Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

My Thoughts

Deliciously fresh, fun and wonderfully addictive.
A warm and witty story about fate, friendship and food.

5stars

Synopsis

You’ve Got Mail meets How to Eat a Cupcake in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

My Review

What an impressive and enjoyable debut from Amy Reichert. I loved it! Think of the movie You’ve Got Mail, give it a fresh and foodie twist, add a dash of romance and a sprinkle of sweetness and heart, and you’ve got a novel that is simply irresistible. The story infuses just the right amount of drama, wit, and suspense, as fate intervenes and leads two people to cross paths on a very unlikely day. I loved how the novel was more than just a romance… it was a tale of friendship and food, and even of a love story with Milwaukee.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is the story of Lou and Al, of chef and food critic. Lou runs a French restaurant, Luella’s, and is struggling to keep it afloat. Her life is supposed to be on track with a well-to-do fiancé, but when she walks in to find a half-naked intern in his apartment, the day goes south, fast.

And on this horrible, very bad day, Al, infamously mean food critic, walks into Luella’s and experiences the worst of the worst. Lou is distracted and upset, the staff is concerned, and the food is not up to par… Al notes it all, and promptly delivers a scathing review. (You can read some of this scene here)

Shortly after, Lou finds herself drowning her sorrows, while Al hits the same bar to celebrate his latest write-up, and as fates collide, the two make plans to see each other again. Lou promises to show Al the best Milwaukee has to offer. Just one catch… no work talk.

The story unravels deliciously, as these two people, each dealing with their own troubles, find an unlikely connection with each other. A friendship takes flight, as flutters for something more stir within for them both. With every place Lou takes Al, he’s falls a little more for the city, and a little more for the girl. And Al makes Lou realize that what she is starting to have with him, is the right kind of something, and just what she needs as her life is heavy with sadness at her restaurant’s demise… particularly after that bad review.

What unfolds is a story full of heart, sweetness, wit and charm. Al’s surly demeanor begins to lift with Lou’s passion and effervescence. But once Al realizes Lou is the very same chef whose restaurant he berated, everything hangs in the balance when he’s certain this secret could shatter everything he now can’t imagine losing.

If you’re looking for a feel-good story that will have you smiling (and perhaps a whole lot hungry), The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is the perfect read to pick up this summer.

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