Make your own party Twenty blueprints to MYO party!

Lewton is a professional caterer based in Detroit whose years of hands-on experience show in this book's party-planning advice to readers. The book aims to avoid issuing "shoulds, woulds, and musts"; rather, Lewton wants readers to use her guidance to develop their own hosting styles. It covers the full range of budgetary and style options, from the formal (e.g., cloth napkins) to the informal and everyday (paper napkins), and Lewton offers a holistic approach to entertainment, focused on balancing the elements of party-planning (décor, menus, etc.) to create the desired ambiance. Lewton's discussion of kitchen basics is first-rate, and the recipes are explicitly marked with useful codes and chef's notes, indicating an awareness of guests' dietary restrictions and allergies. The book's only weakness is that it neglects to discuss COVID-related safety precautions for gatherings. Young adults just starting out living on their own will find this is an excellent beginner's guide to developing a hosting style method; for experienced party-throwers, it will be a useful resource hosts can dip into when brainstorming ideas for their get-togethers. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in all public libraries.--Marjorie Mann