Jules has a moderately successful internet cooking show and is trying to build a brand with her roommate and best friend, Drew. After being passed over for a show, she has the opportunity to head to Italy with her sister Alex for the summer. They're headed to spend time with her Nonna Bruna, at her farm in Italy near Lake Garda. She hasn't been there since her father passed away suddenly 15 years ago. It also happens that her first love, Niccolo, is back home and working at his family's farm next door.

I loved this story, which felt like a warm hug. I love the long, lingering descriptions of life in Italy, filled with family and good food. Jules is still mourning the loss of her father so many years ago and has avoided returning since then. It was a great story of second chances, moving on from grief, and a magical cookbook, reconnecting with family, and embracing your heritage. I thought the author did a great job of bringing the characters and Italy to life. I couldn't put it down.

Thanks to @berkleypub, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake was such a warm and comforting read. I really loved how it centered around healing from the past and learning to embrace the present. The way family and food were woven into the story was beautiful—there’s something so heartening about the idea that a shared meal can help bring people back together.

The reconnection love story added a sweet, emotional layer that I really enjoyed, and it was handled with just the right amount of tenderness and realism.

I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley, and it did not disappoint! Perfect for readers who enjoy heartwarming stories about second chances, family, and the magic of good food.

4 stars - Rachel Linden writes old-school chick-lit mixed with just a touch of magic realism, and for me this combo really works, and I've enjoyed her novels! And I enjoyed her latest, "The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake" which was set in the Italian Lakes District (ahhh!). Loved the MC's and sweet storyline - just right! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my advanced reader's copy - my pleasure to read & review it!

This is a weak four, despite the fact that there’s a recipe for Orange Blossom Cake at the end. I always love a book with recipes.

There was a lot to like with this book - the gorgeous setting in Italy, the return of a teenage crush that ended in heartache, wonderful Italian grandmothers, and a magical cookbook. These are all things I love - and I loved learning a few new things, too - but something was a teeny bit off for me in the flow of the book. I’m seriously considering re-reading it as an audio book when it’s released, to see how I feel about it with someone else’s voice and expression; perhaps that would add to the flow.

This sounds more negative than it should be. Both the setting and the family cookbook are magical, and what’s not to love about pasta making sessions, social media, sulky teenagers, and a hot Italian (former) love-interest?

I would have picked this one up based on the cover alone, but after loving Lemon Drop, my expectations were high and I wasn’t disappointed.

When Jules Costa's life pretty much implodes, she heads to her Nonna's home in Italy. A touch of magic, some mystery, some romance and lots of cooking and baking. A must-read for fans of magical-realism that involves food.

Jules thinks the only thing she needs is her Instagram cooking show. Bur when her co-host decides to go to Los Angeles, Jules goes back to Italy to have her Nonna help her with recipes for her recipe book. In Italy, she finds magic, a sister, a new love, and and the courage to save her family farm. A feel-goods story. Thanks NetGalley

Jules Costa’s life has been a bit stuck ever since her father died about 15 years earlier. Sure, she has a popular online cooking show with her roommate and BBF Dave (both curtsey of Covid lockdowns), and she’s writing a cookbook, but she spends as little time as she can with her mother and she hasn’t seen her beloved grandmother in decades. Fate intervenes, however, giving her a strong push (and a free ticket) to go back to Italy to spend the summer with her Nonna Bruna on the family olive farm with her half sister Alex tagging along. To further sweeten the pot, her teenage boyfriend Nicolo is back home living with his Nonna on the farm next door. They had been unceremoniously broken up years earlier when the two feuding Nonnas discovered them kissing in the barn.

There’s lots to love about this book. There’s a magic cookbook, lots of tasty dishes, beautiful Italian scenery, (re)connecting with family, and the rekindling of an old romance. There were a few times I felt Jules protested a bit much, and a few plot details didn’t make a lot of sense if you look at them too carefully. Otherwise, a heartwarming fun book that leaves a smile on your face (and perhaps craving good bread with olive oil and goat cheese).

Recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it while traveling through Italy, which made the entire experience feel even more magical. The setting—an olive farm on the shores of Lake Garda—leapt off the page, and I felt completely transported by Rachel Linden’s lush, sensory writing.

The story follows Jules Costa, a charming and relatable social media chef who’s trying to rebuild her life (and career) after a devastating setback. What begins as a return to her roots quickly evolves into something deeper, thanks to a mysterious family cookbook that reveals one magical recipe at a time. Between the culinary magic, family secrets, and a sweet second-chance romance with Nicolo, this book hit all the right notes.

It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and full of warmth—with just the right touch of whimsy. Linden has a gift for blending emotion with a bit of enchantment, and this one was a true comfort read.

🌿 Bonus points for the gorgeous Italian backdrop—I could practically smell the olive trees and taste the orange blossom cake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 – A beautiful escape that left me smiling (and hungry)!

I have fallen in love with this series! The characters are well developed, the story line is good and I love this series! Highly recommend!

This is another sweet read from Rachel Linden. With a similar feel to her other books, this is a comforting read with a touch of magic. There were times that I wanted to slap Jules, which is probably unfair, lol, but in the end I loved all these characters and how their arcs ended. If you're in the market for a feel good comfort read, love Italy, food, and fairly low stakes conflict, give this one a go!

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake was a modern, realistic family romance. My favorite part of the book was the legend of the orange blossom cake. Beautiful, poignant story about family, love, and life.

FMC who loves cooking? Summer in Italy? Second chance romance? A magical cookbook? Say no more.
The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake is a story of healing and family with sprinkles of romance and touches of magic, set against a beautiful backdrop of a summer in Italy.
I loved Juliana - her journey of healing and discovering what she wants through food, family, and love was really moving. I especially loved the bond between her and her half-sister Alex and seeing them grow closer! But I have to say Nonna Bruna was definitely my favorite character. Her wisdom and some of the things she said to Juliana were so comforting and felt like a warm hug.
While the heart of this story is definitely family, I really liked Juliana&Nicolo's romance! The fact that they were each other’s first love made their connection feel so sweet and special, and their scenes together had me smiling the whole time.
I absolutely loved the idea of a magical cookbook you can consult for help and how it shows you exactly the recipe you need. The descriptions of food were so vivid I felt like I could see and smell everything. I was tempted to run to my kitchen way too many times!
This was my first Rachel Linden book and it was exactly what I needed: comforting, hopeful, and heartwarming. I really can't wait to read more from her!
brb making orange blossom cake
～Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

5/5 stars

I have absolutely adored every one of Rachel Linden's books and this one was no different. I remember reading Recipe for a Charmed Life and just hugging my kindle when I was done because I loved the book so much and didn't want to leave the amazing characters and incredible setting.

This book was so so good!! It was so relatable with characters that were trying to figure out what to do next in life and rebuilding family relationships.

Jules Costa is a rising star and loves re-creating vintage recipes for her popular online cooking show. But when personal and professional disaster strikes, her only chance of saving her career is to complete her new cookbook before the end of the summer. Panicked, Jules returns to her family’s beloved olive farm on the shores of Italy’s stunning Lake Garda. Seeking culinary inspiration, she's hoping to convince her spunky eighty-year-old Nonna Bruna to share her precious collection of family recipes.

I'm usually a fast reader but I slowly read this book so I could take in the setting, descriptions and the way Linden shares such beautiful details. Nicolo is such an amazing book boyfriend and I would love to see this book turned into a movie.


Read this book if you like:
-magical realism
-books about baking/cooking
-a mix of women's fiction and romance
-books set in Italy
-family drama books

This was a heartwarming, feel-good read with a lovely blend of self-discovery, romance, and delicious food. The setting was rich and immersive, and I found myself craving every dish described—especially the orange blossom cake! The themes of healing and second chances were thoughtfully explored, and the main character's journey was both relatable and inspiring.

At times, the pacing was a little slow, and some plot points felt a bit predictable, but overall, the emotional depth and warmth of the story made it a very enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of cozy, food-centered fiction with a touch of magic and heart

A love letter to Italy, family, and food.

Full of nonnas, olive oil, coming home, cooking, healing, and a touch of romance, I read this in a day and adored it.

A wonderful read when you’re in the mood for a trip to the lake district, delicious food descriptions, family coming together, and maybe a second chance with the one that got away.



Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

Another hit from Rachel Linden! After reading and loving The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, I was ecstatic that hear that I was approved for this ARC. I don’t know what I loved more: the yummy food descriptions, the magical realism of the cookbook, the Italian setting, or the budding relationship between Jules and Nicolo. This is a must read for the summer!

I really loved this book. It was so good. I liked that Jules found her place and her right hard thing. I like that saying "find your right hard thing" Nonna Bruna was my absolute favorite along with Alex. They didn't let Jules just drift by living life in fear. Jules learned how to live after this trip and it changed her for the better.

This was a great read! I have struggled all my life with fear of one kind or another. Right now I am really fighting against it everyday, making small choices to lead to something so much better for my future. The main character Jules has a major trauma happens in her life that stops her from dreaming and hoping for better. As this book unfolds you get this beautiful sense that she is finding her happiness and strength through others and in herself. I loved Nona and Alex and Nicolo!!! The amazing food and the Italian country side come alive in this vivid book! I almost felt I was there and could smell the olives! I wish this place really existed, I would plan a trip!
This is a growing learning book with a sweet romance. Some kisses. Some alcohol and some spicey Italian swearing with a tiny bit of inuendo. 16 and up.

Part romance, part love letter to Italy. A charming story of multiple generations of a family brought together at their ancestral olive oil farm. Juliana is working on a cookbook and her teen half sister Alex is along for the ride. Jules hasn’t been back to the family farm since a tragedy 15 years earlier. But now she’s being embraced by her grandmother and a golden Italian summer, and maybe the boy next door who got away.

The plot didn’t completely hold together for me, but I enjoyed the story and especially all the food and cooking descriptions.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.