"It definitely had it's "oh" moment... I just couldn't stop the gasp of air or the look on my face." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Loyalty, loss, and the ties that bind. These are the ingredients of The Recipe Club, a "novel cookbook" that combines an authentic story of friendship with more than 80 delicious recipes.
Lilly and Val are lifelong friends, united as much by their differences as by their similarities. Lilly, dramatic and confident, lives in the shadow of her beautiful, wayward mother and craves the attention of her distant, disapproving father. Val, shy and idealistic—and surprisingly ambitious— struggles with her desire to break free from her demanding housebound mother and a father whose dreams never seem to come true. In childhood, "LillyPad" and "ValPal" form an exclusive two-person club, writing intimate letters in which they share hopes, fears, deepest secrets—and recipes, from Lilly's "Lovelorn Lasagna" to Valerie's "Forgiveness Tapenade." Readers can cook along as the friends travel through time facing the challenges of independence, the joys and heartbreaks of first love, and the emotional complexities of family relationships, identity, mortality, and goals deferred. The Recipe Club sustains Lilly and Val's bond through the decades, regardless of what different paths they take or what misunderstandings threaten to break them apart... until the fateful day when an act of kindness becomes an unforgivable betrayal. Now, years later, while trying to recapture the trust they've lost, Lilly and Val reunite once more—only to uncover a shocking secret. Will it destroy their friendship, or bring them ever closer?" This book, again, was different than any book I've read due to the unique set up. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I enjoyed it. The first couple 'emails' between Lilly and Val definitely caught my attention and interest — making this a book I couldn't put down for long. I also loved the recipes — and I will probably need to make a few of these.. I loved reading the letters between the two girls as they grew up and learning about them.
It did get a little confusing, I found myself forgetting to look at who wrote what and when it was written — it wasn't until halfway through the book that I decided a note card was necessary in order to tell the two girls apart and keep them separate.
It definitely had it's "oh" moment, and unfortunately I was in the Writing Center, where I tutor, waiting for my next appointment when I read this particular part and, I'll admit it, people looked. I just couldn't stop the gasp of air or the look on my face.
I will definitely be keeping this book for my classroom — it's appropriate in that it's interesting, captivating, and has enough 'spice' (PUN!) to keep readers' interests. The theme of moving on and growing apart if one that any high school girl can relate too. I think that female readers will be able to relate to the relationship between Lilly and Val. Plus, I think that students will really appreciate the recipes.
Favorite Quotes:
"How do you fix a broken heart? Maybe with ricotta cheese" (128).
"Sometimes people we love can't love us in ways that we wish to be loved. Not because we aren't worthy of that love, but for other reasons, beyond our control" (128).