Book Review: Friendship Bread By Darien Gee

This my first review of a book on my blog! I am really excited. I am an avid reader and love to discuss books among friends but, this is my first review.



What the book is about: a synopsis

An anonymous gift sends a woman on a journey she never could have anticipated.
One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch: a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note: I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others.
Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. She’d just as soon toss the anonymous gift, but to make Gracie happy, she agrees to bake the bread.
When Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter. Widow Madeline Davis is laboring to keep her tea salon afloat while Hannah Wang de Brisay, a famed concert cellist, is at a crossroads, her career and marriage having come to an abrupt end. In the warm kitchen of Madeline’s tea salon, the three women forge a friendship that will change their lives forever.
In no time, everyone in Avalon is baking Amish Friendship Bread. But even as the town unites for a benevolent cause and Julia becomes ever closer to her new friends, she realizes the profound necessity of confronting the painful past she shares with her sister.
About life and loss, friendship and community, food and family, Friendship Bread tells the uplifting story of what endures when even the unthinkable happens.


What did I think?

I have to say it took me a while to really get into this book. I also have to say having twin 3 year olds running around and a 1 year old as well, which did not help. Once I got past all the background information and really got into the story I was hooked. So, once you get past chapter one you will love it. Darien Gee(Mia King) writes a beautiful tale of bringing the characters together and really digging into the emotions of them. It was very touching and I really felt close to the women. I was crying sometime and laughing others. I also love that the recipe for the bread was in the book, kind of a way to pass it on in your own city.

You can pre-order from Amazon.com Friendship Bread: A Novel before the release date of April 5th. You can also get it on Kindle as well. I love that because you can read it on a Ipad or Ipod or computer also.  The author, Darien Gee is the real name of novelist Mia King, the author of Sweet Life and Table Manners.


Read away,

This post was written for Family Review Network & Mia King who provided the complimentary book for review in exchange for my honest opinions. An affiliate link is included for the book.