FICTION

The Restaurant Critic's Wife

by Elizabeth LaBan
Lake Union. Jan. 2016. 352p. ISBN 9781503947757. pap. $14.95. F
COPY ISBN
Pity the poor wife of a restaurant critic. Sure, she may get to eat mountains of food comped by her husband's employer (and the food is all lusciously described), but not all of her life is sweet. Lila is married to Sam, who has recently taken a new critic's job in Philadelphia. Expecting her second child, she feels cut off from her familiar New Orleans roots. Sam's paranoia that restaurants might discover his identity makes it a difficult adjustment for Lila. He'd prefer that she not return to work, that she not make any friends with people connected to the food world; even meeting her neighbors makes Sam nervous.
VERDICT Sam's attitude throughout the book is hard to swallow, but Lila is a gripping character. Author LaBan (The Tragedy Paper), who is married to a restaurant critic, excellently makes the joys and difficulties of young motherhood feel real on the page. Readers who are in the thick of raising a young family will enjoy, as will foodies looking for insight into the restaurant world.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mills, Shorewood-Troy Lib., IL , Oct 01, 2015
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

Secret Fling with the Billionaire
by Douglas, Michelle
FICTION

Holiday Under Wraps
by Mettner, Katie
FICTION

Tracking Down the Lawman’s Son
by Fossen, Delores
FICTION

Cold Case Protection
by Helm, Nicole
FICTION

One Waltz with the Viscount
by Martin, Laura
FICTION

When Cinderella Met the Duke
by Williams, Sophia
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?