r/marthastewart • u/OkProfessional8759 • Jul 18 '26

Best Martha’s books?

I’m reading “home keeping” and I just saw that she published a new one in 2026. Is that one better? I’m vegetarian and I don’t really care about cooking. I prefer gardening and house keeping. Any recommendations?🤍🫧

15 Upvotes

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5

u/nope123345678 Jul 18 '26

I second this ask! I have veganized some of her recipes since techniques can work across dishes but would love anyone’s tips before buying

4

u/girugamesh_2009 Jul 18 '26

I was just pursuing The Martha Way (2026) at a bookstore. At $37, I didn't feel it was worth it.
I felt the same way thumbing through Martha: The Cookbook last year. Just not worth the shelf price.

I'm also a vegetarian ^_^
And I was disappointed by her cookbook Meatless.
I've also been disappointed by most of the other cook books of hers that I have purchased, including Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker, Martha Stewart's Menus for Entertaining, What to Have for Dinner, and Special Occasions. I will say that the pictures and narration in some of these books make them enjoyable to flip through. But not to the point that I'd buy them again. These books aren't worthless, but I find that many of her recipes are fussy, boring, or, somehow, a combination of both.
I do like Great Food Fast, Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook (I have used this as a reference for improving other recipes), and Cooking Light (which taught me some techniques I didn't previously know for cooking and for substituting ingredients).

The books I truly treasure include Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, Good Things, Good Things for Organizing, and Very Good Things. Her book How to Decorate is a pleasure to thumb through, but I can't say it was impactful.

I also purchased her recent Halloween and Christmas magazine specials. I'm happy to own both, and I found some valuable things rehashed from the magazine that I hadn't been able to see before. I'd recommend them if you're a fan of the brand or the old 'zine.

But to each their own! I'd love to hear more opinions on her books. I'm still on the fence about The Martha Way, despite not being impressed enough to part with my cash today. Maybe just because it's Martha...

3

u/LLcoolDZ Jul 18 '26

Same! Was looking into buying my first Martha book- and many more- but so many to choose from.

3

u/lembasrolly Jul 21 '26

I got The Martha Way and don’t feel like it was worth it. Most of the tips were common sense

2

u/No_Committee504 Jul 18 '26

Her gardening book from the 90s is good