Description

Book Synopsis

WINNER OF THE FORTNUM & MASON''S DEBUT FOOD BOOK AWARD

''A tender and beautifully written tour-de-force on love, grief, hope and cake. If this is not the book of the summer, I will eat my wig. An absolute triumph'' THE SECRET BARRISTER

''An utterly beautiful, moving, bittersweet book on love and loss. I loved it'' DOLLY ALDERTON

_____________________________________________________

Olivia Potts'' mother died when she just twenty-five. Stricken with grief, she did something life changing and rather ridiculous: she gave up a high-flying legal career to study at the notoriously difficult Le Cordon Bleu, despite not being able to cook. No one ever told Olivia you couldn''t bake your way to happiness - but could you?
_______________________________________________

''A brilliant, brave and beautiful book: funny and charming; utterly inspiring and life-affirming'' Olivia Sudjic
<

Trade Review
A heart-warming book about death and new beginnings that will delight cake lovers; it manages to be moving, funny and mouth-watering in equal measure - a difficult literary confection to master * Guardian *
I laughed, I cried, I baked gingerbread biscuits. Potts is a writer who clasps you to her floury bosom and wraps you in your apron strings. There is wit and warmth on every page. This is a book of courage, consolation and more custard than you can shake a whisk at * Laura Freeman, Times *
Tender . . . filled with the comfort we all seek when dealing with grief * Stylist *
An honest, brave and funny account of what it is to love, to lose love and how to make macarons * Red *
I cannot express how much I adored this book. It made me laugh, cry, salivate and, on no less than four occasions, resolve to learn patisserie and leave the criminal Bar. Olivia Potts has delivered a tender and beautifully written tour-de-force on the four tenets of the human experience; love, grief, hope and cake. If this is not the book of the summer, I will eat my wig. An absolute triumph * The Secret Barrister *
A heart-wrenching yet humorous portrayal of grief, a delicious collection of recipes, an inspirational tale of changing careers, and a feel good love story * Vogue *
I loved it so much. It's funny, sharp, sad and full of clear observations about food. I laughed so much (and I cried) * Ella Risbridger, author of Midnight Chicken *
A brilliant, brave and beautiful book: funny and charming; utterly inspiring and life-affirming. I loved it * Olivia Sudjic *
Potts writes powerfully about the nature of grief, yet she has the lightest of touches with her sensuous descriptions of food. A delightful read - and there are some terrific recipes in it, too * Daily Mail *
Uplifting . . . tender * i *
An utterly beautiful, moving, bittersweet book on love and loss. I loved it * Dolly Alderton *
Heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns, it's a candid account of dealing with bereavement * Waitrose Weekend *
An open-hearted, uproariously funny, moving love story. It will make you laugh and cry in equal measure, and fall in love with baking, with eating, and with love itself. A remarkable book by an enormously talented writer * Kate Young, author of The Little Library Cookbook *
Honest, humorous and peppered with great recipes * Delicious *
Her writing inspires resilience * Woman & Home *
She writes with the precision required of a pastry chef. . . finely observed descriptions of texture, taste and smell. A love story, with sadness, humour and tension. Uplifting * Prue Leith, Spectator *
There are plenty of laughs, and her unfolding relationship with Sam is a joy * Country Life *

A Half Baked Idea

    Product form

    £10.44

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £10.99 – you save £0.55 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 22 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Olivia Potts

    5 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of A Half Baked Idea by Olivia Potts

      Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
      Publication Date: 30/07/2020
      ISBN13: 9780241380468, 978-0241380468
      ISBN10: 0241380464

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      WINNER OF THE FORTNUM & MASON''S DEBUT FOOD BOOK AWARD

      ''A tender and beautifully written tour-de-force on love, grief, hope and cake. If this is not the book of the summer, I will eat my wig. An absolute triumph'' THE SECRET BARRISTER

      ''An utterly beautiful, moving, bittersweet book on love and loss. I loved it'' DOLLY ALDERTON

      _____________________________________________________

      Olivia Potts'' mother died when she just twenty-five. Stricken with grief, she did something life changing and rather ridiculous: she gave up a high-flying legal career to study at the notoriously difficult Le Cordon Bleu, despite not being able to cook. No one ever told Olivia you couldn''t bake your way to happiness - but could you?
      _______________________________________________

      ''A brilliant, brave and beautiful book: funny and charming; utterly inspiring and life-affirming'' Olivia Sudjic
      <

      Trade Review
      A heart-warming book about death and new beginnings that will delight cake lovers; it manages to be moving, funny and mouth-watering in equal measure - a difficult literary confection to master * Guardian *
      I laughed, I cried, I baked gingerbread biscuits. Potts is a writer who clasps you to her floury bosom and wraps you in your apron strings. There is wit and warmth on every page. This is a book of courage, consolation and more custard than you can shake a whisk at * Laura Freeman, Times *
      Tender . . . filled with the comfort we all seek when dealing with grief * Stylist *
      An honest, brave and funny account of what it is to love, to lose love and how to make macarons * Red *
      I cannot express how much I adored this book. It made me laugh, cry, salivate and, on no less than four occasions, resolve to learn patisserie and leave the criminal Bar. Olivia Potts has delivered a tender and beautifully written tour-de-force on the four tenets of the human experience; love, grief, hope and cake. If this is not the book of the summer, I will eat my wig. An absolute triumph * The Secret Barrister *
      A heart-wrenching yet humorous portrayal of grief, a delicious collection of recipes, an inspirational tale of changing careers, and a feel good love story * Vogue *
      I loved it so much. It's funny, sharp, sad and full of clear observations about food. I laughed so much (and I cried) * Ella Risbridger, author of Midnight Chicken *
      A brilliant, brave and beautiful book: funny and charming; utterly inspiring and life-affirming. I loved it * Olivia Sudjic *
      Potts writes powerfully about the nature of grief, yet she has the lightest of touches with her sensuous descriptions of food. A delightful read - and there are some terrific recipes in it, too * Daily Mail *
      Uplifting . . . tender * i *
      An utterly beautiful, moving, bittersweet book on love and loss. I loved it * Dolly Alderton *
      Heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns, it's a candid account of dealing with bereavement * Waitrose Weekend *
      An open-hearted, uproariously funny, moving love story. It will make you laugh and cry in equal measure, and fall in love with baking, with eating, and with love itself. A remarkable book by an enormously talented writer * Kate Young, author of The Little Library Cookbook *
      Honest, humorous and peppered with great recipes * Delicious *
      Her writing inspires resilience * Woman & Home *
      She writes with the precision required of a pastry chef. . . finely observed descriptions of texture, taste and smell. A love story, with sadness, humour and tension. Uplifting * Prue Leith, Spectator *
      There are plenty of laughs, and her unfolding relationship with Sam is a joy * Country Life *

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account