The Restaurant at the Heart of the Lakes

by Ellie Wood

What’s the real recipe for happiness?

An invitation to tuck in to a feast of friendship, food and finding your joy…

Anna Carleton runs the best restaurant in Buttermere, Hesta. Her local food, seasonal recipes and the taste of the wild she offers brings diners from all over the world to this corner of Cumbria. But there’s a reason why Anna works every hour she can – and it’s time she faced it.

Rose has spent her life farming the fells. It’s a hard life that’s not for everyone; Rose and her dad run the farm alone, and she can see they need to change if they’re to keep their home – even if change is hard to accept.

Olivia knows people patronise her for being an ‘influencer’ – but she makes a living from her videos and beautiful pictures of her seemingly perfect life. As an online star, she’s used to getting things for free – but when real life threatens not to be so photogenic, she realises there are some things money or fame can’t buy.

Will the rugged beauty of the Lakes and the delicious food it offers help bring them together, and maybe find the missing ingredients in their own lives?

Genres: Food

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2024

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now The Wildwater Women story was brilliant. This one was even better. Easily a read in one sitting kind of story (if life didn't get in the way).

Escape to Buttermere an excellent choice of location for an excellent lead character. Anna Carleton known to many as AC- Ice cold like Air Conditioning. The Anna in this story after tradegy in her family however has such a warm open heart while still taking no nonsense and knowing her own mind. She's slightly older than some lead women. I like that I like how she's been through so much and uses it for the better at Hesta.

All the characters fit well into this story however they all link to the one person. Anna is the best of character and everyone else gravitates around her. It only wouldn't fall apart in her kitchen without her because she trained them all. Other top chapters to me were Dani who says it like it is and Jack who grows on you so much. He is the complex one of Hesta.

Anna (again) would easily make a fantastic TV lead character with her queen qualities. Anna is going to stay with me for a long time to come. Highly recommend 5 stars. The World for Anna.

[Emily S · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
An aggressively meh book. It wasn’t actively bad, but you would think that in over 300 pages I would have developed some sense of emotional connection to the characters but alas. The nature descriptions were very pretty though, and I liked some of the restaurant scenes but apart from that it’s pretty much a pass.

[Carina Badger · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot I really enjoyed about this book - a very pleasant read. However, the storyline about the estranged mum reconnecting with Rose really irked me. Rose seemed to overcome decades of maternal abandonment in a few pages. I appreciate this may not be the genre to explore that trauma, but then why include this as a theme?

[Ana Moreno Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a love song to the Lake District, really lovely story and enjoyable. I love the fact that it included a foraged recipe at the end. The descriptions are quite deep but it suits the narrative

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this and it is a pleasant read but not compelling enough! It is very evocative of the Lake District though - just plot is a little weak

[Niamh Doran · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really loved the descriptions of the lake district and enjoyed the author’s writing style but i just feel like it needed a stronger plot to drive the story. so many crazy things happened and then we’d move on and some other soap opera-esque thing would happen and i was like…..ok????? i needed more structure from it

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of this book is very slow but it gets interesting in the last 1/3 as there are plot twists, which makes it worth reading, you just have to persevere. The ending also felt a little rushed.

[Kasia Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️. I loved the setting of this book and the food descriptions. But I found there were far too many coincidences for me which I thought were unbelievable

[Lucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different style of book than I am used to but when on holiday in the Lake District I thought it was only fitting to try a local author and I was not disappointed.

The Restaurant in the Heart of the Lakes really captures the essence of the Lake District through all the seasons. I liked having the main character as an older woman with a passion for her career and seeing the motherly bond she creates with other characters. It is a happy wholesome story of friendship, family romance and loss and seeing how the relationships between the characters develop overtime is portrayed beautifully.

Initially it seemed that the book might be a little slow, but I was pleasantly surprised by all the twists in the story which I was not expecting. Especially the ending of the book! Needless to say, I would not complain about a follow up book.

[Katie Heasman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet - preferred the wild water women by this author but still good and nice to read a story based in the lakes

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie does it again with another delightfully beautiful book. I laughed, I felt emotional, but I also felt hopeful. Just the same as I did with The Wildwater Women (one of my top ten books of 2022 and an all time favourite in general) I would say I love both books equally, but because this one was longer, I really did feel like I lived with the characters for the week it took me to read it, as if they were my own friends/family. I really enjoyed getting to know Anna. I LOVED her dad!! I wanted to help Jackson along the way, give Rose a hug! I so wish I knew Dani! Such a fantastic bunch who had their flaws but were also perfect examples of being real humans, who have a heart even when they intitally come across as cold or rude.

This book really is a love letter to my favourite place, the Lake District! (I bought this book from my favourite shop @fredsbookshop and started and finished it while I'm staying!) So it may not be fast paced and action packed, but it's a sweet and cosy read that you'll simply want to fall into. I never wanted it to end, and I wanted to sit with the characters and enjoy a cup of tea regardless if they were talking about their weekly drama or just something random.

Ellie writes beautifully and really puts you in the scene. She also describes grief in a way that makes you feel a bittersweet hope in your chest, as I'm sure we've all got a shared experience of the pain of losing someone (personal moment: I was reading The Wildwater Women when my grandfather passed and that book helped me so much over the dreadful weekend! I'm so glad it was current read at the time!)

I love that, like The Wildwater Women, it shows there is hope for all of us... regardless of age, regardless of our backgrounds / current situations etc! We can make changes in our lives / make new friends / chosen family at any age etc.

I absolutely LOVED that ending and I wanted more!!!!! I vote for a follow on book!!!! I NEED it tehe! It's all I'll think about now!

A beautiful memorable book that will live in me, not just for its setting of the Lake District, but for the beautiful characters & the story it told.

[Helen_t_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Carleton is a driven, hard-working chef running Hesta, the best restaurant in Buttermere. With her impeccable, high standards, Anna uses local food, seasonal recipes and foraged ingredients, and her delicious food entices diners from all over the world to her little corner of Cumbria.

Rose has spent her life farming the fells. It’s a hard life that’s not for everyone; Rose and her dad run the farm alone, and she can see they need to change if they’re to keep their home – even if change is hard to accept for some.

Olivia knows people patronise her for being a social media ‘influencer’ – but she makes a living from her videos and beautifully curated pictures of her seemingly perfect life. As an online star, she’s used to getting things for free – but when real life threatens not to be so photogenic, she realises there are some things money or fame can’t buy.

The magic of the Lake District and the very best of food will ultimately unite these three very different women, enabling them to find the 'missing ingredients' in their lives, and their own recipe for happiness.

Born and bred in Cumbria, I love a novel set in my home county, and this one was a delight. Ellie Wood has created a varied cast of characters, each struggling to reconcile themselves with their pasts in a story that looks at themes of friendship, empowerment and finding your own version of happy.

A book you can easily dive into, which keeps you turning the pages...and makes you very hungry!

Thank you to Harper North for a access to a Netgalley proof in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely read. It was first by this author and it won’t be my last.

I liked the fact that the lead character was an older woman who was seemingly content to live her life with out having to be romantically attached, Anna wasn’t looking for love and she doesn’t find it, at least not romantically. She does find love in friendship and connections. Anna has a way of connecting to people and supporting them when they are in need the most. Rose is trying to start a new business and Anna helps and supports her, she even helps Jackson when he wasn’t always very nice to her. She sees past the labels other people might put on others and tries to see the heart of a person. She even manages to connect with Will after stepping back and trying to look at things from his perspective.

The added twists about her brother and his family were unexpected and added another element to the book that made me want to read on to see what was going to happen next.

From start to finish I loved this book, such a simple message, be true and honest with yourself and enjoy the simple things.

[Scarlett Rudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t lie this definitely isn’t my favourite book in terms of the style of writing however this is one of my favourite storylines I’ve ever ever read. I bought it from Fred’s bookshop in Ambleside as the cover is just STUNNING, not realising it’s by a local author set in the lakes. Also as a foodie, the fact it’s about a chef just instantly drew to me and all the female characters I just loved. My only critique is that some of the relationships got a bit confusing towards the end as there were a lot of characters linked in many different ways so I found it very hard to follow but it didn’t put me off the book at all. This is definitely a book I’ll be keeping on my bookshelf for years to come.

[Alex E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars

I picked this up (without knowing anything about it!) after the cover grabbed my attention while vacationing on the Isle of Man.

It was another MEH book. Just okay.

The quick gist: Anna is a hard working chef, and through this story we join her in exploring relationships and friendships in her little corner of Cumbria.

Unfortunately, I really didn't connect with the book. I adored the descriptions of Cumbria and the Lakes District, and the scenes set within Anna's restaurant.

There was about 1/3rd of the book I enjoyed. The first bit Anna just seemed like a bit of a jerk, and the last bit went in a unnecessarily complicated and dramatic direction I didn't especially want (no spoilers here!- but I needed a freaking flow chart to follow it). There was a chunk in the middle where Anna seemed to be growing as a person, and supporting her friends and neighbors. That was lovely. Why couldn't we just stay there?!

All in all: I wasn't a fan. I think if you either live in (or are visiting) Cumbria, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, it's a pass.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! The descriptions of the Lake District were stunning. It's one of my favourite places and this just captured it perfectly. Also loved all the foraging and food. It definitely left me hungry especially for that ice cream!

I loved all the different types of love represented in this - friendship, family, romance, love for nature and food. It was stunning.

The different characters' stories - Anna, Rose, Olivia, Dani, Jackson - were so interesting and I just wish we'd had more of it. It made the twist at the end feel less believable.

Having said that, this was just a real treat to read and I was gripped right from the start. It provided the perfect escape into a delicious, chaotic, beautiful world.

It's also a joy to read books set in the North West (where I live hehe). It made me feel so connected to the story!

[Angela DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Restaurant at the Heart of the Lakes by Ellie Wood

Enjoyed reading this book , part due to my love of good food and great restaurants but also because it is set in the county that I call home .
We meet Anna who runs a restaurant in Buttermere ( in true life 2 pubs & a cafe , and an ice cream palour ) and two other main characters , Rose & Olivia.

Once they meet and come together the book follows them and we find out about their lives and how the restaurant goes along way in helping them forge true friendships .

[Sophie Duval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and lighthearted. I’ve been to the Lake District so loved all the mentions of this. However it was a bit predictable in parts and when the story dealt with sone of the plots and twists, these were kind of dropped in without much follow up or depth from the characters.

Still a lovely little read, but characters could have had a bit more depth! Did enjoy the development of Robert’s character.

[Book o’Lune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is basically a live letter to the Lake District. The descriptions are fantastic and it does make you appreciate every single detail. It’s a nice heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it, also liked the fact that it had a happy ending without being completely predictable as the twist did surprise me and I liked that

[Sarah Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What will I do now without this amazing story to escape into?!

I loved it, the characterisation is so good that I felt like I knew them all. The Lake District backdrop is a beautiful setting and serves the story very well. The plot twists and turns were brilliant, every time I told myself I knew what would happen next, I was totally wrong!

Ellie Woods’ writing is a joy and I wish this book had never ended!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Buttermere in the Lakes District the author shows her love for her home area.
Chef Anna runs the best restaurant, Rose works with her dad on a farm, and Olivia is an 'influencer' who visits. The three women meet, and lives are changed in the process.
A lovely warm read with beautifully described landscape.

[Christy Bosman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, such a nice and comforting story. The characters are very relatable and the writing is really immersive. I loved the setting of the Lake District and enjoyed the story until the very last page!

[Joanna Conte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book! I enjoyed Wildwater Women as well. I visited the Lake District several years back, and this book brought me right back to that glorious area of England. It is quite obvious that Ellie Wood loves her homeland! I can’t wait for her third novel.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it is so easy and pleasant to read and the connection that I felt with all the characters was amazing!

[Gillian Poucher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light enjoyable feel-good holiday read (in the Lakes of course!)

[Alisha Windle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely small-world story that made me more appreciative of where I live as a Cumbrian local. Nice easy, heartwarming read that I flew through.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 (rounded up)

This wasn't a terrible book it was just abit meh. Very basic story, basic characters, basic plot line. I didn't hate it, it is just nothing to rave about.

[Erin Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this, perfect setting and characters that stick with you! Lovely cosy book