Teodora's Blog

As I’m a big fan of cookery competitions, “Recipe for Love” instantly caught my attention and made me turn the pages with both excitement and fear. While reading about Zoe Harper’s intense journey in the culinary world, it felt like I was watching a real cooking show. Zoe, the heroine of the story, has won a place in a well-known televised cookery competition and now she is ready to put her cooking skills to the test and make a good impression. She travels to Somerby, a beautiful, old mansion where the contestants and the judges are supposed to stay during the filming. The house belongs to a married couple, Fenella and Rupert Gainsborough, who gradually become good friends with Zoe. In the beginning, the contestant is exploring the Somerby’s surroundings, trying to relax and enjoy some time alone: “Zoe Harper lay on the bank in the sun with her eyes closed, listening to a lark high above her. Nearer her ear she could hear the crackling of the grass and the buzzing of insects. The ...

Reality can be tough sometimes… and no one knows it better than Joe Holt, the main character of the story. The 13-year-old boy lives in London, in a Peckham flat, with his mom and her boyfriend, Dean, who swears a lot and ends up drunk every day. Predictably, Joe shows to the readers indirectly that he doesn’t like Dean at all: “ I’m not your son , I think. And it’s not up to you, it’s up to Mum .” (page 4) The story begins on a cheerful note because the boy is relieved that he won’t be seeing Perry Fletcher, the biggest bully at school, for a whole week. The upcoming “holiday” turns out to be even more interesting when Joe’s mom announces that she’s flying to Spain with Dean. Since they can’t afford too much and Dean is busy with “a little job”, Joe is left home and he is told to stay out of sight and trouble, so nobody can ask too many questions. Joe is feeling positive about the holiday and tries to make the most of it, having a Mars bar and a packet of Hula Hoops for breakfast...