Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge

Juliette D’Alisa has a lot going on. A trip to Tuscany, Paris, and Provence a week before the soft opening of her brother’s and her new restaurant with the man she loves proves simple. The time spend together, the romance, the support of family all play into the comfort Juliette feels with Neil McLaren. And then vacation ends and life begins. As if trying to juggle the restaurant, her mother’s illness, relationships with her other siblings, and a long distance relationship with Neil weren’t enough, she is also reading through the letters written to and from her grandmother in the early 1940s trying to piece together they mystery of who her biological grandfather was. Is it possible for all of Juliette’s dreams to come true or will she have to give up on in order to keep the others?

This was book two in the Two Blue Doors series by Lodge but the first one I’ve read. While I believe reading the first one will give readers more insight into who Juliette is (and perhaps her relationship with Neil), there were only a couple of places where I felt I was coming in during the middle of the story. What I loved most about this book is how real-life it is. Juliette struggles with her relationship with Neil and the distance between them, worries about her restaurant opening and her mother’s illness, and alternates between teasing her siblings and seeking counsel from them. Her large family is lovable and hilarious at times and you can read the love they share for each other. I can’t wait to read the conclusion of Juliette’s story (and there is plenty to still be worked out once the last page of Reservations for Two has been turned) next year. Oh, and I can’t let you go without mentioning the amazing recipes that are shared throughout the book. They will get your mouth watering.

***Blogging for Books provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any manner for either a positive or a negative review.