Publisher: Corgi
Release: 30th June 2016
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:
"Verity Bloom hasn't been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago.
But an opportunity to help a friend lands her right back in the heart of the kitchen. The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks' time and needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up. And with new friendships bubbling and a sprinkling of romance in the mix, Verity finally begins to feel like she's home.
But when tragedy strikes at the very heart of the cookery school, can Verity find the magic ingredient for Plumberry while still writing her own recipe for happiness?"
Review
The Plumberry School of Comfort Food was a sweet, moreish and warm story that was an absolute delight to read. This was my first taste of Cathy Bramley’s writing and it certainly won’t be my last!
The book follows Verity Bloom whose passion for cooking burnt out after the untimely death of her best friend Mimi two years ago. Verity and Mimi were always whipping up comfort food in the kitchen for their Youtube channel, adding love and laughter as the magic ingredient to their recipes. But since Mimi’s death, Verity has existed on microwave meals and fish finger sandwiches, cooking just isn’t the same without her partner in crime.
When Mimi’s mother Gloria asks for Verity’s help opening her new cookery school, Verity is thrown back into the world of cakes and pastries, dinners and desserts, and slowly begins to let cooking back into her heart. As Verity whips, stirs and bakes The Plumberry School of Comfort Food into life, it begins to become a foodie destination known for its food with heart. However, the cookery school’s Michelin starred chef Tom has different ideas about what good food consists of with his career being built off of hard work and a serious, professional approach to cooking. As the heat rises in and out of the kitchen, will Verity and Tom be able to put their differences aside and make The Plumberry School of Comfort Food a success? Or will their clashing personalities make a recipe for disaster?
Reading this book was like being wrapped in a warm comforting hug. I liked Verity straight away and quickly lost myself in her world. The entire cast of characters were lovely and each of them felt very real with their own backstories, passions, and dreams. My favourite character has to be Mags who really made me smile. I also loved the slow burning romance between Verity and Tom, who despite their differences had real chemistry between them.
The cookery school was a very original idea putting a new spin on the ever popular foodie chick-lit genre. I loved the way it bought the people of Plumberry together with its bake off style competitions and delicious food – some of the descriptions really made my mouth water! There was a sweet message at the heart of this story about showing our love for others through the act of making them food that I thought was really lovely.
The Plumberry School of Comfort Food was the perfect feel good read that put a big smile on my face. Cathy Bramley has become a new favourite author of mine and I’m now happily going to make my way through her backlist. If they’re half as good as Plumberry then I’m in for a real treat!
