4.5 Stars

The book simply is beautiful with delicious food of Welcome Home Diner. It’s about struggling life of Jaworski sisters in new business and their personal life surrounded by lovely staff and hesitant, fearful neighbors of Detroit. Book revolves around The Welcome Home Diner and its owner Addie and Sam narrated in their alternative perspective. You will see ups and down of not only these sisters but the staff of their diner and their home like diner. It’s a journey of diner and its owner of starting a business from scratch to running it with a vision – an old fashioned place serving authentic and organic food and welcoming all races with blessing and recipes of their beloved grandmother.

Characters- Addie– Brain and owner of diner. She was sensitive, warm hearted and ambitious woman with spreadsheets and to-do list of diner and also her life. Sam– Addie’s cousin, partner of diner. Cook of the diner, who never organize anything and live and walk the present.

Staff of diner– Braydon (manager), Quiche (works the grill at counter), Lella (waitress). Diner started with these 3 staff and added new additions eventually- Paul, Sylvia, Gary. They all were amazing. They all had life story to share in the book.

There were other important characters in the book who were connected to the member of diner whom you will love to know and connect with. Specifically Addie and Sam’s babcia (grandmother) and Sun Beam– Quiche’s daughter, she was so adorable and I loved her sandwich inventions. Oh and magical hot sauce vendor Jessie, you would love the company of this woman and her tricks of calming down inner demons and purge the place with negative energy, she was one interesting character in the book. Hero, Sam’s dog, was a real hero in the book. And there was that angry neighbor Angus.

I’m feeling like I just started and I’m leaving out many other characters in the book but trust me you won’t forget all these characters. Character development of main characters was brilliant, heartwarming.

What I liked-
First that cover. Isn’t it beautiful? Here is the fact, when I got review opportunity, I decided to read this book by just looking at the cover. I read blurb later and I liked it but cover has already taken my heart. It’s so perfect with the theme of the book. Talking about theme and concept, this book covered lot of things and I really loved the way author represented it with unique writing style and delicious food.

Book started with the Polish word guide, tour to Welcome Home’s area, introduction to the staff, conditions of Detroit and their drawbacks with the area and weather. I loved the way all staff connected to diner and to each other to become a family. Best thing was life story of all characters, story of Addie and Sam’s life, their family and grandmother was beautifully narrated. They all had something to tell, something to teach and something to learn from them.

I came to admire the heart characters of this book (Addie and Sam) by the end of the book for their relationship, for their unique vision and thoughts on diner, city, and all those sensitive issues discussed in the book, and for the way they handles everything. They first won my heart when wind was against them they never discriminated or blamed their staff. The trust they had for them was remarkable.

There was very detailed history of Detroit from motor city to demographics, racial discrimination and segregation to revitalization of the city (it’s beginning of this time when our character started a business), weather of the city to the musical culture. I got very close look to this city and how characters were attached to it and loved it. History of the city played important role in the book as characters and city were struggling with the after effects of the city’s downtime. It was very delicately and perfectly handled.

There were other sensitive topic apart from color discrimination like, sex trafficking, kidnapping, impersonation and defamation that created problem to city and diner. Friendship, family, love, and community together poured warm and touching feeling to book. Romance and love story in the book was desert amid the terrific dreadful subjects.

I loved it when Addie compared some situations with the mythology. Specifically when she was asking the power of all the Goddess to conquer the problems of her personal life. The philosophy in the book, talk of Jessie and Addie’s references were so thought provoking and brilliant, they had left great impression on me and also turned me into believer like Addie.

Climax– finally the revelation of antagonist, who gave hard time diner and its staff was shocking. I couldn’t guess that person would do such things and the reason behind doing all the evil damage was so small. I couldn’t have guessed that person in ages. End was so feel-good and fair. I surely want to read more books by this author.

One last thing there are recipes from diner’s menu so don’t miss it. Book is also best for group read. It was fun thinking about answers of discussion questions given at the end of the book.

Why 4.5-
Only teensy thing. In the beginning of the book I was struggling for getting into the book. But once I learned little more about characters and situations, it was smooth till the end.

Overall, book was steady paced, with tasty family and romantic drama, sour sensitive issues of city and delicious food of dinner served at the end with desert of love, friendship and community. I recommend this book to everyone who love to read women fictions that serves something different.

This is the first book of Peggy's that I've read. I will admit it took me a bit to get into the book and to keep the two main characters straight.

Two cousins open up a diner in a rough part of Detroit with the goal of their diner becoming like home to their neighbours. Unfortunately, the neighbours want no part of the diner and the two women struggle with finding ways to overcome racial barriers. This book has it all - romance, food, family struggles and a happy ending.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I enjoyed this book and the relationship between two cousins. It reminded me of my bestfriend and cousin Sharon. It tapped into what is going on today in many industrial cities trying to survive and making a difference one diner at a time! I flew through this book. It's a new author for me and looking forward to reading more from Peggy Lampman. Thank God the recipes were included in the back of the book, so often they are not. This book will make you hungry from the beginning to end.

This is a heartwarming book. Cousins Addie and Samantha open a diner in a rundown area of Detroit. Their hope is that by bringing the diner and business to the area it will start the much needed revitalization program. They also source all their supplies from local growers and merchants. I found all this very compelling. Their hope is to bring delicious healthy food to the people that live nearby and therefore breaking the cycle of too much fast food consumption. Unfortunately their plans are thwarted as the community sees them as an intrusion at first. There is a great cast of characters that work at the diner and they are vital to the story. Addie and Sam both have their own personal growth throughout the book as they come to terms with the direction and goals they each have for their lives. I enjoyed the atmosphere and descriptions of the diner and the area of Detroit they have chosen to live and work in. This was all very well written. The descriptions of the food the diner served were mouth watering. A very enjoyable book.

Mmmm this is one of my favorite genres to read, glorious, yummy foodie fiction. And this one was just fabulous at feeding that addiction. The descriptions of food were tantalizing, and I craved pancakes and maple syrup with lots of butter for days after reading it.

Not only did I fall in love with the food at the Welcome Home Diner, though, I fell in love with the characters who inhabited its walls. Addie and Samantha were beautiful characters who had me rooting for their success. I also adored the others who worked there and getting to know them through their stories was so lovely and also so heartbreaking at times.

I koved this book that shed light on a cities plight and the people who were trying so valiantly to make change. It was a beautiful example of loving the people around you and trying to make your little piece of the world a better place.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fabulously written story with yummy food and great characters that steal your heart. What a great read!

I was given an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

I was attracted by the cover, and then intrigued by the story line of The Welcome Home Diner, which is set in a nearly abandoned East Side Detroit neighborhood.

Cousins Addie and Samantha are part of the influx of idealistic young people flocking to the city with visions of being part of its comeback. They buy a long abandoned diner and serve up locally sourced foods, using heirloom recipes from their Polish grandmother.

The book is packed with Detroit references from the Packard Auto Plant to the Detroit Zoo, the Eastern Market to Holiday Market.

The characters are optimistic and excited about Detroit's future, and happy to be part of its transformation. They hope that the Welcome Home Diner will become a neighborhood gathering place. But the locals are fearful: gentrification brings higher taxes, and those who have stayed can't afford to pay them.

Addie and Samantha both struggle with guy problems that require a need for self-understanding and personal growth. What they learn is good advice for all.

They take huge risks beyond investing in a decimated neighborhood. They hire an escapee from human trafficking and a young man whose tragic teenage mistake landed him in prison.

Behind the hard work, flirtations and commitment issues, and endeavoring to bring locals into the diner and not just suburbanites, they are being stalked by an unknown person who is trying to destroy all they are building.

I don't read a lot of 'women's fiction' or romance or 'foodie' books with recipes. This novel certainly will be enjoyed by readers who love those genres. I do read books that incorporate social and political issues into entertaining stories. This book certainly hit that mark for me.

Book Club Discussion Questions are included as well as recipes, including Greens with Turnips and Potlikker, Cabbage Rolls, Lamb Burger Sliders, Ginger-Molasses Bundt Cake with lemon Curd, and Heartbreaker chocolate chip cookies! Yum!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

The first thing I have to say about THE WELCOME HOME DINER by Peggy Lampman is this story will make you so hungry!!!! With mouth-watering descriptions of food throughout, I could almost taste the rich pancakes drizzled in maple syrup, so my advice is make a cup of tea and have a lovely piece of cake to hand when you settle down to read this touching novel.

Addie and Samantha are two cousins who have poured their heart and soul into their new business venture, their diner with a difference, and have created a unique and special place with special people. But when some of the locals seem to have it out for them, they must band together to figure out who is behind it all. With pressure and problems in their personal lives as well as their business, trouble seems to be following them wherever they go. But can love, friendship, and community spirit save the day for the Welcome Home diner?

I really enjoyed this story of family, friendship, and finding your place in a community as the characters passion for their city, its people, and their food shines through on every page. This book contains a multitude of characters from all walks of life that will find their way into your heart, and make you think about life. THE WELCOME HOME DINER by Peggy Lampman is a warm and satisfying story and I highly recommend it.

This is my first time reading a book by this author. I received an ARC ecopy through NetGalley. I went into this story blind, but loved the book cover. The meanings behind the book and why it was written was understood and felt. I just couldn’t get into the characters and the story line. This story just wasn’t for me. The recipes at the end and written throughout the story sound delicious and something to try.

Let’s start with that gorgeous cover, isn’t it stunning?! I’ve not read the authors previous book and based on the blurb I was expecting it to be on the lighthearted side, basic women’s fiction with a cutesy plot. Instead this was SO much more, it definitely has its fun moments and happiness but at its core it’s much deeper and full of substance. It tackles some extremely relevant and timely current issues in a really respectful and realistic manner. It touches on love, loss, community, and quite a bit more.

This is told from two points of view, cousins Addie and Sam and it switches back and forth between the two every chapter. It follows their lives and those of the staff and their community over the course of a year. When it begins, The Welcome Home diner has already opened its doors and is struggling to find its place in this tight knit and hesitant neighborhood. The residents are suspicious and guarded and for good reason as Detroit has had many struggles as of late. Addie and Sam were both well drawn characters with interesting histories and plenty of emotional depth, I enjoyed getting to know both of them. There is a large cast of colorful supporting characters as well with often painful, unique pasts that added an extra layer of emotion.

This story revolves around food and Lampman’s descriptions were scrumptious. She includes a handful of recipes from the story at the end and I will definitely be trying a few out! Interspersed between the food are some heavy hitting topics such as human trafficking, race relations and gentrification of a community. It’s all handled with grace and a style all of the authors own and leaves much to be discussed, this is an ideal book club read.

Ah gentrification. Lampman has written an interesting and light novel about two cousins- Addie and Samantha- who open a restaurant in a revitalization zone in Detroit. The focus here is as much on the food (terrific descriptions) as it is on the impact of the diner on the neighborhood and the relationship between these two women. That's good- it's balanced and a light read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a positive novel- and there are recipes.

Two white women open a diner in downtrodden Detroit. What could go wrong? They have hearts of gold but face major obstacles beyond the stress of running a business--a restaurant for that matter. Never mind the success rate for restaurants, add in racism, gentrification, phony Yelp reviews, and some seriously shady characters and you can't help but root for Addie and Sam!

Thank you to the author who sent me a free e-copy of The Welcome Home Diner in exchange for my honest review. The Welcome Home Diner is a story about two sisters trying to start up a new diner in a run-down part of Detroit. It focuses on relationships, both familial and love, and the hard struggles of life.
The synopsis of this book sounded really good to me, but unfortunately, I didn't love this one. Strong, engaging characters and stronger story lines are what really draw me into a story so The Welcome Home Diner was too light for me. I felt that the characters were somewhat unnatural and the plot didn't have enough pull for me.
If you are looking for a light read, something to read on a relaxing afternoon at the beach, you might really enjoy this one.

A foodie book dripping with hope, love, loss, friendship and FOOD!
Cousins open a diner in a recovering Detroit. They utilize farm to table and fresh recipes to bring in customers but they struggle to build a bridge with the neighborhood they are in. Can they survive urban decay, the growth of their business, boyfriends and each other?

I received an advanced review copy of this book from The Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

This is an enjoyable foodie holiday read. Two cousins, Sam and Addie, open a diner in Detroit, a city which has suffered a huge downturn in the recession. They try to engage the locals, but struggle with this. They do however take on local workers, down on their luck, and offer them more than just a job. I found the side stories of the cousins love life to be a less successful part of the story. The story of the diner and its food however I liked.

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, the main characters were really not nice to each other. There seemed like there were a lot of underlying issues to be sorted out there, and I would have loved to have seen the book go deeper into their relationship.
The diner's description was charming though, and I liked reading about the secondary characters who worked there. However, I did think the way everyone spoke to each other sounded slightly stilted.
The book did have some great mentions of some pretty interesting food, and I was thrilled that it included recipes of all the dishes! They were fairly unusual, and I can't wait to try them!

I received a copy of this book through The Great Thoughts Great Readers Ninja Review Team for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Foodie Book fans, here's another one to add to your list!! This is one of my favorite genres to read and this book did not disappoint. Cousins Addie and Sam open a comfort food diner in Detroit. They do this to honor their Babcia (grandmother) who taught them to cook at a very early age. Peggy Lampman addresses current and relevant society issues with grace and weaves them intricately so that they are completely germane to the story. Details are carefully thought out throughout the book and with each page your stomach growls for some down home cooking!! Never fear though...at the end are some amazing recipes to make and to remind you just how yummy this book is.

The Welcome Home Diner is another foodie book to add to the favorites. Lampman shines as she tells the story of two close cousins who open a diner in Detroit. Sam and Addie put everything they have into this diner, praying they will succeed in the urban decay. The girls took this chance in order to honor their Babcia, their grandmother, who taught them everything they know and whose picture hangs with care in the dining room of the restaurant. They did this for Detroit. To help bring it back to what it once was. The descriptions of Detroit, the difficulties in gentrification, and racial tension are on point and well done. As are the descriptions of the food and garden. Don’t read this on an empty stomach or you’ll be yearning for some comfort food. Actually, you’ll be yearning regardless. Worth it. OK, time for a shot of potlikker.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

MY REVIEW OF "THE WELCOME HOME DINER" BY  PEGGY LAMPMAN

I appreciate some of the relevant topics in "The Welcome Home Diner" by Peggy Lampman. The genre for this novel is Women's Fiction.  The story takes place in a vintage diner in a depressed area of Detroit.The author writes this in a current timeline, only going back to clarify and describe something relevant to the characters or story.

The author describes some of her characters as dysfunctional., quirky and colorful. The characters are diverse and some are complicated and complex as dictated by the circumstances.  Cousins Addie and Samantha partner together to buy an old  house in need of much renovation. and old diner and name it "The Welcome Home Diner" Their dream  is to unify and help rebuild the depressed town in Detroit. Some of the neighbors are less than happy to see the neighborhood change. They encounter obstacles and problems.

For those of you who love great recipes, the author provides most of the recipes described in the story at the back of the book for you.


I appreciate that the author brings up topics such as human sex trafficking, kidnapping, rescue dogs, unifying and building, and integration of a community.

The author also discusses the importance of family, friendship, loyalty, love, hope and faith.  

I received a copy of this ARC for my honest review. For those who love delicious food and recipes, you will appreciate this book.

Food and family equal love, and The Welcome Home Diner in Detroit definitely oozes with love.

Addie and Sam's grandmother taught them the love of and joy of making fresh food, and they both knew that opening a diner was something they were destined for.

Opening a diner in the new Detroit was a challenge, but a challenge that was proving to be very fruitful. The fresh food offered at the diner drew in the crowds along with great reviews from food bloggers. The only problem was the neighbors and specifically the next door neighbor to the restaurant.

The next door neighbor was grumpy and reluctant for the change, and the entire neighborhood was not happy about rebuilding that area.

We follow the cousins through the ups and downs of owning the restaurant as well as the ups and downs of their once-close relationship.

The descriptions were so beautifully detailed in THE WELCOME HOME DINER you could see the butter dripping down the sides of the pancakes and smell the delicious soups and sandwiches being served.

The descriptions also allowed you to experience the characters' feelings for each other, their passion for food, and for Detroit. You will also experience the kindness and love for mankind.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the uplifting feeling THE WELCOME HOME DINER gave off. The cover ITSELF is very welcoming.

If you are a fan of food and love, THE WELCOME HOME DINER fits the bill.

I truly enjoyed the book and the characters, but felt it could have been shortened a bit. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a fun read for foodies! I like the way Lampman used food throughout the book as a way of storytelling and sharing history and culture. I also enjoyed the variety of characters and the ways they interacted. While sometimes a little cheesy (lol food pun), this was overall a very enjoyable book.