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kbuyers98's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It was an easy and enjoyable read. Sometimes predictable, but overall a good one.
jenlynnhill's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially how the chapters different point of views between Julia and Annie. I liked that the characters and their interactions seemed realistic and natural. I like how there was a twist in the story that I didn't see coming! This book also made me want to go to my kitchen and start making a batch of cupcakes!!
jadeeby's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements
As one of my last reads of 2011, this book was a pleasant surprise. The blurb made me think it was going to be nothing more than a superficial romance type of book. It was actually a lot deeper than that and I found myself thoroughly sad when the book came to an end.
The Good: First off, I LOVE the cover. It makes me perfectly hungry for a great cupcake. Speaking of cupcakes...the descriptions of the cupcakes in this novel are mouth-watering. I'm not lying. Here's an example,
"For Ogden, I selected a Moroccan Vanilla Bean and Pumpkin Spice cupcake. I saw the exact moment in Ogden's eyes that the dash of heat- courtesy of a healthy pinch of cayenne-hit his tongue, and the moment a split-second later that the sugary vanilla swept away the heat, like salve on a wound."
Ummm? Gorgeous? Not only for the beautiful sentence structure but for the yummy taste it elicits. So now that I've raved about the cupcake descriptions, I have to admit that I fell in love with the characters. Almost all of them. Even snooty-patootie Julia. She is your typical rich-bitch type of character but the difference is that by the end of the book, she knows she has been one and she's willing to change. In fact, she's been willing to change the entire book she just wasn't given the chance to. Annie on the other hand is a kindred spirit that I adore. She is curvy, snarky and completely cynical. And why shouldn't she be after what she's gone through? The thing I really liked about this book is that the romance was the PERFECT amount. There were some subtle hints at romance here and there, just enough to get a taste and then when the romance between characters picked up it wasn't extreme or out of the ordinary. It was honestly, so perfect because it felt like real life situations. I thought Donohue did GREAT with that aspect. I also thought the conflict in the novel was done very well. There was the wedge between the two main characters Julia and Annie. There were conflicts with the "perfect" idea of a cupcakery and then there were a couple of side conflicts that fit into the novel well. I really thought this was an excellent, fun, contemporary adult read!
The Bad: As much as I adored the characters, they did get somewhat annoying at some points. I wanted to shake Annie and tell her to just let shit go. Honestly, must you dwell on the stupid things? Move on girl. Julia on the other hand, I would have just slapped in the face if it were real life. She was acting like a whiny baby who acted like she didn't do anything wrong. But that's just nitpicky really...
Overall, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel! It went by REALLY fast and believe it or not, I read the cupcake parts while doing the elliptical and I was so interested in the book that I went further than I had intended to when I was working out. *That never happens btw* I give this book a B+!!
**I received this book free from the publisher through www.netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
As one of my last reads of 2011, this book was a pleasant surprise. The blurb made me think it was going to be nothing more than a superficial romance type of book. It was actually a lot deeper than that and I found myself thoroughly sad when the book came to an end.
The Good: First off, I LOVE the cover. It makes me perfectly hungry for a great cupcake. Speaking of cupcakes...the descriptions of the cupcakes in this novel are mouth-watering. I'm not lying. Here's an example,
"For Ogden, I selected a Moroccan Vanilla Bean and Pumpkin Spice cupcake. I saw the exact moment in Ogden's eyes that the dash of heat- courtesy of a healthy pinch of cayenne-hit his tongue, and the moment a split-second later that the sugary vanilla swept away the heat, like salve on a wound."
Ummm? Gorgeous? Not only for the beautiful sentence structure but for the yummy taste it elicits. So now that I've raved about the cupcake descriptions, I have to admit that I fell in love with the characters. Almost all of them. Even snooty-patootie Julia. She is your typical rich-bitch type of character but the difference is that by the end of the book, she knows she has been one and she's willing to change. In fact, she's been willing to change the entire book she just wasn't given the chance to. Annie on the other hand is a kindred spirit that I adore. She is curvy, snarky and completely cynical. And why shouldn't she be after what she's gone through? The thing I really liked about this book is that the romance was the PERFECT amount. There were some subtle hints at romance here and there, just enough to get a taste and then when the romance between characters picked up it wasn't extreme or out of the ordinary. It was honestly, so perfect because it felt like real life situations. I thought Donohue did GREAT with that aspect. I also thought the conflict in the novel was done very well. There was the wedge between the two main characters Julia and Annie. There were conflicts with the "perfect" idea of a cupcakery and then there were a couple of side conflicts that fit into the novel well. I really thought this was an excellent, fun, contemporary adult read!
The Bad: As much as I adored the characters, they did get somewhat annoying at some points. I wanted to shake Annie and tell her to just let shit go. Honestly, must you dwell on the stupid things? Move on girl. Julia on the other hand, I would have just slapped in the face if it were real life. She was acting like a whiny baby who acted like she didn't do anything wrong. But that's just nitpicky really...
Overall, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel! It went by REALLY fast and believe it or not, I read the cupcake parts while doing the elliptical and I was so interested in the book that I went further than I had intended to when I was working out. *That never happens btw* I give this book a B+!!
**I received this book free from the publisher through www.netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
cathiedalziel's review against another edition
4.0
Good chick-lit with a bit of everything thrown in...mystery, romance, rich bitch, struggling working woman, crime.
Sometimes you just need a lighter read, but I was surprised that this read was not as light as I first thought it would be. Lots happening in this book. It's much more than a shallow cupcake.
2 of my favorite quotes from this book:
"Home ...Is there any more complicated word in the English language? So much packed into one simple syllable. In Spanish, there's only one word for both home and house: casa. But we English speakers like to complicate matters."
"But coming from Jake Logan - ...the line produced in me a feeling I could only, and not without embarrassment, describe as puppylike in it's unchecked delight. I know, I know, how cliche to fawn over a grown man...But! He called me pretty! I might as well have wagged my tail and rolled over."
Sometimes you just need a lighter read, but I was surprised that this read was not as light as I first thought it would be. Lots happening in this book. It's much more than a shallow cupcake.
2 of my favorite quotes from this book:
"Home ...Is there any more complicated word in the English language? So much packed into one simple syllable. In Spanish, there's only one word for both home and house: casa. But we English speakers like to complicate matters."
"But coming from Jake Logan - ...the line produced in me a feeling I could only, and not without embarrassment, describe as puppylike in it's unchecked delight. I know, I know, how cliche to fawn over a grown man...But! He called me pretty! I might as well have wagged my tail and rolled over."
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
Julia St. Clair comes from wealth, whereas, Annie does not. If it was not for the fact that Annie’s mom used to work for the St. Clair’s than Annie and Julia would never be friends. Julia and Annie used to have a close bond but than a tragic event tore them apart.
Years later, Julia’s mother is hosting a party and convinces Annie to cater and bring her cupcakes. It is at this party that Julia and Annie will reconnect. They decide to go into business together and start their own cupcake shop.
First off the cover for this book is eye catching and yummy. This is what first drew me to this book. I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, this book was not a winner for me. Not for a lack of effort. I got about half way and than put the book down. I came back to the book for after a while. I tried again to read this book and could not finish it.
It was not due to the writing but more the characters. I was not connecting with them. Julia and her family really got on my nerves. They were so condescending that I wanted to stuff a cupcake in their faces.
Annie on the other hand was a little easier to warm up to but at the same time, she had this bitterness about her as well that I did not care for. While this book was not for me, it did have the making for a nice hearty chick lit novel.
Years later, Julia’s mother is hosting a party and convinces Annie to cater and bring her cupcakes. It is at this party that Julia and Annie will reconnect. They decide to go into business together and start their own cupcake shop.
First off the cover for this book is eye catching and yummy. This is what first drew me to this book. I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, this book was not a winner for me. Not for a lack of effort. I got about half way and than put the book down. I came back to the book for after a while. I tried again to read this book and could not finish it.
It was not due to the writing but more the characters. I was not connecting with them. Julia and her family really got on my nerves. They were so condescending that I wanted to stuff a cupcake in their faces.
Annie on the other hand was a little easier to warm up to but at the same time, she had this bitterness about her as well that I did not care for. While this book was not for me, it did have the making for a nice hearty chick lit novel.
eveak's review against another edition
4.0
The book on one level is just plain yummy. It also is about relationships, trust, forgiveness, and other things that hard hard to negotiate in real life as well as in a novel. I enjoyed this and the relationships and feelings were things I could relate to. There were some moments that didn't fit quite as well but overall it was a fun, quick, read.
kikideee's review against another edition
4.0
Easy, cheesy read. Great summer-time reading when you want something to occupy your thoughts while soaking up some sun (or avoiding the rain).
kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Are you looking for a book that is centered around friendship and will take you on a journey with two friends who are reconnecting? This book would be the one to pick up and read and pass onto a friend.
The book hops between both main characters points of view with ease - Julia is the organized, behind the counter, saleswoman who is trying to find out what her future should look like and Annie has always felt left out, but can bake like the dickens! (Yes, I used dickens in a review!) They are friends from the past, but history and drama has separated them. Although this book had some predictability to it, the overall story and writing were superb, so I didn't mind that I knew where it was headed.
A sweet (in more ways than one) book that friends of all ages can enjoy.
The book hops between both main characters points of view with ease - Julia is the organized, behind the counter, saleswoman who is trying to find out what her future should look like and Annie has always felt left out, but can bake like the dickens! (Yes, I used dickens in a review!) They are friends from the past, but history and drama has separated them. Although this book had some predictability to it, the overall story and writing were superb, so I didn't mind that I knew where it was headed.
A sweet (in more ways than one) book that friends of all ages can enjoy.
amibunk's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I had high hopes in the beginning, but as the plot progressed I was somewhat disappointed. The characters weren't as developed as I would have liked. Also, the great transitions in personality (especially in Julia's character) were glossed over far too quickly. Finally, the story's pacing was incredibly off towards the end: Anita's whole twenty second reunion with her estranged father? Ridiculous.
Over all, it was an okay book, but nothing I would care to reread or own.
I had high hopes in the beginning, but as the plot progressed I was somewhat disappointed. The characters weren't as developed as I would have liked. Also, the great transitions in personality (especially in Julia's character) were glossed over far too quickly. Finally, the story's pacing was incredibly off towards the end: Anita's whole twenty second reunion with her estranged father? Ridiculous.
Over all, it was an okay book, but nothing I would care to reread or own.