The latest from lifestyle expert, entrepreneur, and TV host Stewart is the first in a series covering the expanse of her cooking, entertaining, and homekeeping experience. From organizing a bathroom to hanging picture frames, each "how-to" in this heavily illustrated guide is addressed in one to two pages, providing just enough practical and attainable information for readers to get started or to become inspired to learn more. The work is divided into several categories: organize, fix and maintain, refresh and embellish, clean, launder, craft and create, garden and grow, host and entertain, enjoy, cook, celebrate, and care for pets. Throughout are helpful features such as a guide to removing various types of stains and an extended DIY to growing houseplants. The kitchen section is a standout, with extensive -compare-and-contrast tips for sautéing, frying, broiling, roasting, poaching, and steaming. -VERDICT This most recent compendium provides everything one might expect from a Stewart manual-clean and elegant design along with detailed instructions. For everyone with similar DIY experiences, and anyone looking to get started.-Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Stewart has long been known for having a honed system for anything home-related. Here she offers guidance for a variety of household tasks. The broad categories covered include organization, cleaning, sewing and crafting, gardening, entertaining, and cooking, with tips and instructions for tasks big and small. Some, like the page on how to fix screens, provide step-by-step how-to directions with a list of necessary supplies, while others, like that on how to fix drafts, offer brief tips for a variety of areas in the house. Stewart is known for her recipes, but the cooking covered here takes the form of Martha Musts and such techniques as how to best use particular kitchen tools, how to master cooking methods (e.g., braising), and how to perfectly frost a cake. The making section consists mostly of tutorials that mirror what one might see in Stewart's website, TV appearances, and magazine. This wide-ranging guide is designed as a household reference that sums up the breadth of Stewart's expertise.--Anne Heidemann Copyright 2018 Booklist

Lifestyle maven Stewart (Martha's Flowers) offers an easy-to-navigate and attractive guidebook covering a wide array of topics, from organizing the entrance to one's home to traveling with pets. The book addresses common and several not-so-common how-to questions ("'-how-to' could be my middle name," she writes) and is-not surprisingly-exceedingly well-organized. The dozen major sections address how to "Organize," "Fix and Maintain," "Refresh and Embellish" (e.g., by re-covering a chair), "Clean," "Launder," "Craft and Create" (embroidering a pillow), "Garden and Grow," "Host and Entertain," "Enjoy" (hanging a hammock or practicing sun salutations), "Cook," "Celebrate" (birthdays, etc.) and "Care for Pets." Accompanying visuals further clarify the instructions: for example, readers will find diagrams on how to fold "oddball fitted sheets" for neat placement in a linen closet; the utilitarian "how to fix toilets" section includes a rudimentary "anatomy of a toilet" diagram-as well as the warning, "don't panic." "Martha Must" comments throughout amplify Stewart's personal touch, evoking a cozy yet pragmatic mind-set (keep a basket of nonskid socks by the entrance for visitors as part of a no-shoe policy). Visually appealing and packed with inspiring ideas and lucid instructions, this delightfully useful manual will be a shoo-in for inclusion in any Stewart fan's home library. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.