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Breakfast in Bed

3.04 of 5 stars 3.04 · rating details · 68 ratings · 16 reviews

TAKE ONE NEWLY SINGLE WOMAN: At 31, Amber is being bombarded with wedding invitations just as she's collecting her divorce papers - and her bossy best friend has gone one step further and made her chief bridesmaid. It's high time Amber regained control of her life - so she goes after the career she's always dreamed of as a top chef.

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Paperback, 388 pages

Published July 21st 2011 by Little, Brown Book Group (first published July 1st 2011)

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Oct 03, 2011 Dizzyc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Amber is an ambitious 31 year old, about- to- be divorcee. She is trying to start again after her husband, Dom cheated on her, but she is not moving on at any great speed. She narrates the story and pours out her feelings on her failed marriage in flashbacks, her new job and new relationship.

Once she was the newly wed and now it is her best friends who are getting married, having babies and looking forward to a settled future.

Oscar is a famous chef, embarking on his own venture in the restaurant...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Yla Delarosa rated it 3 of 5 stars

As I was reading this book, I keep having this urge to stop and give up. Not that I dont like the story... but coz... well... I dont like how the story is progressing. It was okay until I realized everything is just so predictable. Predictable in a sense that its either a cliche or something overrated. Oscar - the chef with a deadly charm but with a temper that can blow the chili out of his kitchen. Milly - the bestfriend whose rich beyond imaginable and doesn't know what to do with her money. D...more As I was reading this book, I keep having this urge to stop and give up. Not that I dont like the story... but coz... well... I dont like how the story is progressing. It was okay until I realized everything is just so predictable. Predictable in a sense that its either a cliche or something overrated. Oscar - the chef with a deadly charm but with a temper that can blow the chili out of his kitchen. Milly - the bestfriend whose rich beyond imaginable and doesn't know what to do with her money. Dom - the philandering husband who blame it all on the wife for not having enough time to be around. Lydia (Oscar's wife) - the exact definition of vogue woman. And etc.

So what made me continue?... Its because there are things intriguing enough for me - like is Oscar really sincere? What's the deal with him and the wife? Is Dom really a lying prick? And as I was looking for this answers, I came across the scene when one of Amber's friend Marsha is having her engagement party - when Marsha acknowledging her efforts, and Milly helping out in the kitchen, and then there's Dom making things a little easier for her despite the pressure. So when Amber said... "I love my friends"... at least that part, I sincerely felt. And after that, I soften up a little... that when Amber was conversing with her mom about what happened to them and why they ended up distant to each other... I actually cried. Also, I like the kitchen setting. I can honestly feel the tension - makes me hungry. Lol.

Anyway, in my opinion, I think the ending is what saved the book. Although it ain't perfect (like what the hell - Milly and Oscar?)... but its believable. Its not the ending we would all like - but its a hopeful one. Its a leap of faith, trusting in a love that we once believed upon. Being in a relationship is not easy - and it will never be perfect - but if we pick up lessons from all the mistakes (whether the ones we did or the ones done to us) - we'll be okay. And that's what this book's ending has taught me. :)(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Gitanjili rated it 4 of 5 stars

Extremely glad to have read it, this book has surprised me and made me laugh more than many, many others of this kind. This is the story of a woman, who has more than just a love story with the "perfect" guy, that most chicklit stories do. She has a story with a real guy, who has his ups and downs, as does she. She also has friends, work, family and etc other people in her life, relationships that are complicated and that affect her life also (I am kind of tired of such characters missing in too...more

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May 29, 2012 Shi Yun rated it 3 of 5 stars

Something i really liked in this book was the relationship between Oscar and Amber. The hot and cold between them grabbed my attention. But that was about it. I finished the entire book, but as others have, i felt the chracters predictable and 'conveniently' placed. The ending wasn't what i had expected, neither was the 'shock' second proposal from Dom that came at a time that didn't make sense but yet she accepted. I think the book could use a stronger finish instead of tying it up so neatly fo...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Aileen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amber Price is going through a divorce from her Ex Dom and lives with
her friend Milly. She is a Sous Chef, she has got herself a new job in
Oscar Retfords Kitchen at Ghusto, however she is called “Fish Girl” she
soon learns how bad tempered and demanding he is but she can learn a
lot from him, especially when he puts her in charge does Amber fall for
Oscar? And are things really over with Dom?
I really enjoyed this book I found some parts quite funny, Oscar
reminds me of Gordon Ramsay and Marco
Pierr...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Becca's Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was FANTASTIC! A perfect chick-lit read, romance, confusion, a load of emotions and a lovely ending, huge thumbs up from me!

Front Cover.
I personally think that the front cover for 'Breakfast in Bed' is perfect for this story, and the fact that it has Amber's adorable scooter perched at the side just makes it even more lovable! The colours are romantic and girly, and I love the artistic flair that has been introduced, with the different coloured love hearts floating away from the tre...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to win this paperback book from a giveaway run by @Btweenthesheets on Twitter.

Amber had separated from her husband, Dom, and she went for a job interview at a well-known chef’s new restaurant, after a not-so-great interview she was surprised to find out that she had got the job. She was completely in awe of her new boss, Oscar, and very keen to impress him. He was a stereotypically loud, angry and hot-headed chef who creates some rather unusual culinary masterpieces – lambs to...more I was lucky enough to win this paperback book from a giveaway run by @Btweenthesheets on Twitter.

Amber had separated from her husband, Dom, and she went for a job interview at a well-known chef’s new restaurant, after a not-so-great interview she was surprised to find out that she had got the job. She was completely in awe of her new boss, Oscar, and very keen to impress him. He was a stereotypically loud, angry and hot-headed chef who creates some rather unusual culinary masterpieces – lambs tongues, pigs spleens and even blood ice cream!

Amber is not fully over her ex-husband, who cheated on her, and she finds herself crushing on Oscar with his manly and controlling ways. It soon became clear that he felt the same way and so began a relationship that would threaten everything she had worked for.

Throughout the whole book I got the sense of confusion from Amber, she just didn’t know what to do about her feelings for her ex and then her boss. So she threw herself into her new job so that she wouldn’t have to think about that side of her life. To begin with Dom was not a favourite of mine but as the book progressed I found myself warming to him, once he had explained his version of events I looked at it in a different way.

There were a lot of funny moments that had me laughing out loud, one of the most memorable for me was the crème brûlée incident, it really got me giggling! Amber’s romantic mathematics was also a fun part of the story, I’ve always been terrible at maths so I couldn’t quite follow her reasoning though. The ups and downs of running a restaurant was another enjoyable part, working somewhere like that sounds extremely stressful but it was fascinating to read about.

Although this book was a little bit predictable at times I was quite surprised by the ending – I feel like there should be a sequel because I would love to know what happens next for a few of the characters.

This is an enjoyable and witty book, great to curl up on the sofa with.(less)

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Jul 22, 2011 Leah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, books-read-2011

Eleanor Moran is the author of three novels (well, she will be when this one comes out) and I got my first taste of her books last year when I read Mr Almost Right. I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t perfect but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a day or two. So when I heard Eleanor had moved publishers and there’d be a new book in 2011 I was thrilled and I loved the sound of it. I was incredibly happy to find a bright pink (why they haven’t used the pink for the official cover confuses me,...more Eleanor Moran is the author of three novels (well, she will be when this one comes out) and I got my first taste of her books last year when I read Mr Almost Right. I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t perfect but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a day or two. So when I heard Eleanor had moved publishers and there’d be a new book in 2011 I was thrilled and I loved the sound of it. I was incredibly happy to find a bright pink (why they haven’t used the pink for the official cover confuses me, it’s much more eye-catching than the pale blue) proof copy in the mailbox one day. With all my other (more urgent) review books firmly out of the way, this was my first book I wanted to read.

As I was reading Breakfast In Bed I was wondering, constantly, what I’d be typing once I’d finished the book. Sometimes a review writes itself, sometimes I struggle, it all depends how much I feel for a book. Unfortunately Breakfast In Bed didn’t make a particularly good impression on me. I can barely remember what I read and I only finished it half an hour ago; it’s not a book that will stay with me long after it’s onto my book shelf. The novel started well enough, I liked Amber immediately and I was very much taken with the fact the novel revolved around a kitchen, it’s such a rare occasion for a female character in a Chick Lit novel to be a chef (and we all say sexism isn’t rife in Chick Lit?). I very much enjoyed the frantic pace of the kitchen and felt Moran covered it well, and I definitely wouldn’t have minded had every single scene in the novel been set in the kitchen because it was frantic and fast and it definitely kept me reading.

I would hazard a guess that part of my problem to really feel the novel is the fact that besides Oscar and perhaps Amber, the cast aren’t that well fleshed out. Oscar is a Gordan Ramsay clone, but beautiful (although I did find it hard to banish imagining Oscar as Gordon) with his swearing and his fiery temper (is there no such thing as a mild mannered chef? Clearly it’s an oxymoron). Oscar’s ex-wife Lydia is the slim, svelte, beautiful woman Amber could never hope to live up to whereas Oscar’s daughter Tallulah is a spoilt brat, desperate for her parents attention. Milly, Amber’s best friend, is the rich girl with not a lot happening in her life at all. None of the characters took me by surprise, they were all conveniently placed. Dom, Amber’s ex-husband is a slime-ball and no matter how much Amber tried to tell me that he was sweet once upon a time, I just couldn’t believe it, because he just seemed horrible. I know it sounds like I’m balling the book out (there’s worse to come, sadly) but I just found myself disappointed by the fact the character’s all fit the Chick Lit check list.

Despite all of that, though, I was enjoying the novel. I liked the way Oscar and Amber’s relationship was progressing, I liked the way they were hot and cold together, how Oscar called her Fish Girl. There were small issues that bugged me, but they were easy to brush away, and for the most part the book was an OK read. It didn’t blow me away, nor did it set my world alight or anything, but I didn’t want to stop reading it at all, it wasn’t bad. Until the ending. Notoriously, it’s hard to get an ending just right. My main parameter for the ending of a novel is that I believe the two characters who end up together are believable in their love. I believe in them, I believe that when I close the novel they’re going to ride off into the sunset. Sadly, the ending of Breakfast In Bed ruined the rest of the book. I was peeved. I didn’t like the ending, I didn’t believe Amber ended up with the right person. I thought it was fifty massive steps back and I still can’t believe the turnabout. Just no. Many will probably love the ending, and perhaps I can’t truly see why Amber chose who she chose because I’ve never been in that situation, but I just couldn’t see it. I didn’t see them riding off into the sunset, I saw heartbreak in Amber’s future.

Am I wrong to say the ending ruined the book for me? I don’t think so. In a novel the beginning, the middle and the end must all work together in tandem for me. Most of the novel was OK. But the ending was horrific. To me, anyway. It felt like I had to try too hard to like the book. There’s a big (supposed) rivalry between Oscar and a man named Angus with whom he used to work, but I felt the rivalry wasn’t properly focused on. It was just there, and Moran could have done so much more with it, it just felt like an empty plot line hanging there. I’m quite disappointed, the bare bones for the story were there and I enjoyed the kitchen action and Amber and Oscar’s relationship but I never really felt for the characters and the ending make me want to be sick because I just couldn’t see it. Moran has potential, no doubt about it, but I felt disappointed once I’d finished Breakfast In Bed. I can understand the ending, a tiny little bit, but well I don’t agree with it, I don’t agree with it at all and it kind of ruined everything I’d read up until then, so sadly I wouldn’t recommend it though I’m sure there’ll be many people that love the book. I just wasn’t one of them. (less)

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Aug 26, 2012 Helene Harrison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-chic-lit, author-female, genre-romance, 2010s-publication, setting-british, library-lends, 2012-challenge, format-paperback

This book really did have the potential to be amazing, though it was quite predictable. I think I'd guessed by the end of the second chapter that she would end up back with her husband, because the alternative, Oscar Retford, was so wrong for her and it was really obvious. However, I did quite enjoy the way Moran got to the end. The high-octane stressful environment of a professional kitchen was a clever way to make the characters seem more relatable, though Moran did at times seem out of her de...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Mekerei rated it 3 of 5 stars

Breakfast in Bed is definitely chick lit. This was an audio book I decided to listen to at work instead of the radio.

It was predictable (but chick lit normally is); husband cheats on wife, wife finds out and proceeds to divorce. She meets someone new; he wants her back. You get the idea.

She's a chef, he's on the floor - this revolves around food.

I was able to still work and listen; 3 stars!

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Jan 18, 2012 Chanpreet rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's an enjoyable read. There are some hidden depths that keep this book from being exactly like many others I've read, but I doubt I'll be able to recall much later.

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Dec 02, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a great, lighthearted book! Would be perfect for a holiday read. Moran wrote in a humorous style and this book is sure to evoke a few laughs. I felt the ending was a bit sudden and rushed, but if you're looking for a simple but funny read, this is the one.

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Apr 22, 2012 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars

Crap!

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May 11, 2012 Kaycee rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's not your ordinary chick-lit. The plot the was well written that somehow you wished the ended took a different course. I couldn't help thinking that Oscar was really Chef Gordon Ramsey. Haha!

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May 20, 2012 Di rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-okay

It started out so promising. For the first 150 pages or so I was hooked, then it just seemed to go down hill. Almost like someone else had written the second half, not knowing anything about the first half.

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Jul 13, 2011 Chloe rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5

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Mar 08, 2013 Laura Burden rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Eleanor Moran

Eleanor Moran is an author and BBC TV producer.

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