l1brarygirl's review
4.0
Average Rating for the Collection: 3.5 Stars
I really loved that this anthology of stories all surrounded teens living in an area called "Hungry Hearts Row." It was unique and fun to read.
1. Rain by [a:Sangu Mandanna|5333630|Sangu Mandanna|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489326425p2/5333630.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
Very cute story even though the main premise is about grief.
2. Kings and Queens by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] - ★★★★★
Ohhhh yes - I loved this one!
3. The Grand Ishq Adventure by [a:Sandhya Menon|14834224|Sandhya Menon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512667116p2/14834224.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
Predictable but still cute.
4. Sugar and Spite by [a:Rin Chupeco|7055613|Rin Chupeco|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1552918654p2/7055613.jpg] - ★★★★☆
5. Moments to Remember by [a:Adi Alsaid|4505164|Adi Alsaid|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1386961263p2/4505164.jpg] - ★★★★☆
6. The Slender One by [a:Caroline Tung Richmond|7158157|Caroline Tung Richmond|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372889070p2/7158157.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
7. Gimme Some Sugar by [a:Jay Coles|11573940|Jay Coles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516242367p2/11573940.jpg] - ★★★★☆
Extra star because I teared up at the end
8. The Missing Ingredient by [a:Rebecca Roanhorse|15862877|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512417497p2/15862877.jpg] - ★★★★☆
Star reduction due to that ending !!
9. Hearts a la Cart by [a:Karuna Riazi|15038657|Karuna Riazi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1545335397p2/15038657.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
10. Bloom by [a:Phoebe North|4649673|Phoebe North|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332815794p2/4649673.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
11. A Bountiful Film by [a:S.K. Ali|15615126|S.K. Ali|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561960438p2/15615126.jpg]- ★★★☆☆
12. Side Work by [a:Sara Farzian|18498707|Sara Farzian|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - ★★★☆☆
13. Panadería ~ Pastelería by [a:Anna-Marie McLemore|6434877|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516319453p2/6434877.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
I really loved that this anthology of stories all surrounded teens living in an area called "Hungry Hearts Row." It was unique and fun to read.
1. Rain by [a:Sangu Mandanna|5333630|Sangu Mandanna|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489326425p2/5333630.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
Very cute story even though the main premise is about grief.
2. Kings and Queens by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] - ★★★★★
Ohhhh yes - I loved this one!
3. The Grand Ishq Adventure by [a:Sandhya Menon|14834224|Sandhya Menon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512667116p2/14834224.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
Predictable but still cute.
4. Sugar and Spite by [a:Rin Chupeco|7055613|Rin Chupeco|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1552918654p2/7055613.jpg] - ★★★★☆
5. Moments to Remember by [a:Adi Alsaid|4505164|Adi Alsaid|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1386961263p2/4505164.jpg] - ★★★★☆
6. The Slender One by [a:Caroline Tung Richmond|7158157|Caroline Tung Richmond|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372889070p2/7158157.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
7. Gimme Some Sugar by [a:Jay Coles|11573940|Jay Coles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516242367p2/11573940.jpg] - ★★★★☆
Extra star because I teared up at the end
8. The Missing Ingredient by [a:Rebecca Roanhorse|15862877|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512417497p2/15862877.jpg] - ★★★★☆
Star reduction due to that ending !!
9. Hearts a la Cart by [a:Karuna Riazi|15038657|Karuna Riazi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1545335397p2/15038657.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
10. Bloom by [a:Phoebe North|4649673|Phoebe North|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332815794p2/4649673.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
11. A Bountiful Film by [a:S.K. Ali|15615126|S.K. Ali|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561960438p2/15615126.jpg]- ★★★☆☆
12. Side Work by [a:Sara Farzian|18498707|Sara Farzian|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - ★★★☆☆
13. Panadería ~ Pastelería by [a:Anna-Marie McLemore|6434877|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516319453p2/6434877.jpg] - ★★★☆☆
cynthiasreadinglist's review
5.0
This book was super cute!! Anthologies aren’t my favorite format, but I’m a sucker for interconnecting stories + magic and this absolutely satisfied that craving. I enjoyed the variety of genres and picked out some authors to check out after. I was most surprised by The Missing Ingredient, which ended up super creepy— and even more surprising, I kinda wish there’d been more spooky stories! I’m intrigued by how food can inspire all types of moods. The Slender One was more coming of age than scary, but I loved it too.
The first story was a lovely introduction to the anthology and I was very happy with the closing story— the editor did a nice job of organizing :) as with most anthologies with different authors, the stories are hit and miss. But if you love diverse food and vivid descriptions, own voices stories, and inter generational tales of love, family, overcoming obstacles, and magical realism, you will enjoy this book!
I am also super intrigued by the writing process and communication— how did the authors collaborate to connect all their stories? Just genius *chef’s kiss*
The first story was a lovely introduction to the anthology and I was very happy with the closing story— the editor did a nice job of organizing :) as with most anthologies with different authors, the stories are hit and miss. But if you love diverse food and vivid descriptions, own voices stories, and inter generational tales of love, family, overcoming obstacles, and magical realism, you will enjoy this book!
I am also super intrigued by the writing process and communication— how did the authors collaborate to connect all their stories? Just genius *chef’s kiss*
7_zara's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.0
aimzthereader's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
arpa_m's review
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
courtsreadsalot's review
2.0
I DNFed half way through. I liked some of the first few stories but the rest after we’re so heavy handed. One actually was using a metaphor and made sure you were aware that they were using a metaphor.
bookmarklit's review
4.0
I think this might be the most delightful anthology I've ever read. I loved how connected the stories were and the vibrant setting of Hungry Hearts Row. I would move there in a heartbeat and try every single food at all the restaurants. There was a huuuuge variety of genres here and they were balanced well / placed so perfectly within the anthology. When things got too dark for 1-2 stories, there was a cuter contemporary to follow. Overall, so well-done by every author in here. My lowest individual story rating was 3 stars but most were in the 4-4.5 star range.
teapotoccamy's review
3.0
I really like how these stories are interconnected, so each protagonist live/visit the same neighbourhood (Hungry Hearts Row) and occasionally has a cameo in each other's tales. Like all short story collections however, there are some great, some good and some bad stories:
Rain by Sangu Mandana (4 stars):
Heartwarming, explores grief and the grounding nature of food. The perfect little tale to start off the anthology.
Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman (4 stars):
Reading this felt like reading a thriller, mostly because I was expecting only little slice-of-life tales from this collection. I had the time of my life; there are underground gangs, feuds and they all somehow revolve around food and family. This was only slightly marred by the writing; it just didn't read smoothly.
The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon (3 stars):
A little too typically romantic comedy-esque personally, but still a fun read.
Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco (4 stars):
This was my first time reading a second person perspective, which was a little jarring at first but I adored the story. Wise and mysterious grandmothers, potential witchery and piping hot food? Y E S
Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid (4.5 stars):
A little tale about mortality, the fear of it and how it is okay to live in the moment.
The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond (5 stars):
I loved this one! A little spooky because it takes place during Hungry Ghost Festival (a Chinese tradition) and a lot of yummy descriptions of pineapple tarts
Rain by Sangu Mandana (4 stars):
Heartwarming, explores grief and the grounding nature of food. The perfect little tale to start off the anthology.
Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman (4 stars):
Reading this felt like reading a thriller, mostly because I was expecting only little slice-of-life tales from this collection. I had the time of my life; there are underground gangs, feuds and they all somehow revolve around food and family. This was only slightly marred by the writing; it just didn't read smoothly.
The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon (3 stars):
A little too typically romantic comedy-esque personally, but still a fun read.
Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco (4 stars):
This was my first time reading a second person perspective, which was a little jarring at first but I adored the story. Wise and mysterious grandmothers, potential witchery and piping hot food? Y E S
Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid (4.5 stars):
A little tale about mortality, the fear of it and how it is okay to live in the moment.
The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond (5 stars):
I loved this one! A little spooky because it takes place during Hungry Ghost Festival (a Chinese tradition) and a lot of yummy descriptions of pineapple tarts
hadiqa01's review
4.0
Some stories were really fun to read while others were alright but since it was all about the food I really enjoyed it. Now I feel like reading Bliss Bakery :P and dig deeper in books that're food stories :D
readingwithrae's review
3.0
3 stars. this was a pretty hit or miss collection, imo, and there really wasn't any one story that i was totally blown away by. overall pretty average, though i did enjoy the diversity and the aspect of urban fantasy that was sprinkled in!