Agatha Isabel’s book, Houseplant Hookups, is a delightful spook on the online dating scene that blends humor and solid information. As Isabel points out, each potential plant match has its own personality, its own love language, and its list of relationship goals, just like a potential romantic love match. As owner of an online store called Plant Ma Shop, the author aims to show readers that there is a perfect plant partner for everyone and provides the platform for finding “that special one”.
Isabel starts her work by covering the basics with sections on the plant care, the best way to find the “right” plant, issues of cohabitation, the therapeutic value of plants, and sharing with friends. Profiles of 35 houseplants follow from jade plant, poinsettia, and rubber tree to cebu blue, sweetheart plant, and triostar stromanthe. Each profile provides the information needed to help readers find a good match: Latin and common name, geographic origin, maintenance level, and requirements for light, water, humidity and temperature. But wait, there is more: a full page illustration of the plant, and short essays in the words of the plant to present its special features such as “the key to its heart”, it’s zodiac sign, or its favorite time of year. We learn that Alocasia is willing to explore open relationships because it thrives in humidity created by them, and that purple passion has BO when it blooms. End sections include a plant based compatibility quiz to determine an “unbeleafable” houseplant for readers, and a quick and dirty index that lists plants by their difficulty level, pet-friendliness, and more.
Houseplant Hookups is funny, entertaining and informative. All of text is written in tongue-check style that makes plant owning an exciting adventure and each plant a potential match. From cover and end pages, to profile illustration the book is a visual delight. Even if you never intend to own a houseplant, the book is a great read and the perfect gift for plant lovers. One of the most original and enjoyable books I have ever reviewed!
To buy Houseplant Hookups from Amazon, click here.