Summer Reading is a romance and friendship novel with some excellent Portuguese food recipes. The main character, Sam, meets Ben while she is spending the summer at her dad’s home in Martha’s Vineyard. Sam is spending the summer babysitting her 14 year old half brother. If those dynamics are not enough to pique your interest, her best friend Emily is also hiding a secret.
A fun new novel, release date is May 16, 2023. I received a preview copy and have reviewed in as well as a recipe from the book. The recipe is for Bolos Lêvedos, which is a Portuguese bread roll. I also offer you 3 different and tasty ways to use this bread.
Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay
Romance and Friendship Novel with Recipes
Book Review
Outline and Tone:
I just finished reading a preview copy of Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay. The characters and the topics covered had me hooked from the beginning. The book will be released in May 2023, but you can preorder it now (see links below).
Allow me to tell you why you need to get this book. The protagonist, Samantha, is a great friend. Everyone needs a friend like Samantha. Sam is dealing with her own struggles of family issues (learning to connect with her 14 years younger half brother), trying to determine boundaries with her new love interest (even though she is absolutely crazy about him), and yet she still has time to be an outstanding best friend to Emily. Em is trying to find herself and where she belongs professionally. Sam was pondering advice to give to Em when she realized “she [Emily] didn’t need to have her feelings filtered through my experience.” I love that response! A friend who can support you where you are without comparing your experience to their own, that is the dream friend.
As if being a good friend is not enough of a reason to want to get to know more about Sam, there is another interesting factor in her character. Sam is dyslexic and it affects her on a daily basis, but she has learned some tricks to help her get by. The reader learns about every day differences Sam experiences with a neurodivergent brain. As an avid reader, it is difficult to imagine missing the joy of reading novels. Will Sam learn to find joy in reading too?
Another reason this book was so addictive for me is Sam and Ben’s hot relationship. The two of them have enough sexual tension that author Jenn McKinlay kept me turning page after page to see how the relationship (both emotionally and physically) would play out.
Finally, and to my delight, the book contains some fantastic Portuguese recipes. Sam grew up learning to cook from her Portuguese Grandma, Vovo. I don’t have much (if any) experience with Portuguese food, so I was excited to try one of the recipes from the novel. I made Portuguese bread rolls called Bolos Lêvedos, see below for instructions and review.
The author:
Jenn McKinlay is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her website not only lists all of her books but has a pretty fascinating bio page. She is a skateboarder, has been in a glider plane, and has lived both on the east coast and in the west. I would tell you more, but I would rather encourage you to check out her website. Jenn McKinlay has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and her website. Give her a shout out on social media and let her know what you think of her books and dessert recipes.
What is not to like?:
Will there be a sequel? Will the reader get to learn more about what happens with Sam’s best friend Emily? The only part I didn’t like, now I want to know more about these characters that drew me into this novel.
The verdict:
Run, don’t walk, to your favorite online bookstore and order this book. Author Jenn McKinlay was gracious enough to supply me with several links that you can use to get Summer Reading.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Versatile, Tasty Portuguese Bread Rolls
Assemble the Ingredients
The recipe calls for 7 and 1/2 cups of flour. Even though this was my first time making this type of bread, I already made a small substitution. I used 5 and 1/2 all purpose flour and 2 cups of whole wheat flour. This was a great nutritional compromise. the rolls were still soft and not grainy.
I used my favorite OXO Good Grips products to make this bread. OXO 3 Piece Mixing Bowl Set, 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set, and 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Directions:
Pour the warm water into a small bowl and add the yeast with the pinch of sugar. Set aside.
In a standing mixer, blend eggs, the cup of sugar, the salt.
Add the warm milk.
Add the flour, rehydrated yeast, and butter until fully incorporated. Switch to the dough hook before adding the flour.
It is a wet dough and will be sticky. Knead the dough for five minutes. I used the dough hook on my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer to knead the dough for 5 minutes.
Let it proof (rise) until it has doubled in size. This will take 1 and a 1⁄2 to 2 hours. It was a chilly spring day when I made this bread so I kept the dough warm on top of my oven that was on.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Dust the countertop with flour and knead the dough for another three minutes. A Silicone Pastry Mat is great for kneading and measuring dough.
After kneading, shape the dough into discs about three inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment- paper- covered baking sheet. Cover them with a cloth and let them rise for 1 and a 1⁄2 to 2 and a 1⁄2 hours.
Using a large frying pan, cook the bolos over medium-low heat for a few minutes until lightly browned on both sides.
Transfer back to the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
They are soft and delicious. I decided to use them in three different ways.
While they were warm, I cut them in half and added butter and jelly. Fantastic!
I cut them in half and added deli meat and cheese for a great sandwich.
Then I got inspired. A friend had recently given me some hot pepper jelly that she made last fall. I put some cream cheese on each half and a dollop of that hot pepper jelly and Voilà. That was amazing!
Bolos Lêvedos, Portuguese Bread
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- pinch of sugar
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups warm milk
- 7½ cups flour
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Pour the warm water into a small bowl and add the yeast with the pinch of sugar.
- Set aside.
- In a standing mixer, blend eggs, the cup of sugar, the salt, and warm milk.
- Add the flour, rehydrated yeast, and butter until fully incorporated.
- It is a wet dough and will be sticky.
- Knead the dough for five minutes.
- et it proof (rise) until it has doubled in size. This will take 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Dust the countertop with flour and knead the dough for another three minutes.
- After kneading, shape the dough into discs about three inches in diameter.
- Place them on a parchment- paper- covered baking sheet.
- Cover them with a cloth and let them rise for 1 1⁄2 to 2 1⁄2 hours.
- Using a large frying pan, cook the bolos over medium-low heat for a few minutes until lightly browned on both sides.
- Transfer back to the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
What would I do differently next time?
These would be great to serve with the pulled pork recipe in the novel Summer Reading where I got this recipe. I think next time a big family dinner and pulled pork along with these warm dinner rolls would be great!
If you enjoy this book and this bread, I recommend you check out some other novels and recipes by Jenn McKinlay. I especially love her Fairy Tale Cupcakes series.
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes from Pumpkin Spice Peril, Tinkerbells from Sprinkle with Murder, and Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes from Buttercream Bump Off.
