Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies: A Novel

Vicky Zimmerman

Jun 2020 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

"A can't-miss title for fans of chick lit and modern women's fiction."—Library Journal, STARRED review

An unlikely friendship between two stubborn, lonely souls anchors this big-hearted book and dares us all to ask for more.

When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate Parker finds herself volunteering at the Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies. There she meets 97-year-old Cecily Finn. Cecily's tongue is as sharp as her mind, but she's fed up with pretty much everything.

Having no patience for Kate's choices in life or love, Cecily prescribes her a self-help book...of sorts. Thought for Food: an unintentionally funny 1950s cookbook high on enthusiasm, featuring menus for anything life can throw at the "easily dismayed," such as:

Breakfast with a Hangover

Tea for a Crotchety Aunt

Dinner for a Charming Stranger

As she and Cecily break out of their ruts, Kate will learn far more than recipes.

A feel-good summer read with a wicked sense of humor, Vicky Zimmerman's book will teach you that food is for feasting, friends are for savoring, and the way to a man's heart is...irrelevant.

Fans of Jennifer Weiner, Elin Hildenbrand, and Sophie Kinsella will delight in this recipe for confidence, romance, and fun.

Praise for Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies:

"A beautiful, thoughtful read about love, friendship and food with shades of Nora Ephron's Heartburn and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine."—Tasmina Perry, international bestselling author of Daddy's Girls

"Beautifully written, full of insight and food."—Katie Fforde, bestselling author of A Perfect Proposal

"Hungry for a love story with added bite? With deliciously real characters, a sprinkling of humor, a pinch of pathos and huge helping of wisdom, this book has all the ingredients to become this summer's must-read."—Isabelle Broom, bestselling author of One Thousand Stars and You

Ratings and reviews

What a delightful story: Kate’s growth as she spends more time with Cecily, learns her stories, and is loaned a cookbook that is part food, part advice columns and wholly addictive, we see Kate work her way through the recipes that include charming a boss, closing a sales deal, securing an engagement and even making up with family after an argument. With the Nick Situation so unstable, and Cecily instantly seeing that Kate settled, and deserves more: the recipes, Cecily’s no-nonsense advice, her stories and the re-ignition of Kate’s dreams have everything moving to a new outlook for Kate as Cecily’s life, at 97, comes to a close. Truly a lovely story of friendships and discoveries, with some ‘helping hands’ along the way, Kate is able to move on and forward, discover her own voice, find treasures in difficult moments and take steps on a new and more fulfilling career along the way. A sweet and lovely story that shows the power of friendships, confrontation and confidence all packaged with glorious foodie images and moments, laughter and heart. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

Vicky Zimmerman lives in London. She worked in marketing and as a food tester at a major UK supermarket before leaving to write full-time. She has written for the Guardian and the Observer as well as for women's magazines, specifically on food, body image and dating. Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies is inspired by her own grandmother's 1950s cookbook.