I love to read cookbooks, and this one was especially interesting as Julia added a few essays about weight and the worthiness of our bodies, on cooking and anxiety, and a few other personal topics. Even her introductions to several of the recipes and sections contained thoughts and food memories that contributed to the theme of "comfort food." Although she has a following on social media and has written other cookbooks, this was the first of her writing that I've read.

I marked several recipes that I'd like to try, even though overall this isn't a cookbook I feel I need to own. I liked how she organized the book by topics including weeknight go-tos; make-ahead mains; vegan one-pot meals; salad dressings, easy sauces, and relishes; and memorable sweets. Lots of color photos provide inspiration, as well as menu suggestions to motivate. And several vegetarian, vegan, dairy- and gluten-free recipes allow cooks to find something for everyone. ( )