Words can’t express how much I loved The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. I actually put off writing this book review because I honestly didn’t know how to capture how delightful the story is.
The City Baker’s Guide is all about leaving your comfort zone – or, what you think is your comfort zone – and embracing changes and challenges that lead you toward living your best life. Happily often, these types of stories lead their heroines (always heroines; men seem to not have similar life path doubts) to charming small towns that, while untrusting of strangers at first, ultimately welcome the newcomer, allowing her to find the home she didn’t know she was looking for.
I feel like The Hallmark Channel plays on this theme a lot for its movies, and I guess that’s how you can look at The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living — it’s like a Hallmark movie in book form. But, less nauseatingly goody-two shoes.
In the first few paragraphs of The City Baker’s Guide, we learn that main character Livvy, a successful pastry chef with a fondness for a good, stiff drink and a proclivity for swearing, is sleeping with her married boss, the president of a prominent Boston social club, which she promptly (albeit accidentally) sets on fire with her flaming Baked Alaska dessert.
Um, DELICIOUS. In all respects.
I was immediately hooked by this sassy, fun woman who’s a genius in the kitchen but somewhat floundering when it comes to her personal life. Not that I’ve slept with any married men, but I can relate; we’ve all made regrettable choices. Most of them don’t end in a fire department visit, though, so I don’t blame Livvy for hightailing it outta there when the Baked Alaska hit the fan.
More of Livvy’s character unfolds when she arrives at Vermont’s Sugar Maple Inn: her admirable work ethic, her unabashed love of all things culinary, her wry sense of humor, and her quirky interest in joining a banjo jam session. Livvy is loveable from the get-go, despite her numerous flaws, which are clear as day but easily brushed aside once she hands you a freshly baked muffin.
Of course, Livvy’s taken in by townsfolk, and by one family in particular, which brings its share of messy family drama, endearing music lessons, and, of course, a dash of star-crossed romance.
Before you’re thinking this story is all sweetness and predictably happy endings, though, think again. Just like a good Sugar Maple Inn apple pie, The City Baker’s Guide is a delightful blend of sweet and tart.
Although I adore the storyline, what I really love about this book is how exceptionally well-written it is. Author Louise Miller can write. Her wicked sense of humor and easy style draw you in immediately. Plus, The City Baker’s Guide abounds with food porn. Really good food porn.
It may surprise you that it’s REALLY hard to write about food sometimes. After a shockingly short while, you run out of adjectives to describe how delicious something tastes or how mouth-watering it looks.
Not Miller, though. The way she uses words is a gift, and it’s one I truly appreciated as I read foodgasm-worthy descriptions of the desserts Livvy whips up both in Boston and at the Sugar Maple Inn. Within minutes of starting The City Baker’s Guide, I was craving pie and cinnamon buns, and I was practically salivating as I read about the Inn’s Harvest Dinner menu later on. I wanted to drop what I was doing and run into my kitchen to start baking, well, EVERYTHING.
As a result, this book is the ultimate seasonal cozy read. Livvy’s story begins with the New England fall closing in, so autumnal events abound: there’s a fall festival, the aforementioned Harvest Dinner, and a wonderfully chaotic yet heartwarming Thanksgiving holiday. Wintry December follows swiftly behind, and it’s exactly the Norman Rockwell scenario you’re imagining for a Vermont Christmas, complete with a sleigh ride through gently falling snow. (Again, think Hallmark movie. A slightly foul-mouthed Hallmark movie.)
There’s so much else I loved about this book besides the food and cozy vibes — the music; the Vermont social life; the innkeeper Margaret and her bittersweet story; Alfred the Chef (#TeamAlfred); and the surprising path that Livvy’s life takes halfway through the story. But, I’ll let you discover all that for yourselves, Tartlets, because you really, REALLY need to read this book.
I’ll just finish my review of The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by saying, Louise Miller, please, please keep on writing books. We need more stories from you in the world.
Stay tuned for my book-inspired recipe: Apple Crumble Galette.
I totally agree! I was thinking it was a little like a Hallmark Channel movie too. I hope she keeps writing and can’t wait for the next book!
What would you say are some of your favorite books? We definitely have similar reading interests.
Yes! In my opinion, though, this is WAY better than any Hallmark movie, lol. I love all the quirks of the characters, especially Livvy. Everyone has so much personality!
Hmmm, favorite books. That is a hard question because I have read so many books over the years that I absolutely love. My go-to re-reads are actually older ones: Mr Maybe, Jemima J, Swapping Lives, To Have and to Hold, and Bookends– all of these are by Jane Green. I have read them countless times and they always comfort me, inspire me, and make me laugh. For classics, I love Pride and Prejudice, Crime and Punishment, Paradise Lost, and Little Women. For historical fiction, I love Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, and right now I’m reading A Single Thread by the same author, and I’m loving it. For something unsettling and much more serious, I love We Need To Talk About Kevin. The ending shattered me. You can only read it once. Skip the movie, just read the book. 😁 let me know if you’ve read any of these!!! 😊
Thanks! I know it’s hard to answer that question but these are some great suggestions. I haven’t read any of these. I tried Little Women but couldn’t get through it.
The classics can be hard to get into, so I dont blame you. I have to be in the right mindset for them, or else it just won’t work.
Wow, this book sounds chockful of recipe ideas! Great review 😊
It definitely is!! If I ever open my own B&B, I know where I’m going for menu inspiration! 😉
I just put this book on hold at the library! I’m an avid reader and I love to cook/bake, so this book sounds perfect for me!
You will LOVE this book, then. It’s like chicken soup for the reader/cooker/Baker soul, lol. I couldn’t put it down.