Michelle Blanchard Ardillo

A book dominated by the daily bakes of a British pensioner? Sign. Me. Up. I just finished reading Olivia Ford’s debut novel, Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame.

A teacher colleague of mine—an avid reader and all around dear friend—gave me two books for Christmas and when I opened the package, this one was on top. She said, “It’s about an older woman who is in a baking competition like the Great British Bake-Off.” I mean how perfect is that for me?

I’ve loved the GBBO since it first aired in the USA on Netflix in 2012 I think. What struck me immediately in the very first episode I watched was how kind the contestants were to one another. They rooted for each, supported each other, gathered round when someone was running out of time, and cheered for the Star Baker each week—even when they desperately were hoping to win it themselves.

Aside from the feel-good nature of the show, I loved the technical challenges where the bakers worked on a lesser-known bake or a vintage pastry that I’ve only read about, things like Victoria Sponge, Battenburg Cakes, Bread and Butter Pudding, Bakewell Tarts, and Eccles Cakes.

I think back to 2000 when I first visited Scotland with my parents and had afternoon tea at a local tea shop and stood in front of the pastry case in absolute awe. When my mother’s Scottish first cousin Anna Liddell visited us in Maryland, she taught me how to make scones using her family recipe which could be traced back several generations. Sigh. I miss her so.

So, the story of Mrs. Quinn participating in a contest extremely similar to the GBBO was a perfect gift for me! I enjoyed the current story of Jenny Quinn secretly entering the Britain Bakes competition thinking she would never make it through to an audition. But, Olivia Ford wove into Jenny’s current story Jenny’s painful back story. This was sprinkled throughout the book, mostly at the start of a chapter, and I suppose that back story provided the balance for the whole of Jenny’s life, much like a pinch of salt will balance the sweetness of a pan of double chocolate brownies, or the tartness of lemon curd buried underneath a cloud of super sweet meringue.

The back story—no spoilers here—is a look back at a time when things were black and white, no room for grey, no room even for off-white. It is a stark contrast to our world today, at least our world in the democracy we live in, where for the most part people are allowed to live their lives as they see fit, however that may be. There is no one definition of “family” whereas in Jenny’s world as a 17-year-old, there was one and only one definition of family, without exception.

There’s a lot to love in this book. Jenny herself is a real human being, with secrets that are becoming less and less easy to hide. She loves her husband Bernard of nearly 60 years deeply, and they are both aging, which is so sweet and bittersweet at the same time. She is a good friend and an endearing great aunt. And, she is a very good baker. When her nerves threaten to get the best of her once her secret gets out about Britain Bakes, Bernard calms her by reminding her that baking is just “flour, sugar, butter, eggs.” If only everything in life was so simple.

My daughter is visiting from California and my reading has slowed down in order to spend as much time together as possible. So, my overall rating of this fine book is partially a result of the timing of my finishing the book. I had only 17 pages left when I had to put it down to leave for a family activity. At that point in the story, many major plot points had reached their resolution. What more could enfold in the last 17 pages. As it turned out, nothing. So when I came back at the end of the day to finish Mrs. Quinn’s, I was left feeling empty. Is this Olivia Ford’s fault? No. Had I read straight through to the end yesterday morning, I am pretty sure I would have closed the book with 5-stars in my eyes.

The NYT gave this debut novel a very positive review, perhaps as a result of the author’s successful career in television as a story producer. It does mention pacing and dialogue as areas where the book is not at its strongest. Some reviews on Goodreads note the inconsistency in Jenny’s almost 60 year marriage of sharing everything and yet she is keeping a huge secret from Bernard. I also found this disconcerting, although it is necessary for the plot of this story.

After decades of teaching middle school age boys and girls, I did find the 15-year old great nephew’s interest in Aunt Jenny’s baking success to be a bit forced. Although his interest leads to his setting up Jenny’s social media platforms, this gesture is the loosening of the very tight knot on Jenny’s long-kept and painful secret.

As a debut novel, this is a great book. If you love baking, love watching the GBBO, or at least love eating baked goods, this book is 100% for you. But, there is a back story with some things that might be considered triggering for some readers. I don’t think I can mention them without spoilers, so if you want to message me, I’m happy to share them with you in a private message, so as not to ruin it for others.

Now, I think I will try one of the recipes at the back of the book and put the kettle on!