Review: 30721 Friends Flower Stand with Roses Polybag

The new for 2026 polybags are starting to arrive. It looks like paper packaging has finally made its way to the United States. I found this one at Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Half Circle Plate, Plates, Arch, Round Brick w/Diagonal Bars,

Panels, Inverted Domes, Headlight Bricks, Transparent Panels, Clip

Bricks, Brick w/Stud on Side, Ice Cream Cones, Plate w/Bar Up,

Triangle Tiles, Sunflower, Studless Slopes, Clip Plates, Apollo Studs,

Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Flower Stems, Peony Roses, Round Plates

w/Flower Edge, Taps, Minifig Scissors, and Translucent Round Brick.

Build.  Station and 1 Hit piece of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+). Nice colors, useful parts, still needs a little something to be awesome.

Review: 30722 Friends Garden Bunny House Polybag

The new for 2026 polybags are starting to arrive. It looks like paper packaging has finally made its way to the United States. I found this one at Target.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 for a $0.11 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Plate, Plates w/Curved Cutout, Round Tile, Slopes,

Translucent Round Bricks, Large Cheese Slopes, Fences, Arch,

Brick w/Stud on Side, Clip Bricks, Round Bricks, Extended

Minifig Weapon Hilt, Tile, Plate w/Arm Up, Flowers, Round

Plates, Printed Round Tiles, Inkwells, and Bar w/Angled Stud.

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces of Cover and a Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  No.  (-5)
Score: -5 (B-).  I like this for the terrain and Lavender pieces but it definitely needs more.

Review: 30697 Friends Nova's Doghouse Build Polybag

Another new for 2025 polybag.  The availability might be a little wider than Wednesday's review as I found this one at Wegman's.  Friends sets are usually interesting so let's take a look.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Wegman's for a $0.10 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Doggo.

Parts.  Plates, Arches, Double Large Jumpers, Panels,

Tiles, Slopes, Clip Plate, Printed Tile, Bricks w/Clip,

Bricks w/Studs on Side, Round Bricks, Large Cheese

Slopes, Rounded Plates, Minifig Paint Roller, Small

Bones, Translucent Round Tile, Printed Round Tiles,

Minifig Yarn Ball, Minidoll Sunglasses, Minifig

Hammer, and Round Plates w/3 Leaves.

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces of Cover, and a Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  I like the colors, I like the parts -- The Minifig Paint Roller is always useful -- I just wish there was a little more to this set.

Review: 30696 Friends Autumn's Waffle Stand Polybag

This and another polybag were part of a "Free with Purchase" offer at the Lego store in February.  I've seen it in other retail stores since then.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99 at Playnow for a $0.14 Price per Piece.  

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Kitty!  Apparently the Toque (Chef's Hat) will fit on a hollow Stud.

Parts.  Plates, Arches, Half Oval Plate, Bricks w/Studs

on Side, Tiles w/Studs, Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Tile,

Half Circle Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Minifig Tea

Saucers, Technic Ball, Round Plates w/3 Leaves,

Large Jumper, Flowers w/ Bar & Small Pinhole,

Dome Bottom, and Plate w/Bar on Bottom.

Build.  Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  There are some interesting pieces in this set but that PpP definitely kills it for me.

Review: 41733 Friends Mobile Bubble Tea Shop

Welcome to "yet another review being done because I need the parts!"  I'm your host, Mantisking, and today we'll be taking a look at a Friends set I've had in my To-Do Pile for over a year and a half.  I probably would have mentioned this in a Good Sets for Parts post if I had done one for 2023.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99, for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Minidolls.

Parts 1.  Minidoll Scooter Frame, Double Arches, Curved Panel w/

Double Bar Hinge, Quarter Circle Plates, Half Oval Plate, Plates,

Curved Bricks w/Cutout, Curved Corner Bricks w/Cutout, Bracket,

Macaroni Bricks, Brick, Support, and Robot Body Round Brick.

Parts 2.  Door, Axle Plates, Bar Plate, Corner Plates, Printed

Tile, Brackets, Plates, Round Plates, Inkwells, Bricks, Translucent

Brick, Tires, Curved Slopes, and Translucent Round Brick.

 

Parts 3.  Round Large Jumper, Round Tile, Translucent Inverted Round Tile, Plates,

 Tiles, Grille Tile, Rounded Plates, Clip Plate, Padlock, Bar Studs, Swirl Plates,

Printed Tiles, Printed Round Tiles, Printed Round Bricks, Round Bricks, Brick,

 Headlight Brick, Pulley Wheels, Rims, Candlestick, Pin Arms, Skeleton Arms,

Minifig Spoons, Clip Tiles, 1x1x23 Brick, Minifig Handlebar, and Minifig Helmet.

Build.  Frame (2Rh), Station, and Micro-Frame.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Plenty of good parts, plenty of good colors but the quantities are lacking.

Review: 41738 Friends Dog Rescue Bike

I wasn't planning on reviewing this set but I picked up a pair of them on Clearance at a local Walmart, so I figured, "Why the heck not."

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

I found it for $5.00, for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Minidolls.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Stadium Plate.

Parts 2.  Printed Tile, Tile, Clip Bricks, Clip Plates, Plates,

Round Translucent Tiles, Clip Tile, Double Curve Slopes,

Bricks w/Stud on Side, Brick, Half Pins, and Pulley Wheel.

Parts 3.  Large Jumpers, Round Plate w/Wheel Holder, Round Plates w/3 Leaves,

Dish, Tile, Rounded Plates, Plates, Apollo Studs, Round Plates w/Flower Edge,

Round Plates, Minifig Binoculars, Printed Round Tiles, Translucent Round Tiles,

Round Plates w/Horizontal Swirl, Padlock, Flowers, Brackets, Minifig Dog Bones,

Skeleton Arms, Twigs, Bars, Minifig Shovel, Brick w/Pinhole, and Bricks.

Parts 4.  Plates, Tile w/Studs, Tiles, Bar w/Stop, Arches, Translucent Curved

Bricks, Wheels, Minifig Basket, Bar Plate (open ends), Bar Plate (closed

ends), Flag, Brick, Brick w/Stud on Side, Axle Plate, Windscreen, Tiles w/Studs

on Ends, Studless Slope, Translucent Minifig Head, Minifig Trash Can,

Window Frame, 3x4 Leaf, Minifig Bike Frame, and Curved Bricks w/Cutouts.

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces of Cover, Frame (2Rh+d8/1B/1Y), and a Station.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  I feel like this set has a bunch of good parts but isn't a great foundation set.

Review: 42601 Friends Hamster Playground

So this is outside my usual parts limit and Price-per-Piece range but I think it's currently the smallest set available with the new leaf pieces.  It also has a couple of those new-ish tube pieces and if you're old enough to remember Habitrail then I think you understand why I wanted to take a crack at reviewing this. 

Box.  MSRP is $19.99, for a $0.20 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minidolls.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  "Stadium" Plates.

Parts 2.  Half Circle Plate, Round Plate, Curved Cutout Plates, Plates, Half

Oval Plates, Minidoll Hamster, Bricks, Round Bricks, Macaroni Tiles,

Slopes, Macaroni Bricks, Log Bricks, 4x4 Flower Petals, and Minifig Dish.

Parts 3.  Turntable Base, Turntable Top, Tiles, Round Plates

w/3 Leaves, Rounded Plates, Slopes w/Cutout, Plate w/Arm

Up, Printed Tiles, Round Flower Plates, and Round Plates.

Parts 4.  Large Round Jumpers, Round tiles w/Pinhole, Turntable Top, Turntable

Base, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Clip Plate, Plates, Rounded Plate, Jumper,

Ingots, Translucent Tiles, Studless Slopes, Inkwells, Round Plates, Hinge

Plate, Macaroni Tiles, Minifig Hairbrush, Half Pins, Pins, Bar w/Angled

Hollow Stud, Minifig Telescope, Twigs, Plant Stems, and Minidoll Hamsters.

Parts 5.  45 Deg. Tubes, Straight Tube, Plate, Round Bricks, Round

Plates, Curved Top Panels, Tile, Convex Panels, Rounded Plates w/

Layered Leaves, Grille Bars, Arches, Minifig Apple, Plate w/Rounded End,

Bricks, Translucent Hemispheres w/Cutout, Bracket, Ball Joint Plate, Hinge

Plate, Translucent Round Bricks, Clip Brick, and Round Brick w/Pinholes. 

Build.  Two 1 Hit pieces of Cover, Station,

and two 2 Hit pieces of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  This is definitely a terrain set, and that price per piece isn't great, but I like it for the contents anyway.  Try to get it on sale if you really want it and are feeling price conscious.

Review: 30659 Friends Flower Garden Polybag

This is one of the new polybags for 2024.  I found it in Target, in the Seasonal section.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.08 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts.  Quarter Circle Plate, Octagonal Bar Plate, Fences, Candlesticks, Round

Tile, Round Large Jumpers, Studless Slopes, Round Plates, Bricks w/Studs

on Side and Edges, Wedge Plates, Round Plates w/3 Leaves, Butterfly,

Minifig Watering Can, Plates, Inkwells, Clip Plates, and Brick w/Stud on Side.

Build.  Three 1 Hit pieces of Cover and a Frame.
  

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Not quite as good as last year's poly but still good for terrain and a Frame.

Review: 30635 Friends Beach Cleanup Polybag

I found this in the Seasonal section at Target.

Box.  MSRP is $4.99, for a $0.10 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minidoll.

Parts.  Plates, Quarter Circle Plate, Fern Leaves, Arches, Minifig Surfboard,

Tile w/Studs, Wedge Plate, 1x4x2 Bar, Wedge Brick, Minifig Flippers, Minifig

Camera, Travis Brick, Printed Brick, Otter, Star Tile, Double Jumpers, Grille

Tile, Connector w/Axle, Apollo Studs, Swirl Tiles, Printed Round Tiles,

Transparent Studless Slope, Clip Bar Holder, Bar Clips, Bars, Tail/Plant Limb

w/Pin, Minifig Trash Can, Technic Brick, and Transparent Minifig Bottle.

 

Build.  1 Hit piece of Cover, Mini-Bot, Terrain.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At.  (0)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  There are some neat pieces in this set but I'd say it's more of a parts pack.