Textile designer Wilhelm (Stylish Sewing) offers a solid collection of projects meant to “be used and loved for a lifetime.” Each design uses weighty materials including canvas, sailcloth, waxed canvas, and leather, which hold up to wear and tear and “acquire character in the process.” A section on necessary materials and accessories explains how to choose leather (or faux alternatives), and notes that binding screws are useful for attaching leather straps to fabric. As for tools and equipment, crafters will need denim needles, a craft knife for cutting leather, and a sewing machine (the author recommends buying secondhand rather than getting a “cheap, new” one). Wilhelm’s projects are labeled according to three difficulty levels: hanging herb baskets, a roll-up utensil pouch, and a canvas log basket are perfect for beginners; a stunning waxed cotton backpack and retro bag inspired by bowling bags are for more experienced crafters; and a bike bag and shopper tote fall in between. Project-specific tips are peppered throughout, Wilhelm’s straightforward instructions will help crafters take her guidance off the page, and the photos that accompany each step are a boon. Sewers seeking to expand their skill set should give this a look. (July)

Reviewed on 06/13/2025 | Details & Permalink

Food writer Firkser dials in on the galette—a convenient open-faced pie that is eminently suited to “riffability”—in her focused and innovative debut. She provides a master recipe for dough, complete with step-by-step photographs and meticulous instructions for making it by hand or using a food processor, followed by a few variations, including a chocolate version and one made with buckwheat. A handful of sauces and toppings also open up possibilities for experimentation. Filling options lean classic but with a twist, like plums sprinkled with black pepper and tarragon, and thin lemon slices over a cream cheese mixture. The author also plays with form, as in recipes for individual chocolate-hazelnut hand pies, and a deep-dish peach treat. Savory choices include a slab pie with radishes and red onion and another with an eggplant parm filling. A chapter of galettes made with pantry staples—marinated artichoke hearts, rotisserie chicken—is particularly clever. Firkser is quick with a tip, like how to use leftover dough to make cookies, and her explanations of the method for assembling galettes, which always includes a quick set in the freezer, are clear and colloquial. The result is a promising first outing that is greater than the sum of its 50 recipes. (June)

Reviewed on 06/13/2025 | Details & Permalink

In this breezy if somewhat uneven collection, Newen (Monday Night Mocktails) serves up 52 wine cocktails recommended for low-proof weeknight relaxation. The recipes are rendered in simple prose, paired with attractive photography, and sorted by season: from glogg (spiced port) in winter to mimosa variations in spring, watermelon frosé in summer, and a cider-vermouth cocktail in autumn. Newens’s premise occasionally stretches thin, leading to some unusual drinks that may raise eyebrows among both classic cocktail lovers and oenophiles including a whiskey sour with a cabernet sauvignon float, and a chilled stout and sparkling wine combo garnished with dark chocolate shavings. For the less adventurous, there are myriad appealing spritzes, including a festive sugar-rimmed sparkling cranberry flute, and some familiar favorites, like a lightly elevated tinto de verano made with fresh squeezed citrus and simple syrup instead of lemon-lime soda. The result is a lighthearted and whimsical offering for the wine cocktail curious. (May)

Reviewed on 06/06/2025 | Details & Permalink

Noting that “not all salads are nutritionally equal,” nutritionist and That Salad Lady blogger Franklin shares her method for building consistently healthy, satisfying salads in her wide-ranging debut. Early chapters introduce her system, which involves layering non-starchy vegetables, fruits, proteins, fats, and fiber-rich starches. Subsequent chapters often focus on a specific diet or food preference. All the salads in the high-protein chapter, for example, offer 20–30 grams of protein per serving, including a beef and broccoli bowl with sesame ginger dressing and Caribbean jerk chicken salad with mango lime vinaigrette. The heart-healthy chapter features an apricot and almond couscous bowl that can be eaten warm or chilled, while an anti-inflammatory chapter includes a turmeric quinoa and edamame bowl. The scope is impressive, but it’s hard to imagine a home cook who’s eager to explore the low-carb, keto-friendly section finding much utility in the vegan and vegetarian section. Still, Franklin encourages “experimentation, self-expression, and creativity” and includes many helpful suggestions for ingredient substitutions alongside time-saving tips and nutritional information. Those looking for practical inspiration to eat well will be pleased. (July)

Reviewed on 06/06/2025 | Details & Permalink

“Every recipe tells a story,” assert the authors of this heartfelt cookbook, a fundraiser for the nonprofit Advocates for Human Rights. It’s structured around profiles of 37 immigrants to the U.S. who share family recipes that range from the simple (Colombian Hogao, a tomato and onion sauce) to the complex (German leek tart). Most are not professional chefs; instead, the focus is on home-cooked, everyday fare, often in serving sizes fit for a crowd. Doris Parker, whose family fled to the U.S. just before Liberia’s First Civil War, contributes instructions for peanut soup. Hiba Al-Hasnawi, who came to the states with the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project multiple times before threats on her life made permanent relocation a necessity, serves up baba ghanoush. Somalian Halima Mohamed, the founder of Hoyo, a food production company that distributes traditional sambusas, or meat-stuffed pastries, shares her flagship recipe. The breadth of experience the authors attempt to capture is admirable, but there’s a scattered quality to the finished product and some missing practical elements, like listing total cooking times or providing an index of recipes by ingredients or country of origin. Still, the noble intentions of this earnest anthology shine through. (June)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

The lovingly crafted debut cocktail collection from Grey (a pen name) pairs Taylor Swift–inspired libations with copious fan lore. Following an accessible overview of bartending techniques and ingredients, the 60 drinks are sorted by album/era and each is tied to a specific song. The sparkling “Crestfallen Cure” complements Evermore’s “Champagne Problems” while “You Beer-long with Me,” a nod to the Fearless single, is a boilermaker for “when high heels and short skirts just don’t feel right.” Both “Lavender Haze,” off of Midnights, and the title track off Red inspire vibrantly hued concoctions. Grey doesn’t shy away from deeper cuts: “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My),” from Swift’s self-titled debut, gets paired with boozy sweet tea that evokes the singer’s country roots. Though Grey’s enthusiasm is infectious, the real highlight is the stylized photography, which showcases each drink in an environment staged to echo Swift’s music videos and album visuals, evoking the pastels of the Lover era with a frozen rosé concoction pictured against a dreamy sunset and the gothic vibe of The Tortured Poets Department with a dimly lit espresso martini in homage to “The Black Dog.” Mixology-minded Swifties will want to snap this up. (June)

Correction: An earlier version of this review confused the author with romance novelist Alison Grey.

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

Idaho homesteader Thomas guides readers through freeze-drying food at home in this comprehensive manual. Initially skeptical about trying a freeze dryer, Thomas became a believer after processing a surplus of eggs from her 80 hens: “When I did a test run with these eggs and made a big pan of scrambled eggs for my family, no one could tell they were not fresh.” She lays out the benefits of freeze-drying, including its convenience as well as the fact that it saves space and cuts back on food waste. In her brief history of the method, she explains that people in South America used to expose food to freezing temperatures at high altitudes to make it last longer. Elsewhere, Thomas shares tips for shortening the process by pre-freezing food; explains how freeze-drying differs from dehydrating; outlines what to know before purchasing a freeze dryer; and offers a step-by-step guide to the process, starting with prepping food and ending with rehydration. Thomas doesn’t skimp on details, and she encourages readers to learn from her mistakes, admitting that “my path to learning to freeze-dry was not all rosy. I think I lost about 50% of those early jars of eggs.” This is essential reading for those looking to up their food preservation game. (Self-published)

Reviewed on 05/30/2025 | Details & Permalink

“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