Early Book Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

Author: Amy E. Reichert

Publication Date: July 21, 2015

Publisher: Gallery Books

YOU'VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

“Beautiful and she can cook,” Bill said. “No wonder you closed the deal.”

“He hasn’t ever given a positive review. I’ve even heard a few of the restaurants he reviewed had to close.”

Nothing beats cake for breakfast, especially early surprise birthday cake. 

Nothing piques my interests more than a book about food. This story is a romance that involves a chef who is trying to build a beautiful French restaurant and the food critic who writes one scathing review that brings her down. The story did not disappoint; the characters were developed so richly almost like a slice of the best coconut cake you can imagine and the romance was built throughout time and was not an instant thing. Lou is our chef and such a marvelous character. She is strong, independent, and a dreamer at best. It is so easy to get behind her character; you will find yourself supporting her and her restaurant all the way through. Lou faces some struggles pretty early on in the book, but she overcomes them with grace and a smile on her face…eventually!

Al Waters is the food critic that writes an awful review after being served a less than perfect dinner at Louella’s, Lou’s French restaurant. Al is served undercooked fish for crying out loud; this is a health hazard and he has no choice but to write a less than positive review. Later that same evening, he meets Lou at a bar where she is found crying out her sorrows; the two hit it off immediately and their series of dates ensure from there. The food that they enjoy together will makes anyone want to visit Milwaukee. While Al and Lou are slowly falling for each other, you will be falling in love with this book and will find that it is very hard to put down.

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review***