From the publisher:

The number one bestseller in Mexico for almost two years, and subsequently a bestseller around the world, Like Water For Chocolate is a romantic, poignant tale, touched with moments of magic, graphic earthiness and bittersweet wit.

A sumptuous feast of a novel, it relates the bizarre history of the all-female De La Garza family. Tita, the youngest daughter of the house, has been forbidden to marry, condemned by Mexican tradition to look after her mother until she dies. But Tita falls in love with Pedro, and in desperation he marries her sister Rosaura so that he can stay close to her. For the next 22 years Tita and Pedro are forced to circle each other in unconsummated passion. Only a freakish chain of tragedies, bad luck and fate finally reunite them against all the odds.

Carole's comment:

Laura Esquivel is one of Mexico's most celebrated writers. Originally a screenwriter, she also wrote the script for the award-winning film of this, her fabulous first book, Like Water for Chocolate.

This book really is delicious.  A dark tale of cooking and romance set in Mexico – what a potent mix! Condemned by tradition to look after her tyrannical mother and remain a spinster, Tita finds her destiny in the kitchens of the family ranch. Her recipes for Mexican dishes are woven into the story of her doomed romance with Pedro, her brother-in-law. Beautifully written and a bit more high-brow than the other books on this list, this is definitely a novel to be savoured.