Jenny Quinn has been baking her entire life. From treacle tarts to chocolate teacakes, her baked goods are always sampled by her husband of fifty-nine years, Bernard. The two enjoy a quiet life as pensioners, puttering about the garden and visiting their niece and her children. After almost a lifetime together, there aren’t too many secrets between them. But when her favorite tv show Britain Bakes puts out a casting call for the new season, Jenny impulsively decides to apply without telling Bernard.
After she’s invited to audition, she begins baking up a storm using her trusty old fashioned scale to precisely weigh her ingredients. As she prepares her family recipes for judging, she reflects on the other thing weighing on her…the secret she’s been keeping from Bernard for almost six decades. A secret from long ago, before she even met him.
When Jenny lands a spot on the show she immediately regrets applying, sure that this series will highlight failures galore as she enters the competition. What she finds instead is camaraderie in a fellow baker and a producer whose youth and zest for life remind her of her younger self, forcing her to reflect on what could have been.
This sweet read draws heavily from GBBO, and the descriptions of the baking are so detailed it practically puts you right in the competition tent. Jenny is a lovable grandmotherly type of character and the flashbacks to her young adulthood add layers of interest and a dash of intrigue to an otherwise cozy story. This is a great pick for anybody who enjoys a good bake and a light-hearted read.
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Happy reading!
-Melinda
Read it or Weep 