The Sassy Bookworm

Book Review: A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Family-Friendly Musicals by Veeda Bybee 👩‍🍳📚

Rating: 4 Stars

As someone who finds immense joy in both cooking and musicals, stumbling upon Veeda Bybee's "A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Family-Friendly Musicals" felt like hitting the jackpot. This cookbook effortlessly transforms the kitchen into an enchanting theater where culinary arts meet the magic of the silver screen. If you're a fellow enthusiast of themed cookbooks, then this one is undoubtedly a treasure you need to add to your collection. 🎭🍽️

From the moment I laid eyes on the vibrant and cheerful cover, I was eager to dive in. Upon opening the book, I was delighted to discover that the contents are cleverly organized using musical terms—a whimsical touch that enhances the overall charm of the cookbook. The well-organized index, which allows you to find recipes alphabetically or by their corresponding musical makes planning easy. 🎼📚

The book is structured around more than forty timeless musicals, each inspiring a unique recipe that captures the essence of its story. Some standout dishes include "Von Trapp Schnitzel with Noodles" from The Sound of Music, "Violet’s Blueberry Hand Pies" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and "Mr. Gao’s Fried Wonton Moons" from Mulan. Each recipe is accompanied by beautiful photography and clear instructions, making it approachable for both seasoned chefs and kitchen novices. 📸🍲

This cookbook offers something for everyone with its diverse range of recipes, catering to all skill levels. It’s a fantastic invitation to get the whole family involved in the kitchen, fostering an environment where we can create cherished memories while exploring new culinary delights inspired by our favorite musicals. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎶

In conclusion, "A Few of My Favorite Things" is a must-have for anyone who shares a passion for cooking and musical films. With over 40 musicals represented, you’re sure to find both beloved classics and new favorites, ensuring that every meal becomes a performance worth savoring. 🎬🍴

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau 🌱📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up The Alchemy of Flowers on a whim — the cover alone is so gorgeous it practically begged me to take it home — and I’m glad I did. Laura Resau’s debut is a quietly magical, modern-day reimagining of The Secret Garden that leans into atmosphere and slow-blooming mystery. I’m giving it four stars because it’s an enchanting, emotionally satisfying read, though a few threads could have been tightened. 🌸

The story follows Eloise, a woman whose life has been bruised by loss and failed attempts to build a family. When she finds an unusual help-wanted notice in a French gardening magazine, she jumps at the chance to leave everything behind: a remote job tending the Jardins du Paradis, rustic lodging inside ancient walled gardens in the South of France, and a strict, enigmatic rule — no children allowed. The job description itself is delightfully strange (the garden’s fertilizer has a certain... unconventional requirement), and it sets the tone for the novel’s blend of earthy charm and whimsical oddity. 🇫🇷🌿

Living within the garden walls with three other caretakers, Eloise begins to heal. The writing does a lovely job of conveying how the garden seeps into her bones — the flowers seem to hum and coax her open again, and small rituals of planting and tending become almost sacred. There’s also a slow-burning, believable attraction to the handyman, Raphael, which adds a tender human anchor to the story. 💚🌺

But Resau doesn’t keep things purely pastoral. The estate has rules and secrets: workers aren’t supposed to be outside at dusk, a shadowy “Goddess of the Garden” is rumored, and Eloise keeps glimpsing a childlike presence — giggles, flickers of movement — that may or may not be real. As she peels back layers of the garden’s history, the novel moves from gentle healing into the darker, more urgent territory of protecting someone who might be in danger. The stakes escalate in a way that felt earned and kept me turning pages. 🌒🔍

What I loved most: the atmosphere. The gardens themselves are practically a character — lush, sensory, and full of small, bewitching details. The plot is well constructed, with a satisfying balance of cozy moments and creeping unease. The supporting cast is warm and well-drawn, and Eloise’s emotional arc — from broken and guarded to open and brave — is handled with care. Resau’s voice is tender and slightly whimsical, which suits the material perfectly. 🌿✨

If I have any quibbles, it’s that a couple of the mysteries could have been resolved with more clarity, and the pacing slows a touch in the middle. But those are relatively minor in the context of such an evocative book. 🕰️📖

All in all, The Alchemy of Flowers is a delightful, atmospheric read with heart and a hint of magic. If you like stories about second chances, gardens that feel alive, and a little bit of folk-mystery folded into your romance, this one’s worth a visit. 🌷💫

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This book introduced me to a sub-genre of speculative fiction I have never heard of before “steampunk”. Speculative fiction is a genre that I really enjoy so it comes as no surprise that I thought this was a great read! The characters are well written, delightful and wilfully bizarre. There is a certain suspension of disbelief required to appreciate the book but I urge you to give it a go...you won't be disappointed!

Great cover on this one. Great representation of the story. Good compoition and title work as well.



OH-MY-GOD...just OMG. I don't even know where to start this review. This book was just SOOOO friggin AMAZING! In fact, this may be THE best book I have read all year. The writing was FANTASTIC. The Alice In Wonderland theme FANTASTIC. The pace FANTASTIC. The plot was so unique and again FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC. The character development FANTASTIC. The secondary characters FANTASTIC. I want more of Chapel and Hyde. The main characters FANTASTIC. Rabbit and Dolly may very well be my favorite dark couple to date. And I LOVED LOVED LOVED the ending.



And with that, I am going to leave my review pretty vague. This is a book that needs to be experienced without too many spoilers. I'll tell you one thing though; this would make one hell of an excellent movie. I'd also recommend you heed the warning given because this isn't one for the faint of heart. Yours truly is giving it all the thumbs, fingers, and toes I have.

I wish you could give half stars because this really deserves another half star. Dan Brown's Langdon series is one of my all time favorite series. I always feel like I have been taken on a fast paced ride, but also learned a thing or two along the way. This third installment of the series is good, really good, though not quite up there with Angels and Demons, which in my opinion is the best book in the series. I suspect if you are a fan, then you will find yourself enjoying The Lost Symbol. Fingers crossed it doesn't take another 6 years before we see a fourth book...hint hint Mr. Brown. ;D