Review posted on crowdedearthkitchen.com as part of a FREE reader giveaway:Hannah Sugarman has well connected parents, an ambitious live-in boyfriend, and a competitive job with a Washington, D.C. think tank. All of this might be easier to bear if only someone would appreciate her carrot cake.Readers will laugh their way through Dana Bate’s debut novel, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs. When Hannah’s boyfriend reveals himself to be more of a toad than a prince, and working for a barefoot boss becomes untenable, Hannah dusts herself off and decides to launch her own supper club. It might help if she had start-up funds, a skilled assistant, an appropriate venue, or a restaurant license, but hey – those are just details. What could go wrong?In the process of cooking meal after harrowing meal, Hannah learns to trust herself and stand up for her dreams. She learns not to leave her heart, her future, or her turkey confit in just anybody’s hands, and learns that sometimes love is waiting in unexpected places.The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs leaves readers with a satisfied smile and seven recipes, including the fateful confit. As I closed this book I was left with only one regret. Hannah, Oh Hannah, where is your carrot cake recipe? From the outside, Hannah Sugarman appears to have it all: a successful boyfriend and an enviable job at a Washington D.C. think tank. But on the inside, Hannah feels like she’s living a lie. Her dream is to run her own catering company, an ambition not supported by her parents, prominent economics professors, and her boyfriend, Adam. To them, cooking is a hobby, not a career, especially for someone with Hannah’s intelligence. It’s not that Hannah doesn’t want to pursue her goals and forge her own path, but the pressure to follow in her parents’ footsteps makes her wonder if what she harbors is merely a pipedream.But when Adam suddenly breaks up with her, claiming that she’s too unpredictable and volatile and that he needs someone more “gracious…subdued…serious,” Hannah decides, with a boost of confidence and assistance from her co-worker Rachel, to launch an underground supper club out of her landlord’s house. Without his consent. To Hannah’s surprise and delight, her secret, small-scale restaurant is a thriving success, not only regarding her culinary creations, but with men as well. Jacob Reaser, one of the attendees, turns on the charm with her, and Hannah lets herself fantasize that her life is finally turning around. Unfortunately, her fantasy remains…a fantasy. While certainly thrilling, the whole supper club venture isn’t exactly legal, which creates levels of anxiety high enough to induce a heart attack for Hannah, when she and Rachel, time and time again, host their parties while her landlord is out of town. Further complicating matters, her landlord, a man with a penchant for pirate-speak, works in politics and is currently running for a local position in which he would work to shut down operations such as hers. And the cherry on top: Jacob has issues following through on his promises to call her and notably fails to confirm her Facebook friend request. Will Hannah get caught red-handed? Will her dream of being able to cook full-time remain a dream, a mere hobby? Will she find love again or will she just churn about, searching but perpetually getting slapped with the brunt of Murphy’s law?The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a can’t-put-it-down book that will have you laughing until your stomach aches, but will also teach you life lessons about pursuing your dreams, no matter what stands in your way. Dana Bate adeptly mixes relatable problems of a twentysomething girl with rich, vivid descriptions and witty, quick-paced humor. Oh, and she throws in a wonderful bonus at the end: a handful of Hannah’s super-club recipes. Whether or not you’re a foodie, this book is yummy from the first bite all the way until the very end.
Do You like book A Cena Dai Suoi (2013)?
Cute chick lit book. Really enjoyed the audio of the book. Don't read on an empty stomach!
—SKR3497
Cute story. Exactly what I was looking for at the moment. Couldn't put it down!
—Leah
