IN SHORT: This clean Young Adult Book gender-swaps “My Fair Lady” and mixes it with heaping portions of “The Great British Baking Show.”

REVIEW

In an alternate 1830s England, it’s Culinarians — doyens who consult with society’s elite to create outstanding food and confections — who are the créme de la créme of high society.

Helena Higgins is at the top of her class at the Royal Academy thanks to her sharp demeanor and even sharper palate. With her final year looming, she knows she must produce nothing short of greatness. But what should her final project be? What can rocket her into the stardom she knows awaits?

Penelope Pickering is back from her travels for an extended visit with her friend and fellow Culinarian Helena Higgins. For her final-year project, she’s determined to prove the value of non-European cuisine to all of England, despite being scorned by most for her Filipina heritage and her nontraditional dishes. While she is nothing like Helena, Penelope still has strong culinary talents of her own, as well as something her friend lacks — flawless social graces and patience.

Meanwhile, Elijah Little, who has nothing to his name save a strong talent for flavors, hawks his pastries to passersby. London merchants won’t allow a Jewish boy like him to own his own shop, but he knows with training he could become something more than a mere street vendor.

When Helena and Penelope meet Elijah, Helena realizes the golden opportunity for what it is, and she’s determined to pull off a project never seen before. She’ll transform Elijah from a street vendor to a gentleman chef. 

If you merged “My Fair Lady” with “The Great British Baking Show,” the results would be something alone the lines of My Fine Fellow.

My Fine Fellow has swapped genders for Eliza Doolittle, Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering. If you’re a fan of classic movies, you may find yourself smiling over the similarities to the movie with Audrey Hepburn and how iconic conversations were twisted to fit the new storyline. Either way, this book is guaranteed to make you hungry and just may inspire you to whip up a batch of something tasty for yourself.

This historical fiction book takes place in 1833, but instead of William IV being on the throne, it reimagines British history by exploring the idea of what would have happened if Princess Charlotte had lived to become queen. As a result of this female leadership, it examines what life then would have looked like if women had more autonomy — specifically in the culinary arts.

I quite enjoyed this clean young adult book. It was cleverly written and overall was a feel-good read about food, friendships and finding your worth.

RATING

Rated: Mild. There are under 10 uses of mild language. Characters kiss.

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