Truffles by the Sea

Truffles by the Sea is Julie Carobini’s second offering. I loved this book!

Gaby, Bri’s best friend from Chocolate Beach (mom lit and another great read), is the star of this book, and her life is a mess! I can’t think of one more thing that could go wrong in this poor woman’s life! Her employee stole everything from her store. Her landlord torched the building along with all of her material possessions. And her bank account is non-existent.

Gaby is desperate to keep her business going, yet struggles to keep stock on hand and find the joy to sell to the few customers who do wind their way into her shop. She finds a wonderful loft to live in by the ocean, but isn’t sure about her neighbors or her new landlord. And she doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do with her life or what God expects of her.

This book is a delight to read, and the author has us rooting for Gaby from page one. This girl’s never-say-die attitude is incredible, and her life is filled with all kinds of foilables. This is chick lit with heart – about so much more than finding a man.

There is a rich array of supporting characters, too. It’s hard to tell who’s trying to help Gaby, who’s slightly neurotic, and who’s completely gone off the deep end. Through her interactions with them Gaby learns to look beyond the surface. How often do we base our friendships on first impressions?

While keeping the light chick lit tone, this book satisfied while avoiding the tired old formulas. Just when I’m ready to give up on the genre, I stumble across an author who can write without relying on stereotypes.

I enjoyed this book, and think it will be a great addition to any spring break or escape read.