“What ultimately matters is that we think like an herbalist,” contends Robinett, an herbalist herself, in her standout debut. Framing her treatment of the topic as a “why-to” more than a “how-to,” Robinett covers such categories as nervines (which target one’s nervous system), sedatives (for sleep disturbances), adaptogens (to help “assist adaptation” to stress), nootropics (used for enhancing cognitive function), and psychedelics (for “emotional pain”). She discourages matching herbs strictly symptomatically, noting that there’s no “single herb for any one symptom or syndrome.” In each category, she highlights a few plants appropriate for specific concerns. For example, she suggests the nervine passionflower for those struggling with rumination, while valerian root is an option for panic. Though the author encourages exploration over strict chart-consulting, she does offer a few straightforward resources, including a handful of recipes, an index that details the best formats to ingest each herb mentioned, and an herb shopping guide. She also shares powerful stories from her clients, in a tone that evokes thoughtful educator rather than salesperson: “My pursuit of this nature represents an inherent way in which I­ live—​and learn and ­teach—­which is to strive to understand.” Readers curious about herbalism need look no further. Agent: Lauren Hall, Folio Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

“Grab your hooks, cue up your favorite audiobook, and prepare to embark on a creative journey filled with romance, adventure, and a dash of magic,” writes crochet designer Sennet in her dynamic debut, a collection of projects inspired by romantic fantasy novels. The patterns, which include accessories, decor, and amigurumi dolls, range from beginner-level to advanced: the “Bat Wings” bookmarks are great for newbies, while the “Fierce Dragon” amigurumi is best for confident crafters, and the wearable “Fae Ear Cuffs” falls between the two. There are several small projects, including a “Fairy-Tale Mask,” “Magic Mushrooms” decorations, and a “Baby DraGoyle” (a hybrid dragon-gargoyle) that require less than a skein of yarn for each color. The project instructions are easy to follow, and for the more challenging components, Sennett includes QR codes that direct readers to helpful videos with extra guidance. Each pattern also notes recommended yarns, a majority of which are easy-to-find acrylics, but readers are encouraged to experiment with different weights and brands. A review of basic crochet stitches and techniques, including an abbreviation index and notes on pattern-reading, rounds things out and serves as a nice refresher. Crafty bibliophiles will be thrilled. (July)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

Chiropractor Wiest provides guidance on aging “with resilience” in his practical and empowering debut. His framework is made up of three stages—basic needs, whole-body movements, and joint-specific movements. Wiest sets the tone with the basics, including tips on managing stress, getting enough sleep, establishing strong social connections, and making use of positive self-talk (he encourages readers to replace “It’s never going to get better” with “I am resilient, and I can manage this moment”). Wiest’s whole-body exercises are aimed at helping readers perform daily actions such as moving from sitting to standing, getting up off the floor, and reaching overhead, and include wall sits, squats, lunges, and tennis ball squeezes. His tips for joint-specific mobility, meanwhile, target such areas as the feet, ankles, and knees; hips and lower back; and shoulders and neck. A standout feature of these routines is their inclusivity—each one comes with modifications tailored to different fitness levels, making this an adaptable guide for readers at any stage of their wellness journey. Wiest’s compassionate approach is a plus, as when he writes, “Give yourself credit for making your health a priority.” This will be a boon for anyone looking to stay nimble. (June)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

Morgenstern, the owner and founder of the eponymous ice cream shop in Manhattan, shares his wisdom to help home cooks recreate professional-level scoops in his impassioned debut. He presumes an audience ready to take ice cream seriously: a detailed overview of ingredients and equipment recommends investing in a hand-crank rock salt and ice machine for churning and advises readers on what temperature to keep their freezers. In addition to standard flavors like chocolate and vanilla, Morgenstern serves up dozens of his own creative twists, such as blueberry milk chocolate, coconut espresso, salted caramel pretzel, and honey lavender peach. While a majority of these recipes are eggless (“Their flavor gets in the way of the flavor of my ice cream,” Morgenstern explains), eggs do make an appearance in French vanilla, chunky strawberry, and a few other custard-based offerings. Rounding out the collection are frozen desserts including bananas Foster, hot fudge sundaes, and a bubble gum ice cream cake. Morgenstern’s tone can be brusque as he provides no-frills instructions (to avoid burns while making caramel, “the best way to be safe is to pay attention to what the fuck you are doing”). While not the most accessible to novices, this is sure to be a hit with true ice cream enthusiasts. Agent: Kim Witherspoon, InkWell Management. (June)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

Embroidery instructor Long (Animal Embroidery Workbook) brings a playful approach to the craft in this whimsical collection of projects. In an overview of materials, Long recommends simple quilting cotton and beachwood embroidery hoops for the proper tension they allow. The projects also require wire, needle-nose pliers for shaping, and beads to add “some extra color, sparkle, and variety.” Technique how-tos include tips for transferring images to fabric (using the light from a bright window makes tracing easier) and anchoring one’s first stitch with a knot. Long walks readers through a slew of charming projects, many of which include stump work, or “techniques that create a 3D element, such as raised stitches, felt bases and wire slips.” A “folksy” bluebird uses only basic stitches, while the “Bumblebee Bouquet” offers a chance to try a variety of stitch types and textures, and the eye-catching “Magic Snail” is perfect for more confident crafters. For each pattern, Long explains what stitches to use, offers helpful tips and tricks (practice harder stitches on scrap fabric, for example), and provides a numbered color key so embroiderers can find the exact shade of floss. Animal-loving crafters of all experience levels will find something here that appeals. (June)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

Australian actor-turned-influencer Hamilton brings his lighthearted passion for mixology to bear in his wide-ranging debut collection. An in-depth breakdown of syrups, garnishes, techniques, and glassware welcomes the uninitiated, with Hamilton noting which items are necessary and which merely novelties. The friendly, occasionally cheeky tone (“Don’t be crass,” he reprimands readers in the preface to a how-to on rimming glassware) carries through a gauntlet of recipes both classic and original. Many drinks, including the chocolate orange Jaffa Kick and the elderflower-forward Classy Boy, were created during TikTok livestreams with audience input and Hamilton’s followers will no doubt appreciate shout-outs to their collaborative creativity. Hamilton also offers crowd-pleasing riffs on familiar favorites, including an affogato martini, a boozy Arnold Palmer, and a sophisticated take on a Long Island iced tea. A color-coded set of flavor “tags” (fruity, funky, floral, etc.) as well as cute ingredient pictograms offer readers navigational keys to explore the recipes according to their personal tastes. Hamilton’s voice is sweet and mild-mannered, and he expresses an earnest enthusiasm for unexpected flavor combinations. The author’s fans are sure to be thrilled. (May)

Reviewed on 05/16/2025 | Details & Permalink

Elsass (Maple Syrup) answers the question he poses in the title of this personable cookbook with 75 recipes for dips, breads, salads, beverages, and desserts. There’s caesar salad with a hummus-based dressing, fried halloumi caprese, and vegetarian “Faux Gras” made with cashews. Elsass provides some helpful maxims for guests: “If you’re always on time, bring appetizers,” like Lebanese muhammara, a red pepper and pomegranate dip, but “if you’re reliably late, bring a drink,” like a pitcher of lemonade, margaritas, or hazelnut eggnog. Recipes are sorted by effort required, from “In Your Sleep” easy to “Roll Up Your Sleeves” complex, with six particularly impressive offerings earning “Bragging Rights.” Most don’t come with suggestions for what kind of event they would best suit, but Elsass does devote an entire chapter to brunch fare, featuring loaded rösti, and yogurt parfait. Two dessert chapters reflect a range of effort and pizzazz: rice krispies are a quick treat, while raspberry meringue tart is a showstopper. A brief final section on foodie hostess gifts, including homemade jam and herb-infused oil, rounds things out. Given the festive focus, some serving sizes seem small—a recipe for gochujang cheddar scones, for example, only makes six—but Elsass’s “party tricks,” including tips on transporting dishes, are a plus. This is sure to come in handy. (May)

Reviewed on 05/16/2025 | Details & Permalink

Physician Smith (What You Must Know About Thyroid Disorders) delivers straight talk about breast cancer in this accessible resource. She details the early warning signs and describes various diagnostic tests, including MRIs, ultrasounds, mammograms, and PET scans, then differentiates the types of breast cancer, both invasive (including ductal carcinoma, which accounts for 70%–80% of all breast cancer cases) and noninvasive. Among the conventional treatments covered are surgery, radiation, endocrine therapy, T-cell therapy, and theragnostics. Explaining how to address their potential side effects, Smith notes that taking omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce common chemotherapy side effects such as bone density loss and weight gain, while vitamin D may help with the joint pain and fatigue that can accompany letrozole treatment. Elsewhere, she describes “unchangeable” risk factors for breast cancer, such as early menstruation, not having children, late menopause, and family history; suggests preventative measures for “controllable” risks including cutting back on alcohol consumption, avoiding cigarettes, getting regular exercise, and paying attention to air quality; and offers an especially user-friendly explanation of what dense breasts are and how they can impede a breast cancer diagnosis. It adds up to an informative and practical guide to all stages of the disease. (July)

Reviewed on 05/16/2025 | Details & Permalink

TikTok star Hollis’s appealing follow-up to Baking Yesteryear offers 100 “darn-good” recipes from across the U.S. Hollis affects his trademark gee-whiz enthusiasm for quirky local delicacies like strawberry pretzel salad from Pennsylvania, which fills a crushed-pretzel crust with a mixture of Cool Whip, cream cheese, and strawberry gelatin powder; and Chicago’s “Atomic Cake,” which stacks banana, chocolate, and vanilla sponges. A jokey style permeates the recipe headnotes (Watergate was Nixon’s “saucy bid to undermine the presidential election of 1972”) and sidebars on cultural capitals occasionally feature awkward syntax (in New Orleans, “whispers and tales of a cryptic and occult past writhe just below perception”). Thankfully, the recipes themselves are more straightforward, even those for complex projects like povitica, a honey and walnut bread from Kansas. Hollis’s culinary road trip unearths some relatively unknown gems, including a historic layer cake from Alabama that features in To Kill a Mockingbird and rolled cocoa-filled pastries sold along Route 65 in the Ozarks. Despite the title, many dishes are not baked at all, like New York’s chilled Waldorf salad gelatin ring, Georgia hush puppies, and California “Mojave Nuggets,” a confection made of coconut and almond. Fans of kitschy culinary nostalgia will happily go along for the ride. (May)

Reviewed on 05/16/2025 | Details & Permalink

Menopause is both “shit” and “amazing,” according to this spirited anthology edited by journalist Eltahawy (The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls). Aiming to present an “antidote” to a type of taboo-busting feminist approach to the topic that mainly appeals to “white, wealthy, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied women,” Eltahawy gathers a variety of perspectives on both menopause and the transitional period before it. Jenn Salib Huber, a registered dietitian, takes aim at diet culture in “The Curse of Puberty,” asking, “Is it really so hard to accept that it’s normal for human bodies to change?” In “Sex and the Menopausal Vagina in the Suburbs,” public speaker Susan Cole, who is HIV positive, describes her chemotherapy-induced menopause during treatment for breast cancer, noting that she “didn’t expect to be alive to go through the menopause.” “My Bleeding Life” sees filmmaker Emmett Jack Lundberg outline the symptoms of menopause, which he entered “just shy” of his 30th birthday while undergoing hormone replacement therapy. It adds up to a fascinating look at not only the physical aspects of menopause but the social and political; readers seeking a shame-free approach to the subject will find solidarity in no short supply. Loud and proud, this hits all the marks. (June)

Reviewed on 05/16/2025 | Details & Permalink