Cover Image: The Ingredients of Us

The Ingredients of Us

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I liked this story even thought I though Elle was a little unbelievable about finding her husband was having an affair. The chapters are all highlighted with headings of day before Elle finds out Tom is cheating or numbers of days after she finds out. I didn't know if I'd like this format but it worked really well with this book. Elle's a baker and associates major events in her life with a recipe she used at the time. I read an ARC and hope the book has the recipes formatted a little better. Some of them look quite good. I would definitely recommend this for a light read, it doesn't get too heavy into cheating and malice. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A delicious read! With amazing recipes sprinkled throughout the book, I was tempted to stop reading and bake. But I didn't want to leave the story. Ms. Gold created believable characters that I really enjoyed getting to know. The recipes didn't detract (aside from making me want to find a bakery to sample everything). Instead she used baking to express emotions and help us through the drama. I look forward to more books from Jennifer Gold, but please add an appendix repeating the recipes. I want to try them too.

Was this review helpful?

I love all of the cake and baking references in this book - it made it much easier to devour in just a couple of sittings!

A sweet book, really enjoyable, although it has been done before. I would recommend reading to those who liked Jenny Colman’s recipe related books.

Was this review helpful?

.Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest #Theingredientsofus #netgalley

Elle Hutton is happily married to her husband of 6 years Tom. She owns a successful bakery, works beside her best friend and on the surface appears to have the perfect life. However one day when looking for a photo in his ipad she uncovers his secret affair. Will they work through their troubles or will the affair lead to a rollercoaster of other disasters and dilemmas!

The cover and title drew me to this book.... Not once but twice. I got this book first through netgalley as well as amazon prime first reads, without realising.

Their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as divorce, affairs and death. I do not feel that much happened in this book but that it was more of a thought provoking book regarding two people who both mess up a marriage one unconsciously and one consciously.

However I did find the book jumped around a lot. One chapter was 6 months before Elle found out and the next chapter 4 Months after she found out. This felt illogical and illfitting to the flow of the book.

Also i did not take to Elle, as a character, whose ideas appeared to be two wrongs making a right however did have empathy for her at times. I found myself naturally drawn to her best friend Bonnie and wanting a lot more of her throughout the book.

As a strong female career following women i did not feel that Elle reachedfor her dreams. The dicussion regardingthe second bakery with Tom was necessary as part of a partnership in a relationship but once they were divorced. Elle realised she couldn't have the bakery due to not having Tom's financial input. No discussion about loans or other ways of funding her dream. She just accepted it and carried on with her life almost lile she'd forgotten it.

Furthermore the writing style of the book, in the beginning, made it sound more like a play you were reading. However once i got used to this style and about 3/4 through the book it turned back into feeling like a novel again.

Was this review helpful?

A delightfully beautiful and touching debut. Crisis, marriage issues and a heroine you love and root for-plus recipe's!
The ending! Unexpectedly perfect. I can't wait for more from this author who writes from the heart. Realistic, relatable and wonderful.

Was this review helpful?

Charming and comforting, this title will do well in collections where Louise Miller, Amy Reichert, and Jenny Colgan are popular.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t taken with this book sadly. It didn’t teach me anything. And unfortunately wasn’t for me. This is no reflection on the author at all

Was this review helpful?

The Ingredients of Us is a wonderfully written debut novel. Jennifer Gold takes us on a journey through the romance, marriage and demise of her marriage. The story of the bakery and the recipes that are interwoven are wonderfully done. I really enjoyed this book and eagerly await future books by Ms Gold. Bravo! Thank you netgalley for the gift of the arc, this review is my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

The Ingredients of Us was a touching novel! Elle is devastated when she finds out that her husband Tom has been having an affair. She can't understand what happened and is having trouble dealing with it. On her good days, she immerses herself into her baking and her bakery business. This has always been her passion. Memories of the past and the beginning with Tom come flooding back to her the way this happens when you lose someone and start remembering forgotten memories. Once upon a time Elle and Tom had a special, close relationship. Elle tries to figure out where they lost it all and who is responsible for their forgotten love. This was a powerful story about life, marriage, and love.

Was this review helpful?

The Ingredients of Us is a very sweet read from a debut author. Elle is a baker and baking helps sort through her emotions. The story unfolds with the history of her relationship with her husband Tom and with Tom's infidelity. I loved Elle's baking recipes and the memories they hold. I liked this read and will read her next!

Was this review helpful?

Themes of marriage and infidelity, friendship, and career is highlighted with a recipe for every occasion and emotion. Elle's world is falling apart just as she's ready to expand her baking business, which ia put on hold due to her husband's extramarital affair. The author writes less of a romance and more of a women's fiction. Entertaining and insightful.

Was this review helpful?

This is a solid debut novel that I found enjoyable. It was thought provoking and I liked how the author associated recipes with different experiences in Elle’s life. The recipes included look yummy by the way.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this would be more of a romance but it's actually a women's fiction title, I liked the characters and thought their story was interesting but it wasn't what I was expecting when I picked up the title.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

“The Ingredients of Us” introduces the reader to Elle, a career minded baker who very much loves her husband Tom but is not yet ready to start a family. The story of this couple is peeled open in layers going back and forth in time over a period of 9 months. The story of love and betrayal, friendships, and misunderstandings is connected with the creations of the baker like meditations in the kitchen. The recipes are interwoven into the plot and very natural emotional expressions. Tempting, delicious and heartfelt, readers who love Carrie Bradshaw and Bridget Jones will
love “ The Ingredients of Us” by Jennifer Gold.

Was this review helpful?

Elie owns a bakery and her dream was to own two bakeries. She works hard to make her bakery a success with her friend and co-owner Bonnie. This means little time for her husband Tom. Tom doesn't want Elie to open another bakery. He wants to start a family. Their marriage falls apart from there.
The story is told of their lives before and after marriage. Her friend Bonnie and husband Charlie are important to Elie and her story. I liked all the characters. There are amazing recipes in this book. Make sure you have a plate of cookies nearby to munch while reading. I feel the ending of this was perfect and I am looking forward to the next book by this author. Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Gold and the publisher for an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Ingredients of Us blends together the recipes of a new relationship,baking, and falling apart The main character Elle is a Baker,baking helps her sort through her emotions. The story the story unfolds in two parts. How her relationship starts and grows with her husband Tom. The other part is Elle finding out about Tom's infidelity. Throughout the book is Elle's delightful baking recipes and the memories they hold. Book leaves you emotionally rare and wishing you could bake her yummy sweets.

Was this review helpful?

This is the debut novel for author Jennifer Gold and its a wonderful read. Well done to the author ! This is story of a marriage, infidelity and throughout the author's love of baking shines through with wonderful references to food and recipes that will have you baking all weekend.

I received a ARC for review from the publisher and Net Galley. Thank you for the opportunity. My review is my own opinion.

This book really touched my heart in how the author addressed the subject of infidelity in a marriage. Thoughtfully she wrote of the earlier times in the marriage and how the marriage grew throughout the years. Each chapter is devoted to a time in their lives together and its a lovely way to approach the subject.

I loved this book for its warmth, personal touch and the recipes that are so fabulous . I look forward to further works by this fine author. The writing is of a pleasing manner that is enjoyable to read and has a continuity to the writing that is just perfect

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed reading this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Elle is an accomplished and enthusiastic baker who falls in love with Tom, who eventually becomes her husband. I enjoyed their relationship. It was complicated, much like the reality of many relationships.

The way the story was written was interesting as well. The book bounces between times in Elle and Tom’s relationship and there are recipes inserted throughout as well.

4 stars!

Was this review helpful?

The story of Elle and Tom, their marriage and lives before and after their marriage pulled me in right away and made me want to know more about them. I eagerly read chapter after chapter of their lives, before Elle knew, after Elle knew and way before she knew.

Her steadfast friend, employee and co-owner Bonnie and her husband Charlie were just as important to the story and easily as likable as Elle and Tom. I loved this story and waited impatiently, wondering how things would turn out.

The entire book is wrapped up in wonderfully descriptive prose interspersed with those drool-worthy recipes and soon I found myself wanting to know more about Elle and Tom, but wait! Then I wanted more recipes to sigh over. Gosh dang it! Talk about a conundrum. Finish the book or bake? I'm not a baker so I opted to finish without the deliciously enticing treats described within, but I am having cheesecake today, sort of as a consolation prize.

I greatly appreciate having been approved for an ARC at my request. Thanks to the author, Ms. Gold, the publisher Lake Union and Netgalley..

Was this review helpful?

What a sweet debut book by Jennifer Gold. I loved the recipes mixed in, and how they were written. The story of Elle and her husband, who cheated on her, were told in pre-affair and post-affair. I can't wait to read Jennifers next book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?