Review: The Crepe Maker's Bond by Julie Crabtree

Title:  The Crepe Maker's Bond
Author:  Julie Crabtree
Genre:  YA, Fiction
Pages:  288
Published:  October 2010
ISBN:  1571316930
Publisher:  Milkweed Editions
Source:  Publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis:

Ariel is the head chef in her family kitchen. Cucumber salads, fettuccine carbonara, fish tacos, and peanut butter pie are just a few of the dishes she crafts when she’s feeling frustrated by the world. And it’s turning into a frustrating year. 

Ariel, Nicki, and Mattie have been inseparable friends since they were little kids, but now Mattie’s mom has decided to move away. It’s the girls’ last year in middle school, and they can’t fathom being separated. The friends concoct a plan that will keep Mattie in the Bay area — she’ll move in with Ariel and her family. But before you can say "BFF," the party is over. Everything Mattie does gets on Ariel’s nerves, and it’s not long before the girls are avoiding each other. 

This was supposed to be their best year ever, but some painful lessons are threatening to tear their friendship apart. Can the girls scramble to make things right before the bond crumbles?

This wasn't quite what I expected.  When I initially picked up this book I didn't realize it was a YA novel.

While the story was cute, and well written.  It didn't grab me the way I had hoped it would.  the relationship between Ariel and her friends was great - they have been friends for years and like any pre-teen spend every waking moment with or talking to.

Ariel loves to cook, and spends a great deal of time working out her personal problems while she creates something unique.  One of the great things I did like about this book was the recipes!  They were amazing!  I would probably purchase this book for that reason alone.  Don't get me wrong - it was a cute story, but the recipes did more for me.

A couple of times during the story I did find Ariel a little whiny.  Her friend Mattie comes to live with them (at Ariel's insistence) so she could finish out the school year with her and Nicki.  This more or less backfired on Ariel, which caused a lot of conflict at home.

This a good YA novel, and though I enjoyed certain aspects of it, I probably wouldn't read it again.  Wasn't really my cup of tea.

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