3. Both Al and Lou have fond memories of their grandmothers’ cooking, from Luella’s famous coconut cake to the rusty cast-iron skillet that Al still holds dear. What are some of your favorite culinary memories or traditions? How have they evolved—or not—over the years?
4. As Lou plays tour guide to Al and opens him up to a wealth of new experiences, she gradually smooths over his gruff exterior. How does your perception of Al change throughout the book? Was there a specific moment where you started to find him more likeable?
5. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is as much a love letter to Milwaukee as it is the love story of Lou and Al. What is your favorite stop on Lou’s tour of the city? Which of their meals are you most eager to try?
6. Devlin says to Lou, “I may shape and bend the facts in my favor or make tactful omissions, but I don’t lie.” Were you surprised to hear Devlin’s explanation for the scantily clad intern in his apartment? Do you think he was telling the whole truth?
7. What do you think about Al’s decision to keep his identity a secret from Lou, particularly after he learns that Luella’s is her restaurant? Are his lies more forgivable than Devlin’s behavior? How would you have handled the situation if you were in Al’s shoes?
8. Lou reflects on the fate of Luella’s: “The fault was hers and hers alone. Taking responsibility gave her control. Taking responsibility gave her hope she would find happiness again.” What do you make of this sentiment? Do you think that Lou is being too hard on herself—that she’s just the victim of circumstance—or is she to blame for the restaurant’s closure?
9. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake features a vibrant cast of secondary characters, from John, the fashionista in disguise, to Harley, the loveable, tattooed pastry chef. Who is your favorite secondary character? How does he or she influence events or help to move the story along?
10. Gertrude emphasizes the importance of second chances to Lou. “Don’t let your heart get too hard,” she says. “[Al] made you happy. That was not an act. Try to forgive him—promise me.” Do you agree with Gertrude’s belief that a person deserves forgiveness as long as his or her intentions are good? What personal experiences have shaped your own attitude toward second chances?
11. What do you think the future holds for Lou’s new restaurant? What important lessons has she learned from Luella’s?
12. While the story of Luella’s is fictional, it’s not uncommon for a new restaurant to fail because of negative press—particularly in the age of crowd-sourced online reviews. Did the book make you more sympathetic to the plight of struggling business owners and the impact of online reviews?
ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB
1. Host a book club potluck! Have each member bring his or her favorite family dish and describe the origin of the recipe.
2. Plan a day of sightseeing or activities in your hometown. What would you want an out-of-towner to experience?
3. Have each book club member write a review praising his or her favorite restaurant—or emulate A. W. Wodyski and pan a terrible meal.
4. Learn more about author Amy E. Reichert by visiting her website (http://amyereichert.com) or following her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amyereichert) and/or Twitter (@aereichert).
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR •
AMY E. REICHERT is a lifelong Wisconsin resident with an MA in English literature, a husband, and two kids. When time allows, she loves to read and collect more cookbooks than she could possibly use. Visit her on the web at www.AmyEReichert.com.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: authors.simonandschuster.com/Amy-E-Reichert
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Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2015 by Amy Reichert
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition July 2015
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Interior design by Jaime Putorti
Cover design by Regina Starace
Cover photograph by© Krock, Sabra/The Food Passionates/Corbis
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reichert, Amy E., 1974-
The coincidence of coconut cake / by Amy E. Reichert.—First Gallery Books trade paperback edition.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-5011-0071-0 (alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-5011-0072-7 1. Women cooks—Fiction. 2. Food writers—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3618.E52385C75 2015
813’.6—dc23
2014039355
ISBN 978-1-5011-0071-0
ISBN 978-1-5011-0072-7(ebook)
• CONTENTS •
Epigraph
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Recipes
Grandma Luella’s Coconut Cake
Coconut Frosting
Acknowledgments
Readers Group Guide
Introduction
Topics & Questions For Discussion
Enhance Your Book Club
About the Author
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake Page 26