships, so it was so refreshing to read a book so full of sisterly love... don’t have a sister myself, but it looks like such a strong and unique bond, when I read books like this I get a little jealous....
The sisters in this book Amanda, Sabrina, and Luisa, are all at somewhat different stages in their lives... they fight, they advise, they hold each other up, they bake! In the beginning of the book the sisters lose their beloved grandfather, and this leads to a trip to Italy.... not only is this a goodbye trip for their grandfather, but also a journey of rejuvenation and re-discovery.... There is also romance in this book, the sisters all have some complications in their love lives.... and the men? Well they were all pretty swoon worthy! I have to admit though, my favorite relationship was Amanda and Dan I love a good friends to lovers love story!
This book was a perfect blend of emotion and hope... with the beautiful backdrop of Italy, that allows you to travel from the comfort of your bed! With amazing recipes and scrumptious food that you could enjoy without the calories! With a powerful message that you can summarize in this quote“the only thing to fear is fear itself!“
A delight of a book with a holiday vibe that you can enjoy any time of the year! Absolutely recommend this little gem!
*** many thanks to Lucy Knott, Her sister Kelly, and HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***
This was a fabulous debut! Filled with so much heart, family, and food! I have read quite a few books lately with sisters that have pretty toxic relationships, so it was so refreshing to read a book so full of sisterly love... don’t have a sister myself, but it looks like such a strong and unique bond, when I read books like this I get a little jealous....
The sisters in this book Amanda, Sabrina, and Luisa, are all at somewhat different stages in their lives... they fight, they advise, they hold each other up, they bake! In the beginning of the book the sisters lose their beloved grandfather, and this leads to a trip to Italy.... not only is this a goodbye trip for their grandfather, but also a journey of rejuvenation and re-discovery.... There is also romance in this book, the sisters all have some complications in their love lives.... and the men? Well they were all pretty swoon worthy! I have to admit though, my favorite relationship was Amanda and Dan I love a good friends to lovers love story!
This book was a perfect blend of emotion and hope... with the beautiful backdrop of Italy, that allows you to travel from the comfort of your bed! With amazing recipes and scrumptious food that you could enjoy without the calories! With a powerful message that you can summarize in this quote“the only thing to fear is fear itself!“
A delight of a book with a holiday vibe that you can enjoy any time of the year! Absolutely recommend this little gem!
*** many thanks to Lucy Knott, Her sister Kelly, and HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***
Read
September 7, 2018Lovely, decadent, and heartwarming - these are the words that come to mind after finishing How to Bake a New Beginning.
This is a story of Amanda, Louisa, and Sabrina, three sisters who have come together after some time apart. But it is also a story of the importance of family, love, tradition, and following your heart.
We have the story of the sisters, interspersed with flashbacks and delicious recipes at the beginning of every chapter. Everything about this book was charming, from the structure to the imagery to the mouthwatering food.
This was a wonderful change of pace for me - I devoured the words like the characters devoured their delicious treats. On a personal note, as someone who also has family in Italy, I found this to be such a wonderful, authentic take of the importance of family (and food, always food!) in the Italian culture. I could just taste the limoncello and the espresso and the pizza - it was a vivid portrayal of the country and the culture and I loved being immersed in it. The second best thing to being there is reading about it, after all.
Recommend to readers who want to experience a delicious escape!
Thank you to Lucy and Kelly for having me on the blog tour, and to HQ Digital for my early proof.
This is a story of Amanda, Louisa, and Sabrina, three sisters who have come together after some time apart. But it is also a story of the importance of family, love, tradition, and following your heart.
We have the story of the sisters, interspersed with flashbacks and delicious recipes at the beginning of every chapter. Everything about this book was charming, from the structure to the imagery to the mouthwatering food.
This was a wonderful change of pace for me - I devoured the words like the characters devoured their delicious treats. On a personal note, as someone who also has family in Italy, I found this to be such a wonderful, authentic take of the importance of family (and food, always food!) in the Italian culture. I could just taste the limoncello and the espresso and the pizza - it was a vivid portrayal of the country and the culture and I loved being immersed in it. The second best thing to being there is reading about it, after all.
Recommend to readers who want to experience a delicious escape!
Thank you to Lucy and Kelly for having me on the blog tour, and to HQ Digital for my early proof.
January 14, 2019
Can you drown in coziness & fluffiness? Apparently, you can.
Maybe I am just getting too old for this chick-lit type of romance, but I found it repetitive & boring.
Clearly, I am in the minority with my rating, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't like this book.
Full review to come.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe I am just getting too old for this chick-lit type of romance, but I found it repetitive & boring.
Clearly, I am in the minority with my rating, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't like this book.
Full review to come.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2018
Enjoyable Debut~
A story about three sisters who have a strong family bond and love all things Italian. We meet Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa. They are all busy with life when a family death occurs and brings them back into each others arms in Italy. I could feel the warmth of their cozy family home and smell the Italian cooking (bonus-recipes included in each chapter so get your grocery list ready).
The sisters can’t help but give some romance advice to each other and they each had their own story to tell in that department. My favorite sister was the youngest, Louisa, and her chance meeting of “Mr. Right” was just heart-warming.
The winter setting of Italy was charming and inviting. I was ready to pack up and head out. The descriptions of little coffee cafes and the snow-capped mountain backdrop was lovely.
If you crave the magic of Italy, sweet pastries and some amore, this should fill the bill.
August 7, 2018
This is an accomplished debut from an incredibly promising author, and had the book been set to a backdrop of sunshine I would be saying its a fabulous poolside / summery read.
For I was reading this during the August heatwave, and what my eagle eyes had failed to spot was the line on the cover saying "Three sister. One Christmas. A whole lot of pastries". which may have given me a clue that this was a wintery title - and I am feeling rather miffed that I have accidentally broken my own vow not to start reading Christmas books until September this year.
For those of you who now me, I am a massive fan of a Christmas book, but yet this despite what I have just said above is not even a typical Christmas book - I certainly don't feel festive - although it is set in winter and around Christmas.
What I have said about isn't meant to be negative despite it potentially coming across that way - what I'm trying to say rather long windedly is this book defied expectations of both a book featuring Christmas and of one featuring pastries!
Now those pastries, and food wow was I getting hungry reading this book, and each chapter even starts with a delicious sounding recipe, and Amanda is an accomplished chef in her own right but she favours her grandparent's recipes. She would love to run her own restaurant if only she was brave enough.
Meanwhile we meet Sabrina who is living LA and managing a top ban, but things aren't as great as them seem, while younger sister Louisa is unfulfilled in her job. The catalyst for change in all of the sisters lives is a rather emotional event that tugged my heartstrings, but on the back of it the action was transported to a small Italian village not far from the Amalfi Coast.
Where the book was appealing before this is where it came alive, as I'm always a fan of stories set in Italy and the descriptions of this village and this coastline in winter, was described really well and I could picture it all so clearly.
The food descriptions were tasty and the three men for the sisters (well it is a romance) are all to die for, incredibly handsome and all seemed just too good to be true - and I couldn't work out which ones I was rooting for more!
This is an enjoyable book of sisters, family and learning to be true to yourself and that bad life events can be turned into huge positives if you look for the silver lining. I am definitely eager to see what this author is going to write next.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For I was reading this during the August heatwave, and what my eagle eyes had failed to spot was the line on the cover saying "Three sister. One Christmas. A whole lot of pastries". which may have given me a clue that this was a wintery title - and I am feeling rather miffed that I have accidentally broken my own vow not to start reading Christmas books until September this year.
For those of you who now me, I am a massive fan of a Christmas book, but yet this despite what I have just said above is not even a typical Christmas book - I certainly don't feel festive - although it is set in winter and around Christmas.
What I have said about isn't meant to be negative despite it potentially coming across that way - what I'm trying to say rather long windedly is this book defied expectations of both a book featuring Christmas and of one featuring pastries!
Now those pastries, and food wow was I getting hungry reading this book, and each chapter even starts with a delicious sounding recipe, and Amanda is an accomplished chef in her own right but she favours her grandparent's recipes. She would love to run her own restaurant if only she was brave enough.
Meanwhile we meet Sabrina who is living LA and managing a top ban, but things aren't as great as them seem, while younger sister Louisa is unfulfilled in her job. The catalyst for change in all of the sisters lives is a rather emotional event that tugged my heartstrings, but on the back of it the action was transported to a small Italian village not far from the Amalfi Coast.
Where the book was appealing before this is where it came alive, as I'm always a fan of stories set in Italy and the descriptions of this village and this coastline in winter, was described really well and I could picture it all so clearly.
The food descriptions were tasty and the three men for the sisters (well it is a romance) are all to die for, incredibly handsome and all seemed just too good to be true - and I couldn't work out which ones I was rooting for more!
This is an enjoyable book of sisters, family and learning to be true to yourself and that bad life events can be turned into huge positives if you look for the silver lining. I am definitely eager to see what this author is going to write next.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 4, 2019
Cooking entails a balance, of following recipes while inserting your own personality to create something unique and delicious. The same can be said about writing a compelling story.
I love to cook. Each time I pull out a new recipe, my stomach grumbles with the hope of savory satisfaction. The same can be said about opening a book by a new author. My heart skips a beat with the hope of an emotional connection.
Not every recipe or new book turns out as expected, but it never stops me from embracing the anticipation of finding that next delectable offering, whether it be served on a plate or in the pages of a book.
After sampling the first course of Ms. Knott’s story, I knew I was in for a full-flavored emotional experience. While this book has an intriguing plot and sequence of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, it’s something else entirely that pulled me from one page to the next with insatiable hunger. The characters.
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa immediately became a part of my own family. The way each bonded with the two others in a genuine way, complete with sisterly discords, added a depth to the emotional experience when they came together as a family to grieve, to celebrate, and to lean on each other in times of need. And the way members of their extended family portray their own vulnerable emotions against the backdrop of parallel tenderhearted love stories brings a smile to my romantic heart.
The entire family, across three generations, conveyed the same genuine connection and love that made this novel a true pleasure to consume. Coupling that with the brilliant portrayals of the Amalfi Coast, the village of Orzoro, and the culinary treats shared throughout the prose, my hunger was satisfied in all capacities across each of the senses.
You can tell when an author has become one with their story. To do that with a single character is amazing. To do so with three sisters, a loving grandpa, an up-and-coming rock band, and an Italian pastry shop owner is bellissimo.
If your next literary recipe calls for an exploration of family bonds, following your dreams, discovery of love, and emotional connection, “How to Bake a New Beginning” is a wonderful opportunity for your palate to sample, one delicious word and experience at a time.
I love to cook. Each time I pull out a new recipe, my stomach grumbles with the hope of savory satisfaction. The same can be said about opening a book by a new author. My heart skips a beat with the hope of an emotional connection.
Not every recipe or new book turns out as expected, but it never stops me from embracing the anticipation of finding that next delectable offering, whether it be served on a plate or in the pages of a book.
After sampling the first course of Ms. Knott’s story, I knew I was in for a full-flavored emotional experience. While this book has an intriguing plot and sequence of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, it’s something else entirely that pulled me from one page to the next with insatiable hunger. The characters.
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa immediately became a part of my own family. The way each bonded with the two others in a genuine way, complete with sisterly discords, added a depth to the emotional experience when they came together as a family to grieve, to celebrate, and to lean on each other in times of need. And the way members of their extended family portray their own vulnerable emotions against the backdrop of parallel tenderhearted love stories brings a smile to my romantic heart.
The entire family, across three generations, conveyed the same genuine connection and love that made this novel a true pleasure to consume. Coupling that with the brilliant portrayals of the Amalfi Coast, the village of Orzoro, and the culinary treats shared throughout the prose, my hunger was satisfied in all capacities across each of the senses.
You can tell when an author has become one with their story. To do that with a single character is amazing. To do so with three sisters, a loving grandpa, an up-and-coming rock band, and an Italian pastry shop owner is bellissimo.
If your next literary recipe calls for an exploration of family bonds, following your dreams, discovery of love, and emotional connection, “How to Bake a New Beginning” is a wonderful opportunity for your palate to sample, one delicious word and experience at a time.
September 7, 2018
I was a little bit surprised to find out (via another reviewer) that this was a Christmas book as I think I just saw the Italian coastal cover and read the blurb and assumed it was travel fiction/contemporary romance, which it is but it’s also much more. Luckily, the British heatwave had just broken when I sat down to read it, so I could start to feel immersed in the Wintery magic just a little bit, but I plan on reading it again near Christmas, as a treat.
The way the book transports you to Italy in the Winter is fantastic; typically I’ve only thought about places like Italy, Spain and Greece in Summer books with Winter typically being reserved for New York, London & Prague etc, but there is something wonderful about how it is written, you become completely absorbed in the beauty of the place.
This story is all about the characters. Initially, I did find it a bit of a juggle trying to recall which sister was which, and decipher what was happening in the flashbacks featured, however after a few chapters I completely got the hang of it, and it’s very important that you persevere if you find this too, because it is so worth it and a wonderful ensemble of loveable characters.
This book is a foodie’s delight! The recipes at the beginning of each chapter not only give an insight in to the characters and their love of food, but inspired me to try a few new Italian style dishes myself (I am definitely making the Pastina to take in a flask on my next picnic!). I love books that combine travel and food and this is an excellent example. However, this isn’t just a “girl travels to foreign lands” story; the return of the family to Italy unearths the real side of Italian culture, family and food, the kind that only comes from the author’s own experiences of her own Italian family, and is therefore uniquely authentic and so genuine you just feel a part of it.
There is passion, heartbreak, joy and good old fashioned romance to enjoy within the pages and it is ultimately a wonderful tale of family, in all its forms.
Towards the final third of the book I just didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying the setting and the journey of the characters so much, and I feel there is also so much more to follow up as they each embark on their “new beginning”.
Thank you to Lucy and Kelly for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The way the book transports you to Italy in the Winter is fantastic; typically I’ve only thought about places like Italy, Spain and Greece in Summer books with Winter typically being reserved for New York, London & Prague etc, but there is something wonderful about how it is written, you become completely absorbed in the beauty of the place.
This story is all about the characters. Initially, I did find it a bit of a juggle trying to recall which sister was which, and decipher what was happening in the flashbacks featured, however after a few chapters I completely got the hang of it, and it’s very important that you persevere if you find this too, because it is so worth it and a wonderful ensemble of loveable characters.
This book is a foodie’s delight! The recipes at the beginning of each chapter not only give an insight in to the characters and their love of food, but inspired me to try a few new Italian style dishes myself (I am definitely making the Pastina to take in a flask on my next picnic!). I love books that combine travel and food and this is an excellent example. However, this isn’t just a “girl travels to foreign lands” story; the return of the family to Italy unearths the real side of Italian culture, family and food, the kind that only comes from the author’s own experiences of her own Italian family, and is therefore uniquely authentic and so genuine you just feel a part of it.
There is passion, heartbreak, joy and good old fashioned romance to enjoy within the pages and it is ultimately a wonderful tale of family, in all its forms.
Towards the final third of the book I just didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying the setting and the journey of the characters so much, and I feel there is also so much more to follow up as they each embark on their “new beginning”.
Thank you to Lucy and Kelly for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2018
I can only describe this book as the smell of freshly baked bread coming out of the oven in winter: warm and delicious.
The story is as much about family as it is about love, and all wrapped up in the sparkly Christmas holidays. There are a few sad moments in the narrative, emotions we all have experienced or will unfortunately experience at some point in life, but the book is more heartwarming than heartbreaking in the end.
I don’t have any siblings, but if I had sisters, the relationship between Louisa, Sabrina, and Amanda is exactly how I’d imagine it would be. Lots of love-love, tough-love, plenty of bickering, and plenty of fun!
The recipes are fantastic, they made me LOL. Especially all the “guessed” parts of how granpa did everything. My mom has the same habit of never properly mesuring her ingredients and just knowing how much is the right quantity... and telling me, “Just put in the ‘right’ amount.”
The story is as much about family as it is about love, and all wrapped up in the sparkly Christmas holidays. There are a few sad moments in the narrative, emotions we all have experienced or will unfortunately experience at some point in life, but the book is more heartwarming than heartbreaking in the end.
I don’t have any siblings, but if I had sisters, the relationship between Louisa, Sabrina, and Amanda is exactly how I’d imagine it would be. Lots of love-love, tough-love, plenty of bickering, and plenty of fun!
The recipes are fantastic, they made me LOL. Especially all the “guessed” parts of how granpa did everything. My mom has the same habit of never properly mesuring her ingredients and just knowing how much is the right quantity... and telling me, “Just put in the ‘right’ amount.”
October 14, 2018
I enjoyed the premise. Three sisters reunited visiting their grandad who sadly passes away and they travel back to his native Italy to reunite the family and lay him to rest, fixing their own lives along the way. However these relationships are intense, so intense at times its just a bit sickly. On the plus side there are fabulous descriptions of Italian food and recipes to boot!
August 8, 2018
This is the first book by this author and really enjoyed it the cover really attracted me and I wasn't let down at all the setting of the book was fantastic and you really thought you were in Italy and love how each chapter starts with a recipe of something the grandfather use to cook gets you really into how close the family were. Full of romance and showing how going somewhere different can change your lifes for the better and show you what you really want also about families and supporting each other. The book is based around three sisters and their family and has you hooked from the first page.
Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are theee sisters and all very different but all love there family just the same. They especially love their grandfather and sadly he suddenly passes away and they are pulled back together and decide to go to Italy where the grandfather is from and say their goodbyes out there and they know the funeral will be hard but have to do it. Little do they know that going out to a small village in Italy will change all three sisters life's for the better they hope. You have Amanda who is the older sister and has always been protective of her sisters she works in a great restaurant has a great home and a best friend but so Mei get is missing from her life. Then you have Sabrina who lives in LA and her life is full of parties and celebrities but her job is based in an office and her boss isn't very nice and want some her to suffer for her life so can Sabrina take charge and change her life then you have Louisa who dropped out of uni and feels like she is drowned out by the sorters successes but when she goes to Italy will the small village be able to change this for her. All three sisters need to take charge of their lives move forward and can they do this and be happy and can they find romance or not.
Greta read from the first page and highly recommend anyone to read it.
Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are theee sisters and all very different but all love there family just the same. They especially love their grandfather and sadly he suddenly passes away and they are pulled back together and decide to go to Italy where the grandfather is from and say their goodbyes out there and they know the funeral will be hard but have to do it. Little do they know that going out to a small village in Italy will change all three sisters life's for the better they hope. You have Amanda who is the older sister and has always been protective of her sisters she works in a great restaurant has a great home and a best friend but so Mei get is missing from her life. Then you have Sabrina who lives in LA and her life is full of parties and celebrities but her job is based in an office and her boss isn't very nice and want some her to suffer for her life so can Sabrina take charge and change her life then you have Louisa who dropped out of uni and feels like she is drowned out by the sorters successes but when she goes to Italy will the small village be able to change this for her. All three sisters need to take charge of their lives move forward and can they do this and be happy and can they find romance or not.
Greta read from the first page and highly recommend anyone to read it.
November 29, 2018
Just couldn’t get into the story. Could be the characters, the Italian terms or just the story. Gave up to read something better.
December 31, 2018
I actually came across the lovely this book when I found The Blossom Twins’ blog and jumped when offered it to review (thanks so much to the lovely Kelly and of course Lucy for the book in return for an honest review). So. You’ll have seen a few days ago I posted of how the floodgates for all tears for people who have departed this earth were raised when I read the brilliant Bernice Bloom’s book about a man speaking about his life and contacting strangers to come to his funeral. Throughout this book I reminisced about my granny and grandad, wishing I knew them now so we could have proper chats. How silly was I to move straight onto this, a book about a grandfather passing away and his family trying to come to terms with it by putting together the recipes he had helped them with over the years?
So I started this book and was thrilled to find that there were recipes in it that were for basic dishes (they are of italian origin) and sauces. A lot of them are a little funny in that they are told exactly as their Grandad helped them make the foods, although some seemed to be in more detail and these were the ones I wouldn’t have known as well so maybe they’re all re-creatable! This book was full of warmth and familial love and lovely, nice little smiley moments. I loved meeting their grandfather and how they interacted and cooked together. I have to admit the music part of the book worried me, Sabrina living the high life in LA, because it didn’t quite fit in, with Sabrina’s job at risk from a boss who seems to be putting her own needs first, but saying that, we spent so much time away from there it didn’t really matter.
The descriptions and settings, so vibrant, totally brought me with the girls and I sobbed throughout the book too (epecially when they went back to their beloved Italy without their lovely grandad and met up with their Nanna’s sisters-oh God here I go again! Sob!). The Christmas descriptions, which were a nice surprise, given that it’s that time of year and it doesn’t look like a Christmassy book, were everything I needed, the characters lovely, fun ever present and romance gorgeous and actually that’s the word of the day for this book. Beyond recommended!
So I started this book and was thrilled to find that there were recipes in it that were for basic dishes (they are of italian origin) and sauces. A lot of them are a little funny in that they are told exactly as their Grandad helped them make the foods, although some seemed to be in more detail and these were the ones I wouldn’t have known as well so maybe they’re all re-creatable! This book was full of warmth and familial love and lovely, nice little smiley moments. I loved meeting their grandfather and how they interacted and cooked together. I have to admit the music part of the book worried me, Sabrina living the high life in LA, because it didn’t quite fit in, with Sabrina’s job at risk from a boss who seems to be putting her own needs first, but saying that, we spent so much time away from there it didn’t really matter.
The descriptions and settings, so vibrant, totally brought me with the girls and I sobbed throughout the book too (epecially when they went back to their beloved Italy without their lovely grandad and met up with their Nanna’s sisters-oh God here I go again! Sob!). The Christmas descriptions, which were a nice surprise, given that it’s that time of year and it doesn’t look like a Christmassy book, were everything I needed, the characters lovely, fun ever present and romance gorgeous and actually that’s the word of the day for this book. Beyond recommended!
September 14, 2018
Very good debut novel! It was a very lovely read full of family, sisterhood, delicious food, Italy, love. I can recommend this book if you like stories about relationship between sisters.
September 3, 2018
This is a wonderful debut from a talented new author, who I am positive is going to go far with her writing career. I found Ms Knott’s writing to be fresh, stylish and full of real passion for the story. I was incredibly interested in this book when I first saw the cover, which is cheerful and eye-catching. I know we should never base our opinions on a cover, but on the word’s inside, but for this one, I couldn’t really help it. The cover is as charming as the word’s within.
This is the story of three completely different sisters, who are all at different stages of their lives and who are still trying to find themselves in such a hectic world. Even though two have great careers they are a little lost with the love side of things, as different as Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are they are all devoted to their family, they may have gone down different path’s but that absolute love for family is the driving force for each of them. Which as someone who is as equally very family focused this really rang a bell with me. When their beloved Grandfather suddenly passes away, the sisters are forced to confront some very personal issues. They decide that to really say goodbye to their grandfather they travel to Italy, their trip turns out to be just as emotional as they expected, but in completely different ways. What started out as a farewell to grandpa trip, ends up with each of the sisters discovering themselves and learning how to take charge of their lives and more importantly how to love.
This trip to Italy is the chance all three of them never expected but also what they needed, but will they have the courage and take control of the lives?
This is a wonderful holiday read, the relationship between the sisters is very real and relatable, the love that they share for their family is the driving force of this story. Ms Knot has done a cracking job at engaging the reader with her relatable character’s, beautiful setting and wonderful storyline. From page one you are immersed into the sister’s lifes, the story and relationships develop and evolve in a natural way and the story moves along at a brilliant pace.
You can real get a sense of how much this book and story means to the author, her heart and passion is evident in every scene, the driving force of the story is absolute family love, this really resonates with me. Another thing I love is how each chapter starts with a recipe, it’s cute and personal and links each chapter together nicely.
This is a delicious book, that you will devour in one bite! (Sorry I couldn’t help the food reference)
This is the story of three completely different sisters, who are all at different stages of their lives and who are still trying to find themselves in such a hectic world. Even though two have great careers they are a little lost with the love side of things, as different as Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are they are all devoted to their family, they may have gone down different path’s but that absolute love for family is the driving force for each of them. Which as someone who is as equally very family focused this really rang a bell with me. When their beloved Grandfather suddenly passes away, the sisters are forced to confront some very personal issues. They decide that to really say goodbye to their grandfather they travel to Italy, their trip turns out to be just as emotional as they expected, but in completely different ways. What started out as a farewell to grandpa trip, ends up with each of the sisters discovering themselves and learning how to take charge of their lives and more importantly how to love.
This trip to Italy is the chance all three of them never expected but also what they needed, but will they have the courage and take control of the lives?
This is a wonderful holiday read, the relationship between the sisters is very real and relatable, the love that they share for their family is the driving force of this story. Ms Knot has done a cracking job at engaging the reader with her relatable character’s, beautiful setting and wonderful storyline. From page one you are immersed into the sister’s lifes, the story and relationships develop and evolve in a natural way and the story moves along at a brilliant pace.
You can real get a sense of how much this book and story means to the author, her heart and passion is evident in every scene, the driving force of the story is absolute family love, this really resonates with me. Another thing I love is how each chapter starts with a recipe, it’s cute and personal and links each chapter together nicely.
This is a delicious book, that you will devour in one bite! (Sorry I couldn’t help the food reference)
October 4, 2018
The only good thing about this book was the description of the food. The story itself was fine but the characters got on my nerves.
June 3, 2020
This was so good!
I bought another in the series but felt like I needed to go back to the start. I really loved this novel and almost inhaled it as it was so good. It’s got such a strong family feel and I loved the three sisters taking a huge trip of self discovery to Italy. I loved this!!!
I bought another in the series but felt like I needed to go back to the start. I really loved this novel and almost inhaled it as it was so good. It’s got such a strong family feel and I loved the three sisters taking a huge trip of self discovery to Italy. I loved this!!!
May 18, 2019
Loved this book, the loving family feel and the snippets of Italian cookery the whole way through was just so nice.
May 21, 2024
I didn’t like how this book constantly jumped from all of the different people without making it clear who it was and I feel like the story happened wayyyy to fast
October 5, 2019
This book isn’t amazing in terms of writing but it’s cozy and makes you feel like you’re traveling with the family
October 27, 2020
A really cute, cosy novel. Enjoyed the Italianess of the story.
November 21, 2018
Oh this book was sweet, like a bad christmas romantic film, it warms your heart but not your brain. It was fun because it was all about sisterly relationships, some good bits about career, but mostly a lot of fun romantic moments. Some of the encounters made no sense and plotting was too easy, as everything just magically works out, but it's okay to suspend reality for a quick easy read.
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
October 22, 2018
A story of family, food and love, the best ingredients for a book.
Three sisters and how their lives become more fulfilling after the death of their beloved Grampa.
Set in the magnificent Italian countryside the descriptions are so beautiful that you believe you are there, you can even taste the delicious recipes which are included in each chapter. A well written romance, the main character Amanda is in denial about her relationship with her best friend Dan. With the help of her sisters and the men in their lives a beautiful story ensues.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Three sisters and how their lives become more fulfilling after the death of their beloved Grampa.
Set in the magnificent Italian countryside the descriptions are so beautiful that you believe you are there, you can even taste the delicious recipes which are included in each chapter. A well written romance, the main character Amanda is in denial about her relationship with her best friend Dan. With the help of her sisters and the men in their lives a beautiful story ensues.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2019
Such a waste of time, so predictable and some poor editing. However not so bad that I didn’t finish it. Good looking recipes at the start of each chapter.
Three sisters are living unhappy lives. Their grandfather dies and so they go back to Italy for the funeral. While there they review their lives, find live and everything turns out rosy.
Three sisters are living unhappy lives. Their grandfather dies and so they go back to Italy for the funeral. While there they review their lives, find live and everything turns out rosy.
January 20, 2024
2 stars- was not great.
I read this on audio, and I did not love the audio part of it. The book itself was not too bad, but I could not handle the voices. Amanda spoke so SLOWLY, even on 2.1x speed, and she sounded consistently sick. Louisa sounded like a child or a mouse. The huge, HUGE lengths of silence between chapters (EVEN ON 2.1X SPEED!) made me think that the audiobook had turned off, when it had not. It broke the flow of the book entirely. Book-wise, the romances were cute. However, they took over the novel and Grandpa's death was often entirely forgotten. I didn't love how the grief bit was just thrown in to give the book "substance;" I'd rather it not be included than just added without exploration. It's like the death and grief aspect was just used to gain the attention of other characters to create romances, which I personally thought was annoying and weird. Overall, I usually love romances but not ones that use grief as a launching pad.
Longer, more specific review below. All main points are in bold if you'd rather skim :)
what I liked:
-the romances were cute, and I liked how each sister got her HEA.
-the relationship between the sisters was sweet.
-the setting was great, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of food, especially the pastries and desserts🤤
what could've been better:
-I cringed a lot at the unrealistic dialogue, because I'd personally laugh if anyone said such things in real life. I mean, Dan and Amanda were best friends but he went around calling her "babygirl" in nearly every sentence🙈💀 This, more than anything, made me cringe SO MUCH. It was so NUMEROUS and icky😭
-expanding on that, the writing often made me cringe too. There were parts that didn't flow and just weren't realistic for me, and contemporary romances should be grounded in realism.
-regarding the technicalities of the audiobook, the different voices for each character haunts me. As mentioned above, everyone sounded weird and was ultimately difficult to listen to. The voices, to me, sounded really forced.
-the ridiculously long periods of silence between chapters was CRAZY and broke the flow of the book. I kept thinking the audiobook had turned off, but it hadn't; there was just this MASSIVE, GAPING VOID in the book for no reason😭 It frustrated me.
-as I mentioned above, the book seemingly revolved around Grandpa's death but never actually explored the topic of grief or death. Firstly, readers don't get to know Grandpa much before he passes, which makes his death less moving than it should've been. I don't know him, so any sadness I felt was merely empathy and not any loss of my own. Secondly, Grandpa's funeral was only mentioned; the characters attended it but readers did not. It was a skipped scene. The book began with Grandpa's death, and the blurb talks about how his death is a catalyst for the sisters' journeys of self-discovery, but we can't even honor Grandpa by attending his funeral?? So weird to me. It feels like his death was just a chess piece pushing the sisters towards their journeys, without actually respecting Grandpa as a human being. Thirdly, everyone seemed to forget Grandpa for unusual lengths of time, until they needed a boyfriend (and then they'd cry prettily at a random cafe and catch the eye of some Italian hulk who can cook, lol). Fourthly, no one really dealt with their grief. Instead, they were busy getting romanced and kissing each other. It's cool how they've all got a HEA, but I wanted to see some exploration or discussion on their grief. I wanted to see them discuss their happy memories of Grandpa, or flick through photo albums with him, or cook one of his recipes as a family to honor him. The only thing the girls talked about was BOYS😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Conversations of Grandpa were minimal. Sigh.
I read this on audio, and I did not love the audio part of it. The book itself was not too bad, but I could not handle the voices. Amanda spoke so SLOWLY, even on 2.1x speed, and she sounded consistently sick. Louisa sounded like a child or a mouse. The huge, HUGE lengths of silence between chapters (EVEN ON 2.1X SPEED!) made me think that the audiobook had turned off, when it had not. It broke the flow of the book entirely. Book-wise, the romances were cute. However, they took over the novel and Grandpa's death was often entirely forgotten. I didn't love how the grief bit was just thrown in to give the book "substance;" I'd rather it not be included than just added without exploration. It's like the death and grief aspect was just used to gain the attention of other characters to create romances, which I personally thought was annoying and weird. Overall, I usually love romances but not ones that use grief as a launching pad.
Longer, more specific review below. All main points are in bold if you'd rather skim :)
what I liked:
-the romances were cute, and I liked how each sister got her HEA.
-the relationship between the sisters was sweet.
-the setting was great, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of food, especially the pastries and desserts🤤
what could've been better:
-I cringed a lot at the unrealistic dialogue, because I'd personally laugh if anyone said such things in real life. I mean, Dan and Amanda were best friends but he went around calling her "babygirl" in nearly every sentence🙈💀 This, more than anything, made me cringe SO MUCH. It was so NUMEROUS and icky😭
-expanding on that, the writing often made me cringe too. There were parts that didn't flow and just weren't realistic for me, and contemporary romances should be grounded in realism.
-regarding the technicalities of the audiobook, the different voices for each character haunts me. As mentioned above, everyone sounded weird and was ultimately difficult to listen to. The voices, to me, sounded really forced.
-the ridiculously long periods of silence between chapters was CRAZY and broke the flow of the book. I kept thinking the audiobook had turned off, but it hadn't; there was just this MASSIVE, GAPING VOID in the book for no reason😭 It frustrated me.
-as I mentioned above, the book seemingly revolved around Grandpa's death but never actually explored the topic of grief or death. Firstly, readers don't get to know Grandpa much before he passes, which makes his death less moving than it should've been. I don't know him, so any sadness I felt was merely empathy and not any loss of my own. Secondly, Grandpa's funeral was only mentioned; the characters attended it but readers did not. It was a skipped scene. The book began with Grandpa's death, and the blurb talks about how his death is a catalyst for the sisters' journeys of self-discovery, but we can't even honor Grandpa by attending his funeral?? So weird to me. It feels like his death was just a chess piece pushing the sisters towards their journeys, without actually respecting Grandpa as a human being. Thirdly, everyone seemed to forget Grandpa for unusual lengths of time, until they needed a boyfriend (and then they'd cry prettily at a random cafe and catch the eye of some Italian hulk who can cook, lol). Fourthly, no one really dealt with their grief. Instead, they were busy getting romanced and kissing each other. It's cool how they've all got a HEA, but I wanted to see some exploration or discussion on their grief. I wanted to see them discuss their happy memories of Grandpa, or flick through photo albums with him, or cook one of his recipes as a family to honor him. The only thing the girls talked about was BOYS😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Conversations of Grandpa were minimal. Sigh.
January 5, 2022
How to Bake a New Beginning isn’t the first thing that I’ve been fortunate enough to read from Lucy Knott. I still need to give my head a wobble when I remember that before turning her hand to writing I’d seen her in spandex doing her thing inside the wrestling ring. What a juxtaposition.
From the offset, Lucy managed to give the three sisters characters that were pleasant and relatable. This story almost read itself, and I finished it off in about 3 hours. A really easy read.
Our main characters are three incredibly close sisters Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa who are all navigating diverse career paths and personal struggles. Amanda is a talented chef with dreams of running a successful blog and restaurant of her own, Sabrina manages a rock band in America, which has taken her away from the family and Louisa has dropped out of university and come back home to be with their aging grandparents.
On the surface, Amanda and Sabrina have it all, but nothing in these light-hearted romances ever runs smooth. Gathering for their grandfather’s all the sisters are together for the first time in a long while and the sisters are rubbing each other the wrong way – usual sibling frisson.
No one comes to a romance novel wanting neck-breaking twists and turns, Lucy has brought in enough rocky moments to stop the romance from being sickening, and the story being overly predictable.
What was a nice touch was the chapters often began with a family recipe note from Amanda for dishes and good they ate within the chapter. I loved this little touch.
At this point I’m hoping as I work through my TBR pile I have another tale by Lucy Knott to enjoy.
From the offset, Lucy managed to give the three sisters characters that were pleasant and relatable. This story almost read itself, and I finished it off in about 3 hours. A really easy read.
Our main characters are three incredibly close sisters Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa who are all navigating diverse career paths and personal struggles. Amanda is a talented chef with dreams of running a successful blog and restaurant of her own, Sabrina manages a rock band in America, which has taken her away from the family and Louisa has dropped out of university and come back home to be with their aging grandparents.
On the surface, Amanda and Sabrina have it all, but nothing in these light-hearted romances ever runs smooth. Gathering for their grandfather’s all the sisters are together for the first time in a long while and the sisters are rubbing each other the wrong way – usual sibling frisson.
No one comes to a romance novel wanting neck-breaking twists and turns, Lucy has brought in enough rocky moments to stop the romance from being sickening, and the story being overly predictable.
What was a nice touch was the chapters often began with a family recipe note from Amanda for dishes and good they ate within the chapter. I loved this little touch.
At this point I’m hoping as I work through my TBR pile I have another tale by Lucy Knott to enjoy.
September 2, 2019
A delectable story
What a sweet book! I loved the story, the family, the sisters, the food, and the Amalfi Coast. I read it straight through with only brief breaks to cook an Ialian dinner (pretty good if I say so myself)!
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa, the 20-something sisters have gathered to celebrate their grandfather's 96th birthday in England with their parents and grandmother. When their grandfather passes away in his sleep, they set out on paths to reinvent their lives, all in a way to honor him. The family went to Italy to their grandfather's home town, a mountain village about 30 minutes from Amalfi, for his funeral, staying with their Nanna's 3 sisters. It was during the Christmas season with all the attendant delicious food (with recipes Amanda learned from her grandfather sprinkled throughout the book).
There was also romance, old friends discovering love and new love found in Italy. But the book was mostly about the love among the sisters and their extended family. It made me feel wrapped in the love of my sisters, missing our mother, who died recently at 97, and wishing we sisters all lived closer to each other but knowing we will always be there for each other. I wish we could all travel to Italy together!
What a sweet book! I loved the story, the family, the sisters, the food, and the Amalfi Coast. I read it straight through with only brief breaks to cook an Ialian dinner (pretty good if I say so myself)!
Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa, the 20-something sisters have gathered to celebrate their grandfather's 96th birthday in England with their parents and grandmother. When their grandfather passes away in his sleep, they set out on paths to reinvent their lives, all in a way to honor him. The family went to Italy to their grandfather's home town, a mountain village about 30 minutes from Amalfi, for his funeral, staying with their Nanna's 3 sisters. It was during the Christmas season with all the attendant delicious food (with recipes Amanda learned from her grandfather sprinkled throughout the book).
There was also romance, old friends discovering love and new love found in Italy. But the book was mostly about the love among the sisters and their extended family. It made me feel wrapped in the love of my sisters, missing our mother, who died recently at 97, and wishing we sisters all lived closer to each other but knowing we will always be there for each other. I wish we could all travel to Italy together!
September 6, 2018
This is the first by this author but hopefully won't our last.
Three sisters, living completely separate lives, pulled back together through a tragic family event.
Amanda... the oldest, has always been protective of her sisters, an accomplished chef who works in a great restaurant, has a lovely home and a best friend, but something is missing from her life.
Sabrina... lives in LA, her life is full of parties and celebrities but her work is based in an office with a boss who isn't the nicest.
Louisa... the youngest, dropped out of university and is working in an office... that is until Italy!
The loss of their beloved grandfather, a trip to Italy over Christmas for the funeral, a small village... can they change their lives and find love?
The food descriptions will have your mouth watering with envy... so many delicious recipes shared through generations and love.
I couldn't put it down... there is passion, heartbreak, joy and good old fashioned romance!
A story of family, food and love, the best ingredients for a book.
Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.
Three sisters, living completely separate lives, pulled back together through a tragic family event.
Amanda... the oldest, has always been protective of her sisters, an accomplished chef who works in a great restaurant, has a lovely home and a best friend, but something is missing from her life.
Sabrina... lives in LA, her life is full of parties and celebrities but her work is based in an office with a boss who isn't the nicest.
Louisa... the youngest, dropped out of university and is working in an office... that is until Italy!
The loss of their beloved grandfather, a trip to Italy over Christmas for the funeral, a small village... can they change their lives and find love?
The food descriptions will have your mouth watering with envy... so many delicious recipes shared through generations and love.
I couldn't put it down... there is passion, heartbreak, joy and good old fashioned romance!
A story of family, food and love, the best ingredients for a book.
Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.
September 9, 2018
Wow, I ate this book up!
This book sucked me out of the last days of summer and blew me out into mid-winter, leaving me there to be completely enthralled by the story of this tight-knit family coming to terms with an unbearable loss.
I have laughed, cried, groaned in frustration and literally shouted out in joy whilst living these characters journey’s right along with them.
I have sided with one sister over the other and then changed my allegiance when the tables were turned, for three days last week, this book was my life, it allowed me to escape my own and live as Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa.
How to Bake a New Beginning is very well written, jumping from one character to the next is easy to follow, each of the main characters own stories will keep you up wishing you had all the baked goodies to hand that they do to work through their issues.
With thanks to #NetGalley #HarperCollins and #HarperImpluse for the opportunity to read this book, but as none of the baked goods were supplied with the advances copy, I’m off on a munchie hunt
This book sucked me out of the last days of summer and blew me out into mid-winter, leaving me there to be completely enthralled by the story of this tight-knit family coming to terms with an unbearable loss.
I have laughed, cried, groaned in frustration and literally shouted out in joy whilst living these characters journey’s right along with them.
I have sided with one sister over the other and then changed my allegiance when the tables were turned, for three days last week, this book was my life, it allowed me to escape my own and live as Amanda, Sabrina, and Louisa.
How to Bake a New Beginning is very well written, jumping from one character to the next is easy to follow, each of the main characters own stories will keep you up wishing you had all the baked goodies to hand that they do to work through their issues.
With thanks to #NetGalley #HarperCollins and #HarperImpluse for the opportunity to read this book, but as none of the baked goods were supplied with the advances copy, I’m off on a munchie hunt
August 31, 2018
How To Bake a New Beginning is warm, soulful and packed with delicious goodness. It’s a fantastic debut which follows the story of Amanda, Louisa and Sabrina, three sisters living completely separate lives, who are pulled back together after a tragic family event.
Amanda is the one with her life in order - the perfect job and the rock star best friend. Sabrina has a glamorous life in LA and Louisa is the university drop out who feels like third best.
Set mostly in Italy during the winter, the backdrop is both stunning and unique. This picturesque little village could just happen to be the start of something new for the sisters.
The story is incredibly warm-hearted and the characters all sweet and very likeable. I loved the yummy recipes at the start of each chapter and found these were really well woven into he story.
How to Bake a New Beginning left me feeling cosy, Christmassy and in desperate need for ‘grandpa’s hot chocolate’.
Amanda is the one with her life in order - the perfect job and the rock star best friend. Sabrina has a glamorous life in LA and Louisa is the university drop out who feels like third best.
Set mostly in Italy during the winter, the backdrop is both stunning and unique. This picturesque little village could just happen to be the start of something new for the sisters.
The story is incredibly warm-hearted and the characters all sweet and very likeable. I loved the yummy recipes at the start of each chapter and found these were really well woven into he story.
How to Bake a New Beginning left me feeling cosy, Christmassy and in desperate need for ‘grandpa’s hot chocolate’.
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