The Kitchen Front

A Novel

By: Jennifer Ryan

Narrated by: Jasmine Blackborow

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir comes an unforgettable novel of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition and the four women who enter for a chance to better their lives.

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest - and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For a lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all - even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together only serve to break it apart?

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains recipes from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Jennifer Ryan (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A charming tale that will satiate a lot of different tastes: historical fiction lovers, cooking competition fans, anyone who revels in girl-power lit.... This story had me so hooked, I literally couldn’t put it down to cook.” (NPR)

“[Ryan is] a master of plotting and working in different registers.... Readers with an appetite for homefront WWII novels will find this deeply satisfying.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A creative and satiating novel. Certain to delight lovers of historical fiction and TV cooking competitions.” (Kirkus)

Wartime Britain through food

Not a bad story but oh the awful vocabulary mistakes! Characters somewhat stereotypical. Saved by food history!

loved it!

this is a relaxing and fun vintage style read. I loved it, and would definitely listen to more by this author.

A Wonderful Surprise!

I chose this book simply because of the cover and the title. I had never heard of it. What a fun surprise! It was wonderful! The presenter, the writing, the story, the character development, and the history I learned were all a part of why I couldn’t put this book down. Because I am very interested in cooking, the recipes and all of the kitchen talk was so very interesting to me. I listened to this book on audible…but I will go to my independent book store to purchase a copy. I want it in my library! I have a feeling that the characters will stay with me for a long time.

Delightful book!

I am a fan of books set during WWII which spotlight women in the home front. This book was perfection and did not gloss over the hardships, sacrifices, and value of friendship.

So good!!

I couldn’t stop listening, such a sweet story about friendship and food! The author did a beautiful job of laying out each character and why you should root for them.

Started slow but really was a good listen!

At first I detested one of the main characters, loved another and was indifferent to the other 2...as the story draws you in you even out and like them all equally...such a great job of character development! The story is small but huge...a little baking contest and 4 entrants going through differently difficult lives after each being devastated by different aspects of WW2. Very realistic in their growth and just another incredible slice of the real WW2. I loved it.

Just delightful!

I loved every minute of this book. It is a pleasant and interesting escape. I listen to a lot of books and not many are such that the story is compelling and well written or rather ‘woven’ together…..but this one is. The WW2 cooking and gathering details were of particular interest and reminded me of gardening, foraging around the farm and cooking with my lovely grandmother Eleanor Duckworth. This is one of the few books that I will listen to over and over.

Marti Snow

This story was delightfully done. I was drawn into the characters. It was clean, wholesome and interesting. Thank you!!!!

Love the narrator!

Second book I've read by this author. It brings the struggles of English women during the war to life.

Pretty entertaining -- stick with it!

I had a hard time getting into the story. I didn't particularly like the characters. But I stuck with it, partly because the reader was so good, and I'm glad I did. In the end, I grew to like the people, I enjoyed the book and was eager to listen to it.