Nicole's Reviews

Queer Eye, for those not already completely obsessed like me, is the most wonderfully encouraging and radically empathetic makeover show to ever exist. Antoni Porowski, the resident Food & Wine Expert of the show, is best known for his quiet demeanor, intense love of guacamole, and modelesque looks. This book is full of wonderful recipes for any food lover in your life. Antoni has the incredible ability to teach even a novice chef how to make wonderful hors d’oeuvres and prove to more advanced chefs that even the simplest of dishes don’t have to taste simplistic. - Nicole

Upon first flipping through this cookbook, I knew that I was holding my new favorite kitchen resource. In fact, I made four recipes from this book in the span of 3 days, and have made many more since. No joke. Every recipe I’ve tried so far has been unbelievably delicious. I highly recommend the Baked & Breaded Artichoke “Fish” Tacos and the Flourless Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies as super-tasty starting points. Whether you’re a tried-and-true vegetarian or are just looking to get more Meatless Mondays happening in your household, I promise you this book will be your new best friend in the kitchen. - Nicole

Samuel Clay, a 9-year-old boy whose father has just passed away, has been left under the care of the strict disciplinarian housekeeper, Ruth. But not everything is as it seems in this once grand estate in Cornwall. Ruth said that Samuel’s mother left in the dead of night to travel abroad to America, but can Ruth be trusted? His mother has been gone for months, and all that Samuel has left of her are the sporadic postcards she’s sent on her travels. Samuel can’t help but begin to suspect that something awful has happened to his mother. Is it just his imagination, or is Ruth really a cold-blooded killer? This gripping novel is filled with the “Did she, or didn't she?” emotional tension that all mystery lovers crave. - Nicole

If you love true crime and haven't read this, get on it! Ann Rule, a former beat cop, worked side by side with Ted Bundy for years at a crisis hotline. She harbored no suspicion that her coworker and friend was a killer. This must-read jumps back and forth between his grisly murders and Rule's perspective of Ted over the years to portray how serial killers truly can hide in plain sight. - Nicole

Sunset Grove, a retirement home for the old in age but young at heart, plays the setting of a murder. But don't worry! Siiri and Irma, or the Lavender Ladies as they call themselves, are on the case! Get wrapped up in this silly and suspenseful Finnish mystery about murder, friendship, and life in the later years. - Nicole

Escape into the Unseen World of real magic. We enter the Unseen World in New York City at the time of the Turning, a magical competition that determines which House will lead the magical world. But we quickly see that the Unseen World has its fair share of problems: magic is being depleted and a serial killer is on the loose. Our badass female protagonist has seen the darkest parts of this world and is determined to reform it for the betterment of all magicians. Kat Howard weaves a fun and magical page-turner about strong women saving the world. - Nicole