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The Secret Ingredient
‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop.
It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.
But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…
It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.
But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2024
2056 people are currently reading
2681 people want to read
About the author
Sue Heath
3 books47 followersSue Heath lives in Cheshire, England. When she isn’t working, she can often be found running around agility courses with her spaniel, and in the evenings, she loves to cook and spend time with family and friends.
‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.
Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.
You can find out more about Sue on her website.
‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.
Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.
You can find out more about Sue on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
January 4, 2024
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
I thought this was going to be a melancholy story because all of the characters have had some truly bad experiences...spouses leaving, getting older, illness and death. At times they felt sorry for themselves and you expect the book to be mostly a sad one but trust me it isn't. I can't count the many times I found myself smiling at a passage where a character decides this is no way to live and wants to get on with their life. It's okay to be sad and/or depressed when we lose someone but to wallow in it or not get any help is never a good idea and I loved reading about people finding their strength in community. Each of these people deals with their loss differently and that is true in real life as well.
The book is very character-driven and I enjoyed the fact that it has chapters from each character's point of view. They support and help each other in their healing and become a sort of family. I felt like I was hanging out in the neighbourhood with them. They're certainly people I would like to be friends with. I don't know if I'd feel confident enough to cook for a chef though!
This story showcases how food can bring people together and how the different senses can trigger memories. There are plenty of recipes in the book and the food sounds so delicious I can't wait to try more of it. The one recipe I did try was sugar lemon pancakes. I made them New Year's Day for brunch. Lemon is one of my favourite flavours so I had to make them. They were really good and my experience was much better than Kate's.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
I thought this was going to be a melancholy story because all of the characters have had some truly bad experiences...spouses leaving, getting older, illness and death. At times they felt sorry for themselves and you expect the book to be mostly a sad one but trust me it isn't. I can't count the many times I found myself smiling at a passage where a character decides this is no way to live and wants to get on with their life. It's okay to be sad and/or depressed when we lose someone but to wallow in it or not get any help is never a good idea and I loved reading about people finding their strength in community. Each of these people deals with their loss differently and that is true in real life as well.
The book is very character-driven and I enjoyed the fact that it has chapters from each character's point of view. They support and help each other in their healing and become a sort of family. I felt like I was hanging out in the neighbourhood with them. They're certainly people I would like to be friends with. I don't know if I'd feel confident enough to cook for a chef though!
This story showcases how food can bring people together and how the different senses can trigger memories. There are plenty of recipes in the book and the food sounds so delicious I can't wait to try more of it. The one recipe I did try was sugar lemon pancakes. I made them New Year's Day for brunch. Lemon is one of my favourite flavours so I had to make them. They were really good and my experience was much better than Kate's.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
February 15, 2024
In a Nutshell: A beautiful story about a group of people who bond over food. Tackles some tough themes in a soothing manner. Slow and steady in development. Likeable characters. Some teeny plot issues, but overall, enjoyable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🍎 Six character perspectives in all, with some more minor characters mentioned, and yet their arcs never become confusing. I love how the author introduces the characters over a lag than bringing them all into the first scene and overwhelming the readers.
🍎 The characters differ from each other in age, life experiences, and attitudes. Kate is the only one in her late twenties. Jack is in his early thirties, Della is almost sixty, and Charles and Mary are possibly octogenarians. (Can’t reveal details of the sixth character as it would be a spoiler.) This age-gap connection lends a beauty and novelty to the story that would otherwise have been about typical peer friendships and relationships.
🍎 I loved the secondary characters, even more than the lead pair of Kate and Jack. While all of them were adorable, I felt most connected to Charles as he reminded me of my dad, who is struggling with similar memory issues these days. So Charles’ arc made me quite emotional. Mary (Charles’ wife) and Della (another neighbour with a passion for gardening) are beautiful humans. They tend to get a tad too personal and nosy at times, but that adds to the realism as that’s how women in small towns mostly are.
🍎 Food has a prominent role to play in this story. I was initially a bit apprehensive about this aspect because I am the kind of foodie who loves only to eat. I cook to live and not the other way around, and rarely do I experiment in the kitchen. Moreover, the cuisine in the book is typical Brit, which means I had heard of a few of the dishes and eaten hardly any of them. Regardless, I enjoyed the scrumptious-sounding delicacies and the manner in which the food brought the characters together for prep, cooking and eating.
🍎 The story creates a nostalgic kind of feel, reminiscent of the pre-SM days, when people actually visited their neighbours and spoke face to face. The bonding across the characters recreates an old-timey charm, with their shared sentiments and shared meals generating warmth in our hearts.
🍎 There are actual recipes included for all the items Kate cooks. These are not at the end of the book but integrated into the storyline – so cool!
🍎 Each of the main characters is battling a kind of loss, but their afflictions are unique to them. Thus, we see various types of heartaches in this story. After all, grief is not just the outcome of coping with a loved one's death, and the book covers various shades of grief. I loved the realism of the dilemmas faced by the characters.
🍎 Though there is so much sadness in the book, there is also an equal amount of joy and hope. Despite the intense poignancy of some scenes, the overall plot does not get too melancholic.
🍎 The author's note is the icing on the cake of this delectable read. I was delighted to see that her favourite characters were the same as mine, in the exact same order!
Bookish Mixed Bags (Two of which were still Yays for me):
🍍 The pacing of the story is quite relaxed. This might not work for those who want a fast read, but I was looking for something on the lines of “comfort food”, so I didn’t mind the lack of rush. That said, I didn’t find the book slow to read. The plot and the characters develop gradually but steadily.
🍍 While the book does NOT mention COVID, it is clear that the health issues of one of the characters because of “a virus” is a result of Long COVID. I would not have minded a reference to COVID because it is a fact of our lives now, and would have made the side effect faced by the character even more tangible. At the same time, I know that COVID is a trigger for many readers, so I get the author’s choice to stay away from mentioning it directly.
🍍 Kate and Jack as the lead pair should have been the stars of this plot. And in many ways, I liked them. But some of their decisions are so ad hoc that I couldn’t connect with them wholly, or at least as much as I did with the other characters. I didn’t understand why Kate had to quit her job to move on and try cooking. It felt extreme.
🍍 The writing gets a bit cheesy at times, especially in the romantic scenes. It's a book about food, so I suppose the cheese fits in. 😉 But some of it was too saccharine for my taste. On the plus side, it doesn’t become corny. (cheese… saccharine… corn… someone’s going overboard with the food metaphors! 👀)
🍍 The story is quite predictable. Of course, this goes with the genre; no one picks up women’s fiction expecting thrills and twists. But I wish it had not stuck to the tried-and-tested so firmly. There were many avenues where it could have broken the chain, especially in Della’s arc. I still enjoyed it on the whole, but taking Della’s story through a different path would have made the book shine even more in my eyes.
Bookish Nays:
🍊 Kate's journey of going from a zero-level cook to a MasterChef almost immediately was too farfetched for my liking. (Ignore the green-eyed monster! ) Hardly any baking mishaps? Perfection in almost every attempted dish? How, how, how?
🍊 The proceedings are a bit too smooth, if you get what I mean. Hardly any conflict (whether with people or with cooking) happens on page. Most of the relationships are instantaneous, and most of the discussions are amicable. This Indian wanted more spice in this dish! (Not of the romantic kind though – that was at the perfect level!)
All in all, despite the trivial issues, I still enjoyed this read. It helped that it came in my life at the right time, when I needed something simultaneously relaxing and emotional. I usually avoid books with the dead-partner trope as they feel very similar to ‘PS I Love You.’ But this one has a fresh feel to it, thanks to all the delicious food and yummy characters.
I had initially assumed this to be a debut work, but as it turns out, the author has published several 'hot' romances, under the pseudonym ‘Zara Stoneley’. I am not one for steamy novels, but I will definitely look forward to what more ‘Sue Heath’ has to offer.
The parting note calls this ‘effervescent fiction’, and I like that so much better than ‘women’s fiction’. We need to rename this genre! Even ‘feel-good fiction’ is a good substitute to that bland-sounding 'women's fiction'.
So…
Much recommended to all readers of ‘effervescent/feel-good fiction’ who want to read emotional and sweet flavours balanced with some sad undertones.
4 stars.
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of 'The Secret Ingredient'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Content warnings: death, marital breakup (no infidelity), COVID (though not mentioned openly.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Twenty-nine-year-old Kate has been a widow since three years now, but she is still lost in the what-ifs of the past. To take charge of her life, she quits her job as a teacher and decides to enter the kitchen, which was Eddie’s domain when he was alive. There’s only one problem: Kate knows nothing about cooking.
Through some circumstance or the other, various neighbours, old and new, enter Kate’s life after her decision to reclaim her life. All these people are also dealing with their own issues, but somehow, everyone ends up connecting over food and the community spirit.
Will Kate be able to let go of the past? Will all her neighbours also find relief for whatever ails their spirits and bodies?
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of six characters: Kate and her neighbours.
Bookish Yays:
🍎 Six character perspectives in all, with some more minor characters mentioned, and yet their arcs never become confusing. I love how the author introduces the characters over a lag than bringing them all into the first scene and overwhelming the readers.
🍎 The characters differ from each other in age, life experiences, and attitudes. Kate is the only one in her late twenties. Jack is in his early thirties, Della is almost sixty, and Charles and Mary are possibly octogenarians. (Can’t reveal details of the sixth character as it would be a spoiler.) This age-gap connection lends a beauty and novelty to the story that would otherwise have been about typical peer friendships and relationships.
🍎 I loved the secondary characters, even more than the lead pair of Kate and Jack. While all of them were adorable, I felt most connected to Charles as he reminded me of my dad, who is struggling with similar memory issues these days. So Charles’ arc made me quite emotional. Mary (Charles’ wife) and Della (another neighbour with a passion for gardening) are beautiful humans. They tend to get a tad too personal and nosy at times, but that adds to the realism as that’s how women in small towns mostly are.
🍎 Food has a prominent role to play in this story. I was initially a bit apprehensive about this aspect because I am the kind of foodie who loves only to eat. I cook to live and not the other way around, and rarely do I experiment in the kitchen. Moreover, the cuisine in the book is typical Brit, which means I had heard of a few of the dishes and eaten hardly any of them. Regardless, I enjoyed the scrumptious-sounding delicacies and the manner in which the food brought the characters together for prep, cooking and eating.
🍎 The story creates a nostalgic kind of feel, reminiscent of the pre-SM days, when people actually visited their neighbours and spoke face to face. The bonding across the characters recreates an old-timey charm, with their shared sentiments and shared meals generating warmth in our hearts.
🍎 There are actual recipes included for all the items Kate cooks. These are not at the end of the book but integrated into the storyline – so cool!
🍎 Each of the main characters is battling a kind of loss, but their afflictions are unique to them. Thus, we see various types of heartaches in this story. After all, grief is not just the outcome of coping with a loved one's death, and the book covers various shades of grief. I loved the realism of the dilemmas faced by the characters.
🍎 Though there is so much sadness in the book, there is also an equal amount of joy and hope. Despite the intense poignancy of some scenes, the overall plot does not get too melancholic.
🍎 The author's note is the icing on the cake of this delectable read. I was delighted to see that her favourite characters were the same as mine, in the exact same order!
Bookish Mixed Bags (Two of which were still Yays for me):
🍍 The pacing of the story is quite relaxed. This might not work for those who want a fast read, but I was looking for something on the lines of “comfort food”, so I didn’t mind the lack of rush. That said, I didn’t find the book slow to read. The plot and the characters develop gradually but steadily.
🍍 While the book does NOT mention COVID, it is clear that the health issues of one of the characters because of “a virus” is a result of Long COVID. I would not have minded a reference to COVID because it is a fact of our lives now, and would have made the side effect faced by the character even more tangible. At the same time, I know that COVID is a trigger for many readers, so I get the author’s choice to stay away from mentioning it directly.
🍍 Kate and Jack as the lead pair should have been the stars of this plot. And in many ways, I liked them. But some of their decisions are so ad hoc that I couldn’t connect with them wholly, or at least as much as I did with the other characters. I didn’t understand why Kate had to quit her job to move on and try cooking. It felt extreme.
🍍 The writing gets a bit cheesy at times, especially in the romantic scenes. It's a book about food, so I suppose the cheese fits in. 😉 But some of it was too saccharine for my taste. On the plus side, it doesn’t become corny. (cheese… saccharine… corn… someone’s going overboard with the food metaphors! 👀)
🍍 The story is quite predictable. Of course, this goes with the genre; no one picks up women’s fiction expecting thrills and twists. But I wish it had not stuck to the tried-and-tested so firmly. There were many avenues where it could have broken the chain, especially in Della’s arc. I still enjoyed it on the whole, but taking Della’s story through a different path would have made the book shine even more in my eyes.
Bookish Nays:
🍊 Kate's journey of going from a zero-level cook to a MasterChef almost immediately was too farfetched for my liking. (Ignore the green-eyed monster! ) Hardly any baking mishaps? Perfection in almost every attempted dish? How, how, how?
🍊 The proceedings are a bit too smooth, if you get what I mean. Hardly any conflict (whether with people or with cooking) happens on page. Most of the relationships are instantaneous, and most of the discussions are amicable. This Indian wanted more spice in this dish! (Not of the romantic kind though – that was at the perfect level!)
All in all, despite the trivial issues, I still enjoyed this read. It helped that it came in my life at the right time, when I needed something simultaneously relaxing and emotional. I usually avoid books with the dead-partner trope as they feel very similar to ‘PS I Love You.’ But this one has a fresh feel to it, thanks to all the delicious food and yummy characters.
I had initially assumed this to be a debut work, but as it turns out, the author has published several 'hot' romances, under the pseudonym ‘Zara Stoneley’. I am not one for steamy novels, but I will definitely look forward to what more ‘Sue Heath’ has to offer.
The parting note calls this ‘effervescent fiction’, and I like that so much better than ‘women’s fiction’. We need to rename this genre! Even ‘feel-good fiction’ is a good substitute to that bland-sounding 'women's fiction'.
So…
Much recommended to all readers of ‘effervescent/feel-good fiction’ who want to read emotional and sweet flavours balanced with some sad undertones.
4 stars.
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of 'The Secret Ingredient'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Content warnings: death, marital breakup (no infidelity), COVID (though not mentioned openly.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 19, 2024
Food is more than fuel. Food can bring to mind precious memories from the past. Food can build a bridge to a healthier future. Food can build community. This new character-driven novel does all those things with a lovable cast. Kate is a grieving widow. Jack is a frustrated top chef on hiatus. Arthur and Mary are devoted to each other and dealing with terminal illness. Della is divorced and dotes on her little dog Clint. David is a lovable divorced Dad with a sense of adventure. We meet them in varied combinations and occasions. This is perfect for fans of Shari Low.
Happy Publication Day! Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Happy Publication Day! Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
3.5 rounded up
The 22nd April four years ago, changes everything for Kate. This is when she meets Eddie. Apart from the fact that he is a wonderful person, an added bonus is that he’s a terrific cook. Three years, two weeks and one day later, her life has tragically changed forever. She’s understandably sad and has cut herself off but resolves to do better. Maybe make some pancakes? That couldn’t be too difficult, surely? This is a food themed, character driven novel of love and loss, the loneliness that accompanies that loss, and ultimately finding people to share your life and food with. It’s told from the perspectives of a number of characters and they each connect to a recipe.
I guess you know the route the storyline is going to take from the start, but it’s heartwarming and easy to read feel good story and so I don’t mind that too much. The characters are lovely which is always a plus, who couldn’t love elderly Charles and Mary and want Della as a friend? The premise is good as it’s true that getting around a table with family and friends and sharing food is a comfort and a joy.
So here’s my recipe about the book!
1. Take a large bowl, mix and blend together a selection of characters and add their emotions of love, sadness, and a sprinkling of guilt.
2. Add a few spoonfuls of humour and laughs to sweeten the mood.
3. In addition, a handful each of memories, kindness, thoughtfulness, mutual connection, friendship and sharing.
Bake until the perfect outcome is achieved.
Finally, there are some good recipes throughout the chapters, although there’s nothing especially out of the ordinary, they’re good reminders of family favourites. I will skip on Skip’s liver cake, thanks. Don’t panic, Skip has four legs.
Overall, a lovely premise and an entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
The 22nd April four years ago, changes everything for Kate. This is when she meets Eddie. Apart from the fact that he is a wonderful person, an added bonus is that he’s a terrific cook. Three years, two weeks and one day later, her life has tragically changed forever. She’s understandably sad and has cut herself off but resolves to do better. Maybe make some pancakes? That couldn’t be too difficult, surely? This is a food themed, character driven novel of love and loss, the loneliness that accompanies that loss, and ultimately finding people to share your life and food with. It’s told from the perspectives of a number of characters and they each connect to a recipe.
I guess you know the route the storyline is going to take from the start, but it’s heartwarming and easy to read feel good story and so I don’t mind that too much. The characters are lovely which is always a plus, who couldn’t love elderly Charles and Mary and want Della as a friend? The premise is good as it’s true that getting around a table with family and friends and sharing food is a comfort and a joy.
So here’s my recipe about the book!
1. Take a large bowl, mix and blend together a selection of characters and add their emotions of love, sadness, and a sprinkling of guilt.
2. Add a few spoonfuls of humour and laughs to sweeten the mood.
3. In addition, a handful each of memories, kindness, thoughtfulness, mutual connection, friendship and sharing.
Bake until the perfect outcome is achieved.
Finally, there are some good recipes throughout the chapters, although there’s nothing especially out of the ordinary, they’re good reminders of family favourites. I will skip on Skip’s liver cake, thanks. Don’t panic, Skip has four legs.
Overall, a lovely premise and an entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review
April 1, 2024
A sweet story with sweet characters!
Kate Shaw is done being angry. She has quit her job as a teacher and has decided to finally use her kitchen to make pancakes. Her husband passed away three years earlier and she knows she needs to move forward. He was a great cook and she misses him dearly and all the special dishes he used to make for them.
While she's attempting to cook, someone knocks at her door. The old man's name is Charles and he tells her, her house used to be a tea place. His wife Mary and he used to enjoy many afternoons there. He wonders if she would cook something for his Mary. After talking with Charles for a while, Kate finds herself saying yes. She will cook scones for them.
Next, Kate bumps into her neighbor, Della. Della is divorced and her faithful companion is her dog. They start a conversation and soon Kate invites Della to the meal she is preparing for Mary and Charles.
During all these events, Kate keeps on running into another one of her neighbors, Jack. He has recently moved close by and their first few interactions weren't great. However, Kate soon learns what happened to Jack to make him react the way he did.
The Secret Ingredient gives us a little bit of everything. There is loss, there is sadness but there is also hope, friendship, and memories. Food is a great memory inducer. A certain food smell can trigger a wonderful memory of someone you loved who has cooked for you. A food memory can also be comforting. I know it happens to me when I get sick and I just want to smell my mother's chicken soup recipe.
I haven't tried any of the recipes in this book but I want to.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by One More Chapter via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Kate Shaw is done being angry. She has quit her job as a teacher and has decided to finally use her kitchen to make pancakes. Her husband passed away three years earlier and she knows she needs to move forward. He was a great cook and she misses him dearly and all the special dishes he used to make for them.
While she's attempting to cook, someone knocks at her door. The old man's name is Charles and he tells her, her house used to be a tea place. His wife Mary and he used to enjoy many afternoons there. He wonders if she would cook something for his Mary. After talking with Charles for a while, Kate finds herself saying yes. She will cook scones for them.
Next, Kate bumps into her neighbor, Della. Della is divorced and her faithful companion is her dog. They start a conversation and soon Kate invites Della to the meal she is preparing for Mary and Charles.
During all these events, Kate keeps on running into another one of her neighbors, Jack. He has recently moved close by and their first few interactions weren't great. However, Kate soon learns what happened to Jack to make him react the way he did.
The Secret Ingredient gives us a little bit of everything. There is loss, there is sadness but there is also hope, friendship, and memories. Food is a great memory inducer. A certain food smell can trigger a wonderful memory of someone you loved who has cooked for you. A food memory can also be comforting. I know it happens to me when I get sick and I just want to smell my mother's chicken soup recipe.
I haven't tried any of the recipes in this book but I want to.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by One More Chapter via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 31, 2024
This was a cozy story of love, loss, and found community over food. The premise of this book was good- bringing strangers together through baking, but the characters, save for the elderly couple, were flat or unrealistic to me.
February 11, 2024
When you think of food what do you think of? As for myself, I think of love. It doesn't have to be a romantic love, but it could be. Preparing food for someone is an extension of love, showing how much we care about them. We prepare for people that are sick, for celebrations in happy times, funerals in sad times, a romantic date to impress, our family. All extensions of love and caring.
After an unexpected life changing event Kate Shaw is tired of life passing her by. Through food cooking, gathering recipes the community comes together. This awakening Kate has that there is life to be lived once again is beautiful. She discovers her neighbors and realizes she has an unexpected connection to them. Her association with these neighbors is as enriching for them as it is to her. Sweet memories are made, and new friendships are formed through a love of food. The book is gentle and kind and brings an awareness of wanting to move forward, indulge in a little self-care and just to be kind and do what you can to help others. Highly recommended!
Pub Date 18 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
After an unexpected life changing event Kate Shaw is tired of life passing her by. Through food cooking, gathering recipes the community comes together. This awakening Kate has that there is life to be lived once again is beautiful. She discovers her neighbors and realizes she has an unexpected connection to them. Her association with these neighbors is as enriching for them as it is to her. Sweet memories are made, and new friendships are formed through a love of food. The book is gentle and kind and brings an awareness of wanting to move forward, indulge in a little self-care and just to be kind and do what you can to help others. Highly recommended!
Pub Date 18 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
July 15, 2024
“There’s no single secret ingredient in life, we each have our own one and it’s up to us to sprinkle it wherever we can.”
The Secret Ingredient is the first novel by British author Sue Heath. Three years after the death of Eddie, the love of her life, Kate Shaw quits her teaching position at the local high school to say goodbye to the past and start anew. Eddie had been retraining as a chef, and wonderful things would come out of the kitchen she now avoids.
Her restart takes her back into the kitchen, which looks like a disaster area by the time the elderly gentleman from up the road comes to the door hoping for tea and scones at the best ever tearoom. Kate wonders if Charles is just confused, or has dementia, but when he offers his wife Mary’s expert supervision for baking, Kate can’t refuse: she needs all the help she can get.
When her husband Justin left her for his best friend, Mick, it was Della’s dog Skip and her gardening consoling her. The young widow across the road offers to distract her new pup, Clint while she restores the flowerbed he’s destroyed and, over bacon butties, their chat includes Charles, the tearoom, scones and the liver treats Eddie had made Della’s first dog.
It’s not common knowledge that a nasty virus left celebrity chef Jack Shepley waiting in vain for his sense of taste and smell to return: how well can a chef do his job without? Despite harsh public criticism, he closes his restaurant and rents a house up the road from the little group that is privately and informally reviving Auntie Flo’s Tearoom. Jack is now intent on making a career in photography.
His first few encounters with Kate consist of scowls and irritation; only later do they begin to understand each other’s situation s and challenges. Jack doesn’t need a relationship, and Kate is still grieving. But fate has other ideas.
Della’s attempt at digging a vegetable patch brings David from No 3, divorced father of two grown daughters and a cat, to her aid, and she finds herself accepting, and looking forward to, rambles with a man very different from her ex-husband.
This is a sweet, feel-good story that brings together people dealing with heartbreak, grief and guilt, people with secrets and regrets, who have been dealt a blow to their confidence. And it’s food, recipes from Kate’s late gran, from Mary, from Eddie, from Jack, that does the mending. Lots of those recipes are included.
Heath gives her characters some wise words and insightful observations: “Adventurous isn’t about where you go. Sometimes the bravest thing is to stay where you are. Sometimes people are just running away, hoping a new buzz can replace the things they’re scared of” and “was it always good to be strong, to pretend to be strong even when you weren’t? Maybe sometimes it was better, braver, to admit you were frightened, ask for help” are examples.
She touches of a variety of topics: marriage breakdown, death and dying, motherhood, and anorexia. The story moves at a very gentle pace and some aspects do stretch the credibility; the romances are extra sweet and fairly predictable. Quite enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter.
The Secret Ingredient is the first novel by British author Sue Heath. Three years after the death of Eddie, the love of her life, Kate Shaw quits her teaching position at the local high school to say goodbye to the past and start anew. Eddie had been retraining as a chef, and wonderful things would come out of the kitchen she now avoids.
Her restart takes her back into the kitchen, which looks like a disaster area by the time the elderly gentleman from up the road comes to the door hoping for tea and scones at the best ever tearoom. Kate wonders if Charles is just confused, or has dementia, but when he offers his wife Mary’s expert supervision for baking, Kate can’t refuse: she needs all the help she can get.
When her husband Justin left her for his best friend, Mick, it was Della’s dog Skip and her gardening consoling her. The young widow across the road offers to distract her new pup, Clint while she restores the flowerbed he’s destroyed and, over bacon butties, their chat includes Charles, the tearoom, scones and the liver treats Eddie had made Della’s first dog.
It’s not common knowledge that a nasty virus left celebrity chef Jack Shepley waiting in vain for his sense of taste and smell to return: how well can a chef do his job without? Despite harsh public criticism, he closes his restaurant and rents a house up the road from the little group that is privately and informally reviving Auntie Flo’s Tearoom. Jack is now intent on making a career in photography.
His first few encounters with Kate consist of scowls and irritation; only later do they begin to understand each other’s situation s and challenges. Jack doesn’t need a relationship, and Kate is still grieving. But fate has other ideas.
Della’s attempt at digging a vegetable patch brings David from No 3, divorced father of two grown daughters and a cat, to her aid, and she finds herself accepting, and looking forward to, rambles with a man very different from her ex-husband.
This is a sweet, feel-good story that brings together people dealing with heartbreak, grief and guilt, people with secrets and regrets, who have been dealt a blow to their confidence. And it’s food, recipes from Kate’s late gran, from Mary, from Eddie, from Jack, that does the mending. Lots of those recipes are included.
Heath gives her characters some wise words and insightful observations: “Adventurous isn’t about where you go. Sometimes the bravest thing is to stay where you are. Sometimes people are just running away, hoping a new buzz can replace the things they’re scared of” and “was it always good to be strong, to pretend to be strong even when you weren’t? Maybe sometimes it was better, braver, to admit you were frightened, ask for help” are examples.
She touches of a variety of topics: marriage breakdown, death and dying, motherhood, and anorexia. The story moves at a very gentle pace and some aspects do stretch the credibility; the romances are extra sweet and fairly predictable. Quite enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter.
September 12, 2024
The Secret Ingredient is a beautiful story about food, memories, and the healing power of community. Kate Shaw, struggling with grief after losing her husband, Eddie, finds herself reconnecting with life by returning to the kitchen. As she fumbles through recipes, she bonds with a group of people, all working through their own struggles.
What makes the book special is how food becomes a metaphor for life, reminding us that it’s meant to be lived. Recipes scattered throughout the book add a charming touch, each connected to a meaningful scene. Charles and Mary, an elderly couple with hearts of gold, were my favourite characters 🍽️ ❤️ 🍳
3.5 ⭐️ A beautiful, comforting read 💖
What makes the book special is how food becomes a metaphor for life, reminding us that it’s meant to be lived. Recipes scattered throughout the book add a charming touch, each connected to a meaningful scene. Charles and Mary, an elderly couple with hearts of gold, were my favourite characters 🍽️ ❤️ 🍳
3.5 ⭐️ A beautiful, comforting read 💖
January 6, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Secret Ingredient, by Sue Heath, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Kate used to love cooking, but life got off track, as it tends to do, and she stopped cooking. Kate is going to start cooking again, get her life back on track. This is a good read, so much going on, then cooking.
February 18, 2024
A beautiful story which is sad and happy all rolled into one. This book just carried me along and I was completely immersed in its pages. It made me laugh and it made me cry. I loved Charles, he was such a sweet man who lo Ed Mary and helped his neighbours. I didn't want to finish this o e. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
February 9, 2024
The Secret Ingredient is just the most beautiful story filled with grace and kindness. It’s about friendship, loss and the coming together of people through companionship and recipes from their pasts. It’s about heartbreaking pain and how with the help of others even though there is darkness, you can get to the light. In more ways than one.
Kate Shaw’s life changed in the blink of an eye. Now, three years later, with the grief and guilt still overwhelming her, she decides to quit her job as a teacher and do something else. Not sure what, she just knows she as to do something to stop her life from spiraling out of control. Not very close to her mother, she carries her burdens alone. In the dark. With no comfort.
But that suddenly changes when an elderly man named Charles knocks on her door. He tells her the story of how her home use to be a bakery of sorts with tea and he and his wife Mary used to go there. He tells her his wife is ill and the one thing he thinks will help her are the scones which came from this bakery. Now, Kate not only does not cook, although her grandmother did and she still has her recipe book, but the thought of any kind of cooking breaks her heart.
But Charles convinces Kate that Mary would so much appreciate the scones that she could help her make them. In the meantime, as Kate is looking around her neighborhood, which while working she really never did, or never wanted to do, she meets another person, Della who loves to garden. Della offers to help Kate with her gardens which have been neglected. In return, Kate invites her to the tea to try the scones. Della is divorced and lonely, but her dog is everything to her. Of course, she jumps at the chance. Then there is Jack, who himself was a famous restaurant owner/chef who gave everything up. You see, Jack has lost his mojo and by mojo, his sense of taste. Without that, he has nothing. Or so he thinks.
And those my friends are the wonderfully charming characters you will learn to love and care about, even if you say you won’t. It’s about opening up about fears, pasts, guilts and losses. It’s about a group of unknowns who meet and through the love of eating, cooking and memories begin to bond and grow in strength separately and together. My friends, it’s about love.
Each person brings something to the table as they not only share meals but share themselves with the others. Every person has their own special secret ingredient in life. Sometimes if your very lucky you will find others whose ingredients will combine with yours and you will find true happiness in your life too.
Thank you #NetGalley #OneMoreChapter #SueHeath #TheSecretIngredient for the advanced copy.
Kate Shaw’s life changed in the blink of an eye. Now, three years later, with the grief and guilt still overwhelming her, she decides to quit her job as a teacher and do something else. Not sure what, she just knows she as to do something to stop her life from spiraling out of control. Not very close to her mother, she carries her burdens alone. In the dark. With no comfort.
But that suddenly changes when an elderly man named Charles knocks on her door. He tells her the story of how her home use to be a bakery of sorts with tea and he and his wife Mary used to go there. He tells her his wife is ill and the one thing he thinks will help her are the scones which came from this bakery. Now, Kate not only does not cook, although her grandmother did and she still has her recipe book, but the thought of any kind of cooking breaks her heart.
But Charles convinces Kate that Mary would so much appreciate the scones that she could help her make them. In the meantime, as Kate is looking around her neighborhood, which while working she really never did, or never wanted to do, she meets another person, Della who loves to garden. Della offers to help Kate with her gardens which have been neglected. In return, Kate invites her to the tea to try the scones. Della is divorced and lonely, but her dog is everything to her. Of course, she jumps at the chance. Then there is Jack, who himself was a famous restaurant owner/chef who gave everything up. You see, Jack has lost his mojo and by mojo, his sense of taste. Without that, he has nothing. Or so he thinks.
And those my friends are the wonderfully charming characters you will learn to love and care about, even if you say you won’t. It’s about opening up about fears, pasts, guilts and losses. It’s about a group of unknowns who meet and through the love of eating, cooking and memories begin to bond and grow in strength separately and together. My friends, it’s about love.
Each person brings something to the table as they not only share meals but share themselves with the others. Every person has their own special secret ingredient in life. Sometimes if your very lucky you will find others whose ingredients will combine with yours and you will find true happiness in your life too.
Thank you #NetGalley #OneMoreChapter #SueHeath #TheSecretIngredient for the advanced copy.
January 8, 2024
The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath is an emotional story about a young woman named Kate who loses her husband after only a few years of marriage. A couple of years after his death, she realizes that she’s locked herself away in routine and hasn’t properly grieved his loss, so she quits her job for self discovery and to teach herself how to cook as that was his passion and something he was supposed to teach her.
On her journey of self discovery she learns that she has shut herself off from the community surrounding her as well; her new neighbor, Justin, who is facing his own demons; Charles and Mary, a sweet elderly couple who are facing their own health issues; and Della, divorced and nervous to move on. Together, they will learn the secret ingredient of life and how to move on in the face of grief and loss.
This was a beautiful novel. It moved quickly, and I thought there were times the story could have lowed down a bit and given more detail. I was a bit nervous when I saw the chapters were from multiple perspectives but it added a lot to the story. I felt the characters could have been more fleshed out; however, I felt they were each written as an example of dealing with grief or loss, so while I would have liked to know more about them, it wouldn’t have necessarily served the story being told. I loved that the recipes were included. I would give four stars for the story and five stars for the emotional impact, which would equal 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in response for my honest review.
On her journey of self discovery she learns that she has shut herself off from the community surrounding her as well; her new neighbor, Justin, who is facing his own demons; Charles and Mary, a sweet elderly couple who are facing their own health issues; and Della, divorced and nervous to move on. Together, they will learn the secret ingredient of life and how to move on in the face of grief and loss.
This was a beautiful novel. It moved quickly, and I thought there were times the story could have lowed down a bit and given more detail. I was a bit nervous when I saw the chapters were from multiple perspectives but it added a lot to the story. I felt the characters could have been more fleshed out; however, I felt they were each written as an example of dealing with grief or loss, so while I would have liked to know more about them, it wouldn’t have necessarily served the story being told. I loved that the recipes were included. I would give four stars for the story and five stars for the emotional impact, which would equal 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in response for my honest review.
January 20, 2024
This is one of the best books I have read recently. It’s a book about neighbours, support, love and friendship. The story starts with characters Kate and Eddie, after a tragedy Kate is alone, after some time she meets her neighbours Della, the wonderful Mary and Charles, then along comes David and Jack.
This book did make me cry and chuckle but that just adds to the wonderful story. Highly recommend this book
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter for the early read.
This book did make me cry and chuckle but that just adds to the wonderful story. Highly recommend this book
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter for the early read.
December 4, 2024
"There is no single secret ingredient to happiness in life, it’s different for everybody. I hope this story can play a small part in helping you find yours, if you haven’t already done so." Sue Heath
This isn’t a fast paced exciting book. This is a slow read, take each and every page in, kind of book. It is a book that I’m pretty sure I will read again. You could look at it as a depressing topic, but at the age of almost 68, I did not… It’s a story about loss, and growth after loss. Not just loss of life, but loss of anything that has meaning in our lives. I loved the focus on recipes, cooking and baking - that just made me happy. I might even go back and make some of the recipes! It was a sweet story that made me cry happy (and sad) tears. It’s a warm cup of homemade cocoa that you just sip on and take in, very slowly. I will be looking for more from this author.
This isn’t a fast paced exciting book. This is a slow read, take each and every page in, kind of book. It is a book that I’m pretty sure I will read again. You could look at it as a depressing topic, but at the age of almost 68, I did not… It’s a story about loss, and growth after loss. Not just loss of life, but loss of anything that has meaning in our lives. I loved the focus on recipes, cooking and baking - that just made me happy. I might even go back and make some of the recipes! It was a sweet story that made me cry happy (and sad) tears. It’s a warm cup of homemade cocoa that you just sip on and take in, very slowly. I will be looking for more from this author.
January 19, 2024
I so love foodie novels. I seen this and knew I had to have it.
This novel made me laugh out loud, drool and snifle at times.
Kate is a wonderful character and I loved her instantly. She was a delight to know.
I finished this book in one evening because I couldn't put it down! I loved every minute of it.
The cover of the book is cute too.In truth it and the description was what made me take it. Plus, I love trying out new authors and this one didn't disappoint.
A wonderful story that kept me turning the pages long into the evening to see what happened next.
One of the many quotes that I loved It's a long quote because it's a two in one.
Della was doing some remembering about Justin.
‘I’m just annoyed with myself, I’m not upset.’ And it was true. ‘But it’s perfectly normal to associate things with people, isn’t it? It’s always going to be like that. We did have happy times.’ They did,they had some wonderful times together. ‘I shouldn’t let the fact that it was all based on a lie sour my memories, should I? It’s my life, my past. And –’ she glanced up at Kate, ‘– it’s what happens to you, what you do, that makes you who you are, isn’t it?’
Memories cam be painful and grand. But sometimes they can make you cry when you least expect it too.
And I loved this quote also
‘She had nothing to be scared of,’ Kate said. ‘We’re all scared of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to.of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to.
Isn’t that what drives us, fear? Fear of failure, fear of not being good enough,fear of not winning, fear of the unknown.’
Fear, the biggest kicker of all!: it prevents us from doing anything that we need or want to do. Sad isn't it?
This book was fun to read and one thing that stood out to me was
Always tell someone that you love them make time for them because one day they're not gonna be there anymore. Tomorrow's never promised or even today. This was the part that made me cry because you just never knew know. Only God knows.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This novel made me laugh out loud, drool and snifle at times.
Kate is a wonderful character and I loved her instantly. She was a delight to know.
I finished this book in one evening because I couldn't put it down! I loved every minute of it.
The cover of the book is cute too.In truth it and the description was what made me take it. Plus, I love trying out new authors and this one didn't disappoint.
A wonderful story that kept me turning the pages long into the evening to see what happened next.
One of the many quotes that I loved It's a long quote because it's a two in one.
Della was doing some remembering about Justin.
‘I’m just annoyed with myself, I’m not upset.’ And it was true. ‘But it’s perfectly normal to associate things with people, isn’t it? It’s always going to be like that. We did have happy times.’ They did,they had some wonderful times together. ‘I shouldn’t let the fact that it was all based on a lie sour my memories, should I? It’s my life, my past. And –’ she glanced up at Kate, ‘– it’s what happens to you, what you do, that makes you who you are, isn’t it?’
Memories cam be painful and grand. But sometimes they can make you cry when you least expect it too.
And I loved this quote also
‘She had nothing to be scared of,’ Kate said. ‘We’re all scared of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to.of something, things that other people don’t give a second thought to.
Isn’t that what drives us, fear? Fear of failure, fear of not being good enough,fear of not winning, fear of the unknown.’
Fear, the biggest kicker of all!: it prevents us from doing anything that we need or want to do. Sad isn't it?
This book was fun to read and one thing that stood out to me was
Always tell someone that you love them make time for them because one day they're not gonna be there anymore. Tomorrow's never promised or even today. This was the part that made me cry because you just never knew know. Only God knows.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2023
A sweet story of loss, loneliness, love, and finding a community to share your life.
Kate’s husband, Eddie, died, and she feels guilt and sadness. She suddenly quits her job and steps into the kitchen to try and experience her late husband’s love of cooking. The disaster of that day and meeting her elderly neighbor begins the shift in her life, which will open her up to new experiences and people. She begins to meet and cook with the characters in her neighborhood. As these friendships form, each person’s life is changed.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the characters. The recipes they cook and share begin to create a connection and friendship between them. This is a story of starting over, forgiveness and finding those people who become your tribe.
I loved the recipes in the book, the characters, and the hope this book left with me.
I would highly recommend this book. Put it on your TBR. The book will be published on January 18, 2024 so preorder it today
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author, Sue Heath, for the e-ARC.
Kate’s husband, Eddie, died, and she feels guilt and sadness. She suddenly quits her job and steps into the kitchen to try and experience her late husband’s love of cooking. The disaster of that day and meeting her elderly neighbor begins the shift in her life, which will open her up to new experiences and people. She begins to meet and cook with the characters in her neighborhood. As these friendships form, each person’s life is changed.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the characters. The recipes they cook and share begin to create a connection and friendship between them. This is a story of starting over, forgiveness and finding those people who become your tribe.
I loved the recipes in the book, the characters, and the hope this book left with me.
I would highly recommend this book. Put it on your TBR. The book will be published on January 18, 2024 so preorder it today
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author, Sue Heath, for the e-ARC.
December 16, 2024
A story of friendship, love, acceptance, and forgiveness. A mix of romance and cooking with recipes included!! 😋
November 30, 2025
The characters are likeable and well written as they each deal with their own grief and loss. Each neighbour has their own story, as they build friendship and support, brought together through a love of food.
I do love the addition of recipes within the book.
I do love the addition of recipes within the book.
January 15, 2024
Content warning: loss, death, cancer. Possible spoiler warnings.
Kate and Eddie have the perfect relationship - one that's easy and loving and they just *fit*. Eddie's love language is cooking for others, while Kate doesn't even know how to make pancakes. But a tragic accident on their anniversary leaves Kate a widow, wracked with guilt for the things she never got to say.
Three years after Eddie's death, she meets Charles, the frail, forgetful elderly man from down the road, who seems convinced her house is a tearoom. Through Charles, she meets Mary, Charles' beloved wife, who teaches Kate to cook to keep her mind off her own illness; she meets gardener Della, and her puppy Chip who teach her the healing power of bacon butties. And she meets Jack, the former celebrity chef who packed it all in after a illness left him unable to cook.
All of the neighbours have suffered great losses, but through the acts of helping each other and cooking for each other they learn to heal.
Food brings people together. Food, or the smell of food, elicits memories. Food can be a comfort while also taking you out of your comfort zone. And cooking somebody's favourite foods is a gift from the heart. But this is a book not just about food, but about community, of belonging and of healing. All of the characters are broken in some way, and they're all very different but together they're ok. They belong.
The Secret Ingredient is a beautiful book - one that inspires all of the senses: one could see Della's brilliant garden and the sumptuous spreads, taste the pork crackles, smell the freesias, and feel all the feelings.
This book made me ugly cry. I'd been warned this was a tear-jerker when I picked it up, and right out the gate we get hit with Eddie's accident. Everything is cozy and heartwarming and I'm loving the community and growth and character development across all of them, and then the last 20% of the book requires an extraordinary amount of tissues. Four massive hits at the end of the book leading to a bittersweet ending.
There are recipes included in The Secret Ingredient, and I'm looking forward to trying them once I've recovered from the emotions of this book.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
Kate and Eddie have the perfect relationship - one that's easy and loving and they just *fit*. Eddie's love language is cooking for others, while Kate doesn't even know how to make pancakes. But a tragic accident on their anniversary leaves Kate a widow, wracked with guilt for the things she never got to say.
Three years after Eddie's death, she meets Charles, the frail, forgetful elderly man from down the road, who seems convinced her house is a tearoom. Through Charles, she meets Mary, Charles' beloved wife, who teaches Kate to cook to keep her mind off her own illness; she meets gardener Della, and her puppy Chip who teach her the healing power of bacon butties. And she meets Jack, the former celebrity chef who packed it all in after a illness left him unable to cook.
All of the neighbours have suffered great losses, but through the acts of helping each other and cooking for each other they learn to heal.
Food brings people together. Food, or the smell of food, elicits memories. Food can be a comfort while also taking you out of your comfort zone. And cooking somebody's favourite foods is a gift from the heart. But this is a book not just about food, but about community, of belonging and of healing. All of the characters are broken in some way, and they're all very different but together they're ok. They belong.
The Secret Ingredient is a beautiful book - one that inspires all of the senses: one could see Della's brilliant garden and the sumptuous spreads, taste the pork crackles, smell the freesias, and feel all the feelings.
This book made me ugly cry. I'd been warned this was a tear-jerker when I picked it up, and right out the gate we get hit with Eddie's accident. Everything is cozy and heartwarming and I'm loving the community and growth and character development across all of them, and then the last 20% of the book requires an extraordinary amount of tissues. Four massive hits at the end of the book leading to a bittersweet ending.
There are recipes included in The Secret Ingredient, and I'm looking forward to trying them once I've recovered from the emotions of this book.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
February 2, 2024
There were things I liked about this book and some I didn’t.
It’s a book about starting over and opening up to new people and new experiences. I loved the concept of the book.
Kates new husband dies tragically and unexpectedly in an accident. She feels a lot of remorse and guilt with her grief. 3 years later she decides to quit her teaching job and start a new life. She connects with the neighborhood.
I loved the beginning of the book. I thought the characters had depth and I enjoyed getting to know them. As the book progressed I lost interest. There were a few issues I had. First the book is a little unrealistic for me. I couldn’t figure out why a 35 year old teacher would leave her steady job to do what? Nothing? She has no kids or husband. It makes no sense to me. She is living like she’s 60. I understand taking some time off to reflect and grieve but it seems she has no actual plan or purpose besides baking. Another thing is that as a teacher you would be surrounded by like minded young professionals. It seems like the perfect place to make some friends. Honestly cutting yourself off from society is a recipe for disaster and a pipe dream.
I also found it odd that Jack would just sell his restaurant because he got Covid. It felt unrealistic. Yes it’s unfortunate you have Covid and cannot taste food but you are running a successful restaurant. Hire someone to help you. The plot seems a little far fetched for me. The book is character driven but it slows down and there isn’t a lot of forward momentum. I was a little bored in the middle. If you love a slow paced sweet book that centers around cooking this might be for you.
It’s a book about starting over and opening up to new people and new experiences. I loved the concept of the book.
Kates new husband dies tragically and unexpectedly in an accident. She feels a lot of remorse and guilt with her grief. 3 years later she decides to quit her teaching job and start a new life. She connects with the neighborhood.
I loved the beginning of the book. I thought the characters had depth and I enjoyed getting to know them. As the book progressed I lost interest. There were a few issues I had. First the book is a little unrealistic for me. I couldn’t figure out why a 35 year old teacher would leave her steady job to do what? Nothing? She has no kids or husband. It makes no sense to me. She is living like she’s 60. I understand taking some time off to reflect and grieve but it seems she has no actual plan or purpose besides baking. Another thing is that as a teacher you would be surrounded by like minded young professionals. It seems like the perfect place to make some friends. Honestly cutting yourself off from society is a recipe for disaster and a pipe dream.
I also found it odd that Jack would just sell his restaurant because he got Covid. It felt unrealistic. Yes it’s unfortunate you have Covid and cannot taste food but you are running a successful restaurant. Hire someone to help you. The plot seems a little far fetched for me. The book is character driven but it slows down and there isn’t a lot of forward momentum. I was a little bored in the middle. If you love a slow paced sweet book that centers around cooking this might be for you.
January 27, 2024
Thank you to @onemorechapterhc and @harpercollinsuk for the advanced copy of this book via @netgalley 💕
🏠You never know what is happening behind the closed doors of your neighbors. Never know what they are dealing with until… you knock and ask questions. 🚪
This lovely book describes the lives of 5 people of various generations within one neighborhood. Their lives become intertwined when one of them, a seemingly confused and “muddled” old man, knocks on the door of a young widow who is drowning in her grief. What ensues is a heartbreaking and heart warming story of friendship between neighbors and how cooking can heal broken hearts. 💔
👩🏻🍳 I love a book with cooking involved but this one was so beautifully written and really tugged at your heart strings. I fell in love with the sweet old Charles and Mary and the young widow, Kate’s pain was palpable. The way the author wrote about her stages of grief felt realistic and genuine. I love when an author evokes those moments of really feeling the characters heart. I think Kate was the most evolved character by the end of the story.
Since the one of the themes was cooking, I made one of the first recipes, “Mother’s recipe for Scones” with an American version of Cornish clotted cream (quicker/shortcut way). They didn’t really look like the scones that I have had before, which were more like biscuits. So maybe I messed something up? Oh well, my family enjoyed them.
🏠You never know what is happening behind the closed doors of your neighbors. Never know what they are dealing with until… you knock and ask questions. 🚪
This lovely book describes the lives of 5 people of various generations within one neighborhood. Their lives become intertwined when one of them, a seemingly confused and “muddled” old man, knocks on the door of a young widow who is drowning in her grief. What ensues is a heartbreaking and heart warming story of friendship between neighbors and how cooking can heal broken hearts. 💔
👩🏻🍳 I love a book with cooking involved but this one was so beautifully written and really tugged at your heart strings. I fell in love with the sweet old Charles and Mary and the young widow, Kate’s pain was palpable. The way the author wrote about her stages of grief felt realistic and genuine. I love when an author evokes those moments of really feeling the characters heart. I think Kate was the most evolved character by the end of the story.
Since the one of the themes was cooking, I made one of the first recipes, “Mother’s recipe for Scones” with an American version of Cornish clotted cream (quicker/shortcut way). They didn’t really look like the scones that I have had before, which were more like biscuits. So maybe I messed something up? Oh well, my family enjoyed them.
February 14, 2024
I cannot give this wonderful piece of art anything less than five stars, although to me it deserves fifty and that still doesn’t come close to how much I loved this how wonderful it is. I went into this book, hoping for a good story,well I’m not sure what I was expecting other than good things and boy did I get them ! Sue surpassed all my expectations and gave me things I didn’t know I wanted or needed in my life.
The Secret Ingredient led me gently into its pages and took me by the hand as I got lost in this world of wonderful and heartfelt writing full of vibrant characters, and the most beautiful story. It felt like a friend was with me, handing the tissues over to me when I was crying, grabbing me a jumper in the evening when it was cold. It may sound bizarre but that’s how much of heartwarming read this is, how much I connected with Kate and her journey, along with that other other characters along the story.
I can’t recommend Sue Heath’s books enough to you, her beautiful and thoroughly skilled writing is a joy to read, her characters and community are so comforting I didn’t want to leave them at the end and all the recipes, well I haven’t tried any yet but there’s a handful I’m ready to dive in and try. That’s what you should do with this, dive in and give it a go, you won’t regret a single page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Secret Ingredient led me gently into its pages and took me by the hand as I got lost in this world of wonderful and heartfelt writing full of vibrant characters, and the most beautiful story. It felt like a friend was with me, handing the tissues over to me when I was crying, grabbing me a jumper in the evening when it was cold. It may sound bizarre but that’s how much of heartwarming read this is, how much I connected with Kate and her journey, along with that other other characters along the story.
I can’t recommend Sue Heath’s books enough to you, her beautiful and thoroughly skilled writing is a joy to read, her characters and community are so comforting I didn’t want to leave them at the end and all the recipes, well I haven’t tried any yet but there’s a handful I’m ready to dive in and try. That’s what you should do with this, dive in and give it a go, you won’t regret a single page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2024
This is the story of Kate, Eddie, their neighbours and the power of food. The power of food for memories, the power of food for connections and the power of food for healing. Three years after the death of husband Eddie, Kate is ready to face her grief, she throws in her job as a teacher. With more time on her hands she starts to cook recipes from Eddie’s notebook as a way to connect with him. In doing so she manages to connect with a number of neighbours she never had time for before and finds that most of them had bonded with Eddie over food before his death.
This was such a heartwarming and beautiful story. Full of the most amazing characters I have come across in a novel. I enjoyed getting to know Kate and see her grow and move on and connect with all the different side characters. I liked that you got each characters point of view and got to know each of them and their story. I loved the way they came together, it was like they found family and I was also lucky to be a part of it. This novel will stay with me for some time.
This was such a heartwarming and beautiful story. Full of the most amazing characters I have come across in a novel. I enjoyed getting to know Kate and see her grow and move on and connect with all the different side characters. I liked that you got each characters point of view and got to know each of them and their story. I loved the way they came together, it was like they found family and I was also lucky to be a part of it. This novel will stay with me for some time.
January 10, 2025
Is not bad... but, is it good? - Debatable.
I'm not disappointed, I think from the moment I read the premise of this book I knew it would be an easy, mellow, wholesome story. And it was. But, I did not expect for it to be so dull.
Over 300 pages of neighbors talking about what food to cook and share with each other.
Like I get it, trust me I got the message of the story, at some points it felt shoved down my throat.
"Connections are important, communication is key, build a support system, grow out of your fears, step out of your comfort zone, new beginning's, acceptance, forgiveness"
The execution lacked that je ne sais quoi that drives readers to read one more chapter. I could not, no matter how hard I tried, connect with the characters (and I literally went through the same struggle that Kate had with her husband) and their storylines.
A novel doesn't need to be dramatic but it should be engaging.
2.5/5
I'm not disappointed, I think from the moment I read the premise of this book I knew it would be an easy, mellow, wholesome story. And it was. But, I did not expect for it to be so dull.
Over 300 pages of neighbors talking about what food to cook and share with each other.
Like I get it, trust me I got the message of the story, at some points it felt shoved down my throat.
"Connections are important, communication is key, build a support system, grow out of your fears, step out of your comfort zone, new beginning's, acceptance, forgiveness"
The execution lacked that je ne sais quoi that drives readers to read one more chapter. I could not, no matter how hard I tried, connect with the characters (and I literally went through the same struggle that Kate had with her husband) and their storylines.
A novel doesn't need to be dramatic but it should be engaging.
2.5/5
December 9, 2024
I’m blown away by this book, I finished it in just over a day. Couldn’t put it down, what a page turner. It’s amazing how a book filled with as much tragedy as this one was, was as good as it was. I loved Charles, Kate, Mary and all the characters. They all have their sorrows and their life changing moments, but this brings them all together at a time when one of them needs the rest.
Kate’s life changed in a heartbeat, her husband went out and never came back. She’s trying to live but barely, until she gives up her job and soon after, Charles knocks on her door. This is where the fun starts, despite the sadness laced throughout.
Such a wonderfully written book, with the best most interesting characters I’ve read in a while. I’ll be keeping this author on my radar, and will definitely revisit this book one day. Be rude not to.
Kate’s life changed in a heartbeat, her husband went out and never came back. She’s trying to live but barely, until she gives up her job and soon after, Charles knocks on her door. This is where the fun starts, despite the sadness laced throughout.
Such a wonderfully written book, with the best most interesting characters I’ve read in a while. I’ll be keeping this author on my radar, and will definitely revisit this book one day. Be rude not to.
December 12, 2023
The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath should not be missed. There’s so much more to this story than the one about how sharing food can bring people together. It’s a story about redefining oneself after a life changing loss. It’s a story about friendship, family, community, and new beginnings…with some interesting recipes. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.
May 27, 2024
A lovely premise, with shockingly wattpad-esque dialogue.
February 15, 2024
We start off the story with Kate happy in her marriage to Eddie, who is a wonderful cook, but something happens and we move three years ahead to find her alone, only thirty-three years old and trying to get used to life as a widow.
Jack has also faced a crisis in his life. After contracting an illness, he couldn’t taste or smell correctly. For a chef, this was a life-changing issue and he felt he couldn’t do his job properly anymore. Deciding to start again somewhere else, he rents a house – near to Kate’s.
After the neighbourhood typically being the kind where everyone says hello to each other, but not much more, things change. Thanks to the intervention of the wonderful Charles and his wife Mary (who are both in their eighties), things change and people start to talk to each other, really talk, about their feelings and emotions.
There’s also Della, who is now single at fifty-nine and loves gardening, hindered comically by her adorable puppy Clint. She makes friends with another neighbour David, who is sixty and also loves gardening.
This is a gorgeous, character-led novel with such beautiful themes and so much warmth and love between its pages. Food – making it and growing it - lead to a new social experience for them all – new friendships developing, possibly new romantic relationships… possibilities and optimism, hope, good times, things to look forward to… The story is full of emotions, which we share as readers because the characters are real to us and we care about them and their lives and happiness.
This is a novel I would categorise as ‘uplit’ – it’s uplifting, heartwarming, an example of old-fashioned community spirit returning to the modern world. Everyone has their own story, and their own challenges, which we learn about too, but coming together makes everyone’s lives that bit brighter and more fulfilling.
Jack has also faced a crisis in his life. After contracting an illness, he couldn’t taste or smell correctly. For a chef, this was a life-changing issue and he felt he couldn’t do his job properly anymore. Deciding to start again somewhere else, he rents a house – near to Kate’s.
After the neighbourhood typically being the kind where everyone says hello to each other, but not much more, things change. Thanks to the intervention of the wonderful Charles and his wife Mary (who are both in their eighties), things change and people start to talk to each other, really talk, about their feelings and emotions.
There’s also Della, who is now single at fifty-nine and loves gardening, hindered comically by her adorable puppy Clint. She makes friends with another neighbour David, who is sixty and also loves gardening.
This is a gorgeous, character-led novel with such beautiful themes and so much warmth and love between its pages. Food – making it and growing it - lead to a new social experience for them all – new friendships developing, possibly new romantic relationships… possibilities and optimism, hope, good times, things to look forward to… The story is full of emotions, which we share as readers because the characters are real to us and we care about them and their lives and happiness.
This is a novel I would categorise as ‘uplit’ – it’s uplifting, heartwarming, an example of old-fashioned community spirit returning to the modern world. Everyone has their own story, and their own challenges, which we learn about too, but coming together makes everyone’s lives that bit brighter and more fulfilling.
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