The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

“Second chances are good, and they taste like coconut cake.”

Set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake tells the story of a chef and a food critic whose chance encounter leads them to explore everything Milwaukee has to offer.  Lou has dreamed of owning her own restaurant for many years and the dream finally became reality when she opened up Luella’s.  Al is a Brit who has found himself in Milwaukee, working as a food critic under a pseudonym and counting down the time to getting out of the city and on to bigger things.  A chance encounter brings these two together, leading to an exploration of Milwaukee’s  food, activities, and events, as Lou attempts to show Al that there is a lot to love about his new city.  What neither of them realize, just yet, is that Al is the very food critic responsible for a scathing review that sent Lou’s professional life into a major tailspin.

The lovely cover and fun title was enough to make me want to read this book. When I was in the mood for a light, fun read I thought it would be the perfect book to pick up and it definitely delivered on that.  It’s a sweet story about two people who you might not think would be a good match, but somehow the pairing makes sense.  There is lots of food talk (a lot) so be warned that it will make you hungry, and make you want to visit Milwaukee.  The author really gives us a great tour of the city and an overview of different events, places, and of course food that it has to offer (I don’t know what a butter burger is but I feel like it’s something I need to experience).  The romance itself is cute in a “I just met you and I’m falling for you” type of way, with the general progression of their relationship not feeling very realistic and kind of silly.  It’s a nice, sweet story that is a great option if you’re looking for a light, summer read.