{"id":28648,"date":"2015-10-31T23:17:14","date_gmt":"2015-11-01T03:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28648"},"modified":"2015-10-31T23:17:14","modified_gmt":"2015-11-01T03:17:14","slug":"review-of-the-coincidence-of-coconut-cake-by-amy-e-reichert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28648","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, by Amy E. Reichert"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"coincidence_of_coconut_cake_large\"<\/a>The Coincidence of Coconut Cake<\/em><\/p>\n

by Amy E. Reichert<\/p>\n

Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster), New York, 2015. 318 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake<\/em> was one of those books I enjoyed so much, once I started I didn\u2019t stop reading until I\u2019d finished \u2013 even though most of the night had passed. (Oops!)<\/p>\n

Lou Johnson is a chef in Milwaukee with her own restaurant, which is just beginning to turn a profit. Her fianc\u00e9, a lawyer, doesn\u2019t really understand her passion for her restaurant. He talks about a time when she \u201cwon\u2019t have\u201d to work any more.<\/p>\n

And then, when Lou brings over a coconut cake from her grandmother\u2019s recipe to surprise her fianc\u00e9 on his birthday morning \u2013 she discovers a young intern at his house, with him in his boxers. She drops the cake on the intern\u2019s underthings.<\/p>\n

Lou insists that she can work anyway. But her mind is not on her work, and everyone else in the restaurant is worried about her. Most unfortunately, by coincidence, that\u2019s the very night that the new food critic in town, A. W. Wodyski, has chosen to review her restaurant. His reviews are very popular, but he hasn\u2019t written a positive review yet. His review of Lou\u2019s restaurant is his most scathing so far.<\/p>\n

The critic\u2019s real name is Al, and he\u2019s newly arrived from London, ready to move out of Milwaukee after he\u2019s built up a following. He ran into Lou the day he saw her walking with a divine-smelling coconut cake, and then he sees her again at a pub the day his review is published. Lou is in a terrible mood and quite drunk, knowing this review will destroy her fledgling restaurant.<\/p>\n

At the pub, Al shows he\u2019s new in town and not too impressed with Milwaukee. Lou, born and raised there, offers to show him the sights. They begin spending Mondays together, Lou giving a friendly tour of the city. Their friendship grows as they discover more and more in common. Naturally, as you\u2019d expect in a romance, Al discovers the secret between them first \u2013 that she\u2019s the one whose restaurant his review destroyed. But he\u2019s already in love. How can he keep Lou from finding out?<\/p>\n

What I loved about this book? The two valued each other so much. This wasn\u2019t a romance you had to be told was happening or a romance based on good looks. You could watch it happening, and you could see two foodies bonding over common interests. Al is such a contrast with her ex-boyfriend, who didn\u2019t understand what motivated Lou. But Al and Lou see each other for who they are and value that \u2013 well, except for the big secret they don\u2019t realize is between them at first.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a section I liked from when they\u2019re first getting to know one another. They\u2019ve gone to a Chinese exhibition with a variety of sayings painted on the wall. Lou is looking at a quotation about Delight, and turns around and bumps into Al.<\/p>\n

Al had hoped Lou would bump into him. He stood behind her while she stared at the wall for just that reason. Intrigued by her interest, he started to ponder the quotes on the wall, too. Delight \u2013 he couldn\u2019t remember the last time he felt delight. Maybe before Eton, when he and his parents took road trips through the English countryside, stopping in little village pubs for lunches, traipsing over hilltops to see what was on the other side, and sharing a hearty meal at the end of the day. Wait \u2013 that wasn\u2019t quite true. During his last outing with Lou, eating a buttery, cheesy burger and tasting fried cheese curds for the first time, with the sun shining and the world humming, he had felt delight. There had been no cynicism, no pretension, just pure enjoyment. Perhaps it was more about surroundings than the emperor had envisioned.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This book is the story of a relationship built on delight. And it is lovely. On top of that, it made me want to visit Milwaukee, something I’ve never wanted to do before. There\u2019s a strong sense of place in this novel, as well as wonderful characters and a genuinely delightful romance, which faces obstacles but comes through.<\/p>\n

This was the kind of book which I finish and think, That’s<\/em> what I want. I want a relationship where I’m valued as much as Al and Lou value each other. I’d rather stay single than settle for anything less. It was a joy to read about such a couple.<\/p>\n

amyereichert.com<\/a>
\nSimonandSchuster.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Fiction\/coincidence_of_coconut_cake.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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