The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison: Book Review

One of the things I miss most during the pandemic is seeing friends and family whenever I want. Simple things likes sharing a meal, and planning for the future. Reading a book like The Cookbook Club that speaks of meeting new friends over a delicious meal makes me positively envious for a time when life was easier.

The story surrounds three women who initially meet through the cookbook club. Margo is a woman whose husband has recently come home and announced he has been given a promotion on the other side of the country and that he is leaving her. He’s left her a dilapidated farm house and the house she is living in, but the mortgage is now all hers. Trista is the woman who has organized the cookbook club. She’s recently been fired from her position in a law firm and has taken the opportunity to buy and redesign the bar/restaurant she worked in years ago. Aja is a young woman who is in an unhealthy relationship who comes to realize that she is pregnant – something she wants to hide for as long as she can.

The trio meet monthly to share and a meal, try new recipes and provide support for one another. However, most of the story is about the three women and their independent lives outside of the club. I found the character development to be adequate and appreciated the challenges in life each woman was facing. I didn’t, however, feel as connected as I would have liked to the characters. While the book kept my interest, I felt it could have been much more. The story just seemed to wrap up too quickly for my liking. I was also surprised and disappointed to see the lack of engagement between club members, especially given the title of the book.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Orlagh Cassidy. Her performance was believable as each of the women, and I found her voice to be articulate and with the right amount of expression. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x which was the perfect speed for listening. Thanks to my local library for having a copy of the audiobook.

I’d recommend this book for those that enjoy a lighter, relaxing read.

My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️/5.