Something about a book set in Paris just makes it all the more romantic and interesting for me. I have been to France twice and while it hasn’t been may favorite city in Europe, there is no doubt it has a distinct romantic feel to it and the food—oh the food! While I am far from a foodie, there is no doubt Paris is home to some delicious pastries and savory dishes.
One of the things that interested me in this book was not just the setting but that the main character, Sophie, is a chef who loses her sense of small. At first glance I thought it was metaphorical but in reading the description further it was clear that it was literal. I thought that sounded intriguing and would be an interesting take on a classic French foodie story. The more I kept reading the summary though the more interesting it sounded. While this book looks like it’s part of a series, many have said it can be read independently as a stand-alone.
I love character driven books with the main character in a personal crisis on a journey to not only find themselves but to also resolve their personal crisis. This book sounds like it’s going to fit the bill and I am so thrilled to share a bit with you guys today! If you love women’s fiction with an exotic setting and no doubt some amazing food references, then this will be a great option for you. It’s being met with rave reviews too so be sure to check it out!
Summary
In this delectable novel, a chef on the rise fuels her passion for cooking while enduring the hardest challenges she’s ever faced after a debilitating injury.
Everybody wants a piece of grand chef Sophie Valroux. With her once-destroyed reputation fully recovered and then some, Sophie is making her mark in the culinary world. She’s running the restaurants of Château de Champvert, the beautiful estate that she inherited from her grandmother. She and her fiancé, Rémi, are closer than ever, and she’s even bonding with his daughter Lola. Everything should be perfect.
Yet, Sophie still feels something in her heart is missing.
When she’s invited to cook at an exclusive event her culinary idol is attending, she thinks this could be the thing to catapult her to greater heights, maybe even bring her one step closer to her one and only dream of achieving the stars–Michelin stars.
But fate has other plans for Sophie. After she accepts to cook for the Parisian elite, her world crumbles. She suffers a fall and loses her senses of smell and taste. Certain that her career will vanish if people find out, she keeps this secret to herself, not even telling Rémi. She fakes it all: the menus for every meal, the taste of fresh figs, the juicy cherries in the orchard. All she has to do is get through life–and the event–tasteless without missing a single step. Fake it ’til you make it…right? (summary from Goodreads)
The Lit Bitch 
I read the first book and liked it, but I wasn’t wowed by it. Not sure if I’ll read this one or not… maybe!