The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go

Goodreads Synopsis:    Three generations. Seven days. One big secret. The author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake unfolds a mother-daughter story told by three women whose time to reckon with a life-altering secret is running out.

Gina Zoberski wants to make it through one day without her fastidious mother, Lorraine, cataloguing all her faults, and her sullen teenage daughter, May, snubbing her. Too bad there’s no chance of that. Her relentlessly sunny disposition annoys them both, no matter how hard she tries. Instead, Gina finds order and comfort in obsessive list-making and her work at Grilled G’s, the gourmet grilled cheese food truck built by her late husband.

But when Lorraine suffers a sudden stroke, Gina stumbles upon a family secret Lorraine's kept hidden for forty years. In the face of her mother’s failing health and her daughter’s rebellion, this optimist might find that piecing together the truth is the push she needs to let go...

My Thoughts:

-    Reichert has written another lovely story. This one was different from her other books. It wasn't the warm and tender romance, but it was still a heart warming story full of love.

-    I love how the author incorporates food into her books. She makes common foods sound SO amazing! I want brownies and grilled cheese!

-    I liked that Reichert wrote something a little different. It was mostly sad, but it ended on a happy and hopeful note. 

-    I loved how each section had a chapter from each character. I liked getting the different generations' perspective. I also liked the flashbacks from Lorraine and Gina.

-    I loved Lorraine's and Gina's stories. I love how they met their husbands and how similar their stories were.

-    This is one of those stories that become the go to cozy books. 

-    I'm so glad I discovered this author last year, and I hope she keeps writing! 

The Simplicity of Cider

Goodreads Synopsis:    Fall in love with The Simplicity of Cider, the charming new novel about a prickly but gifted cider-maker whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a handsome man and his young son at her family’s careworn orchard by the author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and Luck, Love & Lemon Pie.

Focused and unassuming fifth generation cider-maker Sanna Lund has one desire: to live a simple, quiet life on her family’s apple orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. Although her business is struggling, Sanna remains fiercely devoted to the orchard, despite her brother’s attempts to convince their aging father to sell the land.

Single dad Isaac Banks has spent years trying to shield his son Sebastian from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac packed up their lives and the two headed out on an adventure, driving across the country. Chance—or fate—led them straight to Sanna’s orchard.

Isaac’s helping hands are much appreciated at the apple farm, even more when Sanna’s father is injured in an accident. As Sanna’s formerly simple life becomes increasingly complicated, she finds solace in unexpected places—friendship with young Sebastian and something more deliciously complex with Isaac—until an outside threat infiltrates the farm.

From the warm and funny Amy E. Reichert, The Simplicity of Cideris a charming love story with a touch of magic, perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Gayle Forman.

My Thoughts:

-    I love this new to me author. I have devoured her books, and I wish there was more!

-    This is my favorite book from Amy. The story, the characters, the apples, the cider, everything was perfect!

-    I loved Sanna's independence and her hard working nature. I loved seeing her soften because of a little boy and his dad. 

-    I LOVE that the characters from the coconut cake book made an appearance. *sigh*

-    I can't put my finger on exactly why I love these books so much. The author is just amazing with people and stories and relationships. Everything just jives together in a way that speaks to me.

-    If you need a happy, sappy, fluff book with heart, pick this up!

Luck, Love, and Lemon Pie

Goodreads Synopsis:    From the author of the “clever, creative, and sweetly delicious” (Kirkus Reviews) The Coincidence of Coconut Cake comes a novel about a frustrated wife and mother who hatches a scheme to reignite her marriage—and risks everything in a gamble she hopes is a sure bet.

When Milwaukee-area wife and mother MJ Boudreaux notices her husband Chris seems more interested in the casino than her, she’s more bothered that she isn’t upset than by her husband’s absence. She picks up poker as a way for them to spend more time together—and reignite their marital flame.

Although the game doesn’t give her the quality time with Chris that she’d hoped, MJ finds she has a knack for it. Increasingly unhappy at home, she turns to the felt top of the poker table for comfort. Intoxicated with newfound freedom, MJ begins spending more time at the gambling tables and less with her family, finally carving out for herself a place outside her role of wife and mother.

After a string of great wins, MJ finds herself in Vegas, attracting the attention of a certain magnetic poker star. But when she’s forced to choose between her family and her new exciting lifestyle, the stakes may be higher than she thought and MJ will have to play her hand carefully…or risk losing it all.

My Thoughts:

-    I have a new favorite author to add to my list! I love Reichert's books! Her take on relationships is perfect, and her stories are so addicting. 

-    The heartache and struggles of marriage were so relatable. I'm sure a lot of women can sympathize with MJ's feelings.

-    I knew some of the decisions MJ made were not smart, but everyone makes mistakes, and I love that MJ realizes the mistakes she's made and becomes better because of it. The ending is amazing! I love the MJ's character growth.

-    I LOVED that some of the characters and the restaurant from The Coincidence of Coconut Cake made an appearance!! 

-    I liked the coconut cake book better, but I still enjoyed this one a lot. I can't wait to read more from this author. 

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

Goodreads 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 Thoughts:

-    This was almost the perfect chick lit. Other than some minor complaints, I really enjoyed this one!

-    I enjoy cooking and baking, and I love cooking shows, so this book had the perfect setting. I loved every minute of Lou's cooking, and I wanted to sample every dish she made. 

-    Al's personality was a little weird in a couple parts. I liked him for most of the book, but his instant adoration for Lou seemed out of character for him. He was the big bad food critic, but when it came to Lou, he was mush. I got tired of him adoring her during their first couple of "none dates." I wish he had been more standoffish during the beginning of the relationship. I like brooding guys with a gentle side, and that is what I wanted Al to be. However, I love how Lou made him want to be better, and how he started looking at everything in a new way after meeting Lou.

-    I'm a sucker for You've Got Mail type stories, and this one falls smack center in that category. I loved it!

-    I really liked Lou, and I sympathized with her. I loved the side characters too. Sue, Harley, and John were fabulous. Otto and Gertrude were perfection. They made me cry. 

-    Romance usually makes me bored, but I enjoyed the kissing and love making in this one. It was swoon worthy, especially the teasing. 

-    I'm so excited to try the coconut cake recipe in the back of the book. I was thrilled when I saw it there!