Addy Mayford has always struggled with her identity. Brought up in a household of stories, food and faith by her Irish mother and Pakistani Nana, she feels constantly torn between the two sides of her upbringing. Since the death of her father, she's found contentment cooking delicious recipes from his home city of Lahore, despite the protestations of her mother that being a chef is no career for a young woman. It's only with the love of her gorgeous husband, Gabe, that she's truly found happiness.When Addy stumbles across a secret that shatters her world, she desperately needs to escape and is drawn to the sights of Lahore and the family she's never known. Waiting for her there is Addy's final acceptance of who she is, and a long-buried family secret that will change her life for ever.
To Lahore With Love by Hina Belitz was published by Headline on 19 March 2020. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review for this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour .
This book was like food for my soul, the perfect remedy for the total chaos that we are constantly exiting in. I was transported by this wonderfully talented author, through food and recipes, to Lahore itself, accompanied by the most colourful of characters.
I've always had a fondness for a 'foodie' novel. Some of my favourite books have centred on a food theme; from Chocolat by Joanne Harris to The Food Of Love by Anthony Capella - there's something that draws me to them.
Food and the art of cookery is a very personal thing; it can calm and restore and just the act of mixing together things to create something wonderful can feel like the greatest achievement.
For Addy; the main character in To Lahore With Love, food is certainly her thing. She's collected recipes throughout her life. She was brought up by an Irish mother and a Pakistani Grandmother, so her tastes have always been eclectic, and some of her quirkily named recipes head up the chapters in the book.
This story is not just about food though. It's a beautiful exploration of self. When Addy's world is rocked beyond belief, she takes refuge in a trip to Lahore with her best friend Jen, and her Nana. The author explores different relationships so very well, as Addy learns more about her own family, and in turn, about herself.
The sense of place is intoxicating, with evocative and quite beautiful writing describing places, smells and sounds.
Rich in culture, and in love, and of course, in food, this is a story that I enjoyed so much.
Highly recommended from me.
HINA BELITZ is an author and renowned equal rights lawyer. Born in Pakistan to an Indian father and a mother of Iranian, Afghan and Indian descent, Belitz was brought up in Hampshire – a place starkly different to her parent’s home city of Lahore, and where she was the only Asian person in her school.
Her debut novel, SET ME FREE, was critically acclaimed and led to her being interviewed by Morgan Freeman and starring in a National Geographic documentary about love.
Her writing has appeared in numerous publications including the Guardian and the BBC.
Follow Hina on Twitter: @Hina_Belitz
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