Cake Off At The Cat Cafe by Rachel Rowlands

5 Stars Mar 27, 2025

My review

5/5 stars

Clem bakes at Catpurrcino cafe and struggles with severe anxiety. Lucas bakes at Muddy Paws cafe and has been caring for his ailing father for years. They both end up entering a baking competition to win money to improve their lives, and forge an unexpected friendship that makes them confront their personal beliefs about themselves.

I wasn't aware that this was the second book in a series when I requested it from NetGalley, but it made not a jot of difference to my reading experience. The story read completely independently of anything that came before it.

Both Clem and Lucas were adorable characters that I fell in love with quite quickly. Their stories were incredibly real and relatable - I particularly connected with Clem's anxiety battle and Lucas's personal responsibility struggle as he cared for his aging, ailing parents. As individual characters, they were wonderful, but I really bought into their chemistry together.

It was a very easy and cosy read, absolutely helped by the Bake Off-type feel to the competition element of the story. There was enough tension to keep the pace feeling fresh, but the story never felt heavy or stressful.

I'm now curious to read the other book in the series, so I may have to go pick it up.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book blurb

Clem is the baker in charge of creating delicious cat-themed treats for the loyal customers of the Catpurrcino cat café. From iced kitten doughnuts to macarons with ears and whiskers, Clem's creations always bring a smile to the face of anyone lucky enough to taste them.

But outside of the café's kitchen, Clem struggles with feelings of anxiety and where she fits in. Until Sylvie, the owner of the café, decides to push her out of her comfort zone. The Whisked Away baking competition is a chance for Clem to shine and find her inner confidence.

Also competing this year is Lucas, the owner of Muddy Paws café, accompanied by his faithful Golden Retriever Reina.

The stage is set for an epic cake-off between cats and dogs. But as Clem stumbles in the first challenge, Lucas always seems to be there with an encouraging word and a smile. The chemistry between them is soon undeniable.

Is this just the heat in the kitchen? Or something real? And can their feelings survive a showdown in the final round...