Published By: Bookouture
Pages: 309
Released On: 21/03/2022
Bella Whittington’s caviar-and-Cristal life comes crashing down when she walks on on her fiancé and best friend tangled up on page 34 pf the Kama Sutra, limbs everywhere. But her plan to dull the pan with Daddy’s credit card is totalled by the news that they’ve lost the family business. Suddenly Bella’s both single and completely broke.
Shivering in her dingy new studio apartment after a traumatic incident with a homemade turmeric face mask (Hello Tangerina Jolie), Bella realises she must pull up her Gucci socks and get a job, fast. But Dan, the gorgeous grumpy owner of the local soup kitchen, hates the Whittingtons, so a teensy lie about her surname gets Bella through the door, and set loose on the stove…Minestrone with a side of melted spatula anyone?
When Bella’s ex returns with a golden ticket back to her glitzy old life, should she accept? Because that would mean no more box wine and frozen pizza nights with Dan. No more singalongs to the crackly kitchen radio. No more my-heart-is-as-melted-as-that-spatula moments when he finally cracks a reluctant smile…But if Dan finds out the truth about who she really is, will she even have the choice?
*****
Thanks to Bookouture for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Instead of a rags to riches story, we get a riches to rags one, and a lovely one at that. It was such honest writing that it felt like it was happening to a friend, and I found it really touching.
It’s a light, happily-ever-after, rom-com type book, but it isn’t frivolous; it has real heart and a real message without being patronising and forceful.
I love making soup from scratch, and I will admit I have stolen a number of the flavour combinations mentioned in this book as they just sound so yummy.
I did have my reservations to begin with, as I thought it might be a bit over the top and unrealistic, but apart from one or two larger than life characters, it felt very natural. And Bella, who I thought would be irritating and something of a caricature, was a really nice character, even in her snobby chapters, I really warmed to her and the cast of supporting characters.
There’s no real big twists or surprises with this story, but that works perfectly for me. It’s very sweet and enjoyable, and leaves you with a big smile and just full of joy. It’s surprising that this is Danielle’s debut novel as it does feel very accomplished; I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for her name in the future.
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