Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Mattie’s Dinner
AUTHOR: Max Vos
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 527 Pages
RELEASE DATE: January 30, 2026
BLURB:
After losing his grandmother, Jamie returns to Columbus where he inherits the family diner. Torn between saving his grandparents’ legacy – the diner he grew up in — or return to his job as the chef of a prestigious restaurant.
But with help from the diner’s staff, most of whom he has known since childhood, Jamie dives in headfirst to save his inheritance. His best friend Joseph arrives and swiftly designs and charms his way into everyone’s hearts. Mike, an army engineer, brings Joseph’s and Jamie’s vision for the diner to life.
Mattie’s Diner is the charming tale of what’s possible when love, passion, and going home collide.
REVIEW:
A brand new Max Vos novel that immediately sucks you in and you feel like you are part of the team/family at Mattie’s Diner.
Jamie has just laid his Mamaw, proud owner/operator/biscuit queen of Mattie’s Diner, to rest. A mere five months after losing his Papaw, her loving husband. She and his Papaw took him in when he was young, from their wretched daughter, and raised him right above the diner. He literally grew up in that place and their employees were his family too. So everyone is concerned where the diner is headed now that Mattie is gone. Because Jamie is a highly celebrated chef in Atlanta at a very up-scale and exclusive restaurant. But Mattie’s is home and those employees are not only depending on him to make things work but are his only family left. But can he be happy back home in a town where bullies were all around when he was young and couldn’t wait to get out of Columbus. But Columbus has grown and needs Jamie to bring yummy food and a good place to eat.
As most know, I’m a major series kind of reader. I become deeply attached to characters and don’t want to let the men and their found families go once I fall hard for them. So I read series. There is an exception though and Max Vos always fulfilled that. He writes epic stories that take you though the whole saga of their lives. Mattie’s Diner is no exception. It is a complete journey through the lives of Jamie and Mike and doesn’t leave me feeling that what if thoughts from the tiny breadcrumbs he leaves throughout that journey. He also includes how the people that are important to them fare as well. I’m not left wondering what if for how the people are doing after 5 years. That is the kind of grand novel that you hope for in a stand alone novel and you get all that and more with Mattie’s Diner!
So if you are looking for a wonderful book and leaves you feeling good and satisfied in the end…then Mattie’s Diner is the book for you. 💝
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
