The Saturday Night Supper Club will leave you with all the happy feels, silly grins, and swoony sighs. I’ve been of fan of Carla Laureano’s books since Five Day’s in Skye and was stoked when I saw not only another book from her but another foodie book. The flow of the story is such that it feels like you’ve sat down with your girlfriends over a cup of steaming tea and they're giving you the scoop on the happenings in their lives. I loved Alex’s sensitivity and charm and how he made Rachel feel safe to face things in a way she did never seen the man before. A great message there that I won’t spoil. Speaking of Alex, I LOVED his backstory and the fact his parents were immigrants and he was a first generation American. My own husband and his family came to the US from another country and I think some of the subtle “issues” there are things a lot of Americans can identify with...and also a unique layer to the character that I don’t think I’ve read before.

I have read Carla Laureano's previous books, and I'm glad to note that she did not disappoint with her latest book. The story had just enough highs and lows, a rhythm that kept me involved in the book. There were times, when I came up for air that I realized how deep and immersed I was with the story. Kudo's for creating an atmosphere with words where I felt like I was part of the setting.

The Saturday Night Supper Club is about Rachel Bishop, a Denver chef who is a James Beard award winner but finds herself caught up in a social media campaign to smear her image. She's forced out of her beloved business and must now figure out what to do with her future. Meanwhile, we have Alex Kanin, who is the one who wrote the article that inadvertently cast Rachel in this negative light. It had never been his intention, so he goes to apologize, never realizing that it would set in motion a circumstances that would bring them together closer than either of them imagined.

That's the rough draft, although I believe the synopsis of the book provided by the publisher does an excellent job in explaining the book.

Because I like music, I often describe a book as a rhythm or a song. Music that is disjointed has an unpleasant sound, much like a book or even a clothing collection (think Project Runway here!). But here, we have a successful symphony of words, creating a beautiful story of food, Rachel, Alex and her friends. Every piece is needed as it flows into the next chapter and then the next. Perfection.

There was no overt Christianity in which you were bonked on the head with how you should be living your life, and yet it wasn't lacking. It had just the right sprinkling to make you think.

I found the part of the book with the hashtags and the rush of social media jumping to conclusions very right now, in this time and age. There are too many jumps to make assumptions based on a snippet of a report, without researching the full facts. 

The only thing I didn't like was how it ended. What happened? I mean we understand her progress and how she came to her decisions, but what about the event that she and Alex started? How does it fit with her plan in moving forward. And in turn, I did feel rather sorry for Camille and Johnny, although, as the sentence that followed maybe I should take to heart also in my own dealings with life. That is, not to let spikes of guilt placed on me by other overtake me, especially if I am following in a new path and placing all my trust in God.

But truly, that part wasn't the end. The part with Alex was truly the end of the book, and I thought it was perfection in itself. I could feel the emotion and the joy and then the closure.

That said, I'm hoping that there are future stories in the works following Ana and Melody, while integrating Rachel and Alex into them!

The Saturday Night Supper Club is simply delicious. Perfectly put together, this book surprised and delighted me, made me incredibly hungry, had me swooning and craving best-friend chats over waffles and coffee, and made it all too easy to fall in love with the characters, the charming setting, and the beautiful writing of Carla Laureano.

Rachel Bishop has worked tirelessly all her life to realise her dreams of running and owning her own restaurant. But a scathing critique, an online essay follow up, and an ill-timed comment are all it takes to bring her dreams, and her reputation, crumbling down around her. Alex Kanin never meant for his essay on the downsides of social media to have such a negative impact on a chef's career. Determined to atone for his part in the whole thing, Alex apologises and offers to make it up to Rachel. Together, they hatch the idea of a supper club, him the host, Rachel the chef. But neither plan on the effect their partnership will have, both professionally and personally.

This book made me very, very hungry. From the gorgeous cover and the first fast-paced kitchen scene to the supper clubs themselves, this whole book revels in food, glorious food. And served up with all that scrumptiousness is sweet romance, great friendship, and a little save-your-career drama. It all adds up to the perfect combination and The Saturday Night Supper Club is a wonderful story in which to sink. I really, truly loved it!

There is so much to love about this book. The food is obviously a standout. The author definitely knows her stuff, but the average reader (who loves to eat but may have no idea about any of the fancy French terms) won't be left behind, even in Rachel's first-class restaurant kitchen. I loved the glimpse we readers get into this world of fine dining and the men and women responsible for such amazing creations. Friendship also plays a huge role in this book thanks both to Alex and Rachel's respective best friends. Never underestimate the value of an emergency ice cream conversation. There are also more personal layers to the story as Alex and Rachel slowly reveal the depths and hurts of their pasts and how this has impacted their more recent choices. Their growth is such an important part of this story. And then there is the romance. Sweet, glorious, seductive, romance. I'll say no more. But, wow. Seriously.

The Saturday Night Supper Club effortless combines all these aspects and, just like a perfectly plated meal, also offers a little drama. I was surprised by the ending, which took a rather unexpected turn, I thought. It gave an added depth to the characters and the message of the book, and kept the pacing of the story just right.

This book could classify as Christian/inspirational fiction, but I believe it is accessible for and will be loved by all readers. Rachel and Alex share a common faith and their discussions about faith, and where God is leading them in their lives is a beautiful thread woven consistently throughout the background of this story. But the characters also remain realistic, honest, flawed, and upfront, which I loved.

This is the first book I have read by Carla Laureano, but I can guarantee that it will not be the last. And now I shall commence begging, because I desperately want there to be another book in this series. There is so much potential for more. Rachel's two best friends, Ana and Melody, who play such important roles in this story, deserve to have their own books. And that would mean we readers would get to stay in contact with all these amazing characters.

The Saturday Night Supper Club is delightful in every way, and I loved reading every moment of this surprising and beautiful book. Very highly recommended.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

A bit of advice - don't read this book when you're hungry :-) The female lead character is a chef and her cooking is described in delicious detail. I really enjoyed this book. The story sucked me in right away, and I had a hard time putting it down. Laureano does a great job with characters that are real, along with thought-provoking insights into issues like trust, following your dreams, and how much past experiences affect a person's reactions to current challenges. I really liked this quote: "Nothing's wasted. Not with God. Sometimes you just need to have faith that He's got what's next." I highly recommend this book!