The Late Bloomers’ Club — Louise Miller

The main character, Olivia (Livvy) Rowlings, is a talented pastry chef from the big city. After she accidentally starts a fire at an exclusive club (by setting a flambéed dessert—and the banquet hall—ablaze), Livvy decides she’s had enough. She packs her things, grabs her dog, and flees to Vermont, to the tiny town of Guthrie.

There, she gets a job at the local inn, “Sugar Maple.” Instead of fancy desserts for millionaires, she starts baking simple apple pies, learns to get along with the sharp-tongued locals, and tries to figure out her own life.

Key ingredients of the book:

Gastronomic delight: The descriptions of the baking are so detailed that while reading, you’ll want to head straight to the kitchen.

Romantic storyline: Livvy’s gradual growing closeness with local man Martin, which develops without unnecessary haste or drama.

The Vermont atmosphere: The book is steeped in the scents of maple syrup, autumn leaves, and the coziness of rural evenings.