Recipe for Joy

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Published by: Lake Union Publishing
Release Date: March 24, 2026
ISBN13: 978-1662532412

 
Synopsis

Belle Sutton flees New York City for quaint Gates Mills, Ohio, with her world in tatters. Back home with her beloved grandmother, she finds her footing and a sense of belonging she’s craved. But when tragedy strikes, Belle returns to New York, more rudderless than before.

There, a book of cherished family recipes mysteriously arrives in the mail, along with a letter urging Belle to read the cookbook with her younger sister, Alexis. The two, inseparable as children, are now estranged, mirroring the family rupture no one talks about—the lifelong rift between Gran and her sister, Grace.

Endeavoring to get her life together and all-too aware how the passage of time has complicated matters, Belle reluctantly reconnects with Alexis while poignant letters and photos inexplicably keep arriving. A meaningful piece of Belle’s life falls into place—until longstanding resentments ruin the sisters’ détente. When the reason behind Gran and Grace’s fracture is revealed, along with who’s been sending the letters, Belle and Alexis face a reckoning: Can they learn from the older generation’s mistakes, and rekindle the closeness each desperately needs?

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Praise

"Comas gives us characters so real, you'll want to invite them to your own kitchen table."
—Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author

 

"In Recipe For Joy, two estranged sisters are brought together by their late grandmother's recipes. What begins in heartache becomes a journey of forgiveness and healing--a warm, witty reminder that food and family hold the power to lead us home. With a pinch of memory and a dash of love, Comas' debut is a novel to savor. An absolute joy to read."
—Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of We Are Made of Stars

 

"Writing with a deep understanding of grief, grudges, and the difficult but essential path to forgiveness, Monica Comas has spun a heartwarming tale of healing and self-discovery. Recipe for Joy is an old-fashioned, hopeful hug of a novel, complete with recipes that are sweet to the tooth and nourishing to the soul."
—Karen Dukess, USA today best-selling author of Welcome to Murder Week and The Last Book Party

 

"Recipe for Joy is a hug in book form. Monica Comas's writing delivers tender characters who feel like wonderfully familiar neighbors. I loved the journey this story took me on—from suburbia to rural farms, and then to farmers' markets in the heart of New York City—with intergenerational secrets, never-too-late romance, sibling rivalry, deep friendships, and career changes. Throughout, Comas gives us a bonus of actual recipes of sweet and savory dishes I can try for myself and pass on to others which makes this a book I'll keep in my kitchen as well as on my bedside table."
—Jimin Han, author of The Apology

 

"A wonderful and delightful novel filled with warmth, wit, and so much heart. Comas expertly crafts a poignant exploration of loss and love, told through a compelling narrative that champions family, hope, and healing."
—Abigail Rose-Marie, author of The Moonflowers

 

"Recipe for Joy is the farm-to-table edition on grief and family relationships. Comas skillfully bakes in the notion that our past can help us find our future. She also reminds us that, despite distance, our palates can stir memories and lead us home. This savory debut novel is a foodie's meditation on how to thrive."
—Ramona Reeves, author of It Falls Gently All Around and Other Stories

 

"Recipe for Joy offers so much more than wonderful cookies. Readers will be immediate friends with Belle and her sister, Lexie, and everyone will wish for Gran's counsel while eating in her special kitchen. Colorful fabric scraps and skeins of wool in the sewing room wind us into a story perfect to curl up with and enjoy. This is a story about family and what to do when the delicate threads unfurl. With the backdrop of New York City and Cleveland, I felt I was visiting Gates Mills and stopping at the clapboard house for a cup of tea with Belle. I couldn't wait to see the family mysteries resolved and I appreciated every moment of the journey. Recipe for Joy is a handbook for surviving sadness and rekindling our hearts with love."
—Marcia Bradley, author of The Home for Wayward Girls