Andrea Bang is a former celebrity cook who had her glory days in the 80s and 90s. Back then her cookbooks were to be found in most homes. She was credited with introducing pasta, pizza, olives and canned tomatoes to her country of Norway. Unfortunately, a plagiarism scandal sent her career spiraling, and now at the beginning of the 2000s, her golden era is long gone. Andrea is 59 years old and divorced, has a difficult relationship with her daughters, lives alone in a small Oslo apartment, and creates recipes for the National Office for Fruits and Vegetables.

One day, Andrea is contacted by an energetic young editor who wishes to publish a collection of her best recipes. Andrea is excited, but also worried. She tries to lower her expectations but can’t help hoping that this might be a chance to redeem herself and get her old career back.

Shared Experiences is a sharp, entertaining novel about lost opportunities and great expectations, about human folly and vice, and about our changing relationship to food and tradition.