THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE by Kate Hilton (Book Spotlight & Wine/Dessert Pairing)

My Valentine's Day book recommendation...enjoy!

THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

 

by Kate Hilton

Published in the US by NAL, February 5th 2016

Paperback, 304 pages

Chick Lit, Women's Fiction

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The heartfelt and hilarious, international bestselling debut about having it all without losing your mind.

Sophie Whelan is the kind of woman who prides herself on doing it all. In a single day, she can host a vegan-friendly and lactose-free dinner for ten, thwart a PTA president intent on forcing her to volunteer, and outwit her hostile ‘assistant’ in order to get her work done on time.

With her fortieth birthday looming, and her carefully coordinated existence beginning to come apart at the seams, Sophie begins feeling like she needs more from her life—and especially from her husband, Jesse.

The last thing Sophie needs is a new complication in her life. But when an opportunity from her past suddenly reappears, Sophie is forced to confront the choices she’s made and decide if her chaotic life is really a dream come true—or the biggest mistake she’s ever made…

Favorite quote

 

“I believe in marriage. I believe that two good people can be happy together for a lifetime. It’s the only thing even close to a religion that I have, and I cling to it with almost messianic zeal. But it is a belief system that makes unreasonable demands on its adherents, all of us sacrificing to the bone for a reward that may or may not come at the end of our days; and all of us steadfastly refusing to see the mounting evidence that long-term happy marriages, if they exist at all, are pretty hard to come by. We all want to think that miracles are possible. Otherwise, marriage is just a lot of hard work.”

Praise for The Hole In The Middle

 

"Honest, deeply moving - and really, really funny." —  Jennifer Robson, author of Somewhere In France

"Hilton captures and distils the slight but constant ripping at the seams that can happen in a marriage when there is simply no time to nurture it." — Marissa Stapley, bestelling author of Mating For Life

"Hilton's novel beautifuly captures the daily grind and obstacles women face in a story that continually entertains...Accurate, humorous, and gentle." — Leah Eichler, columnist for the Globe & Mail

"Clever and compelling...with equal measures of hilarity and heartbreak." — Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List

 

About the Author

 

The Hole in the Middle is Kate’s first book. It was originally self-published in April 2013, but received such an enthusiastic response from readers that it was re-published by HarperCollins Canada in November 2013. It was published in the United States by NAL Penguin Random House in January 2016.

Before turning to fiction, Kate worked in law, higher education, public relations and major gift fundraising. She has an English degree from McGill University and a Law degree from the University of Toronto. She is a working mother, a community volunteer, a voracious reader and a pretty decent cook. On good days, she thinks she might have it all. On bad days, she wants a nap. Kate lives with her family in Toronto.

Kate is represented by Beverley Slopen of the Beverley Slopen Literary Agency. To learn more about Kate, please visit her website.

Wine Pairing

 

 

A delightful way to enjoy a good book is to combine our reading hours with a palate pleaser. My wine recommendation for The Hole In The Middle is a glass of Banfi Rosa Regale ('Brachetto'), an off-dry (slightly sweet and low in alcohol) sparkling wine from Italy's Piedmont region.  It's a festive wine, cranberry in color and with a fresh raspberry taste - a great aperitif wine that pairs well with chocolate and a variety of desserts. Try it with any berry dessert, from a raspberry tart to a blackberry crumble to a handful of freshly picked wild strawberries.