Sweet Revenge

Starred review from January 8, 2018
Pastry chef and tattoo artist Kim serves up a fierce dessert book for readers seeking vengeance against exes or others who have wronged them. Pun-heavy recipe names include “I Couldn’t Carrot All Cake,” “You’ve Got a Latte Balls,” and “I Don’t Give a Fig About You,” and the adventurousness of the recipes (Cheeto ice cream sandwiches, anyone?) cleverly underscores the cookbook’s “out with the old” mentality. Photographs of the sticky, indulgent desserts are paired with heavy-metal-esque fonts and Kim’s irreverent commentary. There’s wisdom in Kim’s kitchen magic: “Sweet Revenge is about taking all your bittersweet memories, mixing in a little flour and sugar, and creating something delicious AF out of them,” she writes. Readers in postbreakup mode or stewing over a double-crossing bestie should find much-needed laughs in Kim’s no-holds-barred tone and will likely repurpose these recipes for sweeter occasions. Ages 14–up.

December 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Getting one's heart broken by either a romantic interest or a friend can be tough, so why not turn those feelings into food? This baking cookbook is about taking anger and hurt and turning it into a delicious dessert. The layout features quirky doodles, bright neon lettering, and mouthwatering photos. The recipes range in difficulty but both novice and expert pastry chefs alike will be entertained. Newbie bakers will appreciate the helpful hints to baking terms in the directions and key, which also notes difficulty level, servings, and cooking time. As one might glean from its witty title, this book has a generous serving of tongue-in-cheek quips and sassy recipe names. VERDICT This is book to be indulged in at a sleepover or when one's heart feels a bit torn up. An easy addition to baking and cooking collections.-Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ

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