Cordially Invited – My Honest Opinion

Almost ten months. That’s how long I had to wait from the moment Zoe Sugg announced her book until I received it. I think her book was officially published on October 3rd, but I live in Romania so I had to wait for some extra days to get it.

As you can imagine, the excitement was high. I could not help myself and watched some reviews online before I got my own copy. From what I’ve noticed, Zoe’s book is like marmite: love it or hate it. Before you label me as the typical 12yo fangirl, you should know I am 26. 🙃 And I am not ashamed at all to state how much I loved the book! (Sorry for the spoiler!😂)

From the moment I got it out of the package I was impressed by its physical quality.😍 It’s hardback, the pictures are bright and the pages are thick. From this point of view, the price is fair. I only paid 10 pounds (plus 7 pounds shipping) because I pre-ordered it, but I think the full price – 15 pounds – is not bad at all.

Let’s Get Into the Contents

Cordially Invited Review

I already knew the book would be divided into the four seasons with their respective themes. So here we have:

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Surprising element: recipes! I didn’t know there would be SO MANY! Personally, I was happy with that since I am not a good cook and I am trying to make easy stuff. 🙌 From cocktails to hot drinks, from breakfast ideas to fully cooked meals, Zoe shares recipes that are easy to follow!😊

I know people mention Pinterest as a better source (since it’s free), but as I said, this book was cheap, and it saves the time of browsing through pins and blogs. It comprises of essential dishes for any occasion you can think of – even your dog’s birthday.💗

It has been said that this book lacks creativity. I beg to differ. As an Instagram enthusiast, I actually felt inspired by the aesthetics/cuteness of the pictures. You will find some little tips and tricks, decoration ideas and scenes you could recreate for your loved ones. 😍

I also really liked the “Welcome to my world” vibes of the book. Another person mentioned this: people in the pictures did not face the camera and I think it was a nice touch. It made me feel invited to Zoe’s home and I became part of her adventures.🤩

I love the colour schemes (all so happy) and the cute illustrations found on each page. I also like the structure of the text, placed in squares. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it would have looked even better if there was a space in-between paragraphs. Anyway, it’s not an issue, since this is an easy read.🌟

Oh, another thing. I’ve seen people addressing the simplicity of the TO DO lists in the book. Yes, we all know we should buy chocolate eggs for Easter. 😋 But I don’t think the point of the lists is to tell you exactly what to do – but to get you into the mood. Only thinking about Easter shopping moments makes me forget that preparing a nice dinner takes some time and effort.🤗

In the end, I think it’s all about perspective and YOUR reasons to get it. If you want it as an in depth traditional hosting guide, then maybe this will not be for you. But if you’re into aesthetics, inspiration and positive vibes, go get it!😊

I’d love to know: What is YOUR opinion on the book? 

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