I don't usually do reviews, but I felt that this was one book I just had to rave about. I originally purchased this book for a friend as a wedding gift, but after flipping through it I had to go online and buy myself a copy. The Newlywed Cookbook is, to begin with, a beautiful book. The pictures are gorgeous, and it's laid out well and easy to follow. The book gives a lovely introduction about ingredients and stocking your pantry, which is always nice for anyone new to cooking.
The recipes themselves are excellent - I have made many recipes from this book and they have all been a hit. I wouldn't recommend this for the advanced cook, as a lot of these are simpler recipes that most professional chefs wouldn't need to look at to make. But even an advanced cook can benefit from some fresh ideas and flavour combinations. I would say the recipes are geared towards amateur to intermediate cooks (there's nothing that stands out as fussy or too technical as far as the instructions go), or anyone that is looking to add a bit of variety to their cooking. I'm pretty good in the kitchen, but I'm always looking for some new recipes for weekday dinners. This book has definitely added several great recipes to my go-to repertoire, and I find myself reaching for this book every Sunday when my husband and I plan our meals for the week ahead.
I also like that the recipes all use ingredients that are simple and wholesome; for someone who doesn't have the patience (or the budget) to buy tons of exotic ingredients to use one time this is a definite bonus. Sarah's writing is also lovely to read. Not only is this a great collection of recipes, but Sarah gives the happy couple adorable stories and tidbits about marriage to read together as they cook.
All in all, the Newlywed Cookbook is a wonderful book. This makes a lovely wedding gift, but is also something any couple should buy for themselves if they enjoy cooking or would like to start (or any single person! Just keep in mind Sarah adds a lot of marital anecdotes). The recipes are simple and comforting, the writing is heartwarming, and the book itself is beautiful to look through. I couldn't be happier with this purchase.