Lightweight, yummy fun

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

By Amy E. Reichert

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books (July 21, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1501100718

ISBN-13: 978-1501100710

Approximate Lexile: 550

Publisher’s Blurb:

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.

There’s really nothing new in this book. They meet cute, lots of coincidences and near-misses happen, the truth is discovered, there is anger, angst, and reconciliation. (I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying that Lou and Al reconcile. We all know how this genre is supposed to function. The fun is in finding out how they get there.)

With all that said, though, I enjoyed this book. I raced through it in a day. It would make a great big-screen rom com, the type of thing Meg Ryan used to star in. (What’s she up to lately, anyway?)

There are two REAL love stories in this book: Milwaukie and food. The author obviously loves both of these deeply. Her descriptions of the various places and events that Lou shows to Al, and the foods they eat there, are detailed and full of love. They make me want to visit those places.

The characters are well-drawn, particularly the supporting cast. The ex-fiance, Devlin, is probably the most stock character. The surprise isn’t that Lou won’t take him back; the surprise is that they were ever together at all.

This is a fun, lightweight read for those times when you don’t want to think too hard and definitely need a happy ending. Perfect accompaniment to a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. (You all know what I’m talking about.)

Possible Objectionable Material: Scantily clad people. Grownups engaging in consensual sex—offscreen, but not without some sensuality on the page first. Mild cursing. As I said—perfect RomCom, probably rated PG.

Who Would Like this Book: Again, romantic comedy! If you like those, this is the book for you. Nothing high school kids can’t handle. A low Lexile level means even struggling readers will probably do fine.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC e-book!