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Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: A Novel Hardcover – January 30, 2024
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“One of those books you just want to hug to your chest. I loved it so much.”—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of While We Were Dating
A huge-hearted, redemptive coming-of-old-age tale, a love story, and an ode to good food
Nothing could be more out of character, but after fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband Bernard’s health declines, and her friends' lives become focused on their grandchildren—which Jenny never had—Jenny decides she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on the prime-time TV show Britain Bakes.
Whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras and timed challenges, Jenny delights in a new-found independence. But that independence, and the stress of the competition, starts to unearth memories buried decades ago. Chocolate teacakes remind her of a furtive errand involving a wedding ring; sugared doughnuts call up a stranger’s kind act; a simple cottage loaf brings back the moment her life changed forever.
With her baking star rising, Jenny struggles to keep a lid on that first secret—a long-concealed deceit that threatens to shatter the very foundations of her marriage. It’s the only time in six decades that she’s kept something from Bernard. By putting herself in the limelight, has Jenny created a recipe for disaster?
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPamela Dorman Books
- Publication dateJanuary 30, 2024
- Dimensions6.4 x 1.29 x 9.3 inches
- ISBN-100593656415
- ISBN-13978-0593656419
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Ford transports you back to that cozy, something’s-in-the-oven world where you somehow know (or at least believe) that everything is going to be OK.”
—New York Times Book Review
“Fans of cooking competition shows will devour this romp about an elderly home baker who appears on one in secret. As cozy as a cup of tea and cake.”
—People
“A sweet confection… Readers are sure to eat up this delicious paean to pursuing one's dreams at every age.”
—NPR
“Calling all Great British Baking Show fans: When you've salivated your way through the latest season (and the entire back catalog), this charming novel will fill the cake-shaped hole in your heart. The story of an older woman who enters a televised baking show is as cozy as a night in grandma's kitchen with the kind of feel-good suspense we love from the likes of Paul Hollywood.”
—Good Housekeeping
“Ford. . . entertains readers with backstage shenanigans while also focusing on the depth and intimacy that come from a lifetime of knowing someone.”
—The Washington Post
“There are a couple of recipes included at the end of the book. I haven’t attempted them, but I’m going to assume that taking them out of the oven will — like The Great British Baking Show and Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame — feel all warm and cozy.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Ford’s writing is sentimental without being saccharine, and the scenes from Jenny’s youth are, much like Jenny’s pastry, deliciously layered. . . For anyone who’s ever wished they could read, instead of watch, reality TV.”
—Kirkus
"A warm, sincere and heartfelt tale with relatable characters."
—Library Journal
“One of those books you just want to hug to your chest. I loved it so much.”
—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of While We Were Dating
“This novel is perfectly baked, utterly delicious, and completely moreish. Mrs. Quinn is destined to become the nation’s favourite.”
—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting
“Soul-enriching….From its enticing setting to its perfect ending, Mrs. Quinn’s Rise To Fame is absolutely marvelous. Like a great dessert, you’ll wish you could come back for more.”
—J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest
“Olivia Ford has written a moving, uncommon coming-of-age story, and if the age Mrs. Quinn is coming of is a few decades older than usual, it’s all the more uplifting and empowering for it. I loved the insider’s look into a reality TV show and the delicious descriptions of all the bakes, but it’s the love stories at the center of this novel that so beautifully rise.”
—Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is
"Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame is a charming, heartfelt and uplifting novel about love, family and the emotive power of home baking. I loved every minute of it!"
—Libby Page, bestselling author of The Lido
"Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame is a delightful story full of warmth, kindness and cake. Author Olivia Ford shows us that it’s never too late to take chances and step out of our comfort zone, and readers will be inspired and moved by Mrs Quinn’s charming coming-of-age tale. So sit back with a cup of tea and a slice of cake while you devour this deliciously feel-good story."
—Freya Sampson, bestselling author of The Lost Ticket
“Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame is an absolute delight. A lovely novel full of warmth, courage and heart, Jenny Quinn is a heroine you’ll cheer for every step of the way.”
—AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Mrs. Porter Calling
“Delightful and heartwarming, Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame is the ultimate comfort read and a sweet reminder that it's never too late to pursue our dreams.”
—Margarita Montimore, bestselling author of Oona Out of Order
“A warm-hearted book that rises to the top with its delightful story and wonderful characters.”
—Phaedra Patrick, bestselling author of The Messy Lives of Book People
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Pamela Dorman Books (January 30, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593656415
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593656419
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.4 x 1.29 x 9.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #356,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #328 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
- #1,249 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction
- #1,380 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Olivia Ford has spent the last ten years in entertainment TV, most recently as a story producer. Inspired by her grandparents, Jenny Quinn's Rise to Fame was longlisted for the 2021 Women's Prize Trust's Discoveries Prize. Raised in Lincolnshire, Olivia now lives in London with her husband and daughter.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book heartwarming, with one review noting how it celebrates life's possibilities. Moreover, they describe it as a quick, delightful read that makes them laugh. The characters receive positive feedback for being perfect.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
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Customers find this book heartwarming, with one customer noting how it celebrates all the possibilities of life.
"This story is a excellent reminder that being old is challenging and can be delightfully wonderful when doing the one thing one does best but..." Read more
"What a delightful story - I do love happy endings, and this doesn’t disappoint!..." Read more
"...This is mostly a story about achieving your dreams and about family relationships, but it also includes quite a bit of information about the baked..." Read more
"...Her bakes; their looks, smells & ingredients, provide a framework for memories of her past and reflections on her present...." Read more
Customers find the book beautiful and endearing, describing it as a quick and light read.
"...a excellent reminder that being old is challenging and can be delightfully wonderful when doing the one thing one does best but first one needs..." Read more
"This was a fun and quick read. It was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the characters. It was well paced and kept me reading...." Read more
"...So well written and beautifully done, it was difficult to put down once I’d started it." Read more
"...and about family relationships, but it also includes quite a bit of information about the baked items and even a couple of recipes at the end...." Read more
Customers find the book fun and entertaining, with several mentioning it made them laugh, and one customer comparing it to watching a movie.
"This was a fun and quick read. It was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the characters. It was well paced and kept me reading...." Read more
"Jenny Quinn is so lovable. I was rooting for her at every moment. She is brave and resourceful but doesn’t know her own strength...." Read more
"...predictable, but it's the kind of book you read for relaxation and enjoyment." Read more
"...This book was so boring that it took me 3 evenings to read 22 pages (a mere 7%)...." Read more
Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning the detailed accounts of the main character's past.
"...a wonderful husband who believes in you. The main characters are vividly created and the secondary ones are just that secondary without to..." Read more
"...It was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the characters. It was well paced and kept me reading. Would love to try some if the recipes." Read more
"...The characters so carefully developed and reflected are beautifully created, reminding one of friends, family, & perhaps ones self!..." Read more
"...I enjoyed the author's accounts of the main character's past (in italics) and its relevance to her life story...." Read more
Reviews with images

Warm and fuzzy with plenty to contemplate.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025This story is a excellent reminder that being old is challenging and can be delightfully wonderful when doing the one thing one does best but first one needs to get past the habit of worrying and have a wonderful husband who believes in you.
The main characters are vividly created and the secondary ones are just that secondary without to much back story. I did skim through a lot of the descriptions of the many items she baked but I loved the writing and the story.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOOK CLUB WAS MY BOOK TO READ & REVIEW TO THE GROUP. TYPE IN BIGGER PRINT HELPS PEOPLE WITH VISION ISSUES
- Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2025What a delightful story - I do love happy endings, and this doesn’t disappoint! If you love watching the Great British Baking Show, I think you will enjoy this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025This was a fun and quick read. It was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the characters. It was well paced and kept me reading. Would love to try some if the recipes.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2025I read this book after my brother-in- law recommended it,and I’m so glad I did! So well written and beautifully done, it was difficult to put down once I’d started it.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024Jenny Quinn is so lovable. I was rooting for her at every moment. She is brave and resourceful but doesn’t know her own strength. But the character I will remember is Bernard. We all need to be Bernards- champions for our loved ones!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024This is a heartwarming story about 77 year old Jenny who enters a televised baking contest with no expectations. She and her husband Bernard are just about to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. At first she doesn't tell him about entering the competition, creating a minor rift in their relationship, but she also has a long-ago secret she has never told him. This is mostly a story about achieving your dreams and about family relationships, but it also includes quite a bit of information about the baked items and even a couple of recipes at the end. It is certainly not a complicated story, and the ending is predictable, but it's the kind of book you read for relaxation and enjoyment.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame follows the life of a home baker who enters a national tv baking show contest. Her bakes; their looks, smells & ingredients, provide a framework for memories of her past and reflections on her present. The characters so carefully developed and reflected are beautifully created, reminding one of friends, family, & perhaps ones self! I loved every aspect of the book, thank you for writing it.
Top reviews from other countries
- LivvyReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming and heartbreaking!
Thoroughly enjoyed this, delicious but with depth!
-
ursula altmannReviewed in Germany on April 17, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Wohlfühlbuch
Ich habe es in Windeseile gelesen gehabt, man will ja unbedingt wissen, wie es weiter geht. Schade, dass keine Rezepte der Backwaren im Buch abgedruckt sind...
- LoisReviewed in Canada on May 4, 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
It is so nice to read a book where the main character is a senior. Mrs Quinn was a treasure!
- SNTMReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Great relaxing read for bake off fans
Really enjoyed this story I couldn’t put it down. Read it in about 2 days flat on kindle. No issues with formatting etc.
- Valerie DunnReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story beautifully written
Really enjoyed this book , excellent story interspersed with accounts of mouthwatering cakes and bakes . Loved it and will look out for the next book from this author.