Rhiannon's Top 15 Books of 2021

 

Every year I flip back and forth on if I will or won't do an end-of-year roundup. It's time-consuming, I hate making cuts, and I can never decide on an absolute favorite for the year. So here are my 15 favorite 2021 releases across 5 categories, with links to my reviews for each one. 

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

The Family by Naomi Krupitsky 

The Arsonists' City by Hala Alyan

Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti

(I haven't reveiwed this one yet but it is my favorite fiction book of 2021)

What's Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

The Collective by Alison Gaylin

Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz 

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird

Slewfoot by Brom

The Unfit Heiress: The Tragic Life and Scandalous Sterilization of Ann Cooper Hewitt by Audrey Clare Farley

The Genome Defense: Inside the Epic Legal Battle to Determine Who Owns Your DNA 

by Jorge L. Contreras 

Three Martini Afternoons at the Ritz by Gail Crowther 

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticim by Amanda Montell

Did you read any of these in 2021? Were any your favorites? 

Drop a comment so we can chat about your favorite title!

The Last Guest by Tess Little

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Last Guest
Author: Tess Little
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: 10.5.21


Publisher’s Summary
When Elspeth Bell attends the fiftieth birthday party of her ex-husband, Richard Bryant, the Hollywood director who launched her acting career, all she wants is to pass unnoticed through the glamorous crowd in his sprawling Los Angeles mansion. Instead, there are only seven other guests—and Richard's pet octopus, Persephone, watching over them from her tank as the intimate party grows more surreal (and rowdy) by the hour. Come morning, Richard is dead—and all of the guests are suspects.

In the weeks that follow, each guest comes under suspicion: the school friend, the studio producer, the actress, the actor, the new partner, the manager, the cinematographer, and even Elspeth herself. What starts out as a locked-room mystery soon reveals itself to be much more complicated, as dark stories from Richard's past surface, colliding with memories of their marriage that Elspeth vowed never to revisit. She begins to wonder not just who killed Richard, but why these eight guests were invited—and what sort of man would desire to possess a creature as mysterious and unsettling as Persephone.


My Review
Um. This was quite the let down. I loved the idea of locked room whodunit with 8 suspects...and an octopus! Unfortunately, I could not keep some of the characters straight and I have no patience for the "are they or aren't they" hoops of deciding if a character is an unreliable narrator. My advice is to give this one a hard pass. 

The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Family

Author: Naomi Krupitsky 

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: 11.2.21

Publisher’s Summary 

In the vein of an American Elena Ferrante, a captivating debut novel about the tangled fates of two best friends and daughters of the Italian mafia, and a coming-of-age story of twentieth-century Brooklyn.

Two daughters. Two families. One inescapable fate.

Sofia Colicchio is a free spirit, a loud, untamed thing. Antonia Russo is thoughtful, ever observing the world around her. Best friends from birth, their homes share a brick wall and their fathers are part of an unspoken community that connects them all: the Family. Sunday dinners gather the Family each week to feast, discuss business, and renew the intoxicating bond borne of blood and love.

Until Antonia’s father dares to dream of a different life and goes missing soon after. His disappearance drives a whisper-thin wedge between Sofia and Antonia as they become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. Both women are pushing against the walls of a prison made up of expectations, even as they remain bound to one another, their hearts expanding in tandem with Red Hook and Brooklyn around them. One fateful night their loyalty to each other and the Family will be tested. Only one of them can pull the trigger before it’s too late.

My Review

This novel is not at all what I expected. What I thought would be a gritty Godfather or Sopranos type story ended up being one of the best stories about female friendship I have ever read. This novel was so beautifully written and I loved the full cast of characters. One particular part of the book will stick with me forever but I don't want to give anything away to anyone wanting to read it. A stellar debut that puts Naomi Krupitsky on my list of "authors to watch." 

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide

Author: Cecily Wong

Publisher: Workman

Release Date: 10.12.21

Publisher’s Summary 

Wonder is around every corner, and on every plate. The curious minds behind Atlas Obscura now turn to the hidden curiosities of food, which becomes a gateway to fascinating stories about human history, science, art, and tradition—like the first book, all organized by country, lavishly illustrated, and full of surprises.

My Review

This book was so fun! Part cookbook and part short stories, a reader could open this book onto any page and be both entertained and educated. For example, a section on Australia includes a collection of information about a melon festival, a coconut cult, the world's oldest emu farm, and wild rice conversation art. I've been keeping this book in the kitchen to read a little bit when I have a minute or two--you know, when you're waiting for the water to boil or during the last few minutes when dinner is coming together. This would also be a great idea to read with and/or discuss with your family at dinner. What better way to get everyone talking over sandwiches than to discuss that the first sandwich was NOT invented by the Earl of Sandwich, but by the Han Chinese 2,000 years earlier or The Cheese Sandwich Scandal of the Masters Tournament? Got a kid who likes "gross" or "weird" stuff? Talk about how Russians once preserved their milk with frogs, the Inuit tradition of fermenting birds in seal skin, or the Worm Courtship Festival of Indonesia. I definitely suggest adding this book to your kitchen or coffee table. This would be a great book to give as a gift this holiday season. 

The Brides of Maracoor by Gregory Maguire

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Brides of Maracoor (Another Day #1)

Author: Gregory Maguire

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: 10.12.21

Publisher’s Summary 

Multimillion-copy bestselling author Gregory Maguire unveils the first in a three-book series spun off the iconic Wicked Years, featuring Elphaba’s granddaughter, the green-skinned Rain.

Ten years ago this season, Gregory Maguire wrapped up the series he began with Wicked by giving us the fourth and final volume of the Wicked Years, his elegiac Out of Oz.

But “out of Oz” isn’t “gone for good.” Maguire’s new series, Another Day, is here, twenty-five years after Wicked first flew into our lives.

Volume one, The Brides of Maracoor, finds Elphaba’s granddaughter, Rain, washing ashore on a foreign island. Comatose from crashing into the sea, Rain is taken in by a community of single women committed to obscure devotional practices.

As the mainland of Maracoor sustains an assault by a foreign navy, the island’s civil-servant overseer struggles to understand how an alien arriving on the shores of Maracoor could threaten the stability and wellbeing of an entire nation. Is it myth or magic at work, for good or for ill?

The trilogy Another Day will follow this green-skinned girl from the island outpost into the unmapped badlands of Maracoor before she learns how, and becomes ready, to turn her broom homeward, back to her family and her lover, back to Oz, which—in its beauty, suffering, mystery, injustice, and possibility—reminds us all too clearly of the troubled yet sacred terrain of our own lives.

My Review

The publisher's summary pretty much tells the entirety of this novel. There is no hidden storyline that wasn't included in order to keep the summary spoiler-free. As the first installment of new trilogy, the majority of this book is world-building and what I can only guess is the build up to the real action. To tell the truth, I was pretty bored by the lack of action but Maguire's talented storytelling kept me invested. While I was a bit let down by this book on its own, I have high hopes for the next releases. I absolutely LOVED and recommend this to anyone who loved the WHOLE Wicked series, not just the first book, because the later books have heavier ethical and political storylines which is where I see this series (Another Day) going.

The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas Carlton Abrams

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

Author: Jane Goodall and Douglas Carlton Abrams

Publisher: Celadon

Release Date: 10.19.21

Publisher’s Summary 

In a world that seems so troubled, how do we hold on to hope?

Looking at the headlines--a global pandemic, the worsening climate crisis, political upheaval--it can be hard to feel optimistic. And yet hope has never been more desperately needed.

In this urgent book, Jane Goodall, the world's most famous living naturalist and Doug Abrams, internationally-bestselling author, explore--through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue--one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. In The Book of Hope, Jane focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.

Told through stories from a remarkable career and fascinating research, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? Filled with engaging dialogue and pictures from Jane’s storied career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in today’s world.

And for the first time, Jane tells the story of how she became a messenger of hope: from living through World War II, to her years in Gombe, to realizing she had to leave the forest to travel the world in her role as an advocate for environmental justice. She details the forces that shaped her hopeful worldview, her thoughts on her past, and her revelations about her next--and perhaps final--adventure.

There is still hope, and this book will help guide us to it.

My Review

I must admit that if I was given a book about hope and it was written by an author I didn't recognize I would have rolled my eyes and moved along. As a stereotypical Gen-Xer, I'm not one for super positive books and definitely would not have given this book a chance if it weren't for the fact that it is authored by Jane Goodall. Quietly moving and full of impactful insights, I am glad I read this and will be passing it along to a friend when I think they need a hopeful perspective in their life. 

The Quick Fix Kitchen by Tia Mowry

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Quick Fix Kitchen: Easy Recipes and Time-Saving Tips for a Healthier, Stress-Free Life

Author: Tia Mowry

Publisher: Rodale

Release Date: 9.28.21

Publisher’s Summary 

The beloved actress and star of the digital series Quick Fixsaves you time and energy with her favorite mealtime hacks, tips to bring joy and balance to your kitchen, and 65 easy, delicious, and healthy recipes the entire family will love.

"I love how Tia breaks down how to organize your pantry and kitchen."--GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

As a busy mom, author, actor, and entrepreneur, Tia Mowry needed to find quick and easy solutions to a busy life, especially when it came to cooking for her family. She figured out a way to create nutritious, hearty dishes that work for everyone, allowing her to savor moments spent around the table. The Quick Fix Kitchen empowers you to do the same, helping you embrace home cooking without sacrificing time and energy with Tia's "Quick Fixes" for mealtimes: healthy food swaps, pantry organizational hacks, food shopping tips, meal plans, sixty-five easy, delicious recipes, and more. With advice presented in her trademark joyful, down-to-earth fashion, you'll learn how to use your kitchen to your advantage--understanding flavor affinities, balancing wholesome and indulgent meals, incorporating the kids, managing your time--so that you can unwind and have fun creating family traditions.

The recipes themselves are designed to deliver big flavors with minimum prep and cook time. They include sheet pan meals like Stuffed Pesto Chicken Breast, one-pot meals like Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake, classics with a healthy twist like Creamy "Alfredo" Pasta, and creative, kid-friendly snacks like Banana "Sushi" Rolls and Mini Quesadilla Pizzas. With The Quick Fix Kitchen, feeding yourself and your family won't feel like a chore.

My Review

This is a great beginner cookbook or a great cookbook to pull out when you need easy and quick recipes. This would also be a great cookbook to use if you want to cook with kids. In addition to the recipe collection, Tia Mowry discusses the importance of food, gives insight into organizing your kitchen and pantry, and lots of detailed ideas about meal planning. 

Once Upon a Kitchen by Leslie Bilderback

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Once Upon a Kitchen: 101 Magical Recipes

Author: Leslie Bilderback

Publisher: Get Creative 6

Release Date: 11.2.21

Publisher’s Summary 

Make magic in your very own kitchen with 101 recipes inspired by Harry Potter, Tolkien, King Arthur, Star Wars, Disney, and more!

For lovers of legends, wizards, enchantment, and (of course) food, Once Upon a Kitchen celebrates all things magical. Author and top chef Leslie Bilderback has created 101 recipes inspired by classic books, movies and TV shows. She draws from sources as rich and varied as The Lord of the Rings, Arabian Nights, the Star Wars saga, Grimm’s fairy tales, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Potterverse.

Enjoy Mrs. Potts’s Tea Poached Salmon; Scheherazade’s Arabic Coffee and Cardamom Cookies; Gandalf’s Cold Chicken and Pickles; Jedi Ration Bars; Rapunzel’s Rampion Salad; Mary Poppins’s We Are Not a Codfish and Chips; a Coconut Shrimp Green Curry “Witches Brew” in honor of Macbeth; and Mulan’s Dragon Fruit Pops.

My Review

What a fun concept! As someone who always craves whatever the characters in my book are eating, I loved the idea of being able to create some of the more "magical" menu items I've come across. Once Upon a Kitchen: 101 Magical Recipes is organized into 13 chapters:

1. The Arthurian Legend
2. 1,001 Arabian Nights
3. Shakespeare's Sorcery
4. The Tolkien Universe
5. The Potterverse
6. The Jedi
7. Grimm's Fairy Tales
8. Magical Nannies
9. Disney Magic
10. Movie Magic
11. Television Spells
12. Alchemists and Magicians
13. Colonial American Magic

Each chapter features several recipes, and each recipe includes a backstory section as well as a full page color photo. Recipes range from teas and cocktails to full entrees and sides to snacks and sweets. The first recipes I will be testing will be Caliban's Hot Crab Dip with Tropical Fruit Salsa (Shakespeare) and Golden Gingerbread with Lemon Curd (Grimm's). This would be a great cookbook for someone who loves magical books, movies, and television shows. It would also be fun to use this recipe collection to cook with friends and family members. Definitely a recommendation for a holiday gift, too. 

True Raiders by Brad Ricca

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: True Raiders: The Untold Story of the 1909 Expedition to Find the Legendary Ark of the Covenant

Author: Brad Ricca

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: 9.21.21

Publisher’s Summary 

True Raiders is The Lost City of Z meets The Da Vinci Code, from critically acclaimed author Brad Ricca.

This book tells the untold true story of Monty Parker, a British rogue nobleman who, after being dared to do so by Ava Astor, the so-called "most beautiful woman in the world," headed a secret 1909 expedition to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Like a real-life version of Raiders of the Lost Ark, this incredible story of adventure and mystery has almost been completely forgotten today.

In 1908, Monty is approached by a strange Finnish scholar named Valter Juvelius who claims to have discovered a secret code in the Bible that reveals the location of the Ark. Monty assembles a ragtag group of blueblood adventurers, a renowned psychic, and a Franciscan father, to engage in a secret excavation just outside the city walls of Jerusalem.

Using recently uncovered records from the original expedition and several newly translated sources, True Raiders is the first retelling of this group's adventures- in the space between fact and faith, science and romance.

My Review

This book was wild! The description of "real-life version of Raiders of the Lost Ark" is absolutely not too far of a stretch. Add in some "DaVinci Code," "History's Mysteries," and a beautiful love interest (Ava Astor, a woman recently divorced from America's first multi-millionaire businessman) and you can see that Hollywood movie play out in your head as you read each chapter. I was in such disbelief that this was a true story because it read like a suspense novel, full of anticipation and intrigue. I definitely suggest this to anyone looking for nonfiction book recommendations.  

The Collective by Alison Gaylin

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Collective 

Author: Alison Gaylin

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: 11.2.21

Publisher’s Summary 

Just how far will a grieving mother go to right a tragic wrong?

Camille Gardner is a grieving—and angry—mother who, five years after her daughter’s death, is still obsessed with the privileged young man she believes to be responsible.

When her rash actions attract the attention of a secret group of women—the collective—Camille is drawn into a dark web where these mothers share their wildly different stories of loss as well as their desire for justice in a world where privilege denies accountability and perpetrators emerge unscathed. Fueled by mutual rage, these women orchestrate their own brand of justice through precise, anonymous, complexly plotted and perfectly executed revenge killings, with individual members completing a specific and integral task in each plan.

As Camille struggles to comprehend whether this is a role-playing exercise or terrifying reality, she must decide if these women are truly avenging angels or monsters. Becoming more deeply enmeshed in the group, Camille learns truths about the collective—and about herself—that she may not be able to survive.

My Review

Facebook groups for mothers in mourning are not what Camille Gardner is looking for. She doesn't want to be told sweet nothings and given false comforts, she wants revenge on the boy who killed her daughter but escaped punishment. An anonymous invitation to join a group on the dark web starts a series of events that had me on the edge of my seat. For anyone who is infuriated by characters making obvious mistakes (like sending an email from a home computer, keeping the receipts after buying the murder weapon, etc.) this book will give you a rush of satisfaction. Super smart and twisty, The Collective was a definite five star read. 

The Genome Defense by Jorge L. Contreras

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Genome Defense: Inside the Epic Legal Battle to Determine Who Owns Your DNA
Author: Jorge L. Contreras
Publisher: Algonquin
Release Date: 10.26.21


Publisher’s Summary
In this riveting, behind-the-scenes courtroom drama, a brilliant legal team battles corporate greed and government overreach for our fundamental right to control our genes.

When attorney Chris Hansen learned that the U.S. government was issuing patents for human genes to biotech companies, his first thought was, How can a corporation own what makes us who we are? Then he discovered that women were being charged exorbitant fees to test for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, tests they desperately needed—all because Myriad Genetics had patented the famous BRCA genes. So he sued them.

Jorge L. Contreras, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on human genetics law, has devoted years to investigating the groundbreaking civil rights case known as AMP v. Myriad. In The Genome Defense Contreras gives us the view from inside as Hansen and his team of ACLU lawyers, along with a committed group of activists, scientists, and physicians, take their one-in-a-million case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Contreras interviewed more than a hundred key players involved in all aspects of the case—from judges and policy makers to ethicists and genetic counselors, as well as cancer survivors and those whose lives would be impacted by the decision—expertly weaving together their stories into a fascinating narrative of this pivotal moment in history.

The Genome Defense is a powerful and compelling story about how society must balance scientific discovery with corporate profits and the rights of all people.


My Review
I love all books, movies, and TV shows that focus on any aspect of genetics (The Unfit Heiress, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Orphan Black, etc.) In The Genome Defense, I learned so much about the history of laws surrounding genes and genetic testing in the United States. I also gained a new understanding into the gap between scientific advancements and the delayed creation and application of relevant laws. This is a book that I will likely buy a physical copy of for 2 reasons: #1 the review copy had empty spaces where I'm sure the final specific information for dates, monetary amounts, etc. will be included and #2 while I think this book is so cutting edge and current, it will be fascinating to revisit it in future years after further genetic and legal advancements. 

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Lighthouse Witches
Author: C.J. Cooke
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: 10.5.21

Publisher’s Summary
Two sisters go missing on a remote Scottish island. Twenty years later, one is found--but she's still the same age as when she disappeared. The secrets of witches have reached across the centuries in this chilling Gothic thriller from the author of the acclaimed The Nesting.

When single mother Liv is commissioned to paint a mural in a 100-year-old lighthouse on a remote Scottish island, it's an opportunity to start over with her three daughters--Luna, Sapphire, and Clover. When two of her daughters go missing, she's frantic. She learns that the cave beneath the lighthouse was once a prison for women accused of witchcraft. The locals warn her about wildlings, supernatural beings who mimic human children, created by witches for revenge. Liv is told wildlings are dangerous and must be killed.

Twenty-two years later, Luna has been searching for her missing sisters and mother. When she receives a call about her youngest sister, Clover, she's initially ecstatic. Clover is the sister she remembers--except she's still seven years old, the age she was when she vanished. Luna is worried Clover is a wildling. Luna has few memories of her time on the island, but she'll have to return to find the truth of what happened to her family. But she doesn't realize just how much the truth will change her.


My Review

This is the first C.J. Cooke book I've read but it will definitely not be the last!

Single mother Liv runs away from a recent realization when she relocates her family to a remote Scottish island. Painting a mural inside a dilapidated lighthouse may not be what she believes is the ideal artist's commission but the location will allow her ample quality time with her three daughters. Told in time jumps with history of both the lighthouse and the witch trials of the British Isles and Scotland, this book kept me wondering and questioning what in the world was going on--but in the best way. Creepy, spooky, and a little horror, this is the perfect story to cuddle up with on a cold autumn night.

The Ninth Metal (The Comet Cycle #1) by Benjamin Percy

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Ninth Metal (The Comet Cycle #1)
Author: Benjamin Percy
Publisher: 6.1.21
Release Date: Mariner 

Publisher’s Summary
IT BEGAN WITH A COMET…

At first, people gazed in wonder at the radiant tear in the sky. A year later, the celestial marvel became a planetary crisis when Earth spun through the comet’s debris field and the sky rained fire.

The town of Northfall, Minnesota will never be the same. Meteors cratered hardwood forests and annihilated homes, and among the wreckage a new metal was discovered. This “omnimetal” has properties that make it world-changing as an energy source…and a weapon.

John Frontier—the troubled scion of an iron-ore dynasty in Northfall—returns for his sister’s wedding to find his family embroiled in a cutthroat war to control mineral rights and mining operations. His father rightly suspects foreign leaders and competing corporations of sabotage, but the greatest threat to his legacy might be the U.S. government. Physicist Victoria Lennon was recruited by the Department of Defense to research omnimetal, but she finds herself trapped in a laboratory of nightmares. And across town, a rookie cop is investigating a murder that puts her own life in the cross-hairs. She will have to compromise her moral code to bring justice to this now lawless community.

In this gut-punch of a novel, the first in his Comet Cycle, Ben Percy lays bare how a modern-day gold rush has turned the middle of nowhere into the center of everything, and how one family—the Frontiers—hopes to control it all.


My Review

If you would have asked me before I read this novel if I wanted to read an X-men-like origin novel about humans being transformed by a space material crashing to Earth, I would have firmly answered "no." However, I loved Benjamin Percy's The Dead Lands and now, after reading this The Ninth Metal, I'm firmly invested in The Comet Cycle series. There is warring between and within families, a town cult, government experiments, police drama, and political power plays all set within a modern-day gold rush. Multiple subplots would make this a great option for a television series. I especially loved honest and determined policewoman Stacie Toal and can't wait to see where her storyline leads in future installments. 

The Weekday Vegetarians and Weeknight/Weekend

 

I received copies of these books from their publishers in exchange for honest reviews.

Title: The Weekday Vegetarians: 100 Recipes and a Real-Life Plan for Eating Less Meat
Author: Jenny Rosenstrach 
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Release Date: 8.31.21

Publisher’s Summary
Jenny Rosenstrach, creator of the beloved blog Dinner: A Love Story and Cup of Jo columnist, knew that she wanted to eat better for health reasons and for the planet but didn't want to miss the meat that she loves. But why does it have to be all or nothing? She figured that she could eat vegetarian during the week and save meaty splurges for the weekend. The Weekday Vegetarians shows readers how Jenny got her family on board with a weekday plant-based mentality and lays out a plan for home cooks to follow, one filled with brilliant and bold meat-free meals.

Curious cooks will find more than 100 recipes (organized by meal type) for comforting, family-friendly foods like Pizza Salad with White Beans, Cauliflower Cutlets with Ranch Dressing, and Squash and Black Bean Tacos. Jenny also offers key flavor hits that will make any tray of roasted vegetables or bowl of garlicky beans irresistible--great things to make and throw on your next meal, such as spiced Crispy Chickpeas (who needs croutons?), Pizza Dough Croutons (you need croutons!), and a sweet chile sauce that makes everything look good and taste amazing. The Weekday Vegetarians is loaded with practical tips, techniques, and food for thought, and Jenny is your sage guide to getting more meat-free meals into your weekly rotation.

My Review
I would love to eat less meat and my husband has said several times that he wishes he were a vegetarian. Our problems are breaking the mental habit of thinking that each meal must contain meat and making smart food choices if meat is eliminated from a meal, because vegetarian/vegan doesn't instantly equal healthy. Jenny Rosenstrach has compiled a collection of 100 simple and approachable recipes that have each passed the test with her family. I tested her recipes for "A Farrotto for All Seasons" and "Chickpea-Pasta Mac & Cheese" and I deemed them each to be a success. The steps were easy to follow, the results got thumbs up all around, and I was proud to introduce 2 new ingredients (farro and chickpea pasta) into my family's dinner repertoire.  




Title: Once Upon a Chef: Weeknight/Weekend: 70 Quick-Fix Weeknight Dinners + 30 Luscious Weekend Recipes
Author: Jennifer Segal
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Release Date: 9.14.21

Publisher’s Summary
Jennifer Segal, author of the blog and bestselling cookbook Once Upon a Chef, is known for her foolproof, updated spins on everyday classics. Meticulously tested and crafted with an eye toward both flavor and practicality, Jenn's recipes hone in on exactly what you feel like making.

Here she devotes whole chapters to fan favorites, from Marvelous Meatballs to Chicken Winners, and Breakfast for Dinner to Family Feasts. Whether you decide on sticky-sweet Barbecued Soy and Ginger Chicken Thighs; an enlightened and healthy-ish take on Turkey, Spinach & Cheese Meatballs; Chorizo-Style Burgers; or Brownie Pudding that comes together in under thirty minutes, Jenn has you covered.


My Review
Sometimes I love a cookbook for the pictures or the stories, but I'm not drawn to the recipes. That is not the case with Weeknight/Weekend. This is one of those cookbooks where I think I could cook every recipe. I started with the Sheet Pan Chicken and Pancetta Meatballs and (to my husband's delight) the Baked Ziti. Next up: Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard and Pecan-Panko Crust, Brownie Pudding, and Old-Fashioned Cinnamon Swirl Crumb Cake. I'll be interested to see how this crumb cake recipe stands up to my Best Damn Crumb Cake.

✨BLOG TOUR✨ Trashlands by Alison Stine

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Trashlands
Author: Alison Stine
Publisher: MIRA Books
Release Date: 10.26.21


Publisher’s Summary

A resonant, visionary novel about the power of art and the sacrifices we are willing to make for the ones we love

A few generations from now, the coastlines of the continent have been redrawn by floods and tides. Global powers have agreed to not produce any new plastics, and what is left has become valuable: garbage is currency.

In the region-wide junkyard that Appalachia has become, Coral is a “plucker,” pulling plastic from the rivers and woods. She’s stuck in Trashlands, a dump named for the strip club at its edge, where the local women dance for an endless loop of strangers and the club's violent owner rules as unofficial mayor.

Amid the polluted landscape, Coral works desperately to save up enough to rescue her child from the recycling factories, where he is forced to work. In her stolen free hours, she does something that seems impossible in this place: Coral makes art.

When a reporter from a struggling city on the coast arrives in Trashlands, Coral is presented with an opportunity to change her life. But is it possible to choose a future for herself?

Told in shifting perspectives, Trashlands is a beautifully drawn and wildly imaginative tale of a parent's journey, a story of community and humanity in a changed world.



My Review
Alison Stine is back with another spectacular work of speculative fiction. Set in the near future, Trashlands transports readers to another vision of Stine's dystopian Appalachia. In Road Out of Winter, Stine envisioned a world in a state of near-perpetual winter, and now Trashlands showcases a world devastated by floods and tornadoes, where most cities are barely still standing and plastic is the only form of currency. Full of Scrappalachian plastic gatherers called "pluckers," and workers at the Trashlands strip club, Trashlands is a quiet analysis of how much things can change and how much they can stay the same--power is held in the hands of a few, traumatic events have lifelong consequences, and love is complicated. This novel has firmly cemented Alison Stine into my "auto-buy" authors category.     

Author Bio:





Alison Stine is an award-winning poet and author. Recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and an Ohio Arts Council grant, she was a Wallace Stegner Fellow and received the Studs Terkel Award for Media and Journalism. She works as a freelance reporter with The New York Times, writes for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, 100 Days in Appalachia, ELLE, The Kenyon Review, and others, and has been a storyteller on The Moth. After living in Appalachian Ohio for many years, she now lives and writes in Colorado with her partner, her son, and a small orange cat.



Buy Links:
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The Movement by Petra Hůlová,

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Movement
Author: Petra Hůlová, Alex Zucker (Translation)
Publisher: World Editions
Release Date: 10.5.21


Publisher’s Summary
In this utopia, the feminist Movement has been successful and women rule the world. Men are trained at reeducation facilities to accept the new normal in this futuristic satire challenging our sexual norms.

The Movement's founding ideology emphasizes that women should be valued for their inner qualities, spirit, and character, and not for their physical attributes. Men have been forbidden to be attracted to women on the basis of their bodies. Some continue with unreformed attitudes but many submit--or are sent by their wives and daughters--to the Institute for internment and reeducation. However, the Movement also struggles with women and their "old attitudes," with many still undergoing illegal cosmetic surgeries and wearing makeup. Our narrator, an unapologetic guard at one of these reeducation facilities, describes how the Movement started, the challenges faced, her own personal journey, and what happens when a program fails. She is convinced the Movement is nearing its final victory--a time when everybody falls in line with its ideals. Outspoken, ambiguous, and terrifying, this socio-critical satire of our sexual norms sets the reader firmly outside of their comfort zone.



My Review
I love satire. (The Atmospherians, released earlier this year, was so smart.) I really thought The Movement would be similar but more intellectually in-depth satirical novel with its "feminist theory put into action" angle, but I found a lot of the story repetitive and wildly philosophical as well as slow-paced. The entire storyline is about a female-dominant society forcing men (and some women) to not find physical aspects of a woman's body desirable, instead turning their entire focus to a woman's character and personality. An interesting concept and tongue-in-cheek critique of heteronormative sexuality, this short book (just over 200 pages) would have worked better as a short story. 

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: In the Company of Witches (Evenfall Witches B&B #1)
Author: Auralee Wallace
Publisher: Berkley Books
Release Date: 10.5.21


Publisher’s Summary
When a guest dies in the B&B she helps her aunts run, a young witch must rely on some good old-fashioned investigating to clear her aunt's name in this magical and charming new cozy mystery.

For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There's never been a problem they couldn't handle. But then Constance Graves--a local known for being argumentative and demanding--dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident...but it soon becomes clear that there's something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.

There's nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora's innocence, and it hurts her to know that even two years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead--a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn't used her powers since her husband died, and isn't even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts' magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers--and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.


My Review

This was the perfect cozy mystery for kicking off the fall season. Add witches and magic to a B&B setting and I'm not sure what more I could ask for in a cozy. I kinda got Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes with Brynn living with her two aunts. I am so happy to know that this is the first in a series and there will be more to come and I would especially love it if each of the installments came out each year around this time. If I had to make a complaint, I did have a hard time keeping names and people straight at the beginning of the book. There were lots of people introduced at once and lots of people had nicknames.   

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Death of Jane Lawrence
Author: Caitlin Starling
Publisher: St Martin's
Release Date: 10.5.21

Publisher’s Summary
Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town. Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man—one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him.

By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to. Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, Starling crafts a new kind of gothic horror from the bones of the beloved canon. This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished.



My Review
I was so excited for this book! A math-loving female protagonist, a marriage of convenience, a crumbling old house in the English countryside...this all sounded like the perfect setup for a smart, spooky, gothic Jane Eyre meets Haunting of Hill House thriller. What I read, however, was a mess. Such a mess that I totally gave up at 75%. That's right, it got so bad that I couldn't even bring myself to finish the story. I hopped over to Goodreads and read some of the "spoiler" reviews, and let's just say I'm not kicking myself for not reading the last 25%. I enjoyed the novel until the magic elements were brought in. Now, I LOVE books with magic, but the magic performed in this story had me questioning if this would be another unreliable female protagonist trope. The timeline is jumpy with overlaps from past and present alongside people coming and going from the house. Also, this book leans much more into the horror genre than I expected--lots of blood and detailed, graphic description of multiple surgical procedures. I'm not going to just keep picking this one apart, but I could go on and on. 

The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2)

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2)
Author: Alice Hoffman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: 10.12.21


Publisher’s Summary
Master storyteller Alice Hoffman brings us the conclusion of the Practical Magic series in a spellbinding and enchanting final Owens novel brimming with lyric beauty and vivid characters.

The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

The Book of Magic is a breathtaking conclusion that celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.


My Review
This series is a bit confusing in regards to release dates and story timelines. After the 1998 release of Practical Magic, the next book in the series, The Rules of Magic was released in 2017 as a prequel to Practical Magic, followed by Magic Lessons in 2020, a prequel to The Rules of Magic. The latest book in the series, The Book of Magic is a sequel to Practical Magic, picking up with Sally's daughters, Antonia and Kylie, as young twenty-somethings. As the youngest in a family of witches cursed to never love, Antonia and Kylie know nothing of the curse or their powers until tragedy strikes, sending Kylie on a mission to save her lover. As the final book in the series, it is both heartbreaking and hopeful and while I enjoyed reading each book, I am happy to put the Owens family to rest. All these years later, I still can't help but compare the characters and settings to the movie Practical Magic (released 1998.) I saw the movie before I read the book (released 1995) and I don't know if it is because of seeing the movie first, but I just don't connect with the books like I do the movie. While there are similarities between the movie and the book, I love the movie so much more. I am pretty sure this is an extreme exception to the rule of the book always being better than the movie, but I always feel let down by the books because I'm chasing that high of the movie. 

Spotlight: The Orphan Witch

 

Happy Pub Day to The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher 

Publisher’s Summary 

A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found. 

Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. To someone. However, Persephone is as strange as she is lonely. Unexplainable things happen when she’s around—changes in weather, inanimate objects taking flight—and those who seek to bring her into their family quickly cast her out. To cope, she never gets attached, never makes friends. And she certainly never dates. Working odd jobs and always keeping her suitcases half-packed, Persephone is used to moving around, leaving one town for another when curiosity over her eccentric behavior inevitably draws unwanted attention.

After an accidental and very public display of power, Persephone knows it’s time to move on once again. It’s lucky, then, when she receives an email from the one friend she’s managed to keep, inviting her to the elusive Wile Isle. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. However, upon arrival, Persephone quickly discovers that Wile is no ordinary island. In fact, it just might hold the very things she’s been searching for her entire life.

Answers. Family. Home.

And some things she did not want. Like 100-year-old curses and an even older family feud. With the clock running out, love might be the magic that saves them all. 

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
Author: Brom
Publisher: Nightfire
Release Date: 9.21.21

Publisher’s Summary
A spirited young Englishwoman, Abitha, arrives at a Puritan colony betrothed to a stranger – only to become quickly widowed when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. All alone in this pious and patriarchal society, Abitha fights for what little freedom she can grasp onto, while trying to stay true to herself and her past.

Enter Slewfoot, a powerful spirit of antiquity newly woken… and trying to find his own role in the world. Healer or destroyer? Protector or predator? But as the shadows walk and villagers start dying, a new rumor is whispered: Witch.

Both Abitha and Slewfoot must swiftly decide who they are, and what they must do to survive in a world intent on hanging any who meddle in the dark arts.


My Review
I absolutely cannot watch horror movies because my anxiety goes through the roof and I always have nightmares afterwards, but over the last year or so I've liked dipping my toe into some horror books. While searching for my witch books (yep, that's a regular thing I do) the cover of Slewfoot caught my eye and I instantly requested it. When I received a finished copy I absolutely swooned at the cover and interior photos as well as the book's square styling and formatting details. I loved being transported to a village in 1666 Connecticut to experience the classism and jealously rampant among the townsfolk, but rather than the typical "outcast" story, Brom layers in folktales, myth, and feminine power. Most of the "bad" characters get some redemption and the "good" characters get what they deserve. Revenge is sweet in this story and I can't think of a better book to kick off spooky season. 

Blooming Buttercream Flowers by Amy Rose Yiannakou

 

Title: Blooming Buttercream Flowers
Author: Amy Rose Yiannakou
Designed by: Samantha Brooks

Instagram: @pandicupcakes (Amy) @vividincolour (Sam) 
ISBN Number: 978-1-5272-9337-3

Back Cover
Have you ever wanted to learn to pipe beautiful buttercream flowers? Amy Yiannakou is a self-taught cupcake baker, who runs a successful business in Surrey, UK making beautiful cupcake bouquets and toppers, as well as teaching fellow bakers and students amazing cupcake decorating techniques. In her book for all levels of piping skills, she shows you how to pipe 48 popular buttercream flowers, 12 for each season. If you love baking and flowers, this is the perfect book for you. With simple, easy to follow instructions, you will be piping amazing floral cupcakes in no time. 

My Review 
I was so excited when Amy and Sam reached out to me to ask if I'd like to review this amazing book. In this slim volume there are 48 flower styles demonstrated, each accompanied by 5-6 photos and detailed instructions. Also included with the intro cupcake and buttercream recipes are numerous tips and techniques to help readers achieve the gorgeous result seen throughout the pages of this book. It is obvious that Yiannakou has true cupcake decorating talent and I am so thankful for this guide to try my hand at her sweet creations myself. 

3 Witchy September Releases

 

3 fun, witchy reads releasing this September:⁠

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher⁠
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling⁠
Witch Please by Ann Aguirre ⁠
⁠
I always want to love witchy reads and there were also comparisons to Gilmore Girls and Hocus Pocus being thrown around on some of these pitches so I was full of anticipation. Unfortunately, I didn't LOVE any of them. I am recommending The Ex Hex if you're looking for cute/funny and Orphan Witch if you're looking for a read to pull at your heartstrings. Witch Please is not making my recommendation list. It was awkward and the male main character is cringe-y. ⁠
⁠
I've got several other witchy reads on my Sept/Oct TBR that I have high hopes for. What witchy reads are on your TBR?⁠

Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Mad Women's Ball 
Author: Victoria Mas
Publisher: Overlook
Release Date: 9.7.21


Publisher’s Summary
A literary historical novel detailing the horrors faced by institutionalized women in 19th century Paris—soon to be a major film with Amazon Studios

The Salpetriere Asylum: Paris, 1885. Dr. Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad and cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated—these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, wayward daughters, or girls born from adulterous relationships. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is the Lenten ball—the Madwomen’s Ball—when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope.

Genevieve is a senior nurse. After the childhood death of her sister Blandine, she shunned religion and placed her faith in both the celebrated psychiatrist Dr. Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugenie—the 19-year-old daughter of a bourgeois family that has locked her away in the asylum. Because Eugenie has a secret: she sees spirits. Inspired by the scandalous, banned work that all of Paris is talking about, The Book of Spirits, Eugenie is determined to escape from the asylum—and the bonds of her gender—and seek out those who will believe in her. And for that she will need Genevieve's help . . .

My Review

I have been pondering this review because I wanted to provide more feedback than simply saying this was a letdown. When I first read the summary I assumed this would be a firm five-star read for me, but it is a three, at best. I think the problem here is the length of the story. It would have been more powerful as a short story (on par with Shirley Jackson) or as a bit longer novel. Taking it as it is, I felt like I read an almost complete novel outline, but missed out on the final round of detail additions. The upcoming Amazon movie is likely to be better than the book. 

Seven Year Witch by Angela M. Sanders

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Seven-Year Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries #2)
Author: Angela M. Sanders
Publisher: 8.24.21
Release Date: Kensington 

Publisher’s Summary
Finding your feet in a new job isn't always easy. That goes double for Josie Way, who's settling in as Wilfred, Oregon's, new librarian--and has just discovered she's a witch. But will her fledgling powers be enough to save her from a spell of murder?

While Josie develops her witchcraft with the help of letters left by her grandmother, there are other changes happening in her new hometown. A retreat center is being built at the old mill site, and rumor has it that the location is cursed. That piques Josie's interest almost as much as Sam Wilfred, handsome FBI agent and descendent of the town's founder...

When Sam's soon-to-be ex-wife, Fiona, goes missing at the same time that a bloodied weapon is found, Josie enlists her witchy insight, and her cat familiar, to clear Sam's name. But then the mill project's architect is found dead, and it's clear that someone has been drawing up a vicious plan. Now Josie will have to divine her way out of fatal mischief, before this deadly trouble turns double...

My Review

This year, I have been working my way through Madelyn Alt's "A Bewitching Mystery" series. I love the characters and stories so much but I'm trying to make the series last so it won't be over too quick. Searching for some other cozy mysteries featuring witches, I found Angela Sanders' "Witch Way Librarians Mysteries" series.  I read the first book in the series "Bait and Witch" in May in anticipation of the September release of the second book. I am now firmly invested in the characters and small town happenings of Wilfred, Oregon. The main character lives in an apartment above the library she oversees (hello, my dream) and is just beginning to figure out her powers as witch. One power is bibliomancy--books give her clues to mysteries and she can also match the perfect book to every reader. I feel like I'm pretty good with book recommendations but how cool would it be? 

This is a great cozy series, perfect for autumn or lovers of paranormal/witch mysteries. I'm already anticipating the next in the series and would love a yearly installment of Josie's mystery solving skills. 

American Cake by Anne Byrn

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: American Cake: From Colonial Gingerbread to Classic Layer, the Stories and Recipes Behind More Than 125 of Our Best-Loved Cakes
Author: Anne Byrn
Publisher: Rodale
Release Date: 6.15.21

Publisher’s Summary
Taste your way through America with more than 125 recipes for our favorite historical cakes and frostings.

Cakes in America aren't just about sugar, flour, and frosting. They have a deep, rich history that developed as our country grew. Cakes, more so than other desserts, are synonymous with celebration and coming together for happy times. They're an icon of American culture, reflecting heritage, region, season, occasion, and era. And they always have been, throughout history.

In American Cake, Anne Byrn, creator of the New York Timesbestselling series The Cake Mix Doctor, takes you on a journey through America's past to present with more than 125 authentic recipes for our best-loved and beautiful cakes and frostings. Tracing cakes chronologically from the dark, moist gingerbread of New England to the elegant pound cake, the hardscrabble Appalachian stack cake, war cakes, deep-South caramel, Hawaiian Chantilly, and the modern California cakes of orange and olive oil, Byrn shares recipes, stories, and a behind-the-scenes look into what cakes we were baking back in time. From the well-known Angel Food, Red Velvet, Pineapple Upside-Down, Gooey Butter, and Brownie to the lesser-known Burnt Leather, Wacky Cake, Lazy Daisy, and Cold Oven Pound Cake, this is a cookbook for the cook, the traveler, or anyone who loves a good story. And all recipes have been adapted to the modern kitchen.


My Review
In addition to a great collection of recipes, I really loved the backstories of the recipes and history of cakes. There were a few shockers like Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake (I'm not that adventurous) and interesting tidbits like fudge being cooked by Wellesley College girls in their dorm room over Bunsen burners "on loan" from their chemistry lab, that really made this book fun to sit down and actually read. I've got a family request for strawberry shortcake (which I've never made) so I think I will try that recipe next. I also see a Cardamom Coffee Cake that will probably need to be tested pretty soon, too.