August is the perfect month for Louise Miller’s debut– THE CITY BAKER’S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING– to hit shelves. Why? Because it’s the end of summer; the season change is upon us. And change is what Louise’s book is about.
What I loved most about Livvy, the character whose life takes a twist after a flaming flambé incident, is how genuine she is in her search for happiness. She doesn’t set out to impress or be perfect, she sets out to make peace with her choices and settle into a life built on her terms. Louise doesn’t deliver that cliche scene where step one in the putting-your-life-back-together manual is to get back to your high school weight. Livvy’s journey is NOT superficial. The detail that stuck with me was her love of temporary hair dye. It’s the perfect physical depiction of Livvy’s inward desires: to be in touch with her mood, accepting of her quirks, and open to continual growth and change. I left the novel not knowing where Livvy would be thirty years later, but certain of her ability to handle whatever life delivered with integrity, humor, and grace.
Brava to my talented friend! Louise’s debut will earn in a place in your heart!
For any subscribers or people who read this early in the morning, there was a critical typo…. I forgot the NOT in the sentence, “Livvy’s journey is NOT superficial.”
YIKES. My bad.