If you're a fan of eating, traveling, and historical fiction, "Good Taste" is a must-read. Stella is charged with authoring a book on the history of English cuisine and traverses the countryside to find, sample, and learn the origins of various recipes. In her journey, Stella stumbles upon and uncovers all the elements necessary for a fulfilling life.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

I DNF'd this at 50%. What I wanted was a Guernsey ish book which this definitely had but the characters were grating and did not sit well. The voice of the main character was just not for me and I couldn't continue on with this book.

A quaint and charming read filled with food and self discovery. I enjoyed the historical English setting. The writing is talented and spot on. Foodies and Anglophiles alike will definitely want to pick this one up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I couldn't put this one down!! It was so well written. Caroline Scott’s writing is descriptive and thought provoking with wonderful supporting characters that drew me in.

This novel describes a woman's journey as she writes a cookbook focusing on the key British recipes that define the country's character. Along the way she discovers many new things about England, food, and people, as well as learning about herself.

I think this book had potential, but I got bogged down with too much detail and too long to get into the plot.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

In this fascinating historical fiction novel, Caroline Scott brings readers to Depression-era England, 1932 to be precise, and the life of Stella Douglas, a lady author whose books are on the esoteric side and did not make her famous. Struggling with her mother’s recent death, her publisher assigns Stella a new project, a history of English food that takes her around the country (literally and through letters from strangers who send her their favorite local foods and recipes). Along the way, Stella’s chef friend Michael gets engaged to the glamorous Cynthia, and Stella meets Freddie, who is quite the character. Giving readers a fascinating insight into 1930s England, the culinary history, and the publishing scene, Scott populates her novel with a small yet complex cast of characters and, through Stella’s eyes, gives her readers a glimpse of the larger world. A unique take on the historical fiction novel, Scott’s novel is clever, complex, and fascinating with its twists, turns, and unique narrative elements. The characters especially are particularly complex and dynamic, and the relationships between the characters are complicated in their multifacetedness, all of which adds to the quality and atmosphere of this fascinating, immersive, and enjoyable novel.

This was a fun read. It reminded me of a show where someone explores their culinary roots, like Stanely Tucci or Eva Longoria or something of that nature.

I felt bad for the protagonist because in the beginning of the novel her home lIfe seems lonely. The story was slow and steady but I enjoyed it so I give the novel 3.5 :) stars.

I would totally read this author again.

I love food. I love reading about food. I was a bit hesitant about the time period.....could it hold my interest? I couldn't put it down! The way the events of the day are interwoven with the personal stories is sublime. Great read!

3.5/5

I love food fiction and in this case, the main character is an author tasked with writing a history of English cooking. I loved all of the food, cooking, and recipes, and I really loved the historical info included about the English recipes. But the MC had a lot going on, and I got bored with all of the different dramas in her life. I struggled with a lot of the food, people, placed, and pop culture references. But this made a lot more sense to me once I realized this book was published over in England a year ago.

Normally I finish food or cooking-related books very quickly. But in this case, it took me around six weeks to finish it. It's a cute story, and ultimately I think it will be most loved by more serious foodies or fans of British history and culture.

Thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book, however it was a bit all over the place with it's plots. It was an enjoyable read for those who love history and are foodies. Check it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

In 1930s England, Stella is writing a book about English food. She wants to research the country’s offerings, and on a traveling tour, she meets a man named Freddie who is handsome and has a lot of strong opinions about what is strictly English or not, and what should be included in her book. But Stella is finding that a lot of the recipes she’s asked to have sent to her are a melting pot of influence from other countries. “Our food is a tale of immigration, invasion, colonizing and trade, and our food reflects that.” But even more, “the food of the mass of the people is about simple sustenance, resourcefulness and economy.” While Stella learns about what it means to create a cookbook of British fare, she also realizes that as charming as Freddie is, she can’t deny the feelings she has for her bes friend Michael, now engaged, or the deep sense of loss she feels at her mother’s death. But a journal of her mother’s recipes and thoughts helps Stella figure out the direction of her life and the best choices to make, as if her mother were beside her offering advice now.
This book is a charming look at English food and life, filled with well-researched slang and other immersive details of the time period. It’s a cozy read for fans of English fare and life.

What I enjoyed about this book was Stella's journey of self discovery alongside her discovery of the history of English foods and food traditions (I learned a lot!). This book was a little longer and slower moving than I would have preferred, but it is a solid story with excellent characters.

This book follows the struggles of Stella, a writer in 1930s England, who is trying to conduct research for her book, cope with her new roommate who also happens to be her father, and deal with the recent and ill-matched engagement of her best friend, Michael. The plot tackles a few too many storylines and ties up an unhealthy relationship a little too neatly but gets the reader there eventually.

Stella Douglas yearns to make her mark as an author. That’s a tall order in 1930s England. When her publisher asks her to focus on something nostalgic instead of a biography, she begins seeing it as an adventure.

Author Caroline Scott serves up an inspirational tale in Good Taste. Inspired by Florence White, who was probably the first female freelance food journalist, the story follows Stella as she travels across the country searching for English dishes.

Through the use of a letter to the editor published in multiple newspapers, Stella solicits recipes and the memories accompanying them. Her travels quickly teach her that there is no one preferred method for cooking.

Unlocking her creative nature is something she learns along the way, influenced by a man she meets. When she can’t seem to get excited about the bland fare common amongst her countrymen, Stella focuses less on being a researcher and more on delivering beautifully written stories about delicious foods.

The story flows well with interesting characters and a believable plot. The author’s descriptive language easily takes readers back in time on a culinary adventure.

Good Taste is more than a book about a woman who gathers recipes. It’s about the connection between food and family, where memories are made with every bite.

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Warning: do not read this book hungry! Seriously, I really liked this one - not just because of all of the food, but also for the heart. Stella is mourning the loss of her mother, navigating a grieving father, and discovering a whole new perspective on love. It was a warm, inviting read and is sure to make you smile, cry, laugh, and want to start it all over again once you finish!

England 1932. When Stella is commissioned by her publisher to write a history of British food, she expects she is going to get a lot of recipes for oatcakes and other bland food. She is right, of course. She begins traveling around England, searching for interesting food that is uniquely British. What she learns instead are lessons about food, about being British, and even about herself.

This is an interesting trip to England back in 1932. With Stella, we explore the popular British foods of that time, and we learn about what makes a food become the heart or identity of England or any country. Stella also finds herself exploring class differences and what the people of different classes of England ate, especially during the Depression. Stella is a likable character and the lessons she learns will make the reader think. This is an enjoyable and thought-provoking book that foodies and fans of British history will enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

One of my favorite novels I've read in quite awhile. Stella is commissioned to write a novel about the history of British food. I adored the language, the descriptions, the characters that shared food histories with Stella. I was said when it ended. A truly wonderful tale.

What I loved about this book:

1. Enjoyable, charming and captivating read with the main female character based on food and historical fiction.
2. The details of Stella’s life—from her clothing and what she eats, to the places she visits and people she meets was incredibly immersive and really brought 1930s England to life. (The recipes may be too detailed for some)!
3. It was fun, witty and an easy read!

What I wished was different:
1. I think it could have been shorter!
2. I think there was some confusion for a bit about the focus - is it a romance novel?


Thank you to William Morrow and Net Galley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A different type of historical fiction, this book was set in 1932 England. Stella is an author of cooking history, embarking on a project of writing about particularly English foods. When her father suddenly moves in with her, Stella becomes distracted and falls under the influence of a man who convinces her to fabricating information for her book. Her frustration with her love for Michael has also led her to be easily swayed, as he becomes involved with someone else. As a social history of the times, the book did well with the status of women, and the growing dangerous nationalism between the wars. The story was a bit drawn out and could have been told a bit more succinctly, but it was enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.