First published 2023
Sofia stands in her grandmother's kitchen in coastal Italy, staring at a plate of pasta she cannot bring herself to eat. At twenty-five, she has spent years following every diet trend that crosses her social media feed, but nothing has brought her the confidence she craves. When her Italian nonna insists she stay for the summer to learn traditional cooking, Sofia faces a choice between her restrictive eating habits and embracing the Mediterranean way of life. As she shops in local markets, learns family recipes, and shares meals with three generations of women, Sofia discovers that her relationship with food reflects deeper questions about belonging and self-worth. The kitchen becomes a battleground where old wisdom meets new anxieties. Sofia must decide whether to trust centuries of culinary tradition or continue chasing the perfect body through deprivation. Her journey reveals how food connects us to family, culture, and ultimately ourselves.
Genres: family-life, contemporary, food-and-drink
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Italy
Period: 21st-century
50 pages · Paperback · Michael Caine
Content warnings: eating-disorder