The Cookbook Club: A Novel of Food and Friendship

by Beth Harbison

New York Times bestselling author Beth Harbison whips together a witty and charming--and delicious--story about the secrets we keep, the friends we make, and the food we cook.

MUST LOVE BUTTER: The Cookbook Club is now open to members. Foodies come join us! No diets! No skipping dessert!

Margo Everson sees the call out for the cookbook club and knows she’s found her people. Recently dumped by her self-absorbed husband, who frankly isn’t much of a loss, she has little to show for her marriage but his ‘parting gift’—a dilapidated old farm house—and a collection of well-loved cookbooks

Aja Alexander just hopes her new-found friends won’t notice that that every time she looks at food, she gets queasy. It’s hard hiding a pregnancy, especially one she can’t bring herself to share with her wealthy boyfriend and his snooty mother. 

Trista Walker left the cutthroat world of the law behind and decided her fate was to open a restaurant…not the most secure choice ever. But there she could she indulge her passion for creating delectable meals and make money at the same time.

The women bond immediately, but it’s not all popovers with melted brie and blackberry jam.  Margo’s farm house is about to fall down around her ears; Trista’s restaurant needs a makeover and rat-removal fast; and as for Aja, just how long can you hide a baby bump anyway?

In this delightful novel, these women form bonds that go beyond a love grilled garlic and soy sauce shrimp. Because what is more important in life than friendship…and food?

• ISBN10: 0062958623
• ISBN13: 9780062958624
• Publish Date: 12 November 2020 (first published 20 October 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 14 May 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Heather]

This is a fun story about three women who get together to try out dishes from the cookbooks that they have but don’t always use.

Margo has hundreds of cookbooks and a husband who doesn’t like to eat. Trista is buying the bar that she bartends at and wants to revamp the menu. Aja can’t cook at all but she really wants to learn.

Each of these women are going through major upheavals in their lives and really need to make some friends to support them. They each hope that by reaching out of their comfort zone to attend The Cookbook Club they’ll find their people.

The club brings the women together but the majority of the story is about their lives away from cooking. Margo is saddled with a rundown property that needs a caretaker and a renovation. Trista is trying to keep her new business afloat. Aja is trying to deal with her pregnancy and the expectations of her boyfriend’s mother.

You’ll like this book if you like stories about women supporting each other instead of being pitted against each other. It doesn’t hurt that there is also pie.