Let Them Eat Cake

by Sandra Byrd

book data

91 ratings, 3.63 average rating, 28 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		19%
4		35%
3		34%
2		9%
1		1%

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published

September 11th 2007 by WaterBrook Press

binding

Paperback, 304 pages

isbn

1400073278 (isbn13: 9781400073276)

description

Lexi Stuart is at a critical crossroads. She’s done with college but still living at home, ready to launch a career but unable to find a job, and soli...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 177)

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08/19/08

Natalie Nyquist rated it:

bookshelves: own

Read in June, 2007

recommended to Natalie by: Author
recommends it for: Girls over 18

Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is sweet and satisfying from the mouth-watering cover art to the last page. This book is more than just "chick lit". As the debut of a series striving to reach that gap of twenties-something young women, Cake is a visual and mental treat--and the petit fours on the cover are almost too realistic to be bearable.

What makes it different? I can honestly state that there were many times while reading that I forgot where I was and became lost in L...more Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is sweet and satisfying from the mouth-watering cover art to the last page. This book is more than just "chick lit". As the debut of a series striving to reach that gap of twenties-something young women, Cake is a visual and mental treat--and the petit fours on the cover are almost too realistic to be bearable.

What makes it different? I can honestly state that there were many times while reading that I forgot where I was and became lost in Lexi Stuart's world. Just because of my age and my dealing with many of the same questions about purpose and personhood, there were parts of the book where I could almost be convinced I was reliving my own journey.

Sandra Byrd is a good writer. By that, I mean that she knows her craft and treats it with respect. Cake is real. I appreciated that there was no instant love-at-first-sight, no perfect caricatures, no high-speed car chases or impossible happy endings. Lexi is merely a normal girl with normal emotions, a sharp dry wit, and a love of all things French.

I love French culture--the language, the food, the literature. Finding a novel which wove French with English in both words and culture made me want to get out my French Bible for a review. The book drew me in, reminding me of my own days working in a little cafe bakery with its distinct atmosphere, tastes, and experiences.

That said, this series is for young women, not girls. I would not give it to someone under age eighteen without careful thought. I am uncertain of Sandra's exact audience--supposedly it is to Christian young women, or so I thought. But you will not find much spiritual meat between the pages, nor do any of the characters show a healthy, deep relationship with the Lord. Perhaps Cake is meant to draw in those who have back-slidden, those who are cynical about Christianity?

My last word would be a note that there is a sub-plot involving Lexi's best friend who is dealing with a past rape and subsequent consequences. In my opinion the conversations about this topic were unnecessary and are what make this book one for adults, whereas without it I could recommend it to a younger audience. I am sure that my own experiences also color my thoughts on this.

From: http://blog.ylcf.org/2007/09/cake-is-fam...(less)

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08/09/08

Virginia rated it:

When I picked up this book, I expected a few jabs at Marie Antoinette, or maybe a heroine who was as cluelessly pampered. Instead I met Lexi, a likable heroine who is anything but pampered, and I developed an appetite for French pastry. Lexi is fired from her boring job, and is about to be thrown out of the family nest as her parents literally sell her home right out from under her in preparation to moving to their retirement dream home. Lexi takes a job that is far beneath her abilities and inc...more

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08/22/08

Holly rated it:

Read in November, 2008

Definitely chick-lit. Light and fluffy with very little depth or substance. Lexi is a college graduate going from job to job. Her degree is impractical, having something to do with French culture and literature. She moves back home, only to find that her parents are in the midst of preparing to sell their home and move to a retirement community. Predictably, Lexi's choices disappoint them. However, Lexi loves all things French and is determined to find employment that will indulge her.
...more

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03/04/08

Pam rated it:

bookshelves: fiction, washington-pacific-nw

Read in March, 2008

03/21/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: LET THEM EAT CAKE BY Sandra Byrd
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction, 2007, 310 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand- Alone
TIME/PLACE: present/Seattle
CHARACTERS: Lexi Stuart/baker
FIRST LINES: Catbert avoided catching my eye -- never a good sign.

COMMENTS: 03/03/08 rec bookcrossing ring/ray. A pleasant Christian fiction read. Lexi is a young woman in early 20's searching for the right job post college. It was refresh...more

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05/12/09

Krystal rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-books

Read in May, 2009

This was a cute boook - I think I have found another author that I really will enjoy! I did not care for the main character in the beginning of the book at all, but as she grew, developed, and changed, I found myself liking her more and rooting her on!

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04/13/09

Melinda rated it:

Read in April, 2009

I love books about baking and christian fiction, and this book was a great easy read. It's about a woman who has to decide what to do with her life, and she has options- - - cubicle office work or a small bakery. It's a great book!

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05/20/09

Johanna rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Albeit Christian fiction, perhaps a little too much "christian-ese". A light read that I breezed through on vacation. Great for when you don't want to think too hard.

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02/02/08

Laura0141 rated it:

bookshelves: 2008

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: christian women

This is a Christian chick-lit rather than romance and is set in a French bakery (in the US). The central character is Lexi who, as the book opens, finds her life going backwards. She's moved back in with her parents and has just lost her job. Struggling with her family's expectations, this is the story of how she grows up, both materially and spiritually. There *is* romance but that's not central to the novel which is much more concerned Lexi's all-round development. She's a very likeable c...more

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11/20/08

Chaos rated it:

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: anyone who loves Christian Chick Lit.

Fun book!! Food, God and fun. What more could a reader-searching for a lite read-ask for?!

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12/02/08

Dora rated it:

A cute Christian spin on chick lit; a good read for a lazy day.

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05/21/09

Sandra rated it:

Read in May, 2009

I remember this as being pretty cute, but I can't really remember all the details so it must not have stuck out to me all that much. It was definitely a good chic lit that didn't require a lot of thought. Hmmm...

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01/06/09

Leslie aka hugbandit7 rated it:

bookshelves: 2009, chick-lit, christian

Read in January, 2009

This book was a great combination of chick lit and christian romance. It doesn't hurt that they talked about food! If you like chick lit & Christian romance you'll like this book

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12/12/07

Marjanne rated it:

Read in December, 2007

This was not a bad book, but it seemed kind of lame to me. The story was a little predictable. Technically this would be considered 'Christian-chick-lit'. On the plus side, it is not preachy or overly-focused on any particular doctrine, but at the same time the main character is not all that convincing. I had a hard time buying that she had 'found' God again.

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08/22/08

Sara rated it:

Personal relationship with the author notwithstanding...

Likeable, interesting characters; thought-provoking, and topically timely for twenty- and early thirty-somethings struggling with questions of identity and meaning. Also fun to read for people like me who like baking and pastry! Looking forward to the sequels.

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2 comments

07/17/08

Kristina rated it:

I love all books that talk about food in them. It is a weakness. I usually learn a lot from them. This story is great and twists enough to keep it interesting. It is a Christian novel so the heroine is trying to have faith in God that everything is going to turn out okay. Very fun read.

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05/05/08

Christa rated it:

Read in November, 2007

Everyone goes through the what-should-I-do-with-my-life crisis at one point or another. And author Sandra Byrd eloquently captures that in "Let Them Eat Cake," a read that's as tasty as a cupcake—but far more substantive.

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08/16/08

Debbie rated it:

Read in August, 2008

recommended to Debbie by: Sweet Mary

I've been reading harder stuff, and when Mary recommended the book, I thought it a nice change. Quick read. Very sweet with decent and innocent romance. Thank you, Sandra Byrd.

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07/29/08

Laurie rated it:

I really enjoyed this piece of "Christian chick lit." Typical story of a girl looking for the perfect man and the perfect job, but enlivened by recipes and a not-so-typical ending.

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08/28/08

Betsy rated it:

I found this difficult to get through, but the plot was intriguing, I love anything about other languages. I don't know if it would have been better had I not been sick.

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05/30/08

Allison rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

A sweet, cute story. Not the most creative plot in the universe, but a harmless story with some good food thrown in.

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