This is a wonderful book with so many layers! I think this is one that book clubs will love because there is a lot to discuss and a lot to learn!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

A wonderful story of Britain WWII and the struggle of four women from very different backgrounds, to survive the challenge of food rationing, to keep their families and themselves fed.
They are thrown together by a well publicized and attended cooking competition, intended to demonstrate to British housewives, how to use their provided rations to cook nutritious and tasty meals. Nell, a kitchen maid, Audrey, a widowed mother of three boys, Zelda a gourmet chef from London and Lady Gwen, are pitted against each other, with the sole objective to win a spot on BBC food show.
As the competition progresses, they find that it’s not just about cooking, but camaraderie, team work and community. Fenley Village provides a iconic backdrop for the interesting characters of Jennifer Ryan’s storytelling. Based on true events, in particular the cooking competition and the BBC show, we learn about the hardships of wartime and feeding those at home, while also providing food to troops. Living without new clothes, luxuries and doing their part in a war, is their way of life.
I loved this book as I did Jennifer Ryan’s, The Spies of Shilling Lane. My thanks to Ballantine Books, Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

“The BBC radio program The Kitchen Front was a daily show established in 1940 to share wartime recipes and cooking tips with housewives and cooks.” Jennifer Ryan’s The Kitchen Front serves up a delicious helping of comfort food between the covers of her latest novel. A peek into the kitchens of villagers in Fenley Village, England, as the cooks and housewives manage to feed their families on weekly rations is a welcome relief from the “battle front”.
When the “chaps in charge” at the BBC decide The Kitchen Front radio show needs a woman’s voice or a co-presenter, a local contest is devised to find a voice to connect with the listeners and raise ratings. Jennifer Ryan lovingly brings readers into the lives of the four unlikely contestants: #1-Mrs. Audrey Landon-recent widower, mother to her three sons, and fabulous cook according to her late artist husband; #2 Lady Gwendoline Strickland-married to a “pompous toad,” lives at Fenley Village Hall with her own kitchen staff; deals with her husband and childhood baggage. #3-Mrs. Quince, aging famous cook & baker throughout the county and her shy, stuttering assistant Miss Nell Brown-staff in Fenley Hall kitchen! #4-Zelda Dupont- trained at the Cordon-Bleu, recently relocated to Fenley Village after a stint at London’s prestigious Dartington Hotel, now involuntarily, the head chef at the Fenley Pie Factory canteen. An impressive line-up.
Between the “bully beef,” Spam, and hints on sugar replacements readers become sous chefs in each contestant’s kitchen as the monthly contest rounds begin. Ryan’s division of the novel into Starters, Main Course, & Desserts keeps the “contest audience” apprised of exciting or bewildering behind the scenes events as life in Fenley Village unfolds. The contestants’ presentations with Ambrose Hart’s tasting comments, judging and scoring adds a delectable spice to the novel. Taking advantage of opportunities and making the best of the pitfalls in everyday life with rationing in 1942 are crucial ingredients in “today’s special” wartime treat. Cooking Tip: a “dash” of sibling rivalry, abuse & childhood neglect is laced into The Kitchen Front.
Chef’s Note: From an extensive “reading menu”: This order comes with sides of vegetable gardening, bee keeping & berry picking; topped off with an after-dinner guide to grieving, forgiving and new beginnings!
The Kitchen Front scores a 10/10 in the “Must Read” Category.

Delightful! This book was a fun read even though it takes place during the second world war. Each chapter features a character who enters a cooking contest sponsored by the BBC. It takes place in a small town where all the characters know each other. This adds to the plot. The best part of this book was that at the end of each chapter there was a recipe using ingredients bought with their ration books.. The BBC wanted to give housewives inspiration about what they can make with the scarce things that were available to them. I also read the Chilbury Ladies Choir by this same author and would recommend it as well. They are not alike but both books are well written and interesting.

LOVED IT! I read it in 2 sittings. This book is based on the BBC wartime cooking competition: participants must used rationed items to compete in a 3 course cooking competition. World War II is ravaging the british countryside, and the Nazis are winning-food is scarce. This competition could be live changing for 4 completely different women, who are desperate to win because the results will be life changing. The winner of the competition will be the first ever female host of a cooking show.

This is the fist book I have read by this Author. I look forward to reading her other books.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book!

jb/
https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

The story is told in four perspectives, those of Audrey, Nell, Lady Gwendoline and Zelda – these four couldn’t be more different – but each adds their own unique spark and spice to the tale. Audrey is a struggling widow with three boys: with the death of her husband, she’s only tried to make ends meet. Starting with a deficit, she’d married for the love of her life and his passion for art – things were never ‘easy’ but being given the family home after her mother’s death had left her reasonably placed. Until mortgages and a necessary loan from her estranged sister and her husband became the ‘boulder on her shoulders’. Lady Gwendoline for her part always felt (and was made to feel that way) less than her older sister Audrey, her mother’s favorite. First doing everything to fit in, then taking her own path and setting her sights on a title and everything that came with it – she's in an unhappy and frequently abusive marriage to a man who is not always operating aboveboard, using his connections to ‘demonstrate’ for the Ministry of Food, as well as serving as the local ‘snob about town” - isolating herself (or being isolated) by her pretentions and the need to be ‘recognized’.

Below stairs at Lady Gwendoline’s home is the kitchen and the young, orphaned kitchen maid Nell, under the gentle and loving tutelage of the cook, Mrs. Quince. Mrs. Quince is renown for her skill in the kitchen, and in Nell she’s found a protégé, albeit one who often seems to apologize for her presence. Mrs. Quince has taught Nell everything she could, and the girl’s own talent and affinity for cooking, as well as her love of Mrs. Quince have taught her much – even the ability to stand on her own. Lastly there is Zelda, a ‘reworked’ former East-Ender, billeted in the small county and running the canteen cafeteria of a local food purveyor after the hotel in which she worked was bombed, and her ‘relationship’ went south. Now pregnant, in need of new lodgings and determined to find a Head Chef position in London, sooner rather than later.

Together the four share their stories of loss and triumphs, with a competition that requires that they only use ‘rationed’ ingredients and push the face and rebuild the reputation of the BBC wartime radio program, The Kitchen Front. The winner of this contest would become a host on the show, providing much-needed money (to Audrey), a boost in reputation (to Zelda), another star to pin to her shoulder (to Gwen) and help – in Mrs. Quince’s eyes, Nell to build her own self-esteem and confidence. Full of intriguing (if rather curious) recipes, plenty of heart, and sudden changes, griefs and plenty of emotional impact, Ryan brings us into this group of diverse and soon to be friends, making us feel a part of their lives, and wanting to know more. Wishing the best for everyone as they struggle with the hardships, emotions and even the slights that happen, intentional or not, we see growth, challenge and struggle bring each woman to the best versions of themselves when they band together to move forward and through the war,

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aRs /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

The Kitchen Front is a daily show on the BBC sharing wartime recipes that best utilize rationing and cooking tips. There is a contest to find a co-host with the thought that a woman will be more able to connect with women than Ambrose, the current host. The four women who enter are Lady Gwendoline of Fenley Hall, her sister, Audrey. Mrs. Quince and Nell are the cook and kitchen maid at Fenley Hall and Zelda Dupont works at Lady Gwendoline's husband's factory and is a trained cordon bleu chef. The story is told through each of their points of view.

These characters are so richly developed. At first I had a definite opinion about who needed to go and who should win but as the contest progressed and characters developed and grew my opinion kept changing. At first they were all competitors but due to circumstances ended up having to cooperate with each other and the dynamics changed.

Some of the winning recipes are included in the book. Although I do not see myself making any of them it was fascinating to read about the different ingredients used and how they got around not having enough fat, butter, eggs or sugar. At one point Nelle becomes friends with an Italian POW and he shows her how to make chicken cacciatore which she then modifies to use what she has available since chickens were scarce and some ingredients just not available.

The setting is the country outside of London and even though they were not in as much danger there was still the threat of being bombed, how hard it was to get food and about the black market.

All in all this was a wonderful story and I would love to see a follow up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me an advanced copy of this book.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. I quickly realized there was only one character I really cared about, so I decided not to finish the book. I do appreciate the opportunity to read this title.

The cooking contest and the authentic recipes tipped the scales in favor of five stars for me on this one. Although there are other home front issues, the need to feed your family good food in adequate amounts is the main focus. I loved reading about Audrey's garden and the way she talked to her bees. Also, her three boys were a delight and reminded me of my three. Gwendoline is an acquired taste, but does improve throughout. Zelda and Nell also have strong story lines of their own and their memories of past neglect clearly impact them as grown women. That gives a book group much to think about. It would be fun to try some of the recipes, although the whale meat pie would not be at the top of my list. Sounds a little stinky -- the sardine pastries as well.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a story about a cooking contest sponsored by the British government during WWII. Four cooks are competing to make food that is delicious, low cost, fast to make and relies on no more than their ration coupons allow. The story is told from the perspective of the contestants: a war widow raising three boys, her sister who is a total bitch and doesn't help her, the sister's live in cook and a chef that has migrated from London due to an unwanted pregnancy.

It moved along fast and I generally enjoyed it. 3.5 stars.

There are a couple of plot inconsistencies. One is that Mrs. Quince attends the funeral although still bedridden in the hospital. Also, there are a number of grammatical errors that need addressing. A more thorough editing is recommended.
Although a bit stereotypical in the depictions of the characters, I enjoyed the recipes and how they were devised under extreme conditions.

This is a delightful book about a cooking contest. It takes place in England in the early 1940s when there was food rationing cards with a limitation of staples that we enjoy today: sugar, milk, eggs and butter amongst many other items. It was a time when owning a refrigerator was a luxury and when it was illegal for an adult to eat an orange although okay for a child. And there was no waste with food.

The book begins with the contest for catering and chef professionals which highlights five women: Gwendoline, Mrs. Quince, Nell, Audrey and Zelda. The winner is awarded a position as a presenter and influencer on the radio show: The Kitchen Front. It's a cooking program to help Britain's housewives make the most of their rations.

Lady Gwendoline has the life of wealth with her husband, Sir Reginald Strickland, an officer of the Ministry of Agriculture residing in the beautiful Fenley Hall. She is not the best cook but well connected and she's desperate to win at all costs. Two of her employees enter together: Mrs. Quince, a master chef with a reputation of being one of the best for years and Miss Nell Brown, a young talented cooking assistant. Gwendoline's older sister, Audrey, also enters the contest. She has been a professional baker of pies and contributes to events at the Fenley Hall. Sadly she lost her husband in the war but enjoys her three sons. The final person to enter the contest is 32-year-old Zelda. She worked at a premier hotel in London that was bombed and had to take a job in the country as the head chef for the Fenley Pie Factory.

These women each have challenges that they must face while doing their best to win the contest with three rounds: appetizer, entree and dessert. The reader gets to see the actual recipes that are used with various creations including spam, rabbit, sardines and whale meat.

The book gives you a good glimpse of food rationing during this wartime but also it covers women's issues, the clear separation between wealth and poor workers and the hardship of living during the war with bombs and planes flying over. There are all kinds of tidbits.. It was discouraged to show tears even in such an emotional time with extreme distress. The Scarborough Fair was a song before Simon & Garfunkel. Wealthy people didn't always share a bedroom. Sir Strickland said, "That's for poor people who don't have enough bedrooms."

What a great book with the food, history and characters that warmed my heart. My thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this advanced copy to be released on February 23, 2021.

Four solid stars! I really enjoyed this book! The story is told through four women and shares the challenges and frustrations endured by women at this time in history. Each woman joins the Kitchen Front contest in hopes of improving their circumstances. I enjoyed looking at the recipes at the end of each chapter and tried to imagine what life would be like with food shortages and rationing.
The theme of friendship is felt throughout the book and is a good reminder (especially during our current times) that having goods friends means you don’t have to go through life alone.

Food rationing in Britain began in 1940 and continued until 1954, nine years after the World War II (WWII), had ended; something I had not know until I read this historical novel. We, as Americans not touched by this war on our own soil, often forget the devastations war brings even after it’s over.

‘The Kitchen Front,’ was a BBC radio program established in 1940 and heard daily to help housewives and cooks make the most of their wartime food rations. Listeners heard cooking tips on how to stretch their rations with recipes suggesting adding bread or mashed vegetables to meats, for example.

Jennifer Ryan has taken the facts of this era and written a compelling and credible novel by creating four characters of different backgrounds and situations to come together in the small town of Fenton, a northern suburb of London, to enter the BBC’s contest of finding a female cohost for The Kitchen Front program. The contestants were to create a tasty dinner with desert using only ingredients offered in their ration books. The story focuses on four women.

Audrey is a widow with three boys, struggling to feed her family and keep their house after losing her husband in the war. She has been growing her own vegetables and some fruit so she can bake pies and such to sell to the wealthier households in the area. The family scrapes by as best they can.

Nell is a shy, uneducated orphan, that has been taken in as a scullery maid, by Mrs. Quince, the Manor House cook, and has blossomed under her tutorage and mentorship. Mrs. Quince feels Nell has, “a keen perception for taste, and your quick thinking is superb.”

Zelda is trained chef that had to leave her hotel position in London to work at the factory commissary in Fenton. Unmarried pregnant women during those times were not looked upon favorably and shunned in most social circles and employment. Zelda was hiding her pregnancy to stay employed and hopefully win the contest to save the future for herself and her unborn child.

Lady Gwendoline lives at the Manor House with her husband, the owner of the factory in Fenton, and many others in Britain. Even as a child, Gwen yearned to have money and status. At first, she appears ruthless and wants to win at all costs, even over her sister Audrey; however, her husband is not supportive and even turns brutish towards her.

Combined with impressive historical details this group of determined, resourceful and competitive women band together as friends to congratulate the winner and encourage and support each other for the rest of the war as women should and do.

Highly recommend! An excellent book club choice.

Note: There are war-time recipes in this book using only rations. Exciting, at first.
Wartime food rations for one week, one adult is listed in the beginning. Prepare yourself.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House, Ballentine Books, and Jennifer Ryan

Based on the The Kitchen Front, a BBC program, this story gives readers an inside view of the resourcefulness of women during WWII in England. Told by four women from different perspectives as they compete to win a cooking contest by using rations, local produce and lots of creative ways to feed families. The characters are authentic and relatable. Very enjoyable! Loved it!

First off I want to thank Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a unique book! I originally thought the title, The Kitchen Front, was a "front" for the mafia. I'm so glad I was wrong. Set in the time of World War II the local radio station, owned by Lord Winthrop, with burly Ambrose as the voice of the radio, are holding a cooking contest, and the winner gets a job of having a segment on the radio giving out recipes and teaching other women that tasty things could be made even though they are living on rations which are usually small amounts of bread, butter, potatoes, egg POWDER, some vefetables, and bacon if they have it that week. The contest is held in three rounds which are appetizer, entree, and dessert, and the four contestants have a month for each round to come up with a delicious but simple recipe anyone can use to feed their family. But it's not going to be easy, because the one and only judge is burly Ambrose, who is the voice of the radio and is used to fine dining.

The book has four POVs from each contestant, four very different women. There is Audrey who has three growing sons and lost her husband to the war, but she's very crafty and has some farm animals and a huge garden of herbs and a fruit tree, and is forced to work to keep a roof over her son's heads now that her husband is gone but is a great baker and cook selling fruit pies all over town. She is in danger of losing the house her mother left her, that's falling apart at the seams. There is Zelda, a chef from London, who is not married and hiding a pregnancy, who works at the factory as a cook that Lord Winthrop owns as well. Zelda is new in town and has no friends and nowhere to live so as an evacuees gets stationed at a person's house in town. There's stuttering shy Nell, a young maid and one of Lord Winthrops cooks who is a wonderful cook used to cooking with fine ingredients, probably from the black market, whose stutter may not be great for radio, and last but not least, Lady Winthrop, Audreys younger sister and Lord Winthrops wife who's not much of a cook,at all but she's rich and married to Lord Winthrop. She's cruel to her sister and a vile contestant who must win or there will be hell to pay from a husband who is violent behind closed doors, but is proud and it will look bad on him if she loses.

A very unique thing also is there are the ladies different recipes at the end of every chapter. Some are doable today and will come in handy if you have to stretch food. Especially useful if you like sheep's head sliced And wrapped in tongue. Yum.! 5 stars for this very unique book. Bravo to the author. Perhaps it's a tad too long, but is needed as we learn of each woman's trials and tribulations in life.

The Kitchen Front is an uplifting historical fiction. Set in England, during WWII, it depicts the care, thriftiness, and innovation of women who had to produce, procure, and prepare countless meals in the midst of strict rationing. The recipes are genius and are included; I loved the characters in the story. Four women who began as adversaries, created tight friendships over need and necessity; Deeply developed characters and relationships makes for an enveloping read; Highly enjoyable!

Four women from all different walks of life end up in a competition for a spot on a BBC radio program and while they start as fierce competitors they may end up needing each other's skills and talents to overcome their personal struggles.

The four women are made up of one set of sisters who live in very different homes, one with three boys and a widow from the war and the other is childless living in a grand home with what seems like the perfect life. One of the other women is a maid who lives in the grand home and is basically an apprentice to the head cook of the home. The final woman has moved to this small country town to escape London for many reasons and finds the competition as a possible way for her to return to London.

I always love books told through multiple perspectives as it allows each character to move the story along from their point of view and for me the story always feels fuller from seeing from multiple eyes. As each of these women are drastically different from another it was easy to keep straight, but I still took a bit of notes, so I could remember who was who.

I loved seeing World War II through a completely different point of view. In the lives of women back at the home front as they make do with the food rations and try to make do with the little that is offered to keep themselves and their children alive.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to the reader who feels they have read every book and every aspect of World War II, try this one.

What a beautiful written story about four powerful women in WWII. Coming all from different backgrounds to strive for an on-air kitchen host. I enjoyed the inclusion of the recipes included in the story as I read as well- always a welcome perk.
The book brings together four very different woman in amazing ways and heartwarming moments. Kudos Ms Ryan!

Trying to improve morale of the women left behind by so many soldiers, this book provides a look at the struggles of the mom, sister, wife and daughters that had to continue to keep their chins up and do their part for the war effort. This includes everything from working in factories, keeping a garden up, raising children, as well as making edible meals with rations and food with a variety of different foods that were not the norm at the time. To create a new program the government believes a cooking contest based on the food rations would assist the women as well as morale within the women ranks. The novel shows several levels of women in terms of socioeconomic levels as well as how some believe "rules are for fools" meaning they don't apply to them. Using what is available, the wild ingredients as well as rations the contest takes place.

I enjoyed the novel, the recipes as well as the idea that not everyone got along. Women struggles with men who side stepped war requirements, the levels of class and the overall kindness of some people during difficult times. This book is engaging, educational and kept my interest. Quite frankly I love mushrooms and believe I will be trying the mushroom soup recipe! This book has so many levels of engagement I believe it will appeal to many people.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Jennifer Ryan, and Ballantine Books for allowing me to experience this novel in exchange for honest review.