I want to master making various homemade breads and this was a great resource for that! There are TONS of different recipes-some intimating to me personally, some I feel I could master over time. The instruction in the recipes is easy to follow and straightforward for even the most novice of bread bakers! The full color photos are a great bonus as well.

I'm new to bread making. My Mama has always made some amazing breads in my lifetime. I was excited to tell her about this book. This book was so informative, I started learning right away. Both of us learned new ways, techniques and recipes. Everything was so easy to understand and to follow, even for a newbie like me. The book does a great job of explaining everything needed to get started with the basics and what you need along the way. It shows everything from simple to gourmet types of bread. I was excited for the Pita recipe but my favorite is the banana nut bread. This will be your new favorite kitchen essential. Makes a great gift idea for any baker in your life.

This cookbook contains very easy recipes that are worth purchasing. If you enjoy cooking, this book is perfect for you. The recipes are straightforward to prepare. If you love bread this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Chapel Publishing, IMM Lifestyle and Kathryn Hawkins, the Author for this ARC.

This is the best cookbook about bread making that you can get! It’s also the most complete and easy to navigate.
It filled with wonderful breads from around the world. The techniques are well explained as are the recipes.
I couldn’t not mention the quality of the lovely photographs as they make those breads look so appetizing!

This book gets a 5 star rating!

This is a great Bread making book which helps any age baker or new to baking bread. New bread recipes which is easy to follow techniques with appropriate photos to show how the loaf of bread should look. Baking bread can be baked in an Air Fryer or slow cooker. Great book for the book shelf or to give as a gift.

Complete Starter Guide to Making Bread focuses on the ins and outs of baking bread.

The Sections are
A Brief History of Bread and Making Bread
Essential Ingredients
Equipment
Basic Techniques
Troubleshooting
Recipes

Each recipe has a little recipe blurb, how much it makes, preparation time, cooking time, ingredients, and directions accompanied by a photo. The cookbook is very through on those wanting to start their bread making journey. All the breads of drastically different but basic to get the hang of the basics before getting more advanced with differing flavor components.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great introduction to baking bread. I look forward to exploring the recipes and advice this book has to offer further.

I have never baked bread but after reading this cookbook I would feel comfortable trying it. I liked the section on troubleshooting because baking mishaps occur and it’s helpful to know why so it can be fixed. The recipes were wonderful and offered a great variety. The appliance section was very informative.

I found this cookbook to be a great addition to everyone’s kitchen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for this ARC.

I’ve always been a little intimidated by breadmaking. The idea of kneading, proofing, and shaping dough felt like a science experiment I wasn’t qualified to attempt. But Kathryn Hawkins’ "Complete Starter Guide to Making Bread" is like having a patient, knowledgeable friend walk you through every step of the process.

First off, the book is incredibly approachable. Hawkins starts with a brief but fascinating history of bread, which I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. Learning about how bread has shaped cultures and societies throughout history gave me a deeper appreciation for the craft. From there, she dives into the essentials—ingredients, equipment, and techniques. I appreciated how thorough she was in explaining the different types of flour, yeast, and other ingredients.

The step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the photos are a huge help. I’ve tried a few recipes so far—the classic tin-baked white loaf, rosemary focaccia, and the chocolate bread (which was a hit with my family). Each one turned out better than I expected. Hawkins also includes tips for troubleshooting common issues, like sticky dough or a crust that’s too hard.

One thing I really appreciated was the variety of recipes. There’s something for everyone here—sweet, savory, gluten-free, and vegan options. I’m excited to try the Bao buns and Babka next. The book also covers alternative baking methods, like using an air fryer or slow cooker, which is perfect when you don't always want to heat up the oven.

If I had one minor critique, it’s that the book leans more practical than aesthetic. While the photos are helpful, I wouldn’t call them “coffee table book” level. But honestly, that’s a small gripe. This book is meant to be used, not just admired, and it’s clear that Hawkins’ priority is helping readers succeed in the kitchen.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I’d like to start by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book; I’ve enjoyed it!

The only reason for the 4 is because although the practicality was there, it wasn’t as aesthetic as I would’ve liked. I like my cookbooks to have a little personality and this one was very straightforward.

However! I really enjoyed going through this book. I have some baking experience but have rarely made breads. The basics on the bread preparation were very easy to understand, especially with the pictures, and made the recipe following much easier. I also enjoyed the introduction to the different kinds of flours that could be used, and the noted base combinations. The recipes themselves were very basic but in a way where you could easily build on them, and even had a few non-loaf recipes.

So far I’ve made the plain loaf, rosemary focaccia, and chocolate bread with chocolate chips. They were as I said very basic but I plan on making all three again, and plan to experiment with the chocolate bread to taste like the Cheesecake Factory’s.

Making bread is definitely therapeutic.
This book covers a brief history and understanding of bread and bread making that I personally find very important part of the process of bread making itself for the ultimate result.
The history section is very well written and helps the understanding of the different needs and different bread types in different societies and cultures.

Although it gets technical during the part of the basics and ingredients, explaining these things was important for me to understand what ingredients and methods work better together and also understanding why making bread sometimes fails.
This section is exhaustive and comprehensive, fitting well for the various preferences and needs.

Inside the book, the author provides several measurements (oz, grams, tsp) where relevant and able.
The explanations are simple and clear.

The book covers most situations and questions one might have. from reheating to storing, wet dough during kneading, crust looks, etc. It doesn't just stop at bread making but goes beyond to specific situations for the ultimate bread.

This book is an important tool that I will definitely go back to when making bread in the future.
I will definitely be trying several of the recipes in this book.

This book was a free advance copy for my honest review. Which I would like to thank
#Netgallery
for, as well as the author and publisher. I really enjoyed reading this book. I actually read it a couple of times and have learned quit a bit about bread and break making . I simply can't recommend this book enough. I loved this book. 5 out of 5 stars!
#CompleteStarterGuildtoMakingBread
#Netgallery

The complete Starter Guide to Making Bread by Kathryn Hawkins is an all encompassing guide to navigating the science of all the flavorful doughy delights in our lives. It's a perfect addition to your kitchen or the kitchen of any bakers you know.
The book was very informative and filled with an array of tips, photos, and recipes to help the reader succeed on their quest to make the perfect loaf. They covered a wide variety of baking techniques and there were notes on how to make the recipes fit a variety of diets (dairy free, gluten free, vegan, etc). Making bread has always been intimidating, but this comprehensive guide has given me a little more confidence to try again!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very pleased with this book. Perfect for beginners, with the techniques very well explained, and a troubleshooting guide that can help make your bread making journey so much easier in the beginning.
The recipes are well explained, with measures in both systems (which I find is something very useful and yet very rare), and great variety: from savoury to sweet through gluten free there's always something for every occasion.

Very recommended.

There is so much to say about this comprehensive guide to bread baking by Kathryn Hawkins. Just when I wasn’t certain there was much more to learn about how to improve and trouble shoot, I found myself poring over these sections and carefully reviewing why my dough might be sticky, how I could get the perfect slice and what my texture might look like.
This was all before the recipes even began! The varied offerings include gluten free choices such as steamed buns, sweet chocolate bread and even air fryer cheese and onion buns.
The greatest challenge is choosing what to bake!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Excellent cookbook for making bread! The recipes are great and very easy to follow, as well as quite informative to the art of making bread and the common mistakes people make.

As an absolute beginner at making bread this book has been an invaluable resource! I am so happy to have all I need to know in one place. The range of recipes and care of instruction and backstory is wonderful. I highly recommend this book to anyone getting started on their breadmaking journey!

I love how informative this book is! I just started baking, simple cookies and muffins and now I want to expand that into bread! This book is going to help me so much!! I truly enjoyed the history of bread and learning about the cultures it dives into! This book covers it all and I can’t wait to try my hand at making the cinnamon bread.

The introduction has a brief history of baking bread in many cultures and religions. There is also a comprehensive guide to the different types of flour, leavening agents, and liquids that can be used. Dairy and gluten free products are addressed in this guide with more depth than I have seen in other bread cookbooks. The author is a food stylist and the many beautiful and useful photographs confirm that. There are suggestions for different shapes to consider for many of the recipes. It’s on my Christmas list for 2025.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. There were some great tips,using flaxseed and water for a flaxseed ’egg’, if you don’t have eggs. There are several recipes I’m looking forward to trying.