There’s nothing more Sheridan Wells loves than decorating cakes. She’s got a talent for creating just what a cake needs to look perfect before it’s shuttled off to a party. Unfortunately, the rest of her life is not so perfect. Her dad is a well-known chef who’s been offered his own cooking show. But he’d have to move from their small Michigan town to New York to do it.

Sheridan doesn’t want to leave her friends or her Nanny behind. Plus, she’s dating a guy she’s had a crush on for years, and she’s sure her mom, who left home years ago and hasn’t been in touch much since, is going to come home any day. Sheridan has to be there when she does.

The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski is perfect for teen fans of TV shows like “Cake Boss,” “Ace of Cakes” and “Ultimate Cake Off.” Descriptions of Sheridan’s decorating will make you hungry for cake, but you’ll also see how she throws herself into her work to avoid dealing with other issues in her life. She used to be close to her dad, but now they’re more often upset with each other. Her best friend, Jack, may have a crush on her, and he definitely doesn’t approve of her new boyfriend. She’s afraid to develop any talents outside of decorating cakes, because that’s something she shared with her mom.

Finally, Sheridan has to face up to all of her issues even though accepting the truth may be painful, unsettling, and full of uncertainty. The Sweetest Thing is a good choice for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.