How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara ONeal

This collection of excerpts is from Barbara O’Neal’s novel, "How to Bake a Perfect Life," with some sections presenting praise for her other works. The main text follows Ramona Gallagher, the owner of Mother Bridget’s Boulangerie, a baker grappling with family drama, financial strain, and past relationships, particularly with her sister and her ex-husband. A central narrative thread involves Ramona's daughter, Sofia, whose husband, Oscar, is severely injured and in a coma, prompting Sofia to travel overseas while her stepdaughter, Katie, stays with Ramona. The novel also explores Ramona's history, including her teenage pregnancy and her reunion with Jonah, a past love interest, while simultaneously depicting Katie's struggles with her biological mother, Lacey, a recovering addict who ultimately betrays Katie's trust. The story concludes with Ramona considering a merger of her bakery with her family's Gallagher Group and Katie moving to live with her recovering father and Sofia.