The Kitchen Front

A Novel

By: Jennifer Ryan

Narrated by: Jasmine Blackborow

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the best-selling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir comes an unforgettable novel of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition and the four women who enter for a chance to better their lives.

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest - and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For a lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all - even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together only serve to break it apart?

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains recipes from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.  

©2021 Jennifer Ryan (P)2021 Random House Audio

Utterly

I really enjoyed this audible book, Jasmine Blackborow did a wonderful job narrating. There was one thing that bothered me, the use of the word utterly, it was just too much. Everything was utterly delicious or utterly sad or utterly devastating. We need to find Ms. Ryan a thesaurus. I do recommend the book and the audible in particular.

Interesting historical information and wonderful story!

I was skeptical when a friend loaned me this book to read and immediately looked for it on Audible. Hearing it read, rather than just reading it, made it possible to feel more involved with the characters and story.
Certainly it was significant— and fortunate— that England was not invaded during WW 2 but they nevertheless had bombings, food shortages, and discouragement to overcome and the characters in this book demonstrate what was undoubtedly the situation the English Home Front responded to optimistically and many times as heroically as the troops.

loved it

touching page turner that kept your interest with characters. Predictable at times but emotionally moving.

Loved this book

What an interesting way of telling the story of women during the war
I loved this book

The best of the three!

I was lukewarm about the other 2 WWII books by this author, but I loved The Kitchen Front! The characters were very relatable and the narration is excellent. Highly recommended!

Four Friends

Set in wartime this book tells an interesting story about the struggles of women cooking using rations. Competition for a radio show cooking contest led four women to a unique friendship. A bond forms out of each individual struggle that shows up during the contest.
I found it hard to choose a favorite character as each one drew me in but in the end Audrey
came out in front.

A must read!

Beautifully written and narrated. I couldn't stop listening to this marvelous book. Definitely 5 stars

Delightful book

LOVED IT!! Easy to read. loved the strong women of the time and their drive to successfully live everyday to the fullest. The bond of friendship was heartwarming.

deliciously detailed and moving

great performance that matches the characters perfectly. descriptions of the dishs inspire a desire to cook them just to get a taste. beautifully done. satisfying ending