Readers of Bake from Scratch know our editors delight in baking with a British flair. From classic English scones to steamed puddings, we welcome any chance to bring time-honored baking traditions from the UK into our own kitchens.
If you bake at home as much as we do, the holiday season likely finds you in the kitchen, making treats for family and friends. While we roll out scone dough or watch Chelsea buns rise, we enjoy listening to audiobooks from Penguin Random House Audio — a producer of finely crafted fiction and nonfiction recordings, narrated by outstanding performers. Whatever your taste, they offer excellent listening recommendations.
Currently on repeat for us is One Day in December by Josie Silver, a warm romance set on London’s streets. Told with charm and narrated in a delightful English accent, the story follows Laurie, a practical London singleton who doesn’t believe in love at first sight.
One snowy December day, Laurie’s opinion changes when she catches a glimpse of a man through the fogged window of a city bus. Convinced she has met Mr. Right, Laurie spends the next year searching bus stops and cafés across London for him. She eventually meets him again at a Christmas party — only to discover he is dating her best friend. From there, friendship, heartbreak, and fate shape the characters’ lives over the following decade.
The novel traces ten years of intertwined lives, exploring the themes of missed opportunities, enduring friendship, and how chance encounters can affect our happiness. It’s a moving and uplifting story that invites readers to reflect on their own relationships while enjoying a cozy, London-set romance.
While you’re pondering your own love life—or daydreaming about moving to London—try baking a British dessert to complete the experience. Recipes like Chocolate Biscuit Cake or Banoffee Pie bring comforting, authentic flavors to your table and pair beautifully with a good audiobook.
With a British treat on the plate and a compelling novel in your ears, you’ll be transported to foggy December streets without leaving your kitchen.
If romance isn’t your preference, Penguin Random House Audio offers thousands of titles across genres, from thrillers to memoirs. A couple of other favorites from our listeners include Solace Island by Meg Tilly and The Adults by Caroline Hulse — great options if you want different voices and stories to carry you away.
This post sponsored by Penguin Random House.