From the author of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club pick The Scent Keeper comes a “heartbreakingly delicious” national bestseller about a chef, her students, and the evocative lessons that food teaches about life. Once a month on a Monday night, eight students gather in Lillian's restaurant for a cooking class. Among them is Claire, a young woman coming to terms with her new identity as a mother; Tom, a lawyer whose life has been overturned by loss; Antonia, an Italian kitchen designer adapting to life in America; and Carl and Helen, a long-married couple whose union contains surprises the rest of the class would never suspect. The students have come to learn the art behind Lillian's soulful dishes, but it soon becomes clear that each seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. And soon they are transformed by the aromas, flavors, and textures of what they create....
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"This was the perfect book to read in September! As a school teacher it was everyting I needed in the busy month of school starting. I really liked this book. It was the chick flick that I needed to read about and find my love of reading again after having an entire summer off. If you love cooking and reading you'll enjoy how Bauermeister's words just make you want to eat well!"
— Ana (5 out of 5 stars)
" Really enjoyed this book. If you enjoy cooking, you'll live this. It makes you look at food in a new light. Inspiring. "
— Ann, 1/30/2014" This is a must read! I loved this book! "
— Donna, 1/21/2014" As therapeutic to read as it was for the characters in her cooking class. Made me want to spend more time cooking "
— Dawn, 1/19/2014" Beautifully descriptive! Nothing to bog down the story line. It plays out nicely. Really enjoyed it "
— Christy, 1/14/2014" because i love to cook,i appreciate the way this was narrated.the description of ingredients they used in their classes was very good.but i think there were too many individual stories about the students' lives. "
— Ays, 12/25/2013" Loved every page until the very end. I thought it stopped very abruptly - but if you love food, you will love parts of this book. "
— Meghan, 12/16/2013" No real plot - more of a character study. "
— Tami, 12/16/2013" Good story. Liked how each chapter was told from a different person's point of view. made me want to learn to cook - maybe. "
— Donna, 12/13/2013" I LOVED this book! It is a quick read; but one that you want to take in slowly. The characters are rich and real. You will want to run, not walk, to your local cooking school and only hope for such a profound experience! "
— Patty, 12/12/2013" Some of the character studies were believable and some were not. It was absorbing in the moment, nostalgic, and fast-paced, and it made me want to make tiramisu. A nice light read. "
— Craroline, 10/26/2013" This is a book to read when you want some peace and calmness. The characters are believable; the setting is comfortable, and it leaves you wanting to know more about all the different relationships. "
— Tina, 9/6/2013" Filled with prose. Did you know that when you beat egg whites at a high speed they giggled. "
— Kathy, 1/1/2013" Lovely -- I was warmed by this tale. The magic began with the teacher but extended to each member of the class. If there were such a place and time, I would subscribe to the magic. "
— Joanne, 9/4/2012" Nice book, soft story about a culinary class and the students individual stories. I like cooking so found the food descriptions dreamy in parts. Fast read. "
— Liz, 7/28/2012" Beautifully written. Took a few pages to get into, but then was a very fast read. "
— Judy, 4/30/2012" I want to take cooking lessons from "Lilian". Each character is given one chapter- makes the book very enjoyable and easy to read. "
— Kimberly, 2/16/2012" I can still smell the garlic and taste the wine.. like a spicey stew bubbling on the stove on a rainy night "
— Steve, 1/27/2012" lovely. reminded me to love cooking again and that I used to TAKE COOKING classes in my free time! What fun those where. I could smell and see the kitchens and the surroundings. Lovely. "
— Shelagh, 7/5/2011" Beautifully written. Easy read. A good pick-me-up. "
— Jordana, 6/26/2011" I loved this book. You do not even have to be a foodie to appreciate the lyrical prose, touching stories, and endless sensuality. It is one of my new favorite books. I will likely even read it again! "
— Adita, 5/21/2011" I've heard so many people describe this book as I have, simply beautiful writing. I don't know why I connected to this writing so much. It was just a beautiful book that was uplifting and touched my heart. A must read when life just needs to feel good. "
— Kathryn, 5/15/2011" I am in the middle of 3 non-fiction books (that mostly put me to sleep.)<br/>This was a really sweet interruption. Cute story that made me hungry for healthy food. "
— Carrie, 5/14/2011" This is the best first book I've read in a long time. Really touching, funny and luscious to read. People who like Barbara O'Neil will like these. (I'mnot sure what to make of this relatively new subgenre of cooking fiction. But I enjoy it!) "
— Dls, 5/12/2011" This book is a deceptively simple and easy read. However there are little epiphanies for the reader; little twists and plots; character's self realizations and discoveries throughout this book that make it memorable. This is also why it would be a great selection for a book club. "
— Arlene, 5/12/2011" Loved it. It is about a lady that runs a cooking school and starts with a disparate group of students and at the end their lives are intertwined and better for knowing each other. "
— Chesapeake, 5/9/2011" A very simple but beautifully written story of a cooking class and its participants. Short and sweet, I did not want to let it go! "
— Alexasapp, 5/8/2011" I loved this book. I love to cook, and would love to participate in this type of class, become someone like Lillian, and own that type of restaurant. Perfect soul food for me; great read. "
— Wendy, 5/5/2011" This was a light read, but I really liked it. I thought it was very well written. "
— Michelle, 4/30/2011" Really great book. Lovely stories (and varied) and great desccriptions of the dishes from each class. Made we want to make he dishes I was reading about. "
— Allerina, 4/30/2011" I really liked how each character or couple was given a chapter, i.e., a lesson at cooking class, that gave them exactly what their life needed. The stories were so varied that this book has something for everyone. "
— Lisa, 4/29/2011" 4.5 out of 5. this book is pretty wonderful. the way the author wove words together to combine the intricate life of 8 different people altogether into one is just so effortless. the depiction of the characters and food is so artful and enchanting. "
— Susan, 4/28/2011Erica Bauermeister is the bestselling author of the three novels and the co-author of two nonfiction books.
Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.