Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate out now from Page Street YA; 386 pages
Content Warning: Anxiety, bullying, minor bodily harm
About the Author: “Marisa Churchill is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and continued her studies in advanced pastry skills at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Her work has appeared on Food Network, in Food & Wine, and Oprah” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Marisa Churchill on the following platforms:
Sylvie Jones’ dream is to have her own enchanted knife and cook up spells alongside her mother, and once she’s accepted into the Brindille School of Culinary Arts & Magic’s six-week preparatory program, she can finally start to achieve her goals. However, Sylvie’s excitement is quickly dimmed by a rumor that her mother cheated while competing for Team USA at the Golden Whisk, a major cooking competition. As a consequence, Sylvie is expected to prove herself by placing top of her class. But when important ingredients linked to banned recipes and influential people in the world of cooking begin to go missing, Sylvie must solve the mystery of what exactly happened at that fateful competition years ago. As secrets begin to reveal themselves, she must decide who she can trust and uncover the truth behind the Golden Whisk to clear the Jones name once and for all.
I was first drawn to Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate because of its vibrant cover. Brindille sounds like a foodie’s dream, with food trucks as classrooms and pumpkin books filled with pepita seeds. In the beginning, Sylvie wasn’t my favorite as she seemed a bit selfish and too focused on her own success. As the story continues, she starts to develop into someone who embraces the school’s motto: “We are stronger when we work together.” Although Sylvie had experienced a deep betrayal from someone she thought would never hurt her, she doesn’t falter and still trusts her friends to help save the competition. The side characters were memorable and engaging, and you can tell Churchill spent a thorough amount of time developing who they are. Georgia, Sylvie’s roommate, seems to have it all and dresses in designer clothes, but she is quietly fighting to prove her place at Brindille despite her scullery background. Flora, a mentor and student at Brindille, is working to win the competition to become the commis (junior chef) representing Brindille at the Golden Whisk, all while hiding secrets that make Sylvie suspicious of her. The mystery kept me guessing from start to finish, though the frequent plot twists felt a bit overwhelming at moments. Every time I thought I had the culprit figured out, the story would surprise me again. While I would have liked a bit more insight into what’s next for Sylvie, Georgia, and Flora, it would be nice to have a sequel continuing their story. If you’re looking for a cozy book with a touch of mystery, this book is an enjoyable treat!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Page Street YA for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Keonte Emerson, Pine Reads Review Writer, Editor, and Social Media Manager