Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran

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Sisters Marjan, Bahar, and Layla have crafted new lives for themselves. Escaping Iran after the 1979 revolution, the three have made their way to rural Ireland, where their Babylon Café has enchanted the hearts (and stomachs) of the locals.  However, not everything is as rosy as it seems in their new home. Each sister has her own secret, shielding the others from her own private struggle. Tension builds in the household as Marjan, Bahar, and Layla attempt to reconcile their personal issues and their familial responsibilities. Everything comes to a head with the arrival of two mysterious strangers to their sleepy coastal village.

This book is the sequel to Mehran's first book, Pomegranate Soup, but the characters and plot work well as a standalone novel. There are threads of fantasy and romance woven through the story. Personally, these plot elements felt superfluous to the main story. However, fans of these genres may enjoy the budding romance and supernatural happenings. The characters are charming and the rustic setting is the perfect backdrop for Mehran's story. The author is a master of sensory imagery, and her descriptions of the dishes at the Babylon Café are a highlight. The recipes at the back of the book are the cherry on top of one sweet read.

Reviewed by Hannah

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