I really enjoyed this book! While Ansley did come across as a spoiled brat in the beginning, she learns how life doesnt always go as you planned it. You watch her grow over time, and I felt proud at the end for her decision.
I am also an avid baker, and enjoyed the recipes contained in the book. Definitely copied some of those down :-)
I am also an avid baker, and enjoyed the recipes contained in the book. Definitely copied some of those down :-)
I enjoyed this book but truthfully I kept the book for the recipes not the story. Both the Margartita, hold the salt and the Three Alarm cupcakes are fantastic. Im still working on trying the others. The story was cute - the growth of the heroine reminded me of a variant on the movie "Legally Blonde" but if you know you are looking for that sort of fun chick sort of book this is quite enjoyable.
Warning: This book will make you crave cupcakes!! On the flip side, the story line couldn't keep my interest so I quit reading about halfway through. I loved the recipes and wish that I would have written down a few to keep, but I don't regret not finishing the book.
Without any scientific evidence whatsoever, I would guess there's a significant age gap between those who love this book and those who don't.
Little rich girl from Texas (not even going to mention the horrendous sexism...that's been covered by other reviewers) moves to New York City, plunks down her $250,000 savings (did I forget to mention she JUST graduated college that spring? ) on a cute little fixer-upper and uses her business degree to start a cupcake bakery that will make a profit in a couple months. Selling only cupcakes, with three employees, in Manhattan, and will return a profit within a year? Too convenient. Too easy. And the inconsistencies make me nuts. She will not expand to cookies or pastry, but she gives the banker a breakfast burrito every day. Huh? She has to sell 150 cupcakes each day to break even ...but we see her mixing and baking 600-800 in the morning. Maybe if she didn't waste so much, she could turn a profit sooner???
The crazy stalker sorority sister steals her fiance, tries to ruin her business, and runs her over with a car...and the police aren't interested and are never contacted. The solution, "Promise me you'll go back to Dallas and tell everyone I'm a good person. And give me jewelry and I'll forget all about this." OMG. Did a 12 year old come up with this plot?
The subplot, her mother's and grandmother's relationship, it too pat. Too conveniently resolved. Grandma had an affair. So she had to walk away from her 5 year old daughter, to which she had been the perfect mother, and never contact her again so that the little girl could have a better relationship with her father. And when that is explained to the daughter 40 years later, oh sure, now she understands. Hugs. Tears. Really? The author really got lazy there.
I'm guessing that those of us that have survived in business and dealt with tough family issues are less likely to give the author a pass on how easy she just brushes aside these issues.
Little rich girl from Texas (not even going to mention the horrendous sexism...that's been covered by other reviewers) moves to New York City, plunks down her $250,000 savings (did I forget to mention she JUST graduated college that spring? ) on a cute little fixer-upper and uses her business degree to start a cupcake bakery that will make a profit in a couple months. Selling only cupcakes, with three employees, in Manhattan, and will return a profit within a year? Too convenient. Too easy. And the inconsistencies make me nuts. She will not expand to cookies or pastry, but she gives the banker a breakfast burrito every day. Huh? She has to sell 150 cupcakes each day to break even ...but we see her mixing and baking 600-800 in the morning. Maybe if she didn't waste so much, she could turn a profit sooner???
The crazy stalker sorority sister steals her fiance, tries to ruin her business, and runs her over with a car...and the police aren't interested and are never contacted. The solution, "Promise me you'll go back to Dallas and tell everyone I'm a good person. And give me jewelry and I'll forget all about this." OMG. Did a 12 year old come up with this plot?
The subplot, her mother's and grandmother's relationship, it too pat. Too conveniently resolved. Grandma had an affair. So she had to walk away from her 5 year old daughter, to which she had been the perfect mother, and never contact her again so that the little girl could have a better relationship with her father. And when that is explained to the daughter 40 years later, oh sure, now she understands. Hugs. Tears. Really? The author really got lazy there.
I'm guessing that those of us that have survived in business and dealt with tough family issues are less likely to give the author a pass on how easy she just brushes aside these issues.
I enjoyed this book. The author does a very good job of showing how Ansley goes from being a complete spoiled brat to becoming an independent and likable woman. It was also interesting to follow along with her grandmother Vivian's story, which I found to be almost as fun as Ansley's. I did have a few small complaints with the story: I felt that everything came WAY too easily to Ansley as she started up her business in New York, and I felt that the ending was just a bit too "happily ever after." Otherwise, it was a fairly good story. The recipes in this book look fantastic! I wrote a few down before sending it out. The book definitely made me hungry!
