WRITERS & LOVERS

All the stars for Writers & Lovers, a story so beautifully written it took my breath away. In it, a young struggling writer is deep in financial debt, bereft after suddenly losing her mother, and suffering a recent heartbreak. As she descends further into physical and emotional turmoil, two different men find a place in her heart, and she must choose a path forward that will bring her to the next stage of her adult life.

This immersive novel is suffused with grief, longing and beauty. It took me a little while to get into a story with a melancholy mood during this unusual time, but as it progressed, its intensity made it impossible to put down. As Casey confronts what kind of future she will create for herself, the book skillfully captures the tension between responsibility and passion, convention and creativity, holding on and letting go. Adulting can be terrifying, and but it can hold moments of exquisite tenderness, clarity and grace.

Casey waits tables to make ends meet, so every other page is filled with delicious food. Panna cotta. Mussels with vermouth. Baklava. The food is endless. One of her suitors has two young boys who order blueberry pancakes with bacon, and this struck a chord with me because, these days, I’m trying to cook things I know will be a home run with my own kiddos. This breakfast disappeared in an instant and that’s how I judge my meals!