When it’s time to start over again…

Synopsis

She’s writing her story one recipe at a time…

‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop

It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.

But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…

My review

It has been three years since Kate Shaw’s life changed. From a happy wife, content with her life, she turned into the kind of person that counts the days from the moment everything changed. And the worst of it, since those three years, two weeks and one day, Kate has been angry with everything and everyone, herself.
But Kate has had enough of wallowing in sorrow and anger, and she is ready to turn over a new leaf, and it will all start with baking pancakes. Little does Kate know that her terrible and disastrous attempt at making pancakes will make her see that no matter how alone she felt, she has a whole community ready to help her, and even to be helped by her.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book once I started reading it. But sometimes it’s those kind of book that bring you the unexpected yet something so beautiful at the same time. And that is exactly what this book did…

While it’s not really outspoken, it’s clear what happened to Kate, and how she cannot cope with the sense of grief, loss and even guilt.
Even if years have passed, she cannot shake those feelings off, even if she knows how it affects her current life and her current behaviour.
Some people may think that three years is a long time to grieve, and that Kate should have been able to move on earlier. But who are we to judge or decide how long someone needs to be able to start over? Every person is different, and needs a different timeline. For some it may take a short time, while for others perhaps it’s never the right time. And everyone is making the right decision for themselves, and there is nothing wrong with that!

I have to admit, while I laughed at the disaster cookery with Kate, I think I also would go crazy with the visual proof of it all. Even with the easiest recipes Kate managed to turn her kitchen into a crime scene! 😊

Another thing I have to admit, initially I was a bit weary of how people almost invited themselves at Kate’s place. But quickly I saw how genuine they all were. It warmed my heart to see how they fund each other, and how they all helped each other, and how they needed each other to help.

Each person arriving in Kate’s kitchen or living room turn out to be an asset and manage to het Kate out of her shell. But Kate, with her kind and generous heart, is also able to help each and every one of them with their own problems.

This was a lovely read, a slow one. But being it a slow story at moments, show exactly that while life sometimes seems to go too fast, there are things that need to work out at their own pace.
And that even if guilt seems to drown us, it can be at the most unexpected moments that we can lose that feeling of guilt, understanding that guilt wasn’t something we should be feeling, because our loved ones, those still with us and those that aren’t, do understand us better than perhaps we may think, and accept us how we are.
And there are some recipes I for sure will test myself, but perhaps without turning it into a disaster like Kate did! 🤣