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genieinanovel's review against another edition
4.0
Since this an anthology, I will rate the stories individually. Overall though, I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection and I loved how they all connected in some way. Usually, it was by mentioning characters that appear in other stories or the restaurants. Not to mention the themes of each were either food or love, or in some cases, both. Not all the stories were fluffy, some were kind of weird to be honest, but again, I enjoyed most of them.
- Rain by Sangu Mandanna – 5 stars
- Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman – 5 stars
- The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon – 5 stars
- Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco – 2 stars
- Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid – 4.5 stars
- The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond – 4 stars
- Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles – 4 stars
- The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse – 2.5 stars
- Hearts à la Carte by Karuna Riazi – 3 stars
- Bloom by Phoebe North – 3 stars
- A Bountiful Film by S. K. Ali – 4.5 stars
- Side Work by Sara Farizan – 3.5 stars
- Panaderia ~ Pasteleria by Anna-Marie McLemore – 2 stars
Overall, there were three or four stories that I didn’t care for much. My least two favorites of the collection were Panaderia and Sugar and Spite, I just could not get into them at all. The Missing Ingredient was good up until the end when it took a weird/creepy turn that just ruined it for me.
My favorites from the collection were Rain, Kings and Queens, The Grand Ishq, Moments to Return, and A Bountiful Film. To me, those stories make the book worth reading and those are the ones that have stuck with me since finishing it.
So even though some stories I gave a 2 or 3 star rating to, I’d say the book is overall 5 stars. The individual ratings are just based on how I liked the stories. That’s not to say someone else won’t think they’re worth 5 stars, because the writing of all of them is great. If you haven’t checked out this book yet, you definitely should!
- Rain by Sangu Mandanna – 5 stars
- Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman – 5 stars
- The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon – 5 stars
- Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco – 2 stars
- Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid – 4.5 stars
- The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond – 4 stars
- Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles – 4 stars
- The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse – 2.5 stars
- Hearts à la Carte by Karuna Riazi – 3 stars
- Bloom by Phoebe North – 3 stars
- A Bountiful Film by S. K. Ali – 4.5 stars
- Side Work by Sara Farizan – 3.5 stars
- Panaderia ~ Pasteleria by Anna-Marie McLemore – 2 stars
Overall, there were three or four stories that I didn’t care for much. My least two favorites of the collection were Panaderia and Sugar and Spite, I just could not get into them at all. The Missing Ingredient was good up until the end when it took a weird/creepy turn that just ruined it for me.
My favorites from the collection were Rain, Kings and Queens, The Grand Ishq, Moments to Return, and A Bountiful Film. To me, those stories make the book worth reading and those are the ones that have stuck with me since finishing it.
So even though some stories I gave a 2 or 3 star rating to, I’d say the book is overall 5 stars. The individual ratings are just based on how I liked the stories. That’s not to say someone else won’t think they’re worth 5 stars, because the writing of all of them is great. If you haven’t checked out this book yet, you definitely should!
bluerobinredwren's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hwilliams's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
louturnspages's review against another edition
4.0
**Actual rating 3.5 stars**
Reading compiled short stories is often of mixed bag. I loved the theme of the book and the focus on love and family in one diverse and unique neighborhood. Some of these stories were great, some were fine, and others I just didn’t enjoy.
Reading compiled short stories is often of mixed bag. I loved the theme of the book and the focus on love and family in one diverse and unique neighborhood. Some of these stories were great, some were fine, and others I just didn’t enjoy.
wardenred's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There’s a quiet sort of pride there, creating things with your hands that people take pleasure in.
Rating anthologies is always really hard for me, because practically in each, there are stories I absolutely love, stories that are good but not great, and stories I could do without. This one is no exception. What I absolutely loved about the entirety of it, though, is the concept: the fact that all the stories are loosely interlinked and take place in the same restaurant-packed quarter. This felt a bit like playing an exploration-based videogame where you roam across a vast location, enter places, and learn the stories of their occupants. There is even a map included, with all the numerous restaurants from the book marked on it!
It was also great to be exposed to so many different cultures and culture-specific foods. I swear this book did wonders for my appetite. :D There is so much cooking here, all of it done with love and purpose and a dash of magic that I believe is always present in the kitchen. I loved seeing all the mouth-watering culinary variety and learning some new stuff about the various cultures, not even always linked directly to food.
What was the anthology's strength for me (the fact that all the stories are interlinked) has also proved to be a bit of a weakness, though, because there are a number of genres presented here. Some of the stories are these quiet introspective pieces, contemporary with just a bit of magical realism. Others are much more high-stakes, with conflicts based around rather dangerous ghosts or even mafia wars. The way the stories are arranged in the book makes for some really dramatic mood shifts, which made it sometimes difficult to read a few stories in a row.
All in all, though, I think this is a solid four stars. If I had to pick my favorite story, I think I'd go with Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid: a beautiful piece focused on overcoming the ever-present fear of death, or rather, learning to live with it and despite it.
megs_s's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mariamreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
Current rating is for the short story titled Back Work by Sara Farizan only. Will read the rest when it comes out.
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories about Hungry Hearts Row and the magic of the people and food who live there.
Overall the stories blended well together even though they were all different. There were some that were awesome and few that weren't and some that were just okay. It was a nice read.
Overall the stories blended well together even though they were all different. There were some that were awesome and few that weren't and some that were just okay. It was a nice read.