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.

I absolutely loved this book.

The characters are so relatable—not just in their family dynamics, but also in the honest portrayal of trying to build a life through social media. It felt very real and current.

One of my favorite elements was the theme of generational legacy. Jules’ return to her Nonna’s olive farm in Italy after years away, especially after losing her father, felt both tender and powerful. There’s something so healing about reconnecting with your roots.

The romance between her and Nicolo was another highlight. It’s not an over-the-top, whirlwind love story—they simply reconnect after years of being apart and get to know each other again, this time as adults. It felt mature, grounded, and full of genuine connection.

I also loved the quiet legend of the orange blossom cake and a family cookbook itself, which was passed down through generations. Not magic exactly, but a blessing tied to an act of kindness generations ago. It added a beautiful layer of meaning to the story.

This is one of the few books I’ve read in while where food is a true connector, bringing people together, and serving as a healing elements. Truly beautifully done.

What stayed with me most was the message: maybe knowing our future isn’t what makes us happy. Maybe it’s living life fully—whatever that looks like—that brings the most joy.

Highly recommend this one if you love heartfelt stories with family, food, second chances, and a touch of legacy.
Thank you, @netgalley @berkleypub for the ARC.

A lovely book filled with magic and romance and delicious food descriptions! Jules is a successful online media presence, but when her media partner opts for a Hollywood deal, Jules is left on her own. She's been offered a Cookbook deal with a healthy monetary advance and an approaching deadline. Jules decides to return to her family's Olive Farm in Italy, and to her Nonna, who she hasn't seen in years. Jules is still mourning the death of her father and returning to the farm brings up so many memories. Nonna also has a special magical cookbook, but in order for the magic to work, Jules will need to come to terms with her grief and figure out who and what she wants with her life. I loved this book...read it for a sweet and magical experience.

I had forgotten what a delightful storyteller Rachel Linden is until I opened this book. She brings the whimsy and magic from The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie to The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake.

Jules Costa is kind of a mess. Living in Seattle, working at Trader Joe's to pay the bills, she dreams of making it big with her YouTube cooking show where she brings vintage recipes to life on camera with the help of her friend and roommate, Drew. But when Drew gets an offer to move to LA to shoot a tv pilot leaving her behind, Jules needs a new path. Her job is to finish the cookbook she's under contract for, but how can she create a cookbook of family recipes when she won't allow herself to think about the past. She finds herself back in Italy at the family olive farm with her half sister, Alex, for the summer. And it's not long before she rediscovers the magic of family, love, and home.

Sweet and poignant. And now I have to go back and re-read all the rest of Linden's novels!

Rachel Linden's always brings a feel good magic to her books and The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake is no different. Like many of us Jules is struggling to find her place in the world and her family after a tragic event and its grief leave Julia living in the safety zone of life. However, when the chance arises for her to connect her present with her past Jules is challenged to take a leap of faith, jumping out of her comfort zone, It's a good thing Nicolo her teenage crush form the neighboring Olive farm is determined to show Jules that its ok to be scared but we shouldn't let that stop us from living our best lives. This magical heart warming read is a great summer read that will have you swooning over thoughts of limoncello and a second chance with a first love.

This book was so great! It was well written and the characters were so relatable. I really enjoyed it and will definitely recommend it to others!

A lovely story in a beautiful setting. This is about family and legacy as well as amazing food and a touch of magic. I really enjoyed it.

The cover sucked me in (gorgeous!) and the story kept me there. This is my first book by this author but won’t be the last. I loved Jules so much! Her job and her family and her travels were an honor to read about. And a magical cookbook! Amazing. Nicole was absolutely dreamy. This was so much fun. I simply loved it.

I devoured this book in one day! It was a sweet, yet thoughtful read and discussed the importance of taking chances and risks in life. I enjoyed the rich scenes and character development throughout the story. I am eager to read more by this author!