LATE BLOOMERS CLUB

I loved this sweet gem of a book, by the same author as A City Baker’s Guide To Country Living, one of my favorites from last year! Here, Nora is the longtime owner of her family’s diner in Guthrie, Vermont, where she is content, if increasingly restless. When she and her sister become the beneficiaries of a vast plot of land that threatens to divide her small town, Nora finds that her seemingly preordained life path takes some unexpected turns. Will Nora discover the possibilities of this new inheritance, and open her heart to the people it brings into her life? Filled with small town charm and plenty of delicious food, this warm, wise novel is perfect for a lighter feel-good read to make you smile - and possibly move to Vermont!

This story beautifully reinforces the notion that we can all have second, third, maybe unlimited opportunities to find happiness, at any stage of life, if we only give ourselves that chance. I loved how Nora, and some other characters in the story, value what is constant and true - but learn to open themselves to creative paths that bring them joy. Since I turned to photography as my third career, and then came to this bookcooklook project some years after that, I deeply appreciate the idea that what makes us happy can change and grow, that we don’t ever have to be “stuck.” Also, this book has the sweetest dog-related storyline!

Give me ALL the books with recipes in the back - this book is a cake-baking bonanza, and a burnt sugar cake with maple frosting is the star. Instead of a traditional bundt cake, I made mini bundtlettes (yes, that’s what the tin is called) which seemed like something to be served warm at a country diner during peak foliage season. The recipe lives exclusively at the end of the novel so you’ll just have to buy the book for yourself! A few other favorite novels with small town settings are All Adults Here and Early Morning Riser - what are some of yours?