SIZE MATTERS – The Book Diva's Reads

Size Matters by Cathryn Novak
ISBN: 9781631521034 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781631521041 (ebook)
ASIN: B01MAW0F3F (Kindle edition)
Publication date: November 22, 2016
Publisher: She Writes Press

John Frederick is a man of considerable substance, in every sense of the word. Rich, intelligent, reclusive, and very large, John Frederick lives to eat. His everyday needs are tended to by Mrs. Floyd, his house manager, and by a never-ending parade of personal chefs.

Enter Lexie Alexander, the latest applicant for that once-again vacant position. A young woman of magical sensibilities, fresh out of culinary school and still recovering from a recent personal tragedy, Lexie lives to cook. As time passes, a love of food, musical comedy, and tea begins to weave a connection between John Frederick and his new chef but then a major medical crisis completely turns life at Frederick House upside down, threatening the bond John Frederick and Lexie have forged.

Size Matters is the story of how people interact with each other and with the world, and what happens when the structure of a person’s life, their self-image, and all their familiar coping mechanisms are shattered.

Lexie Alexander has just finished culinary school and is still mourning the loss of her mother. Lexie knows she’s not ready for the hustle-and-bustle of a gourmet kitchen and is looking forward to working as a personal chef. John Frederick is an obviously wealthy man that is extremely obese, addicted to food, and beyond reclusive. He doesn’t understand why it is so difficult to hire and keep a personal chef. So begins the food-based relationship between two lost souls trying to connect, one by lovingly preparing food and the other by eating food in Cathryn Novak’s debut, Size Matters.

I found Size Matters to be a quick and easy read that goes beyond cooking and eating food. Both Lexie and John are searching for something and think they’ve found it in food, Lexie by cooking it and John by eating it. John becomes less reclusive and actually begins to interact face-to-face with Lexie, and they find that have much more in common than just food, such as love for musical theater and a quirky sense of humor. Just when it seems like their relationship is verging on something else, tragedy strikes (no, no one dies). I could tell you what happens next, but if I did you’d have no reason to read the book. What I can say is that if you enjoy light-hearted and quick reads, stories with interesting characters, or simply stories that provide a touch of romance along with some angst and drama then you’ll definitely want to grab a copy of Size Matters to read.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book for review purposes via NetGalley. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

December 6, 2016 – Size Matters by Cathryn Novak

Course Title: Food & Relationships Studies

Department: Culinary Fiction

Description: Lexie Alexander is the personal chef to John Frederick. He’s rich, intelligent, reclusive, very large, and lives to eat. But when a major medical crisis turns the household upside down it threatens the special bonds they’ve formed with each other.

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