Published By: Lake Union
Pages: 331
Released On: 24/03/2026
Belle Sutton is a little lost these days.
She has a stalled career, a New York apartment she can’t afford, and her sister, Lexie, is more estranged with each passing year. Belle’s one true consolation is her beloved grandmother, who’s powered through her own broken family ties with a tenacious zest for life and a passion for cooking. But when her grandmother suddenly passes away, a grieving Belle feels her only connection to the past is gone forever.
That’s when Belle receives a series of letters, along with a cookbook, photographs of Belle and Lexie when they were young and happy, and her grandmother’s last wish that the sisters mend severed ties before it’s too late. For the love of Gran, a challenge is met that sets Belle and Lexie on a journey of hope, reconciliation, surprising discoveries, and the nourishing power of family, forgiveness, and tradition. All they have to do is follow the directions.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is just a quintessential cosy warming story. Is it a bit twee, cliché, corny? You bet. But that is in no way a negative. In fact it was exactly what I needed after a few hard-hitting reads.
As an English woman, I’ve never been to the USA and the only things I know about it really coming from the cheesey American Christmas romance films where a city girl moves back to a small hometown. And I definitely got that same vibe. Which can be good but sometimes not, but it definitely was here.
I loved the connection between the characters and the food. Food is such a powerful tool to show the emotions between one another, and Monica has done that brilliantly, especially in regards to the estrangement between or main character Belle and her sister Lexie.
I do love a book that comes with recipes. So many novels mention delicious food but that’s it. Monica has given us a chance to cook them ourselves and become closer to the story.
The writing is lovely, it made me feel so happy, it felt genuine and familiar. It is a bit repetitive but I think it’s more on the comforting side than the annoying side.
Monia has really explored the idea of grief – as a child and an adult – really well. As someone who has lost her fair share of loved ones, it can be difficult to fully explain how it feels but she’s done a good job at it.
Overall it is just a very uplifting, happy, loving tale of love, friendship, family, community, and connection.
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