This is one of those books where the journey is at least as important as the destination. It has been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw's life imploded, and she has just taken her first step on the road to recovery by re-entering the kitchen to try out a recipe.

So what if it doesn't turn out exactly as she expected? This is more about finding her way back to joy. And it is, after all, just the first step in coming terms with a life where Kate has lost the love of her life, Eddie.

Getting to know some of her neighbours, including Mary, Charles, David and the others, and bonding over food and shared experiences of loss, Kate slowly begins to discover that she is building a community - and what ultimately becomes a found family, of sorts.

The story moves at a very gradual pace, but given that grief is a major theme here, that is perhaps not altogether surprising. There are few surprises, but story is touching and will be relatable to many.

This a love story on so many levels - it's about people and community, second chances and about love in all its forms. I loved the characters and the storylines. It made me cry a lot but it was also uplifting and a real feel good read. Definitly one to curl tip with and read in one go!

This was a gentle, if slow, read about several characters each dealing with some form of grief. It was quite entertaining and I enjoyed some of the recipes but there seemed to be a lot of repetition throughout. It’s not the kind of book I would normally choose but I can appreciate how many readers will absolutely love it. It’s one of those where you know exactly what’s going to happen so the end was no surprise. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this.

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath is a delightful, feel-good story about a group of individuals who come together over their shared connections with food, love, and loss. I think you'll find endearing characters and a predictable, yet satisfying plot. Just one tiny bit that bothered me- when the author refers to what is obviously COVID-19 as "a virus" or "his illness," several times when explaining why a character has lost his sense of smell and taste. All in all I enjoyed the story and it was an entertaining read. Rounding up to 4 from 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy.

Kate lost her husband, Eddie, who was the love of her life. Then she decided to give up her career as a teacher to find out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She began to become acquainted with the neighbours on her street and she found they were becoming firiends - Della, Mary and Charles, Jack, David. Kate was estranged from her mother so this group of neighbours became her family. But she had a lot of growing to do and with the help of her friends she weathered the joys and sorrows that helped her grow.
I always like a book that has recipes in it. I admit I did copy out a couple that I want to try. There was a bit too much description of feelings and inner monologue - show, don't tell is better. But the characters were fairly believable.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book; the opinions are my own.

What a delight, so much for foodies to enjoy in this stunning book that examines are individual relationships with food and how it has the power to evoke memories, create friendships and to transform our lives. This array of loveable characters and profound life experiences worked so well to give such a captivating plot and lots of treats to devour.

Sue Heath's The Secret Ingredient serves up a heartwarming exploration of grief, healing, and community through the lens of culinary connection. The novel follows Kate Shaw, who, after the loss of her husband Eddie, embarks on a culinary journey to reconnect with his love for cooking. What begins as a disastrous attempt at making pancakes unfolds into a tale of unexpected connections and newfound friendships within her neighborhood. Heath deftly addresses the complexities of loss with compassion, weaving together diverse characters and their narratives, each chapter offering a unique perspective. The inclusion of recipes not only enhances the "foodie" theme but becomes a symbolic thread that binds the characters together. The Secret Ingredient is a poignant tribute to love, resilience, and the transformative power of shared experiences, making it a compelling and emotionally resonant read that transcends the boundaries of grief and ultimately leaves readers with a taste of hope.

A foodie based book with a deep sprinkling of friendship brought through the coming together of a community. The catalysts are an elderly couple who share memories to help heal broken people around them . There are characters abounding and a smattering of recipes to whet the appetite .
The storyline may be predictable but it is a warm cosy read that has humour amidst its tragedies

The secret ingredient by Sue Heath welcomes us into the life of Kate and Eddie Shaw, and, ultimately, the people in their neighborhood, who are all in different chapters of their lives.

What I liked most about this novel is learning about that secret ingredient we each might use to make our lives just a bit (or a lot) better.

The characters and their stories are believable.
I found Charles and Mary’s warmth to be especially endearing.

Published by One More Chapter, a division of HarperCollins. Expected release date January 18, 2024.

Loved the book!
It was a very emotional read, especially after losing my dad in September and having had my mum in and out of hospital too
Great characters, full of delicious sounding food and new beginnings
Will be recommending

3.5 rounded up

The 22nd April four years ago, changes everything for Kate. This is when she meets Eddie. Apart from the fact that he is a wonderful person, an added bonus is that he’s a terrific cook. Three years, two weeks and one day later, her life has tragically changed forever. She’s understandably sad and has cut herself off but resolves to do better. Maybe make some pancakes? That couldn’t be too difficult, surely? This is a food themed, character driven novel of love and loss, the loneliness that accompanies that loss, and ultimately finding people to share your life and food with. It’s told from the perspectives of a number of characters and they each connect to a recipe.

I guess you know the route the storyline is going to take from the start, but it’s heartwarming and easy to read feel good story and so I don’t mind that too much. The characters are lovely which is always a plus, who couldn’t love elderly Charles and Mary and want Della as a friend? The premise is good as it’s true that getting around a table with family and friends and sharing food is a comfort and a joy.

So here’s my recipe about the book!

1. Take a large bowl, mix and blend together a selection of characters and add their emotions of love, sadness, and a sprinkling of guilt.

2. Add a few spoonfuls of humour and laughs to sweeten the mood.

3. In addition, a handful each of memories, kindness, thoughtfulness, mutual connection, friendship and sharing.

Bake until the perfect outcome is achieved.

Finally, there are some good recipes throughout the chapters, although there’s nothing especially out of the ordinary, they’re good reminders of family favourites. I will skip on Skip’s liver cake, thanks. Don’t panic, Skip has four legs.

Overall, a lovely premise and an entertaining read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review

If you are in love with foodie books, this one is for you.

A book about love, and loss, and finding your way after again. Though it’s a bit slow to start, I couldn’t help but enjoy the cozy feeling with the recipes, and story.

Not for me, I can imagine people enjoying this book, but I did not finish it for two reasons:

Firstly, I couldn't get used to the tone of voice for Jack's part of the book. Somehow I didn't feel like engaging or warming to him.

Secondly, it was hard for me personally to read about him going off the rails after he lost the one thing he loved in life. Let me emphasize that everyone's problems are validated, we should not be in competition to compare our misery. And we all long for second chances, don't we?
It is just that it breaks my heart when I read about all those people with Long Covid – mostly women, and the uncertainties, hurt, and fear that comes with a troublesome health they are dealing with. Similar to my own and that of fellow ME patients as we've been struggling with this for years. Running out of options before you know it and losing our independence.
I am not saying you cannot write fiction about this, nor is there anything wrong with escapism or happy endings... either way, this story wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This was just beautiful. A story about the power of connection and food. The characters were relatable and their relationships so powerful. The last 20% had me in tears and was just lovely.

I thought this a lovely heart warming and uplifting tale about how Katie survives after suddenly loosing her husband. It's written with compassion and very poignant. Baking is the central theme as a form of therapy for the sad but endearing characters in the book. A great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a slow-paced, cozy read perfect for cold winter days. The characters are well developed and the writing is wonderful. Loved it!

What a lovely, feel good, uplifting story with a few twists along the way. I enjoyed the recipes and devoured the book.

This was a very slow paced book. Each character was dealing with their own form of grief, and trying to move on with their lives by finding comfort in each others company.

Towards the end it started to feel a little drawn out and repetitive to me. There was a certain comfort in it though, and the characters became endearing after getting to know each one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath should not be missed. There’s so much more to this story than the one about how sharing food can bring people together. It’s a story about redefining oneself after a life changing loss. It’s a story about friendship, family, community, and new beginnings…with some interesting recipes. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

I went through the whole range of emotions with this book. It had me sobbing and laughing. It's a long time since a book provoked this much emotional attachment. It is absolutely wonderful.