The Secret Ingredient

‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop

It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.

But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…

Readers are loving The Secret Ingredient:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It's a long time since a book provoked this much emotional attachment… absolutely wonderful’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A love story on so many levels … It made me cry a lot but it was also uplifting and a real feel good read. Definitely one to curl up with and read in one go!’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautifully heralds the importance of friendship and connections during times of loss … If you enjoyed The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams, I really think you will appreciate this’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘All the characters are so special … A feel good story with loss, love, romance, friendship and more’

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a delight … a stunning book that examines are individual relationships with food and how it has the power to evoke memories, create friendships and to transform our lives’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A poignant tribute to love, resilience, and the transformative power of shared experiences, making it a compelling and emotionally resonant read that transcends the boundaries of grief and ultimately leaves readers with a taste of hope’

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Filled with fabulous recipes, The Secret Ingredient had me crying over the heartbreak, laughing with newfound joy, and loving every bite’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I read it in one sitting as it’s impossible to put down… this book will touch your heart’

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book has so much heart and a wealth of charm, it is cosy and comforting but not maudlin or cloying’

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Make sure you have a box of tissues close by. You will be smiling through your tears. A wonderful book about loving, losing people and finding a way to carry on’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Warmth radiates from every word of this book. A few words with a stranger, finding surprising new friends and shared good food made with loving hands are all we need to release the magic of life, to recover from tragedy, to recall the joy of memories past and taste freshly bake new ones’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Filled to the brim with yummy recipes, lovely friendships formed over soul-warming food and generally a lovely writing style. This book was an absolute treat!’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The author writes about deep grief so beautifully and tenderly it crushed my heart. But she follows it with sparks of life and hope’

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It really made me appreciate how food is connected with memories. We all have those meals that remind us of a moment in our childhood, our wedding day, or in remembering a favorite meal of a loved one since passed. This book makes me want to create my own recipe book playbook of memories made past, present, & future’