Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a foodie at heart and grew up working in a family restaurant. I currently live in Los Angeles, where Iā€™m delighted to have access to all sorts of edible goodies. As a writer, I insert food into my books, specifically in my culinary cozy mysteries, which have murderā€”and recipes! I also adore the idea of the fantastical; as a kid, I often created entire imaginary worlds during playtime. Iā€™m happy to combine both loves in my newest series, the Magical Fortune Cookie books.  


I wrote

Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel

By Jennifer J. Chow,

Book cover of Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel

What is my book about?

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Momā€™s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie,ā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Jennifer J. Chow Why did I love this book?

What I loved about this book is that it pulled me into a vast imaginative world complete with fantasy fulfillment. Who wouldnā€™t want to win a golden ticket and get a chocolate tour? As a kid, I enjoyed the amazing descriptions of the wondrous factory and appreciated the vivid descriptions, like Violet turning into a giant blueberry.

The book also helped me gain a sense of justice, knowing that deserving Charlie could climb out of poverty and that bad behavior has negative consequences. 

By Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A splendiferous new hardback of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, part of a collection of truly delumptious classic Roald Dahl titles with stylish jackets over surprise printed colour cases, and exquisite endpaper designs.

Mr Willy Wonka is the most extraordinary chocolate maker in the world.
And do you know who Charlie is? Charlie Bucket is the hero. The other children in this book are nasty little beasts, called: Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop; Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat; Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer; Mike Teavee - a boy who only watches television.
Clutching theirā€¦


Book cover of Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies

Jennifer J. Chow Why did I love this book?

Honestly, I first picked up this novel because of the abundance of recipes within its pages!

I also enjoyed the fanciful idea that food can have power over emotions. And Like Water for Chocolate is a tale full of feeling, offering me a roller coaster experience as I journeyed with Tita, hoping for love and redemption for her in the end. Esquivel also wrote about strong ties to family and tradition, which resonated with me. 

By Laura Esquivel,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked Like Water for Chocolate as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INTOXICATING INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER ABOUT LOVE, COOKING AND MAGIC. PERFECT FOR FANS OF JOANNE HARRIS AND ISABEL ALLENDE.

'This magical, mythical, moving story of love, sacrifice and summering sensuality is something I will savour for a long time' MAUREEN LIPMAN

Like Water For Chocolate tells the captivating story of the De la Garza family. As the youngest daughter, Tita is forbidden by Mexican tradition to marry. Instead, she pours all of her emotions into her delicious recipes, which she shares with readers along the way.When Tita falls in love with Pedro, he is seduced by the magical food she cooks.ā€¦


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Book cover of The Pact

The Pact by Lisa Darcy,

The Pact is a contemporary fiction novel about Australian sisters, Samantha and Annie, who are doubles tennis champions. This story amplifies the usual sibling issues and explores their professional partnership and personal relationships ā€“ similarities, differences, motivation, competition, abandonment, and grief ā€“ and how they each respond to the stressā€¦

Book cover of The Mistress of Spices

Jennifer J. Chow Why did I love this book?

My friend recommended this book to me since I wanted to learn more about the Indian culture. I enjoyed discovering the different spices tied to each chapter.

In the beginning, there was a beautiful mythological backstory to becoming a Spice Mistress, which I found both inventive and fascinating. I also related to the emotional heart of Tilo, who flaunted the rules of her magic by helping those around her (including an exciting love interest).

By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Mistress of Spices as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A classic work of magical realism, this bestselling novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni tells the story of Tilo, a young woman from another time who has a gift for the mystical art of spices.

Now immortal, and living in the gnarled and arthritic body of an old woman, Tilo has set up shop in Oakland, California, where she administers curatives to her customers.  But when she's surprised by an unexpected romance with a handsome stranger, she must choose between everlasting life and the vicissitudes of modern society.  Spellbinding and hypnotizing, The Mistress of Spices is a tale of joy, sorrow,ā€¦


Book cover of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Jennifer J. Chow Why did I love this book?

What spoke to me the most was the concept of innate magical talent, and that power can be unlocked in an individual.

I liked how Benderā€™s constructed world made sense to meā€”a contemporary reality that could also contain the imaginative. Rose discovers her talent at an early age, tasting peopleā€™s emotions by their food; I loved the brilliance and simplicity of this idea. I also appreciated the layered story beyond the magic as I got to follow Roseā€™s emotional growth journey.   

By Aimee Bender,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

_______________________________
On the eve of her ninth birthday, Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother's emotions in the slice. All at once her cheerful, can-do mother tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes perilous. Anything can be revealed at any meal.

Rose's gift forces her to confront the truth behind her family's emotions - her mother's sadness, her father's detachment and her brother's clash with the world. But as Rose grows up, she learns that there are someā€¦


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Book cover of The Others

The Others by Evette Davis,

True Blood meets Supernatural in the kickoff of this urban paranormal fantasy series from an acclaimed author. Readers enter a dystopian San Francisco filled with empaths and vampires embroiled in political unrestā€”and Book 1 is just the beginning.

Much as she wishes otherwise, superstar political consultant Olivia Shepherd was bornā€¦

Book cover of Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop

Jennifer J. Chow Why did I love this book?

I loved the echoes of culture I experienced with this novel, which has a Chinese American protagonist. The cultural expectations and even tidbits of language made me feel represented.

I also admired that Vanessa could tell fortunes through examining the dregs of a teacup; as a tea lover, I wholeheartedly endorsed the notion. I was already familiar with Limā€™s storytelling and knew Iā€™d be in for a treat of a read, especially one filled with vivid details of Paris and its excellent culinary ambiance.

By Roselle Lim,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the critically acclaimed author of Natalie Tanā€™s Book of Luck and Fortune comes a new delightful novel about exploring all the magical possibilities of life in the most extraordinary city of all: Paris.
 
Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people's fortunesā€”or misfortunesā€”in tealeaves.
 
Ever since she can remember, Vanessa has been able to see people's fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance lifeā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel

By Jennifer J. Chow,

Book cover of Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel

What is my book about?

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Momā€™s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her motherā€™s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customerā€™s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicityā€™s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.

Book cover of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Book cover of Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies
Book cover of The Mistress of Spices

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