Books For Foodies: The Best Food-Themed Books Ever Written
Are you a confessed foodie?
These super sweet and savory novels are sure to satisfy your cravings! Indulge in a food-themed book or two and take your passion for cuisine on a literary adventure.
Warning: Don't read these foodie books whilst hungry. You may accidentally find yourself in the kitchen...
24 FICTION BOOKS ABOUT FOOD:
1 – The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
A food-themed love story, what could be sweeter? This heart-warming tale by Amy E. Reichert follows a chef as she works hard to keep her beloved restaurant afloat. Throw in a harsh (yet handsome) food critic and a cheating fiancee, and you've got yourself a tale of fabulous food and unexpected love.
"The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together."
2 – How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal
Family feud's, uncontrollable daughters and lots of baking! They're the main components of Barbara O'Neal's novel. This story sees baker Ramona Gallagher rebuild her life and relationships with care, passion, and a little bit of sugar!
3 – With Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo is a New York Times bestselling author, winning the 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Acevedo's 2019 novel With Fire on High is packed with foodie goodness, as we follow the life of Emoni Santiago, who fights her way through culinary school with no money and an Abuela and daughter to care for.
4 – Delicious! by Ruth Reichl
Ruth Reichl, the culinary editor for the Modern Library and editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, shares her knowledge and passion for food in her moving fictional novel Delicious!. The story follows a young woman who must overcome grief and welcome her culinary talents.
5 – The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood
The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood's first novel, has been described as "both a scathingly funny satire of consumerism and a heady exploration of emotional cannibalism". This debut novel brought the award-winning author to light before her groundbreaking book The Handmaid's Tale. This intense novel is a must-read for any Atwood fans. Her eclectic use of language and clever character creation is truly remarkable.
6 – Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
"Midsummer's Mayhem is an enchantment of a novel, bursting with magic, mystery, and mouthwatering baked goods. Readers who have their own baking-show dreams will be cheering for Mimi until the very last page", Kate Messner.
Midsummer's Mayhem: Where baking meets Shakespeare. This story follows Mimi Mackson, the youngest daughter of a large Indian American family, as she tried to impress her parents and siblings by baking. When strange things start to happen to her close family, Mimi begins to wonder if the ingredients she has been using haven't been quite right...
7 – When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison
A novel about "food, love and the longings of the heart".
Thirty-seven-year-old private chef Gemma feels her dating days are over. When Gemma begins working for a mysterious client Mr Tuesday, who loves to indulge in Gemma's sweeter recipes, her life begins to take a twist.
Beth Harbison is the New York Times bestselling author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Always Something There to Remind Me. When in Doubt, Add Butter is an easy read for those who enjoy food and romance combined!
8 – Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
This contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion is bursting with bold characters, Indian spices and delicious comfort food.
Sonali Dev's novel follows Chef Ashna Raje as she's asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars! Only an appearance from a past flame, Rico Silva, begins to prove her move maybe wasn't such a smart idea...
A follow on from Dev's first Austen based book Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, this book is a unique approach to a well-known classic.
9 – Chocolat by Joanne Harris
"New York Times bestselling novel Chocolat entranced readers with its mix of hedonism, whimsy, and, of course, chocolate."
Chocolat by Joanne Harris; a book turned steamy, oscar-winning, star-studded movie! If you want to discover the genius behind Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp's performance, make sure to add this novel to your bookshelf.
A must-read for any chocoholic. Indulge in mouthwatering descriptions of delicious treats through a tale of hedonism and Parisian glamour.
10 – Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King
Are you a foodie and a fan of historical novels? Then Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King was written for you.
This tale follows the life of a young chef, Thrasius, as he begins to assist the infamous Marcus Gavius Apicius, who aims to become a culinary advisor to Augustus Caesar. Through countless feasts, corruption and a thirst for power, we see Apicius passionately fight for control. Does he succeed? Or will he fall under the mercy of Rome?
More amazing books for food fans!
The Chocolate Lovers' Club by Carole Matthews - A humorous novel full of friendship and guilty pleasure.
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler - A coming of age tale which will really treat the senses.
Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin - A warm, wholesome tale following an African mother and baker as her life is suddenly upturned.
A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos - A romantic and thrilling tale following a chef who can perceive a person's emotions by tasting their cooking.
Bread Alone by Judi Hendricks - "a deliciously magical and mouth watering story, filled with wonder, discovery, and new beginnings".
Month of Sundays by Yolanda Wallace - a steamy and romantic tale of a young woman who finds herself dating a sexy celebrity chef.
State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy - A culinary thriller based at the White House.
Confused Spice by Mathis Bailey - A romance novel involving food, love triangles and Eastern spirituality.
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller - "A full-hearted
novel about a big-city baker who discovers the true meaning of home".
Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb - As a bride ditched her abusive fiance at the altar, she heads towards a better life. Through new friendship, adventure and chocolate, protagonist Julia heads towards a fulfilling future.
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell - When a young woman with the power to grant wishes meets an old lady who can bind secrets by baking them into pies, anything can happen.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender - Rose Edelstein can taste emotion through baking, and upon discovering her mother's sadness in a slice of lemon cake on her ninth birthday, her life was no longer the same.
The Restaurant of Love Regained by Ito Ogawa - A novel of food, love and the unbreakable bond of a mother-and-daughter relationship.
Appetite by Philip Kazan - A thrilling Italian tale of gluttony, art and looming danger.
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly - For fans of cooking shows: A delicious, nonbinary romance featuring your next favourite cooking competition.
