Book Review: Good Enough to Eat

Call me crazy, but I started reading this book on Yom Kippur, which is a fasting holiday. I was immediately confronted with memories of good food from my youth and even thoughts of foods I currently enjoy eating. However, I was also immediately drawn into a story that was comfort food in itself.

"Good Enough to Eat" is about Melanie, a former lawyer who loses half her body weight and opens a healthy comfort food take-out, only to be rudely awakened by her husband leaving her for a woman twice her weight. Through the support of her sister, some close friends and even a new romantic interest, she works on piecing her life together and reclaiming the confidence her ex-husband took when he walked out the door.

I loved everything about this story. It was so honest and emotional and it also gave off a cozy feel. I could have read this novel in one day if I weren't so busy! However, I didn't want it to end and was disappointed when it did. (It ends on an uplifting note, but I would have loved to see it go another 100 pages or so.) It contained everything I enjoy about her books (as well as some of my other favorite books): Jewish references, spicy romantic scenes, interesting characters and a story that stays intriguing throughout. I enjoyed the descriptions of food as something actually comforting, instead of fancy. And Stacey Ballis includes all the recipes from the story, in both decadent and healthy versions. I just hope she doesn't wait three years to produce another delicious novel! In the meantime, I now have to find another novel to read that will live up to the enjoyment I received from this story.