Yay!! Our very first Book Club!
Today I’m going to be live commenting on here this afternoon, so if you have something to discuss about the book, please leave a comment and we can all reply back and forth! 🙂
I LOVE this book – what did you guys think?? I love how much Lexi develops as a character through this novel. What was your favorite aspect of the book?
We also have a VERY special treat today! Sandra Byrd answered a few questions I had for her about the novel AND she’s been so very generous and is going to give one of you a free copy of the sequel to Let Them Eat Cake!
I loved this book! (so much so that I went and read the whole series in a couple of days) But to be honest, I got a little frustrated with Lexi and the way she just assumed that she would get the promotion without any indication from Luc. Despite that though, I understand that we obviously all have flaws and it's nice to see that reflected in a book. (Another thing I love about all your novels!) I really loved meeting Dan, with his suspenders and adorable personality. And finally, I absolutely loved all the French and being able to understand most of it 🙂
I loved Dan too!! I thought he was such a great character. And I totally agree on liking that Lexi's flaws were reflected in the book. I get really frustrated with books where the characters are perfect.
I think as nice as it may be to have perfect characters (I mean who wouldn't want to be perfect) it makes it hard to relate to someone who doesn't have to strive to be a better person. But with Lexi you get to learn alongside her.
Right. Exactly. I think that it also gives us a reason to root for her. 🙂
So exciting!!
A few things I loved about this book:
– When Lexi had compassion on Leah’s hard-to-get-along-with mother (offering the wrapped Easter bread when she noticed her eyes were red from crying)
– The honest portrayal of a single girl’s struggle in determining if a guy is “the right one”
– How Lexi’s act of kindness of donating the bread led to Sophie’s involvement as well
– One of my favorite games ever was highlighted in this book “Whoonu”!
YES. Loved loved loved how she portrayed the struggle to find the right guy!!
I love this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series!
– I really liked how I could relate to this book so well. I'm also in my early 20s and figuring out what I want to do in my life now that I have graduated from college.
– I liked how Lexi's relationship with God wasn't perfect and that she didn't pretend that it was but that she was making Him a priority in her life. Do you have any advice for someone who is just starting to read the Bible?
– I loved the recipes that were included in the book because I really like to bake and cook.
What were some of your favorite things about the book? I really enjoyed this book and the book club. Hope we can continue to do it. = )
Meghan, I LOVED that it showed a girl who was floundering a little in what to do with her life because I think the majority of us are like that at some point in our lives.
Advice for someone starting in the Bible – definitely the gospels!! I would start with Luke, but really any of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) would be great.
I loved the food aspect because I LOVE to cook, loved the unpredictability of it, loved Lexi's character development and loved her friends through it. 🙂
I already have about eight books in mind for next month. Ha!!
Excited to find out what the next book is going to be! Thanks for the advice about reading. Would you ever do a live chat just for fun? Love being able to talk with you, it's so fun! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween tomorrow! : )
I'm totally open to suggestions for the book club next month too!! 🙂
A just for fun live blog would be so fun!! I'll come up with a date for it! 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion! And thank you for participating today!! 🙂
I enjoyed reading the book and promptly read the next 2 since I had to find out what would happen. As I had already told you, Eyrnn, I was so happy to hear that Lexi was going to study in France. Often it's when we turn things over to the Lord that everything works out in amazing ways.
I don't know any French, but was able to get most of the meaning of the French words! I would be fun to have their French bakery near by.
Yes!! I SO wish we had a French bakery close by! I craved all the pastries mentioned in the book so bad when I was reading it. Ha! I totally agree with you too and I think Sandra did a great job of showing that it is only when we fully trust God that He opens doors that we never thought were possible.
I googled and there are a few French bakeries in town. Maybe we will have to check them out.
We should!!! I had no idea!! We should get Karen and Jamie to join us there! 🙂 🙂
I loved this book, I've read it about 3 times now! I found I could really relate to Lexi (kind of in the same way as Maya and Paige in your books) I'm not in my early 20s anymore (sadly) but I'm still dealing with the same issues – finding the right job, home, partner etc, I also loved Dan but I have to admit, right at the beginning I was hoping something might happen between Lexi and Luc!! I don't know about anyone else but it also made me want to learn French!
I thought Luc was hilarious. And yes, it totally made me want to learn French!! Or at least find a cute little French bakery where I could sit and listen to people speak in French… 😉
I also liked the recipes, marked them on my Nook, and was surprised and glad that they were made with everyday ingredients, like boxed cake mixes! I live at high altitude, so cakes from scratch don't always turn out as they should. Her Oatmeal Cookie recipe it the one I've been using since 1983, less than a year after I got married! Just made them a couple of weeks ago. They do stay soft, it's the pudding mix that makes the difference. Try them if you like Oatmeal cookies!
That's so fun!! I'll have to try the Oatmeal Cookies!! I loved all the little extras in the book – I think it gave it such a fun feeling!!
I read this series after it first came out, and I am glad you suggested reading it because I really enjoyed reading it again! I was quite surprised at how much I have in common with Lexi. I, too, am in my early 20's and trying to figure out what to do with my life and most importantly what God wants me to do. I love to bake, my brother is in France right now going to school, (my brother speaks French fluently and I am learning it. I was quite surprised that I could read and understand almost all the French in this book!) and I grew up just north of Bellingham where Lexi went to school!
As far as the characters, I really liked Lexi, I liked her honesty, and her heart. I liked Dan. He was a sweet character and I liked how Lexi always talked about his suspenders. And Tanya, she was a good friend to Lexi. I wish I could be friends with them 🙂
I didn't really like Luc too much, well, mostly his moodiness and flirtatious ways, but, I have heard that is quite typical of a Frenchman! I really don't remember who Lexi ends up with, I will have to read the rest of the series and find out!
Is anyone going to try any of the recipes from the book? Tarte tatin was mentioned a few times, I think I might try that.
(here's a recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tarte-tatin-recipe3.html#! )
Oh, and if anyone is wanting to learn some French now, Duolingo is a free site that teaches French https://www.duolingo.com/
Oh wow!! You have a TON in common with Lexi! What a fun series for you to read then!! 🙂
I am putting the Croque Alexandra on my menu plan for next week. Anything with bread, ham, Brie and powdered sugar HAS to be a winner, right??? Deb R had mentioned the Oatmeal Cookies were really good too and in my house, we are not known for turning down cookies. 😉
Thanks for the tip about the French site as well!
Okay, next book club we have to figure out how to ALL go to a bakery in France. Maybe there's some sort of a grant for this… 😉 😉
It's been several years since I was able to read this book, but I'm really enjoying reading everbody's comments. Seems like Lexi's struggle with what she's supposed to do with her life resonated with all of us…I remember liking how she's kind of the underdog in her family.
How cool is it that she's on allrecipes?
Thanks for doing this, Erynn (& Sandra)! I know you guys put a lot of effort into it!
Isn't it funny what we remember from books we've read over the years?? And yes – I love that she's on allrecipes!!
You are more than welcome – I'm excited to make this a monthly thing on here!! 🙂 It's so fun!!
Yay! It's Book Club Day, even if I put it in my calendar for tomorrow! (I'm convinced that baby brain never really goes away.)
I loved this book for some of the same reasons already mentioned, but one thing loved about reading this was the joy of living vicariously through Lexie. (Erynn, I felt the same way reading your Lauren Holbrook series. One of my favorite EVER series!) I'm so happy she's going to France, although I'm so in love with the idea of Dan, that I'm tempted to skip to the last book of the series, because I can't fathom another man in her life other than him! But, I won't. This was my first Sandra Byrd book, but obviously will not be my last. Thank you so much for doing this! I've so very much looked forward to it!
It does not ever go away. I am 100% with you there, friend. Oy. 😉
The rest of the series is just as good – I'm so excited to see what you think of it!! 🙂 Sandra is a fantastic author. And you are so kind. Thank you so much for your sweet words about the Lauren series!! 🙂
Thanks, you guys, for choosing to read Let Them Eat Cake. I'm truly honored!
Hi! I loved the book and am excited to read the rest of Lexi's story. Thank you for writing it and for giving away the second book of the series. : )
My pleasure, Meghan! And thanks for your sweet words and for hosting me, Erynn. A virtual pain au chocolate to you all. (Wouldn't it be fun if we could actually meet at a patisserie!)
You are so kind, Sandra!! Thank you so much for the giveaway, the interview and for writing such a fun, relatable book! We all loved it! And yes to the patisserie – that would have been a perfect setting for this little book club meeting. 😉
I stumbled upon this blog post through Goodreads so I haven't actually read the first book yet. It definitely sounds like something I would enjoy so it is now on my TBR list. I love finding new authors to read and also new recipes to try!
A little behind because of work but enjoying the book so far!
Love the book club idea!!!!
I loved the book!!! I cannot wait to read the sequel!
one of my all time favourite books. Have read both the sequels. if you haven't read them, you will not be disappointed