National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of The School of Essential Ingredients in this luminous sequel.
Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .
Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship.
My Thoughts:
Never before have I felt like I could taste an author's descriptions of food. Yummm...my mouth watered throughout this book!
The Lost Art of Mixing is a sequel to Bauermeister's delicious The School of Essential Ingredients and picks up right where last left the characters. For those who haven't read the first novel, you will still find this book to be appealing; however, you will be more invested in the characters and their stories if you read The School of Essential Ingredients. I love that we got to catch up with Chloe, Lillian and Isabelle and look at the next chapter of their lives. This book also introduced some new and incredibly endearing characters who have engrossing lives.
The Lost Art of Mixing focuses on the intertwining of food and memories. The overarching theme in each of the character's stories is overcoming past memories that are obstacles to a more fulfilling future. If you like cozy, character-driven foodie fiction, then this book is for you!
4/5 stars
Other Reviews:
Book Chatter
Life in the Thumb
I still need to read the first book in this series!
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