All He Left Me Was a Recipe

by Shenaz Treasury

All He Left Me Was a Recipe is a book of part-fact, part-fiction essays by actor and travel vlogger Shenaz Treasury about all the men who have been a part of, or influenced, her life in some way. The men whose roles have morphed between her best friends, lovers, teachers, fathers, sons and boyfriends. From when she was 3 to this very moment. The men she's laughed with, cried with, shared food with, had adventures with, travelled the world with. The men who made her laugh, the men who made her lunch, the men who took her to dinner, the men who later unfriended her on Facebook. Ranging from funny to heartbreaking to profound, the book is a candid and funny collection of pages out of her (very personal) diary, from her first kiss to her first breakup and all the awkward moments in-between.

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Keerthana TS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because of a podcast. I heard Shenaz speak about her experiences on Cyrus Says and was intrigued to read about her life in detail. She says that the book is part fact and part fiction. As a reader, it is tough to identify if there is any fiction in it at all.

Recommendation - read the book on a flight or during a vacation.

Pros- The book is well written. The structure of the stories, knowing where the men are now and her learnings from the relationships is an interesting writing concept. Her life has been very exotic (for an average Indian) to say the least.

Cons - after the first few chapters I had to push myself to stay interested in the stories. The patterns were repetitive. The title of the story gave away the entire plot. Towards the end I found myself just skimming through the pages to get through it.

[Saumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Simran Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shenaz, a 42-year-old actress,travel blogger, and VJ host, takes you on a ride through her relationships, spicing it up with experiences from living in places like Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the USA. She has dated folks from all over, bringing in loads of first-time giggles and heartbreaks.

The book is just what I expected—light, easy, and a real page-turner. Shenaz says it is part fact, part fiction, but I took it all in like it was her life story. As the title suggests, it is all about takeaways from her relationships. Each chapter ends with lessons learned, where the ex is now, things she is grateful for, apologies, and what she misses about them.

There were moments where I cringed and wondered why she went through all that drama. But you have to appreciate her honesty and storytelling skills. It got me feeling things and almost had me tearing up (but no tears, I promise).

I could nitpick, but instead, I will just say that if you are looking for a quick and breezy read, are digging for travel tales, or are getting over a breakup, this book is your buddy. It hits you with the realisation that you are not alone in the struggle. And not to forget, this book is for girls who are too western for India and too Indian for the Western crowd.

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "All He Left Me Was a Recipe," Shenaz Treasury dishes out a flavorful tale of love and self-discovery. As a reader who has tasted the bitterness of failed relationships, I found Shenaz's stories to be a comforting blend of reality and imagination. Her book is like a friend who understands the complexities of the heart, offering not just empathy but also recipes for emotional resilience. The life lessons at the end of each chapter are like the perfect seasoning to a well-cooked meal, making this book a nourishing read for anyone hungry for laughter, tears, and a pinch of wisdom on the side. It's a book that keeps you craving more, turning each page in anticipation of the next course in this feast of experiences.

[Bosco Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I understand why people go crazy over romance novels. I finished this 300+ page book in just two sittings.

Shenaz takes us through her three decades of dating experiences with men across cultures—Indian, Israeli, Brazilian, American, African, and more. Whether entirely true or semi-fiction, it’s engaging throughout, and what I like about it isn’t just the stories but how her experiences seem to map onto classic male romantic archetypes: the bad boy, the safe guy, the penniless dreamer, the mysterious stranger, the billionaire, the celebrity. Her boyfriends were like a catalog of the female fantasy lens on men.

Beneath it all, I sensed a woman full of energy and ambition. Yet perhaps she hadn’t quite integrated her shadow. Most of the time, she projected her unresolved inner struggles outward, shifting the blame. Still, the book is a compelling blend of romance, self-reflection, sexual exploration, and a raw snapshot of what dating can feel like for modern women.

[Juhi Bansal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You Shenaz for writing this book. This was extremely relatable. Every thought, every feeling was something I have been through at least once in my lifetime. Talking about your dating life, the different experiences and feelings that come with it in such a light hearted way is commendable. I wish more and more people read this book and understand why dating is difficult at times and there is no shame in accepting your real feelings even though you might have some regrets later. This gave me strength to write about my life as well.

Looking forward to your next book

[Roopa Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally did get comfortable and dove into a world that made me laugh, ponder and wonder…
Relationship is such a complex world of emotions to manoeuvre and this book with its part facts and fiction just showcases the spectrum of it with a healthy dash of humour and wit 😀
PS: I don’t pick fiction anymore so have to thank my husband for gifting this book😀

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 22 essays with introduction and epilogue. A well-written with wit at times about learning etc.

[Satyajit Naik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book after saw her promoting the book in insta , turned out to be good read .