I loved this book! An elderly man's way to connecting to his community and bringing his neighborhood together!

All the characters are so special and I enjoyed learning about them and hearing their stories. The cooking lessons are incredible and it's just such a lovely read. A feel good story - with loss, love, romance, friendship and more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This is a touching story of dealing with pain and loss and how the quirky neighbors in one neighborhood help each other through friendship and food. Filled with fabulous recipes, The Secret Ingredient had me crying over the heartbreak, laughing with newfound joy, and loving every bite. Thanks to the author Sue Heath, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook for review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Secret Ingredient is a touching story about love, loss, and the importance of found family. Kate, who is mourning her husband Eddie's death, is gradually finding the strength to move on. The story explores how food and community can help Kate and her neighbours navigate their own grief and find hope. A heart warming and emotional read.

This is a exquistly written beauitful story of friendship , loss, grief and being true to yourself. i read it in one sitting as its impossible to put down. The author has written a finely crafted story that this reader loved. I adored the main character Kate who is on a personal recovery journey from a great loss in her life. Food is her muse and she ventures out of her grief to create wonderful food and be true to herself. Through food she finds new friends and herself in the process.
This book gave me a perspective on grief and starting over that was comforting and enjoyable to read. This will touch your heart, you will laugh, cry and cheer for kate. Very well done story and excellent writing. I look forward to the next in series by this wonderful author. I highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath is a poignant tale of love , loss and the value of found family.
Kate is grieving her husband Eddie who died over three years ago, but she is finally starting to feel ready to move forward again, and the first step in the process is to return to the kitchen, which was always his domain. Through the world of food she begins to forge connections with several of her neighbours, many of whom are dealing with losses of their own, be it the onset of dementia, the breakdown of a marriage or living with a terminal illness.
This book has so much heart and a wealth of charm, it is cosy and comforting but not maudlin or cloying. It might be hard to think of a book about grief as being uplifting, but that is the word I would use.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, all opinions are my own.

Make sure you have a box of tissues close by. You will be smiling through your tears. A wonderful book about loving, losing people and finding a way to carry on.

Warmth radiates from every word of this book. A few words with a stranger, finding surprising new friends and shared good food made with loving hands are all we need to release the magic of life, to recover from tragedy, to recall the joy of memories past and taste freshly bake new ones. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I loved this sweet story. All the characters are just so likeable. And you feel like you’re a part of the story with the recipes Kate cooks through because the author shares the entire recipe in the book. It really made me appreciate how food is connected with memories. We all have those meals that remind us of a moment in our childhood, our wedding day, or in remembering a favorite meal of a loved one since passed. This book makes me want to create my own recipe book playbook of memories made past, present, & future. But this book goes deeper than that, it also helps each character through some hardship, heartbreak, failed dreams, grief, & more. This novel is poetry. Thank you HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter, NetGalley, & author Sue Heath for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

This is one of those books where the journey is at least as important as the destination. It has been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw's life imploded, and she has just taken her first step on the road to recovery by re-entering the kitchen to try out a recipe.

So what if it doesn't turn out exactly as she expected? This is more about finding her way back to joy. And it is, after all, just the first step in coming terms with a life where Kate has lost the love of her life, Eddie.

Getting to know some of her neighbours, including Mary, Charles, David and the others, and bonding over food and shared experiences of loss, Kate slowly begins to discover that she is building a community - and what ultimately becomes a found family, of sorts.

The story moves at a very gradual pace, but given that grief is a major theme here, that is perhaps not altogether surprising. There are few surprises, but story is touching and will be relatable to many.

This a love story on so many levels - it's about people and community, second chances and about love in all its forms. I loved the characters and the storylines. It made me cry a lot but it was also uplifting and a real feel good read. Definitly one to curl tip with and read in one go!

This was a gentle, if slow, read about several characters each dealing with some form of grief. It was quite entertaining and I enjoyed some of the recipes but there seemed to be a lot of repetition throughout. It’s not the kind of book I would normally choose but I can appreciate how many readers will absolutely love it. It’s one of those where you know exactly what’s going to happen so the end was no surprise. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this.

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath is a delightful, feel-good story about a group of individuals who come together over their shared connections with food, love, and loss. I think you'll find endearing characters and a predictable, yet satisfying plot. Just one tiny bit that bothered me- when the author refers to what is obviously COVID-19 as "a virus" or "his illness," several times when explaining why a character has lost his sense of smell and taste. All in all I enjoyed the story and it was an entertaining read. Rounding up to 4 from 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy.

Kate lost her husband, Eddie, who was the love of her life. Then she decided to give up her career as a teacher to find out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She began to become acquainted with the neighbours on her street and she found they were becoming firiends - Della, Mary and Charles, Jack, David. Kate was estranged from her mother so this group of neighbours became her family. But she had a lot of growing to do and with the help of her friends she weathered the joys and sorrows that helped her grow.
I always like a book that has recipes in it. I admit I did copy out a couple that I want to try. There was a bit too much description of feelings and inner monologue - show, don't tell is better. But the characters were fairly believable.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book; the opinions are my own.

What a delight, so much for foodies to enjoy in this stunning book that examines are individual relationships with food and how it has the power to evoke memories, create friendships and to transform our lives. This array of loveable characters and profound life experiences worked so well to give such a captivating plot and lots of treats to devour.

Sue Heath's The Secret Ingredient serves up a heartwarming exploration of grief, healing, and community through the lens of culinary connection. The novel follows Kate Shaw, who, after the loss of her husband Eddie, embarks on a culinary journey to reconnect with his love for cooking. What begins as a disastrous attempt at making pancakes unfolds into a tale of unexpected connections and newfound friendships within her neighborhood. Heath deftly addresses the complexities of loss with compassion, weaving together diverse characters and their narratives, each chapter offering a unique perspective. The inclusion of recipes not only enhances the "foodie" theme but becomes a symbolic thread that binds the characters together. The Secret Ingredient is a poignant tribute to love, resilience, and the transformative power of shared experiences, making it a compelling and emotionally resonant read that transcends the boundaries of grief and ultimately leaves readers with a taste of hope.

A foodie based book with a deep sprinkling of friendship brought through the coming together of a community. The catalysts are an elderly couple who share memories to help heal broken people around them . There are characters abounding and a smattering of recipes to whet the appetite .
The storyline may be predictable but it is a warm cosy read that has humour amidst its tragedies

The secret ingredient by Sue Heath welcomes us into the life of Kate and Eddie Shaw, and, ultimately, the people in their neighborhood, who are all in different chapters of their lives.

What I liked most about this novel is learning about that secret ingredient we each might use to make our lives just a bit (or a lot) better.

The characters and their stories are believable.
I found Charles and Mary’s warmth to be especially endearing.

Published by One More Chapter, a division of HarperCollins. Expected release date January 18, 2024.

Loved the book!
It was a very emotional read, especially after losing my dad in September and having had my mum in and out of hospital too
Great characters, full of delicious sounding food and new beginnings
Will be recommending

3.5 rounded up

The 22nd April four years ago, changes everything for Kate. This is when she meets Eddie. Apart from the fact that he is a wonderful person, an added bonus is that he’s a terrific cook. Three years, two weeks and one day later, her life has tragically changed forever. She’s understandably sad and has cut herself off but resolves to do better. Maybe make some pancakes? That couldn’t be too difficult, surely? This is a food themed, character driven novel of love and loss, the loneliness that accompanies that loss, and ultimately finding people to share your life and food with. It’s told from the perspectives of a number of characters and they each connect to a recipe.

I guess you know the route the storyline is going to take from the start, but it’s heartwarming and easy to read feel good story and so I don’t mind that too much. The characters are lovely which is always a plus, who couldn’t love elderly Charles and Mary and want Della as a friend? The premise is good as it’s true that getting around a table with family and friends and sharing food is a comfort and a joy.

So here’s my recipe about the book!

1. Take a large bowl, mix and blend together a selection of characters and add their emotions of love, sadness, and a sprinkling of guilt.

2. Add a few spoonfuls of humour and laughs to sweeten the mood.

3. In addition, a handful each of memories, kindness, thoughtfulness, mutual connection, friendship and sharing.

Bake until the perfect outcome is achieved.

Finally, there are some good recipes throughout the chapters, although there’s nothing especially out of the ordinary, they’re good reminders of family favourites. I will skip on Skip’s liver cake, thanks. Don’t panic, Skip has four legs.

Overall, a lovely premise and an entertaining read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review

If you are in love with foodie books, this one is for you.

A book about love, and loss, and finding your way after again. Though it’s a bit slow to start, I couldn’t help but enjoy the cozy feeling with the recipes, and story.