When Olivia Rawlings–pastry chef extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club–sets not just her flambeed dessert but the entire building alight, she escapes to the most comforting place she can think of–the idyllic town of Guthrie, Vermont, home of Bag Balm, the country’s longest-running contra dance, and her best friend Hannah. But the getaway turns into something more lasting when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, offers Livvy a job. Broke and knowing that her days at the club are numbered, Livvy accepts. But little does she know yet that this decision is about to change her life forever.
★★★☆ ☆ 
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living is a really cozy and funny romance novel. I say romance novel, but to be very honest, there’s not a crazy amount of romance going on, on these pages. It’s mostly about growing up, finding what you truly love and what’s your place in the world.
It’s much more about a woman gathering the courage to face her own feelings/fears/disappointments than it’s about falling in love. Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s still full of warm fuzzy feelings, hand holding, sleigh rides, music and apple pie, but it’s also about the hardships of life and finding your place in the world and realizing what’s important to you.
The novel is also just really funny at times. The character’s are picturesque and funny, but they also felt a little bit flat to me most of the time. The writing itself is fine but not outstanding, and especially in the beginning I noticed some characters’ awkward movements during conversations. You do get swept up in Livvy’s life and you feel for her every step of the way.
All in all a cozy winter read, a good way to pass the time, but not very memorable.
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