This appealed to me when I saw the title - The Taste of Joy! The author shares her spiritual journey once she lands in Malta from the U.S. with her family in the early days of the pandemic. That would have been very challenging!

"Staying in what we know is the typical approach to life. Letting go and creating something new requires not just bravery but also willingness to get messy and to be open to changes that might be earthquakes to your very core."

She shares the culture and beauty of Malta and ends each chapter with a recipe from her new home.

I appreciated the chapter on Celebrate everything - they work hard and when they celebrate they take the time to do that. They also take time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life - like a walk, a good meal with friends. That is definitely appealing and something we can duplicate whether in Malta or not but I did appreciate that when you are in this type of culture and environment it is easier to do as you are surrounded by it.

I did enjoy this one but I read one that was similar in content just prior and so some didn't resonate as much. I think I would have appreciated more insight as to why she moved and the process to get there.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61195633-the-taste-of-joy?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ry3o8l2HxZ&rank=2#CommunityReviews

The Taste of Joy transports the reader to Malta and the magical Mediterranean. Through the author's experiences, research, and stories, the reader achieves a better understanding of why those living in the Mediterranean often seem happier, healthier, and more relaxed. With that said, I think the author does a great job of emphasizing that each of us can find that happiness and relaxation and it doesn't have to be the Mediterranean. We just need to find the "Malta" for us. Where is our perfect location? She further explains that it's not just the location but our way of life as well. What do we want to achieve? What are our passions? What is currently not making us happy?

The book definitely made me want to visit Malta, and throughout the book, I craved Mediterranean food. I cannot wait to try some of the recipes. I found most of the advise throughout the book to be helpful. I also learned quite a bit, including about fig wasps, prickly pears, thyme plants, and Maltese culture. The formatting of the book, which follows a meal (aperitif, appetizer, main course, dessert, espresso and digestif), is very creative.

This particular book wasn’t for me. I think the reason is because I’m Mediterranean and didn’t really need any of the insights or “outsider” perspectives. Although I did appreciate the authors appreciation of their time in Malta.

After reading this, I want to visit Malta!

I love that the author found a place that resonates with her so much that she found ways to share the things that she has learned. The tips, stories and advice were worth reading and many of them confirmed my own thoughts so well that I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly. I also appreciated that the book reminded me to enjoy the good in my life, and if I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, try something new. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut with a full-time job, family and just catching up on the weekends.

Thank you Emily!

I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I loved reading this book. The book is in story form and uses anecdotes to show the importance of enjoying time with loved ones. Emily shows the importance of slowing down and enjoying the little things in life. If you are hungry then this book will make you hungrier. The book also shows the Mediterranean way of living and one of the key things I took was the ability to slow down and enjoy life. Cannot recommend it enough to the human being that needs to slow down and enjoy life

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd./Llewellyn Publications for providing me an advance copy of Emily A. Francis’s nonfiction novel, The Taste of Joy, in exchange for an honest review.

#TheTasteofJoy is a nonfiction work that provides the reader with a myriad of elements, including delicious-sounding recipes, advice for pursuing a happier life, and entertaining anecdotes of the author’s experience in Malta. A refreshing pick-me-up! Also, now considering a move to Greece!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice book!

This book has tips, stories, and recipes about savoring life. There's anecdotes throughout the book with advice on enjoying time with your family and yourself as well as the little things in life. There's a lot of information on food organized by meals with recipes for pastas, desserts, and more. It's a surprisingly thorough book that is about sharing wisdom.