Emily Arden Wells crafts a remarkably tender debut that transforms the familiar territory of grief fiction into something unexpectedly delicious. Eat Post Like follows Cassie Brooks, a successful but unfulfilled lawyer whose carefully planned life crumbles when her boyfriend James dies in a tragic accident. What begins as a conventional story of loss evolves into an enchanting exploration of identity, passion, and the healing power of extraordinary experiences.
The novel’s central conceit is both clever and emotionally resonant: James, unbeknownst to Cassie, was the mastermind behind @NewYorkSecretDiner, one of the city’s most influential anonymous food accounts. When Cassie discovers his hidden passion project through a worn diary, she makes the impulsive decision to step into his digital shoes, accepting an invitation to a prestigious European food critics’ tour. This premise allows Wells to weave together themes of grief processing, professional reinvention, and the intoxicating world of high-end culinary travel.
The Artistry of Culinary Prose
Wells’ background as a food photographer and cocktail influencer shines through in her exquisite descriptions of meals, restaurants, and travel experiences. Her prose becomes most alive when describing the sensory details of dining—from the “thick stalk of white asparagus sprinkled with saffron salt, served with candied pinecones seasoned with seaweed” in Copenhagen to the “briny” seaweed tart that transports Cassie to childhood summers in Maine. These aren’t merely descriptive passages; they’re emotional anchors that ground the reader in Cassie’s journey of discovery.
The author demonstrates particular skill in balancing the glamorous aspects of food criticism with its underlying complexities. Through characters like the seasoned Rebecca Riggs and the charismatic wine expert Eamon McLaren, Wells explores the tension between authentic experience and performance, between the curated perfection of social media and the messy reality of human connection.
Character Development and Emotional Authenticity
Cassie emerges as a compelling protagonist whose evolution feels both gradual and inevitable. Wells avoids the trap of making her transformation too smooth or unrealistic. Instead, Cassie’s journey is marked by genuine moments of doubt, embarrassment, and fear of discovery. Her panic when wine expert Eamon realizes they’re heading to Champagne country—and her mortification at mispronouncing “Reims”—adds authentic vulnerability to her character.
The supporting cast, particularly Rebecca Riggs and Eamon McLaren, feels refreshingly three-dimensional. Rebecca serves not just as a mentor figure but as a representation of what Cassie might become—successful, confident, yet still hungry for new experiences. Eamon’s character walks the fine line between love interest and catalyst for growth, with Wells wisely avoiding the pitfall of making romance the sole solution to Cassie’s grief.
Exploring Grief Through Sensory Experience
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its nuanced portrayal of grief. Wells understands that mourning isn’t a linear process, and she captures this through Cassie’s relationship with James’s memory. The scene where Cassie sits in James’s apartment, noting the unwashed coffee cup in the sink and feeling his presence in the silence, demonstrates Wells’ ability to convey the surreal quality of early grief.
The author’s decision to have Cassie continue James’s food account initially as a way to honor his memory, then gradually make it her own, serves as a metaphor for how we process loss and eventually reclaim our own narratives. The transformation of @NewYorkSecretDiner into @EatPostLike represents more than a username change—it’s Cassie’s declaration of independence from James’s shadow.
The Intoxicating World of Food Tourism
Wells’ depiction of the European food critics’ tour feels both aspirational and grounded in reality. Her descriptions of restaurants like Noma in Copenhagen and La Pergola in Rome are rich with detail without becoming overwhelming. She captures the peculiar culture of food criticism—the unspoken rules, the networking, the balance between appreciation and analysis.
The travel sequences serve as more than mere backdrop; they’re integral to Cassie’s transformation. Each city—Paris, Copenhagen, Rome—offers her different lessons about herself and the person she wants to become. The progression from tentative imposter to confident critic mirrors her emotional journey from grief-stricken girlfriend to independent woman.
Where the Novel Occasionally Stumbles
While Eat Post Like succeeds on many levels, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues in its middle section. Some of the European travel sequences, while beautifully written, feel slightly repetitive in their structure: arrive in city, feel overwhelmed, have revelatory meal, gain confidence, repeat. The romance with Eamon, while well-developed, sometimes feels like it receives less emotional weight than it deserves, particularly given its importance to Cassie’s growth.
The revelation of David’s knowledge about James’s account and his confrontation with Cassie in Venice feels somewhat rushed. This plot point, which should serve as a major crisis in Cassie’s journey, resolves perhaps too quickly and conveniently.
Social Media and Authentic Identity
Wells demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how social media shapes modern identity and relationships. The contrast between the carefully curated @NewYorkSecretDiner posts and Cassie’s messy reality offers commentary on the performative nature of online life. Her eventual creation of @EatPostLike represents not just a professional pivot but a declaration of authenticity.
The novel’s exploration of anonymity versus recognition in the digital age feels particularly relevant. Cassie’s struggle to maintain James’s mysterious online persona while developing her own voice reflects broader questions about authenticity in an increasingly connected world.
The Romance Element
The developing relationship between Cassie and Eamon provides the novel with much-needed lightness without diminishing the weight of her grief journey. Wells handles their attraction with restraint and realism—their connection develops through shared experiences and genuine compatibility rather than forced chemistry.
Eamon’s character serves multiple functions beyond romantic interest. As an established food and wine critic, he becomes Cassie’s guide into this new world, but Wells avoids making him her savior. Instead, their relationship feels like a partnership between equals, each bringing something valuable to the other.
Final Verdict
Eat Post Like succeeds as both a grief narrative and a celebration of food culture, proving that Wells has a keen understanding of how sensory experiences can facilitate emotional healing. While the novel occasionally relies on familiar romance tropes and could benefit from tighter pacing in places, its emotional authenticity and gorgeous food writing make it a compelling debut.
Wells has created a novel that will satisfy readers seeking both escapist food tourism and genuine emotional depth. The book offers the vicarious pleasure of European fine dining while tackling serious questions about identity, loss, and the courage required to reinvent oneself.
For readers who enjoyed novels like Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen or The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, Eat Post Like offers similar themes with a more contemporary, travel-focused twist. It’s a promising debut that suggests Wells has much more to offer in future works.
Similar Books to Consider
If you enjoyed Eat Post Like, consider these similar food-focused romance and women’s fiction novels:
- The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister – A beautiful exploration of how food connects us to memory and healing
- Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen – Magical realism meets culinary romance in this enchanting tale
- The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal – A chef’s journey of self-discovery through food and travel
- The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl – A food critic’s coming-of-age story set in the world of culinary journalism
- The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – For the European travel and romance elements with literary depth
- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – Another story of personal transformation through unexpected circumstances
Eat Post Like establishes Emily Arden Wells as a voice worth following in contemporary women’s fiction, particularly for readers who appreciate the intersection of food culture, travel, and emotional storytelling.
