Eat Post Like, Emily Arden Wells (Review by Shanna Thornsbury)

If you are looking for an easy, fun end of summer read… This is it! This book is an absolute gem — heartfelt, immersive, and unexpectedly uplifting. It starts with Cassie Brooks, a sharp, ambitious, workaholic lawyer in New York City who has her life mapped out; do anything she can to make partner at her law firm while trying to build a future with her thoughtful, food-loving boyfriend, James Colwell. Her structured world, though stressful, feels satisfying — until tragedy strikes. James dies suddenly, and Cassie’s carefully planned life comes undone. What follows is a beautifully layered story of grief, rediscovery, and the healing power of food, travel, and adventure. While trying to process her heartbreak, Cassie stumbles upon James’s old diary — and with it, a stunning revelation: James was the anonymous force behind the city’s hottest foodie Instagram account. With handwritten reviews, curated restaurant lists, and plans for Cassie to join him on a culinary adventure, the diary opens the door to a life Cassie never imagined for herself. One impulsive dinner reservation turns into something much bigger, as Cassie finds herself swept up in James’s secret world and an unexpected invitation sends her traveling through European hotspots, tasting the world’s best cuisine. As she steps into this unexpected role as an influencer, she begins to question everything she thought she wanted. Can she keep the account alive without losing herself? More importantly, can she honor James’s memory while finding her own voice and passion? The author crafts Cassie’s journey with warmth, sincerity, and a touch of wanderlust. I loved the descriptions of food and found them vivid and mouth watering — a treat for readers who love stories centered around culinary experiences. The background characters that she meets along the way are a delight and are a nice balance to Cassie’s journey through grief. The book is more than a story about love lost — it’s about love transformed. It’s about rediscovering yourself in the wake of tragedy and learning that it’s okay to chase something new, even if the path looks nothing like you planned. With tender prose, relatable characters, and just the right balance of heartache and hope, this book is a perfect read for fans of food, travel, and second chances. Highly recommended — but be warned: you’ll want to book a flight and a dinner reservation immediately after reading.