The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta
Hello, I’m just here to tell you that I’m in love with this book. This book is a perfect scoop of ice cream on a hot day. A Chicken Fried Steak after so long without one. Your grandma’s homemade focaccia bread. This book is every comfort food on every perfect day. I’m smitten. I have a crush. A Texas-sized thank you to @candlewickpress and @this_is_edelweiss for the ARC.
Firstly, this book is set in my hometown, Austin and it’s a love letter to some of the amazing places there: Barton Springs, the hot cocoa at Mozart’s, the pancakes at Kerbey Lane. Syd also complains about the changing skyline, the increase in skyscrapers, and the tech bros vs the staunch “Weirders”. I was complaining about those same things 20 years ago when we were eating our unnecessary Y2K stockpile of peanut butter! This book made me incredibly homesick, but I do have a lead on a decent CFS in LA. Still haven’t found the perfect BBQ joint though…
Secondly, this is the gender non-binary story I’ve been looking for. I feel so incredibly seen. Syd’s feelings about pronouns almost exactly mirror mine, the fact that they are so important to so many people and carry zero importance for me. Syd has the same experiences I have with meeting people and knowing immediately that you are destined to have them in your life. We share the same belief that y’all is the greatest gender-neutral phrase.
I always knew you could tell when something was baked with love and Syd is a magical baker, in the middle of a breakup, whose brownies also broke up a few other gay couples and more magical baking is the only way to fix it, clearly! Syd is a high schooler, who also works in the coolest, gayest, bakery/community spot in all of Austin. I want to know this bakery. I want to patronize this bakery. I want to go to there.
I only have one criticism. I ::think:: Syd leaves baking pans and pie plates all over Austin. Baked goods are brought and then Syd often has to bail quickly without mentioning that bakeware was grabbed! I have a worry!
Go read this sunshiny book and then pause to bake something…I’m sure thinking about that strawberry, peach, basil pie… -Ford
