The Barcelona Bakery
by Sally Brooks
Released: Jun 18, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why this book and why now?
Seven years ago I went to Barcelona alone in the wake of a difficult divorce. It was the place where I rediscovered myself, and fell in love with the Spanish city. Last year I returned with my lovely wife, Rachel. I found myself showing her my favourite places and explaining what the place meant to me. With its gloriously colourful architecture and incredible food, it became clear to me that Barcelona was the perfect location for a love story. Being there with someone I loved really sealed the deal on that count. While we were there we spent lots of time sitting in cafes sampling baked delicacies we’d never tried before, drinking coffee and watching the world go by. I became slightly obsessed with Spanish bakeries, and so, The Barcelona Bakery was born!
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
I would definitely get on with Vanessa Romero. She’s outgoing and bubbly and full of ideas. I do wonder though if I might find her a bit tiring after a while – she is such an extrovert. That said, she’s kind and generous and lots of fun. I loved writing her. Joey Lewis is a more complicated character. She’s a bit spiky and takes a bit of getting to know. I think that I would get on with her eventually, but I might be a bit intimidated by her slightly gruff exterior to start with. Of course, once I got to know her, I would realise she has a heart of gold and cares deeply for those around her.
What’s one fun fact about your book that most people wouldn’t know?
I have included some of the recipes the characters create in the story between chapters. So, if you are inspired by what they bake, you can give it a try yourself. One of the joys of researching The Barcelona Bakery was recreating traditional Spanish recipes and trying them out on my family. My ever reliable step-son gave me full tasting notes on everything I baked… I’m really looking forward to hearing whether readers try them out for themselves.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Joey would probably say something like The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – she’s a deep thinker, and is fascinated by the history of Spain. I can imagine her sitting in a quiet bar with a whisky and her book, lost in 1920s Pamplona.
Vanessa would choose something totally different, to match her sunny disposition. She’d choose the most recent book she read, as she is very much in the moment at all times – sometimes to her own detriment. I can imagine her reading Finding Forever by Lisa Gold on the beach at Barceloneta, enjoying the sun and the warmth and the spicy story being told. (Lovely summer sapphic romance by the way if you haven’t already read it).
If your book were to be adapted into a movie or TV show, who would be your dream cast?
I always do a fantasy casting of my books. It helps me picture the characters, especially when I start writing them. So, for Joey, I picked Kristen Stewart, when she had her hair short and bleached blonde. She does a good moody demeanour, which suits Joey perfectly. For Vanessa I picked Sarah Shahi. Vanessa’s naturally feminine, with long dark hair. She’s always ready with a smile, and I could see Sarah Shahi encapsulating that so well.
If your book had a scent, what would it smell like?
Honey and sugar! Setting a book in a bakery meant I spent a lot of time writing about the texture, consistency and aroma of various baked goods. There’s a traditional recipe of coc de mel that the characters bake during a key moment in their story – basically it’s a honey cake. It’s made with lashings of olive oil and honey. I made it during my research and it smelled divine. When Joey reluctantly accepts Vanessa into the bakery kitchen to learn how to bake, to start with it’s awkward between them. But slowly the awkwardness gives way to attraction. Some of my favourite scenes take place in the kitchen, while the characters are supposed to be concentrating on baking and not each other.
If your book had a signature dessert, what would it be?
This question was made for this book! There is a mystery running through the story about a coca recipe – coca is a kind of Spanish sweet bread made with an enriched dough. It is often made for specific celebrations, decorated with glacee fruit and pine nuts. That was one that went down particularly well with my step-son! Vanessa inherits a recipe book from which a particular coca recipe has been torn out. She is determined to find out the mystery of the lost recipe, but finds out far more than she bargained for.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
Generally I am a bit of a ‘pantser’, in that I just dive in and see where I get to. This is my first dual point-of-view book and I found that I had to do more planning this time. After I’d written the first third, I got into a bit of a mess, so I reluctantly created a chapter plan for the rest of the book – akin to a child being forced to do homework. In the end, it was hugely helpful, and I may even do it again…
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
I try and write every day. I am not a full time writer, so writing little and often is the best way for me to get the words down. Generally I try to write about 1,000 words a day. Routine is key for me. Often I write after my evening meal, and then it’s done for the day and I can relax. If I’ve got a bit more time, I often go out to write and find a quiet cafe where I won’t be disturbed by cats or children or laundry!
