“How to bake a new beginning” is a truly wonderful read, with real heart. The story is centred around the 3 main characters, who are sisters, and their Italian family living in the U.K. Coming from an Italian family myself, I could absolutely relate to Sabrina, Amanda and Louisa’s family and I felt as though, at times, my own family were being described. I love how the author described the grandparents speaking in broken English, which was speckled with Italian phrases too, bringing a lovely family feel to the story. I  particularly enjoyed how each chapter started with the grandfathers delicious Italian recipes, as it was a really different idea, making it stand out from other books and adding a lovely touch. The writing throughout the whole book was so beautifully descriptive that I could almost taste all the delicious food, which the book was heavily centred around, and was able to picture myself in Italy, making me want to whisk my own little family over to Italy very soon. A lovely read and  I’m looking forward to more lovely books from this exciting and promising new author.

Who wants to gorge on chocolate when you can binge read a book, especially one as delicious and entertaining as "How to Bake a New Beginning." 

I was drawn in from the beginning. The story revolves around the lives of three sisters and their relationship with their Grandfather who dies at the start of the novel. Mourning his death, but wanting to celebrate his life they travel to his birthplace in Italy. Here they each embark on a voyage of self-discovery and find love. Each chapter starts with one of their Grandparents' recipes, an important foundation in their Italian heritage.

I loved the way that the author developed the characters and exposed their vulnerabilities and strengths. It gets 5*s from me, I can't wait to read more from this author.

I was a little bit surprised to find out (via another reviewer) that this was a Christmas book as I think I just saw the Italian coastal cover and read the blurb and assumed it was travel fiction/contemporary romance, which it is but it's also much more. Luckily, the British heatwave had just broken when I sat down to read it, so I could start to feel immersed in the Wintery magic just a little bit, but I plan on reading it again near Christmas, as a treat.

The way the book transports you to Italy in the Winter is fantastic; typically I've only thought about places like Italy, Spain and Greece in Summer books with Winter typically being reserved for New York, London & Prague etc, but there is something wonderful about how it is written, you become completely absorbed in the beauty of the place.

This story is all about the characters. Initially, I did find it a bit of a juggle trying to recall which sister was which, and decipher what was happening in the flashbacks featured, however after a few chapters I completely got the hang of it, and it's very important that you persevere if you find this too, because it is so worth it and a wonderful ensemble of loveable characters.

This book is a foodie's delight! The recipes at the beginning of each chapter not only give an insight in to the characters and their love of food, but inspired me to try a few new Italian style dishes myself (I am definitely making the Pastina to take in a flask on my next picnic!). I love books that combine travel and food and this is an excellent example. However, this isn't just a "girl travels to foreign lands" story; the return of the family to Italy unearths the real side of Italian culture, family and food, the kind that only comes from the author's own experiences of her own Italian family, and is therefore uniquely authentic and so genuine you just feel a part of it.

There is passion, heartbreak, joy and good old fashioned romance to enjoy within the pages and it is ultimately a wonderful tale of family, in all its forms.

Towards the final third of the book I just didn't want it to end because I was enjoying the setting and the journey of the characters so much, and I feel there is also so much more to follow up as they each embark on their "new beginning".

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads. 

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

Three sisters, Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are reunited from their jobs with their parents and grandparents when tragedy strikes and they have to go to Italy. The journey is emotional with highs and lows and men who are either going to help or hinder them in their romantic goals. 

This was a gorgeous read and very emotional and I loved it! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book by this author and really enjoyed it the cover really attracted me and I wasn't let down at all the setting of the book was fantastic and you really thought you were in Italy and love how each chapter starts with a recipe of something the grandfather use to cook gets you really into how close the family were. Full of romance and showing how going somewhere different can change your lifes for the better and show you what you really want also about families and supporting each other. The book is based around three sisters and their family and has you hooked from the first page. 
Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa are theee sisters and all very different but all love there family just the same. They especially love their grandfather and sadly he suddenly passes away and they are pulled back together and decide to go to Italy where the grandfather is from and say their goodbyes out there and they know the funeral will be hard but have to do it. Little do they know that going out to a small village in Italy will change all three sisters life's for the better they hope. You have Amanda who is the older sister and has always been protective of her sisters she works in a great restaurant has a great home and a best friend but so Mei get is missing from her life. Then you have Sabrina who lives in LA and her life is full of parties and celebrities but her job is based in an office and her boss isn't very nice and want some her to suffer for her life so can Sabrina take charge and change her life then you have Louisa who dropped out of uni and feels like she is drowned out by the sorters successes but when she goes to Italy will the small village be able to change this for her. All three sisters need to take charge of their lives move forward and can they do this and be happy and can they find romance or not. 
Greta read from the first page and highly recommend anyone to read it.

This is an accomplished debut from an incredibly promising author, and had the book been set to a backdrop of sunshine I would be  saying its a fabulous poolside / summery read. 

For I was reading this during the August heatwave, and what my eagle eyes had failed to spot was the line on the cover saying "Three sister. One Christmas. A whole lot of pastries". which may have given me a clue that this was a wintery title - and I am feeling rather miffed that I have accidentally broken my own vow not to start reading Christmas books until September this year. 

For those of you who now me, I am a massive fan of a Christmas book, but yet this despite what I have just said above is not even a typical Christmas book - I certainly don't feel festive - although it is set in winter and around Christmas.  

What I have said about isn't meant to be negative despite it potentially coming across that way - what I'm trying to say rather long windedly is this book defied expectations of both a book featuring Christmas and of one featuring pastries! 

Now those pastries, and food wow was I getting hungry reading this book, and each chapter even starts with a delicious sounding recipe, and Amanda is an accomplished chef in her own right but she favours her grandparent's recipes.  She would love to run her own restaurant if only she was brave enough. 

Meanwhile we meet Sabrina who is living LA and managing a top ban, but  things aren't as great as them seem, while younger sister Louisa is unfulfilled in her job.  The catalyst for change in all of the sisters lives is a rather emotional event that tugged my heartstrings, but on the back of it the action was transported to a small Italian village not far from the Amalfi Coast. 

Where the book was appealing before this is where it came alive, as  I'm always a fan of stories set in Italy and the descriptions of this village and this coastline in winter, was described really well and I could picture it all so clearly. 

The food descriptions were tasty and the three men for the sisters (well it is a romance) are all to die for, incredibly handsome and all seemed just too good to be true - and I couldn't work out which ones I was rooting for more! 

This is an enjoyable book of sisters, family and learning to be true to yourself and that bad life events can be turned into huge positives if you look for the silver lining.  I am definitely eager to see what this author is going to write next. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.