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Rose is not a happy young woman; she is closed off and angry and she hates her job. But her life changes drastically when she inherits her father’s bakery in a small town in Brittany. Returning to a place that brought her both joy and grief forces her to confront painful memories of her past and find the courage to open her heart to a new, happier life that awaits her if she will just let it. A story about new beginnings, filled with small town charm, delicious pastries and the warmth of home and friends.

I received a copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. It is spoiler-free!

This graphic novel was a short and sweet little story about bitter-hearted Rose and her foray into the baking world. She takes a break from her graphic design in order to take care of affairs following her estranged father’s death, immersing herself into the little town where his baking legacy struggles in the face of capitalist greed.

For what it was, I appreciate this graphic novel. I know that it is difficult to pace something that is so short while still including major plot points, but I don’t think this one was very subtle. There were drawn-out scenes about minor details, but the character development was rushed and awkward. Many of the pages were dedicated to an unrelated talking cat side-story, which I think was cute but unnecessary.

I appreciated the beautiful art that accompanied this story, but I’m not completely sure that the watercolor style worked for the graphic novel. It was a bit hard to find structure without any panels, and the speech bubbles could be confusing at times. Unfortunately, the “inner thoughts” font choice was horrendously illegible, making it difficult to read. The aesthetic was warm and cozy, but I don’t think it served the story correctly.

The actual bakery element was my favorite part. I’m a sucker for anything from The Great British Baking Show to Food Wars, so it was a lot of fun seeing Rose experiment with different techniques and recipes. The illustrations of the food looked incredibly appetizing.

Overall, this was a cute, quick pick-me-up filled with feel-good themes. I realize that my review probably sounded pretty picky, but I really did enjoy this graphic novel. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone with a penchant for small towns and sweet treats.

Happy reading,