A must read for Bake Off fans! 3.5 stars.
A fun easy going read that's easy to polish off in one sitting.

When I first started this book I thought it was a little slow however once I settled into it I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jenny was a likeable character who you are willing on through her Britain Bakes journey which is basically the Great British Bake Off. The snippets of Jenny's past explain her choices in later life and I really enjoyed the satisfying ending. As soon as the book is released I’m buying a copy for my baking lad friend!

This was such a lovely, heart-warming book that I had to round it up to 4 stars from 3.5 initially, simply for putting me in a good mood when everything else around me seems to be falling apart.

It is especially a treat to be listening to the beautifully narrated audiobook during the 2024 GBBO. Not that this is a story about the GBBO, but it's close enough. Jenny is 77 and feels that she hasn't achieved much in her life. Except that she is an excellent baker - so she decides to enter the 'Britain Bakes' competition. We are thrown in a world of delicious-sounding bakes, pastries and cakes, all seasoned with past events that really tugged at my heart's strings.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

British Bake Off fans rejoice!

Warm and comforting like freshly baked bread, Mrs Quinn enters a baking competition to bring excitement back to her life. She soon becomes a favourite with the team and fans alike but she opening herself to the spotlight she has open herself to her past.

Dazzling debut that is comforting and delicious like a victorian sponge.

If you love GBBO, you'll love the story of Mrs Quinn, who, unbeknownst to her husband, enters a television cooking contest and does really rather well.

A pensioner finding fame and stardom on a cooking programme would be a bit of an empty plot, so of course, there is a bit more intrigue: a(nother) secret she has kept from her husband of fifty-nine years.

It's a lovely snuggly book, as warm as comforting as Jenny Quinn's baking, without being too saccharine and sickly. The perfect feelgood book to immerse yourself in when you fancy a curl-up by the fire on a long wintry evening (albeit distracted by the poor editing!).

Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford is an utterly delightful and heartwarming debut novel that will resonate with fans of baking, quiet triumphs, and charming underdog stories. Jennifer Quinn, a modest and lovable heroine, finds herself thrust into the national spotlight as a contestant on Britain’s biggest baking show. What starts as an exciting, whirlwind adventure into the world of cameras and celebrity judges soon turns into a high-stakes balancing act, as the spotlight threatens to reveal a deeply buried secret she’s kept hidden for years.

Ford masterfully captures the cozy charm of a baking competition while adding layers of suspense and emotional depth. Mrs Quinn's journey from a simple home baker to a national sensation is both endearing and relatable, and readers will root for her at every step. The tension surrounding her secret adds an intriguing twist, and as her fame grows, so does the possibility of that secret unravelling.

The novel's supporting characters—from Mrs Quinn's loving but oblivious husband Bernard to the celebrity judges and fellow contestants—are well-drawn, adding richness to the story. Olivia Ford’s writing balances humour and poignancy perfectly, delivering moments of laugh-out-loud joy alongside deeply touching scenes.

If you're a fan of The Great British Baking Show or love uplifting stories about second chances and quiet ambition, Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame is an absolute treat. With its warmth, wit, and suspense, this novel is as comforting as a freshly baked cake, and Jennifer Quinn is a heroine who will steal your heart.

Fun and heartwarming. A remedy for a down day full of lovely characters and engaging story. This is a book that will do well with the ‘bake off’ fans and those who like a good comfort read.
Thank you for opportunity to read and review

If you are a Great British Bake Off fan, this is for you. Jenny Quinn has always baked and now at 77 she secretly enters a TV baking competition but keeps it secret from her family as she's sure that she would be chosen for the show.
Of course she's chosen and has to spill the beans to husband, Bernard, whose mind is going overtime by her strange behaviour, baking in the night and strange trips without him).
As the she progresses, Jenny bakes significant dishes and we discover the story behind d them. Then there is another, bigger secret that Jenny has been hiding...
Lovely story, light as a chiffon cake. Recommend!

This book was so lovely. Mrs Quinn is a brilliant character and I loved following her journey. Highly recommended.

This book was the type of book I needed during this moment in time. It was light hearted and cute and perfect curled up with a hot chocolate and biscuits.
Jenny and Bernard are just the cutest couple ever, and I loved Jenny and Azeez.

The ending I kinda guessed would happen however still got me gasping.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book🍰🍞

I really enjoyed this book. Jenny Quinn is 77 years old, married to Bernard, and a very keen baker. When she secretly applies to be a contestant on Britain Bakes, she doesn't really think she stands a chance. However, she is accepted and finds herself in a world of TV cameras as the competition starts. But Jenny has been keeping a heart breaking secret for most of her life. Could this be the time when it will finally come out? This is a delightful, tear jerking but ultimately uplifting story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

You know how people say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover? I predicted a light, somewhat fluffy cozy story of a woman of a certain age, perhaps feeling a bit lost. Aimless. And finding herself, and fame via a cooking show. And whilst that's not a million miles from what happened in this book, it doesn't begin to do justice to the beauty of this story.

I won't be talking about the plot in any detail as it would most definitely spoil things for future readers. But I will say this book is full of heart and soul and exquisite poignancy. Jenny and Bernard, my heart just sang for their love story. My heart also broke for Jenny, and the utter devastation and loneliness she had to live with.

Food is also a main character in this book and you will feel starving as you read the delicious bakes Jenny creates. To Jenny food is love.

Truly scrumptious in every way.

Such a wonderfully wholesome and heartwarming read! Jenny Quinn has applied to compete on national TV phenomenon Britain Bakes to prove to herself and the nation that age should never be a barrier to your dreams. She initially keeps her application a secret from love of her life Bernard, but there are other secrets that can’t stay buried forever… Loved the story, loved the pacing, loved the flashbacks to the past and the resolution.

Olivia Ford’s "Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame" is a delightful and engaging novel that follows the unexpected journey of Mrs. Quinn as she navigates the complexities of fame and personal transformation. Ford’s writing is both witty and warm, capturing the charm and challenges of her protagonist's ascent to stardom. The story is filled with humor, heart, and insightful commentary on the nature of success and self-discovery. With its well-developed characters and a plot that balances light-hearted moments with deeper reflections, "Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame" is an entertaining and uplifting read that celebrates the power of resilience and ambition.

This book is brilliant, for anyone who loves baking then it's definitely a must read! Its about a 77 year old woman who decides to apply to go on GBBO and her life changes!

This was such a delicious read, definitely written with a love of baking so you could nearly smell the yummy treats coming out of the oven. Jenny is 77 and loves baking and her husband. She decides to enter Britain Bakes even though she really doubts that she is good enough. She throws herself and her family recipes into the competition and surprises herself with the results. Her life is full of happiness, however there is always one little corner of her heart that is not complete. Written like a warm hug, just need the mixing spoon to lick

Life affirming, heartwarming, and cute. It's poignant and funny at the same time. The main points in someone's life seen through different baking recipes.
The story of a life but also the story of a long marriage and the affection between Jenny and Bernard.
I love the pace and the storytelling, the characters are fleshed out, and the plot well developed
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A really sweet treat! This is such a cosy and comforting treat about 77 year old Jennifer Quinn who goes on the equivalent of GBBO so anyone who knows and loves the show will be drawn into this. The only problem is you will want to eat cake whilst reading!!

A heartwarming book that was beautifully written and really enjoyable.
Jenny is 77 and decides to apply for Bake off
Is great story that fans of the show would love too

This was an enjoyable read inspired by The Great British Bake Off, following pensioner Jennifer Quinn who decides to take a chance and audition for the show. In her seventies and married to husband Bernard for fifty-nine years this is the first secret she’s kept from him. She simple wants to do something that’s outside of her comfort zone and never imagines she might chosen. When she takes the phone call and realises she’s been picked, she wonders about the changes the limelight might bring. Will her head be turned by the attention or could it stir up secrets from the past that she’d rather stayed hidden?

I thought this was a charming novel, with the same sense of fun and the feel-good vibes I get from watching The Great British Bake Off. It’s a lovely holiday read because it’s an escape from daily life, for Jenny and the reader. She’s full of energy despite being in her late seventies and still doesn’t feel ready for settling down. She is thinking about her own legacy too, because she and Bernard haven’t had a family she is starting to feel she hasn’t made her mark. When she’s gone, what will she have left behind? It’s with this in mind that she makes the decision to apply for ‘Britain Bakes’, because it’s the one thing she truly enjoys doing. However, it’s not quite the escape from life she expects because unresolved emotions start to spring up to the surface. For 60 years she has kept a secret and as she bakes the memories start to return as strong as ever. She hasn’t even shared this with Bernard, but she’s finding it ever more difficult to stay quiet.

My only criticisms are that the minor characters could have had a bit more depth to them and he plot is largely predictable, but it makes up for these shortcomings with it’s humour and heart. Jenny decides to theme her bakes around important events in her life, so each one has a corresponding memory. Food can transport us back to any place or time, because it involves all of the senses it’s extremely powerful. As a huge fan of the Bake Off (and cake in general to be truthful) I did enjoy the detail of what contestants were making. In fact I made a chocolate cherry cake straight after reading, because it reminded me how much I enjoy the process of making something. I think anyone who is a fan of the show would enjoy the book and possibly a recipe book from Jenny. The author’s background in television has given her the ability to create a realistic backdrop for show and a knowledge of how the media works. I think she has managed to bring out the same joy as the show without becoming too tied in the details of the competition. Olivia Ford has taken her ingredients and created the perfect recipe for a warm, funny and ultimately uplifting read, showing us that the extraordinary can be hidden in the most ordinary of lives.