I'm constantly bombarded with info on social media, news feeds, and influencer posts. Honestly, it's hard to keep up with all the noise. I've been avoiding print media for a bit now, but when I do pick up a magazine, I want it to be worth my time. The answer is yes! Today, I'm excited to dive into the world of New Hearth magazine's spring and autumn issues:
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New Hearth magazine is published quarterly, which means four times a year. I've been searching for a good glossy magazine in my local stores for a while now, but it's nowhere to be found. I've checked out stores like Magnit, Pyaterochka, and even Fix Price, but they're all out of stock. Luckily, online marketplaces like Ozon and Wildberries came to the rescue.
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I opted for the autumn 2024 and spring 2025 issues, and to my surprise, they're flying off the shelves! At the time of writing this review, there are only three copies left, and I managed to grab two of them with a good discount.
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I was curious to see how magazines would handle the 'gentle' delivery of marketplaces, but everything went smoothly. And that's despite the super simple packaging - a plastic bag with an adhesive layer.
There were no dents or scratches, and all the pages were in place. Each magazine has a total of 146 pages.
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Print quality and paper quality
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The magazine has a soft, dense cover. The pages are already quite thin, matte, but with a slight gloss. The paper is delicate, and on some pages, you can see the waves from the applied print:
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Magazine New Hearth #1_2025 (spring)xa0
The page thickness is no more than 1 mm. They turn easily, and don't stick together. You won't get away with careless reading - the pages will crease instantly.
The images and photos inside the magazine are really impressive - they have a great natural contrast that doesn't look too bright or over-photoshopped.
The font on the pages is super comfortable to read, and I appreciate that there aren't any unnecessary highlights or underlining.
The magazine's dimensions are 28 x 22 cm, and it weighs around 250 grams - it looks really presentable and I wouldn't be embarrassed to leave it out for guests in my living room.
Content
The theme of the New Hearth magazine is pretty consistent across all issues: inspiration, fashion, beauty, psychology, travel, health, interior design, recipes, and horoscopes. While there are some minor differences, almost every issue includes these sections.
Here's a look at the table of contents for the spring 2025 issue:
Magazine New Hearth #1_2025 (spring)
And here's a look at the table of contents for the autumn 2024 issue:
Magazine New Hearth Autumn 2024
Ad clutter
I've come to expect some level of advertising in modern magazines, and the new journal is no exception. In the spring issue, I didn't feel overwhelmed by unnecessary ads, but the autumn 2024 issue was a different story. There were so many ads that it made the content feel sparse and uninteresting. I found myself flipping through the pages, but there was just too much repetition and not enough substance. Here are a few examples:
Some examples include ads for TV shows and even a radio station for Dacha. While these might be useful for some people, they didn't hold my attention. I found myself getting bored with the small, blurry images of cosmetics and the tiny print at the bottom.
Relevance of content / Novelty / Usefulness
I zipped through the autumn issue in just a few minutes, mainly because of the ad clutter. However, there were a few things that caught my attention. The interview with actress Alexandra Rebenok (who's also the cover model) was interesting, as was the photo shoot. I also enjoyed the interview with actress Olga Sutulova, although it was a bit short – just one page. There were also some unknown personalities featured:
New Hearth Autumn 2024
By the way, after reading this, I really wanted to find the author and her Telegram channel. Now she's got one more subscriber. The content really resonated with me. I'm currently getting into the world of perfumery.
There are also other engaging stories
New Hearth #1_2025 (spring)
Some of them really inspire creativity:
New Hearth #1_2025 (spring)
The second favorite section - travel stories. The spring issue didn't have it, but the autumn one was a treat with summer photos of the Red Mountains and Lake Baikal:
New Hearth Autumn 2024 New Hearth Autumn 2024
I wish they'd dedicated more than three pages to it.
The third section that really caught my attention is the recipes. As someone who loves cooking, I get super inspired when I come across something new to try. The fermented radish, cabbage with beets, and mushroom recipes really piqued my interest:
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New Hearth Journal #1_2025 (spring)xa0
Food photography is always mouthwatering. Even familiar dishes have new twists in preparation, and I really want to try them out:
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The sections on health, beauty, and psychology are just as amazing. In the spring issue, the psychology section takes up a decent amount of space with various exercises. Honestly, I even borrowed a couple of them.
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New Hearth Journal Autumn 2024xa0
There are full-page photo shoots:
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New Hearth Journal #1_2025 (spring) New Hearth Journal #1_2025 (spring)xa0
Beauty, self-care, and home comfort – it's only natural:
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QR codes on the pages – so convenient! You can instantly find the product you liked and buy it:
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Wear and tear
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I took both magazines home in perfect condition, handling them with care.
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However, that didn't protect them from minor damage:
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Still, the magazine isn't disposable. You can read it multiple times, and it's already withstood many handlings)
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Verdict
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I've got to say, this magazine is a treasure trove of new information - whether it's recipes, psychological tips, or something else entirely. The spring issue was a 10 out of 10 for me, while the autumn issue was a bit of a letdown at 6 out of 10. But both are ones I've kept and enjoy flipping through from time to time when I need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and my phone. And yes, the freshly printed magazine even has a pleasant aroma - something you just don't get from scrolling through your phone.
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+ 146 pages - that's not too shabby;
+ top-notch printing, a pleasant font, and beautiful photos;
+ the matte-glossy pages are a joy to flip through;
+ there's some really unique information in here;
+ it's a great way to expand your horizons and meet new, interesting people - I even signed up for two communities after reading it;
+ it's a great distraction from reality and a great way to clear your head;
+ you can take it with you wherever you go - no internet required (hospital, train, etc.);
+ it's a great way to spend your downtime with guests in salons or beauty parlors, where they can browse the beautiful pages over a cup of coffee;
+ the beautiful spreads can even be repurposed as phone wallpapers or social media posts;
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- the ratio of useful content to ads could be better, though. Sometimes it feels like for every two useful articles, there are two ads. That was definitely the case with the autumn issue. I would've loved to see more spreads on Red Square instead of just mentioning the release date of that TV show. I mean, it's not a TV guide, after all! But the spring issue was a different story altogether - I found myself returning to it three times already.
I'd ditch the astrology section, to be honest. I think it's been a thing of the past for a while now. Maybe swap it out for something more relevant and interesting, like spirituality or feng shui, for instance.
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And I have to say, I didn't expect to get hooked on the glossy pages, but now I'm eagerly waiting for the next issue. The magazine's price of around 300 rubles is a steal, especially when you consider it's cheaper than a cup of coffee in a cafe. And it gives me a lot more value, too.