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The Sweetest Thing
In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she’s decorating a cake. Unfortunately, everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.
But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems—only her dad’s about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.
But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems—only her dad’s about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
20 people are currently reading
3142 people want to read
About the author
Christina Mandelski
8 books115 followersWhen I was a kid, I loved to read and write, and I loved going to the library. It was in the children's departments of the libraries I frequented that my dream of becoming a writer took hold. I'd find the place on the shelf where my name would fall, put my finger in that spot and say "that's where it'll go."
After quite a few detours, my dream of having a book on that library shelf is finally coming true this May. My first young adult novel, The Sweetest Thing, published by Egmont USA will be released.
It's a story that's dear to me, about a girl who is passionate about creating art. Here's a little synopsis:
Sheridan is happy making phenomenal cakes in her safe little world. All she needs is for her mother to come home and everything will be perfect. But when her super chef father gets his own reality TV show in New York City, Sheridan comes up with a desperate plan to find her mom and convince her dad to stay put.
After quite a few detours, my dream of having a book on that library shelf is finally coming true this May. My first young adult novel, The Sweetest Thing, published by Egmont USA will be released.
It's a story that's dear to me, about a girl who is passionate about creating art. Here's a little synopsis:
Sheridan is happy making phenomenal cakes in her safe little world. All she needs is for her mother to come home and everything will be perfect. But when her super chef father gets his own reality TV show in New York City, Sheridan comes up with a desperate plan to find her mom and convince her dad to stay put.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
April 23, 2012
My one-star rating is only for the first 100 pages of the book.
Cakes are Sheridan's life. They're all she thinks about, all she fantasizes about, all she decorates. That should make for a pretty sweet story, right? I imagine it would, if only Sheridan were half as sweet.
The 102 pages of this I managed to read are dedicated solely to Sheridan and her pity party. Her mom left when she was seven and ever since, she's held onto the hope that she'll come back and her family will be whole again. Which is normal. Except she's nearly sixteen and still obsessed with finding her mom. And she still believes her parents are going to get back together.
On top of that, she's immature, selfish, childish, dumb, and downright delusional. Her father's lifelong dream comes true and instead of being happy for him, she wallows in self-pity and snaps at everyone who tries to talk to her, because her dad being on a TV show means her life's changing again and she can't handle any of that after her mom left nearly 9 years ago.
And. And. AND Sheridan has the silliest crush on the local hottie. Again, perfectly normal at her age, but it would have been a lot less annoying if she had retained even an ounce of dignity in his presence. Just take this passage, for example (put under spoiler tags because it's pretty long):
Additionally, the dialogue is stiff and unnatural and I didn't understand most of the metaphors/similes used ("fine as frog hair" is supposed to mean what, exactly?). All the characters are two-dimensional and flat and I'm not even mildly curious about their fate. Maybe the story gets better, maybe it doesn't. I don't care enough about Sheridan to find out.
For more reviews, visit my blog.
Cakes are Sheridan's life. They're all she thinks about, all she fantasizes about, all she decorates. That should make for a pretty sweet story, right? I imagine it would, if only Sheridan were half as sweet.
The 102 pages of this I managed to read are dedicated solely to Sheridan and her pity party. Her mom left when she was seven and ever since, she's held onto the hope that she'll come back and her family will be whole again. Which is normal. Except she's nearly sixteen and still obsessed with finding her mom. And she still believes her parents are going to get back together.
On top of that, she's immature, selfish, childish, dumb, and downright delusional. Her father's lifelong dream comes true and instead of being happy for him, she wallows in self-pity and snaps at everyone who tries to talk to her, because her dad being on a TV show means her life's changing again and she can't handle any of that after her mom left nearly 9 years ago.
And. And. AND Sheridan has the silliest crush on the local hottie. Again, perfectly normal at her age, but it would have been a lot less annoying if she had retained even an ounce of dignity in his presence. Just take this passage, for example (put under spoiler tags because it's pretty long):
Additionally, the dialogue is stiff and unnatural and I didn't understand most of the metaphors/similes used ("fine as frog hair" is supposed to mean what, exactly?). All the characters are two-dimensional and flat and I'm not even mildly curious about their fate. Maybe the story gets better, maybe it doesn't. I don't care enough about Sheridan to find out.
For more reviews, visit my blog.
August 31, 2011
2.5/5
The Sweetest Thing... what I enjoyed most about it is how EVERYONE called her out on her being immature and bratty because she was both of those things and more. About to turn to sixteen, she could not seem to let go of her past, of her mother who'd left, and neither could she imagine being anywhere but where she was. Almost sixteen, she was very used to the way things were so when the possibility of change came in... she behaved like a brat.
Then there's her indecision to contend with... indecision with regard to the love interest because there's not one but two here, one of whom just happens to be her BFF. As usual, she's unaware of his feelings until the popular guys starts paying attention. It's this aspect of the story that I could have done without. It's been done so much already! Love triangle? Check. BFF in love with MC? Check? Said MC unaware of last fact?Check. Add the act that the two love interests are so typical. I could ask you to pick any other YA and subsitutute them in Ethan and Jack's place~ where one is sweet and considerate, the other is the popular jocky type. What made Ethan a teensy bit different is why he was in her life to begin with.
She's talented of course with everyone knowing her as Cake Girl, but she couldn't see anything beyond that. So I ENJOYED it when people around tried to get her to see what else she could be. She's just so stubborn though!
She wasn't the only one who could be disagreeable though. Her father, while well meaning did some things that shouldn't have been done, but this same fact had him coming across as flawed and thus realistic... if a little bit mean. Her mother, now she was written to be disapproved of, though she plays no active role in the book, she's always a factor in how Sheridan acted. But it's in relation to her that Sheridan learns what she's got to learn.. to let go.
While I did enjoy parts of this book a good deal of it had me scratching my head. I felt some of the characters were mere caricatures of what they could be, saying things that fit the moment than them as people. Then there were the moments that felt fake to me (like those between her and her grandmother.) But there were also other moments that felt authentic like with Lori's humor, observations.
As to me liking this book, well, I'm split as you can see...
THANKS NETGALLEY!
The Sweetest Thing... what I enjoyed most about it is how EVERYONE called her out on her being immature and bratty because she was both of those things and more. About to turn to sixteen, she could not seem to let go of her past, of her mother who'd left, and neither could she imagine being anywhere but where she was. Almost sixteen, she was very used to the way things were so when the possibility of change came in... she behaved like a brat.
Then there's her indecision to contend with... indecision with regard to the love interest because there's not one but two here, one of whom just happens to be her BFF. As usual, she's unaware of his feelings until the popular guys starts paying attention. It's this aspect of the story that I could have done without. It's been done so much already! Love triangle? Check. BFF in love with MC? Check? Said MC unaware of last fact?Check. Add the act that the two love interests are so typical. I could ask you to pick any other YA and subsitutute them in Ethan and Jack's place~ where one is sweet and considerate, the other is the popular jocky type. What made Ethan a teensy bit different is why he was in her life to begin with.
She's talented of course with everyone knowing her as Cake Girl, but she couldn't see anything beyond that. So I ENJOYED it when people around tried to get her to see what else she could be. She's just so stubborn though!
She wasn't the only one who could be disagreeable though. Her father, while well meaning did some things that shouldn't have been done, but this same fact had him coming across as flawed and thus realistic... if a little bit mean. Her mother, now she was written to be disapproved of, though she plays no active role in the book, she's always a factor in how Sheridan acted. But it's in relation to her that Sheridan learns what she's got to learn.. to let go.
While I did enjoy parts of this book a good deal of it had me scratching my head. I felt some of the characters were mere caricatures of what they could be, saying things that fit the moment than them as people. Then there were the moments that felt fake to me (like those between her and her grandmother.) But there were also other moments that felt authentic like with Lori's humor, observations.
As to me liking this book, well, I'm split as you can see...
THANKS NETGALLEY!
June 12, 2017
I just couldn't like Sheridan. She was just so terrible to everyone. She was also quite stubborn too. No matter how many times they told her not to do something she wouldn't listen. Quite frankly it got annoying. I liked the writing so I would try this author again. I just hope the main character will be more likable.
October 9, 2011
Sheridan’s life is spiraling out control. Actually, her life has been on a spin cycle since her mother left them years ago. Nowadays, her father only cares about his restaurant and becoming a television chef celebrity. But that’s okay. As soon as she finds her runaway mother, life will go back to normal and she won’t have to move to New York where her father could finally host his cooking show – or so she thinks.
Sheridan is a trying character to read. Often times, I found myself angry because of her foolish notions. Her determination to find a mother who never wanted her irritated me to no end. It seemed like she had her blinkers on all the time when it comes to the people who ACTUALLY love her.
But then I got to thinking: Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would move heaven and earth to get it? It’s a need that blinds you from all reasons that you would do anything to get it and hurt anyone that hinders your way? Well, Sheridan only wanted one thing: to finally have her mother at home like she’s been promising in all her communications with Sheridan. I understand where she was coming from, but that doesn’t mean that I warmed up to her.
I honestly had a hard time liking her or all the other major characters in the book. I especially disliked her father; cold and mean and closed up. At times I felt sorry for Sheridan because for all the love her family claimed to have for her, they just continually hurt her as her mother did by keeping a lot of things from her. Let’s not even talk about her vile, selfish, immature excuse for a mother because other than imparting her cake decorating knowledge to Sheridan, she was pretty much a useless human being. I honestly have never hated anyone as much as I hated this character.
The single saving grace came in the form of the best friend who’s been in love with Sheridan but couldn’t man up. I can honestly say that I forced myself to finish this because of Jack. Other than that, this book didn’t leave a good impression. Sorry.
ARC provided by Net Galley and Egmont USA in exchange for an honest review.
Sheridan is a trying character to read. Often times, I found myself angry because of her foolish notions. Her determination to find a mother who never wanted her irritated me to no end. It seemed like she had her blinkers on all the time when it comes to the people who ACTUALLY love her.
But then I got to thinking: Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would move heaven and earth to get it? It’s a need that blinds you from all reasons that you would do anything to get it and hurt anyone that hinders your way? Well, Sheridan only wanted one thing: to finally have her mother at home like she’s been promising in all her communications with Sheridan. I understand where she was coming from, but that doesn’t mean that I warmed up to her.
I honestly had a hard time liking her or all the other major characters in the book. I especially disliked her father; cold and mean and closed up. At times I felt sorry for Sheridan because for all the love her family claimed to have for her, they just continually hurt her as her mother did by keeping a lot of things from her. Let’s not even talk about her vile, selfish, immature excuse for a mother because other than imparting her cake decorating knowledge to Sheridan, she was pretty much a useless human being. I honestly have never hated anyone as much as I hated this character.
The single saving grace came in the form of the best friend who’s been in love with Sheridan but couldn’t man up. I can honestly say that I forced myself to finish this because of Jack. Other than that, this book didn’t leave a good impression. Sorry.
ARC provided by Net Galley and Egmont USA in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2011
When I picked up this book, I was expecting a lovey, dovey fluff book. One where I can relax and not get all my emotions jumbled. Well, I can say that I was wrong about this book. Really wrong! But, I liked it. It did what great writing is supposed to do. It caught me in it stickiness of cake frosting and held me down.
The plot line of this book is good. One thing I enjoyed is watching the characters grow in the plot line. The plot pacing is also amazing. As the reader, you are thrown into lies, deceptions created by others in order to protect but all it did is create more tension. I liked that the tension grew more and more as you continue to read deeper. I love that this book had a great build up to the truth. The reader is given information little by little, as well as the main character. There was so much left unsaid and undone, that watching them learn the truth was heart breaking yet exhilarating.
The love in this book is lovely as well as heart breaking. After learning the whole truth, Sheridan learns more about herself and how to deal with everything. But she also got a second chance at love. Something she never saw coming. I loved that Sheridan learned to let go and love what she has around her. That is not something easy to do, but I am glad that she did.
I can tell you that this is one amazing book! Even though it turn out not to be a fluffy book, it road me like a roller coaster! I enjoyed Ms. Mandelski great writing. Her characters, the plot, as well as her amazing descriptions of beautiful cakes and emotions, left me begging for more. She wrote about finding the truth and letting it go. She gave me a love worth fighting for and one I love to see in books.
The plot line of this book is good. One thing I enjoyed is watching the characters grow in the plot line. The plot pacing is also amazing. As the reader, you are thrown into lies, deceptions created by others in order to protect but all it did is create more tension. I liked that the tension grew more and more as you continue to read deeper. I love that this book had a great build up to the truth. The reader is given information little by little, as well as the main character. There was so much left unsaid and undone, that watching them learn the truth was heart breaking yet exhilarating.
The love in this book is lovely as well as heart breaking. After learning the whole truth, Sheridan learns more about herself and how to deal with everything. But she also got a second chance at love. Something she never saw coming. I loved that Sheridan learned to let go and love what she has around her. That is not something easy to do, but I am glad that she did.
I can tell you that this is one amazing book! Even though it turn out not to be a fluffy book, it road me like a roller coaster! I enjoyed Ms. Mandelski great writing. Her characters, the plot, as well as her amazing descriptions of beautiful cakes and emotions, left me begging for more. She wrote about finding the truth and letting it go. She gave me a love worth fighting for and one I love to see in books.
January 27, 2012
have you ever ate a huge Jawbreaker and at first it's sweet and yummy and all things tasty, but then you get past that first couple of layers and it starts to just taste nasty. To the point there is almost no way you can stand to eat the whole thing..... well, friends that is kinda how I feel about this book....only my enjoyment with it didn't last as long as my licking relationship with my jawbreaker....
Sheridan, aka Cake girl isn't very popular, doesn't know that many people but yet her Dad is this amazing chef who is about to get his own show. Yes, reality television has came into this poor girls life. She is terrified that she will have to move to New York with her Father, she feels like she must stay put because her Mom said she was coming back. From where you ask?? Who the heck knows, she's gone. She writes Sheridan a birthday card every year and states she loves and misses her, but that's it.
So in a nutshell this book is about:
Sheridan's father getting his show
Sheridan trying to find her Mother
Sheridan making cakes
and a love triangle between Sheridan, Jack and Ethan
Blah. Almost all of my notes in this book consist of:
a. griping at what terrible parents Cake girl has
b. calling Sheridan a baby
c. Calling the mom very inappropriate names
d. wanting to eat cake
2.5 stars
I'm just left with a sour note. This one didn't start of well, didn't finish well and I'm just left feeling bitter and hungry.
Sheridan, aka Cake girl isn't very popular, doesn't know that many people but yet her Dad is this amazing chef who is about to get his own show. Yes, reality television has came into this poor girls life. She is terrified that she will have to move to New York with her Father, she feels like she must stay put because her Mom said she was coming back. From where you ask?? Who the heck knows, she's gone. She writes Sheridan a birthday card every year and states she loves and misses her, but that's it.
So in a nutshell this book is about:
Sheridan's father getting his show
Sheridan trying to find her Mother
Sheridan making cakes
and a love triangle between Sheridan, Jack and Ethan
Blah. Almost all of my notes in this book consist of:
a. griping at what terrible parents Cake girl has
b. calling Sheridan a baby
c. Calling the mom very inappropriate names
d. wanting to eat cake
2.5 stars
I'm just left with a sour note. This one didn't start of well, didn't finish well and I'm just left feeling bitter and hungry.
November 4, 2012
The Sweetest Thing turned out to be not so sweet at all. I really thought that it was a cute story. And maybe it was meant to be a fun story, but the charm was lost on me.
See, one of my pet peeves when it comes to reading is whiny main characters. This girl is so whiny! I can't stand being in her head. Everything is always about her and her pity party. For a 15 year old she definitely acts like an 8. I'm 15 myself, but I don't act like a spoiled brat. Cripes.
The main has been through a lot and I understand that. That doesn't make me like her attitude and the things she has done. Everyone is telling her to get over herself. She didn't even do anything to redeem herself to people. Ugh.
I practically restrained myself to throw my e-reader while reading this one, all because of the characters. The mom is kind of selfish, the dad is kind of stoic. I liked the Dad though, at least there's a reason behind what he's doing, unlike her daughter. Some characters came out as flat characters but there are others who are memorable enough and are much likable than the main character.
The plot is alright, and a little bit of cliched. The writing was typical. The big surprise didn't really surprise me. In the end I was disappointed and frustrated.
Would I recommend it? Uh, I don't know. It depends on other people's tastes. As for me, I wouldn't bother rereading this one. Once is enough.
See, one of my pet peeves when it comes to reading is whiny main characters. This girl is so whiny! I can't stand being in her head. Everything is always about her and her pity party. For a 15 year old she definitely acts like an 8. I'm 15 myself, but I don't act like a spoiled brat. Cripes.
The main has been through a lot and I understand that. That doesn't make me like her attitude and the things she has done. Everyone is telling her to get over herself. She didn't even do anything to redeem herself to people. Ugh.
I practically restrained myself to throw my e-reader while reading this one, all because of the characters. The mom is kind of selfish, the dad is kind of stoic. I liked the Dad though, at least there's a reason behind what he's doing, unlike her daughter. Some characters came out as flat characters but there are others who are memorable enough and are much likable than the main character.
The plot is alright, and a little bit of cliched. The writing was typical. The big surprise didn't really surprise me. In the end I was disappointed and frustrated.
Would I recommend it? Uh, I don't know. It depends on other people's tastes. As for me, I wouldn't bother rereading this one. Once is enough.
Read
October 27, 201140 pages in and I cannot read anymore. I cannot connect with such a brat of a MC :-/
Next!
Next!
dnf
October 5, 2020I made it 154 pages before giving up.
Yeah, I made it pretty far, but I realized that I just didn’t want to read 200 pages of something I just didn’t care about. I didn’t really like the MC. I could understand why she’s upset, but she seemed to either be completely unaware of what others were feeling or just didn’t care. She only cared about her feelings. I was mildly interested in the plot of her father getting his own show and our MC trying to contact her mother until we got to the romance. I expected romance, but I didn’t expect the love interest (interests?) to be so flat and uninteresting. There seems to be a hint of a love triangle where the MC wants the popular guy, but her male best friend likes her. I’m sorry, but this trope is so overdone. That wouldn’t bother me if this was done well, but it wasn’t done well. Also, our MC is an outsider at school because she is “Cake Girl” and no one wants to be friends/in a relationship with Cake Girl. One, that is completely untrue based on the fact that she has friends and two guys who like her. Two, I think most people would want to be friends with a girl who can make awesome cakes. Anyway, I didn’t really care too much about what I read. I didn’t hate it, but it was looking like a two-star read, so I decided to put it aside.
Yeah, I made it pretty far, but I realized that I just didn’t want to read 200 pages of something I just didn’t care about. I didn’t really like the MC. I could understand why she’s upset, but she seemed to either be completely unaware of what others were feeling or just didn’t care. She only cared about her feelings. I was mildly interested in the plot of her father getting his own show and our MC trying to contact her mother until we got to the romance. I expected romance, but I didn’t expect the love interest (interests?) to be so flat and uninteresting. There seems to be a hint of a love triangle where the MC wants the popular guy, but her male best friend likes her. I’m sorry, but this trope is so overdone. That wouldn’t bother me if this was done well, but it wasn’t done well. Also, our MC is an outsider at school because she is “Cake Girl” and no one wants to be friends/in a relationship with Cake Girl. One, that is completely untrue based on the fact that she has friends and two guys who like her. Two, I think most people would want to be friends with a girl who can make awesome cakes. Anyway, I didn’t really care too much about what I read. I didn’t hate it, but it was looking like a two-star read, so I decided to put it aside.
December 8, 2022
Very cute!
February 10, 2012
The Sweetest Thing by Cristina Mandelski has been on my to be read list for a while now, because not only was the cover and title simply adorable, but the premise sounded amazing as well as Sarah Dessen like- which is ALWAYS a big win in my book. Luckily, I recently had the chance to read it, and even though it contained a few slight flaws, I found it to be just as sweet and endearing as it appeared!
The Sweetest Thing introduces the character of Sheridan Wells aka "Cake Girl." Sheridan has always taken great pride her in cakes because (a) she enjoys creating them and (b) it brings her closer to her MIA mother. Recently, though, the cakes have been the only constant good thing in her life, as not only did her father just spring a huge surprise on her-one that may change her life forever- but she's also dealing with friend as well as boy problems. However, Sheridan knows how she will fix this all: she will find her mother and ask for her to come back home. A win-win for all, right? Well, as Sheridan is soon to learn you can't have always have your cake and eat it too...
The Sweetest Thing has a lot of good things going for it, and one of them was definitely the plot. It wasn't the most original and suspenseful one out there, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. First, I liked seeing Sheridan's cake hobby. I don't thing I've ever read a YA book where the main character loved making cakes, so it was fun to see why Sheridan enjoyed making her cakes as well as the yummy descriptions of them. The mother-daughter drama in this one, though, got on my nerves from time to time. It was just a bit too cliched and compliant-filled for me to really get invested in it, and to be honest, I never really saw what Sheridan saw in her mother, because in all truth, her mother was a grade-a jerk for most of the book, especially towards the end. However, as they say, you live and you learn and that was without a doubt the case for Sheridan in this. The boy drama was also a little overdone, especially since it was easy to predict who Sheridan would end up with in the end, but I did enjoy seeing the different problems and twists that appeared up throughout Sheridan's path to her future boyfriend.
Sheridan herself was a character I had love-hate feelings toward, because while I did find her to be a funny and sweet girl for the most part, her constant whining as well as dependency on her mother got the best of me sometimes. I still enjoyed seeing her journey develop on the page, because she did evolve greatly as a character by the end. I really enjoyed the side characters in this one, though. I loved Lori's wisdom as well as her hilarious little one-lines, and Jack, Sheridan's other BFF, was just as great and lovebable! I also enjoyed seeing Sheridan's grandma.
Lastly, I really enjoyed the writing in this one. Christina created a very readable and addicting plot, even though I wasn't also the biggest fan of all the characters and plot lines. I also really enjoyed the titles for each chapter- they really managed to grab my attention.
Sweet as well as sugary, The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski is a decent debut. Not a "MUST-read" but certainly a great pick for a lazy day. I looked forward to reading more by Ms. Mandelski.
Grade: B
The Sweetest Thing introduces the character of Sheridan Wells aka "Cake Girl." Sheridan has always taken great pride her in cakes because (a) she enjoys creating them and (b) it brings her closer to her MIA mother. Recently, though, the cakes have been the only constant good thing in her life, as not only did her father just spring a huge surprise on her-one that may change her life forever- but she's also dealing with friend as well as boy problems. However, Sheridan knows how she will fix this all: she will find her mother and ask for her to come back home. A win-win for all, right? Well, as Sheridan is soon to learn you can't have always have your cake and eat it too...
The Sweetest Thing has a lot of good things going for it, and one of them was definitely the plot. It wasn't the most original and suspenseful one out there, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. First, I liked seeing Sheridan's cake hobby. I don't thing I've ever read a YA book where the main character loved making cakes, so it was fun to see why Sheridan enjoyed making her cakes as well as the yummy descriptions of them. The mother-daughter drama in this one, though, got on my nerves from time to time. It was just a bit too cliched and compliant-filled for me to really get invested in it, and to be honest, I never really saw what Sheridan saw in her mother, because in all truth, her mother was a grade-a jerk for most of the book, especially towards the end. However, as they say, you live and you learn and that was without a doubt the case for Sheridan in this. The boy drama was also a little overdone, especially since it was easy to predict who Sheridan would end up with in the end, but I did enjoy seeing the different problems and twists that appeared up throughout Sheridan's path to her future boyfriend.
Sheridan herself was a character I had love-hate feelings toward, because while I did find her to be a funny and sweet girl for the most part, her constant whining as well as dependency on her mother got the best of me sometimes. I still enjoyed seeing her journey develop on the page, because she did evolve greatly as a character by the end. I really enjoyed the side characters in this one, though. I loved Lori's wisdom as well as her hilarious little one-lines, and Jack, Sheridan's other BFF, was just as great and lovebable! I also enjoyed seeing Sheridan's grandma.
Lastly, I really enjoyed the writing in this one. Christina created a very readable and addicting plot, even though I wasn't also the biggest fan of all the characters and plot lines. I also really enjoyed the titles for each chapter- they really managed to grab my attention.
Sweet as well as sugary, The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski is a decent debut. Not a "MUST-read" but certainly a great pick for a lazy day. I looked forward to reading more by Ms. Mandelski.
Grade: B
January 30, 2011
Rating 2.75
Concoction of a Review:
I picked up this book not knowing what to expect in the least. Ok, the wonderful cover and first lines gives a huge part of the book away. Sheridan is a young awkward 15 year old known as Cake Girl, much to the obvious but she loves to decorate elaborate cakes. The cakes you can only dream up or see in articles. The premise was very intriguing…
Sheridan, blundering through adolescents and her trifling selfish decisions that she made throughout the story made it a tad bit of a long story. She spends much of her time working and decorating cakes in the bakery that her Nanny owned. She lives with her father, chef and owner of a splendid restaurant.
Sheridan was abandoned by her mother and it has been years since she has heard from her mother besides from a few birthday cards and broken promises. For some reason she can't let her mother go thinking that she knows that her mother still loves her. She spends much of her time looking for her mother with the help of a best friend, Jack.
The relationship between her and her father is not strong at all. It seems like just coexistence instead of a family relationship. She moans about her father not acting fatherly & lovey at all but to me I didn't see her reach out to him any way as well. Now that her father is on his way to getting his own TV show on a food network channel that would take them to New York City. She feels hurt and like she would be abandoning her hometown, her life & friends, and would most likely miss her mother coming to find her if she left. Everyone in town is so happy and proud that her father is about to become famous. Except… Sheridan.
What would this little tryst of a young adult novel be without a romance? It seems that she was never seen before but all of a sudden the "hottest" guy at school, Ethan, now has eyes for her. Sheridan turns into melted piles of goo when he kisses her and it seems like most of her common sense also is lacking. The Mad Scientist seen right through his motivation. Grr… I wanted to climb into the book and shake that girl out of her knee shaken boy coma. Of course, the new common occurrence including a twist of having to choose between another has not passed up this book. Her beloved best friend Jack has a crush on her which has just recently come to her attention. She is completely confused in this department. Her friend of all friends now wants more & the most popular guy is now her boyfriend.
Overall, the book was cute in a sweet kind of way. Sheridan didn't develop much throughout the book but towards the end you could see the life light bulb turn on in her head. It will take some time to warm up to Sheridan. I only wish that I could have seen some of those cakes that Sheridan spent so much time decorating. The imagery was good on that part but I'm not a cake person so my images are probably way off.
Rating: 2.75
The selfish decisions and narcissist attitude made for a longer read then needed.
Concoction of a Review:
I picked up this book not knowing what to expect in the least. Ok, the wonderful cover and first lines gives a huge part of the book away. Sheridan is a young awkward 15 year old known as Cake Girl, much to the obvious but she loves to decorate elaborate cakes. The cakes you can only dream up or see in articles. The premise was very intriguing…
Sheridan, blundering through adolescents and her trifling selfish decisions that she made throughout the story made it a tad bit of a long story. She spends much of her time working and decorating cakes in the bakery that her Nanny owned. She lives with her father, chef and owner of a splendid restaurant.
Sheridan was abandoned by her mother and it has been years since she has heard from her mother besides from a few birthday cards and broken promises. For some reason she can't let her mother go thinking that she knows that her mother still loves her. She spends much of her time looking for her mother with the help of a best friend, Jack.
The relationship between her and her father is not strong at all. It seems like just coexistence instead of a family relationship. She moans about her father not acting fatherly & lovey at all but to me I didn't see her reach out to him any way as well. Now that her father is on his way to getting his own TV show on a food network channel that would take them to New York City. She feels hurt and like she would be abandoning her hometown, her life & friends, and would most likely miss her mother coming to find her if she left. Everyone in town is so happy and proud that her father is about to become famous. Except… Sheridan.
What would this little tryst of a young adult novel be without a romance? It seems that she was never seen before but all of a sudden the "hottest" guy at school, Ethan, now has eyes for her. Sheridan turns into melted piles of goo when he kisses her and it seems like most of her common sense also is lacking. The Mad Scientist seen right through his motivation. Grr… I wanted to climb into the book and shake that girl out of her knee shaken boy coma. Of course, the new common occurrence including a twist of having to choose between another has not passed up this book. Her beloved best friend Jack has a crush on her which has just recently come to her attention. She is completely confused in this department. Her friend of all friends now wants more & the most popular guy is now her boyfriend.
Overall, the book was cute in a sweet kind of way. Sheridan didn't develop much throughout the book but towards the end you could see the life light bulb turn on in her head. It will take some time to warm up to Sheridan. I only wish that I could have seen some of those cakes that Sheridan spent so much time decorating. The imagery was good on that part but I'm not a cake person so my images are probably way off.
Rating: 2.75
The selfish decisions and narcissist attitude made for a longer read then needed.
January 20, 2011
Sappy Sweet
* I read this ARC via Star Book Tours.
* Book will be released on May 10. 2011
This book gets 2 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for this awesome cover and a story that was good but just went on much longer then it needed to.
I liked the whole premise of a girl who loves to put cakes together. Anyone who watches all the cake decorating show out there will probably be intrigued by this story.
Throughout much of the book up to about the mid 200 page range I just wanted to slap some sense into the main character, Sheridan aka Cake Girl. She seems to excel at making poor decisions and acts like a selfish word that rhymes with witch for most of the book.
The story is cute but the I wish that main character was more engaging right from the beginning of the book. She's the go to cake decorator in town but doesn't have much of a life beyond making cakes. Then her dad gets a deal for a cooking show and she kind of flips out about probably having to move to New York.
What really bothered me was how much she idolizes her mother and how naive she is at fifteen. Her mother left when she was eight but she is still looking for her.
Sheridan's relationship with her father is strained but I found myself just wanting to tell her that communication is a two way street. I hate to agree with a main character's friends but I too think that a teenager would be more likely to be excited about their parent getting a TV show and not angry like Sheridan is.
There's a love triangle in the book between her, her best friend Jack, and Ethan an uber popular guy. She is a tad bit indecisive about who she should be with. She falls hard for Ethan and goes out with him even though they've never talked that much before, he is also someone that she has put on a pedestal as being the perfect guy so her going out with him isn’t exactly a sound decision..
Her judgment of people just seems so off especially with people that are trying to help her like her dad (most of the time), Father Crowley and her art teacher. This character just seems to be a narcissit at heart so it takes quite a while to warm up to her.
My favorite characters were her Grandma who she calls Nanny and Mr. Roz who helps run the bakery. Nanny and Mr. Roz had some of the best lines in the book and were great characters that tended to help keep Sheridan grounded into the reality of what is important.
I think that the book probably could be 100 pages or so shorter, if it was it would really ramp up the conflict and tension more. There is to much story in the middle and not enough at the end. Towards the end of the book I was really starting to like the main character and wonder what she was going to do next. The ending was pretty good though a tad Lifetime esque, it does make you want to know what happens next to Sheridan and if all her plans will succeed.
* I read this ARC via Star Book Tours.
* Book will be released on May 10. 2011
This book gets 2 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for this awesome cover and a story that was good but just went on much longer then it needed to.
I liked the whole premise of a girl who loves to put cakes together. Anyone who watches all the cake decorating show out there will probably be intrigued by this story.
Throughout much of the book up to about the mid 200 page range I just wanted to slap some sense into the main character, Sheridan aka Cake Girl. She seems to excel at making poor decisions and acts like a selfish word that rhymes with witch for most of the book.
The story is cute but the I wish that main character was more engaging right from the beginning of the book. She's the go to cake decorator in town but doesn't have much of a life beyond making cakes. Then her dad gets a deal for a cooking show and she kind of flips out about probably having to move to New York.
What really bothered me was how much she idolizes her mother and how naive she is at fifteen. Her mother left when she was eight but she is still looking for her.
Sheridan's relationship with her father is strained but I found myself just wanting to tell her that communication is a two way street. I hate to agree with a main character's friends but I too think that a teenager would be more likely to be excited about their parent getting a TV show and not angry like Sheridan is.
There's a love triangle in the book between her, her best friend Jack, and Ethan an uber popular guy. She is a tad bit indecisive about who she should be with. She falls hard for Ethan and goes out with him even though they've never talked that much before, he is also someone that she has put on a pedestal as being the perfect guy so her going out with him isn’t exactly a sound decision..
Her judgment of people just seems so off especially with people that are trying to help her like her dad (most of the time), Father Crowley and her art teacher. This character just seems to be a narcissit at heart so it takes quite a while to warm up to her.
My favorite characters were her Grandma who she calls Nanny and Mr. Roz who helps run the bakery. Nanny and Mr. Roz had some of the best lines in the book and were great characters that tended to help keep Sheridan grounded into the reality of what is important.
I think that the book probably could be 100 pages or so shorter, if it was it would really ramp up the conflict and tension more. There is to much story in the middle and not enough at the end. Towards the end of the book I was really starting to like the main character and wonder what she was going to do next. The ending was pretty good though a tad Lifetime esque, it does make you want to know what happens next to Sheridan and if all her plans will succeed.
September 7, 2011
At First Sight: Sheridan's life turned upside down the day her mother didn't show up to pick her up from elementary school. Now, at 16, she spends her days working at her family's bakery, making beautiful cakes and trying to hang on until her mother returns; even if it has been two years since she last heard of her.
Meanwhile, Sheridan's father Donovan is busy building himself as a brand and it seems like he has been successful, as he has been offered a TV cooking show. The only catch? it means he and Sheridan have to move to New York.
Sheridan isn't okay with this plan, she is happy enough in her small town, even if she's mostly known as Cake Girl and doesn't have many friends other than Jack. She doesn't want to move, afraid her mother won't be able to find her when she finally comes home.
Things start to get complicated when a production crew comes into town to shoot the pilot episode of Donovan's series - The Single Dad Cooks - and Sheridan gets dragged into it, cakes and all.
Second Glance: The Sweetest Thing wasn't exactly what I expected, and though in general I liked it, I didn't like Sheridan or her mom. The story, the setting and the cakes were really nice - there is a definite element of food porn here - and I really liked characters like Donovan and Jack, and Mr. Roz... but all that was crushed by Sheridan.
She started to annoy me pretty early on, mostly because she keeps blaming her father for everything that ever goes wrong in her life, even though he's the parent that didn't abandon her. She easily forgets that Donovan stuck around and did all he could to make her happy. Not that Donovan couldn't be a little absentminded or even intransigent at times, but his love for his daughter was evident always, and Sheridan never sees it.
That's basically my hang up with the book, but it's pretty big.
Otherwise, I thought it was a good read.
Bottom Line: This was one of those cases when I liked everything but the narrator so I think the level of enjoyment for this one is directly proportional to whether or not you like Sheridan because she is the narrator and everything is 'tainted' by her view.
Favorite Quote: "God, I wish you'd stop acting like a four-year-old and accept the fact you got stuck with a shitty mom" - Donovan (and those are my thoughts exactly).
Meanwhile, Sheridan's father Donovan is busy building himself as a brand and it seems like he has been successful, as he has been offered a TV cooking show. The only catch? it means he and Sheridan have to move to New York.
Sheridan isn't okay with this plan, she is happy enough in her small town, even if she's mostly known as Cake Girl and doesn't have many friends other than Jack. She doesn't want to move, afraid her mother won't be able to find her when she finally comes home.
Things start to get complicated when a production crew comes into town to shoot the pilot episode of Donovan's series - The Single Dad Cooks - and Sheridan gets dragged into it, cakes and all.
Second Glance: The Sweetest Thing wasn't exactly what I expected, and though in general I liked it, I didn't like Sheridan or her mom. The story, the setting and the cakes were really nice - there is a definite element of food porn here - and I really liked characters like Donovan and Jack, and Mr. Roz... but all that was crushed by Sheridan.
She started to annoy me pretty early on, mostly because she keeps blaming her father for everything that ever goes wrong in her life, even though he's the parent that didn't abandon her. She easily forgets that Donovan stuck around and did all he could to make her happy. Not that Donovan couldn't be a little absentminded or even intransigent at times, but his love for his daughter was evident always, and Sheridan never sees it.
That's basically my hang up with the book, but it's pretty big.
Otherwise, I thought it was a good read.
Bottom Line: This was one of those cases when I liked everything but the narrator so I think the level of enjoyment for this one is directly proportional to whether or not you like Sheridan because she is the narrator and everything is 'tainted' by her view.
Favorite Quote: "God, I wish you'd stop acting like a four-year-old and accept the fact you got stuck with a shitty mom" - Donovan (and those are my thoughts exactly).
May 11, 2011
Sheridan Wells’ life revolves around cake. She loves decorating cakes. It’s the one thing that she is truly passionate about and what calms her down in times of stress. But unfortunately, there are other things in life aside from cake, like the fact that her mother left years ago, her father’s obsession with getting a cooking show, and her glaring lack of boyfriend. So Sheridan does what any girl would do in her situation—she comes up with a plan. Basically, she’s going to find her mom, convince her to come back home, and prevent her dad from moving to New York for a cooking show, all to bring her family back together. But with a couple of boys and previously unknown family history in the mix, Sheridan’s plans are going to go far from smoothly. Sheridan may be Cake Girl, the superhero of cake decorating, but can she save the mess that’s been made of her life?
I started reading The Sweetest Thing expecting a cute yet meaningful romance in the vein of Sarah Dessen. When I started reading, I was initially disappointed because I was not immediately sympathetic or empathetic towards protagonist Sheridan. I found it a little difficult to adjust to the realities of her life with a famous chef for a dad, an absentee mother, and a wacky but endearing grandmother; however, once I did, I quite enjoyed the story, in fact much more than I thought I would, based on my first impressions. Mandelski is able to convey such depth of emotion in Sheridan’s character that the reader can truly feel as Sheridan does with each new difficulty she encounters. That as well as the inevitable romance is what ultimately won me over. There is just something so, well, sweet about this book that will make readers laugh, cry, and smile. This is a good, if not great, romantic story with a cake decorating twist, but I see a lot of potential in Mandelski’s writing, and I look forward to see what she comes out with next.
The Sweetest Thing is sure to be enjoyed by Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti fans. Readers who also liked A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian and For Keeps by Natasha Friend will also want to take a look at this book.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I started reading The Sweetest Thing expecting a cute yet meaningful romance in the vein of Sarah Dessen. When I started reading, I was initially disappointed because I was not immediately sympathetic or empathetic towards protagonist Sheridan. I found it a little difficult to adjust to the realities of her life with a famous chef for a dad, an absentee mother, and a wacky but endearing grandmother; however, once I did, I quite enjoyed the story, in fact much more than I thought I would, based on my first impressions. Mandelski is able to convey such depth of emotion in Sheridan’s character that the reader can truly feel as Sheridan does with each new difficulty she encounters. That as well as the inevitable romance is what ultimately won me over. There is just something so, well, sweet about this book that will make readers laugh, cry, and smile. This is a good, if not great, romantic story with a cake decorating twist, but I see a lot of potential in Mandelski’s writing, and I look forward to see what she comes out with next.
The Sweetest Thing is sure to be enjoyed by Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti fans. Readers who also liked A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian and For Keeps by Natasha Friend will also want to take a look at this book.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
January 13, 2012
http://cuddlewiththisbook.blogspot.co...
Despite the fact that it took me almost two weeks to finish this book, I absolutely adored it. Just as the inside cover promised, I was a good book for someone who loves Sarah Dessen. We can now put Christina up on the list with Sarah, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, and all our other great contemporary romance authors.
I loved the growth of the characters, of how Sheridan grew into her own and was finally able to come out of her mother's shadow.
The book had several key factors of a great contemp novel: The super hot boy, the best girl friend with the endlessly different boyfriends with the heart of gold, the father that only wants to connect with his daughter, the absent mother, the amazingly funny grandmother, the family bakery in the small town, the conflict of moving to a big city, and the cute and quiet male best friend.
I cannot say more about how much this book made me feel. It made me cry, and it made me happy. It made me want to punch some people in the face, and it made me want to hug them.
And then there's the whole part where, somehow, my friends and I picked up Supernatural references out of no where. You know how I feel about that? I ain't even mad. Having a priest named Crowley was something that had my friends and I rolling over, laughing, last Saturday.
In conclusion, this book is amazing and you should all read it as soon as possible. I don't know how anyone could not get warm gum paste butterflies in the pit of their stomach from happiness.
Despite the fact that it took me almost two weeks to finish this book, I absolutely adored it. Just as the inside cover promised, I was a good book for someone who loves Sarah Dessen. We can now put Christina up on the list with Sarah, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, and all our other great contemporary romance authors.
I loved the growth of the characters, of how Sheridan grew into her own and was finally able to come out of her mother's shadow.
The book had several key factors of a great contemp novel: The super hot boy, the best girl friend with the endlessly different boyfriends with the heart of gold, the father that only wants to connect with his daughter, the absent mother, the amazingly funny grandmother, the family bakery in the small town, the conflict of moving to a big city, and the cute and quiet male best friend.
I cannot say more about how much this book made me feel. It made me cry, and it made me happy. It made me want to punch some people in the face, and it made me want to hug them.
And then there's the whole part where, somehow, my friends and I picked up Supernatural references out of no where. You know how I feel about that? I ain't even mad. Having a priest named Crowley was something that had my friends and I rolling over, laughing, last Saturday.
In conclusion, this book is amazing and you should all read it as soon as possible. I don't know how anyone could not get warm gum paste butterflies in the pit of their stomach from happiness.
November 7, 2012
The heroine is annoying.
I didn't like Sheridan at all. She's too whiny and stubborn. Her mom ran off with a stranger when she was 7 years old and never came back. All Sheridan have was her mother's birthday cards and broken promises. Still she never stopped hoping that someday her mom will come back. Sheridan's dad got an opportunity to have his own TV show, however, they have to move to New York. Of course our heroine don't want to move to the Big Apple and leave her grandma, friends, and the bakery behind. This is where the drama starts. Sheridan wants her mom back and she doesn't want to live in New York, period. She just wouldn't listen to anyone around her! There's also her thing about Ethan, which made her best friend Jack's life miserable. Jack have been crushing on Sheridan for a while now and of course she's unaware about it.
Though I hated Sheridan's father at first, I'm still sorry for whatever happened to his family, I realized that he's also a victim in this story. Sheridan's mom is a piece of work! She's very consistent, she's horrible from the beginning until the end! LOL. I love her grandma though. Somehow, I understand Sheridan for not wanting to leave her, she's amazing! I'm glad they were able to figure things out in the end. I didn't like Ethan at all, I knew from the start that the guy have a hidden agenda. Too bad Sheridan was blinded with lust for him and couldn't see the real Ethan.
This is a predictable and not a very memorable read.
I didn't like Sheridan at all. She's too whiny and stubborn. Her mom ran off with a stranger when she was 7 years old and never came back. All Sheridan have was her mother's birthday cards and broken promises. Still she never stopped hoping that someday her mom will come back. Sheridan's dad got an opportunity to have his own TV show, however, they have to move to New York. Of course our heroine don't want to move to the Big Apple and leave her grandma, friends, and the bakery behind. This is where the drama starts. Sheridan wants her mom back and she doesn't want to live in New York, period. She just wouldn't listen to anyone around her! There's also her thing about Ethan, which made her best friend Jack's life miserable. Jack have been crushing on Sheridan for a while now and of course she's unaware about it.
Though I hated Sheridan's father at first, I'm still sorry for whatever happened to his family, I realized that he's also a victim in this story. Sheridan's mom is a piece of work! She's very consistent, she's horrible from the beginning until the end! LOL. I love her grandma though. Somehow, I understand Sheridan for not wanting to leave her, she's amazing! I'm glad they were able to figure things out in the end. I didn't like Ethan at all, I knew from the start that the guy have a hidden agenda. Too bad Sheridan was blinded with lust for him and couldn't see the real Ethan.
This is a predictable and not a very memorable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2012
Reviewed at http://www.mandikayereads.com/archive...
I was completely sucked into this one from the first page. I love to cook, and while I pretty much suck at baking I can truly appreciate the talent it takes to be a cake decorator. Reading about people who do the things I love to do is always a plus.
Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as I'd hoped.
The story was great - heart-wrenching in all of the right places. The writing was flawless, from a technical standpoint. But Sheridan's voice really bothered me. She really was the epitome of a selfish, spoiled child - and though she eventually grew out of it no one called her on it. She was fifteen, for crying out loud! She should never have been allowed to speak to/treat people the way she did without consequence. I get that she was hurting, but the way she acted wasn't okay. And I was a little baffled about why she acted the way she did. The whole mother/daughter drama really left a bad taste in my mouth. I can't imagine a daughter being that blind when a mother has abandoned her so completely. It just didn't work for me.
And unfortunately, that piece of things has colored my opinion of the book. It *was* good. But it wasn't great because the main character wasn't very likable, the story lines were predictable, and the plot/character development ran a little thin.
I was completely sucked into this one from the first page. I love to cook, and while I pretty much suck at baking I can truly appreciate the talent it takes to be a cake decorator. Reading about people who do the things I love to do is always a plus.
Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as I'd hoped.
The story was great - heart-wrenching in all of the right places. The writing was flawless, from a technical standpoint. But Sheridan's voice really bothered me. She really was the epitome of a selfish, spoiled child - and though she eventually grew out of it no one called her on it. She was fifteen, for crying out loud! She should never have been allowed to speak to/treat people the way she did without consequence. I get that she was hurting, but the way she acted wasn't okay. And I was a little baffled about why she acted the way she did. The whole mother/daughter drama really left a bad taste in my mouth. I can't imagine a daughter being that blind when a mother has abandoned her so completely. It just didn't work for me.
And unfortunately, that piece of things has colored my opinion of the book. It *was* good. But it wasn't great because the main character wasn't very likable, the story lines were predictable, and the plot/character development ran a little thin.
December 31, 2011
The Sweetest Thing was as sweet and cute as the cover depicts!
Note to readers: Don’t read on an empty stomach!
This story was really fun to read. I picked it up because I wanted something a little lighter than what I’d been reading. I wanted something cute and quick! And that is exactly what I got with The Sweetest Thing!
Sheridan did drive me a little crazy. Throughout most of the novel she attains a unrealistically high hopes for a mother that has been absent from her life for as long as she can remember. The only thing she has to remember her by are the occasional card full of empty promises. Sheridan for some reason doesn’t see that, and after a while that got very frustrating! Teen readers might feel different about that though. I might just be cynical. Although by the end of the story, she finally got her head on right. Character growth, check!
The cast of characters in this novel were so charming. The town itself also felt like a character in this novel! I loved the small town setting!
The Sweetest Thing is a heartwarming debut about friendship and what it means to be a family.
Note to readers: Don’t read on an empty stomach!
This story was really fun to read. I picked it up because I wanted something a little lighter than what I’d been reading. I wanted something cute and quick! And that is exactly what I got with The Sweetest Thing!
Sheridan did drive me a little crazy. Throughout most of the novel she attains a unrealistically high hopes for a mother that has been absent from her life for as long as she can remember. The only thing she has to remember her by are the occasional card full of empty promises. Sheridan for some reason doesn’t see that, and after a while that got very frustrating! Teen readers might feel different about that though. I might just be cynical. Although by the end of the story, she finally got her head on right. Character growth, check!
The cast of characters in this novel were so charming. The town itself also felt like a character in this novel! I loved the small town setting!
The Sweetest Thing is a heartwarming debut about friendship and what it means to be a family.
February 23, 2011
Another sweet story. This was a cute contemporary teenage read. Sheridan is known as "Cake Girl" because she makes beautiful cakes for her grandmother's bakery. A job offer for her dad, as the host of a new cooking show, means a move to New York and being forced to give up her cake making. Sheridan's mother abandoned her when she was a child and the only contact Sheridan has had is the birthday cards her mother sends each year. Sheridan is convinced that all her problems will be solved if she can just find her mother.
This book held my interest and I finished it in a day. I enjoyed both the characters and the storyline. This was a fun, feel good read with characters I could relate to. I liked the mix of romance/love triangle and family relationships. Although we didn't see a lot of him I really liked Sheridan's father and everyone needs a friend like Jack.
Content: Fairly clean - a little bit of language
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: ARC Tour
This book held my interest and I finished it in a day. I enjoyed both the characters and the storyline. This was a fun, feel good read with characters I could relate to. I liked the mix of romance/love triangle and family relationships. Although we didn't see a lot of him I really liked Sheridan's father and everyone needs a friend like Jack.
Content: Fairly clean - a little bit of language
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: ARC Tour
June 10, 2024
Actually a 2.5 out of 5. I wish I could rate this higher but unfortunately...
I'm sad to announce that I didn't really enjoy this novel nearly as much as I had anticipated. Sheridan Wells is a 16 year-old cake decorating savant, with a mysteriously missing mother, and a charming best friend that helps her to search for her mother. This is a novel that will make you hungry; either the frequent descriptions of Sheridan's fondant creations or her father's restaurant repertoire will get you, one way or the other.
I only wish the characters had gotten under my skin and into my head the way the food did. I never felt truly connected or concerned for most of these characters; only two, a bit player named Lori and a love interest named Jack had me invested in his future in the story at all. I just felt that the book, on the whole, was lackluster: I didn't have much to takeaway from my time spent in Michigan with these characters.
I'm sad to announce that I didn't really enjoy this novel nearly as much as I had anticipated. Sheridan Wells is a 16 year-old cake decorating savant, with a mysteriously missing mother, and a charming best friend that helps her to search for her mother. This is a novel that will make you hungry; either the frequent descriptions of Sheridan's fondant creations or her father's restaurant repertoire will get you, one way or the other.
I only wish the characters had gotten under my skin and into my head the way the food did. I never felt truly connected or concerned for most of these characters; only two, a bit player named Lori and a love interest named Jack had me invested in his future in the story at all. I just felt that the book, on the whole, was lackluster: I didn't have much to takeaway from my time spent in Michigan with these characters.
November 1, 2013
*** 2.5 stars, beware of slight spoilers ***
In contrast to other equally unenthused readers I did not mind the heroine's character or her obsession with locating her absent mother and her unfazed belief in the creditability of the yearly sent promises of returns/visits and souvenirs of various places that populated the gushy birthday cards, which stopped coming in after she turned fourteen. The human mind is a very flexible and powerful thing. Everybody copes with loss and desaster in his or her own way (see 'Fangirl').
For me the extraordinary predictability, the absolutely unnecessary your-body-is-your-temple-crap mantraed by Nanny-the-granny, and the unmistakingly selfish and career-addicted Dad, whose disinterested and choleric behavior is later revealed to be just a misinterpretation or unconsciously tweaked remembrance of his attention-craving daughter, account for my unwillingness to pronounce the reading experience to be better than altogether o.k.
In contrast to other equally unenthused readers I did not mind the heroine's character or her obsession with locating her absent mother and her unfazed belief in the creditability of the yearly sent promises of returns/visits and souvenirs of various places that populated the gushy birthday cards, which stopped coming in after she turned fourteen. The human mind is a very flexible and powerful thing. Everybody copes with loss and desaster in his or her own way (see 'Fangirl').
For me the extraordinary predictability, the absolutely unnecessary your-body-is-your-temple-crap mantraed by Nanny-the-granny, and the unmistakingly selfish and career-addicted Dad, whose disinterested and choleric behavior is later revealed to be just a misinterpretation or unconsciously tweaked remembrance of his attention-craving daughter, account for my unwillingness to pronounce the reading experience to be better than altogether o.k.
July 7, 2011
Who knew such a sweet cover was hiding a story of substance? I admit it--I expected something yummy but light--maybe cotton candy. But Mandelski's story is about more than a girl who loves to make cakes (amazingly well described, by the way!)--it's about family. It's about a girl who misses her mother, and dreams of putting her world back the way it was, without realizing that life is changing and so is she. Add to that a wonderful romance and you get a great read for teens and tweens --one that is sweet but satisfies.
November 14, 2012
imagine having a famous chef for a dad? but, what i really envy about her is that her dad has a restaurant and her grandmother owns a bakery. at a young age, she's already a famous baker herself in her small town. that's perfect, right?
but, the story is not just about that. Sheridan is still hanging on to the notion that her mom, who left her when she was a child, will still come back. what person longing for her mom won't keep hoping, right?
all in all, it's an ok book. nothing really spectacular. i feel like somehow it lacks something.
but, the story is not just about that. Sheridan is still hanging on to the notion that her mom, who left her when she was a child, will still come back. what person longing for her mom won't keep hoping, right?
all in all, it's an ok book. nothing really spectacular. i feel like somehow it lacks something.
May 20, 2011
I won this book from a book blog giveaway. I really liked this book. I liked Sheridan, even though I wanted to shake her through most of the book. Loved her best guy friend Jack, and how cool that her best friends name is Lori? :o) This book is a great example of overlooking the wonderful that is right in front of us by focusing on the what-ifs.
September 9, 2011
Oh man, the MC in this book drove me crazy with her cluelessness! And the plot? Really freaking predictable.
But I still kind of liked the ending, and all the cake stuff (yum!) in the book, so I'm giving it three stars. :)
But I still kind of liked the ending, and all the cake stuff (yum!) in the book, so I'm giving it three stars. :)
October 14, 2011
I just loved this story! So many levels and so emotional! Really great story telling and characters!!!
January 9, 2012
This story had me at "cake". Why? Well, my nickname isn't "Cupcakegirly" for nuthin'! I've been "all about cake & cupcakes" since I can remember and baking and decorating 'lil cakes 'o love is what I do when I'm not reading. (If I could live in a bakery with books I would be in Heaven!)
This really is a sweet read. (Let that sink in for a second) Sheridan Wells is a girl with passion. A passion for the town she lives in, the cakes she creates and a passion for finding the mother who walked out on her when she was 7. She's lived her entire life in St. Mary's, Michigan with her Dad, the infamous Chef Donovan Wells and her Nanny who owns the bakery, "Sweeties" where Sheridan spends most of her time. She's dubbed, "Cake Girl" by her peers but beyond spending time with her two BFF's, Jack and Lori, she doesn't have much of a social life. "Sweeties" is where Sheridan loves to be because it's the one place she can escape to when her life gets too complicated and it's where she feels closet to her Mom, or at least the Mom she remembers.
When her Dad is tapped for his own reality cooking show, (move over Giada!) a dream of his that would take both he and Sheridan to New York City and away from everything and everyone Sheridan loves, she decides to do whatever it takes to stop it. All of St. Mary's is in a tizzy about the news and when the "Suits" come to town, the attention Sheridan and her Dad receive only gets worse. She grows increasingly anxious about all the possible changes to come and Nanny tells her that the "big guy" upstairs is ultimately in charge and Sheridan should let him lead the way. Sheridan isn't buying into that at all. She wants to be in control of her life just like she controls how her cakes turn out and she wants everything to stay the same. So, when the "Suits" decide to do a segment that involves throwing her an early albeit, fake sixteenth birthday party, Sheridan comes up with an elaborate plan that not only includes sabotaging her Dad's new show but finding and bringing her Mom home too.
All that Sheridan has left of her Mom, besides her limited memories and their shared talent of cake decorating, is a box of birthday cards. Each one of the cards is filled with a present never received and promise to return one day. She also has the last note her Mom gave her the day she left which she's carried with her every day. She's spent countless hours over the past few years searching for her ever even enlisting the help of her BFF Jack. He's the one person who knows how desperate Sheridan is to find her Mom and has been with her along the way, at the end of every empty lead. When he hears about her Dad's show, he's excited for her and thinks it would be good for her to go to New York City.
Sheridan struggles with everyone's enthusiasm about the opportunities the new show could provide for her Dad, for her and even for the town. Doesn't anybody understand?! Even her friends are more excited than she thinks they should be, especially Jack. Doesn't he get it? If she leaves St. Mary's and her Mom does comes back, she won't be there. She also won't be around to hang out with him or Lori but he still encourages her to think about all the cool bakeries they have in NYC. What's his problem?! Isn't he supposed to be on her side?! She and Jack have been friends forever and Sheridan thinks it's odd that Jack attracts so much attention from girls at school. It's just Jack after all; the boy she's seen every day of her life since she was 5 years old. When she looks at him, all she sees is Jack with his dark hair and dark eyes. Hmpf. But when the hottest guy in school, Ethan Murphy starts showing interest in her, Jack begins to act strange and then he has the nerve to stop talking to her altogether. What's wrong with Jack anyway?
Ethan Murphy...*sigh* Ethan is beautiful, funny, popular and rich. Every girl in school is vying for his attention so when he walks into "Sweeties" looking for Sheridan, she's surprised that he even knows who she is, let alone wants to spend time with her. She knows he has a reputation for being a player but when he smiles at her, she has trouble remembering her own name. As she gets to know him she learns that his passion is for cooking (just like her Dads) and he hopes to one day have his own show (just like her Dad). He also knows what it's like to have a parent leave and she wonders if he could understand how she feels about wanting to find her Mom? Should she confide in him now or should she wait until after the party?
The closer the fake party gets, the more anxious Sheridan is to find her Mom. She feels like she's running out of time! She thinks she's found her Mom and plans to go after her with Lori's help but all that changes when Nanny lands in the hospital. Sheridan is forced to refocus her attention and starts to notice the still, small voice in head that tells her maybe it's time to "let go". Even Jack (who is no longer speaking to her) tells her she needs to move on. (Whatever!) Sheridan has no plans to give up hope even though that message of "letting go" seems to be popping up EVERYWHERE now. She wonders if maybe God isn't trying to tell her something but decides to continue in her quest to locate her Mom.
When the truth about her Mom finally does come out, it's devastating for Sheridan and for those who love her. What she thought was real and what actually IS real is not only painful for her but also makes her question if she can trust anyone else in her life. Whose turn will it be next to leave? Hurt and confused, she looks to Father Crowly for some answers, including wanting to know hot it's possible that God's plan could include a Mom who leaves her kid? He responds by telling her this, "It's just free will. The ultimate blessing and curse. God might lead you one way, but if you choose a different path, what can He do? Nothing, of course; that's why it's called free will."
Sometimes we can get so caught up in focusing on the "suck" in our lives or what we feel is missing that we fail to notice what or whose been there all along. We forget to see the blessings that are right in front of us. In Sheridan's case it's the parent who didn't leave her. Her Dad loves her and is trying to make the best decision for both of them even if she can't always see that. Sheridan's been so focused all these years on the Mom she didn't have that she's forgotten about her awesome Dad and all the great memories they have together. Nanny's no slouch either! She always makes herself available to Sheridan for girl talk, words of advice and for Sunday dinners. Nanny's also encouraged her artistic abilities, allowing her to flourish in the bakery while showcasing her mad cake decorating skills.
Then there's Jack, the boy who knows her inside and out and whose affection for her has grown beyond friendship over the years into something more. (So.much.more) He's the guy who brings her coffee in the middle of the night, goes for runs with her (even though he hates to run) just so he can spend time with her and who asks her how her Nanny is because he knows that's important to her. No one else does that. Jack's the boy who cares for her too much to let her stay where she is simply because she's afraid of change. *swoon* It doesn't hurt either that he happens to be tall, dark and gorgeous. Open your eyes Sheridan! There's a REASON the girls at school fawn all over Jack...DUH!
While it's good to be passionate about something like Sheridan was, you have to make sure that what you're passionate about doesn't become all consuming, like her cakes did. The amount of time she spent at the bakery started to get in the way of spending time with her Dad, Nanny and even her friends. Focusing too much on the past can become an issue as well. Taking a walk down memory lane is fine every once and awhile but memories can also get distorted with us only remembering what we want to remember. A reality check from those who love us is helpful, so is remembering to focus on the here and now because what's right in front of us just might be the sweetest thing.
This really is a sweet read. (Let that sink in for a second) Sheridan Wells is a girl with passion. A passion for the town she lives in, the cakes she creates and a passion for finding the mother who walked out on her when she was 7. She's lived her entire life in St. Mary's, Michigan with her Dad, the infamous Chef Donovan Wells and her Nanny who owns the bakery, "Sweeties" where Sheridan spends most of her time. She's dubbed, "Cake Girl" by her peers but beyond spending time with her two BFF's, Jack and Lori, she doesn't have much of a social life. "Sweeties" is where Sheridan loves to be because it's the one place she can escape to when her life gets too complicated and it's where she feels closet to her Mom, or at least the Mom she remembers.
When her Dad is tapped for his own reality cooking show, (move over Giada!) a dream of his that would take both he and Sheridan to New York City and away from everything and everyone Sheridan loves, she decides to do whatever it takes to stop it. All of St. Mary's is in a tizzy about the news and when the "Suits" come to town, the attention Sheridan and her Dad receive only gets worse. She grows increasingly anxious about all the possible changes to come and Nanny tells her that the "big guy" upstairs is ultimately in charge and Sheridan should let him lead the way. Sheridan isn't buying into that at all. She wants to be in control of her life just like she controls how her cakes turn out and she wants everything to stay the same. So, when the "Suits" decide to do a segment that involves throwing her an early albeit, fake sixteenth birthday party, Sheridan comes up with an elaborate plan that not only includes sabotaging her Dad's new show but finding and bringing her Mom home too.
All that Sheridan has left of her Mom, besides her limited memories and their shared talent of cake decorating, is a box of birthday cards. Each one of the cards is filled with a present never received and promise to return one day. She also has the last note her Mom gave her the day she left which she's carried with her every day. She's spent countless hours over the past few years searching for her ever even enlisting the help of her BFF Jack. He's the one person who knows how desperate Sheridan is to find her Mom and has been with her along the way, at the end of every empty lead. When he hears about her Dad's show, he's excited for her and thinks it would be good for her to go to New York City.
Sheridan struggles with everyone's enthusiasm about the opportunities the new show could provide for her Dad, for her and even for the town. Doesn't anybody understand?! Even her friends are more excited than she thinks they should be, especially Jack. Doesn't he get it? If she leaves St. Mary's and her Mom does comes back, she won't be there. She also won't be around to hang out with him or Lori but he still encourages her to think about all the cool bakeries they have in NYC. What's his problem?! Isn't he supposed to be on her side?! She and Jack have been friends forever and Sheridan thinks it's odd that Jack attracts so much attention from girls at school. It's just Jack after all; the boy she's seen every day of her life since she was 5 years old. When she looks at him, all she sees is Jack with his dark hair and dark eyes. Hmpf. But when the hottest guy in school, Ethan Murphy starts showing interest in her, Jack begins to act strange and then he has the nerve to stop talking to her altogether. What's wrong with Jack anyway?
Ethan Murphy...*sigh* Ethan is beautiful, funny, popular and rich. Every girl in school is vying for his attention so when he walks into "Sweeties" looking for Sheridan, she's surprised that he even knows who she is, let alone wants to spend time with her. She knows he has a reputation for being a player but when he smiles at her, she has trouble remembering her own name. As she gets to know him she learns that his passion is for cooking (just like her Dads) and he hopes to one day have his own show (just like her Dad). He also knows what it's like to have a parent leave and she wonders if he could understand how she feels about wanting to find her Mom? Should she confide in him now or should she wait until after the party?
The closer the fake party gets, the more anxious Sheridan is to find her Mom. She feels like she's running out of time! She thinks she's found her Mom and plans to go after her with Lori's help but all that changes when Nanny lands in the hospital. Sheridan is forced to refocus her attention and starts to notice the still, small voice in head that tells her maybe it's time to "let go". Even Jack (who is no longer speaking to her) tells her she needs to move on. (Whatever!) Sheridan has no plans to give up hope even though that message of "letting go" seems to be popping up EVERYWHERE now. She wonders if maybe God isn't trying to tell her something but decides to continue in her quest to locate her Mom.
When the truth about her Mom finally does come out, it's devastating for Sheridan and for those who love her. What she thought was real and what actually IS real is not only painful for her but also makes her question if she can trust anyone else in her life. Whose turn will it be next to leave? Hurt and confused, she looks to Father Crowly for some answers, including wanting to know hot it's possible that God's plan could include a Mom who leaves her kid? He responds by telling her this, "It's just free will. The ultimate blessing and curse. God might lead you one way, but if you choose a different path, what can He do? Nothing, of course; that's why it's called free will."
Sometimes we can get so caught up in focusing on the "suck" in our lives or what we feel is missing that we fail to notice what or whose been there all along. We forget to see the blessings that are right in front of us. In Sheridan's case it's the parent who didn't leave her. Her Dad loves her and is trying to make the best decision for both of them even if she can't always see that. Sheridan's been so focused all these years on the Mom she didn't have that she's forgotten about her awesome Dad and all the great memories they have together. Nanny's no slouch either! She always makes herself available to Sheridan for girl talk, words of advice and for Sunday dinners. Nanny's also encouraged her artistic abilities, allowing her to flourish in the bakery while showcasing her mad cake decorating skills.
Then there's Jack, the boy who knows her inside and out and whose affection for her has grown beyond friendship over the years into something more. (So.much.more) He's the guy who brings her coffee in the middle of the night, goes for runs with her (even though he hates to run) just so he can spend time with her and who asks her how her Nanny is because he knows that's important to her. No one else does that. Jack's the boy who cares for her too much to let her stay where she is simply because she's afraid of change. *swoon* It doesn't hurt either that he happens to be tall, dark and gorgeous. Open your eyes Sheridan! There's a REASON the girls at school fawn all over Jack...DUH!
While it's good to be passionate about something like Sheridan was, you have to make sure that what you're passionate about doesn't become all consuming, like her cakes did. The amount of time she spent at the bakery started to get in the way of spending time with her Dad, Nanny and even her friends. Focusing too much on the past can become an issue as well. Taking a walk down memory lane is fine every once and awhile but memories can also get distorted with us only remembering what we want to remember. A reality check from those who love us is helpful, so is remembering to focus on the here and now because what's right in front of us just might be the sweetest thing.
August 5, 2019
This has been on my to-read list since 2010 and there was just always something about it that left it on my list rather than getting deleted in the random purges I occasionally do.
And I'm glad it stayed. It was cute.
It does have something of a Sarah Dessen/Morgan Matson vibe to it. Sheridan is the best cake decorator in town and her dad is a semi-famous chef about to get his own TV show. But outside of the kitchen, Sheridan's life is kind of a mess. Especially since she's dead-set on finding her mother, who walked out on Sheridan and her dad when she was seven. Throw in some boy trouble and it's a recipe for disaster. (Pun intended.)
It was one of those books that could easily go into the realm of too-cheesy-and-cliche (and sometimes it may put a toe over that line), but it felt pretty real. Sheridan's angst is kind of an overwhelming focal point, but she's going through a lot and she doesn't know how to handle it. I think in those circumstances, when you don't know how to handle it is when you make the most brutal mistakes.
The characters are all flawed in their own ways and it was cute to see them work past them. The flaws really made the story sparkle. But I also think Sheridan's passion for cakes and art was a huge selling point for this story. I love seeing a girl with a passion.
This book doesn't seem to have drawn much of a following, which is actually kind of sad. It's worth the read, even if it is a little outdated at times (in terms of technology, I mean).
And I'm glad it stayed. It was cute.
It does have something of a Sarah Dessen/Morgan Matson vibe to it. Sheridan is the best cake decorator in town and her dad is a semi-famous chef about to get his own TV show. But outside of the kitchen, Sheridan's life is kind of a mess. Especially since she's dead-set on finding her mother, who walked out on Sheridan and her dad when she was seven. Throw in some boy trouble and it's a recipe for disaster. (Pun intended.)
It was one of those books that could easily go into the realm of too-cheesy-and-cliche (and sometimes it may put a toe over that line), but it felt pretty real. Sheridan's angst is kind of an overwhelming focal point, but she's going through a lot and she doesn't know how to handle it. I think in those circumstances, when you don't know how to handle it is when you make the most brutal mistakes.
The characters are all flawed in their own ways and it was cute to see them work past them. The flaws really made the story sparkle. But I also think Sheridan's passion for cakes and art was a huge selling point for this story. I love seeing a girl with a passion.
This book doesn't seem to have drawn much of a following, which is actually kind of sad. It's worth the read, even if it is a little outdated at times (in terms of technology, I mean).
June 23, 2021
The tagline of this book is "love+loss+cake." I think I might amend that to "lust+family drama+cake" - not quite as catchy but more accurate. Overall, this is a solid (slightly sweet) YA coming of age novel. It's a little trope-y at times (like hot guy into the shy girl for superficial reasons, best guy friend really wants to be the boyfriend) and the main character, Sheridan, is annoyingly obtuse when it comes to her absent mother, but the characters are likeable (well, most of them), the plot moves along at a nice pace, and the ending felt realistic (not hokey!). This is a great recommendation for students who liked "Tweet Cute."
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