Just Add Happiness: A Novel by Julie Hatcher #Review @JulieAnneHatcherAuthor

I had planned to post this review yesterday, but the day got away from me due to a little chaos on the homefront. 

Just Add Happiness: A Novel
Contemporary Women’s Fiction (Humorous)
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 30, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1662523475
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1662523472
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1662523489
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F944HWTD

From the author of Not Quite by the Book comes a deliciously witty novel about second chances, secret identities, and the art of rising above life’s bitter moments.

At forty-six, Sophie Bianco’s life is half baked—trapped in a controlling marriage and estranged from her critical mother. Her only solace? The Invisible Baker, her secret business helping overwhelmed moms create Pinterest-worthy moments.

When her mother’s death coincides with the last straw in her marriage, Sophie grabs her chance. Armed with divorce papers and her savings, she reclaims her childhood home. But freedom comes with complications: hoarder-level chaos, plumbing disasters, and an ex-husband plotting revenge. When her daughter announces an engagement that echoes Sophie’s own mistakes, the past threatens to repeat itself.

Desperate for income, Sophie takes a position as a pastry chef, finding unexpected sweetness in both the work and the charming restaurant owner. But as family drama and professional opportunities collide, Sophie must finally answer the question she’s been avoiding: Who is she when she’s no longer invisible?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sophie Bianco has lived in a bad marriage for far too long. After the jerk’s attitude about her mother’s illness and death, she knew it was time to make a move, and her secret business is going to help her do it. Being the Invisible Baker, helping overwhelmed moms, has brought her joy and a nest egg. Inheriting her mother’s house gave her a place to land. A cluttered and much-needed maintenance place to land, but she was going to make it work.

Then her soon-to-be ex started to play dirty. That forced Sophie to find a real job to pay her bills. With no formal training, she impresses the sweet owner of Chez Margot, who hires her as his pastry chef and is willing to teach her all his recipes and more.

Also on her plate is a daughter who may be jumping into marriage too soon, making the same mistake she did, along with a mystery about her past that needs to be investigated.

Can Sophie handle it all?

I love the whole idea of the Invisible Baker! It’s anonymous help for moms, and perfect for a baker wishing to fly under the radar like Sophie. She loves to bake and needs an escape from her awful marriage.

Sophie has been emotionally abused for over 20 years. No matter how hard she works to please her husband, it is never enough. He is a narcissistic, manipulative jerk, and she deserves to be free of him. Being the Invisible Baker is the key to her first step and beyond. It was really easy to get invested in her life and root for her success. She gets tremendous support from her best friend, Alicia, and her family. She has raised a strong daughter with a good head on her shoulders, even though it takes time for her to realize it.

Readers travel with Sophie on her emotional rollercoaster. She second-guesses herself again and again. Her self-confidence has been chipped away, not just from her abusive marriage but from her upbringing. She totally needs to rebuild herself and learn to trust again, both herself and others. She had huge obstacles to tackle. The way her resolve grew was very realistic and powerful. She knew how to bake wonderful things, but it took desperation and courage to walk through that door and apply for the pastry chef position. A job that would bring her so much more than she ever imagined.

Just Add Happiness deals with betrayal, divorce, grief, friendship, love, trust, and doing hard things for the right reasons without being heavy. I found it very uplifting to see Sophie emerge from a captive cocoon and soar as a beautiful butterfly full of promise. She went from invisible to a strong, visible woman who served up some just desserts. She committed herself to choosing happiness and to following her dreams. If you need a pick-me-up, pick up this book! If you enjoy women regaining their power, this book will make you happy!

Note: There is a bit of explicit language in this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About the Author

Julie Hatcher is an award-winning author of over sixty novels spanning mystery and romantic suspense. Writing as Julie Anne Lindsey, Hatcher has earned many accolades for her work, including the 2020 National Readers’ Choice Award for Romance Adventure and the 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, among others.

When she’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, Julie can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life—and probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. But one day, she plans to change the world.

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Julie Hatcher
also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey, Jacqueline Frost, Bree Baker

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.