I love food books anyway so this one, built entirely around candy was a joy to read. I also learned a great deal about some of my favorite candies.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I dove into this book with a lot of hope for the bittersweet nature of remembering our favorite treats. The only issue is that "Sweet Nothings" left me wanting more in a not-so-yummy way.

When I went to dive into the story, I imagined pointed stories from the author's upbringing surrounded by candy. I thought it'd be more about distinct memories that the taste of a caramel candy brought up, maybe a sour recollection from a dropped Hershey kiss. Instead, I felt like I was being thrown around through thoughts that loosely connected to a deeper feeling. The parts tied to her mother were incredibly successful, though.

Unfortunately, I just don't think this book was for me. I really thought it could have been more impactful, so I just felt a little let down in the end. Some of the stories felt repetitive, and I just wanted to get closer to the center of a Tootsie-Pop.

"Sweet Nothings" is a fun and zany essay collection about the author's obsession with candy throughout childhood, and up until present day. The only annoyance was when the author talks about her love life. I felt like these little stories added nothing to overall theme of this essay collection. When she talks about her mother (who died when she was young) is when the author's writing style really comes alive. It felt deeply personal and profound. Anyway, the real enjoyment is the deep dives into her favorite and non-favorite candies. This book really brightened my sour mood (due to the results of the presidential election) last week. "Sweet Nothings" was a welcome and sweet distraction. I am a huge candy lover, so I can definitely relate to the topic. This book is a great palette cleanser if you're looking for something breezy and nostalgic to read. What's my favorite candy? Definitely Snickers. No question about it. The cover art and illustrations are absolutely precious.

Thank you, Netgalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC.

A little bit of candy history with a whole lot of heart and a deep dive into the author's mind. Fun and interesting.

A delightful collection of micro-essays about sweets and the feelings they unlock with us candy lovers. I found this essay collection both insightful and deliciously entertaining. I appreciate the illustrations as well, it adds to the saccharine vibe, and I mean that in a positive way!


Thank you to the author, Mariner Books, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

One hundred short essays, each about candy! This should be interesting….

Perry covers a truly impressive array of candy here, everything from all the usual suspects to things like Sixlets (which I guess I’m the last to know is a gross one that only I like,) Chili Nut M&Ms (um, WTF?) and an “unnamed Scandinavian candy eaten in San Pedro, Guatemala” (“sulfurous chunk of hell’s own stalactites.”)

You’ll also learn that the flavor of candy corn is “mellowcreme.” Doesn’t that make your little spooky season heart happy and don’t you love them 38% more now?

The essays aren’t all strictly about the candy themselves; some leads to various stories, like Lifesavers and Hart Crane and queerness, Andes mints and upward mobility and Aero bars and the Salman Rushdie connection. It’s all here.

This book was great fun, well written and really made me want to read the author’s first book which is about Perry’s mother’s murder (probably not the same good time.). If this sounds good to you I can highly recommend it…some delicious cotton candy wishes to Ms. Perry.

This was such a sweet read ;)

As a fellow sweet-toothed girl, I truly enjoyed the theme of this collection of essays. Each essay also has a lovely ink drawing of the confection it focuses on. The book is divided into sections which sort the sweets into color categories. Surprisingly to me, there is actually a lot of history and factual background info provided, too! I loved this learning opportunity!

The essays were filled with lightheartedness and not without heartfelt soul searching as well. I appreciate this glimpse into a human’s reflection of life through the memories and experiences of candies. A true delight.

On Skittles in the Rainbow Brights section was my favorite; it reminded me of my own love and our appreciation of each other for all of our unique selves.

What a fun idea Sarah Perry shares with us her love for candy mixed in with essays about her life.The Whitman Sampler with its map so you know exactly what piece you were getting brought back wonderful memories of me and my siblings digging into the box.The drawings add to the charm of this charming read.#netgalley #sweetnothings

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Sweet Nothings" by Sarah Perry is a lovely collection of short essays themed with each popular and unpopular candy. The microessays are accompanied by adoring illustrations that evokes nostalgia as I read. It made me truly think about how the experience of wanting and purchasing candy is near to our hearts. Especially with Sarah Perry and her experience with candy and her relationship with her mother. Some moments were about evasive candy that may have never existed, or discontinued ones that leave us imagining for what could have been

I liked reading it, however, there were some instances where some of the essays of different candies were being repeated, almost as if there are too many candies and that Sarah never finished creating memories with all of it, despite her sweet tooth. There were some truly unique moments that stood out to me, especially when talking about Pop Rocks. A beautiful short memoir of holding on to what matters the most to you, even if that may be the candy in your pocket

I love a candy, perhaps too much. But, like the author, a certain candy can take me back to childhood, trips I've taken, and more. Ms. Perry takes so many sweets that we all can remember and weaves them into essays about her life, stories in general, and about the candy. I loved this book. What a unique concept to come up with!
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.