Laura Esquival
This novel was an interesting mix of food, love, folklore, and Mexican tradition. Each chapter begins with a recipe that pertains to the upcoming events in that chapter. The main character, Tita, learns at an early age that, as the youngest daughter, she is bound to serve and care for her mother for as long as her mother lives. Tita is not happy with this setup, and becomes even more unhappy when she falls in love with Pedro. Since Pedro cannot marry Tita, he marries her elder sister in order to stay close to Tita. Tita finds comfort in her cooking and recipes and her cooking magically reflects her mood.