When Agatha Christie sat down to write her third novel featuring detective Hercule Poirot, she decided to break all the rules. Known as one of ChristiWhen Agatha Christie sat down to write her third novel featuring detective Hercule Poirot, she decided to break all the rules. Known as one of Christie’s most love and most controversial mysteries, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd brings out the fans like no other of her novels, including one of the most popular contemporary thriller writers, Ruth Ware.
In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the death of a widow brings the local doctor, Dr. Sheppard, to her house. She had committed suicide, and while there was gossip and speculation in town as to why. She had been rumored to have killed her first husband, but there was no proof. Then the doctor is summoned to the house of a wealthy widower, Roger Ackroyd. Ackroyd confides in the doctor that he and the widow had been engaged, and he has received a letter from her. It revealed that she did kill her husband and that she was being blackmailed. That’s why she had chosen to end her own life. And the name of her blackmailer would be revealed within 24 hours.
The doctor heads back home, only to find out in the morning that Ackroyd had been murdered the night before. He heads back to Ackroyd’s house, Fernly House, to help where he can. But his sister also points out that the famous detective Hercule Poirot has recently retired to their town, and he might be helpful for the investigation.
The entire story is told through the perspective of Dr. Sheppard, who takes on a similar role as Dr. Watson, creating a familiar feel to the story. But Christie isn’t content with following in another writer’s footsteps. She takes the classic rules of a mystery and turns them upside down through the book, right up to the last chapter.
This new version includes an introduction by beloved rule-breaker herself, masterful thriller writer Ruth Ware. She shares her love of Christie and a little bit of the historical mystery rules (but just a little) to emphasize how Christie broke them, and maybe even snubbed her nose at the patriarchy of crime writing of her time. Ware’s introduction does include spoilers, so she recommends reading the novel first, but if it’s your first time reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or the tenth time, it never fails to impress.
This version is a small paperback, the perfect size to throw into a bag and take with you on a flight, for sitting by a pool, or by enjoying by a roaring fire. You can make a cup of tea and let Dame Agatha Christie transport you to a small English village where you can follow along as a master detective reveals a killer.
I loved this version of the classic mystery. I read a lot in electronic formats, so having a physical book to hold made this experience special. And getting to read Ruth Ware’s thoughts on Christie, on writing mysteries, on breaking the rules was such a treat. I think fans of her books will enjoy this book, both for her words of introduction as well as for Christie’s outstanding mystery. This would make a fantastic gift for fans of either Christie or Ware, or as a way to dip a toe into their writings and get to know them better.
A copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was provided by Signet Classics, with many thanks....more
Cat lived in a big, hectic city and craved peace. His friend Rat told him that there was a single ancient pine tree in a forest far away, and anyone wCat lived in a big, hectic city and craved peace. His friend Rat told him that there was a single ancient pine tree in a forest far away, and anyone who sits in its branches would find peace and understanding. Cat knew that was what he’d been looking for and headed out immediately on his journey.
On this journey, Cat comes up against many challenges and meets many other animals who are also searching. The Cat shares his wisdom and experiences with those he meets. He finds shelter in a cave with a Hare, and they talk about finding good company. And when the Hare points out that he is alone, the Cat reminds him that he still has himself and can make himself a good companion, showing himself the kindness he is looking for.
The Cat continues on its journey, meeting more friends and doing a little learning and a little teaching. He meets a Crow who has lost his shiny trinket and tells a story about finding the good in a painful event. He meets a Wolf Cub and is reminded of the importance of listening. He meets a Tortoise and is reminded to make the most of each moment. He meets a Tiger and reminds him that competition can steal your joy.
As the Cat makes his way to the forest, he has to walk through rain and cold, sometimes with a friend and often alone, but finally he can see the tree that Rat had told him about. Peace and understanding was within his reach. But before he could climb up into those waiting branches, Cat had to get through one last obstacle to find what he had been needing all along.
James Norbury is an artist and author as well as a foster parent to abused cats, helping them find forever homes in Wales, where he lives with his wife and their seven cats. As passionate as he is about animals, he is equally interested in sharing the Buddhist principles he has learned and tries to live. The Cat Who Taught Zen is him bringing all of his favorite things together into a story that teaches kindness, patience, awareness, balance, and compassion.
While the story here is lovely, a gentle reminder to be kinder and more attentive, it’s a little overshadowed by the stunning artwork that accompanies it. Many of the paintings were created using a traditional East Asian technique of sumi-e, a spontaneous and intuitive painting style that adds drama and depth to the watercolors and pen-and-ink drawings that add so much texture to these stories.
The Cat Who Taught Zen is a beautiful reminder of how to live a calmer, warmer, more fulfilling life. Those who practice Buddhism or are interested in learning about it may recognize some of the stories or the lessons, but you don’t have to be interested in Buddhism to be searching for peace and connection. These stories are also about the things that make us all human, the challenges we all face, the ways we all get a little lost in being busy, being first, being important. These gentle reminders are particularly poignant during the holiday season, when everything seems a little extra chaotic, so this would be an ideal gift to give to someone (or even yourself) to remember to stop and play with the kitten. This book is truly beautiful in every way.
A copy of The Cat Who Taught Zen was provided by William Morrow, with many thanks. ...more
When Yossy Arefi wrote her cookbook Snacking Cakes, she taught a lot of wannabe bakers that it doesn’t take much to whip up a quick cake. It doesn’t tWhen Yossy Arefi wrote her cookbook Snacking Cakes, she taught a lot of wannabe bakers that it doesn’t take much to whip up a quick cake. It doesn’t take a lot of time. It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients. It doesn’t take a lot of equipment. Baking can be quick, simple, and delicious. You can bake a cake while the kids are napping, on a weeknight, for a quick Saturday breakfast, or as a late night snack. Now she’s back with more tasty bakes in Snacking Bakes.
She starts out with cookies, a classic baked treat and the thing a lot of us learned to make first (I know I did). There are some classics, New Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies, Thick and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Do-It-All Salted Butter Shortbread, Monster Cookies. But with just a couple of extra ingredients, you can also bake up Soft Grapefruit Cookies, Almond Thumbprints, Malted Chocolate Cookies, or Thin and Crispy Maple Espresso Cookies. There are even some more savory cookies, like the Salt and Pepper Olive Oil Shortbread.
Next up are bars, brownies, and bark. Again, there are some classics like the Chewy Cocoa Brownies, Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Peanut Butter Blondies, or Pink Cookie Bars. But she also gets creative with flavors and has Banana Nut Blondies, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars, Coffee-Glazed Molasses Bars, or Date and Pistachio Coffee Bars.
And then it’s all about the cakes, with flavors like the Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake, Cornmeal Carrot Cake, Nutty Parsnip Cake, Mixed-Berry Tahini Cake, or Brown Sugar Peach Cake. She also includes recipes for her Cheesy Jalapeno Corn Bread and Everything Bagel Bread with Scallions, if you’re looking for a more savory bake to make and share.
As someone who bakes in a small kitchen, Arefi is mindful of using as few dishes as possible. The cookie recipes can be baked on two sheet trays at one time, or you can bake half and freeze half, to pull out and bake as you want. She offers up flavor substitutions throughout the book, and encourages bakers to change things up with glazes or spices or extra vanilla.
While many of her recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan, she also presents suggestions to make more of the recipes friendly to vegan chefs using a flour substitute (and she mentions the ones she’s had the most luck with). But that last chapter offers up an idea of pure genius, as you can take just about any of these bakes and turn them into ice cream sundaes with her recipes for Salty Caramel Sauce, Hot Fudge, or Saucy Strawberries and the ice cream of your choice.
I love cakes, so when I saw Snacking Cakes come out, I was thrilled. I love the idea of quick, delicious unfussy cakes I could whip up with a limited pantry or limited time. And I’m just as happy with Snacking Bakes, with its wider variety of bakes. I also love that they are smaller batches, so they’re not tempting me from the kitchen counter for too long, but they are big enough to share. Those Triple-Chocolate Olive Oil Brownies would be the perfect end for a quiet dinner with friends, and the Berry Bran Cake would be lovely for a quiet Sunday morning with a hot beverage and a good book. This would be a perfect gift for beginner bakers or fans of baking competition shows who want to get in the kitchen but don’t know where to start. Here’s where you can start—with a handful of ingredients, one bowl, one pan, this cookbook, and a hunger for snacks.
Clarkson Potter provided me with a free copy of Snacking Bakes (with many thanks); the opinions are my own....more
I will admit I don’t have a lot of experience with Japanese food, but when Make It Japanese showed up on my porch one weekend, I was excited to learn I will admit I don’t have a lot of experience with Japanese food, but when Make It Japanese showed up on my porch one weekend, I was excited to learn more. Author Rie McClenny has a wealth of cooking experience, from working at her grandmother’s café in southwestern Japan as a child (she mostly poured water for tea) to translating for culinary students to running a cookware store in New York City to creating recipes and making cooking videos. She’s been to culinary school, she’s worked in kitchens, and she knows what she’s doing.
But McClenny knows that there are cooks out there like me, who don’t know a lot about Japanese ingredients and techniques. She starts out listing her favorite Japanese ingredients, including the brand names she likes best, and explains what they taste like. She does the same with equipment, explaining what they do and how they make cooking easier. But she doesn’t insist on cooks buying all new equipment. If you have something already that will work, use it. And then she dives into the recipes.
Japanese cooking is clean and doesn’t use a lot of ingredients to create rich, delicious flavors. A lot of these recipes use a dashi as a base, and McClenny offers a couple of different options, one vegan, but also talks about the option of buying instant dashi from an Asian grocery store or online. And then it’s on to vegetable recipes, like the Soy Sauce-Simmered Kabocha (squash), Fried Eggplant with Miso Sauce, Carrot Top Tempura, or a Potato Salad made with a little bit of apple and Kewpie mayonnaise.
She then moves on to recipes for meats and seafoods, like Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), Sweet Soy Sauce Chicken Wings, Curry Rice, Rib-Eye Steak with Shoyu-Garlic Sauce, Ginger Pork Chops, Nikujaga (a beef and potato stew), Parchment-Baked Lemon Miso Salmon, Red Snapper Nitsuke (simmered fish), Shrimp in Chili Sauce, and Sake-Steamed Clams.
And then it’s time for a master class in rice. She takes us through step by step to make sure this staple of Japanese cooking is perfect, whether you’re using a rice cooker or cooking it on the stovetop. There is a Salmon Rice Bowl, Katsu Don (pork cutlets simmered in dashi and eggs and served over rice), Taco Rice (made from the leftovers of last night’s tacos, courtesy of her husband), Garlicky Egg Fried Rice with Bacon, or Mushroom and Carrot Mixed Rice.
There are several recipes for Onigiri, filled rice balls that make a delicious handheld treat. In Japan you can find them in grocery stores or convenience stores, but you can also make your own with tuna or umeboshi (pickled plum) or even just sumac and salt. These can also be used as the basis for a bento box, which is the next lesson. McClenny talks about how to build a bento and even offers a few menu options to give you an idea on putting them together.
Then it’s on to noodles, for the Easy Soy Sauce Ramen, Yakisoba (pan-fried noodles, with the option for substituting spaghetti for the soba noodles with her baking soda hack), Creamy Soy Milk Udon with Pork and Bok Choy, and Camembert Cheese Mazemen with Prosciutto. And she finishes with ideas for gatherings and sweet treats. There is an Edamame and Pistachio Dip, Gyoza with Crispy Wings, Potato and Mushroom Gratin, Miso-Yogurt Roasted Chicken, and Easy Sushi Balls. And you can follow it all up with Matcha Snacking Cake, Almond “Tofu” Pudding, Fruit Salad with Rose Syrup, Strawberry and Sweet Bean Mochi. She even includes recipes for breads like Shokupan (milk bread), Citrus Mochi Doughnuts, Pork Buns, and Egg Salad or Katsu Sandos.
Make It Japanese is filled with recipes and techniques of Japanese cooking. The pages come alive with gorgeous photography and intriguing cooking techniques and flavors. But more than that, it sings with McClenny’s life experiences and love for her home country. She talks a lot about her mother’s cooking, about the foods she loved as a child and tried to replicate with the ingredients she could find here in America. It’s not just the food McClenny loves that she offers to her readers. She offers up her heart on these plates, and lets us have a chance to taste some of the happiness she finds in feeding her family, the same happiness her mother had found all those years before. These recipes are personal. They are memories and warmth and comfort and love, and those who read these words and cook these foods share in that love that McClenny so generously shares.
Clarkson Potter provided me with a free copy of this book (with many thanks); the opinions are my own....more
Anyone who watched the 2021 season of The Great British Bake Off will remember the humble, mild-mannered Jurgen Krauss, who stole our hearts as he madAnyone who watched the 2021 season of The Great British Bake Off will remember the humble, mild-mannered Jurgen Krauss, who stole our hearts as he made his breads and biscuits and his famous Black Forest Cake. As someone who actually grew up in the Black Forest, he knew those flavors well. And now he offers us that recipe along with many other of his German baking recipes in The German Baking Book.
Krauss is a technical baker, careful with his measurements and exacting with his creations. But as he explains in his cookbook, his love of baking started when he was a child, in the small kitchen with his mother and his brother. And while he could find many of his favorite German baked goods in local bakeries when he was still living in Germany, when he moved to the UK, he could no longer find his favorite breads and treats in the local bakeries. So he learned to bake them himself.
The German Baking Book is a celebration of the flavors of Krauss’s childhood, from the Linzer Torte that he asked his mother to make for his wedding to the butter cookies and gingerbread they made for Christmas cookies, from the Apple Fritters that he and his brothers sometimes got after school to the Flame Cake he discovered at university, from the Passion Fruit and Mango Charlotte Royale like he saw in the department store displays when he was a kid to the giant pretzel they eat for breakfast on New Year’s, these recipes are filled with the warmth of family memories as much as they are filled with flavor and a passion for baking.
There is a range of recipes here, from simple Funnel Cakes or Milk Rolls or Lemon Cake to the complex braided breads like a Swiss Sunday Bread or the Triple Charlotte Rousse with homemade ladyfingers. There are traditional German recipes, like the Simple Streusel Cake, an Almost Sacher Torte (although he adds orange, a taste he acquired in the UK), Butter Cake, Gugelhupf, and Fastenwahe. There are some amazing surprises, like his Cheesecake with Raisins, Butter Crescents, or The Waves of the Danube (a sheet cake that when cut creates the look of waves with its layers).
But he also includes some basic recipes that bakers can take and make into their own personal creations, like his Luxury Marzipan, Streusel, Basic Sponge Cake, Rich Yeasted Sweet Dough, or Basic White Bread. In his chapter on Sweet and Savory Breads and Rolls, there are illustrations to help guide you as you work with the dough. Throughout the book are beautiful photographs of the bakes, to inspire baking and eating (they look amazing!), as well some photos of Krauss’s childhood home and memories. Not all of the recipes are photographed, which I found a little disappointing since the photography was so gorgeous and refined, but that is my only criticism of this beautiful cookbook. The German Baking Book will be an amazing addition to any baker’s library, and it could even inspire other bakers to try a competition with their own family flavors and inspiration.
I was a big fan of Krauss on The Great British Bake Off. He was one of my favorite bakers and on my favorite season. I have been waiting literally years for him to craft a cookbook for us, and The German Baking Book was worth the weight. All I need now is some time to bake a a lot of flour.
Egalleys for The German Baking Book were provided by Weldon Owen, with many thanks. ...more
If you watched the 13th season of Food Network’s Food Network Star, where they were trying to find a new chef to feature on their shows, then you probIf you watched the 13th season of Food Network’s Food Network Star, where they were trying to find a new chef to feature on their shows, then you probably still remember the dynamic Jason Smith. When you first saw him, he seemed like a mild-mannered Southern chef, but as the weeks went on, and you saw more of his real personality, you found yourself drawn in by his sweet kindness, his delicious food, his down-home country phrases, and that special magic that elevates someone from chef to star. Because anyone watching Food Network Star, or the third season of their Holiday Baking Championship, which he also won, could see that Smith would be a star.
Now you can see him mostly as a judge on baking shows, but if that’s not enough for you, then you can spend time with Smith and his food via his new cookbook, Lord Honey. The subhead for this collection packed with Southern recipes says it all: Traditional Southern Recipes with a Country Bling Twist. Smith has taken the recipes he learned form his mother and grandmother and all the other Southern women who taught him to cook and put his special twist on the dishes, adding surprising flavors and inventive spins on classic favorites. But he also understands that we all have busy lives, so he adds in time-savers and doesn’t insist that everything be homemade. Except the biscuits, of course. The biscuits have to be homemade, and Smith includes his favorite recipes for them.
He leans into his favorite Kentucky flavors, with recipes for Blackberry Crunch Muffins, Sweet Tea and Bourbon Fried Chicken, Kentucky Bourbon Cake with Chocolate Ganache, and even a Hot Brown Breakfast Quiche based on the iconic Hot Brown Sandwich. But he also brings his own special takes on classic Southern dishes like three different types of Deviled Eggs, Easy Collard Greens, Smothered Shrimp and Grits, Green ‘Mater Chow-Chow, Pimiento-Cheese Waffle Sandwich, Firecracker Catfish with Fresh Corn Relish, Fast-Pickled Okra, Country Ham and Redeye Gravy, Super-Creamy Mac and Cheese Bake, and his Fried Green ‘Mater and Bacon Samich.
And mixed in with all these recipes and the photographs that make your mouth water are bits and pieces of Smith’s wit and wisdom. From his “happier than a pig in mud” to his “busier than an 18-hour bra on a 24-hour shift,” Smith’s big personality and joy of cooking come through on every page. Whether you’re looking to make some Quick Chicken and Dumplin’s that “will make a tomcat lick a kitten,” or you’re after his Award-Winnin’ 7-Minute Frostin’ that works as a frosting or a meringue and won him the Holiday Baking Championship, or you just want a cookbook filled with good Southern food, then you will find something to love in Lord Honey.
I have been a big fan of Jason Smith for many years, watching him win the Holiday Baking Competition and then being thrilled to see him again on Next Food Network Star, rooting for him to win again. I was so excited to see that he had a cookbook coming out, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from it. Lord Honey is more than just a book full of recipes with a few stories of growing up. It’s a celebration of Southern flavors and of family, and it even includes a family photo album with pictures of Smith as a kid and the generations in his family who taught him and encouraged him in the kitchen. There’s even a photo of him with Carla Hall, who wrote the foreword to the book. Smith’s food is him on a plate, and Lord Honey is him in a book, making this cookbook more than the sum of its parts. It’s a special gift to his fans, a celebration for his family and friends, and an homage to the Southern chefs who filled our stomachs, our hearts, and our spirits for generations.
Egalleys for Lord Honey were provided by Pelican Publishing through Edelweiss, with many thanks. ...more
Greer Dunning had left home and made a life for herself, or at least the imitation of a life. She works as a guidance counselor at a middle school. ShGreer Dunning had left home and made a life for herself, or at least the imitation of a life. She works as a guidance counselor at a middle school. She has her own apartment. She goes out sometimes. But she holds herself apart from those around her. She has secrets. She has a past. She’s happy to be anonymous in Chicago, because where she came from, she was anything but.
Growing up in Ludlow, Kansas, one of the daughters of the family who owned the grocery store, everyone knew who Greer and Eliza were. They couldn’t be late with a library book, or smart with a comment, or jaywalk without someone calling their mom and reporting it. They thought they were safe. They thought they were invincible, the way all teenagers do. Then Eliza was out one night with her boyfriend Travis, and Greer’s world ended. Both Eliza and Travis were shot in the head, and nothing was ever the same.
That was fourteen years ago. In the years that followed, Roy Mathews was arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime. Greer moved on as best she could. But she still had questions. She had doubts. She had secrets.
And then it happened again.
Two teenagers on a date were shot in the head, same as her sister had been. The same caliber of gun. And Greer needs to go back home to Ludlow to put her doubts to rest. She had always said that Roy hadn’t acted alone that night, and now she’s certain of it. But what she doesn’t know is who that person is. And while she can’t stop her father from drinking himself to death, and she can’t stop her mother from cleaning things that are already clean until her hands are rubbed raw, Greer thinks she might be able to find that elusive killer. Because she thinks that he did it for her.
I Did It for You is Amy Engel’s latest novel, one that looks at the secrets of a small town and exposes them, layer by layer, until all that’s left are the truths that could destroy the people of Ludlow or help them find a way to heal. It’s an atmospheric slow-burn thriller filled with autumn, regret, the bad decisions of teenagers, long memories, sunsets, drive-in movies, diner food, and deep wells of grief spread throughout the town.
I had a really hard time setting this book aside until I got to that last page. It’s a thriller that’s a good story, but it’s also one of those books that somehow reached into my heart to my own secrets and sadness and unlocked some of my long-buried pain. I think it brought me back to some of my own struggles as a teenager and helped me let go (no one got shot in my past, but there were still injuries and incidents that left a mark), which is part of the magic of fiction. But I Did It for You is also just a really interesting well-told story of facing the truths of your past and trying to find a way to move forward.
A copy of I Did It for You was provided by Dutton, with many thanks. ...more
I don’t think it’s a secret to say that bears are cool. They’re big and fuzzy, they sleep all winter, they come in different colors and sizes. What liI don’t think it’s a secret to say that bears are cool. They’re big and fuzzy, they sleep all winter, they come in different colors and sizes. What little kid hasn’t been given a teddy bear to hold, or been read stories about Winnie the Pooh and Paddington? Bears are a big part of childhood for us all. But when kids want to know more about bears, where can they turn for the answers to their questions?
Kids Ask About Bears is part of a series that answers questions about different animals, like apes, spiders, lizards, bats, and whales, and even about other things like mummies and volcanoes. But this one answers specific bear questions, like Where do polar bears live? and Do bears ever wake up from their long winter’s night? and Do bears have a sweet tooth?
With illustrations of bears in their natural habitats, kids can see for themselves how bears live. They learn about different types of bears, where in the world they live, and what they eat. They find out about how cubs live with their mothers for two years before they have to go off on their own, and how koalas aren’t actually bears but in the kangaroo family. There is a lot of information about all kinds of bears, including sloth bears, sun bears, Kodiak bears, and polar bears. And there are also some humorous facts, like how bears like honey (their thick fur keeps the bees from getting too close) and how hungry bears will steal the food from campers if they can smell it.
This is a short book, less than 30 pages, but it packs a lot of interesting facts in there, for anyone wanting to know more about the bears of the world or cramming for their appearance on Jeopardy! The kids with all the questions, whose curiosity is always bubbling up, will devour this book, probably reading it over and over. And it would be a great addition to a school library, to help answer all the bear questions in a fun, colorful, entertaining way.
Egalleys for Kids Ask About Bears were provided by Sequoia Kids Media, with many thanks. ...more
Lola and Grace are best friends, surviving middle school together. But there is one thing in particular that still confuses them, and that is love. WhLola and Grace are best friends, surviving middle school together. But there is one thing in particular that still confuses them, and that is love. What is the big deal with love? Grace likes to talk about going out with lots of boys, but Lola stays quiet. Grace knows that can mean only one thing—Lola has a crush on someone from school.
The girls decide to do some research on love, trying to figure out what makes a relationship work for more than 10 days. They start with Charlie, who is the girl with all the tea. She knows who is going out, who has a crush on someone, and who just broke up. Grace and Lola find out that the newest hot couple is Lou and Morgan, so they go in search of them to find out what brought them together. Grace knows all the hot spots where couples disappear for some alone time, thanks to her older brother,
They are able to locate the couple and ask them what brought them together, but the answers they get causes an argument between the couple almost immediately, so Grace and Lola didn’t learn much. And before they could do much else, the boys in the class change everything by ranking all the girls in the class by who is hot and who is not. The top of the list is Felicity and Adele. Felicity doesn’t go out with any of them, and Adele has a reputation for going out with too man of them. But when Lola and Grace track them down, they find out that nothing is really as it seems with love.
But these questions they are asking about love leads them to think about their choices, take some chances, reach out to others. But because love is love, and it’s messy and complicated and unpredictable, they feel joy but they also feel heartbreak. As they grieve separately for love they lost, they find strength in new friends and in themselves. But will they be able to repair the distance in their friendship through the heartbreak of loss?
The Love Report is a sweet story of friendship told in a graphic novel format. Created by a team of French writers and illustrated by an Italian artist, this colorful story shows that there are certain themes of growing up that are experienced everywhere. Friends and family, the hope of new beginnings and the heartache of endings, love and loss—we can all learn from each other, no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in.
I thought The Love Report was a really beautiful story with strong illustrations that really drew me in (no pun intended). Grace and Lola were strong characters from the start, and they made smart choices (mostly) that showed an emotional intelligence that I certainly never ad at that age. I do think this would be a book more suited for mature middle school readers, as some of the dating themes are not suitable for the youngest readers. But I thought the questions of dating were told with honesty and finesse. I think middle schoolers will appreciate this story and hopefully learn to make smart choices themselves and not just go along with what others say.
Egalleys for The Love Report were provided by Hippo Park, with many thanks....more
Shireen Malik is ready. And she’s not. She’s been baking for years and working at her parents’ donut shop You Make Me Glazy. She studies recipes and rShireen Malik is ready. And she’s not. She’s been baking for years and working at her parents’ donut shop You Make Me Glazy. She studies recipes and re-reads her favorite cookbooks until they fall apart. She binges The Great British Bake Off over and over. So she’s ready for The Junior Irish Baking Show, competing against other teen bakers from Ireland for a delicious cash prize. She can use that towards her dream of opening a bakery where she can make the food of her parents’ native Bangladesh.
But she’s also not ready. It’s not been that long since she and her girlfriend Chris broke up. Chris and her family have a donut shop right across the street from You Make Me Glazy. That’s actually how they met. And now they’re broken up, but they’re both competing on the Junior Irish Baking Show. And worse yet, when they go to the informational meeting before the first taping, they find out that the first challenge will be a team challenge. And Shireen and Chris are matched up together for that first bake.
Shireen is nervous about working with Chris. They hadn’t spoken to each other since they broke up. Now they had to communicate well enough to bake something that will impress the judges and get through to the next round. And when Shireen finds out who the three judges are, she’s even more intimidated. There is a beloved Irish baker who everyone has watched on television for years, a Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur known for his abrasive judgments on cooking shows, and an Indian baker who Shireen has looked to for years as an inspiration.
And if that’s not enough stress, Shireen met another baker at that informational meeting, Niamh, who is friendly, maybe even flirting, with her. Shireen likes Niamh, but she’s not sure about jumping into another relationship so soon, especially with her feelings for Chris being so jumbled up. She tries to just focus on the competition, creating bakes that will impress the judges and help her through to the next round. But when the trolls come out on social media, calling her out for her heritage and for her weight, Shireen struggles to believe in herself.
Shireen has the support of her family and her best friend, but will that be enough to get her through all the challenges she’s facing and set her up for the future she’s been dreaming of? Or will her baking dreams fall flat?
The Dos and Donuts of Love is a sweet queer rom com about young bakers, first loves, and lots of food puns. Author Adiba Jaigirdar, the author of The Henna Wars, brings this charming love story to life. Through food fights and arguments, macarons and lava cake, blog posts and online trolls, these friends and competitors find their way to express themselves, to believe in themselves, and to make new paths for themselves as they bake their way to the top.
I loved The Dos and Donuts of love. I mean, it wasn’t that difficult for me, as I already love donuts. And I love a good bake-off. But these characters made me want to cheer for them as they struggled in the competition kitchen and in their relationships, and the whole book just felt to me like a big, home-baked hug.
Egalleys for The Dos and Donuts of Love were provided by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) through NetGalley, with many thanks. ...more
Maya’s life just got more complicated. While she’s trying to keep up with her schoolwork and her friends, now her grandmother is moving in. Maya’s KorMaya’s life just got more complicated. While she’s trying to keep up with her schoolwork and her friends, now her grandmother is moving in. Maya’s Korean grandmother, who she calls Halmunee, is struggling with her memory. She forgets things sometimes and gets tired easily. And it’s up to Maya to help watch her because her mother is working a lot. So it’s Maya who is left home with Halmunee, to make sure she stays safe.
One summer day, when Maya is too hot to do much except lay on a bamboo mat to cool down, Halmunee says that it’s patbingsu weather. Maya is confused because it’s much too hot to cook. But as Halmunee starts to gather the ingredients and goes to dig something out of the garage, Maya goes to help and discovers that patbingsu is a delicious dish of shaved ice with red beans and fruits and condensed milk.
Maya is excited to learn more about Korean food, as her mother is usually too tired to cook when she gets home from work. And the patbingsu is so tasty! What else could Maya be missing?
But when Halmunee takes Maya’s hand as they’re eating, Maya finds herself not just lost in her patbingsu but lost in time. She is in another place, watching a young girl eat patbingsu. As Maya looks around, she realizes that she is in Korea, and based on the fashion she sees, it’s many years ago. She must be seeing her mother eat patbingsu with her grandmother, but this was when her mother was very young, younger than Maya is now. Maya can hardly believe what she’s seeing, and before she knows it, she’s back in her own home, in her own time.
Maya has so many questions for Halmunee, but her grandmother will only tell her so much. As the weeks go on, Maya finds her cooking more often, and sometimes those dishes will bring back a memory for Halmunee and she will take Maya back to another time. Maya loves these times, because not only does she get to taste more delicious homemade Korean food, but she also gets to know more about her family.
On one of her trips through time, Maya meets a boy around her age, Jeff. She talks to him, and he says that the next time they meet up, he’ll teach her more about the time traveling. But as much as Maya learns about her family and their ability to time travel, the more questions she has. But with Halmunee’s memory deteriorating, and her mother working so much, will Maya be able to get the answers she craves, or will she stay hungry for more?
A Spoonful of Time is the latest book from Flora Ahn, and it is a celebration of family and food. Maya gets a chance to learn more about her Korean heritage through the food she cooks with Halmunee, and we all get the chance to share in that, as there are several recipes included with the story. These characters are interesting and complicated, and the family relationships are multi-dimensional as well. There is a lot of love, but there are secrets keeping them apart also. There is a lot going on in this story.
I really enjoyed A Spoonful of Time. I was surprised at the depth that Ahn was able to accomplish in a short time with this book. The time travel element brings a lot of drama to Maya’s story and eventually takes a big twist that caught me completely by surprise. I love the recipes, complete with Maya’s notes and drawings. And I appreciated the way I got to learn more about Korean culture through the food, the stories, and the family bonds. The time travel element makes this one a better read for more mature readers (not unlike A Wrinkle in Time), but for those readers ready to take on a challenging book, they will be very lucky to find themselves in Maya’s world and all the places she travels to.
Galleys for A Spoonful of Time were provided by Quirk Books, with many thanks. ...more
Amik is a beaver. He and his younger sister Nishiime are expecting cousins to visit them today. But when the cousins show up, Nishiime is nowhere to bAmik is a beaver. He and his younger sister Nishiime are expecting cousins to visit them today. But when the cousins show up, Nishiime is nowhere to be found. As Amik shows her cousins around their part of the woods, they learn a lot.
A bear is nearby. but she is not a threat. She likes that the beavers dam the water, creating shallow areas where she can find food for herself and her cubs. The deer appreciate the fallen trees, as they can reach the tasty leaves more easily. The fish can swim all winter long because the channels the beavers create in the water keep it from freezing. And the red fox can get home to his family quickly because of the dam over the water.
Amik and her cousins enjoy their day together, even though she’s been looking all over for Nishiime but couldn’t find her. But as the cousins are getting ready to go back home, the younger sister shows up. When Amik asks her where she had been, she answers that she’d been hiding. Nishiime was afraid of meeting new people, but she watched them all day, and she’s less afraid now. She talks to all her cousins and makes plans to visit them all at some point. And then it’s time for the cousins to leave.
Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome is a picture book filled with lessons for young kids. They can learn about beavers and how they contribute to their environment. They can learn about dealing with fears of strangers. And they can learn about the Anishinaabe, the indigenous people of the Great Lakes region.
Each of the six beaver cousins come named as the word “beaver” in their own language and bring gifts. And at the end of the book is a short glossary of the words used throughout the story. Biindigen, for example, means welcome, and nishiime means little sister. It’s a sweet introduction to the Anishaabe people, with colorful illustrations and sweet characters.
I really enjoyed Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome and think it will spark a lot of young minds to be curious about nature and about the history of the Great Lakes region. However, I do wish that author Nancy Cooper had been more information on the indigenous people. As someone who is not from that area, I had to look up information on the Anishinaabe on my own to understand the book well enough to talk about it in a review. But I do think it will ignite curiosity in kids and will lead them to learn more, which is always a good thing.
Egalleys for Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome were provided by Owlkids Books through NetGalley, with many thanks. ...more
Meg Adams is a comic artist and illustrator with a very personal point of view. She writes comics as ArtbyMoga, and her first book is filled with momeMeg Adams is a comic artist and illustrator with a very personal point of view. She writes comics as ArtbyMoga, and her first book is filled with moments funny and poignant but always honest. Her comics center on herself, her husband, and their two dogs, opening a door into their relationship, their enthusiasms, their differences, and what is clearly a lot of love.
The cartoons in Why Are You Like This? are colorful and endearing, emphasizing Meg’s love of Halloween, giant sunglasses, hot cocoa with sprinkles, gaming, and the rain. There are comics about her and her husband shopping for Christmas trees and shopping for candy the day after Valentine’s. They will try to destroy each other while gaming but will support each other when they make mistakes.
Not all of Meg’s comics are happy. She has clearly had her struggles with anxiety and other mental illnesses. She is honest about that, about her feelings of shame and keeping her illness under control with therapy and medication, and about how she has to work to prioritize self-care. I know I can relate to that, and I appreciate her openness about her struggles.
But much of this book is simply joyful. It’s a reminder of the things that make us happy, the moments that bring smiles, the choices that bring us closer together, the comfy blankets and big sweaters and snoring dogs that make each day warmer. It’s a celebration of the dorkiness that enriches our lives, and I loved every page. I saw myself in so many of these pages, from my own struggles with anxiety to loving the rain to wanting full-size candy bars. I can’t draw, but I can read, and I can relate, and I can appreciate Meg and all the reasons she is like that.
Egalleys for Why Are You Like This"? were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing, with many thanks. ...more
To be clear, this is about stabbing fabric, not humans or animals. But it does involve swearing, so maybe that helps?
So if you are one of those peoplTo be clear, this is about stabbing fabric, not humans or animals. But it does involve swearing, so maybe that helps?
So if you are one of those people who has ever said, with great snark, “That would be lovely stitched on a decorative pillow,” about something mean someone else has said, then this is the book for you. Maybe Swearing Will Help includes 25 cross-stitch patterns from several experienced neddlecrafters with a sense of humor and an understanding of the type of language that at one time would have had adults threatening to wash their mouths our with soap.
There are some lovely sentiments, like “The High Road Sucks as I am Petty and Vindictive by Nature” or “Please Grant Me the Serenity to Resist Cutting a B** Today.” Others are simply “Shut Up” or an “I’ll Be Damned” or (for the Anglophiles) “Bollocks.” Incidentally, the designs do spell out all the words. I am not, as I doubt that this review will get posted online if I were spelling out the entire words. But do not fear, these crafters are completely forthcoming with all their swearing.
Never tried to cross-stitch? Not a problem. The book starts with a few pages giving you all the information you need to get started and offers more stitching tips and help along the way. Many of the patterns round out the design with flowers, tattoo art, decorative writing, or a cartoon cat holding guns. There are even a couple of alphabet patterns, so you can create your own saying for your cross-stitching art.
The 13 contributing artists are all listed at the back of the book, along with a short bio and where to find them on social media, so if you find some designs you like, you can find more of their work. But the designs in this book will offer you a great chance to get started, because who doesn’t need a beautiful handmade gift of a framed sampler that says, “Behold! The field in which I grow my f***s/Lay thine eyes upon it and see that it is barren”? Or if that’s not to your taste, perhaps you prefer a, “I wish I was a Unicorn so I could stab stupid people with my head.”
I learned to cross-stitch back when I was around 12. I haven’t done it in years, but these patterns are inspiring me to give it a try again. I love the colors and the modern take on classical designs. Some of these would make amazing gifts for friends, and I have my eye on other designs for myself (the cat with the guns and the “Pew Pew” is a big favorite). Cross-stitch is a pretty simple craft to learn, and once you get the basics, you can add on to these designs or create your own, so I think it’s an ideal craft for a book like this. It can open the door to a new generation of cross-stitchers, so I think it would be an amazing gift for anyone looking for a new hobby where you get to stab a piece of fabric over and over again.
Egalleys for Maybe Swearing Will Help: Relax and Curse Your A** Off in Cross-Stitch were provided by Insight Editions and Weldon Owen, with many thanks. ...more
Sam has a problem. She had been working at a prestigious restaurant in Boston for years, and just when she thought it was her time to snag that executSam has a problem. She had been working at a prestigious restaurant in Boston for years, and just when she thought it was her time to snag that executive chef job, the rug got pulled out from under her. Her boss hired an outsider to come in and take over the kitchen, telling Samantha that he doesn’t think she’s up to the job because of her dyslexia. Even though she’d spend years working in that kitchen, proving her ability to plan and multitask successfully, she was passed over. She quit immediately.
However, that means she is facing the summer without a job. And facing having to tell her dad that she quit her job. So when he asked her to come out to Martha’s Vineyard for a couple of months to watch her younger half-brother Tyler while he and his wife go to Europe, she jumps at the chance. She had spent summers out there when she was a kid, and she hadn’t found time to visit for years. But the ferry ride changes things.
Sam was standing close to the edge of the boat as it made its way to the island. A group of frat boys were joking around, until one of them was about to heave. He was making his way to the side of the boat, and Sam could see that she was in the line of vomit. She turned to the guy reading next to her and tried to get his attention so she had room to move. He finally looked up and realized what was happening, and he managed to help Sam move out of the way. But his book went overboard in the commotion.
It’s not until Sam goes to the local library to visit her best friend Emily that she realizes that the reader from the ferry is the interim library director, so Sam will be seeing him whenever she drops by to visit Emily at work or to drop Tyler off at robotics camp there. She’s not a reader herself, but she can’t deny her attraction to Ben.
As the days flow into weeks and Sam finds a job as a chef for a local weekly happy hour, she finds her time filling up with building a relationship with Tyler and helping Emily through a personal crisis. And in the midst of that, there is a handsome librarian flirting with her, not judging her for her dyslexia, and opening her eyes to the enjoyment of stories by reading a book to her. Sam realizes that her summer fling may turn out to be more than she planned on, and she can’t help but wonder what will happen when her summer reading is done?
Summer Reading is the latest rom com from bestselling author Jenn McKinlay. It’s a sweet story of opposites coming together, a cook and non-cook, a reader and a non-reader, and finding out how they can tell stories together, whether through words or through food. The characters bring a lot of energy and kindness to this novel, and the recipes (yes, there are recipes) and the romance bring the heat.
I was so impressed by Summer Reading’s commitment to telling the story of someone who doesn’t read, going so far as to make sure the book is printed with a font that is easier for dyslexics to follow. Fans of rom coms who don’t like to read may find this a gateway to a whole new world of stories, especially when they realize how Sam’s friends are more than willing to stand up to anyone who judges her for not reading. But even in the earnestness to make this book friendly to non-readers, the story is not lost. There are stories about family and friends to help fill out the romance and add nuance, humor, and heart to the love story.
I thought Summer Reading was enjoyable and readable, the perfect book for, well, summer reading. It would be perfect to take to the beach, to the pool, or to your favorite reading chair close to snacks and air conditioning. It’s sweet without being cloying, spicy without losing its balance, and the perfect pairing for a delicious citrus cocktail.
Egalleys for Summer Reading were provided by the author, with many thanks. ...more
It’s the tenth year of Bake Week, and cookbook author and “America’s Grandmother” Betsy Martin is ready. The show is filmed every year at her estate, It’s the tenth year of Bake Week, and cookbook author and “America’s Grandmother” Betsy Martin is ready. The show is filmed every year at her estate, with her as the host and judge. Six amateur bakers come to her home, Grafton Estate, and stay for a week as they work their way through a week of baking challenges, until there is only one baker left to win the Golden Spoon.
But this year is different. For the first time, she didn’t choose the bakers. Her former assistant, now producer on the show, did. And she’s not the lone host anymore. The production company has insisted on a second host, and they chose Archie Morris. He’s also a host on a cooking show, but instead of the warm, gentle atmosphere like she encourages at Bake Week, he likes to stir up the contestants and doesn’t hold back his harsh opinions of their food. Betsy is worried that he will ruin her show. But she doesn’t have time to do anything about it, because the bakers are on their way.
The first day of the baking week is Bread, and the bakers are challenged to make two loaves, one sweet and one savory. But as the day wears on, some of the bakers find themselves struggling. A refrigerator door is left open, almost ruining one baker’s bread dough. And at the judging, another finds out that the sugar and salt containers were changed, making their bake inedible. The next day, one baker turns their stove off on a pie filling, only to find that same burner all the way up moments later, burning the filling and ruining their bake.
But there is more than that going on at Grafton Estate. And that is not so obvious as in the tent, where a man has been killed.
As the bakers start to come clean about what is really motivating them to be there for Bake Week, secrets come out and enemies are revealed. Who will still be standing as Bake Week comes to an end, and who will end up burned?
The Golden Spoon is a dark and delightful mystery filled with secrets and intrigue, as if Agatha Christie appeared as a guest judge on The Great British Bake Off. Author Jessa Maxwell has cooked up a showstopper of a murder mystery for her delicious debut, and I can’t wait for seconds.
I loved how the story unfolds slowly, with surprising discoveries and dynamic characters. The layers of deception and suspension add so much dark fun to this story, and I am such a fan of Bake Off that I could read novels about cooking competitions all day for a week and still want more. Especially when the books are this good. The Golden Spoon works as a statement on reality baking shows and the producers who make them. It works as a really suspenseful murder mystery. And it works as good, old-fashioned entertainment. If you are a fan of any of those, you should check out this book and see if it’s for you.
Egalleys for The Golden Spoon were provided by Atria Books through Edelweiss, with many thanks. ...more
Georgie Mulcahy is back home. She had been living the high life in Hollywood, and now she’s back home. Okay, so maybe she hadn’t been so much living tGeorgie Mulcahy is back home. She had been living the high life in Hollywood, and now she’s back home. Okay, so maybe she hadn’t been so much living the high life as working as an assistant to those who were, but she was there. She made the phone calls, walked the dogs, picked up the dry cleaning, and did a million other things so others could live the high life.
And then her boss quit. Nadia had been a big deal, a writer/director much in demand. But then she decided she needed a break, and retired to her ranch. She had told Georgie it would be good for her too, that she should take some time for herself instead of just taking care of others all the time. Georgie doesn’t have a problem with self-care. She just isn’t quite sure what it is that needs, or what she wants even. When she looks inside, she just feels blank.
So when her best friend from childhood Bel talked about how she wanted to move back to the small town they grew up in, with her husband and the baby they’re expecting, she hinted that Georgie could come back too, to help Bel get the new house set up and get everything ready for the baby, she agreed. Georgie’s parents wouldn’t be home—they were traveling in their RV. But she could stay there and water the plants. Her parents have a lot of plants.
But when Georgie rolls into town, her stuff from L.A. thrown into suitcases and a couple of garbage bags, after days on the road, she sees her plans fall apart before her eyes. She stops at the local charming little backwoods store to find it’s been completely redone. Fortunately, Ernie is still there making the strawberry shakes she grew up on, but she can’t get over the kale smoothies, her imperious music teacher from high school, and the rude guy in line behind her.
Georgie makes it out of the store with a couple of milkshakes and some of her dignity still intact, and heads over to Bel’s. But what she finds there is Bel in her beautiful now house, all moved in after only a couple of weeks, and the place looking like the pages of a magazine, which just makes Georgie feel even more diminished. She thought she was there to help Bel, but Bel clearly used that as a ruse to try to help Georgie.
But Bel is grateful for the milkshake and thrilled to see her old friend, and she even opens up to Georgie about her secret shame—a room filled with totes of old college and high school memorabilia. Goergie immediately starts opening boxes to find a host of memories—Bel’s Homecoming court sash, the turtle sweatshirts from high school, and the notebook that they (mostly Goergie) filled with her fanfic. Just glancing at her old writing brings all of it back, how she poured herself into those stories, all her hopes, all her dreams, and all her smooshy high school crush feelings for Evan Fanning. She grabs that to take with her.
After her visit to Bel’s Georgie is ready to head to her parents’ house, to take a long shower and relax. She grabs some of her stuff to take in and settles onto the sofa to read some silly stories from teenaged Georgie. But not long after, there is a rattle in the door as a key unlocks it and a man enters the house. And then Georgie realizes that it’s not just any man, but the rude man from the store. And he’s not just any rude man. He is Levi, the brother to her high school crush Evan.
Levi is having work done to his house, and Georgie’s father had offered him and his dog Hank the use of the house while they were away. Levi offers to leave, though the look on his face makes it obvious that he has nowhere else to go. Georgie decides it’s best for them to share the house, but it’s still awkward.
Being at home doesn’t help Georgie feel any less blank inside, but reading that old fiction helps her feel more alive. But she realizes that she never did those things when she was a teenager. Going shopping in the more upscale tow next door, getting frunk on cider and watching horror movies, jumping off the dock. So she decides to start there. Maybe chasing down her high school dreams will help her figure out what she wants now. Or maybe it will just help her fill in the blankness she’s been feeling.
Georgie, All Along is the story of a woman finding herself after spending years taking care of everyone else. It’s a love story, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an unfolding of a mystery, of the question of what happened to Georgie to shut her down and how to bring her back to life. This gentle, sweet story is filled with warmth, pathos, and humor, and a really great dog. Author Kate Clayborn once again brings to life characters to cheer for, to empathize with, to laugh with, and to fall in love with in Georgie, All Along.
I am someone who has had to move back home for a bit, who has spent time as a caretaker, who understands that life is not always linear, I felt seen in this book and wanted to hug Clayborn for telling this story with sensitivity and hopefulness. Both Georgie and Levi are trying to find their way in challenging life circumstances, and they both need a gentle touch to keep the characters from becoming something to be pitied. Clayborn does that masterfully, and their stories are beautiful, inspiring, and healing. This is a genuinely beautiful story of love and healing, and I hope those who are struggling in their own lives will find it a balm to the soul, like I did.
An early copy of Georgie, All Along was provided by Kensington Books, with many thanks. ...more
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