Friendship Cake: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: An excellent first novel
Review: This is a charming story of five distinctively different women. I enjoyed it tremendously and look forward to reading its sequels. Recipes included within the book are interesting, but I would not evaluate the merits of this book on that basis. While I might try one or two of the recipes, the more compelling reason to read this book is to explore the characters, their lives, and genuine friendship which surfaces in the face of life's hardships and challenges.

Rating:
Summary: CHARMING! More, more!
Review: This is one of the most charming novels I've read in recent years. More than that, it is a satisfying, complete story of women's friendships that manages to avoid becoming sticky-sweet in the process. The author is to be commended for avoiding melodrama and cloying conclusions. I came to know and love each character in this book. Hinton's use of recipes, by the way, goes far beyond gimmickry; each recipe is a true reflection of its owner's personality, and the "cookbook" unifying plot of the novel further justifies their use. I would love to see sequels continuing the lives, loves, and misadventures of the delightful damsel denizens of Hope Springs, North Carolina!