Houseplants and Hot Sauce: A Seek-and-Find Book for Grown-Ups

by Sally Nixon

This cheeky seek and find features illustrated scenes from the life of a modern gal—from brunch with friends to shopping for succulents—with clever and funny challenges on every page. Lenny Letter contributor Sally Nixon combines the nostalgia of visual puzzles with smart, contemporary content for a fresh and charming gift.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Coffee Table Books, Art Design

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2017

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cathartic and fun! I loved how many plants, books, and animals were on each page. Finding the spiders was especially fun. It was concerning how much garbage was in every setting lol.

The title doesn’t lie, there is an abundance of plants and hot sauce among the other hidden objects on each page.

I didn’t like that some of the items to seek out were almost exactly in the middle of the page, right where it divides, I had to bend the book really hard to see the centre clearly.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife and I enjoyed flipping through this fun picture book, packed full of cool details and elaborate slice of life tableaus- it definitely brought back the nostalgic comfort of something like Where’s Waldo along with its intricate depictions of contemporary millennial life in the same vein as something like Broad City. Following cube worker Jane’s very eventful weekend, as she packs in basement shows, art openings, dog parties, brunches, trips to the garden supply store, and just hanging out in her apartment, each tableau tasking viewers to locate various fun items hidden in the chaos.

Nixon’s illustrations, languid watercolors, is detailed and cool, rewarding looking again to notice continuity and recurring jokes in Jane’s weekend, along with all of the spiders, mimosas, dog bones, and alt weeklies (among many other fun stuff) we’re looking for. Taking place in what my wife called “a magical world of women,” with only a few dudes to be found, Houseplants and Hot Sauce is definitely something neat to leave on your coffee table for others to notice.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d been wanting this book for a few years and finally bought it during the pandemic for my wife and I to do together. We really enjoyed the illustrations and working together to find things, I only wish it was a bit more challenging. It usually only took a few moments per page to find everything.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a HUGE seek-and-find fan as a kid. My grandma bought me every single one she could find. So when I saw this at my library I HAD to read it.

I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Nixon's illustrations are beautiful and some of these items are difficult to find!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!
Reminded me of the Where’s Waldo and Seek & Find books from when I was a kid with a slightly girly and more adult vibe.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My obsession with Sally Nixon's work is a 10.

[Madhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very very special graphic book. For women. By women. Always women <3

[Annika Warrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this as a christmas gift, loved the illustrations and the character it had

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun take on where's Wally type books from my childhood. Fun to race and find the hidden items first.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun puzzle book, but some of the clues were a bit of a stretch.

[Cassie Sweitzer · Rating 1 out of 5]

buy this in hard copy

Illustrations are great, but seek and find is not interactive on kindle. If you’re interested, buy it in hard copy.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three pairs of headphones
Four nude bras
Four donuts of the day
Five bags of Cheese Puffs
Seven to-go cups of coffee
Nine bottles of champagne

[Zulekha Saqib · Rating 3 out of 5]

this little gem brings you the timeless joy of seek and find.. absolutely love the illustrations in it!

[Rebecca Norton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not work

This did not work and I couldn't figure out how to make it work. There were no instructions.
Tapping the items didn't work

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved to put an audio book on and work through this. It's so relaxing and fun and such an unexpected delight!