Guest Book Review: The Art of Baking Blind

By Courtney Marzilli

"There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved." ~ Kathleen Eaden, The Art of Baking

I was so excited to receive a copy of The Art of Baking Blind, the first novel for author Sarah Vaughan. The book takes place in England and centers around a baking competition that is based off of a very popular and classic cookbook from the '60s, The Art of Baking by Kathleen Eaden. There are five competitors, Jenny, Vicki, Karen, Mike and Claire, all who come from different backgrounds and all facing their own struggles. The one thing they have in common is they love to bake and want to prove they are the best.

Throughout the story we get glimpses not only into the competitors lives but the past life of Kathleen Eaden. This is one of the things I loved so much about the book in that Vaughan would weave in and out of past and present all while keeping the common themes of family, baking and relationships. Each character is dealing with a personal problem, all of which are very different, but each utilize baking as a way to cope. The language that Vaughan uses along with the recipes and ingredients made this novel easy to devour, no pun intended. The descriptions of the desserts and meals were so descriptive you could taste the words. Bust aside from food also being a key character, the common theme of family and relationships was so sweet. Being a new mom myself I really appreciated this and loved reading about the memories and bonding that can be created through food and cooking. Even if you aren't a foodie or enjoy cooking, these themes in the book made the story very relatable.

I am so glad I came across this book as I am not a huge cook but do enjoy baking. After reading this book I am excited to bake with my daughter and create traditions and recipes with her. Kathleen Eaden was a mother herself and what I loved most about her was her love of baking with her kids and the joy they had with her. The Art of Baking Blind is a delicious read for all and what seems like a great start for Sarah Vaughan!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Courtney Marzilli is a book blogger and beauty junkie. She's always had a love for reading and hopes to share this love through her blog. Her favorite genres are women's lit, mysteries and pop culture non-fiction. When her nose is not buried in a book, she is off on adventures with her family near the Boston area. You can find her at her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.