Review: The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman

 Summary from Goodreads:


Bestselling, beloved author of The Charm Bracelet spins a tale about a lost young woman and the family recipe box that changes her life.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha "Sam" Mullins felt trapped on her family's orchard and in their pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star's New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family's orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life--including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family's history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.


As Sam discovers what matters most she opens her heart to a man she left behind, but who now might be the key to her happiness. 

My Review:


What I Liked:

Writing. This is my first Shipman novel and I will for sure be picking up the rest of her works! Her writing was easy to follow and well-crafted, she created a great setting with well-rounded characters. 

Plot. The plot was a bit predictable but in a good way. It kept me reading until the end because of how much I loved the characters. 

Setting. I recently read a novel set in Michigan and this is another great example of one. I enjoyed the look at life on  orchard and how the author included the landmarks of the country. 

Characters. The novel mainly follows Sam as she goes through her identity crisis and returns home. However, it also focuses on her family and there are various chapters about their pasts. I usually dislike going back and forth in time but this time it was so well done with great side characters. 

Food/Recipes. The novel is completely filled with recipes that correspond with the story. It is separated into parts that are connected by the various recipes the characters make through the novel. It made me want to try one out in the future, they all sounded amazing! 

What I Disliked:

Romance. I did not totally dislike the romance in the novel. I did feel that it went a little too fast even if I liked both of the love interests. I would have liked to see more interaction between them. 

I recommend checking out this amazing and sweet novel! I could not put it down. :D 

My Rating:

4.5 Stars Out of 5 Stars.