In this gorgeous volume, designer Frazer (Empowered Embroidery) showcases in-the-hoop embroidery designs inspired by birth flowers, the blooms associated with each month, similar to birthstones. The concept of birth flowers dates back to ancient Rome, Frazer explains. Some get their association based on the timing of when they bloom, while others are paired with a month because their color matches that month’s birthstone. Frazer offers patterns for each month’s birth flower and describes the symbolism of each. For June, crafters learn how to stitch a classic red rose, which symbolizes love and passion, and for November, they’re shown how to stitch golden chrysanthemums, which connote friendship and happiness. Other designs include morning glories for September, hollies for December, and daisies for April. Each is labeled with its difficulty level and contains a diagram of required stitches. Frazer also includes bonus designs that complement the floral patterns, such as butterflies, snails, and ladybugs. There is a section devoted to reviewing basic stitches, from backstitches and satin stitches to chain stitches and French knots, but the written instructions and illustrations may be confusing for novices. Still, this appealing collection will suit embroiderers who’ve mastered the basics. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 11/28/2025 | Details & Permalink

Taste the Nation host Lakshmi (Love, Loss, and What We Ate) uses this gorgeous compendium of recipes collected during her travels across the U.S. to craft a “love letter” to “all [the] immigrants who have made a life here and, in turn, made America what it is.” An extensive introduction offers practical advice on best cooking practices and a comprehensive pantry list in which Lakshmi breaks down potentially unfamiliar ingredients, stating that one of her goals is to “get you familiar with the flavors you love (or will love) but may have never tried cooking at home.” For starters, there’s som tum, or Thai green papaya salad, and Afghan leek and scallion dumplings. Meat, poultry, and seafood dishes include Italian saltimbocca, Filipino chicken adobo, and Peruvian ceviche. The chapter on grains features abundant rice dishes, from Cuban moros y cristianos (black beans and rice) to South Carolina crab fried rice. Dessert and drink options pull from a similarly wide range of cultural influences. Lakshmi’s instructions are thorough, and she provides both plenty of substitution ideas and step-by-step photo illustrations for trickier dishes. Throughout, profiles of home cooks and professional chefs from immigrant backgrounds add heart. This accomplished collection is a treasure trove. (Nov.)

This review has been updated.

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

“Drinking less doesn’t have to be dry,” promise Grasse and Erace, who previously collaborated on The Cocktail Workshop, in this stylish and laid-back collection of low-ABV quaffs. The authors outline five methods for decreasing the alcohol content in any given cocktail: “stretch,” diluting the drink by increasing the amount of mixer; “swap,” replacing liquor with a lower-proof ingredient; “split,” cutting the amount of spirits used with a lower-proof alcohol; “reserve,” flipping a cocktail’s proportions; and “shrink,” reducing serving size. Recipes are organized by occasion—from brunch to holiday dinner—and each section offers recipes for both single serving pours and large batch punches alongside instructions for setting up DIY cocktail bars where guests can try multiple variations of a drink. Many cocktails are riffs on old favorites: a “carajilow” is an “easy-going alternative” to the espresso martini, the “Cousin Greg” swaps out the rum in a Cuba libre for cherry liqueur and fernet-branca, and the “Lower Manhattan” tones down the whiskey-based classic by using a zero-proof amaro. The collection is rounded out with elevated but accessible snack recipes, including guacamole and piña-pepita salsa for game day and brown butter hummus to serve at a book club, plus striking photography and party playlists contributed by War on Drugs drummer Charlie Hall. Hosts will find a fount of inspiration. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

Stem cell researcher Hemeryck (5-Minute Brain Workout for Longevity) teams up with Mabel, the Sergey Young Foundation’s head of communications and author of Your 5-Minute Reset, for a practical guide to optimizing physical and mental health. They assert that only 20% to 25% of longevity is determined by genetics while the rest is influenced by factors like daily habits and social connections. Their guidance is broken down into five categories: how to eat, move, sleep, think, and live. For nutrition, they recommend the Mediterranean diet, which consists of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and fish, and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. Building and maintaining muscle is also key to lowering the risk of chronic disease and lengthening one’s lifespan, they contend, encouraging at least two strength-training sessions per week. Elsewhere, the authors offer tips for maintaining deep, restorative sleep (the supplement 5-HTP may help) and discuss the importance of meditation and mindfulness, noting that being stuck in a perpetual state of stress has negative effects, like hormone imbalances and a weakened immune system. Their straightforward and accessible advice effectively demonstrates that maximizing one’s health doesn’t require expensive therapies or products. Readers seeking to take control of their well-being will find much of value. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

The co-owners of Manhattan’s King restaurant debut with a tantalizing if fussy volume of recipes for Italian and French cuisine. The authors offer up several exciting toppings for carta di musica, a Sardinian flatbread­—including broccoli rabe puree, ricotta salata, and olives; torn figs, mint, and fresh ricotta; and creme fraiche, chili, and soft herbs­—but don’t show how to make the bread itself or provide tips for sourcing it. Several dishes take considerable time, such as Tina’s Rabbit Pie, which involves making and refrigerating the crust, braising a rabbit, making a roux, assembling the pie, baking, and cooling for at least three hours. Others require hard-to-find ingredients, including agretti, quince, and quail, but the authors offer few suggestions for substitution. More accessible options include potato watercress soup; a salad of winter leaves with blood orange, olives, and almonds; and sea bass with leeks, anchovy, and vermouth. For dessert, there’s tiramisu and langues de chat alongside Eton Mess and treacle tart, inspired by the authors’ time in London. The instructions are thorough and may require a quick reread before cooking. It all looks delicious, but only the most ambitious home cooks will have the bandwidth to tackle these elaborate meals. Agent: Janis Donnaud, Janis A. Donnaud and Assoc. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

This comprehensive guide from herbalist Groves (Herbal Remedies for Sleep) shows readers how to harness the power of herbs and supplements to support their digestive health. Gut health is the foundation for overall vitality, Groves explains, noting an out-of-balance digestive system can lead to gas, heartburn, ulcers, and other forms of discomfort, as well as have broader implications for one’s mood and immune system. While pharmaceuticals for digestive problems often work by suppressing the body’s function, herbal therapies, she says, help by healing the damaged area. Groves walks readers through herbs and their uses, starting with those that support digestion, such as artichoke leaf, chamomile, fennel, and dill, and those that help regulate bowel movements, like yellow dock, cinnamon, and rose petals. Some herbs offer antimicrobial benefits, such as oregano, thyme, yarrow, and alder bark, while others support gut repair, like marsh mallow and plantain. Throughout, Groves provides easy to follow recipes for teas, bitters, seltzers, and snacks, and sensibly cautions readers that herbs alone may not be enough to fix their issues (“You can almost always improve your current status with herbs, but you may not be able to resolve it completely without medical intervention”). Those seeking natural support for their ailments will find this a boon. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

Knitwear designer Miyagishima demystifies the process of sweater-making in her informative debut. She begins by walking readers through basic sweater styles, like the drop shoulder and seamless circular yoke, and gives advice on how to take body measurements to determine the right size. Then, she evaluates common types of yarn, noting acrylic is durable and hypoallergenic, but not ecofriendly, and while cotton yarn doesn’t hold its shape well, it’s lightweight and perfect for warm-weather knits. Before embarking on a project, she urges readers to make a sample swatch to see if their gauge (the number of stitches and rows per inch) will match up with what’s specified in the pattern. For blocking, the process of setting a garment’s shape and dimensions with water, she advises readers to use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits on the fabric. The six patterns, including a Simple Stockinette Raglan, an Everyday Duster, and an Afternoon Tea Cardi, outline dimensions for nine different sizes, from XS to 5XL. Newcomers will appreciate Miyagishima’s helpful breakdown of how to read knitting patterns, and seasoned knitters will appreciate her advice for pattern modifications. It’s a valuable resource that knitters of all levels will turn to time and again. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 11/14/2025 | Details & Permalink

“I believe that food is not just for survival, but also a special language that enriches life and captures emotions,” writes debut author Jang, creator of the Instagram account @glorioustable, in this visually striking but fussy collection of more than 100 recipes. A focus on aesthetics and presentation leads to stunning dishes that often require a long time in the kitchen (beet tortilla mushroom tacos, for example, boast a prep time of 50 minutes followed by an hour of cooking time), hard to source ingredients (squid ink, king oyster mushrooms), and specialty equipment, including a tortilla press, mortar and pestle, pizza oven, spice grinder, and blow torch. Instructions are often finicky and convoluted; without step-by-step illustrations, it’s hard to grasp Jang’s method for rolling zucchini strips into flowers for French tian, shaping pull-apart ham and cheese biscuits into a sunflower, or butterflying pork belly for crispy porchetta. Still, showstopping special occasion meals include a prime rib roast with cheese potato balls, maple sauce, and lemony green beans and a full roast turkey dinner. Breads, buns, and scones; three chapters-worth of mouthwatering dessert recipes (one on cakes, another on desserts, and the final on frozen desserts); and a final chapter on infusing liquors round things out. Only the most ambitious need apply. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 10/31/2025 | Details & Permalink

Delicious Miss Brown host and bestselling author Brown (The Way Home) offers up penny-pinching tips and rich Southern comfort food drawn from her Gullah Geechee roots in this accessible collection. In the lengthy introduction, she shares her personal history, including coupon hunting with her mother, eking by as a struggling college student, and relying on her Christian faith to pull through. Brown proves a charismatic storyteller with a strong voice and solid tips for saving money at the grocery store. Recipes themselves come with clear instructions and generous serving sizes (many are fit for six to eight people) but are presented without individual introductions, listed prep/cook times, or suggested substitutions, which could present hurdles for home cooks. Meat dishes include ground beef stir fry with broccoli, flavorful pork chops, and country fried steak. A section on poultry features Carolina barbecue baked chicken and a skillet pot pie using store-bought biscuits. For seafood, which Brown notes is cheaper when bought frozen or canned, there’s a classic tuna melt and canned salmon hash. An extensive grain section offers many variations on rice, vegetable sides include maple glazed roasted carrots and collard greens, and a final dessert chapter boasts peach cobbler and sweet potato pie. Home cooks are in competent hands with this one. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 10/31/2025 | Details & Permalink

Holistic chiropractor Nelson (The Emotion Code) and his wife, Jean, deliver an empowering guide to breaking down emotional walls to improve one’s overall health. The authors posit that to protect oneself from emotional pain, the subconscious mind forms barriers around the heart, or what they call “Heart-Walls.” This trapped emotional energy can leave people feeling disconnected and cause physical pain, a weakened immune system, and organ and tissue stress. The authors point to research that suggests the heart may store emotional experiences, citing heart transplant recipients who describe sharing inexplicable personality traits and connections with their donors. The Nelsons provide methods for identifying Heart-Walls, like asking oneself questions and seeing how the body reacts, and outline tips for releasing them, including prayer and guiding magnets along one’s head to “[magnify] your intention.” A substantial section is dedicated to testimonials from people who found healing through the authors’ guidance, including a woman who, after releasing trapped emotions related to her daughter’s death, was able travel and exercise without the extreme fatigue she felt previously. Though the book begins with a disclaimer that the authors’ approach is new and hasn’t been extensively studied, they succeed in demonstrating connections between emotional and physical health. This will appeal to those seeking alternative paths toward healing. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 10/31/2025 | Details & Permalink