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The Art of Baking Blind: The gripping page-turner from the bestselling author of ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL, soon to be a major Netflix series Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 1,566 ratings

'Delicious . . . Friendship, rivalry and exposed secrets, all gorgeously told' - Elle

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.

In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.

Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the New Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter; Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death; Vicki, who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her façade shouldn't slip.

As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestants' problems. For they will learn - as Mrs Eaden did before them - that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life.

Praise for THE ART OF BAKING BLIND

'Clever and compelling. I loved this!' Nina Stibbe, bestselling author of Love, Nina

'Fabulous' - Good Housekeeping

'The Art of Baking Blind is gorgeous. Not just to look at and touch, but Sarah's writing is beautiful. She pulls you in, she captivates you and you just don't want to leave . . . Mouth-watering' - novelicious

'Heavenly' - Candis

'Warm, wise and inspiring, an utterly delicious novel.' Polly Williams, bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy

'Attention fans of GBBO! If you can drag yourself away from the doughy goings-on in the famous tent, you're sure to love this story' - New

Product description

Review

Before I knew anything about the contents of this novel I had already fallen in love . . . It begs to be oohed and aahed over, not to mention to be stroked. A lot. And once I started reading, I discovered that the story within was equally beautiful and enthralling . . . A delicious read which I devoured like a freshly baked, homemade bread . . . The lush descriptions of the food made them so vivid that I could almost taste them on the tip of my tongue . . . [and] for all the sweetness of the sugary decadences . . . there is also plenty of drama and intrigue to balance it all out. --novelicious

Fabulous -
Good Housekeeping

Vaughan's engaging writing is packed with brilliant baking tips not to mention delectable descriptions of the food the contestants create. Enjoy. -
WI magazine

Kathleen's heartbreaking story is so vivid, I had to check she wasn't a real person. It's a challenge to manage a story with five protagonists, particularly in a debut, but Sarah Vaughan manages it with aplomb. One to add to your holiday reading pile and indulge in.
The Writes of Women blog

Sarah Vaughan's debut novel is a delicious treat . . . There's plenty of baking and food talk for foodies but it's contained within a wonderful narrative. Sarah Vaughan has perfectly balanced the ingredients of this book . . . Where the baking lends a warm and pleasant tone, this is brilliantly offset by the darker side of the narratives. Each of the stories is compelling. [I loved the small details of the novel: how each chapters is prefaced by an excerpt from The Art of Baking; and the presentation and design is truly delightful.] -
We Love this Book blog

5 out of 5. An amazing read. It makes you crave cake and it makes you want to devour the words, enjoying every morsel till it reaches the . . . tear-jerking . . . end. --
Random Redheaded Ramblings blog

Delicious . . . Friendship, rivalry and exposed secrets, all gorgeously told.
Elle

The Art of Baking Blind is gorgeous. Not just to look at and touch, but Sarah's writing is beautiful. She pulls you in, she captivates you and you just don't want to leave. Her writing creates such warmth; it really hugs you tightly. She describes the cakes and bakes exquisitely...Mouth-watering. -
novelicious

Warm, wise and inspiring, an utterly delicious novel. --Polly Williams, bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy

Clever and compelling. I loved this! --Nina Stibbe, bestselling author of Love, Nina

Heavenly --Candis

Fabulous -
Good Housekeeping

Vaughan's engaging writing is packed with brilliant baking tips not to mention delectable descriptions of the food the contestants create. Enjoy. -
WI magazine

Kathleen's heartbreaking story is so vivid, I had to check she wasn't a real person. It's a challenge to manage a story with five protagonists, particularly in a debut, but Sarah Vaughan manages it with aplomb. One to add to your holiday reading pile and indulge in.
The Writes of Women blog

Sarah Vaughan's debut novel is a delicious treat . . . There's plenty of baking and food talk for foodies but it's contained within a wonderful narrative. Sarah Vaughan has perfectly balanced the ingredients of this book . . . Where the baking lends a warm and pleasant tone, this is brilliantly offset by the darker side of the narratives. Each of the stories is compelling.-
We Love this Book blog

5 out of 5. An amazing read. It makes you crave cake and it makes you want to devour the words, enjoying every morsel till it reaches the . . . tear-jerking . . . end. --
Random Redheaded Ramblings blog

Before I knew anything about the contents of this novel I had already fallen in love . . . It begs to be oohed and aahed over, not to mention to be stroked. A lot. And once I started reading, I discovered that the story within was equally beautiful and enthralling . . . A delicious read which I devoured like a freshly baked, homemade bread . . . The lush descriptions of the food made them so vivid that I could almost taste them on the tip of my tongue . . . [and] for all the sweetness of the sugary decadences . . . there is also plenty of drama and intrigue to balance it all out. --
novelicious

From the Author

Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. After eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent, she started freelancing. THE ART OF BAKING BLIND is her first novel and she is now working on her second. Sarah lives near Cambridge with her husband and two small children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00I089TA6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 3 July 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1444792249
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 1,566 ratings

About the authors

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
1,566 global ratings

Review this product

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Customers say

Customers find this book an enjoyable holiday read with rich characters and appreciate its baking element, with one noting how baking was therapeutic to each character. The writing style is poetically written, and customers describe it as a good mixture of laughs and tears, with one review highlighting its thoughtful depiction of contemporary issues. The narrative quality receives mixed reactions, with some saying it completes a complex story while others find it hard to follow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

30 customers mention ‘Readability’30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and suitable for holiday reading, with one customer describing it as a great first novel.

"...me you love to devour over a delicious narrative this is a wonderfully indulgent book which also happens to include the second love of my love cakes!..." Read more

"...The main characters in the present day were very compelling (I was particularly intrigued by Karen), but I also loved the sections about Kathleen..." Read more

"I liked the premise of the book, and I really enjoyed Kathleen's perspective. But the other main characters blended into one...." Read more

"...I thought the characters were well-drawn and engaging and I genuinely felt for them and routed for them. This an extremely confident debut." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Character development’13 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting how the plot draws readers into the contestants' lives.

"...offers is an opportunity to live through some great, and sad, but rich characters which take you as a woman through the challenges which life seems..." Read more

"...to read a whole book about Kathleen as she was such a warm and interesting character, and in her quiet way, ahead of her time...." Read more

"...I thought the characters were well-drawn and engaging and I genuinely felt for them and routed for them. This an extremely confident debut." Read more

"...I loved all the women characters – probably identify most with Vicki - but also was strangely compelled by the least likeable characters – yep, that..." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Baking knowledge’12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the baking element in the book, with one mentioning it's perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, while another notes how baking was therapeutic to each character.

"...the way the author had written Kathleen's recipes and notes on cooking was extremely authentic, so much so that I thought I might get a copy of..." Read more

"I loved this book. On the surface it is about a baking competition...." Read more

"Good range of characters and loved the baking element. It lacked the depth of her previous novel. Ok for a holiday read." Read more

"...An all absorbing narrative and,for me, an occasional dip into the culinary arts. Wonderful." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Taste’10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the taste of the book, describing it as delicious, with one customer noting it's sweet and sour, while another mentions it made them very hungry.

"...has seriously the most mouth watering descriptions of ingredients and tastes that am sure I put on two stone just reading it!..." Read more

"...It also made me very hungry... Recommended." Read more

"...On the surface it is about a baking competition. There's a lot of sugar and spice but the story isn't in the slightest bit saccharine...." Read more

"Delicious, moving and beautifully written. I couldn't put this book down." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Writing style’8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as poetically written and thoughtful, with one customer noting its beautiful depiction of contemporary issues.

"...It was hard to follow their stories. It was poetically written and I enjoyed the food references." Read more

"...but the story held my attention to the end with its thoughtful depiction of contemporary issues. A good mixture of laughs and tears. Enjoyable!" Read more

"...Completely different story, and really refreshingly good, I love the writing, the plot that winds you into the characters lives; you Completely lose..." Read more

"...It is very moving and beautifully observed. Very clever how the baking and women's stories mingle." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Emotional content’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emotional content, describing it as poignant with a good mix of laughs and tears.

"I really enjoyed this book: it was a funny, poignant page-turner...." Read more

"...It’s poignant, emotional, warming – in fact it has all the elements of a very satisfying read. One to be savoured." Read more

"...A good mixture of laughs and tears. Enjoyable!" Read more

"...The characters came to life slowly and all had very varied sad tales to tell. It all came right by the end and completed a complex story." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Weight’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate that the book is lightweight.

"...Although it's light and fun, it still manages to look at some serious truths behind modern motherhood, namely that we're often trying to be perfect,..." Read more

"I've never read anything by Sarah Vaughan before but I'm loving this light, perceptive read...." Read more

"Light weight book" Read more

"A light and frothy confection......." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Narrative quality’5 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book, with some praising how it completes a complex story and noting that it isn't saccharine, while others find it hard to follow.

"...What’s the end product? A delicious confection of a story that will make your mouth water until you positively crave baked goods...." Read more

"...But the other main characters blended into one. It was hard to follow their stories. It was poetically written and I enjoyed the food references." Read more

"...An all absorbing narrative and,for me, an occasional dip into the culinary arts. Wonderful." Read more

"...There's a lot of sugar and spice but the story isn't in the slightest bit saccharine. There's a dark side to it...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2014
    If like me you love to devour over a delicious narrative this is a wonderfully indulgent book which also happens to include the second love of my love cakes! It has seriously the most mouth watering descriptions of ingredients and tastes that am sure I put on two stone just reading it!
    But what it also offers is an opportunity to live through some great, and sad, but rich characters which take you as a woman through the challenges which life seems to throw at us, and as I think we all need reminding so often in life these days with FOMO that actually appearances are more often than not very deceiving.
    I thoroughly enjoyed living through this book and the speed in which I finished it, as am sure my fellow book club readers would agree must be an indication of how much I loved it!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2015
    I really enjoyed this book: it was a funny, poignant page-turner. The main characters in the present day were very compelling (I was particularly intrigued by Karen), but I also loved the sections about Kathleen which were set in the recent past. I thought the way the author had written Kathleen's recipes and notes on cooking was extremely authentic, so much so that I thought I might get a copy of Kathleen's 'The Art of Baking,' before remembering that it wasn't real! I would love to read a whole book about Kathleen as she was such a warm and interesting character, and in her quiet way, ahead of her time.
    The sections with new-ish mum Vicki were also very resonant - anyone who has ever felt a teensy bit trapped at home with a toddler will relate, especially those of us who don't have much support around. As an unusual side-effect, the book made me want to be a bit more adventurous in my cooking. It also made me very hungry... Recommended.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2018
    I liked the premise of the book, and I really enjoyed Kathleen's perspective. But the other main characters blended into one. It was hard to follow their stories.
    It was poetically written and I enjoyed the food references.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2015
    I loved this book. On the surface it is about a baking competition. There's a lot of sugar and spice but the story isn't in the slightest bit saccharine. There's a dark side to it. It's about a desperate need to create perfection in choux pastry and rabbit pies when the personal life of the competitors is anything but perfect. For various reasons each of the characters sees the competition as a cure for their woes, which it isn't, but it brings out the best in them and gives them the strength and courage to sort their problems out for themselves. I thought the characters were well-drawn and engaging and I genuinely felt for them and routed for them. This an extremely confident debut.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2016
    Add five amateur bakers; sprinkle in an intriguing backstory and mix together in a baking competition. What’s the end product? A delicious confection of a story that will make your mouth water until you positively crave baked goods. This multi-layered creation is perfect for sitting on the sofa, curled up with a hot drink (don’t forget a biscuit or two – you’ll need them!). It’s poignant, emotional, warming – in fact it has all the elements of a very satisfying read. One to be savoured.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2014
    This book is a joy to read, particularly if – like me – you're a busy mum juggling work, kids, some kind of social life AND still trying to be a part-time domestic goddess on the side (yeah right!). Although it's light and fun, it still manages to look at some serious truths behind modern motherhood, namely that we're often trying to be perfect, and of course failing, not to mention the whole debate about weight/body issues.
    I loved all the women characters – probably identify most with Vicki - but also was strangely compelled by the least likeable characters – yep, that's you Nigel. And yes, Karen. These characters seem most vivid now it's been a few weeks since I finished the book. A perfect holiday read, or in fact, and anywhere read. Also gave me lots of ideas for things I want to cook…
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2017
    A refreshing novel with a take on bake off only better. I did feel the story ended a bit abruptly though as one is left wondering what happened to the main characters, it would have been nice to know.
    On a personal taste level I felt the use of the f word was gratuitous and totally unnecessary but I would still recommend the book, especially, though not exclusively to baking fans.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 December 2019
    Good range of characters and loved the baking element. It lacked the depth of her previous novel. Ok for a holiday read.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Claire Martin
    3.0 out of 5 stars Effective fluff
    Reviewed in France on 17 May 2017
    Sometimes you just need something light and fluffy to distract you. This book is exactly that. This shameless rip off of the Great British Bake Off is as insubstantial as one of its choux and has the same depth as a genoise but it's sweet and silly and reassuring. Read it on the beach with a cocktail.
  • nidhi
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tasty like hot chocolate :)
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 September 2014
    Full disclaimer - I am a home baker and love love love books on food, about food :)
    This book was such a delicious treat, I enjoyed the individual stories, the recipes, the stories behind the recipes. The lone man in the book seemed a tad forlorn, I guess more time could have been devoted to his character development but overall, enjoyable book, pick it up for an enjoyable afternoon
  • Snapdragon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
    Reviewed in Australia on 22 March 2018
    This is Sarah Vaughan’s debut novel and it’s great. Not as magisterial as Anatomy of a Scandal, which is an undeniably more important book, but a very entertaining read that makes some very good points about parenting and cooking.

    Basically, its about a baking competition to discover the “next Kathleen Eadon”, an iconic cook of the sixties. There are flashbacks to Kathleen’s life, with its surprising secrets, interspersed with an interesting cast of contestants. There’s middle-aged plump Jenny, wife to fitness fanatic Nigel. There’s Karen, super fit and rigidly controlled. She has a past she’d rather forget, now that she’s rich. Her teenage son seems to despise her. Then there’s Vicki, ex-teacher and mother of three year old Alfie. Motherhood is proving a trial and her husband works long hours. Her successful mother Frances has always been something of a critical perfectionist. Then there’s Mike, widowed father of two children. We don’t get a lot about him. Last contestant is Claire, who works for low wages in one of the Eadon grocery stores. Claire had Chloe when she was only seventeen. The father made himself scarce. It was Claire’s dream to become a chef. Her parents enter her in the competition and ta da! She’s accepted.

    It’s an interesting setup and Vaughan does a great job of developing these characters. On the way we get glorious descriptions of food. The role of baking in family life is well covered. It’s a rocky road to the finish and we’re kept entertained and intrigued to know what happens next and who will end up winning. A great debut, and her other two books are even better.
  • Alexandraanderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant novel!
    Reviewed in Italy on 4 October 2019
    I could almost smell the fragrances of all the sweets and pastries, breads and pies baked in these pages. I was carried along by the parallel stories of the original Mrs Eaden and the evolution of the new Mrs Eaden together with all the cleverly woven together sub-plots. Sarah captures the essence of being a woman in all its complexity- wife, mother, daughter, lover, friend.
  • allanic
    5.0 out of 5 stars contente
    Reviewed in France on 21 November 2020
    livre recu dans les temps et égal à description
    Report

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