While Meet Cute remains my favorite of the YA anthologies, I'm pretty sure Hungry Hearts is my #2. What sets this group of stories apart is that they're interconnected. In addition to the overarching theme of food (which I mean, who doesn't love a book that makes them hungry afterwards), each story takes place in Hungry Hearts Row, where we follow thirteen different teenagers struggle with family, culture, love and self-worth but all their answers can be found in one of the many restaurants in the aforementioned community. In this book, food really is a balm for the soul and as I've said in another review that perpetuated the same message, I'm a huge fan of that. I enjoyed how characters popped up in other authors' works and all the references to Asian food (Filipino culture was very much represented!). I will say that, as in any anthology, not every story will be for you. And while I found the first half to be very strong, I thought the middle to the end ranged from lukewarm to a tad weak. My favorite stories were: Rain by Sangu Mandanna, The Grand Isha Adventure by Sandhya Menon (I wouldn't be mad if she turned this into a full-fledged novel), Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco, and Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid.

Do I recommend? If you enjoy anthologies, I think this is a fun one to borrow from the library!

This was a beautifully diverse collection of stories! As with all anthologies, there were some hits and some misses. Overall, I found that most of the stories were enjoyable with several stand outs such as, Kings an Queens by Elise Chapman, Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles, and Panadería ~ Pastelería by Anna Marie McLemore.

Rain by Sangu Mandanna: 3/5 stars. This was a very sweet story about a father and daughter working through grief while trying to prepare Pandhi curry. This was just too short, and little rushed in my opinion. Another couple of pages would have made this perfect.

Kings and Queens by Elise Chapman: 5/5 stars. This was a riveting story about rival gangs and Emperor’s Way; a restaurant that serves the best Chinese food in Hungry Heart Row.

The Grand Ishq Adevnture by Sandhya Menon: 3/5. This was a love story about a girl who writes an anonymous love advice column. I just found it to be a little predictable. Cute, but not extraordinary.
Sugar and Spice by Rin Chupeco: 3/5. This is told in second person and it’s weird. Also, it’s not really a story about food and love. It’s a story about food and mutual respect.

Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid: 2/5. I could not get through this one. I enjoyed the concept, but the writing was not my favorite. It dragged a bit, which is very unusual for a short story.

The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond: 4/5. Ghosts in a market. Loved it!

Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles: 5/5. This one is about a black teen who travels to Hungry Hearts Row in order to compete in a food competition. His goal is to win the prize money to pay for his mother’s surgery. His grandmother has a restaurant in Hungry Hearts Row called Butter. She teaches him how to cook with soul. This was one of my favorite stories.

The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse: 4/5. This story was very thought-provoking. I enjoyed the writing. This was a very special story!

Hearts à la Carte by Karuna Riazi: 3/5. This was a good read, but not extraordinary. This was sort of a meet cute with an Egyptian protagonist.

Bloom by Phoebe North: 3/5. This was a bit of a slower story. This was a glimpse into the life of a Jewish teen who works with her grandfather at a deli.

A Bountiful Film by S.K. Ali: 5/5. I really enjoyed the writing and loved the plot. This is about a teen filmmaker who decides to make a film about the mysterious disappearance of a boy in Hungry Hearts Row. If this was a full novel I would read it.

Side Work by Sara Farzian: 4/5. This is a cute female/female romance with a Persian main character. This was adorable!

Panadería ~ Pastelería by Anna-Marie McLemore: 5/5. Anna-Marie McLemore is one of my favorite authors. I was so excited to read her story, and it did not disappoint! I was so happy to learn about the mysterious Lila, that appears throughout the anthology.

A great little anthology of stories that were all connected by one element. some I enjoyed more than others, but that happens with any kind of anthology. Overall, a great read

Today I'll be discussing Rebecca Roanhorse's story The Missing Ingredient.

In the story Kelsie is struggling with relating to her mother who has had big dreams of being a chef. So much so that she begins to put her attempts at success before the care of her daughter. It explores thoughts on having a native parent and a not-native parent and what someone who learned to love cooking from her native father might be thinking when saddled with a restaurant run by her white mother.

Kelsie meets a boy who tempts her with a bit of cooking themed magic. He claims he will know her true hearts desire if he eats something she cooked, and he will be able to grant the wish.

The conclusion definitely left me with a little thrill. In a way that made me long for more short stories. Sometimes just a, well, taste of the theme and story is all you need to find fulfillment. This one delivered for me.

I loved the story and all the pieces of familiarity it brought along with it. Including the delicious frybread that Kelsie may or may not cook...

I recommend this one for anyone looking for a story with a twist, a glimpse into another culture, or major foodie's.

This anthology is most definitely a NEW FAVORITE! It had me laughing, it had me crying (like, actually crying. I almost never cry when reading!), and most of all, it had me feeling as if I was seen. Even in the stories that weren't representing my heritage, there are relatable and important themes that anyone can touch on: grief, love, fear, and duty, just to name some. And the two that did represent my heritage (Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles for my African-American side and Panadería ~ Pastelería by Anna-Marie McLemore represents my Mexican-American side). I have never felt so emotionally and culturally connected as I did to those stories. The foods, the music, the overall family dynamics - those just resonated so deeply with me, and I will be forever grateful for getting to read stories that felt so truly and authentically me. Also, the fact that some characters were seen throughout each story (specifically Lila Manzano, whose family owns the panadería and pastelería) made the anthology feel richer in a way. These weren't just isolated characters who disappeared once the story ended. These were thirteen different tales complexly woven together, by thirteen different authors, and they all did an amazing job. If you want stories with magic, representation, and the ability to make you go on an emotional rollercoaster, then I wholeheartedly (ha...ha...) recommend Hungry Hearts. Nox Seal of Approval!

I loved this! For one, the stories were really excellent, and I loved that they were all from perspectives of different characters in this same little world. (Also, reading it made me really hungry, haha). Definitely recommend!

After reading this compilation I have decided I am not a fan of short stories in general. My least favorite part of a book is typically the first chapter or two, when you are trying to get to know the characters, their relationships and the general story. Nothing against any of these stories individually, some were better then others, I particularly liked the story about being brave and eating alone as well as the story about the slender one!

A wonderful collection of stories. My teen patrons never check out short stories but I will purchase this for my library regardless because of the quality of writing and diverse authors. I will recommend this to my teens . Hopefully they will trust me and bring this home.

This anthology was a mixed bag - as are most anthologies.

They are tied together loosely by common characters or places but vary in tone and genre (some are quite lighthearted and romantic - Sandhya Moon), touching - Rain by Sangu Mandanna, while others are very dark - Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman. Jay Coles story was another stand out.

That unevenness means that not every story will be for every reader.

Food is the common thread that ties us all together and one of the great things about this collection is how varied and diverse it was.

eARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley*

Rain by Sangu Mandanna: Now that is the first genuinely Anna thing you've said since you arrived. You're still in there. You'll find your way back again. Oof, this one hit me right in the feels. Grief is so weird and hard and everyone works through it differently. But Anna and her dad needed to realize that they should have been going through it with each other; it would've made it hurt less. But oh, this was sweet, and I loved that they found their way back to a normal-ish rhythm by trying and failing to make her mom's pandhi curry. I ADORED that they could share that and honor the one they lost.
Rating: 4 stars

Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman: I am the daughter of long-serving Kings and Queens. And one day I will do more than just imagine a death. WELL. This one was entirely unexpected. It's not straight contemporary, but a bit mystery too? Ming's family is part of a gang, one of many in Hungry Heart Row, and their Chinese restaurant is used as a cover. But what happens when you're so full of hatred and rage that you can't imagine anything other than taking revenge? That's what this short story becomes, and I liked it! I'm curious to see what else happens with this particular plotline.
Rating: 3.5 stars

The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon: oh, this was very, VERY cute. Should I have expected anything less from a Queen of Contemporary? She's so good at characters and relationships and ugh. I adored it. I could easily tell where the story was going, but I didn't mind so much that the element of surprise was gone. Plus I loved all of the talk about bravery and being comfortable in your skin. That's something that I have SUCH a hard time with, even being a Gryffindor. And this made me want to do better at being brave.
Rating: 4 stars

Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco: There's a quiet sort of pride there, creating things with your hands that people take pleasure in. omg I LOVED this one! It took me a bit to get into the story because it's told in 2nd person, and that's always hard for me to get used to because I never read it. But man oh man was this fucking good! A restaurant with women who are witches (mangkukulam) and who make food to help people. MOSTLY. :D I loved the magic and the lolas and the carinderia and Ami with her angry and bruised heart.
Rating: 5 stars

Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid: This is the first time I've read something by Adi Alsaid, and oh my gosh, I LOVED it! It did take me a second to understand what was going on, but once I did, I couldn't help relating to Joko and his quest to forget about death. I understood his need for magic, for erasure of the knowledge that life isn't guaranteed. I even started to crave the dim sum and the moment that he was in, a perfect little circle of it. A chance encounter with a tourist that led him to America, a new friendship, a wonderful meal, a walk along Hungry Heart Row. My mouth is watering, omg.
Rating: 5 stars

The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond: If y'all don't know, I really, really love stories about ghosts, and people who can see them. This one was a little sad, but mostly happy. I love the idea of there being a Hungry Ghost Festival, of ghosts coming back every year when the veil is lifted, so that they can enjoy food and see their loved ones again. I loved that Charlie and his grandma were a big part of that, and I liked that they could share something that no one else could. But I didn't totally fall for this one? It was still good, though.
Rating: 3.5 stars

Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles: HMM. I think this one could've been better if it had just slowed down a little, if the Leo had spent more time in Hungry Heart Row with his grandma figuring out the perfect recipe to use. I loved that it centered around a food competition, but everything just felt too quick and like a from-point-A-to-point-B-to-point-C formula. It had a lot of feels, though. And that ending was really great!
Rating: 2.5 stars

The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse: omfg THAT ENDING. I'M SO SHOCKED. I really didn't know what to think about this one because the story is a bit weird. Or maybe it's that Seth is just so weird. A lot of subtleties underneath the words that add up to what's going to happy to the main character. I liked that this one was infused with more darkness, more bad feelings, but I don't know if I completely loved it? But so far, it was definitely the one that surprised me the most.
Rating: 3.5 stars

Hearts a la Carte by Karuna Riazi: ohh, I adored this! I didn't completely love the superhero storyline to it, but I loved that everything centered around Munira's family's food cart. She wasn't even sure if she wanted a future working it, but it was such a huge part of her life. Of her memories. And she was good at it. But she was looking at other answers to the age-old question of "what do you want to do with your life?" It was well-mixed in with Hasan's mistake and the devastation that followed; a little more bittersweet than I'd hoped for. But Karuna's prose is just BEAUTIFUL. That was my fave part.
Rating: 4.5 stars

Bloom by Phoebe North: omg I wasn't sure about this one for a bit, because I just fucking haaaated Simon. I'm so glad Naomi finally realized that he's a total fake hipster old soul and that he's actually the worst because he won't just let her... be herself. He wants her to be bigger, but Naomi appreciates her small and quiet life, and she's not sure what else she'd like to do after high school. But she's got time to figure it out, and she didn't need him. I loved her relationship with her Pop, and the deli setting, and that ending was SUPER cute!
Rating: 4 stars

A Bountiful Film by S.K. Ali: I liked this one! I'd forgotten about some of the characters, so I was grateful they either showed up again, or I got a refresher on what they did. But the mystery of Barnaby Bennett was not that compelling, and I think it just didn't completely work for a short story. But I enjoyed the story, and I really liked all the characters! There was so much of the Hungry Heart Row people in this.
Rating: 3 stars

Side Work by Sara Farizan: Aw, this was great! I think it could have been longer, since it felt so short in comparison to others (and I don't have page numbers on this eARC to check if I'm right), and I would've loved a tiny bit more relationship development. But all in all, this was lovely, and I'm so glad that Laleh's dad stopped being so gruff and distant, and that the story ended with the two of them finding common ground again.
Rating: 4 stars

Panaderia ~ Pasteleria by Anna-Marie McLemore: I may know how to nudge a man toward proposing, or how to hearten a tired mother. I may know who needs the sugar of violet pan dulce. But I don't know how to fold my heart into dough or lace vanilla sugar with my secrets. THE ONE I'D BEEN WAITING FOR. Gah, Anna-Marie's words are always a gift to read, and I loved the characters and this girl who just wants to be brave enough to spill her feelings and show people her heart. This was also shorter than a lot of the stories, but that did not make it less wonderful.
Rating: 4.5 stars


Overall Thoughts:
I think I'd been expecting that storylines themselves would be interconnected, but they weren't, really. It was just that the characters would pop in and out of the others' lives, maybe playing a small part in what happens but never staying still for long. Especially Lila in Anna-Marie's story. She was in almost every single one with her magic desserts. But yeah, I didn't lovelove a whole lot of them, but this anthology made me want to eat ALL THE THINGS. And if you know me, you know I'm a picky eater. But I'd love to take a stroll through Hungry Heart Row and taste new foods and live in the moments.

Overall Rating: 4 stars!

A lovely collection of interconnected YA shorts full of magic, food, and love. Some are stronger than others (the stories by Roanhorse and Chupeco are particularly wonderful standouts), but overall a a great anthology.

Hungry Hearts is an ode to love, family, friendship, community, and identity. It's exquisitely told stories, woven together in a tapestry of human connection. Stories about grief, about food which feeds our heart, soothes our wounds, and opens up doors. It's about the magical ingredients that bring back a flavor of home, a memory of time lost, and salty regrets. Food is so intimate to us. It's what we nourish our bodies with, what reveals our personality, and the lifeblood of our culture.

The lineups for the authors was honestly what made me keen to add this book on my tbr in the first place. It includes some of the most known authors who are unapologetically and proud to write stories based on their own cultures with diverse characters. Though, it couldn't just be overlooked on that alone and to actually take into account of other things as well.

Each of the stories cover different aspects and different genres. You could previously read a contemporary and the next will be horror, superhero, fantasy, romance, magical and so much more!!! They didn't limit just to the characters and the food, they have managed to go beyond the box and create something extraordinary.

These 13 tales of food and love that is interwoven together is absolutely brilliant and makes me wish that Hungry Hearts Row is open to tourists and locals alike. I wanted to taste the food, go through what the characters are going through and go on adventures along with each one of them.

Each story is unique with their own voices, cultures and dishes accompanying through it which makes this anthology so special. And I really hope that other readers out there would be interested to pick this book up and experience the wholesome content that I went through.

This is a charming, interwoven short story collection that not only shares pieces of culture but shares heartwarming tales of love, whether romantic or familiar. Favorites include Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid, The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond, and Panadería - Pastelría by Anna Marie McLemore.

The Buzz

My first anthology was a selection of short stories edited by Elsie Chapman centered on diverse Asian culture and fantasy. I LOVED it and hadn't ever been able to finish or get into an anthology before. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings made my top books of the year too. So when I heard about Hungry Hearts I knew that I would jump on an opportunity to read these...

The cover certainly gives you the contemporary vibe that is at the heart of the collection. And the title really suits how the short stories are interconnected despite being written by diverse authors.


The Premise

Hungry Hearts Row is a neighborhood in Rowbury where different Asian-heritage chefs, cooks and artisans have opened eateries. They are diverse and their food is full of love. We explore the different circumstances of various residents and visitors to the iconic neighborhood and how and why they came to be on this street. I loved how different the stories were and the variety of genres all set in a contemporary setting.

We have stories from Sandhya Menon, Anna-Marie McLemore, and Rin Chupeco plus Rebecca Roanhorse and others who you will wish wrote more than short stories. Certain elements are mentioned in each story that intrigue us as it connects them one to another. Lila plays a huge role in Hungry Hearts as she is one of those elements. I was dying to read her story by the time we got to it. I really loved this aspect of it and felt it worked so well because there was the setting in common among the stories.


My Experience

Anthologies have never been my favorite. In fact, until last year I'd NEVER finished one or even gotten close. Normally I would start reading the first story and never get past it. I don't know if its because these short stories have been infused with Asian flavor or if its due to Elsie Chapman's editing, but I've loved both Hungry Hearts and her previous anthology.

I highly recommend this one as much as the previous anthology just so that you can get a taste of these authors' writing (if you haven't read them before.) Or if you have read and loved them previously you'll enjoy something a little different. Yet with their same style and a bit of their #ownvoices mixed into their story.

Honestly not every story was a 5 star read... BUT I did enjoy every story! Only two were slightly disappointing as they felt more slice of life than a true story. I feel like I got to know a bit more about lesser known Asian cultures plus the touch of diversity in some of the stories is great. Because I didn't feel a lull in my reading experience with Hungry Hearts I decided to round up my rating! It's rare to find anthologies that are relatable,and quality across every short story.


Why should you jump at reading Hungry Hearts?

-Rain by Sangu Mandanna - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
A story about grief and how food connects us no matter how different we are. Loved her bi-racial parents!

-Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This was quite good... totally unexpected and fun twist to Chinese culture. I did guess who made the call but I loved it anyway.

-The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I knew from the start how this would end but I just loved her thoughtful experiment and advice. Love was just a single part of who she was as a larger individual. Loved it!

-Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nothing really happens in this story. It’s a rundown of the most enchanting character you’ll ever meet! A grandma who you’d want for your very own. And a heritage to crow over. Very Rin Chupeco.

-Moments to Remember by Adi Alsaid - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
The end was a little wandering hence the rating. But I really enjoyed the mental health journey and how food and friendship helped him.

-The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
GAHHH I love Charlie and the social identity predicament he was in. I was so glad he gave Andie and his Waipo a chance. What a creepy ghost!

-Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
This was anticlimactic and a little repetitive but Leo’s plight tugs at your heartstrings. The empowerment in the face of anxiety is the real champion.

-The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I loved this creepy story! The only problem was the end was a little murky. Blessedly I went back and read it again and finally understood.

-Hearts a la Cart by Karuna Riazi - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
This could have been a fun short story but it’s bogged down with a lot of controlling attitude on the part of the girl. An upbeat but open ended end would have been better!

-Bloom by Phoebe North - ❤️❤️❤️
This started out really good with an unexpected personality. Then it got really odd, ending abruptly. I wish I understood the point of the story. Diversity seems a part of it but diversity alone isn’t enough. ...Thinking more about it now perhaps it was about the journey we take finding ourselves.

-A Bountiful Film by S.K. Ali - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
A girl is feeling a little uncomfortable after moving across town to her grandmother’s neighborhood. A teen filmmaker she works on a new film there and comes to find a new attitude toward her new home.

-Side Work by Sara Farzian - ❤️❤️❤️
A cute little F/F romance about a girl redeeming herself to her parents and in her own eyes. I liked the family, her uncle and how the restaurant helped her. The story didn’t have much going on and ended abruptly but the right reader will relate.

-Panderia ~ Pasteleria by Anna-Marie McLemore - ❤️❤️❤️❤️
You sure can feel her culture and diversity infuse every moment on the page. While still a rather aimless story it perfectly pulled together all the little meetings we had with Lila. Learning her situation and the situation of many of the old timers on Hungry Heart Row.

Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love is a fun Asian infused contemporary anthology showcasing some of the favorite diverse authors in the young adult book community. It's relatable and diverse with quality stories in the entire collection! A must read!

A grieving girl struggles to find the right balance of spices and ingredients to bring back a memory of her mother. A charming and popular Chinese restaurant that has a sinister secret menu. A teen advice blogger who issues her reader--and herself--a challenge. Three Filipino Lolas and their newest trainee, all with spices in their blood. A boy from Montenegro who seeks a soup dumpling that will take away his fear of death. A boy who needs to find the right recipe to soothe a ghost with unfinished business. An anxiety-ridden boy who competes in a culinary challenge to win money to save his mother's life. A white woman seeks glory and success, while her daughter knows that it won't be enough to save her Native father's dream. A boy falls from the sky into a girl's halal food cart. A struggling girl begins to question what she wants for herself and her future when a James Joyce-quoting boy walks into her grandfather's deli. A teen filmmaker explores her new home and tries to solve a mystery. A young woman struggles to fix her mistakes, earn back her father's trust, and perhaps win over her crush. And a mysterious girl who brings you treats from her family's Pasteria exactly when you need them.

What do these all have in common? Hungry Hearts Row.

This is a phenomenal series of interconnecting stories, all taking place in the same location but at different times and using different foods to explore family, friendship, love, culture, hopes and dreams. This fantastic short story collection features work from popular authors, such as Sandhya Menon (When Dimple Met Rishi, There's Something About Sweetie), S. K. Ali (Saints and Misfits, Love from A to Z), Jay Coles (Tyler Johnson Was Here), Rin Chupeco (The Bone Witch trilogy), and more. If you have never read from any of these authors before, "Hungry Hearts" is a wonderful introduction to each author's work, though perhaps their other works won't make the readers quite so hungry as they read!

I was so excited for this anthology because I’m a huge fan of food (of all types) and short story collections in general! I love even MORE when the stories are connected. In this case, all of these occur on Hungry Hearts Row, a place where “magic and food and love are sometimes one and the same.” As usual, I’ll be sharing mini reviews and ratings for each story, plus overall feelings and an average rating for the whole anthology.

Rain by Sangu Mandanna four-stars
I’m glad that the first story introduced the setting of Hungry Hearts Row, because I was curious about how they would set that scene if someone didn’t read the synopsis. The main character comes in from England and talks about the Indian food from her mother’s home. She’s grieving her mother and struggling to keep a connectiong with her father throughout the story, so it was a bit melancholy. I loved how she connected her mother with food (specifically her favorite dish). Such a cute and simple story about family, loss, and food… and how all three connect to keep someone’s memory alive.

Kings and Queens by Elsie Chapman four-half-stars
I loved the exploration Chinese food here, especially because it has become so Westernized in American Chinese restaurants. (I also loved that the first connections between the stories starting already, because this family’s restaurant was referenced in the first story and there were a few characters I assume will come around later.) It took a turn I did not expect, early in the story, so that was pretty fascinating. I was definitely expecting a place like Hungry Hearts Row to be more happy and positive, so it was wild to have this story so early in the anthology. I was so sad for her sister and their family. I raced through this story, so eager to see what would happen. I loved it and was fascinated by the whole thing.

The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon four-half-stars
I needed a light Menon story after that previous one, good lord. This one certainly delivered! I love that this was a classic example of a girl writing a love-based advice column and not being able to follow any of her own advice… until now. She challenges someone who writes in to visit a different ethnic restaurant each week and she decides to do the same. There were a lot of relatable, food-related elements of this story: struggling to get over the idea of eating alone in a restaurant, moving out of your comfort zone, trying new and unexpected things… Just a lot of wonderful foodie aspects. I was put through a mini roller coaster at the end but I ended up loving it so much. It was predictable, of course, but I don’t care.

Sugar and Spite by Rin Chupeco three-stars
I have to admit that the writing style of this one didn’t jive with me. I can totally see people enjoying her writing but there are some styles that are just not up my alley. The story itself was pretty interesting though, with the idea that food can mix with magic and give you confidence, revenge, love, etc. It’s a classic plot idea that I enjoyed. The Soup No. 5 Special was carried over from the previous story, which was a perfect segue. The story itself was really sad; I hate reading about bullying. Again, it’s a personal thing for me.

Moments to Return by Adi Alsaid three-half-stars
I liked this one overall; it was pretty heavy but in a different way than a couple of others in the anthology have been. I think the MC traveling into the country specifically to try the food on Hungry Hearts Row (and make some wishes come true, hopefully) was a unique take for this anthology. I have a feeling the person he met in the restaurant will come into play later in another story (at least I hope!). Again, the interconnectedness of these is wonderful. This story centered around anxiety and that was explained at length, but there wasn’t much else to it I guess.

The Slender One by Caroline Tung Richmond four-stars
This was spooky and fun! I like how Richmond managed to pull in a lot of feelings about just wanting to be “normal” at school compared to the home life that’s a bit different than everyone else. The ghost part of the story was unique and a nice change of pace. (So far this is a very well-rounded anthology, in terms of genre and story types!) Overall, this was a cool story with a lot of family feels and messages in a small amount of pages.

Gimme Some Sugar by Jay Coles five-stars
I’d been looking forward to this story the most for some reason… maybe it’s because I was curious to read something by Jay Coles for the first time. Either way, this was wonderful and my favorite so far. It’s just a nice, feel-good story about a cooking competition with a lot on the line, overcoming anxiety, family, and soul food that made my mouth water. I was right about Jay Coles – I definitely need to read more of his stories after enjoying this one so much. As for the ending, I was definitely afraid that it may not be a happy one and I won’t spoil anything. 😉

The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse three-half-stars
I have a solid relationship with my mom so reading books about the opposite kind of relationship is always so different for me. This story was hard to read because of their strained relationship and them trying to figure out how to make their Native American fusion restaurant work without the father figure (who was Native). It got… very fucked up unexpectedly and I’m still kind of reeling from it all. I don’t know what else to say to be honest.

Hearts à la Carte by Karuna Riazi four-stars
I loved the casual writing style of this one; I felt like the MC was talking directly with me. I also enjoyed this quote because I think it sums up a few of the stories and some general sentiments about the restaurants/characters on Hungry Hearts Row.

I separated categories in my head: cart food and our food. I knew other friends whose parents had restaurants, but I still balked from asking them if they had similar feelings, ways in which they drew the line between the business and them, what territories they could have to themselves. – ARC pg. 223

I was happy to read another fluffy-ish story after some deeper and/or darker ones, and I loved reading how the two characters got to know each other over her cart food. It wasn’t fully fluffy or contemporary (definitely a little magic… to put it in a non-spoiler, kind of true way). It was such a fun and unexpected story direction; I really loved it.

Bloom by Phoebe North four-stars
The minute I read the word “whitefish,” I was excited about this story set in a Jewish deli (and very hungry for a whitefish salad sandwich from our local spot). It was refreshing to read of a “romance” in a heavier contemporary, even just for the variety that this anthology has brought so far. I didn’t like Simon from the beginning so I was hopeful that the story would head in the right direction, away from him. I loved reading about the relationship between Naomi and her grandfather, while seeing her future start to take shape. I liked the writing style a lot too and will definitely look into this author!

A Bountiful Film by SK Ali four-half-stars
Again, good variety in this anthology! The main character just moved to Hungry Hearts Row (unhappily, right before her senior year of high school) and is working on a film contest entry. She has a lunch with her grandmother and some of her friends as a possible idea for her film. I loved that the story took on a mystery/thriller vibe as the MC tried to figure out what happened to the “Lost Boy” from the area. So fascinating, unexpected, and well-done for being a short story! Absolutely loved it (and the connections to other stories as usual!).

Side Work by Sara Farzian four-half-stars
I was intrigued by this one from the beginning but a little nervous about what the reveal would be for the accident. (I don’t sympathize with drunk drivers who injure others, so I was afraid I would automatically dislike the main character for that reason.) In any case, this was a nice little f/f story to again break up some of the heavier ones. (Huge ship alert here 😍) I loved the relationship between Laleh, her uncle, and their food/philosophy on restaurants. She had a strained relationship with her parents after the accident and I was rooting hard for them to work on things.

Panadería ~ Pastelería by Anna-Marie McLemore four-stars
This was my most-anticipated story the more I kept reading, because I knew it would be about Lila (who appeared in every story so far) and bring everything full-circle even more. I always thought that McLemore’s writing style was too flowery for me (based on reviews for her novels), but I actually enjoyed it here. I adored reading about Lila and her gift for knowing exactly what sweet treat someone needs, exactly when they need it. I wanted to eat all of the desserts after reading this story, which was to be expected. I think I was hoping for a little more oomph from this one, but it could be my fault for building it up in my head too much.

Overall, what a lovely group of connected stories. There is one character that wove her way in and out of them, so I was extremely excited to see how things ended up with her too. Any kind of anthology that promises each story is related is bound to be better, in my opinion. You can develop a bigger connection to the setting and the characters if they resurface throughout each individual short story. That totally happened here! I think my one very general complaint – and this is me just being me – is that I wish there was more romance. I was expecting a few more cuter contemporary stories but there really were only a few of them. I was so happy with the variety so I can’t complain!

I never thought I would read an anthology about food! Super fun and good stories, woven together with a common thread. I enjoyed this collection and was glad to see some of the writers I have read and enjoyed books by before included. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am part of the Food Crawl blog tour hosted by Vicky and CW. My story was Side Work by Sara Farizan.

This story made me sob so much over stew, but mainly over Laleh's father. He said one thing that weakened my knees. "You're my whole life." I was moved by how beautifully written this short is. Farizan poured love and her own culture. She showed the love of family business in Mansour and Mariam taking in Laleh after she'd made a mistake and needed some footing. I loved this short story because it didn't have to focus on one thing to give me something impactful. There is also an explicit lesbian rep that warmed my heart. Here are two girls being openly cute and no one questions it. It seems so simple but to me, it...was...the world.

I am super thankful I got the chance to read and review this short story.

I really enjoyed that this book has all different stories by different people gives this a different twist that I loved!