How to Eat a Cupcake
Funny, free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated, ambitious Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clair’s housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls who know nothing of class differences and scholarships could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.
A decade later, Annie is now a talented, if underpaid, pastry chef who bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death. Julia, a successful businesswoman, is tormented by a painful secret that could jeopardize her engagement to the man she loves. When a chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, they must overcome past hurts and a mysterious saboteur or risk losing their fledgling business and any chance of healing their fractured friendship.
Author Meg Donohue has cooked up an absolutely scrumptious debut novel, How to Eat a Cupcake, that explores what happens when two childhood friends, Annie and Julia, reconnect as adults and decide to open a cupcakery. But success in their new baking business venture will depend upon their overcoming old betrayals, first loves, and an unexpected and quite dangerous threat. Donohue's How to Eat a Cupcake is contemporary women's fiction at its smartest, sweetest, and most satisfying, joining the ranks of The Recipe Club, The School for Essential Ingredients, and Joanne Harris's classic Chocolat by proving once again that fiction and food make an unbeatable combination.
MY REVIEW: Meg Donohue's debut work, "How to Eat a Cupcake", is as well-prepared and appealing as the various exquisite cupcake creations described throughout the book! Food is such an integral part of our lives, not just for sustenance, but also for comfort and celebration. Food is also a universal communicator. Many times in our lives we express emotions that we cannot verbalize through cooking and sharing food. Annie Quintara is a baker of captivating cupcakes--blissful bites bursting with familiar flavors and unexpected, unique enhancements. Annie's mother, Lucia, was for many years the cook for the wealthy St. Clair family, whose daughter Julia was Annie's childhood friend. As the camaraderie of children gave way to class consciousness and competitiveness, the friendship lost its luster. Julia, the entitled, supremely blonde and beautiful rich girl is jealous of Annie in more ways than she can comprehend. Annie, always a bright and funny free spirit, is comfortable with her Ecuadorian heritage and exotic looks. A nasty rumor, started by Julia and later proven false, almost costs Annie her scholastic opportunities. A decade later, an unplanned reunion brings the former friends back together and sets in motion events which will forever change their lives. I was so drawn in to this story line, and I was quite involved with the characters, even though some of them were at times quite unlikeable. Even though I didn't always like the characters, I very much enjoyed reading their story. Annie is a sweetheart, and you root for her from beginning to end. Julia is much harder to accept, but after you get over the urge to slap her pretty face, then you also want her to find a happy ending. I have always known that the relationships formed in youth will affect us throughout all of our life. We may think that we can leave them behind, but they are woven into our souls with a fine and flexible thread. Meg Donohue is a worthy storyteller to follow, and I am eager to see what she will do with her second book.
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Reviews
“[A] sparkling, witty story. Donohue’s voice is lovely,
intelligent, and alluring. Grab one of these for your best friend and
read it together--preferably with a plate of Meyer Lemon cupcakes
nearby.” (Katie Crouch, bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs)
“Beautifully written and quietly wise, Meg Donohue’s How to Eat a Cupcake is an achingly honest portrayal of the many layers of friendship--a story so vividly told, you can (almost) taste the buttercream.” (Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow)
“A heartwarming and unpredictable tale of friendship, family and frosting.” (Zoe Fishman, author of Balancing Acts)
“An irresistible blend of sweet and tart, this book is truly a treat to be savored.” (Beth Kendrick, author of The Bake Off and Second Time Around)
“Deliciously engaging. Donohue writes with charm and grace. What could be better than friendship and cupcakes?” (Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters)
“Donohue’s sweet debut is a clever exploration of how a West Coast mean girl grows up and gives in to friendship, love, and dozens of delicious cupcakes....Donohue’s culinary romantic thriller will keep readers hungry for more.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Donohue has written a sharp little novel featuring the subtle characterizations of two appealingly flawed young women.” (Kirkus Reviews)
ALSO BY MEG DONOHUE
Every Wild Heart
From USA Today bestselling author Meg Donohue comes a mystery, a love story, and a mother-daughter tale about two women on a precarious journey to uncover their true selves.
Passionate and funny, radio personality Gail Gideon is a true original. Nine years ago when Gail’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce, her ensuing on-air rant propelled her local radio show into the national spotlight. Now, “The Gail Gideon Show” is beloved by millions of single women who tune-in for her advice on the power of self-reinvention. But fame comes at a price. After all, what does a woman who has staked her career on being single do when she finds herself falling in love? And is the person who is harassing her in increasingly troubling ways a misguided fan or a true danger to Gail and her daughter, Nic?
Fourteen-year-old Nic has always felt that she pales in comparison to her vibrant, outgoing mother. Plagued by a fear of social situations, she is most comfortable at the stable where she spends her afternoons. But when a riding accident lands Nic in the hospital, she awakens from her coma changed. Suddenly, she has no fear at all and her disconcerting behavior lands her in one risky situation after another. And no one, least of all her mother, can guess what she will do next…
MY REVIEW: Author Meg Donohue's "Every Wild Heart" is an entertaining view of the ever-evolving relationship between a mother who is still a work in progress and a daughter whose surprising recovery from an accident changes both of their lives forever. On-air personality Gail Gideon shot to fame when her live broadcast of her ranting response to her husband's request for a divorce hit home with many of her listeners. Her rise to national success leaves her vulnerable to freaky fandom, and it leaves her daughter behind in her wake. Young teen Nic has long found refuge in her visits to a stable, but one day a riding accident leaves her hospitalized and in a coma. Once she awakens from the coma, however, it's a brand new, emboldened Nic who has her mother in a tizzy. Coping with Nic's sudden change of persona and dealing an increasingly discomfiting stalker-fan, Gail is even further challenged when unexpected love comes calling. Moving forward will take a great leap of faith and great deal of gumption--can this working mother really have it all?
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“Beautifully written and quietly wise, Meg Donohue’s How to Eat a Cupcake is an achingly honest portrayal of the many layers of friendship--a story so vividly told, you can (almost) taste the buttercream.” (Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow)
“A heartwarming and unpredictable tale of friendship, family and frosting.” (Zoe Fishman, author of Balancing Acts)
“An irresistible blend of sweet and tart, this book is truly a treat to be savored.” (Beth Kendrick, author of The Bake Off and Second Time Around)
“Deliciously engaging. Donohue writes with charm and grace. What could be better than friendship and cupcakes?” (Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters)
“Donohue’s sweet debut is a clever exploration of how a West Coast mean girl grows up and gives in to friendship, love, and dozens of delicious cupcakes....Donohue’s culinary romantic thriller will keep readers hungry for more.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Donohue has written a sharp little novel featuring the subtle characterizations of two appealingly flawed young women.” (Kirkus Reviews)
ALSO BY MEG DONOHUE
Every Wild Heart
From USA Today bestselling author Meg Donohue comes a mystery, a love story, and a mother-daughter tale about two women on a precarious journey to uncover their true selves.
Passionate and funny, radio personality Gail Gideon is a true original. Nine years ago when Gail’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce, her ensuing on-air rant propelled her local radio show into the national spotlight. Now, “The Gail Gideon Show” is beloved by millions of single women who tune-in for her advice on the power of self-reinvention. But fame comes at a price. After all, what does a woman who has staked her career on being single do when she finds herself falling in love? And is the person who is harassing her in increasingly troubling ways a misguided fan or a true danger to Gail and her daughter, Nic?
Fourteen-year-old Nic has always felt that she pales in comparison to her vibrant, outgoing mother. Plagued by a fear of social situations, she is most comfortable at the stable where she spends her afternoons. But when a riding accident lands Nic in the hospital, she awakens from her coma changed. Suddenly, she has no fear at all and her disconcerting behavior lands her in one risky situation after another. And no one, least of all her mother, can guess what she will do next…
MY REVIEW: Author Meg Donohue's "Every Wild Heart" is an entertaining view of the ever-evolving relationship between a mother who is still a work in progress and a daughter whose surprising recovery from an accident changes both of their lives forever. On-air personality Gail Gideon shot to fame when her live broadcast of her ranting response to her husband's request for a divorce hit home with many of her listeners. Her rise to national success leaves her vulnerable to freaky fandom, and it leaves her daughter behind in her wake. Young teen Nic has long found refuge in her visits to a stable, but one day a riding accident leaves her hospitalized and in a coma. Once she awakens from the coma, however, it's a brand new, emboldened Nic who has her mother in a tizzy. Coping with Nic's sudden change of persona and dealing an increasingly discomfiting stalker-fan, Gail is even further challenged when unexpected love comes calling. Moving forward will take a great leap of faith and great deal of gumption--can this working mother really have it all?
Book Copy Gratis Library Thing
Reviews
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