The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

The characters of Bauermeister's first novel, The School of Essential Ingredients return in The Lost Art of Mixing.  Chef and restaurant owner Lillian discovers she's having a baby and wonders if widower Tom will be able to move forward with their relationship. Young sous chef Chloe's friendship with her elderly roommate Isabelle deepens as Isabelle descends into Alzheimer's.  Chloe also finds herself attracted to restaurant dishwasher, Finnegan.  The reader also gets to know Lillian's accountant Al and his wife, Louise, who are in a marriage that's lasted a quarter century but are both unhappy.  Lastly, there's Isabelle's physician daughter, Abby, who struggles in her relationship with her mother because of their differences.  Focusing more on characters' thoughts and emotions rather than plot, The Lost Art of Mixing is an enjoyable journey through people's lives.  For readers who enjoy Judith Ryan Hendricks and Jo-Ann Mapson.