This has been on my TBR for decades and I was so happy to finally read it. This is Francie’s story, a young girl growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Man, life was hard and it was striking how ethnically divided the city was (is?). But it shows how the power of reading (and reading aloud!) can get us through painful patches and teach us about the world around us.

This was a book about how shapes, colors, and the design of every day objects can bring joy into our lives. Lee breaks this book down to her “ten aesthetics of joy,” such as energy, harmony, and transcendence, and shares her research about how to recreate those feelings. I enjoyed reading this, but felt like I didn’t walk away with a ton of tangible steps to take in my home to make it feel more joyful. Although now I think I should start a flower farm – which would bring a lot of joy!

What a fun, quick read! If I read anymore about cottages in the woods then I'm going to become a hermit much faster than originally planned. But if you're interested in a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, herb gardens, cottages in the woods, and "witches," then check out this book!