How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel [Paperback]

Meg Donohue (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 13, 2012

"A sparkling, witty story about an unlikely, yet redemptive, friendship....Grab one of these for your best friend and read it together--preferably with a plate of Meyer Lemon cupcakes nearby."
--Katie Crouch, bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs
"Beautifully written and quietly wise, Meg Donohue's How to Eat a Cupcake is an achingly honest portrayal of the many layers of friendship--a story so vividly told, you can (almost) taste the buttercream." (Sarah Jio, bestselling author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow )


Author Meg Donohue has cooked up an absolutely scrumptious debut novel, How to Eat a Cupcake, that explores what happens when two childhood friends, Annie and Julia, reconnect as adults and decide to open a cupcakery. But success in their new baking business venture will depend upon their overcoming old betrayals, first loves, and an unexpected and quite dangerous threat. Donohue's How to Eat a Cupcake is contemporary women's fiction at its smartest, sweetest, and most satisfying, joining the ranks of The Recipe Club, The School for Essential Ingredients, and Joanne Harris's classic Chocolat by proving once again that fiction and food make an unbeatable combination.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A] sparkling, witty story. Donohue’s voice is lovely, intelligent, and alluring. Grab one of these for your best friend and read it together--preferably with a plate of Meyer Lemon cupcakes nearby.” (Katie Crouch, bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs )

“Beautifully written and quietly wise, Meg Donohue’s How to Eat a Cupcake is an achingly honest portrayal of the many layers of friendship--a story so vividly told, you can (almost) taste the buttercream.” (Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow )

“A heartwarming and unpredictable tale of friendship, family and frosting.” (Zoe Fishman, author of Balancing Acts )

“An irresistible blend of sweet and tart, this book is truly a treat to be savored.” (Beth Kendrick, author of The Bake Off and Second Time Around )

“Deliciously engaging. Donohue writes with charm and grace. What could be better than friendship and cupcakes?” (Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters )

“Donohue’s sweet debut is a clever exploration of how a West Coast mean girl grows up and gives in to friendship, love, and dozens of delicious cupcakes....Donohue’s culinary romantic thriller will keep readers hungry for more.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Donohue has written a sharp little novel featuring the subtle characterizations of two appealingly flawed young women.” (Kirkus Reviews )

From the Back Cover

Free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clairs' housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia's San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls oblivious to class differences could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.

A decade later, Annie bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother's death, and a painful secret jeopardizes Julia's engagement to the man she loves. A chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, but when a mysterious saboteur opens up old wounds, they must finally face the truth about their past or risk losing everything.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (March 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062069284
• ISBN-13: 978-0062069283
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Meg Donohue is the author of the bestselling novel HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE, which was translated into Dutch, German, Italian, and Polish, and the forthcoming ALL THE SUMMER GIRLS (May 2013). She has an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Dartmouth College. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she now lives San Francisco with her husband, two young daughters, and dog.

For more on Meg, please visit www.megdonohue.com. Follow Meg on Twitter at @megdonohue.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars DELECTABLE SLICE OF LIFE TALE.... February 9, 2012

By Laurel-Rain Snow "Rain" TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Two young girls grow up side by side in San Francisco's Pacific Heights district, but they live totally separate lives. Julia St. Clair is the wealthy daughter of Lolly and Tad; Annie Quintana's mother Lucia fled Ecuador as a teenage single mom, and now works as a nanny/cook for the St. Clairs.

Over the years, however, the girls become best friends, attend the same schools (thanks to the largesse of the St. Clairs), and seemingly are like family to one another.

But what happens during the high school years, and how Julia played a role in those changes, will inform their lives for more than a decade. Annie's mother's death is like the final event that breaks the bond.

When Julia comes back to SF after living a successful life in New York, the women connect again when Annie caters a charity luncheon at the St. Clair home.

Julia reaches out to Annie with a business proposition: she wants to invest capital and help start up a cupcakery with Annie, whose talent for cupcakes borders on perfection. The contract includes a clause where Julia will exit the business after she marries in about a year. So, despite her reservations, Annie agrees.

But what secrets have captured Julia that could devastate her future? And what strange events happening regularly at the Mission District cupcakery dubbed "Treat" could threaten their security, their futures, and possibly their lives?

How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel is narrated alternately between Julia and Annie. Just when I thought Julia could not be more annoying or self-absorbed, I would read her story and start to understand her perspective.... Annie's sharp wit and sarcasm evaporate when, in her voice, we come to understand the loneliness, the sadness, and the hurt that have populated her life. I really felt that something important could happen between them, but instead, we see the conflicts and misunderstandings dissipate rather quickly after a horrific event at the cupcakery. Perhaps that moment could have made everything clear to them, but I don't think emotional distance could dissolve with such ease.

What kept me rapidly turning pages, however, were the mysterious events at the cupcakery and trying to sort out who was vandalizing and threatening them. I had it figured out before the end, but there was still some suspense as the exciting and dangerous events kept unfolding until the final piece fell into place. I also loved the delicious descriptions of the cupcakes and the unique presentations of each of them. A delectable cozy read with a few plot points that didn't work for me. Four stars. Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars As much fun as a cupcake without the calories February 12, 2012

By Writer Mom VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

How to Eat a Cupcake was pure reading fun from start to finish. This is what reading for fun is supposed to be. The characters were well-developed, likeable with just enough flaws to make them believable. The plot moved along at a nice clip--no draggy spots and no gaps that made me wonder where something came from. There was action and drama but it was a plausible part of the story and not just stuck in there to fit a genre's formula. The ending was satisfying (maybe a little bit expected) but satisfying anyway.

It's a story about friendship. Two little girls who grew up together. One an American princess born to a mansion and the other the daughter of the live-in housekeeper. The girls were raised together like sisters and even attended the same prestigious private schools. They were happy and got along fine until they hit adolescence and found different social circles and new ways to despise each other. The book slowly unravels the reasons their friendship disintegrated. The secrets, the pains, the hurts, the crimes, the jealousy.

Even though the friendship began dissolving during the teenage years, this isn't a teenager novel. The girls are adults and must decide if they are willing to work through the pain of an old childhood relationship and allow it to become an adult relationship.

In the lines of the book I see shadows of a television show about sisters who open a cupcake shop. Frank, honest, bitter, and sweet.

Pure fun in the pages of a book!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cupcakes and A Great Feel Good Story February 8, 2012

By C. Wong VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I really enjoyed reading 'How to Eat a Cupcake' by Meg Donohue. In fact after I finished the book, I looked for more books by her but couldn't find any. So, if this is her first book, I think she has done very well.

What attracted me to this book was the cover with a wonderful array of cupcakes in a cupcakery. After my mouth watered for a while, I started to read the story of two women of the same age who grew in the same house but weren't related to each other.

Anna Quintana was the daughter of the cook and housekeeper for the St. Clairs. She didn't know who her father was and her mother didn't tell her about her past. Anna had a bubbly personality, curly hair, was very creative with cupcakes. Since her mother died early and after an argument that they had had, Anna felt cheated out of a chance to reconcile with her mother. Anna was determined to be independent and vowed never to return to the house where she grew up.

Julia, the Sinclair's daughter was serious, a successful business woman, engaged to be married, ambitious and she hid her depression from everyone. Although she grew up with all the advantages, she was somewhat jealous of Anna for a wonderfully loving mother.

Julia's mother, Lolly had sent invitations to Annie before but when one came requesting her to cater a charity event for a fee, Annie's friend told her to go ahead and do it. When Julia tastes Annie's mocha flavored cupcake, it made her a little less sad and temporarily released her pain for all the secrets that she kept from every one. That cupcake made Julia to decide to open a cupcakery.

Julia and Anna's joint business tested to the limits any remains of any friendship that they had when they were young.... Being together, eventually brought their closely held secrets, and provided for a slow healing between them.

'How to Eat a Cupcake' has mystery, humor, wit, surprises, sorrow, regret, anger and just about every emotion that you can imagine. At the first, I felt that Anna was just a little too bubbly but she grew on me and so did Julia. I was sad that the book ended.

I recommend this book to all who love to read about women's relationships and who enjoy an occasional delicious cupcake. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Icing on the cupcake March 9, 2012

By R. DelParto VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

How To Eat a Cupcake does not necessarily involve actually eating a cupcake as the title suggests but serves a metaphor of how two friends Annie Quintana and Julia St. Claire share their ups and downs to keep their friendship together despite the distractions of life that come their way. Meg Donohue's debut novel centers upon Annie and Julia that represent working women of this day and age whom stayed friends for so long and have found a way to work with each other. But there is more than meets the eye in terms of their friendship.

But Anna and Julia have had to deal with their past. And throughout the novel the unending events of their adolescent years at Devon Prep School arise on the part of Annie that appeared to be the "black sheep" at the school that may have had to deal with her being the daughter of the St. Claire's housekeeper Lucia. Throughout the two young women's lives, there existed an underbelly of competitiveness that fell within the lines of who got there first that also included their predicament in terms of relationships that developed well after high school and college and years of separation as Julia lived and worked in New York while Annie remained in California. Annie and Julia somehow found a way to reconcile but hints of chips on the shoulder remained present, especially when the two parted but later reunited to open a cupcakery in San Francisco, which had been Annie's dream. But once again, a soap-opera-like like drama appeared within their friendship when two men became a part of their lives, Jake Logan the flirtatious and varsity jock that Annie had swooned upon with a girlish crush and Wesley Trehorn the businessman with a South Carolina drawl that Julia favored but seldom spent time together but once every two weeks due to his work.... However, the two women's lives were not clearly aligned and misunderstandings and secrets contributed to the friction of their friendship that equated to simply complications. And by the concluding chapters readers will see how things turn out for Annie and Julia.

Donohue writes a convincing novel that has a somewhat chick-lit flair to it but not entirely. The story shows how each woman faces challenges, and when first reading the first few chapters, will they ever get pass their indifferences? No doubt, by the concluding passages, there is much momentum and surprises that show how well the women find a way to work things out. Indeed, this is an interesting book that may be read more than once. Read more ›