Bread Alone: A Novel

By Judith R. Hendricks

For fans of Like Water for Chocolate and Woman on Top comes a deliciously magical and mouth watering story, filled with wonder, discovery, and new beginnings.

Thirty-one-year-old Wynter Morrison long ago gave up on finding a suitable career and drifted into the role of trophy wife to an ambitious advertising executive. After her husband decides that their marriage was a mistake Wyn leaves behind her posh, pampered life and ventures north to Seattle, spending aimless hours sipping coffee at a local bakery. As the sweet aromas of freshly-baked bread awaken memories of her apprenticeship at a French boulangerie, she feels the desire and ambition to bake bread once again.

Soon, Wyn finds--in the kneading of the dough and the scent of yeast hanging in the air--an unexpected and wondrous healing power that helps her to rediscover that nothing stays the same. Inspiring and beautifully rendered, Bread Alone is an uplifting debut novel guaranteed to warm the heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062104687

Judith R. Hendricks

A former journalist, copywriter, computer instructor, travel agent, waitress, and baker, Judith Ryan Hendricks is the author of three previous novels, including the bestseller Bread Alone. She and her husband live in New Mexico.

Reviews for Bread Alone

[danigoose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My only complaint is that I bought enough bread,scones,muffins, etc for an army while reading this book. It is a very good read, fast. Thank goodness I finished it in one night, otherwise I would run out of freezer and cabinet space.

[Dorothy Grinstead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

fun book to read. three cheers for a gal who gets lemons and makes lemonade to go with her scones.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wynter's baking journey begins in Toulouse with her mentor, Jean-Despite David's later downfalls, the humor in his masked encounter was unexpected fun.Intriguing bread-making and recipes will inspire many to join with the fluffy loaves.Despite Wynter's over-extended and ultimately boring to readers futility in hoping that David will totally reverse the new reality of his life and return to her,the plot does move forward with her move to Seattle to accept a generous offer as a night bakerwith a depressing bossy co worker.Why she doesn't save her little fir tree by simply digging it up is a mystery.Why there needs to be so much alcohol, puking, and hangovers is another mystery.And why string Gary along when she knows he's not The One...?David coming unannounced to her Mother's house after the wedding was a ridiculous plot twist.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Good chick lit debut novel. An entertaining beach read.

[bookish59 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Justine's marriage ends she bakes bread to cope and earn a living. Soon she is a partner in a Seattle bakery adjusting to her new life with help from her mom and best friend and other friends. She becomes stronger, more independent and closer to her mom. Good read.

[dmtcer-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book! The bread recipes are a total plus, but the setting and the story are wonderful, too.

[jarvenpa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Once upon a time I was housebound with a couple boxes of Harlequin Romance novels from the 60's. We had intended to use them as kindling (though yes, burning books is very Fahrenheit..whatever).It was the dead of winter in an uninsulated cabin, what can I say (except that, trust me, books don't give much heat when you burn them).
Anyway, I read the books, all of them, before they went to their dreadful end. And I discovered that there were about 6 plots in all 300 books.

So, I think maybe there are around that many in the realm of chick-lit also. At least Bread Alone seems to go through the expected paces. You have the heroine, suddenly alone and coping with the infidelity of her rich and handsome husband (who is such a shlump, though a pretty one, that one wonders why she hooked up with him in the first place. Maybe it was the colored contacts). You have the secret passion of her youth (though at barely past 30 she is still pretty young), put aside for marriage to contact-guy. You have venture to a new place, where suddenly opportunity presents for her to reclaim the passion (not sex, mind you, but bread..and the descriptions of bread are far more erotic than any of the sex in this book). You have the cute fixing up of the new but temporary rental. You have the tough best friend, the assortment of minor but interesting characters, the complicated daughter/mom relationship, and the sexy guys vying for attention. And the very very predictable ending.

So hey, it wasn't the best work of literature ever written. But it was fun, and the recipes tucked throughout sound very delicious. So sure, I might look for more books by Hendricks.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read two years ago, and at the time wrote:Nice weekend read. I decided to drop the book at Muddy Waters today rather than try the recipes-- I have my favorites for all the ones listed already, just lack the time/inclination to make them. Maybe I'll be inspired now.Don't know why Wyn was so surprised at the whole David vs Mac vs Gary thing...anyone with half a brain could pick the man most comfortable in his own skin, and with her leading a full and rewarding life.The best part about looking up this review, though, was seeing a review written by my darling mother after she read the book in 2008 (The caps and other typing idiosyncrasies are completely hers.)Bread making IS exciting.ONE OF THE DEAREST MEMORIES I HAVE IS MIXING THE INGREDIENTS FOR A LOAF OF BREAD IN FRONT OF MY SON'S THIRD GRADE CLASS, LETTING THEM SEE IT RISE, BAKNG IT AND SERVING THEM SLICES. IWOLD HAVE ENJOYED TRYING SOMEOF THE RECIPES INCLUDED.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Didn't think much of this book at first. It was recommended because of other kitchen related books I had read... but when reading it I was drawn in by the different plot line and the writing was good! Some how I was sucked in and couldn't wait to get back to it and can't wait to get , the Bread Apprentice, the sequel... good book!

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wynter, a privileged Los Angeles housewife, is summarily dumped, and thus begins a rather predictable story of reinvention and romance. Wynter moves to Portland, gets a job at a bakery and picks up the pieces of her life in this rambling, often breathless narrative. But even if the story is a bit predictable, several recipes for bread are included that look pretty good.

[bakersfieldbarbara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read one book by this author, and immediately ordered all of her delicious novels from my local library. Bread Alone is Judith Hendricks first novel, and what an amazing debut. I laughed, felt blue and went along with all of her other emotions, relating fully with being dumped for another woman. Our heroine, Wynter, is living the "dumped wife's " nightmare in needing to know to wait for David, her spouse, to come back to her, or to take him to the cleaners financially, or to get on with her life. Choices.we the dumped have had to make, and it is the author's pleasure to bring us along for the ride. It has been a long time since I have read a novel that wasn't listed as a comedy that brought smiles and even a hearty laugh as I read the amusing and amazing things that Wynter did to survive. Having done a lot of them myself, I felt proud to be a part of this circle of women who pick up the pieces and plunge ahead into their new world, one of their choosing, not one thrust upon them by others. I finally found an author with whom I can spend hours and hours, reading, and then months and months waiting for the next delightful novel. And best of all, a book that I can recommend to any and all of my friends. This book will appeal to all women. Run and get your copy, and continue reading down the author's list of offerings. You won't be disappointed. .

[taanderson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A trophy wife is dumped by her overly ambitious husband, she moves to Seattle, gets a job baking bread, discovers her inner strength and what she really wants out of life. A wonderful feel good book. The references to the main characters time spent in France learning to bake bread, the descriptions of bread and the recipes included in the book made me want to bake a loaf of bread! I enjoyed this book and will look for the sequel "The Baker's Apprentice"

[merrymary_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story of love ending, love beginning, finding one's place in the world, and the joy and soul-mending power of bread making.Richly textured with Seattle atmosphere and yeasty details of kneading, adapting and creating bread recipes, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The plot involves a journey of discovery for the protagonist as she finds the world not nearly as neat and tidy as she was brought up to believe - and the answers aren't clearly delineated either.

[hammockqueen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book very intriguing. Well written and kept me hungry and even made me want to make bread. Trophy wife Wyn gets dumped and goes to Seattle......a fav. place of mine. This was part of my liking it....all the thoughts of Seattle. Works as a baker....

[signoraedie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pleasant easy read of a trophy wife who goes to Seattle after her husband asks for a divorce. She rediscovers herself and her love of bread baking. Predictable but entertaining, especially if you like baking. Includes some recipes.

[madamemeow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a very good book! A tad hard to follow on occasion, as she jumps back and forth from present to past frequently, but overall, a great read! I gave it four stars.

[icysiren · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book about making it through a divorce and findhing ones own place in the world.