If you're dreaming of turning your backyard into a mini orchard but don't know where to start, Kim Pezza's book is like having a patient gardening mentor by your side.

The real magic happens in Chapter 4 about container growing - who knew I could grow dwarf fruit trees on my apartment balcony? The author's tip about using fabric pots saved my struggling lemon tree!

While the black-and-white photos aren't Instagram-worthy, the practical advice more than makes up for it. I particularly appreciated the troubleshooting charts for common plant diseases - they helped me save my blueberry bushes from mysterious leaf spots last summer.

The harvesting and preserving section could be more detailed (I ended up buying her companion book on canning), but as a comprehensive starter guide, this delivers exactly what it promises. Pro tip: Keep a pencil handy to jot down notes in the margins like I did!