This book was pretty cute. It had a lot of teen angst in it, so I may have enjoyed it more when I was younger.
This definitely had one of my favorite tropes in it, found family, even though all the characters had present families. Ellie gets stuck in a table of misfits for a year long "family" project in home ec class after her boyfriend breaks up with her to be with another friend. I loved how no one immediately got along with everyone else, it was a gradual build up of friendship and trust. It really made Ellie's old friends seem that much more awful. Each member of Ellie's home ec family had such personality and depth and we got to know each of them throughout the book. Ellie was a great friend (for the most part) even though she dealt with a lot.
*Not really a spoiler, but kind of a jaw dropping moment, so if you want to be surprised, don't read the next part*
One of my favorite parts of this which probably shouldn't be, was when Ellie got so overwhelmed with everything that was happening between her and Luke and her and Hunter and then Jared, that she got in a fist fight (well more of a deviled egg fight) with Jared. I feel like so many high school books where the characters just get so many things thrown at them end up talking it out or something like that. I was so pleasantly surprised when Ellie threw fists (eggs) because Jared deserved it and it's not what I was expecting.
*Done spoiler*
This book didn't have a ton of exciting plot, it was basically just Ellie dealing with her breakup and finding new friends, but I was never bored. It was very character driven which suited the book just fine.
If you are looking for a fun, fluffy, high school romance, check this one out!

The beginning of this book was not strong and it was actually really cringe-worthy. However, just when I considered DNF-ing the book because I couldn't stand it any longer, things finally started to pick up and it was becoming more and more adorable.

The friendships that were being developed was definitely the highlight of the book for me. The romance was also really cute but it took me some time to come around to the MC and actually liking her more.

I’ll first like to say that I absolutely love this cover. This is as a very fun and exciting YA read. I had so much fun with the characters and the overall plot - definitely recommend this read!

This is exactly the book I needed to read at this moment in my life. It’s delightful, delicious, and devourable. Seventeen-year-old Ellie is a recent transplant after her father lost his restaurant due to the actions of an unscrupulous employee. She arrived mid junior year where she immediately drew the attentions of Hunter and they were immediately smitten. Hunter rolled Ellie into his posse and she gained both a boyfriend and a friend group overnight, easing her transition. But when Hunter reveals himself to be the worst boyfriend ever, dumping her overnight for someone else, Ellie is left both brokenhearted and friendless since Hunter’s friends were hers. To make matters worse, she’s stuck with him and his saccharinely adorable new girlfriend, Brynn, in their life skills class, until the class bad boy, Luke, rescues her from their pod. Now, Ellie is determined to not only prove to Hunter she’s better off without him, but to take down his life skills pod by the end of the year.

Plot
The plot is so much fun. Rather than just a straight-up romance, it’s more of a character growth arc with a side of romance. Ellie has a lot of growing to do, too. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I liked her in the first few chapters, but after she and Hunter part ways and she needs to forge her own way in her new high school all on her own, she becomes someone I rooted for every step of the way. Her relationship with the other members of her pod brought some of the best dialogue and moments to the book. And while I predicted early on that Luke would be a love interest before the book ended, I love that it wasn’t THE plot. The main plot is really about Ellie finding herself and discovering who she is without her BFF, Jodie, by her side every day, and without Hunter and his friend group.

The Characters
I loved the characters! Even Brynn and Hunter were the antagonists you love to hate. Luke, AJ, and Isaiah, as Ellie’s life skills cohorts, were all so unique in their personalities and they truly brought out the best in Ellie. Her childhood best friend, Jodie, who only lives an hour away, makes cameo appearances and it’s clear to see why these two have such a solid friendship.

Top Five Things I Loved About THE SECRET RECIPE FOR MOVING ON
1. Ellie. For me, it’s the hallmark of good writing when an author can make me care so much about a character after I initially dismissed them as unlikeable.

2. Luke. I love him. He’s nothing like Ellie’s original assessment, but that’s because he’s complex and complicated and it only makes him more endearing.

3. Isaiah. The horserace loving, sheltered teen is one of the most fascinating characters in the story.

4. Getting Even. Ellie takes the “getting even by living your best life” approach to the limits and it’s sweet revenge.

5. Life Skills. Their “easy A” class is anything but, as all the students learn a lesson on life in a fun, unique class.

Bottom Line
A delightful romance with heart and soul. I love these characters and I love the themes.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I got a copy of this ARC. I’ve read and disliked so many YA contemporaries that I made a little promise to myself that I wouldn’t read anymore since they weren’t for me. But I made a promise to read it and so I did. And I loved this. So much. I devoured this whole book because I just couldn’t stop. It starts with Ellie’s decision to finally sleep with her boyfriend. But before she can, Hunter breaks up with her. The worst part? He immediately starts dating Brynn. Oh, it gets worse? They are all in home economics together and since Hunter and Brynn have been friends forever, everyone is non-stop about how cute they are and how they are finally together. Yeah… it would suck. Due to uneven groups, Ellie makes a somewhat rash decision to join the group of guys that was done one. It happened to be the random group that really don’t fit together. Of course Ellie is considering what she has done but as the story teller that Karen was, it all works out. One of the issues I have with YA contemporary is it is so hard for me to relate because the situations seems so unrealistic. However, these situations all seemed very real and how Ellie handled them, honestly were so realistic. I felt like everything made sense and of course I was rooting for Ellie the whole time to get over Hunter and be with the obvious love interest. The whole journey felt wholesome though and I really loved every single moment.

I really actually loved Ellie’s character. It was obvious in the beginning due to her history that she doesn’t like change too much and when things are tough, she tries to find the most convenient way out of the situation. As she can’t drop Home Ec. though, she is forced to face the uncomfortableness of Hunter and Brynn. It took a bit but she starts to become friends with the group of guys in her “Jaile Family”. I really liked their dynamic and how the relationships really start to turn into something more than just a fake family. Ellie had always relied on Hunter for the friends since she was new to the school but it was starting to show who Ellie really was and how much better off she was without Hunter. Of course, since this is a YA contemporary story, there was a big blow out and usually these are the moments that I hate in the stories. But this was worked so well. It wasn’t anything outrageous or unbelievable and I thought the way it flushed out was perfect for this story.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer was such a successful YA contemporary. I usually don’t like this genre but I immensely enjoyed this book. I thought that the scenarios were easily relatable and all seemed within realistic events. Ellie was great and I just loved her. I know she struggled a bit in the beginning but I thought her character really developed throughout the book. I flew through this whole thing because I really wanted to know what happened next. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy this genre or you just want to read about a character who really figures out her own after a break up.

I enjoyed all the cooking scenes, but there was a lot of other stuff that was not great for the narrative.

A sweet and strong read about bullying and resilience. I loved the ending so much and the way Ellie finds strength to face her fears even in a very unusual way. I loved her relationship with Luke and how she begins to realize who her true friends are.

Full review to be posted on Forever Young Adult's blog, mini review posted on Instagram.

BOOK REPORT for The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer
Cover Story: Baked On
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Disney Channel Original
Bonus Factors: Found Family, Home Economics
Relationship Status: Lunchroom Buddies


Cover Story: Baked On
This stock-photo cover art is pretty bland and feels too pastel for the story. (I don’t imagine a high-school Home Ec classroom that hasn’t been updated since the seventies, with avocado cabinets, as being very Instagram-cutesy.) What’s distracting me most is the fact that someone left that whisk out without cleaning it off right away and now that frosting is going to be a bitch and a half to get off.

The Deal:
Ellie’s family moved after her father’s restaurant was forced to close, so she hasn’t grown up with the people she’s been going to high school with over the last year. Which is all totally fine, until “out of nowhere” her boyfriend, Hunter, breaks up with her and immediately makes out with his childhood friend, Brynn, in the halls and everyone around them starts crowing, “OMG, I knew it! #couplegoals! ‘Bout time!” Ew.
Now she’s realizing all her “friends” were Hunter’s friends, which is going to make the “easy A” Home Economics class they all signed up for together super awkward. Things go from bad to worse when she is put in an all-male group with the school outcasts: Luke, a jock who practically looks like an adult; Isaiah, the quiet nerd who’s obsessed with horse racing; and, A.J., guy voted most likely to fly off the handle and punch someone. But people would probably classify Ellie as “that girl who tried to get between Hunter and Brynn’s burgeoning friends-to-lovers romance” so perhaps other people’s labels aren’t all they’re cracked up to be…

BFF Charm: Eventually
When you learn more about Ellie’s past, you can understand why she kind of glommed on to the first passably attractive, popular boy who looked her way. While she probably mooned over his basic ass for a little too long, I liked seeing her journey to personal growth throughout the novel. Ellie won’t be singlehandedly defeating The Man with a single arrow or anything, but her story is one that many teens will experience: learning to advocate for your own interests, understanding people are always more complex than they first appear, and that only you should define who you are.

Swoonworthy Scale: 4
I feel like the book’s synopsis tries to play a little coy about who Ellie’s new love interest will be, but, like, immediately, we know it’s Luke, the tattooed BMXer. He starts off having an Olympic-wannabe snowboarding girlfriend, but he clearly ticks all the YA main love interest boxes. Ellie and Luke’s romance was cute and sweet. While it won’t knock anyone’s socks off—and also contains the dreaded “miscommunication” trope designed to keep them apart that raises some questions about Ellie’s long-term trust issues—I was fine with it.

Talky Talk: Disney Channel Original
I’ve had mixed results with books published under Swoon Reads, but somehow the promise of a good love story keeps sucking me back in, dammit. Luckily this book a success! I breezed through it in just a few hours and it gave me all the “PG-13 light-hearted life lessons” vibes I was expecting. Will I remember much about the plot in a few weeks? I can already tell you that’s a no, but I don’t regret reading it, and, sometimes, that’s enough.

Bonus Factor: Found Family
My favorite parts focused on Ellie’s burgeoning friendship with the boys in her class “family” unit (they called themselves JAILE after their initials, which sounds exactly like what I’d expect a group of dudes to come up with). Luke and Ellie aside, I always like seeing positive representations of men and women supporting each other in platonic friendships.

Bonus Factor: Home Economics
This isn’t some lame Home Ec class, y’all. Each group is giving a family backstory and budget and have to spend the school year working on their assignments within those confines. I’m not sure what that necessarily teaches the group that’s representing, like, a DINK couple, but I’m always of the mind that all students from high school should graduate knowing how to balance a budget and the dangers of credit cards, so, teach on, Mrs. Sanchez!

Relationship Status: Lunchroom Buddies
I won’t pretend our connection is that deep, Book, but if you’re ever standing awkwardly in the lunchroom, holding your tray and desperately scanning the tables for a nonjudgmental place to sit, just know there’s always a seat open next to me.

Such a sweet novel, I really enjoyed the character relationship between Luke and Ellie, I was rooting for them the whole time! I also love the way the chapters change, it's so playful!

Pros
Fun Team Players: Ellie's home ec class splits into teams for the semester, and these teams become their "families." When she's cast out of her group of fair-weather friends, Ellie finds herself teamed up with the misfits. But these misfits make up a jokey, fun, and lighthearted cast of characters. They add good banter to the mix, and they team up with her to make class projects a competition with her new ex. This setup is a lot of fun, and her teammates add good masculine energy to the book as well--a type of energy usually missing from rom-com style books like this one.
Good Pace: Once you get started on this one, the momentum really carries you through to the end. This book isn't a hard read by any means. It is lighthearted and easy to get through. It could definitely be a one-sitting type of book, which makes it perfect for that type of reading mood.
Low Income Representation: Any representation in a low-key love story like this one is nice, and in this particular book, we've got some low-income representation, which is rare in general and especially in the genre. That's pretty nice.
Cons
Mixed Voice and Tone: The voice of this book is very juvenile. It reads like a contemporary or rom-com Middle Grade voice, unfortunately. And this is especially a problem because the subject matter is most definitely not Middle Grade. The narrator mentions sex on the very first page, so it's not really meant for the 8-12 category. If only the voice had communicated as much. The heaping melodrama surrounding the breakup solidified the juvenility and made it altogether off-putting.
Hyperbolically Mean: There are mean girls, and there are Mean Girls. The Mean characters in this book were utterly irredeemable. They were uselessly mean about any- and every-thing. It was just too extreme. This hyperbolic nature just added to the middle-school-esque voice of the narrative.
Rebound Romance: Rebound romance just isn't my thing. It has to be done really, really well for me to overlook it. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here. Ellie is sad and mopey until she finds someone new to love. Then she's happy once again, and that's just not a narrative I like.
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4/10

Fans of the cooking-and-baking, whimsical romance of Elise Bryant's Happily Ever Afters should check out this new home economics love story. Those looking for a safe, low-end YA romance like Julie Halpern and Len Vlahos's Girl on the Ferris Wheel will find a couple to root for in this book.

This book gives me some Breakfast Club vibes and I enjoyed it! It was heartbreaking, heartmending, fun and full of so much drive from Ellie that is was easy to get lost in. I would recommend this to a friend who is looking from a fun summer time read to get lost in.

WOW! This was so much fun! THE SECRET RECIPE FOR MOVING ON has it all: found family/close friendships, a killer romance, and a relatable main character. This is the perfect rom-com, a super quick, enjoyable read! Ellie’s narration was, as I said, relatable and funny and her interest in meteorology was so neat. Luke was the best love interest EVER, a perfect combination of bad boy + sweetheart who has a passion for BMX (so cool!!!). I also loved that the book focused in on home ec, it was so much fun to see the characters bake and budget and manage all this stuff with humor while also building an unlikely friendship. I loved that each of the boys in the group was different and initially intimidating to Ellie, but seeing them bond over time was just adorable!! My only complaint is that *some*, very little, of the dialogue was cheesy and didn’t flow right. This happened very rarely but when it did it kind of threw me out of the story. Other that this, this was absolutely perfect! Highly highly recommend this one!!

You can always draw me in with some form of sugar on a book cover and The Secret Recipe for Moving On did not disappoint. From found family to romance, this book is a brilliant coming of age ya story.

The very first thing that attracted me towards this book was its cover art. I enjoyed reading it and finished the book in two days. It is simple yet refreshing. And I was intriguied to know that how this cover would relate to the title of the book. The protagnist of the novel is Ellie who was dumped by her boyfriend. Her life basically revolved around her boyfriend and his friends circle. Gladly, her bestfriend was there to support her through the emotional phase of this breakup. Taking the home econmics calss changed everything for Ellie. She found a new family amongst her classmates. She found the confidence to be herself and express her interest opnely without the fear of being judged or criticised. Ellie made new good friends who were there to support her though the difficult times.
The whole process of Ellie being dumped by her ex to the way of finding her voice and chanelling her real aura infront of her college fellows is a refreshing journey which would captivate the readers' interest.
The Secret Recipe for Moving on is a lively, light hearted and sweet read to welcome spring and see the flowers blossom.

When a young woman is public humiliated and dumped by her jerk of a boyfriend and a so-called two-faced friend, she makes new friends in unexpected places.

Ellie's life has just gone bad to worse. Her boyfriend, Hunter, has dumped her publicly for his long-time friend, Brynn. Her so-called friends she has at the new school are apparently all Hunter's friends. And she's sharing her home economics class with her ex-friends. But it so happens she doesn't have to share a table with the new lovers anymore, and, instead, reluctantly chooses the table with a juvenile delinquent, a silent shy guy, and a hot tattooed goliath.

As Ellie starts building her confidence again and making bolder choices, she finds a camaraderie with her newfound home ec misfit guys including the sweet and funny Luke who only has Ellie's best interests at heart. Speaking of which, if only those two would have talked sooner, there wouldn't have been the angst and frustration throughout a lot of the book. Nevertheless, the misunderstanding is cleared up, Hunter and Brynn get what's coming to them, and Ellie and her misfit boys steal the show!

I recommend this cute, clean, coming-of-age YA rom-com filled with heart, angst, laughter, and life-long friendships.

Thank you to Ms. Bischer for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

As a Family and Consumer Science teacher I knew I had to read a book centered around the classes I teach. I really enjoyed the class setting and the relationships that developed in the classroom. As a reader I really enjoyed her developing friendships in her group of misfits and the teamwork they showed throughout the class. There was a sweet romance that developed, solid high school drama and character growth. My only complaint about the book is the subject is not called Home Economics anymore and hasn’t been called that in 27 years. It’s my pet peeve in YA books (I know, it’s silly) but it doesn’t change feelings on the book as a whole.

4.25/5 stars

The Secret Recipe for Moving On is a GEM, a precious precious gem 😭😭 Thank you, Swoon Reads, for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Netgalley Synopsis:
Ellie Agresti's not sure anything could be worse than being dumped by her boyfriend, Hunter, the first day of senior year.

But sharing a "life skills" class with him and his new girlfriend, Brynn? AND getting partnered with a "family" of misfits (A.J., the loudmouth; Isaiah, the horse-racing obsessive; and Luke, the tattooed stunt-biker)?

It's a recipe for certain disaster...until an in-class competition allows Ellie to channel her angst into beating Hunter and Brynn's team, and she unexpectedly bonds with her own group–especially Luke–in the process.

But as Ellie soon discovers, it will take more than classroom triumphs to heal her broken heart–and find herself again.

I seriously... I have so many fluffy, amazing emotions with this contemporary romance. The main character, Ellie, has her embarrassingly teenager moments (that probably could have easily been avoided), but in a lot of ways, I related to the way Bischer depicts her as a teenager; from the way she describes the elation of football games to the confusion of relationships, to just being overwhelmed and making mistakes - it was all so SOLID, and I felt myself really connecting to her experiences! And she really comes into herself throughout the novel, and she embraces her SASS!! So many laugh-out-loud moments!

The real stars of the show, though, were the found family trope and the romance. YES you read right - this has the most precious found family EVER!! It had me smiling so hard at times, I'm not sure I can even explain how literally precious it is to watch. But the romanceee 😭😭 can I have a Luke? I literally feel in love, what is going on? He is sweet, and funny, and HOT - where can I find one?! But in all seriousness, the build-up of this relationship is literal perfection! Their chemistry is intense yet sweet👌 they put a goofy smile on my face the entire time, I absolutely love love love the romance.

Wow can you tell I love this book?? 😅 it was exactly the sweetness and positivity I needed right now, and it just hit differently for me I think; I saw myself in Ellie's sass and thought process, and I fell in love along with her. Ugh, my heart is soooo full!

This book was released on March 23rd, so go get yourself a copy!!





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The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer is the kind of book that will make you smile. Following a class competition, this one is full of cooking and conflict. The main character is relatable, and the group of misfits she is paired with bring even more entertainment to the story. I would definitely recommend this one to those looking for a book about navigating high school with a unique twist.

❀ REALISTIC DESCRIPTIONS

When Ellie’s boyfriend dumps her on the first day of school and then ends up in her life skills class, Ellie is less than thrilled. However, when she is placed in a rival “family” competing against him for an in-class competition, things start looking up. Any book about cooking is a win for me, and I loved the descriptions of the life skills class, from grocery shopping as a team to preparing a Thanksgiving feast. These classroom scenes might honestly be the most realistic I’ve read in a long time, and I really enjoyed following the group through their highs and lows.

❀ DYNAMIC MAIN CHARACTER

Ellie is an easy character to relate to, and I was rooting for her as she regained her confidence after the breakup. Times are tough for her since she is starting at a new school, and she was banking on her ex’s friend group for support, but she slowly starts to leave her comfort zone and learn to trust again, while discovering some new interests. Even though Ellie is struggling, I really liked how she stands up for herself. These moments, while a bit dramatic at times, make her a more dynamic character.

❀ QUIRKY SIDE CHARACTERS

Another one of my favourite elements in YA is a group of unlikely friends. This book really delivers with its quirky side characters who are thrown together for the competition. Each of the boys in Ellie’s group has their own mini arc, and I loved watching them start to bond. Other groups in the class make fun of their family, but the team’s support for each other carries them through. This made for a really wholesome read, inviting the reader to celebrate each of the group’s successes along with them.

❀ A FUN YA CONTEMPORARY

The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer is a story all about newfound friendship and finding your true self. I loved the descriptions of the life skills class and the main character’s growth. The group of misfits Ellie meets in class is another highlight. Those looking for a fun contemporary with a bit of competition will enjoy this one.

The Secret Recipe for Moving On is definitely one of my favourite books of 2021 now. With all of it’s relatable teenage characters and high school problems, it’s something that resonated with me, and probably will with you too. Full of my favourite tropes, and growing friendships, this novel is one that will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you crying happy tears by the time you’re done.

Ellie wants nothing more but to continue her life just like it is, with her perfect relationship with her boyfriend and her friends, a happy senior year just as it should be. But when her boyfriend starts ghosting her just as the year begins and then next thing she knows he is hooking up with his long time best friend, and all the people she thought were her friends pick a side that is not hers, she is not really certain how to move forward. It seems like Ellie is in a for a lot of changes her last year of high school, most unexpected in the best of ways.

This book gets all the stars from me- if there were more than 5, I would give them for sure!
I stumbled across this book months ago on my book social media sites and was instantly drawn to it from the delicious looking cover alone- I confess that I have a pretty severe obsession with ficiton novels having anything to do with food, be it eating or cooking and a whisk covered in yummy pink batter seemed just about perfect. Fast forward to now, and I was really hesitant to actually start readingin this novel due to my recent reading experience. I have been in a reading slump the last month or two, especially when it comes to YA contemporary, nothing has worked well for me. I came to the sad conclusion that maybe I reached the age where I am just too old for a YA romance/coming of age story, but now after having read The Secret Recipe For Moving On I can say that I am back on the YA contemprary bandwagon- at least when it comes to this adorable, feel good read.

The Secret Recipe for Moving On is hands down my favorite read of the month (and I read a LOT so that means something, I swear) and my favorite YA contemporary of the year so far. I would not change a single thing about this story, it all just worked so well to create a feel good story with heart and humor and I think everyone should go pick this up. I have already told all my freinds about how they need to read this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes resilient main characters, a solid plot with character growth and direction as well as the best quirky bunch of side characters. I can't wait to get my hands on anything else this author wants to create and I have no idea how this is her debut novel, it was basically perfect in my totally fan-girl opinion.