I read this on holiday and it was the perfect summer read!
Kate is at a crossroads in her life. She's nearing the big 4-0, she's stuck in a rut at work and her boyfriend Nick, who she thought was The One has a wobble and becomes commitment phobic. So instead of moving in with each other, they take a break to asses the situation.

Needing something fulfilling to do in her now spare time, Kate starts volunteering at a ladies only old folks home. She does cooking demonstrations and begins to enjoy herself, apart from one cranky old lady Cecily, who always knows best and has a quick way of putting Kate down.

Not wanting her to get the better of her, Kate starts visiting Cecily and cooking her dishes she hopes she will like. What she discovers is a love of books, food and the brilliant love story of Cecily and her husband Samuel.

Cecily tells Kate some home truths in only the way old people can and get away with it. She gives her great life lessons and advice. But she also gives her a copy of an old cookery book called Thought For Food, which gives a meal for any occasion you can think of. This changes Kate's life and pushes her out her comfort zone. And shows her that anything is possible.

A really wonderful, positive read with likeable and believable characters.

I loved this book. Initially I thought it was going to be formulaic but when Kate volunteers and meets the prickley Cecily then things get interesting. Nick seems too good to be true and it is so obvious that Kate deserves better, a view Cecily holds too. I loved the realistic characters, the way that food is a theme throughout and also, that the whole story is linked to a true story. A very satisfying and enjoyable read so thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I always loved books that focus on food, and "The Woman Who Wanted More" does not disappoint - it is full of delicious sounding food, menus and foodish thoughts. The main character, Kate, adrift after a break up with her boyfriend, befriends an old lady in a care home with whom she shares a love of food. Cecily is sharp-witted and does not mince her words, but maybe this is what Kate needs - someone to show her that she is worth more then she realises and that there is more to her life that she thinks.

I admit, the first chapters did not sound like a book I would enjoy a lot - yet another book about a woman finding love. But, after a rather long-winded beginning, this became an enjoyable read, mainly because of Cecily, the old, bored but fiercely independent woman, who is another main character in this novel. Whereas Kate would annoy me from time to time, Cecily was a breath of fresh air, and it is thanks to her this book did not turn into another novel about finding love after 40 (although kudos to the author for making her heroine older then the usual age bracket), but rather into a book about self realisation, following your dreams and sticking to your guts.

Adored this book!! Charming, entertaining and uplifting. Kate is leant a book by Cecily that changes her life and gives her hope.

Halfway through we learn of Cecily's husbands past which was very similar to my own father's (don't want to give any spoilers away!), but it made the book resonate with me even more.

It's a book about food, friendship and what really matters in life

Rite of Passage that is original and heart-warming

This story is a rite of passage – Kate’s journey from needy, clutching girl to fulfilled and self-aware woman. It is an intriguing tale which begins mildly, almost ordinarily – girl goes on holiday with the partner she is about to move in with and is devastated by his refusal to commit. So far interesting but hardly remarkable. However, don't be fooled, this story builds symphonically, and despite its effortless, fluent style, grows in meaning and significance into a tale of profound insight.

Kate loves food and is an accomplished and imaginative cook, but this is not mere greed, what Kate loves is creating, not just a meal but an ambience, pleasure and comfort she longs to share. So food and its preparation become here a metaphor for everything in life she yearns for but does not have.

After her partner’s rejection, she returns to live with her mother. Kate is distressed and depressed, and her attempts to find another man result in failure. She feels her life is a shambles on every level. Even her unrewarding job, as a copywriter for a supermarket chain, is boring but stressful, as she lives under the constant threat of redundancy. Desperate, she volunteers at an old folks’ home. She gives cookery classes and there she meets Cecily, who has led a rich and varied life but is now an acerbic and bitter old woman. An unlikely friendship blossoms between them, in fits and starts, because Cecily is so tricky and Kate is reluctant to hear the truth.

Many years before Cecily had written an extraordinary cookbook – complete with menus, quotations and terse, witty comments for events in life – "Dinner for the mother-in-law", and later "son's fiancée" etc. Like Cecily herself, this book is quirky and erudite.

Cecily goads and taunts Kate into looking at her life anew, finally jolting her out of her dysfunctional relationships. Cecily is a very well-drawn character, at once barbed and vulnerable, subject to the capriciousness, spite and real wisdom of old age. She is based on the author's grandmother, and it is an elegant and loving portrait. Through Cecily and her trenchant comments, Kate realises that she can break the mould that has so constrained her and lead another life. Cecily gifts Kate the copyright of her out of print book, charging her to rewrite it, and Kate finds in doing so the fulfilment that has so eluded her.

I urge you to read this book. It is full of wry humour and real and valuable insight that is no less perceptive because it is gentle.

Charlotte Gower

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

This book was a delight to read. I felt that I wanted to give Kate the kick up the backside that Mrs Finn did metaphorically speaking. I loved the humour and all the foodie allusions. Some of the recipes would have been good to see but it did not matter that they were not there. Yes, this is chick lit but it is also something more. Two stories woven together around food. Ceciily's and Kate's. One looking back over her life the other looking forward to the future. Some of the events in Kate's life were inevitable but that did not seem to matter because she was growing into a new person with every step she took. The anticipation of the next catastrophe coming enhanced the humour in my mind. I also enjoyed the wry comments of a third voice like a narrator every so often. I have not read Elizabeth David's books but I suspect there is something of the Cecilly book in them. A good fun filled read.

Aww this was such a lovely read. A gréât cheer up on a bad day full of fun characters and a real heartwarming friendship

An Amazing book. I have never read anything by this author but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The two main characters become very real to the reader. Kate who is approaching 40 ends up living back home with her mum after a relationship hiccup! Her mum persuades her to volunteer at an old people’s home , enter Cecily a grumpy old lady of 97 who has lived an amazing life. She spends all her days, alone in her room, bored, hating where she is and unwilling to join in with any activities or entertainment in the home.
The story covers how their relationship develops over shared interests of books and food. Cecily takes an interest in Kate and persuades her to read a 1950s self help recipe ( inspired by the authors own grandmother) . The reader becomes very involved with both Cecily and Kate, their stories and how they help one another. This book is one to read when you have time on your hands, to savour, you will struggle to put it down
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonner Zaffre for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Kate is living life on a plane that doesn't really stretch her, she has had the same job for 20 years and a boyfriend who takes her for granted. Everything changes when she meets Cecily Finn in a care home that she has volunteered for. This book has a slow build, at first it feels restrained and without momentum. It does however become a charming turn of life narrative with the wonderfully spiky characterisation of Cecily Finn and the emergence of Kate into her real self. For those who love food it has the added bonus of menus for living life to the full.

It wouldn't make my top ten but was an enjoyable and easy read

I am loving the influx of inter generational stories of late. Having not long finished The Lido, I was pleasantly surprised to find another that lived up to The lidos quality. The Woman who Wanted More is a beautifully written, somewhat wistful tale of an unlikely friendship between two women, both in a rut of different makings, and how they lift each other up. Coupled with descriptions from Cecilys cookbook, I was left desperately wanting to eat the recipes!

Kate Parker is rather happy with her life. She has been in the same job for years and she thinks she enjoys it, and she has a great relationship with Nick, who not only can brilliantly cook, but also asked her to move in with him. But first there is THE trip to France, and it doesn't go according to the plan and Kate finds herself unsettled, wondering what she really wants from life and this relationship. Between wondering and moving back to her mum's place, Kate starts to volunteer at a local old people's home - Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies - doing cooking demos and getting to know 97 - year - old Cecily, who takes no prisoners, doesn't mince her words and tells how it is. Despite all of this, they soon form a special friendship that is going to change Kate's life.

I absolutely adored how the author created Cecily - you know that I am not in awe of the older, wiser characters that usually should make the book better, knowing everything and sharing their wonderful life experiences in a gentle, patient voice but in the end make them feel really wishy - washy, too overdone and all sugar, but here the character of Cecily was simply perfect. A woman with rough edges and character, really having something to tell. She was inspiring, bold, sharp and still felt believable. The banter between Cecily and Kate, and the scenes including them, were hilarious, especially after Kate stopping to fear Cecily so much and showing that you shouldn't mess with her as well. Sharing her own life story, Cecily wisely, albeit sometimes very straight - forwardly, gets Kate to question her own life and decisions and pushes her to figure some things out, to find her own worth.
I think it was hard to make Kate such a nice character, when she has Cecily next to her, because everyone, compared to Cecily, would simply loose the battle. However, the author has managed to pull it off and I liked Kate from the very beginning. Sure, she made me feel desperate, I wanted to bang her head on the wall and simply I couldn't forget her moping in her mother's spare room, thinking about Nick and hoping to get back with him but she was likeable and believable in things she did.

The author, who is also knows as Stella Newman, has created some wonderfully sounding menus, for all circumstances, even though some of them were, hmmm, uncommon? But the descriptions made my mouth water, and they were so easily and vividly brought to life. Double pasta? Anytime!

The writing style is simply great, adapted to the situation. It's light - hearted, but it also beautifully describes some more poignant moments and they were truly heart - breaking. The author immediately pulls you into the heart of her story, the pacing is just right, and I had a feeling that Vicky Zimmermann didn't have a plan for her characters, she simply allowed them to take the lead and let them to continue and unfold the story. Which is probably not true but it felt like this and it made the reading even more better for me.

"The Woman Who Wanted More" was a tribute to Cecily Finn, so well deserved. It's going to leave you glowing with warmth, perfectly mixing food, love and friendship. This was a comforting, thought - provoking, sharp read but with a feel - good factor to it, and yes, mostly it was funny, or making me feel desperate towards Kate or Nick, but it also made me cry a little. Charming and delicious read, perfect for holidays!

A lovely story that leads to changes in the lives of all the main characters. Definitely recommended.

I’m sorry to say I was unable to finish this book. It was too slow and ponderous for my taste, and I found it difficult to connect to the two central characters. I didn’t feel they were completely convincing, so I could not stick with the narrative. Just not my kind of story, but I’m sure many others will enjoy it.

Two lonely women.

An unlikely friendship.

And one big life lesson: never be ashamed to ask for more . . .

I didn't need anymore than that to draw me in!

Kate is almost 40 and happy in what she sees as a life she has made for herself. Unfortunately that life consists of being stuck at the same place of work for twenty years even though it was only meant to be a temporary job, living with her mother and dating a man who thinks he's a teenager. It is these very things as well as one major event that send Kate to a retirement home for exceptional ladies. There she meets acid tongued loner Cecily Finn, a woman who surrounds herself only with books and has little time for anyone. They do have one metal love however - food and books (I'm counting it as one ok).

I could gush forever about everything that I loved about this book and more but I must stick to my rigid word count for my blogs. So I will try!

Kate is the kind of heroine you just want to pick up and shake because she just can't see what's in front of her. She can't see that her job is crap even though she knows it, she keeps making excuses for her no-good on/off boyfriend and you just want to sit her down and say look at yourself woman! You can't help but love her though as she lurches from one disaster to another.

The character I LOVE LOVE LOVE is Cecily!!! Oh my God I need her in my life right now. No-nonsense and straight to the point, I found myself cheering her on as she stripped Kate down to help her see the bigger picture. And then on the flip side of the coin, the story of her life which slowly emerges through the book had me in tears. A horrible time in the period of the last century is dealt with so delicately and yet with so much raw emotion it's hard not to get emotional. But Cecily is at her best when she's being mean. Funny thing to say I know!

Once again a great cast of supporting characters but not so many as to bog the book down. It flows brilliantly from one recipe to another without feeling jerky or bitty. On my hellish commute to work this week, it has been my saviour. And I've even broke my own rule about knocking a star off for breaking my heart (which it did) and given it the full whack! Now, where do I find a Cecily?

Thank you Vicky Zimmerman, Bonnier Zaffre and NetGally for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Great characterisation. Cecily was a feisty old woman, but when you got to know her, through her talks with Kate, you saw a different side to her, with a fascinating life behind her. Kate is confused - thinking she had a happy, settled life as she approached her 40th birthday, about to move in with her boyfriend, Nick, when he lands a bombshell on her! Her life is turned upside down, and she goes to volunteer at the care home where Cecily Finn is a resident. Cecily sees something in Kate, and while her methods may seem cruel, or just unorthodox, she pushes Kate to make decisions for herself. I enjoyed Kate and Cecily's relationship and was happy to see Kate becoming less of a doormat. A tale of different relationships - and strong women!

This book was just the medicine I needed when feeling a little downspirited last week.
After being brutally dumped by her boyfriend, Kate begins volunteering at Lauderdale House where she meets the challenging Cecily. Over time the two develop a besutiful bond and Cecily cleverly sets Kate on a path of self discovery. This is my favourite book of 2019 so far, a must read.

A wonderful, emotional story of an unlikely friendship. Kate's relationship suddenly ends, and she finds herself volunteering in a nursing home and develops a close friendship with sharp-tongued Cecily. Beautifully written, engaging and funny. Loved the fact that Cecily was based on the author's real-life grandmother. Well worth the read.

What a wonderful heart felt story full of wisdom and warmth. It tells of an unlikely friendship between a grouchy old lady and our heroine who is unhappily living in a safe life of mediocrity. A wonderful cookbook and an amazing life story teaches Kate to take some chances and love the life she deserves. The lovely surprise at the end when you find out Cecilys story is based on a real person explains how the author managed to get such depth in the characters.

What a lovely story. It is about Kate who is looking for the love of her life and thinks she has found him coming up to her 40th birthday. He turns out to be devoid of emotion but she carries on with the relationship even though he let her down miserably on a trip to France. She hangs in there but in a fit of desperation to change her life she volunteers at a home for "well to do ladies of a certain age" and finds Cecily. Cecily is a fabulous character with an acid tongue but as the story progresses the acid tongue becomes the push Kate needs to change her life for the better. It turns out Cecily is a great storyteller in her own right and Kate listens avidly. Cecily lends Kate a cookery book which in turn makes her life more bearable in the long term. We all have had a friend like Kate who hangs on too long to relationships which are going nowhere and I think we would all like a lady like Cecily to walk us along a path we cannot see for ourselves. Kate's mother is a strange one but in a way I liked her character even if she was a little self centred. Kate's close friends character wise were a great balance of "good and outspoken". The Note from the Author at the end of the book was really interesting and made the book all the more enjoyable. The food references which were many were fantastic and makes you want to get your own cookery books out. I really enjoyed this book

Loved this book, the story of Kate, who is fast approaching her 40th birthday. When she starts volunteer work she soon meets Cecily, an interesting character, full of stories about her past, many of which are linked to the cookbook she once wrote.

As Kate spends more time with her, she is influenced to change her life and go for what she wants.


This write has also been published as Stella Newman too.