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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
4.5 stars rounded up
I loved this story of a chef losing her sense of taste. So close to her goal to be executive chef in a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris, Georgia May Jackson's world imploded. On one fateful day, she lost her job, her boyfriend and her sense of taste. Needing to get out of Paris, she grabs the opportunity to reconnect with her mother. Her mother who walked out of her life when she was five. Reconnecting with her opens her eyes to the discrete gifts of the women in her family.As magical realism is one of my favorite genres, this book captivated me. While a few plot points were the reason for dinging it slightly, it overcomes them easily.
I loved this story of a chef losing her sense of taste. So close to her goal to be executive chef in a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris, Georgia May Jackson's world imploded. On one fateful day, she lost her job, her boyfriend and her sense of taste. Needing to get out of Paris, she grabs the opportunity to reconnect with her mother. Her mother who walked out of her life when she was five. Reconnecting with her opens her eyes to the discrete gifts of the women in her family.As magical realism is one of my favorite genres, this book captivated me. While a few plot points were the reason for dinging it slightly, it overcomes them easily.
A cheating boyfriend and an inability to taste food sends Georgia from Paris to an island near Seattle to meet her long lost mother. A grumpy and annoyingly handsome neighbor is tasked with showing her around the island, and Georgia keeps trying to piece together the secret of why her mother left and why her sense of taste has disappeared.
Unfortunately, this fell a bit flat for me. It may partially have been my expectations, but I was hoping for more magical realism and less repetitive magic-less plot.
I loved all the food descriptions and cooking scenes, but the book’s pacing had some issues for me. I also struggled with how often we were reminded that we didn’t know a big reveal, and the payoff wasn’t big enough in my opinion to warrant the huge build-up.
I will definitely be reading The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie soon because I’ve heard great things, but Recipe for a Charmed Life was just okay for me.
Thank you to Berkley Romance for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.
3.5 ⭐️
Unfortunately, this fell a bit flat for me. It may partially have been my expectations, but I was hoping for more magical realism and less repetitive magic-less plot.
I loved all the food descriptions and cooking scenes, but the book’s pacing had some issues for me. I also struggled with how often we were reminded that we didn’t know a big reveal, and the payoff wasn’t big enough in my opinion to warrant the huge build-up.
I will definitely be reading The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie soon because I’ve heard great things, but Recipe for a Charmed Life was just okay for me.
Thank you to Berkley Romance for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.
3.5 ⭐️
Cute and cheesy but loved the details of food, PNW, sustainability/environmental care, calling and purpose focus.
Culinary-themed magical realism is always going to be a hit with me, and Rachel Linden's Recipe For a Charmed Life is no exception! The descriptive writing had me instantly hungry for all the delicious food in this story. The plot follows a familiar pattern for this genre...
A successful and driven woman faces a crisis.
Her entire life implodes.
She returns "home" to reconnect with her roots and find true happiness.
In this story "home" is actually somewhere Georgia has never been before, her estranged mother's home on San Juan Island. There, she has an opportunity to unlock secrets from her past and connect with a handsome and brooding oyster farmer.
I loved the overall message of the story, which was the importance of finding and nurturing your gifts so you can use them to bless others. This will be so relatable for women approaching a certain age and wondering if they're on the right path. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a positive, uplifting vacation read and everyone who enjoys good food writing!
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
A successful and driven woman faces a crisis.
Her entire life implodes.
She returns "home" to reconnect with her roots and find true happiness.
In this story "home" is actually somewhere Georgia has never been before, her estranged mother's home on San Juan Island. There, she has an opportunity to unlock secrets from her past and connect with a handsome and brooding oyster farmer.
I loved the overall message of the story, which was the importance of finding and nurturing your gifts so you can use them to bless others. This will be so relatable for women approaching a certain age and wondering if they're on the right path. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a positive, uplifting vacation read and everyone who enjoys good food writing!
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute and heartwarming tale recommended for those who enjoy themes of magical realism, spirituality, starting over, and romance. It also touched upon themes of past mistakes and forgiveness, and how those impact our relationships. I preferred the first book I read by this author, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, to this one, however. This novel seemed a bit more predictable and I did not enjoy the audiobook narrator, unfortunately. If you decide to give this one a chance, then I definitely recommend selecting the book over the audiobook!
This book was the perfect blend of magical realism and romance. Georgia is an American, a Paris trained chef who,p spent years preparing to take over as chef in a famous French restaurant. When she finds her boyfriend/boss cheating on her, Georgia leaves Paris for San Juan Island. The mother who abandoned her at five years old contacted Georgia, creating an opening for Georgia to find out what happened all those years ago, and why Star never contacted her prior to this time. The descriptions of the Island, of the food, and the burgeoning relationship with Cole all contribute to the positivity, offset by the secrets of the past. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I love Rachel Linden's books! A tiny bit of magic/mysticism with a deep contemporary fiction story. This was about family, finding oneself, addiction, love cooking, and forgiveness. I enjoyed the characters' progressions throughout the story and how they all have depth but also get that cutesy feeling while reading.
**"A Recipe for a Charmed Life" is a delightful and heartwarming read that truly tickles the taste buds.** Georgia, an aspiring Parisian chef, faces a devastating crossroads when she loses her dream opportunity, her boyfriend, and even her sense of taste. This propels her to a picturesque Pacific Northwest island to reconnect with her estranged mother, embarking on a journey of self-discovery seasoned with a touch of romance and family drama.
**Georgia shines as a relatable and resilient protagonist.** Her internal struggles and growth feel authentic, making her a character we root for wholeheartedly. Cole, her enigmatic love interest, adds a touch of intrigue and charm to the mix, keeping the pages turning. The setting itself is a character – the quirky island community and rich descriptions paint a vivid picture that transports the reader.
**While some family drama resolutions might feel slightly simplistic, they don't detract from the overall charm of the story.** The book's true strength lies in its ability to make your mouth water. The food descriptions are so vivid and evocative, you can practically taste the words on the page.
**The audiobook narration is a particular treat, with the narrator's French accent adding authenticity and depth to the story.** This is another scrumptious and uplifting tale from the author, leaving you with a warm feeling and a renewed appreciation for the simple pleasures in life.
***Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***
**Georgia shines as a relatable and resilient protagonist.** Her internal struggles and growth feel authentic, making her a character we root for wholeheartedly. Cole, her enigmatic love interest, adds a touch of intrigue and charm to the mix, keeping the pages turning. The setting itself is a character – the quirky island community and rich descriptions paint a vivid picture that transports the reader.
**While some family drama resolutions might feel slightly simplistic, they don't detract from the overall charm of the story.** The book's true strength lies in its ability to make your mouth water. The food descriptions are so vivid and evocative, you can practically taste the words on the page.
**The audiobook narration is a particular treat, with the narrator's French accent adding authenticity and depth to the story.** This is another scrumptious and uplifting tale from the author, leaving you with a warm feeling and a renewed appreciation for the simple pleasures in life.
***Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***