The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel

The North Star Bakery has been in Hope's family for generations, the secret recipes passed down from mother to daughter. But at thirty-six and recently divorced, with rebellious daughter Annie and elderly grandmother Rose to care for, Hope is less than enthusiastic about carrying on the family legacy.

When the bakery runs into financial trouble and Rose takes a turn for the worse, Hope's delicate balancing act is in danger of crumbling entirely. Then Rose reveals a shocking truth about her past and everything Hope thought she knew about her family and the bakery is turned upside down. 

At her grandmother's request, Hope travels to Paris, armed only with a mysterious list of names. What she uncovers there could be the key to saving the bakery and the fulfilment of a star-crossed romance, seventy years in the making.

After reading the synopsis of The Sweetness of Forgetting I couldn't wait to get started, I do hold a soft spot for books set around cake/bakery shops as they always leave me with a warm and cosy feeling, ok and the urge to stuff my face with cakes!

The Sweetness of Forgetting follows the story of three generations, Grandma Rose or as she is known in this book Mamie who has Alzheimers and also has hidden secrets about her past which is about to throw her granddaughter Hope’s life into a mad chase with the help of Hope’s daughter Annie. All three of the characters are very strong willed and there is a clear family trait here. Hope runs the family business The North Star Bakery but the bakery is close to slipping through her fingers so the list of names her Mamie has just given her to find in Paris couldn’t have come at a worse time but with a defiant young daughter she soon prepares to go on search of the names but will she make get the answers she is looking for in time for Mamie?

We are taken on a historical journey to try and find out about Mamie’s past and every so often we also get a little snippet from Mamie who is in a coma but her thoughts are projected through and she tells us her story filling in a few missing gaps from Hope’s findings which was a nice touch and allowed us to get to know Mamie a little more personally. I enjoyed finding out about the baking background it tied the shop in with the storyline.

We are taken on an emotional rollercoaster in this book there are some uplifting moments and there were also some very emotional and touching parts too. This book wasn’t what I was expecting at all judging from the synopsis and the beautiful front cover of the book I was expecting it to be quite a light, cosy and romantic read and although there sure were some beautiful romantic parts to this book with a romance different from the norm it was quite an in-depth read with a more serious and informative side to it. Although it was not what I was expecting I still loved this book and found myself slowly making my way through the storyline.

There is also a lovely touch at the beginning of a few of the chapters, a mouth-watering recipe for you to make at home. I really enjoyed this book it was full of hidden secrets and took both us and Hope on an emotional journey.

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