The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman + Giveaway! *review and book tour*

Thank you so much TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!  I rate this beautiful contemporary foodie fiction 4 out of 5 stars.  A harmonious blend of family, diversity, acceptance, and food make for the perfect ingredients to this delicious, feel good story.

“And there were two brave women, Addie and Sam, who made a family from scratch, using what others left behind.”

Goodreads Synopsis

Betting on the city of Detroit’s eventual comeback, cousins Addie and Samantha decide to risk it all on an affordable new house and a culinary career that starts with renovating a vintage diner in a depressed area of town. There’s just one little snag in their vision.

Angus, a weary, beloved local, is strongly opposed to his neighborhood’s gentrification—and his concerns reflect the suspicion of the community. Shocked by their reception, Addie and Samantha begin to have second thoughts.

As the long hours, problematic love interests, and underhanded pressures mount, the two women find themselves increasingly at odds, and soon their problems threaten everything they’ve worked for. If they are going to realize their dreams, Addie and Samantha must focus on rebuilding their relationship. But will the neighborhood open their hearts to welcome them home?

My Experience

The beginning of this story starts off slowly, to me it dragged a bit, but as I kept going I got more caught up in the lives of these characters.  I wanted to know their back stories and how they came to where they are now.  I wanted to know how things would play out going forward.  By the end of the book I was so invested in this diverse group of characters that I was happy I stuck through the slower start.

Addie was probably my favorite character.  She was really selfless and genuine and came into her own as the book went on.  I admired the strength she had to do what she thought was best for her life and work on herself a bit.  I also loved the many side characters that made this group feel like such a close family.  Little Sun Beam and kind and humble Braydon and even grumpy old Angus, each character had something to offer.

Unfortunately I didn’t love two of the characters.  I could not get on board with David at all during this read and while I know we should be rooting for him and Addie, I just wasn’t feeling it.  I felt very much like he was just in it for the sex and treated Addie like an object rather than a person.  I also did not really like other main character Sam. I thought she sort of came off selfish and rude and only did things when she had too.  I don’t want to give anything away, but her “big decision” at the end was a little extreme and she only choose what she did because of there being no other choice, when really she should have made that choice because it was the right one.

Peggy’s writing was beautiful, it made me feel a connection to each of the characters and cheer for the success of the diner.  I was so emotional by the end and I would absolutely have loved to jump in the pages and take a seat at the Welcome Home Diner alongside these characters having a glass of Potlikker!  Which, by the way, I had no idea was a food until this book, but it sounds scrumptious.

What is also fun about this book is all the recipes at the back of the book that I will no doubt be trying my hand at!  After reading 300 pages worth of this delectable food I can’t not try making some of them myself.

I have a US/CAN giveaway going on for a copy of this book on my Instagram right now so be sure to check it out and enter! (ends 10/25)