Lizzy and Jane - by Katherine Reay (Paperback)

About the Book

Lizzy and Jane couldn't be further from Jane Austen's famous sisters for whom they are named.

Book Synopsis

Sometimes the courage to face your greatest fears comes only when you've run out of ways to escape.

At the end of a long night, Elizabeth leans against the industrial oven and takes in her kingdom. Once vibrant and flawless, evenings in the kitchen now feel chaotic and exhausting. She's lost her culinary magic, and business is slowing down.

When worried investors enlist the talents of a tech-savvy celebrity chef to salvage the restaurant, Elizabeth feels the ground shift beneath her feet. Not only has she lost her touch; she's losing her dream.

And her means of escape.

When her mother died, Elizabeth fled home and the overwhelming sense of pain and loss. But fifteen years later, with no other escapes available, she now returns. Brimming with desperation and dread, Elizabeth finds herself in the unlikeliest of places, by her sister's side in Seattle as Jane undergoes chemotherapy.

As her new life takes the form of care, cookery, and classic literature, Elizabeth is forced to reimagine her future and reevaluate her past. But can a New York City chef with a painful history settle down with the family she once abandoned . . . and make peace with the sister who once abandoned her?

"Deeply moving and intensely meaningful, Reay's latest gives readers an intimate look into the lives of sisters. Delicious descriptions of food and the closeness that it provides to others gives the novel even more depth." -RT Book Reviews, 4-1/2 Stars TOP PICK!

Review Quotes

"Elizabeth Hughes is a respected chef in New York, but she's lost her passion and knows her restaurant is suffering. Fighting burnout, she decides to visit her sister Jane, who is battling cancer. As Elizabeth and her sister struggle to reconnect after years of misunderstanding and betrayal, there are very real moments of pain and vulnerability. In her own words, Elizabeth is 'bristly, rude, and terribly self-absorbed, ' and her sister is more of the same. Although Lizzy and Jane were named for Jane Austen's most famous sisters, this story tracks with Persuasion, in both caustic tone and the encompassing theme of a life more fully lived. Filled with food and literary food references, this book will appeal to literature aficionados, foodies, and any lover of a good romance."--CBA Retailers + Resources

"A Rising Star in Contemporary Fiction!"--Family Fiction

"Deeply moving and intensely meaningful, Reay's latest gives readers an intimate look into the lives of sisters. Elizabeth's character is raw and real - her desire to live a meaningful life and her authentic fear of rejection will help everyone identify closely with her journey. Delicious descriptions of food and the closeness that it provides to others gives the novel even more depth." SUMMARY: After the ordeal of her mother's battle with, and death from, cancer when she was a teenager, Elizabeth has spent the following years making a name for herself as a chef while keeping her distance from her father and older sister, Jane. Yet Elizabeth has lost her edge with her restaurant and decides to visit her family on the west coast. Jane is undergoing chemo for cancer, and as much as Elizabeth wants to avoid the situation, she must find a way to help Jane and figure out the next steps in her own life.'--RT Book Reviews, 4-1/2 Stars TOP PICK!

"In a rich feast for the senses---both literary and culinary---Reay's (Dear Mr. Knightley) sophomore novel introduces two estranged sisters who rediscover the meaning of family 15 years after their mother succumbed to cancer. Master chef Elizabeth, or Lizzy, has lost her touch at work and finds her New York restaurant slipping out of her control. Needing time off, she journeys back home---to sit in the oncology ward with her sister, Jane, who is now fighting breast cancer. The stressful circumstances force them back into a real relationship, an uncomfortable reunion in which they confront their past and contemplate their uncertain futures. Jane Austen books and delicious foods remind them of surprising and comforting truths imparted to them by mother. Jane's husband and children, her fellow chemotherapy patients, and her colleague Nick play important roles in helping Lizzy find the source for the peace she desperately craves. Reay treats readers to a banquet of flavors, aromas, and textures that foodies will appreciate, and clever references to literature add nuances sure to delight bibliophiles. The relatable, very real characters, however, are what will keep readers clamoring for more from this talented author."--Publishers Weekly

"Okay, I'm just going to say it upfront. This isn't so much a review as it is a love letter to the uber-talented Katherine Reay. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Lizzy and Jane since I forlornly turned the final page of Katherine Reay's critically acclaimed, beloved, double Carol Award-winning debut, Dear Mr. Knightley last year (sidebar, if you haven't read Dear Mr. Knightley run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore for a copy). . . . "Bookstores are packed with novels starring characters battling with cancer. Where Katherine Reay's storytelling sets itself apart is with this - she has managed to write a book that is all about cancer, yet at the same time not about cancer at all. The stars of the show here are Lizzy and Jane - their taut relationship, their fears, regrets and failures, their hopes and dreams and yes, their grappling with the disease that has already cost them so dearly. "Classic literature lovers will again enjoy the way Reay seamlessly weaves in literary references - from Hemingway to Austen to Dickens. Not in a snobbish, showboating way, but with a deft hand that adds color and depth to the story. . . . "Buy this book. Savor this book. It's poignant, it's witty, it's got romance and drama and complex characters and dialogue and it's clever and it makes you think and sigh and, yes, even swoon and the food, oh the food. It's the kind of book that makes you want to start again from the beginning as soon as you've reached the end because it has so many layers, subtleties, and depth, it's impossible to absorb it all in one mere read. As I knew it would, Lizzy and Jane has firmly enshrined itself as one of my ten must-reads for 2014. Seriously, why are you still reading this? GO AND READ LIZZY and JANE INSTEAD.'--Novel Crossing

"Reay's second Jane Austen-inspired tale is a layered and nuanced story of faith and hope, enriched by complex but relatable characters. Recommended for lovers of character-driven women's fiction."--Library Journal

About the Author

Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked in not-for-profit development before returning to school to pursue her MTS. Katherine lives with her husband and three children in Seattle, WA. Dear Mr. Knightley was her first novel. Twitter: @Katherine_Reay Facebook: katherinereaybooks