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    Vanity Fare: A novel of lattes, literature, and love
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    Vanity Fare: A novel of lattes, literature, and love
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    Vanity Fare: A novel of lattes, literature, and love
    Ebook397 pages5 hours

    Vanity Fare: A novel of lattes, literature, and love

    By Megan Caldwell

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Vanity Fare is a charming tale of food, family, literature, and romance in which a 40-year-old newly single Brooklyn mother embarks on a culinary writing career and finds herself at the center of a deliciously tempting love triangle.

    Molly Hagan—“a heroine who’s wittier than Ellen DeGeneres on speed” (New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries) is overwhelmed. Her cheating husband left her for a younger blonde, her six-year-old son is questioning her authority, and she’s starting a job as a copywriter for a local Brooklyn bakery.

    She doesn’t need the complications of a new love. But the bakery’s sexy British pastry chef is determined to win her heart. And there is his intimidating and oh so irresistible business partner...who happens to have a secret that might prevent Molly from getting her own Happily Ever After.

    Funny and sweet, Megan Caldwell’s charming romantic novel includes five delicious recipes developed with the pastry chef from Union Square Café.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateDec 26, 2012
    ISBN9780062188434
    Unavailable
    Vanity Fare: A novel of lattes, literature, and love
    Author

    Megan Caldwell

    Megan Caldwell grew up in a remote town in New Hampshire where she devoured every book of fiction in her well-read parents' library. An English literature major at Barnard College with double minors in political science and religion, Megan wrote and edited reviews for a music industry magazine for fifteen years. Eventually, she became editor-in-chief and went on to develop conference programs for the industry. Now she is the community manager for Heroes and Heartbreakers, a romance novel website, where she blogs daily as Megan Frampton about the fiction she reads. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.

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    Reviews for Vanity Fare

    3.5/5

    91 ratings33 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was a good chic lit type of story. I enjoyed it.
    • 3/5
      This was a fun book to curl up on the couch with and read.Molly Hagen’s husband left her and their 6 yr. old son for a younger, blonder woman.At her wits end with no child support, help finally comes in the form of an old friend whogives her a job as a copywriter for a new bakery in town. The last thing on Molly’s mind is romance but, with a sexy baker and an arrogant handsomeBusiness partner romance is exactly what she finds.The food puns are fun and the recipes at the end were a welcome “the end” for me.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. Megan Caldwell wrote a funny, touching story that took you through Molly's personal growth. I highly recommend it.
    • 3/5
      cute. I enjoyed the literature/food references. The main character and the author both enjoy romance novels so that tone is there; it was kind of like 50 shades of proust. haha. overall, an easy, entertaining read. No real suprises plot-wise but a cute quasi-survival-story of a recently divorced single mom.
    • 3/5
      The library had labelled my copy as "romance" - maybe they'd run out of "chick lit" stickers. On the other hand, I was listening to a BBC book show discussion of romance literature the other day and all the romance writers and researchers seemed to agree that the one common feature that united the diverse 'romance' genre was the happy ending. On that basis, Vanity Fare is definitely in the romance category - and that's its big problem. Much of the book is quite good reading: many realistic characters in kind-of-believable situations with an interesting underlying story (who's not interested in food?) containing plenty of sub-plot but not too complex. The self-actualization element (which I reckon is one of the defining aspects of the 'chick lit' genre) was presented in an up-front but not too obtrusive way (IMHO...but other reviewers disagree!).
    • 4/5
      My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
      A copy of Vanity Fare was provided to me by William Morrow for review purposes.

      Molly thought she had hit rock bottom when her husband of 10 years left her and their six year-old son for a younger woman. That wasn't rock bottom though. Rock bottom came when she finds out her soon to be ex-husband has also lost his job (and his ability to pay her child support) and also depleted their savings leaving Molly with nothing to pay the bills. She ends up being hired as a copywriter for a new up and coming bakery. But on top of finding a job she may have also found a new romance. Or two.

      Anyone who knows my typical book preferences would likely find it laughable that I decided to read a book regardless of the fact that it stated in the summary that there was a love triangle. Typically? I'd be running for the hills but the concept of this story was too cute to pass up.

      I am total sucker for foodie type books in general but I completely fell in love with the concept for this book. I also made full scale plans of starting my own bakery just to be able to do something like this. Molly is hired to come up with a 'hook' for potential customers and it needed to be closely related to the library (which the bakery is across the street from) and/or literature in general. She comes up with the idea to use double entendres to name menu items and the store itself (Vanity Fare). A few of my favorites? The Bun Also Rises. A Room of Ones Scone. Of Mousse and Men. Much Ado About Muffins. And the best? Tart of Darkness. There are even real recipes included at the back of the book for several of these (including Tart of Darkness which I will so be trying, it sounds delicious!)

      The romance(s) played a huge part of the story (and possible more than I would have preferred) which I suppose should have been expected as this can definitely be considered a chick-lit novel. But I have a total soft spot for chick-lit and these romances were quite entertaining. The main character, Molly, truly made this book though. She was witty, had a wonderful dry sense of humor, and was such a realistic character just struggling to not give in and let life beat her down. I found the story (and Molly) to be quite inspiring.

      A four star rating (and possibly more) was totally in the bag but alas, I found the ending with Nick's big "secret" to not be worth all the build up that led up to the reveal. Overall though this is a fun and delightful chick-lit novel that manages to be charming while still full of laughs.
    • 4/5
      Vanity Fare: a novel of lattes, literature and love by Megan Caldwell

      Challenges read for: Goodreads, EBook

      Book Cover: I think it tells the story quite well

      Food, coffee, great literature, romance, heartbreak and a happy ending--this was a fun, easy read.
      Molly is troubled at the beginning, but we get to follow her progress to happiness through her love of reading, her son, her amazing friendships, and coffee. If you need something light to read, this is the book for you. Megan Caldwell can weave a great tale!
    • 5/5
      A perfect read, curled up in your favorite chair, to escape the rain or snow. Ms Caldwell has mastered the fun escape into Chick Lit. Megan is a master of the pun. You will find good friends and good reciepes. Grab a bottle of wine, some dark chocolate and Vanity Fare.
    • 4/5
      Molly and her 6 year-old son Aidan are struggling to find their footing six months after husband and father Hugh left, but the struggle becomes more acute when his company implodes and Molly is left with the need to find a job fast to keep a roof over their head. As Molly learns to trust herself and to forge a new path, she also of course finds love again.This story of one woman's journey to find herself after her husband leaves her for a younger woman doesn't break any new ground, but is an enjoyable weekend read. At times I found myself very irritated by Molly who surely should have seen some of her troubles coming. Aidan is a delightful character, certainly a better choice to spend a life with than any of the men Molly is involved with throughout the book. At times quite enjoyable, at time quite frustrating, this is an OK chick lit offering.
    • 3/5
      This was a fun book to curl up on the couch with and read.Molly Hagen’s husband left her and their 6 yr. old son for a younger, blonder woman.At her wits end with no child support, help finally comes in the form of an old friend whogives her a job as a copywriter for a new bakery in town. The last thing on Molly’s mind is romance but, with a sexy baker and an arrogant handsomeBusiness partner romance is exactly what she finds.The food puns are fun and the recipes at the end were a welcome “the end” for me.
    • 4/5
      Molly Hagan's husband left her for a younger woman and now she finds out his business has just gone bankrupt. So now she has to find a way to support herself and her 6 year old son with no support from her ex-husband. Through a former colleague, she finds a job copywriting for a new bakery just opening up. Molly finds herself experiencing all of the ups and downs and "politics" in the business world, but she loves what she's doing and maybe has found romance in the process.Vanity Fare is entertaining and funny and romantic. The premise of the new bakery is that it is opening near the New York Public Library, so the owner is trying to combine the idea of food and books. Molly suggests that each item in the bakery should be named after a famous book. In fact, the name of the bakery is "Vanity Fare", a take off on the book of the same name.One of my favorite parts of the book were the food descriptions that opened each chapter in the book, such as "Portrait of a Ladyfinger" or "Tender is the Bite". At the end of the book, there are recipes for each of the bakery items. Molly is a strong character and faces her new life with trepidation and humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
    • 4/5
      The story of a spouse running away with a younger lover and the remaining spouse picking up the pieces seems to happen a lot these days. Molly's husband left her and her young son and now she must find a job quickly in order to afford rent and things for her son. A friend suggests a job in copywriting and while Molly is desperate for work, she never realizes that she might fall for her new boss or his grumpy business partner.
    • 5/5
      Vanity Fare is an awesome read. This is the story about Molly Hagan. A woman whose husband left her for a younger woman. She had quit her job to take care of their son Aiden and now she is a single mom trying to figure out how she will pay bills and feed her and her son.Molly's old friend John offers her a job copy editing for a new bakery and this is when the fun begins. She is still worried about making ends meet but at least she has a temporary job. Romance starts to flourish once she meets the British pastry chef and his business partner.I loved how this story unfolded and seeing the changes Molly goes through and she discovers who she really is. I saw similarities between Molly and myself while reading the book. Some of the similarities were going through a divorce, low self esteem and confidence. Just seeing how she grew made me think about how I had changed too over the past few years.This is a delightful read that will make you laugh, smile and maybe shed a few tears.
    • 3/5
      Molly Hagan must get her feet wet and enter the working class world again. Her husband has left her and their son, Aidan for a younger woman. This means that Molly must find a way to support her and Aidan and pay for insurance. Molly’s friend, John offers Molly a job opportunity being a copy writing for a new bakery. The chef is Simon, who is one of the most in demand and hottest chefs around. Besides working with Simon, Molly will be working with Nick. This would not be a problem if Nick was not such a bore. I enjoyed this book a lot more then I thought I would. Molly and her son, Aidan were good. I am glad that Molly ended up with the right guy. I was rooting for Nick way before Molly realized that he was the one for her. I knew exactly why he was acting aloof when it came to Molly and Simon. There were some funny moments. Like the ones between Molly and her psychologist. It was the lists that Molly would write up to give to Dr. Lowell during their sessions together. Lists like: Thing Every Newly Single Woman Must Do. As much as I did enjoy reading this book, I did feel like it could have been shortened about a hundred pages and still have been good. All of the write ups on the pastries had my mouth watering. I could picture each one and imaging how they would taste. Now I get to actually taste some for real. There are about four recipes inserted in the back of the book for me to make and try. Of course, I would love to have all the recipes as they all sounded wonderful. In addition, I could not believe all the different book references. I admit that I was not familiar with some of them so I will have to check up more on the books called out by the author. Vanity Fare is a good beach or book club read with the ladies.
    • 3/5
      Molly Hagan is single-momming-it, having just been dumped by her husband. She is depressed, overwhelmed and almost broke. Surrounded by caring and concerned friends, a job opportunity presents itself and Molly's life begins on a whole new romantic course.This is a playful story about the pain of rejection, and second chances, with an enjoyable mix of word play, realistic struggles, friendship, the wonder of good therapy, with a few appealing recipes thrown in.Maybe not the most memorable literature you'll ever read, but it is heartfelt and sweet.
    • 4/5
      Vanity FarebyMegan CaldwellMy " in a nutshell" summary...Divorce turns Molly into one heck of a new woman.My thoughts after reading this book...I found this book to be fun, absorbing and thoughtful. Molly's husband Hugh leaves her...alone with their son and almost no money. Molly steps up, grows up and deals with life. Molly has great friends, an amazing therapist and a fab sense of humor. These attributes help her to deal with her new life circumstances. What I loved about this book...Molly and her situations. The problems were believable. The way she dealt with them relatively real. She was funny with a unique sense of humor.What I did not love...The way she fed her son...she never had anything in the house except for stale cookies, crackers and chicken nuggets and pop tarts.Final thoughts...A fun book about dealing with life when you are dumped!
    • 4/5
      I am a complete sucker for puns, especially groan inducing puns. Make those puns tie in to literature and I'm forever yours. So a book called Vanity Fare with a cover photo of charming old books topped with a dish of luscious looking chocolate chip cookies was always going to make me swoon with delight. That the insides are as sweet and punny as the cover of Megan Caldwell's new novel promises is just icing on the cake.Molly Hagan is having to figure out how to hold onto her life. Her whiny, cheating ex-husband left her for a younger, blonder woman and now he's lost his job and can't pay child support. She adores her six year old son Aidan and wants to keep everything stable for him but how do you explain to a young child that he can't have the newest Power Ranger because they have to pay the rent and eat? Molly can't even afford to continue to go to therapy except that her doctor figures they'll work out the money eventually. So it's a godsend for this stay-at-home mom with a degree in English when old friend John offers her a freelance job writing copy for a new and different account he's just landed: an in the works bakery located close to the New York Public Library wants to integrate the themes of baked goods and books.While her personal life is in such turmoil, Molly jumps into the writing job, determined to do it well. And it turns out that working on the bakery might just help her get some things straight in her own head. Of course, it also means the added complication of very hot, very sexy, rising food star and chef Simon who is used to getting everything he wants. And it seems Molly might just be tops on his list. Then there's his aloof, intimidating, and restrained business partner Nick who seems sceptical that Molly is the right person to work on this campaign. Meanwhile Molly's mother, with whom she has a difficult relationship, has moved in with Molly and Aidan because she's lost all her money and could be losing her house.As Molly works on the bakery, coming up with the fantastic idea to name the baked goods for famous works of literature through hilariously groan-worthy puns, she also works hard on herself. With the support of her wonderful and supportive friends and her understanding therapist, she learns to value herself and even, on occasion, put herself first. She opens herself up to new experiences and new relationships and learns to recognize what's good for the moment and what's even better for the long haul. She gains confidence in herself and can truly look to the future happier, more settled, and strong.Caldwell has written a delightful and witty novel here. Her characters are appealing and realistic. Molly's frazzled existence in the beginning, her caffeine obsession and love of sweets, her deep desire to sink into depression over her situation coupled with the tiniest hold on determination to keep it together, and her unique quirks all serve to make her a very realistic and sympathetic character. The several plot lines come together neatly and the pace of the novel is quick and consistent. The many references to great literature and the wordplay here are fun and the dialogue is snappy. Starting each chapter with a sample of the sort of thing that Molly creates for the bakery is charming and the handful of recipes included in the end look tasty. Over all, this is a delectable, sweet, and pleasing read.
    • 5/5
      Loooooooved! So close to getting 5 stars (probably more like a 4.57 stars, LOL) This book was hilarious! I was texting my daughter parts and she would "LOL" back. Then I had to just call her and read her a whole page because it was too long to text. There were parts where I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. This book was very quirky, quippy, snarky, and sarcastic and I loved it for it! A book after my own heart!All in all this was a very fun book to read! I really enjoyed reading it! I hope she writes more like this one. This book is really more for mature audiences only. there was no sex, just a lot of swearing and references to sex.
    • 4/5
      SummaryMolly's husband Hugh leaves her for a younger, sexier, more successful blonde. With a degree in English literature and the past 6 years spent at home as a mommy, Molly knows she has to find a way to support herself and her son Aidan, especially after Hugh announces that his business has gone belly up.Through a mutual friend of theirs, John, Molly gets involved in a copyediting opportunity on the ground floor of a brand new bakery positioned next to the NY Public Library. Her task is to come up with a way to meld the two...come up with a gimmick of sorts to bring in the customers and satisfy the English baker, Simon, who accepts nothing but the best and is accustomed to having things his way. Molly, Simon's partner Nick, and John put work out the professional details while Molly, her mom, her friends Keisha and Lissa as well as little Aidan, work on the personal. And, then, of course, the personal and the professional intersect...of course ;) What I LikedClassic literature is embedded everywhere in Vanity Fare...I loved that!Molly is in therapy...and that's not a big deal. Geez, we need so much more of this kind of attitude in the media. Molly is a sad divorcee and she is tempted to fall into some of the stereotypical pitfalls of her situation...but she doesn't. She is smart, she takes her life one day at a time (sometimes minutes at a time) and works to make it better. She takes her life into her own hands and doesn't allow what someone else has done to her to define her. I keep telling myself that I'm not a romantic...but I do like a little romance when it's wrapped up in a story like this one. Real life romance on equal terms.Even though this story has a couple of real winners in its female characters, there are several more who are true female friends. We also need more of this in the world...more people who have our backs...through thick and through thin and over long periods of time.What I Didn't LikeSimon - didn't like him from the first time he entered the story.Hugh - what a whiner...that's all.Natalie and Sylvia - why do women have to be such bitches to other women? Ridiculous.Some of the humor at first was a little corny...but it grew on me as I got to know Molly. Overall RecommendationIf you need a quick feel good read in front of the fireplace with coffee (specifically a latte) and a mouth-watering pastry, and don't mind some girl talk as well as a few thumping hearts along the way, this is your next read.
    • 3/5
      Molly Hagen is an almost-divorced, single, stay-at-home mom. Her life is turned upside down, literally and figuratively, when he soon-to-be ex-husband informs her that he's been "fired" from his law firm and he can no longer provide child support. It's been years since Molly was in the workforce but she quickly finds work and plans for her and her son's future. First step is getting a job with a former friend as a copywriter. The job is to help with the marketing plans for a new bakery. Molly quickly develops a marketing plan and begins to work with two hunky men, one the business manager for the baker and the other the pastry chef. VANITY FARE provides a few laughs and a few smiles as Molly learns acceptance for herself and embraces her freedom. Her son Aiden is positively adorable and her friends Lissa and Keisha are the best friends any woman could ever have. Molly's relationships have their ups and downs as she discovers what she wants and what she doesn't. Throw in massive amounts of coffee and literary references and what you'll find is a great, fast-paced read that you won't want to put down.
    • 4/5
      A delightful novel of food and books. Megan Caldwell's writing style and story are witty, literate and well-written. I could identify with the main character, Molly Hagan, in her desire to have a full life after her separation from her husband, and her fear of doing so. Caldwell handles the worries of being a single mother with bills, responsibilities and a libido that is not yet dead, with humor and intelligence.This is not chicklit. It's well written, thoughtful and funny, especially if you're familiar with a broad spectrum of literature. The numerous play-on-words jokes that are included were a delight. Loved the book--I'm looking forward to more from Caldwell.
    • 4/5
      I highly enjoyed reading this story this week while a storm blew through our area; it was exactly what I needed to get lost in and keep cosy. The characters were delicious; the plot rich; the ending sweet. A perfect treat to sink into!
    • 4/5
      A great novel about accepting the path that life has thrown your way when you least expect it. I loved all the literary tie-ins and how there was romance but it wasn't the focus.
    • 4/5
      Thanks to LT Early Reviewer program I received an arc. I was thoroughly entertained by Megan Caldwell's modern day take on a historical romance. It was filled with a few possible heroes and a heroine coping with the end of her marriage and the need to make a new life for herself and her young son.Molly, our heroine, has serious self-esteem issues to work through - which she does with the help of her therapist. I won't go into the male characters because I don't want to spoil the reading for others. It was a fun way to spend a few hours. I'll be watching for Ms. Caldwell's next book!PS There are recipes :)
    • 5/5
      What a delightful book! It always helps to almost immediately like the main character a lot----and have the attachment grow as you find out more about her. The food descriptions were so much fun and made such a good way to have the book flow together for this creative woman who felt underwhelmed with herself. And of course the way the males in the picture wound around her life made it just plain fun to read.
    • 4/5
      When the book starts off, Molly, a 40 something year old mom, is trying to pull her life together after being left by her husband. Molly had left the working world to raise her son and she is unprepared to go back to work when her ex suddenly announces he has lost his job, leaving her to try to provide for 6-year-old Aiden on her own. With her health insurance set to end and her rent and bills piling up, Molly is met with another setback when her mother moves in with her after losing all of her money in the stock market. Fortunately, Molly is approached to write copy for a celebrity chef's new bakery, which is opening in NYC, across the street from the library. The celebrity chef is a hot piece of British perfection who takes a break from self-worship to pursue a romantic relationship wtih Molly. At the same time, Molly's other project partner, Nick, takes an interest in getting to know both Molly and little Aiden. Mixing these ingredients together makes for a somewhat predictable chick lit recipe, though the story is an intoxicating mix, with morsels of bitterness counterbalancing sweetness and fun. I enjoyed this story, though I found some parts of the story somewhat confusing. I was not clear about the roles of the individuals involved in the bakery project and why the celebrity chef was surprised that Molly was working with Nick. I also thought Molly's friends were a little too similar in personalities and she seemed to have a lot of supportive friends to feel so helpless in the face of her divorce. However, I enjoyed watching Molly grow and take risks as she attempted to follow her therapist's advice. In all, a fun and heartwarming romantic novel which would likely be enjoyed by female readers who enjoy books, hunky men, pastries and coffee.
    • 3/5
      Vanity Fare, the story of a 40-something woman, Molly, recently left by her husband for another woman is a cute, light read. I enjoyed the parallels to famous romances like Pride and Prejudice and the recipes and clever descriptions of the baked goods were a fun touch.I appreciated Molly's journey (although it was a bit unrealistic) but I have to say that even though this was a romance I was a bit disappointed that she found her happiness wrapped up in a man, even if he was a Mr. Darcy.Overall, it is a fun, light read. Perfect for a vacation, but not good to read when hungry or dieting!
    • 3/5
      "A novel of lattes, literature, and love"? Sounds like the story of my life, if you change "lattes" to "coffee" or "espresso" and don't mind the loss of alliteration. Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for Molly, the 40-something discarded wife/single mother involved, my life is safely my own. Still, this made an amusing diversion from some of other stuff I'm reading of late (Sholem Aleichem for a book club, sequel to a complex science fiction as an AR, a Nordic noir that's being passed around amongst friends, and some occupationally related reading.)Molly's left facing a future of no money, no job, no support from the scummy ex, and has to reshape her world. Lucky for her, she's able to get work from an old college friend, who plops her in as the marketing/copy-writing person for a new bakery opening up near the New York City Library. Did I mention that the chef/owner is handsome, and sexy, etc? Yeah, well, he is, as is his associate who appears to despise Molly as much as I despise the word "sexy" as a descriptor.So here were the problems for me. Molly loves "literature" but is busy reading romance novels (which is fine to do, but own it, don't be ashamed of a good bodice. Heck, act it out, even. It's great fun.) And when her non-reading friend wants to start reading good literature, Molly starts her out on Ethan Frome. Ethan Frome??? I'd be surprised if the chick ever picked up a book again.Molly loves "coffee", but thinks nothing of drinking stuff that's been sitting on a warmer all day. The coffee geeks I know would be horrified at that, or by the pre-ground coffee she scoops out to make her bucket 'o coffee. I know there's the whole crowd out there that thinks Starbucks or Dunkin' Doughnuts reigns supreme, but not the folks I hang with. They'd shudder, and that's before knowing that the perfect cuppa in this book has milk and one sugar in it. Undoubtedly perfect for some, but not for the purists.So if I put my judgmental snob hat aside, and focus on the story, it was fine. Molly is faced with some really awful stuff, and faces challenge. She also has a son, who she wants to keep unharmed from his father's desertion. Her mother is a little off kilter, but Molly deals with it well. She's got two great girlfriends to help her, with good shoulders to cry on and ears for listening. She's got a great shrink, another friend who gives her a job, and her health is insurance covered for at least a little while. And she's got a good enough head on her shoulders to not be ruled by her libido. All in all, a fine escape read for a chilly autumn day. The references to books, in the copy Molly supposedly came up with for the bakery products, were entertaining. The recipes for those products a nice touch. A little more of Brooklyn would have been just great. The best thing would have been if the bakery was real, and I could order one of those muffins to have with my freshly brewed, black coffee.Many thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for sending along this copy of Vanity Fare.
    • 4/5
      I won this book from Library Thing, and it arrived the day after I finished Heading Out to Wonderful. I was in a funky frame of mind, suffering from book hangover, so I picked it up and immediately started reading it. It was fun and silly, and the perfect antidote to the heaviness I was feeling. This is normal for me, I do usually try to balance the books I read so if I read something pretty emotional I follow up with something easy. I started this when I was reading Joyce Carol Oates books’ back to back to back and started feeling grumpy and depressed. Her stuff is so good, but so dark! So I don't like to be all serious all the time. Vanity Fare is about a forty year old rich woman named Molly whose husband abruptly leaves her, and not only is he gone, but so is their money and his job. She is forced to get a job, but after being a stay at home with a liberal arts degree, she feels she has few options. In the past, she had dabbled in freelance proofing and editing for her friend’s marketing firm, and when he calls with an opportunity, she has to check it out, for the sake of herself and her son Aidan. The job is writing copy for a celebrity chef, Simon from Britain, who is opening a new bakery – and he wants his products tied into the library next door, hence the name Vanity Fare. She writes lots of puns, reworking book titles to have to do with baked goods. Molly ends up dating Simon a few times, but really has her eye on Nick, the financial guy behind Simon. There are a few hiccups along the way to happiness for Molly, but ultimately this book has a happy ending. One thing did bother me- Molly was always going on about her internal editor, and would mentally note if someone used the same word more than once in a paragraph or a document. But I counted the author using the word surreptitiously at least 6 times, and 3 times out of the 6 was on the same page. I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be ironic or if it was a mistake, but it bugged me after reading how the character hated when that happened. This book is an easy feel good book. Not too serious or dramatic, just something to read when you need a pick me up. I could easily see reading it, while drinking a peppermint mocha latte and eating something equally indulgent.
    • 2/5
      This novel started out with the typical "husband leaves wife for a younger, more glamorous woman" scenario. However, the jilted wife does have custody of her young son, while most of these stories are child free. After years of being a stay at home mom, the protagonist, Molly, must find a job to support herself and her son. She find some work doing copywriting and it leads to a quite typical love story. Should Molly pursue a relationship with the rich and gorgeous rogue chef or the dark and brooding business partner, even though he doesn't seem to like her. Predictable and banal, this slow read could have been much better.