When Maya Chen's toast lands buttered side down for the seventh consecutive morning, she begins to wonder if the universe is sending her a message. Recently laid off, freshly heartbroken, and living in a crumbling apartment, she has every reason to believe in the physics of bad luck. But a chance encounter with an eccentric elderly baker introduces her to the art of sourdough—and the philosophy that fallen bread can always be salvaged. As Maya kneads, proofs, and rises alongside her stubborn starter, she discovers that resilience, like dough, needs time and patience. A wry, warm-hearted novel about second chances and finding sweetness even when life lands buttered side down.
