The Heartbreak Bakery

In the wake of being dumped, 17-year-old agender baker Syd—who works at the Proud Muffin, South Austin’s best queer bakery—accidentally infuses a batch of brownies with heartbreak and confusion, causing every couple who tries them to break up soon after. Determined to fix the mistake, Syd teams up with Harley, a transmasculine, demisexual bike delivery person, to find the brownies’ victims, starting with the Proud Muffin’s owners, and cure them with more baked goods. But as Syd and Harley navigate the intricacies of Austin’s queer community in their quest to save relationships, they unexpectedly start one of their own and must figure out what they want from each other. Capetta’s (The Storm of Life) recipe for the story involves equal parts romantic comedy, heartfelt explorations of queer identity, and mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods, as well as interstitial recipes for treats such as Breakup Brownies and Very Sorry Cake. A natural chemistry between Syd and Harley and an intersectionally inclusive supporting cast help to fuel the narrative. The final product is a tasty romance with subtle hints of culinary magic. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Oct.)

The text of this review has been updated to correct a character's pronouns.