People magazine included The Restaurant Critic’s Wife on their Great New Fiction list and hailed it as “thoroughly entertaining.”
Lila Soto has a master’s degree that’s gathering dust, a work-obsessed husband, two kids, and lots of questions about how exactly she ended up here.
In their new city of Philadelphia, Lila’s husband, Sam, takes his job as a restaurant critic a little too seriously. To protect his professional credibility, he’s determined to remain anonymous. Soon his preoccupation with anonymity takes over their lives as he tries to limit the family’s contact with anyone who might have ties to the foodie world. Meanwhile, Lila craves adult conversation and some relief from the constraints of her homemaker role. With her patience wearing thin, she begins to question everything: her decision to get pregnant again, her break from her career, her marriage – even if leaving her ex-boyfriend was the right thing to do. As Sam becomes more and more fixated on keeping his identity secret, Lila begins to wonder if her own identity has completely disappeared – and what it will take to get it back.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this disappointed by such a well-written book I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Â
Truly A Great Book! I just love books that have to do with food. And I especially like to read books where food critics or food bloggers for that matter are involved. I was so tickled when I was chosen to read and review this book. It did not disappoint.Â
Full of potential but couldn’t get past selfish husband At first glance, The Restaurant Critic’s Wife by Elizabeth LaBan looks like the perfect book for me. There’s food galore, an independent woman, and a bustling city (Philadelphia in this case). The story of a mother with young kids who attempts to find her new identity is one that I can personally identify with, but the novel’s pacing didn’t work for me. It’s a solid novel, but nothing for me to shout about.Â