contemporary fiction, magical realism
Wow, Missed Connections wildly exceeded my expectations. I was intrigued
by the description of this book from the beginning as a former
restaurant worker, lover of good food and sucker for time travel and
multiverse shenanigans - Aimie K. Runyan delivered! This is the first
book I've read by Runyan, but it won't be my last.
In Missed
Connections, Sabrina is nearly 40 and has been working her way up
through the ranks with fine dining restaurants, pursuing her childhood
dream of being a Michelin Guide inspector. Having recently been
dismissed from her latest job, with nowhere to go but back to her
childhood home, she finds herself breaking down at the airport where a
kind ticket agent offers her the opportunity to revisit some of the
important moments of her life. Would she do things differently if she
could? Would those changes make any difference in the current trajectory
of her dream?
It's a pleasure to watch Sabrina's journey
unfold. Runyan's descriptions of the inner working of a kitchen, the
scrumptious food, meticulous preparation, the hours and dedication of
fine dining staff was enchanting. I loved meeting the people who were
instrumental to Sabrina's journey, those that helped and inspired her,
as well as those who presented hurdles.
In a rare moment of
serendipity - which is wonderfully defined in the book - I got the book
and the audiobook of Missed Connections from NetGalley. The audiobook is
narrated by Caroline Hewitt, who narrated The Library of Fates, which I
listened to earlier this year. I really enjoyed her narration
throughout as she has a wonderful variety of voices and accents for the
characters who come from multiple countries and represent the diversity
you find in many kitchens. I never wondered who was speaking. It was
also never in question whether Sabrina was speaking to another
character, or thinking to herself, something that is not always clear in
audiobooks, so I appreciated Hewitt's ability to make the distinction.
The
book also includes a couple of the recipes that are talked about within
the story, which is a treat! I believe the final version of the
audiobook will have a supplement that includes the recipes as well.
Thank
you to Harper Focus, Harper Muse, NetGalley, and Aimie K. Runyan for
the advanced copy of this book and audiobook. Both will be published on
May 26, 2026.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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