Any Way you Slice It by Meabh McDonnell

✦ BLURB ✦

Sieve. Measure. Mix ... Win

For Carrie Quinn, baking isn't just a hobby: it's her future.

Winning the Castlecreagh baking competition and becoming best young pastry chef in the country is the first step towards her dream. But when she and Dara Harte, handsome pastry prodigy and Carrie's sworn nemesis, are both disqualified from the competition, it seems like her future has crumbled.

Unless the pair can find a way to bake together. Can they rise above their rivalry and complicated home lives long enough to succeed? Or are they a disaster waiting to happen, any way you slice it?

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Pre-Reading Thoughts
Teen romcoms with baking always smell like cinnamon and sugar—even before you open the book. Recipes at the end of every chapter? Absolute bonus points.

Post-Reading

• As I thought… The baking competition setup is perfect: lots of tension, lots of sweet treats, and plenty of rivalry. Carrie’s ambition is relatable and fun to follow.

• It surprised me by… How warm, funny, and charming the story is. The attention to family dynamics and emotional growth alongside romance is a lovely bonus.

Music Pairing

• 🎵 Featured Song: “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies

• 🎶 Vibe Album: Sweetener by Ariana Grande

• 🎧 Artist Recommendation: Dodie, for charming, witty storytelling vibes

Vibe Check

• 🎨 Colour Palette: Cream, caramel, soft pink

• 🎼 Soundtrack: Whirring mixers, gentle laughter, oven timers dinging

• 🌞 Season: Spring, fresh starts and warm kitchens

• 😶 Mood: Flirty, cozy, competitive

• 🌹 Scent: Cinnamon, sugar, and buttery pastries

Tarot Pull
💞 2 of Cups, Light Seer’s Tarot — Partnership, mutual respect, and the budding connection that grows when two competitive spirits learn to work together.

For Fans Of

• Love, Bake, Repeat by Jennifer Dugan

• The Great British Baking Show (Celebrity version for feel good vibes, full version for actual baking)

Any Way You Slice It publishes on the 29th of September, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.