GIRLS DINNER CLUB
Jessie Elliot
HarperCollins
Fiction
ISBN: 006059540X
256 pages

Junie and Celia are best friends who welcome Danielle into their circle. The three girls soon discover that they enjoy cooking together. Danielle and her grandmother teach the other two to concoct luscious Italian dishes. While the girls are inspired to try other recipes and invent their own food creations, they become closer, sharing the most intimate details of their lives and drawing support and comfort from each other.

Junie's parents are always gone. Trying sex with her boyfriend, Brian, has been a turning point for their relationship. Junie did not enjoy the act and hasn't been able to confide in Brian. She leans on her friends as her connection with Brian unravels. Eventually, Junie finds herself crushing from afar after one glimpse of Danielle's hunky cousin, Roberto. Amazingly, he seems to be attracted to her as well. Rob is a cheese expert and teaches Junie some fascinating facts about this calcium-filled food. However, as time goes by, Junie finds herself daydreaming about Brian again and feeling irritated by some of Rob's mannerisms.

Celia's cozy life with her dad is rocked when he brings Jane home. Celia despises Jane, and is horrified that her dad would get involved with her. However, she ends up grudgingly escorting Jane's British nephew, Henry, around New York and discovers a redeeming feature --- Henry can cook! Still, Celia can't wait to see the end of Henry's trip to New York. Or can she?

Danielle adores her grandmother, Nonna, but loathes the paths her mother and sister have chosen to follow as lingerie saleswomen. Nonna and others urge Danielle not to waste her beautiful singing voice, but Danielle has her reasons for turning them down. When bad boy Steve returns, she more or less forgets how he broke her heart. Then she uncovers an amazing family secret, and her perspective on her own life changes.

This is an enjoyable read, celebrating both the intense joy of cooking good food and the pleasures of friendship. The reader comes to care about each girl, rooting for successes and worrying over setbacks. Each character is clearly defined, and there are frequent funny scenes. The one way to improve this book? Include recipes!

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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