11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

October 15 2015
Share 11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

Food nourishes the body, books nourish the mind, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s about all you need. It’s only natural to merge life’s two necessities into one tasty genre: foodie fiction. Whether you’re craving espionage, romance, or lemon cake, whet your appetite on one of these eleven novels where food takes a starring role.

Delicious!
by Ruth Reichl

From food critic, chef, and bestselling memoirist Ruth Reichl comes a delectable fiction debut about a young woman who moves to New York to write for a food magazine that folds unexpectedly almost the moment she arrives. Staying on as the magazine’s sole employee to staff the subscriber-complaint hotline, she finds that the lonely job soon becomes a gateway to discovery.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo
Delicious!
Ruth Reichl

From food critic, chef, and bestselling memoirist Ruth Reichl comes a delectable fiction debut about a young woman who moves to New York to write for a food magazine that folds unexpectedly almost the moment she arrives. Staying on as the magazine’s sole employee to staff the subscriber-complaint hotline, she finds that the lonely job soon becomes a gateway to discovery.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
by J. Ryan Stradal

A young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of her journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her sprit and resilience.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
J. Ryan Stradal

A young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of her journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her sprit and resilience.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

Make the Most of Fall With These 13 Books Inspired by Seasonal Activities

By Sarah Woodruff | October 2, 2018

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close
Like Water for Chocolate
by Laura Esquivel

By turns tragic, witty, and romantic, this is magical realism at its finest. Set in turn-of-the-century Mexico, youngest daughter Tita is forbidden by tradition to marry, so when she falls in love, she expresses her passion the only way she knows how: through cooking. Blessed with a truly magical touch in the kitchen, the food Tita prepares is imbued with the emotion she feels as she cooks, leaving those who eat it overcome by tears or overwhelmed with longing.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
Like Water for Chocolate
Laura Esquivel

Food and rampant emotion are melded together in this magical realist romance in which each of the twelve sections begin with a Mexican recipe, all of which are cleverly incorporated into the plot of the book itself.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Savory Novels Filled with Fictional Feasts

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 13, 2022

9 Must-Read Novels That Will Add Magic to Your Literary Diet

By Sarah Jane Abbott | October 4, 2019

10 Books to Celebrate Día de los Muertos

By Amy Hendricks | October 30, 2017

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

A Woman’s Guide to Latin America in 7 Books

By Off the Shelf Staff | November 11, 2014

15 Delicious Books For Fans of Eating and Reading

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 30, 2014

Close
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
by Amy E. Reichert

A chance meeting between talented chef Luella and British transplant Al leads to a budding romance. But when Luella discovers her new paramour is the writer behind the anonymous food column whose scathing review of her cooking left her restaurant facing closure, can their relationship survive? A charming tale of mistaken identity and unlikely love, this delightful tale will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
Amy E. Reichert

A chance meeting between talented chef Luella and British transplant Al leads to a budding romance. But when Luella discovers her new paramour is the writer behind the anonymous food column whose scathing review of her cooking left her restaurant facing closure, can their relationship survive? A charming tale of mistaken identity and unlikely love, this delightful tale will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Savory Novels Filled with Fictional Feasts

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 13, 2022

Readers’ Choice: Our Top 25 Most Popular Books of the Year!

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 30, 2020

11 Delightful Rom-Com Reads for Younger Fans (While We Wait for Season 7)

By Get Literary | September 8, 2020

6 Books as Refreshing as an Ocean Breeze

By Holly Claytor | June 9, 2020

The 10 Most Popular Reads We Cozied Up With This April

By Off the Shelf Staff | April 30, 2020

Librarian Picks: 10 Books I Would Prescribe to Cure the Blues

By Beth Mills | April 6, 2020

Close
Red Sparrow
by Jason Matthews

Two young spies—one Russian, one American—engage in a high-stakes game of deception, control, and forbidden lust. But just who is manipulating who? Featuring a recipe at the end of each chapter, Jason Matthews’s debut is a tense and intriguing spy thriller that will leave you hungry for more.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
Red Sparrow
Jason Matthews

Read with a Classic Martini

In this incredible first novel in the RED SPARROW trilogy set against the backdrop of modern-day Russia, Dominika Egorova is drafted to become a “Sparrow” for the Russian state intelligence. Her complex journey has all the makings of the perfect espionage tale: Moles, double lives, betrayals, and yes... even love. The only pairing that makes any sense with this book should be shaken—not stirred.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Spy Novels That’ll Sneak Up on You

By Alice Martin | November 6, 2023

8 Edgar Award–Winning Authors Every Mystery Fan Should Read

By Maddie Nelson | April 27, 2023

12 Books You Must Read Before Seeing the Movies this Spring

By Tolani Osan | February 1, 2018

Best Beach Reads: 9 Books to Read While Sipping Your Favorite Beach Cocktails

By Off the Shelf Staff | June 6, 2017

15 Edgar-Winning Mystery and True Crime Books

By Sarah Jane Abbott | April 27, 2017

13 Books Bird Lovers Will Flock To

By Amy Hendricks | September 20, 2016

Close
Chocolat
by Joanne Harris

The basis of the Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, this book explores what happens when a beautiful newcomer and her exquisite chocolate shop arrive in a tiny, old-fashioned town during Lent, accidentally sparking a dramatic face-off between Easter solemnity and the pagan gaiety of a chocolate festival. A delightful, hedonistic romp from start to finish, it is a sweet treat full of charm, wonder, and, of course, truffles.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo
Chocolat
Joanne Harris

The trials and triumphs of chocolatier Vianne Rocher unfold in prose as sweet as the described French confections. It doesn’t hurt to keep in mind that the main love interest is played by the swoon-worthy Johnny Depp in the eponymous movie adaption.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

Happy Chinese New Year: 12 Books to Kick Off the Year of the Pig

By Elizabeth Breeden | February 5, 2019

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

15 Delicious Books For Fans of Eating and Reading

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 30, 2014

Close
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg

This fresh and folksy classic is brimming with good barbeque and Southern charm while tackling heavy subjects with grace and subtlety. In 1930s Alabama, two women run a small-town cafe with love and integrity, surviving visits from the local sheriff, the terror of the Ku Klux Klan, and the rigors of the Great Depression.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Fannie Flagg

This fresh and folksy classic is brimming with good barbeque and Southern charm while tackling heavy subjects with grace and subtlety. In 1930s Alabama, two women run a small-town cafe with love and integrity, surviving visits from the local sheriff, the terror of the Ku Klux Klan, and the rigors of the Great Depression.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

6 Cross-Generational Novels for Friends of All Ages

By Allie Larkin | April 16, 2019

11 Novels with Older Characters You’re Sure to Love

By Taylor Noel | August 21, 2018

I Heart the 80s: 12 Radical Reads About Everyone’s Favorite Decade

By Julianna Haubner | October 27, 2016

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close
The School of Essential Ingredients
by Erica Bauermeister

The healing power of food is revealed in all its glory in this spellbinding novel set in a master chef’s kitchen. Eight students sign up for weekly cooking lessons with Chef Lillian, but what she ends up teaching them is something far greater than any recipe.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo
The School of Essential Ingredients
Erica Bauermeister

The healing power of food is revealed in all its glory in this spellbinding novel set in a master chef’s kitchen. Eight students sign up for weekly cooking lessons with Chef Lillian, but what she ends up teaching them is something far greater than any recipe.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Aimee Bender

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

The 5 Best Books to Read if You Love The Great British Bake Off

By Sarah Walsh | January 21, 2020

8 Exquisite Epigraphs You Shouldn’t Overlook

By Nikki Barnhart | November 15, 2018

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

A Whimsical and Imaginative Novel that Trusts in the Magically Real

By Laura McBride | June 1, 2015

Close
The Color of Tea
by Hannah Tunnicliffe

A recent and wary transplant to the bustling island of Macau, Grace’s marriage is on the rocks and she is struggling with the devastating news of her infertility. Finding solace in her love of baking, she opens a café where she begins to learn that family can be found even in the most unfamiliar of places. This delicious, melt-in-your-mouth novel is an evocative journey through love, friendship, and macarons.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Color of Tea
Hannah Tunnicliffe

A recent and wary transplant to the bustling island of Macau, Grace’s marriage is on the rocks and she is struggling with the devastating news of her infertility. Finding solace in her love of baking, she opens a café where she begins to learn that family can be found even in the most unfamiliar of places. This delicious, melt-in-your-mouth novel is an evocative journey through love, friendship, and macarons.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close
The Love Goddess' Cooking School
by Melissa Senate

When recently heartbroken Holly inherits her grandmother’s Italian cooking school, she takes on the challenge of teaching her mouth-watering family recipes to a new set of students, despite the fact that she cannot cook. Garnishing recipes with her grandmother’s essential ingredients of memories and wishes, a determined Holly soon comes to learn a thing or two about her own recipe for happiness.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Love Goddess' Cooking School
Melissa Senate

When recently heartbroken Holly inherits her grandmother’s Italian cooking school, she takes on the challenge of teaching her mouth-watering family recipes to a new set of students, despite the fact that she cannot cook. Garnishing recipes with her grandmother’s essential ingredients of memories and wishes, a determined Holly soon comes to learn a thing or two about her own recipe for happiness.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Savory Novels Filled with Fictional Feasts

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 13, 2022

10 Hand-Picked Books to Ease You Back into Real Life

By Sarah Walsh | July 15, 2021

The 5 Best Books to Read if You Love The Great British Bake Off

By Sarah Walsh | January 21, 2020

11 Delicious Food Novels to Savor

By Emma Volk | October 15, 2015

Close

You must be logged in to add books to your shelf.

Please log in or sign up now.