3.5-
I love The Great British Bake Off so when I discovered a novel that was exactly that I jumped at the chance to read it. I then discovered the sequel is on my A to Z Challenge (Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble) and thought, “How fortuitous!” I jumped eagerly at the chance to read this.
Rosaline Palmer is 27, a single Mom, and the daughter of two overachievers who feel like her life isn’t where it should be. Baking is a hobby and she enters a televised baking contest in hopes of changing her situation from always relying on her parents. The baked goods are T the only steamy happenings in this book, some of her interactions with the contestants get a bit steamy too.
Things I loved about this book: Rosalind’s daughter Amelie, her ex and now best friend Lauren, and a couple of the other contestants. I truly enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes of a baking contest, from how it was filmed, to seeing the stress of baking with cameras in your face, and the laugh out loud scenes.
I was all set to give this book 4 stars, even with the word “lowkey” used as an adverb which is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me because the main story was so charming.
It slid down to 3.5 stars because just like a soufflé that is startled by noise, it suddenly deflated towards the end. The ending was very rushed, Rosaline’s mother had a complete turnaround in a matter of minutes, and the blossoming romance between Rosaline and a contestant appeared to have completely fizzled out with nary a word as to why.
All of that being said, I am still excited to read the sequel and I hope some of these same characters make an appearance. Even if they don’t, baking shows are always fun to read about and perhaps the ending won’t be as sticky.