Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies: A Novel

What to do, what to do what to do? What is a girl to do when she is in love with someone who is completely unappreciative of her goodness, worth and devotion? If you are Kate Parker you hang on for any crumb swept your way. If you are Nick Sullivan you take and take and never consider anyone’s needs but your own. If you are ninety-seven-year-old Cecily Finn you see Kate as a woman worth saving and with wit and storied morsels, doled out in equal measure, you try to protect and awaken Kate’s inner warrior goddess.

“Kate is prone to hoping for things that statistically could happen but definitely won’t.” Cecily, who has lived large and loved larger calls Kate out in the most uncharacteristic language; “you’re doing life all show more wrong, blundering around like a fart in a pickle barrel”. And that pretty much defines their relationship. Miss Cecily definitely has the best lines even if they are an attribution by Kate: “Cecily’s mind and tongue are sharp as lime juice on an ulcer.” Ooh so perfect.

Consider the trauma of turning forty, losing your true love, about to become unemployed, and moving back home with your acerbic tongued mother. Then mix in the support of a few good and supportive friends and the discovery of an extraordinary recipe book of delicious meals paired with any given situation and when properly baked you have a delightful story.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy. show less

I had purchased Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman quite some time ago and it was quietly tucked away on my Kindle. I needed a book with a yellow cover and decided to give this one a try. I assumed from the title that it was a historical romance but quickly found that yes, it is chick-lit but that it is set in the modern world. At first I was a little disappointed but all to soon this delightful book gathered me in and I very much enjoyed it.

The book isn’t really a romance at all. Instead it is the story of how a woman learns to like and admire herself, accept herself and realize that she can hold out for the best that life has to offer. It is also the story of a unique friendship between two stubborn show more and lonely women of different generations. And, best of all the story is served alongside some wonderful cooking scenes that truly had my mouth watering. Forty-to-be Kate and Ninety-seven year old Cecily meet when Kate volunteers at an old age home and although Cecily is quite caustic and contrary, they hit it off and Cecily gives Kate a unique cookbook that helps to guide Kate through the difficult year ahead.

Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies is a light-hearted and warm escape read that builds it’s story around themes of gaining confidence, building healthy relationships, and forming solid friendships. The wonderful descriptions of delicious recipes is an added bonus to this light and entertaining read. show less

Such a warm, wonderful feel-good story that had me in foodie heaven! I don't always gravitate towards contemporary chick-lit fiction, but something about the cover design just drew me in, and I am so glad it did. While the story focus is on Kate as she navigates the employment and relationship curve-balls that life has thrown her, I found Cecily - with her crotchety attitude and razor-sharp wit - won me over like no character has ever done before. Life is for living and Cecily's stories of her past communicate this message beautifully. Kate and Cecily's budding friendship, crossing the generational divide, and all the wonderful food descriptions and recipes make up for the ho-hum parts of the story focused on Kate's relationship show more problems with Nick (a chick-lit aspect that I usually have no patience for at the best of times).

Overall, a charming story about making meaningful life choices and the power of friendship. show less

Goodness, what a delightful book!

Things I loved:

- a 40-year-old protagonist, a sassy, cranky octogenarian, and omg, the FOOD.



- the relatability. Yes, I fully relate to feeling stuck, and yet not moving on from a job that you don't love because of fear.
- the menus in the book "Thoughts for Food". I love the entire concept

It's Kate's 40th birthday, and instead of everything coming together as she hoped, her life kind of falls apart. She finds herself without an apartment, on a "break" from her boyfriend, and living with her mom (while working a job she hates) Hoping to volunteer at an animal shelter, she ends up instead doing food demonstrations at a nursing home. It's here we first meet Miss Cecily - as she critiques Kate's show more cooking. I absolutely fell in love with Miss Cecily. She's feisty, she's outspoken, quite often flat-out rude - but underneath it all, there was something special. She used that feistiness to push Kate to want more.

I particularly loved the cast of characters in the book -they were fun, or fun to dislike.

This was a lovely, cheery, delightful read, but it was a bit long. (I could have done with a few less chapters on her ex-boyfriend and all his dysfunctions. I really didn't care for him anyway.)
Also, if you are the type of person who likes recipes interspersed throughout a book, you WILL be disappointed, because this isn’t that kind of foodie book. (This didn't bother me, but it may disappoint some.)

I won't spoil the fun, but definitely DO read the note from the author!

All in all, a lighthearted tale about being true to yourself, finding your true path, and unlikely friendships. Four-and-a-half stars (rounded to five here for rating purposes)

I was provided a copy of the book for review purposes. All opinions are my own. show less

I loved this book! Heartwarming and thoroughly engaging. The plot, the characters, the concept, the writing - all excellent. I couldn't stop reading and when finished was as completely satisfied as if I had just eaten a delicious meal (such as those delectably described in this book). A story of friendship, cooking, and love. As the publisher says: "An unlikely friendship between two lonely and stubborn souls - one at the end of her life, one stuck in the middle - who discover one big life lesson: never be ashamed to ask for more." I will be telling all my friends to read this book!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark publisher and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Volunteering at a retirement home was supposed to give Kate something to do when her self-absorbed boyfriend decided he wasn’t ready for her to move in with him. Kate met her match in Mrs. Cecily Finn, a grumpy 97-year-old. Both their love of cooking and Mrs. Finn’s believe that Nick, the boyfriend wasn’t worth Kate’s time, cemented a friendship. Mrs. Finn shared a cookbook with Kate that made a bond as Kate learned about Mrs. Finn’s life. And in the process Kate straightened out her life, leaving a boring job writing advertising copy for her own catering business and writing a cookbook. Of course, this book has a happy ending. If you are looking for a book to bring you cheer, this will do it.

I loved this book-- couldn't put it down finished it in one ok 2 sittings. Loved the characters and I need to find me a Miss Cecily.
Characters are easily identifiable with and you will either love or hate them. This is a very "Good Read!"