I really enjoyed this second novel, Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs. Her first novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club was a big hit and I loved it. I was leary about this second novel when I read the inside cover-it just didn’t sound all that good to me. However, because I liked the first one so much I wanted to give this one a go and I’m so glad I did. I was hooked from the beginning of this story.
Comfort Food is all about Gus, her family, her life and her show on the Cooking Channel. Gus finds herself turning 50 and not being too thrilled about it. She’s getting tired of being everything to everybody-a role she’s chosen to take on. To top things off, the top people at the Cooking Channel want to boost her ratings so they decide to pair her up with the very sexy Carmen Vega who used to be a beauty queen. This is not going far to improving Gus’ mood.
Gus, not being one to give up easily comes up with a new idea for her show where she gets her girls, one of their ex-boyfriends, and her neighbor with a secret together to cook. Included are Carmen of course and Oliver, the new and very handsome culinary producer.
What happens next is funny, sad and just a good story. Gus discovers things about her daughters she didn’t realize before and that it’s possible for her to love again. She also finds that out of the whole mess that her career seems to be in that a good show emerges.
Maybe part of the charm of this book for me, as I’ve read some reviews that were less than favorable, was because I love to watch cooking shows. I love to cook and get lots of ideas from them. Throughout the novel I learned little tidbits about behind the scenes of a cooking show and popular stars of today’s cooking shows were mentioned throughout also. I enjoyed that.
I don’t know that this novel was as good as her first one but in saying that I also have to say that it’s also a very different kind of story. For me, I really liked it and would recommend the book.
I want to read both of these books. They sound like great reads. Now, to just find a way to read through osmosis, so that I can read double time, lol! Have a great weekend!
Thanks for dropping by April! I agree, most times it would be great to have more than one of me to get all the reading done that I want to. LOL.
I enjoyed this one. Reading it was like watching a movie on a Saturday night. Fun and easy. Nice review!
An acquaintance here at our campground is just finishing the knitting one and says she’s going to give it to me to read as soon as she’s through with it. I’m looking forward to it and her newest now that I’ve read your comments.
Good Review Dar. Can’t wait to read it. I had heard mixed reviews for FNKC and I enjoyed it….so I won’t hesitate to try another. xo Toni
I agree…I read some unfavorable reviews of this one, but being a foodie and cooking-show addict, I found this a delightful read.
I agree Jill. The cooking channel is a bit of an addiction for me and so, for me, the book fit right in and I enjoyed it.