The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living (one of our August picks) is Louise Miller’s first novel, the result of GrubStreet’s Novel Incubator program.
The reader is introduced to Olivia “Livvy” Rawlings, a pastry chef at an exclusive Boston club, during a rather tumultuous period in her life. She is not happy in Boston, she is having an affair with a married man, and she has just accidentally started a fire in the restaurant she works in.
Livvy takes off for Guthrie, Vermont to clear her head and see her best friend, Hannah. Hannah helps Olivia find a job as a pastry chef at a sweet local spot called The Sugar Maple Inn. While in Guthrie, Olivia meets a cast of small town characters ranging from cold to vindictive to charming to down right lovable. She comes to love the community and forms new friendships that are sure to last a lifetime.
This book was delightful. I enjoyed watching Olivia grow from a some-what cold city girl, to a girl completely enchanted by country life. The pages are filled with beautiful descriptions of pies and cookies and autumnal dishes. The book even offers a Blue Ribbon Apple Pie recipe at the end.
If you’re looking for a charming read about small town life, Louise Miller’s The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living is for you.
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)