This was not my book, the writers style was quirky and off the cuff, occasionally her opinions were snarky . I think I was expecting a warmer, more inclusive perspective on group living. I put the book down a few times, but for the right reader this is an interesting read.

“Life surrounded by characters, even painful, heartbreaking ones, is preferable to isolation”

I received this ARC from NetGalley. At first, I didn’t know what to expect from this memoir. I haven’t heard of the author before and I’m not a chef, but the premise sounded interesting.

The book became something unexpected- a collection of essays that showcase the connections made through group living, and the social issues that have shaped the author’s life and her family’s. It brings together social issues like the housing crisis, how communal living was impacted by Covid, and other social-economic issues. At the end of each essay was a recipe, pulling together how food and family can become one in communal living.

This is a book about living in communal settings, the food that accompanies this environment, and growing up in the Pacific Northwest . She grew up in an unconventional family and opted for group living as an adult. Many times she questions whether she should be like everyone else and get married/have kids, but as we see in the book (and in our own lives, let’s be honest), she makes a compelling case for group living. This book shows how far we have strayed from community as a society, and I wonder if we might all be happier if we didn’t try to fit the patriarchal mold of marriage, kids, and a house. She doesn't have a romanticized picture of community living. She describes the difficulties of handling a wide range of personalities and disputes. Living with a spouse, however, may often be isolating. Even though I really prefer alone time and am not sure I could live in a group environment, this narrative really piqued my interest.

These pages include a great deal of humor. There are also recipes, styled with the same flair as the cookbooks of the late Anthony Bourdain (who is addressed in a scary section in this book). The idea is that food ought to be prepared with love and attention at all times.

This book is all that I adore. There is nothing like this in the memoir market, so I sincerely hope it takes off.

I first want to take a moment to think NetGalley as well as the publishing company for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very sweet book that really made you family and relationships. I would definitely go into this book without knowing too much so you can have the full effect of this book.

I admit it took me a bit to get into this book. But once I did, it's a great read about a living style that I have never personally had outside of a dormitory in college. I truly respect the author for cohabitating with several other people and the group dynamic it fostered. I also love the way each chapter ends with a recipe that goes along with the information. I can't wait to try some of them! Probably the most interesting thing for me was learning about the nuclear testing and weapons storage in the Pacific Northwest, and everything that the author discussed that went with it. All in all, I enjoyed this book.

I read very few memoirs, but I have a soft spot for food writers, so I'll always pick up those books.

'Group Living' is incredibly intriguing, as the titular style of living is something I've only ever heard about, never experienced myself. However, Milholland adeptly explores her position within these communities and discusses how other friends and families live their lives. These forays are cushioned neatly between touching sentiments about the people she's surrounded by and the food that represents important moments and aspects.

What I'm most impressed by is how familiar and warm Milholland is in her writing, even as she describes moments that are completely unfamiliar to me. The recipes she's included are also fun to browse and seem quite accessible, as they allow for a good deal of flexibility with the ingredients.

I wish I had more to say! I really enjoyed reading this and I'll likely pick up a copy for myself later to add to my food writing collection. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something cozy to get it into while also being (potentially) a radical introduction to a different way of living.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the advanced copy to review.

Milholland grew up in a home with playful, carefree parents who were always inviting others in. Never mind why they were there, where they came from, or how long they needed to stay; all were welcome. Home was a place of acceptance and community.

“My parents had an unspoken philosophy about the house: We only deserve it if we share it.”

Milholland continued this trend of communal living for herself as she moved through her twenties and in to her thirties. In the many homes that she shared, food acted as an offering of love; her and her housemates cooking up delectable meals for one another.

“By cooking for and eating food made by other people, I give and receive each day, which feels as central to my life as inhaling and exhaling.”

<i>Group Living and Other Recipes</I> tells the tale of unforgettable meals, lively gatherings, and the complexities of communal living. The stories are as warm and inviting as the recipes listed inside.

This book is so warm and lovely, it's the kind of book you keep in your living space and you pick up whenever you want to feel happy and be reminded that the world is a beautiful place full of people and opportunities for joy.

Thank you NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book is as carefully crafted and thought out as the recipes found at the end of each chapter. The child of two hippies, Lola Milholland shares memories of growing up in the Holman House, her parents’ home in Portland, Oregon whose doors were open to a rotating cast of quirky characters. From political protests, to mushroom hunting, to insane Halloween parties, to grappling with Filipino-American heritage, Milholland manages to write with raw honesty and emotion as well as dry humor. This book is perfect for any cook who loves a good story!

I really enjoyed about 3/4 of the book when she was talking about herself and her own family but it lost me a bit when she started talking about other people she knew. That was very rambling and full of philosophy I didn’t think she explained very well.

I did like the asides of how successful and at times famous many of the people who drifted in and out of her family’s life were. I think it’s easy to dismiss communal living as really fringe but her mother and some others were very successful professional and in straight society.

I think this is going to be my number one book of 2024.

I’m partial to memoirs, so the genre is automatically my favorite, but not all memoirs live up to this one. It’s so descriptive, hilariously told, and honest. The author is a master of show, don’t tell, and there’s so much brightness in her tone that you can’t help wondering if she’s really on to something about communal living.

This is a book about living in communal settings, the food that accompanies this environment, and growing up in the Pacific Northwest. My husband grew up in Portland at the same time as this author (it was actually weird back then), so her stories about the city were familiar to me. She grew up in an unconventional family and opted for group living as an adult. Many times she questions whether she should be like everyone else and get married/have kids, but as we see in the book (and in our own lives, let’s be honest), she makes a compelling case for group living. This book shows how far we have strayed from community as a society, and I wonder if we might all be happier if we didn’t try to fit the patriarchal mold of marriage, kids, and a house.

She doesn’t view group living through rose-colored lenses. She details the challenges of navigating many different personalities and conflicts. But living with a partner can be isolating too. I am not sure I could live in a group setting - I very much need alone time - still, I was so intrigued by this story.

There’s a lot of comedy in these pages. There are recipes too, written with flair the way the late Anthony Bourdain (who is mentioned in a chilling passage in this book) did in his own cookbooks. The point is that meals should always be made with love and care.

I love so much about this book. I really hope it takes the memoir market by storm because there’s nothing like this in the literary world.

I enjoyed reading Lola’s memoir and found her writing detailed and informative. I was unfamiliar with many of the practices her parents demonstrated, so I felt like I was truly stepping into a new world. I liked how the book unraveled and was pleased to ha e so many recipes included! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.