
Description
Taking its cues from the wonderful world of online dating, Houseplant Hookups explores the pros and cons of cohabitating with different houseplants.
★ "Isabel, who hails from three generations of plant-loving family members, shares her expertise and knowledge of houseplants in this amusing, informative book, best for neophyte horticulturists who might not yet have a green thumb."--Library Journal, Starred Review
Cohabitation is a big step in any relationship, so to make sure you don't get stuck with a deadleaf, Houseplant Hookups digs up all the dirt on 35 prospective houseplant partners. By first setting the foundation for a successful relationship with information on purchasing, propagating, and basic plant care, it'll be easy to know when you've found the One.
Does your apartment have a scenic view of a brick wall? The Snake Plant thrives in low light. Tend to forget you're even in a relationship? The Golden Pothos is anything but codependent and won't hold neglect against you. Far more helpful than your average Tinder profile, Houseplant Hookups will help you decide if a relationship with a Fiddle Leaf Fig is more likely to be a fling or a forever kind of love.
Not sure where to start? Take the Cosmo-inspired quiz to narrow down your matches.
The perfect gift for any plant or gardening enthusiast, these illustrated dating profiles are as hilarious as they are informative.
More Accolades:
"The playful profiles provide a helpful overview of common houseplants, and Degnan's colorful illustrations accentuate the distinguishing characteristics of each....Readers curious about what houseplant is right for them will want to consult this."--Publishers Weekly
"The book is absolutely fantastic. Witty, clever, tasteful, beautiful... unique. One of a kind. I also love how the book feels in your hands. The quality of the printing and colors are magnificent."--Alina Fassakhova, New York Based artist and plant enthusiast
"Houseplant Hookups is a fun book, with a creative approach to an otherwise fairly mundane topic. It engages readers with indoor horticulture and reminds us that no matter how big (or small) the garden, there is a perfect plant out there for all of us."--Alice Bennett on Reedsy
"Agatha Isabel's Houseplant Hookups is the perfect book for people whose brown thumbs have let many a plant die. Clear explanations, a friendly tone, and lots of humor ease plant-shy readers into trying for plant love again."--Shelf Awareness
Product Details
Publisher | Gibbs Smith |
Publish Date | September 19, 2023 |
Pages | 112 |
Language | English |
Type | |
EAN/UPC | 9781423663461 |
Dimensions | 8.6 X 6.4 X 0.9 inches | 0.9 pounds |
About the Author
Agatha Isabel is a bad b*tch. After moving to Brooklyn from LA, she began her plant collection and rediscovered a deep connection with nature. She's passionate about community-building in all aspects of her life and through Planting for Progress, a community-sourced project that raised money for human rights and local organizations, and her shop, Plant Ma, she has created a thriving plant community. With nature as her muse, she writes, paints, and travels to tropical locations as a creative outlet to balance her professional tech and privacy career. She can usually be found volunteering with local nonprofits, exploring new nature spots, vibing at a concert, or trying to find love on a dating app. She is currently based in Southern California. Find her on www.agathaisabel.com.
Mai Ly Degnan is an award-winning illustrator, currently based in Baltimore, MD. She earned her BFA in illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design and her MFA in illustration practice at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Mai Ly enjoys creating humorous illustrations with tedious line work, pattern making, and bright colors. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles, American Illustration, and 3x3. Selected clients include Boston Globe, Bust Magazine, Baltimore City Paper, VICE Magazine, NPR, Frankie Magazine, The Bark Magazine, Tigress For Girls, The Oyster Review, Midnight Breakfast, La Guarimba International Film Festival, Bibelot Magazine, Shameless Magazine, Until Now, La La Land Australia, and more.
Reviews
Agatha Isabel's Houseplant Hookups is the perfect book for people whose brown thumbs have let many a plant die. Clear explanations, a friendly tone, and lots of humor ease plant-shy readers into trying for plant love again. Isabel begins with tips for choosing a plant and maintaining a relationship, including self-reflection and assessment of lifestyle, needs, and areas of possible compromise. The main portion of the book is organized as dating profiles for specific plants. Each one-page profile begins with basic information about the plant's light, water, humidity, and temperature needs, as well as a difficulty rating. Information about the plant is provided through answers to common dating app prompts, like "My best feature is..." and "The key to my heart is...." This provides a quick and fun assessment of the plant's match factor with a person's home environment and lifestyle. If browsing profiles don't help readers decide, they can take the "Plant-Based Personality Quiz" for the plants Isabel suggests as good matches for their results. An index with plants organized by levels of difficulty and needs also lets readers find plants to fit their specific situation.
Houseplant Hookups is a great plant guide, but it's also a really fun read. Isabel makes many references to pop culture, including popular hashtags. The dating angle adds the right touch of whimsy without overwhelming the topic itself, and Mai Ly Degnan's illustrations allow readers to visualize the plants in a variety of home settings.
--Dainy Bernstein, postdoc in children's literature, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign "Shelf Awareness" (10/20/2023 12:00:00 AM)★This user-friendly, entertaining how-to guide on selecting and caring for plants uses a dating-app model to present 35 profiles of potential plant "partners." The plants--aloe, bromeliads, cacti, philodendrons, and more--each have their own personality and character traits. Each profile includes the plant's origins, Latin name, light/water/humidity/room temperature needs, and difficulty of care. Like many dating profiles, each summary also presents the plant's best/worst features and hidden qualities. Award winner Degnan creates beautiful illustrations for every featured plant. Introductory pages provide tips on watering, soil maintenance, and addressing common problems (dry leaves, root rot, air quality, sickness, pests). The only thing missing is a list of references to other resources, but the book does contain a plant-based personality quiz and a "quick and dirty" index that groups plants by categories like difficulty, size, pet-friendliness, and maintenance type, which aid readers in selecting the perfect plant for themselves. VERDICT Isabel, who hails from three generations of plant-loving family members, shares her expertise and knowledge of houseplants in this amusing, informative book, best for neophyte horticulturists who might not yet have a green thumb.--Erica Swenson Danowitz "Starred Review, Library Journal" (10/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)
"There's a perfect plant partner out there for everyone," contends Isabel, owner of the Hunting Beach, Calif.-based Plant Ma shop, in her diverting debut. Mimicking the format of dating apps, she presents profiles that detail the preferred growing conditions of poinsettia, the fishbone cactus, maranta lemon lime, and 32 other plants. The introduction offers tips on placing, watering, and potting flora, noting that north-facing windows are ideal spots for low-light plants and that positioning plants near each other "automatically creates a humid microclimate" for those that need lots of moisture. The cheeky profiles amuse, imparting facts styled as responses to dating app prompts. For example, the low-maintenance snake plant boasts "You can ghost me for weeks at a time, and my leaves will still look sharp, bright, and fresh," while the more needy fiddle-leaf fig, which requires daily misting, lists "Netflix and chill" as the "trend I can't get behind" "I cannot stand the cold, and I will betray you if you expose me to lower temps." The playful profiles provide a helpful overview of common houseplants, and Degnan's colorful illustrations accentuate the distinguishing characteristics of each (the relatively rare pink princess philodendron is depicted in a regal sitting room to reflect its hefty price tag). Readers curious about what houseplant is right for them will want to consult this.-- "Publishers Weekly"
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