Claire Sandy Livres

'Holidays are about surviving the gaps between one meal and another.'For one long hot summer in Devon, three families are sharing one very big house in the country. The Herreras: made up of two tired parents, three grumbling children and one promiscuous dog; the Littles: he's loaded (despite two divorces and five kids), she's gorgeous, but maybe the equation for a truly happy marriage is a bit more complicated than that; and the Browns, who seem oddly jumpy around people, but especially each other.By the pool, new friendships blossom; at the Aga door, resentments begin to simmer. Secret crushes are formed and secret cigarettes cadged by the teens, as the adults loosen their inhibitions with litres of white wine and start to get perhaps a little too honest ...Mother hen to all, Evie Herreras has a life-changing announcement to make, one that could rock the foundations of her family. But will someone else beat her to it?

Set against the backdrop of baking competitions, the story explores the dynamics of family life intertwined with rivalries that emerge in the kitchen. As characters navigate their relationships and the pressures of baking, the narrative delves into the emotional stakes of competition, highlighting both the humor and tension that arise from their culinary pursuits. The mention of flat Victoria sponges adds a whimsical touch, symbolizing the challenges and mishaps that can occur in both baking and family interactions.

A funny, foody and feel-good novel from the author of What Would Mary Berry Do?