Off Menu: A Novel

“Written as a series of charming and hilarious diary entries, this novel is a fantastic blend of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, and the humor of Molly Harper, Janet Evanovich, and Emily Henry. Perfect for foodies who love a bit of fun, hijinks, and romance.” — Library Journal, starred review

Hilarity and heartbreak are dished out in equal measure in Off Menu

Twenty-something Ruthie Cohen, a data entry minion for a second-tier movie app, spends her days thinking about the kickass meals she’s going to make for her besties, Trish and Lilly, while pining for Dean (sigh, Dean), her vacation fling from six months earlier. Could they have made it work in real life?

On top of that, Bubbe Bobby Grace, Ruthie’s beloved and inspiring grandmother, passed away and left Ruthie an inheritance of $62,873.42, along with instructions on how to use it: “Follow your passion, Dollface.” During a prosecco-fueled night with her gal pals, Ruthie decides to turn her passion into a career and learn the art of French cooking, enrolling in culinary school, paying tuition, and buying her chef’s whites with a few quick clicks online. It’s not long before Ruthie marches into the kitchen and feels the heat from her cooking partner, Jeff, the super hunky (totally taken!) musician that weasels his way into her brain — right next to Dean.

How can anyone be expected to focus on school, cooking, career planning, baking, friends, and deciding between two hot guys, especially when one of them also thinks that John Cusack is woefully underrated? And what if neither feels quite like Ruthie’s perfect pairing?

Amy Rosen is an award-winning food and travel writer and cookbook author who writes for publications such as Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and The Globe and Mail. A former editor-in-chief at Modern Farmer and food editor at Chatelaine, she’s the author of seven cookbooks. Amy’s also the proud founder of Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.