The Lost Art of Mixing

By: Erica Bauermeister

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of The School of Essential Ingredients in this luminous sequel.

Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .

Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship.

I loved this little book

These characters, first met in the School of Essential Ingredients, are so beautifully and carefully sketched! Please give us more Erica, and choose Cassandra to help make them come to life!

First Book is Better

I loved the first book because it linked the characters together in a cooking class. The second book didn’t have the cooking class, it was a bunch of characters and their backgrounds.

Really Good Story

I didn't realize it when I bought this book, but it's actually a sequel to The School of Essential Ingredients. Based on my experience with The Lost Art of Mixing, I would definitely like to go back and listen to book 1. This book is SO much more than your average romance. It's about romance, family, opening up to new relationships, and letting go of past ones. Placing a restaurant at the center of the story is the perfect backdrop to what's going on in the characters' personal lives. And Campbell really helps you get to know each character. If it seems to start out a bit slow, stick with it. In my opinion, it's worth the wait.

If you're looking for a book that doesn't sacrifice depth to give you that feel-good storyline. This may be the perfect book for you.

Wanted more!

I so enjoyed the first book, The School of Essential Ingredients, in this series and thought this was "good" but could have been great!
I love the character of Lillian in the first book and she's developed a bit more in this, but then, she's dropped! I wanted to find out more about the baby, how she is juggling the restaurant and I so miss the cooking classes! That said, I do love Erica Bauermeister and I've read and enjoyed several of her other books this year (including The Scentmaker) and will likely read her again. Cassandra Campbell's narrations are always great.

Feel Like I Came Late To The Party

I bought this book as part of a sale, not realizing that this was a series book...either book two or three. Compliments to the author, I did not realize this till well within the book. It felt like a stand alone book.

The story was going alone fine till the addition of external family. Maybe these additions and backstories were to create depth of charactors. It didn't work. In my opinion they brought nothing to the story and only took away the real interesting tales.

I will go read the first book - because it appears that's where the good story is. I'll let you know when I get there.