Books that Make You Hungry

I was going to do some sort of grateful post, but that's a bit difficult to tie into books? I'm grateful books exist? I'm also super grateful that my google skills finally resulted in me being able to find these two books I read in my youth that I've been looking for of actual years. I found them both last week! Weird.

But considering that we're entering the time of feasting, I thought I'd post a few books that made me hungry while I read them. 

Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix (Young Adult, Fantasy)--this was my first Cindy Pon book right after I met her. Cindy was one of the first YA authors to reach out and welcome me when I had a book coming out. She's not only wonderful as a human, but her books are, frankly, awesome. Her first book is full of descriptions of noodles and dumplings as well as Chinese mythology. I recommend you have noodles on hand or a handy delivery option ready.

Kerry Greenwood's Earthly Delights (Adult, Mystery)--you might be familiar with Greenwood's other series, the Phyrne Fisher books. (Which were made into a TV series and is a lot of fun, especially if you like historical stuff.) This series is centered around Corinna Chapman, former accountant, current baker. She somewhat reluctantly helps solve mysteries. This series has a lot of fun characters --both in her building and around her neighborhood--and tons of baked goods. Plus a fun romantic interest. It's an easy series to binge read...just keep some muffins on hand, okay?

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker (Adult, Romance)-- this book was not only funny and fun to read (Parker excels at writing the grouchy character who eventually drops their shields and totally unravels), but it is FULL of delicious sounding sweets. One of the characters, Sylvie, was a fan-favorite on a Bake Off style show...where she accidentally hit one of the judges with--if memory serves--a unicorn hoof made out of cake/sweets. Sylvie's sweet shop sounds like a place I'd like to hang out in. Read with cupcakes at hand.

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall (Adult, Romcom) I'm fairly certain I've mentioned this book, but it's another take on Bake Off. Hall seems to have a direct line to my sense of humor. Super funny, diverse cast, and full of baked goodness. Would pair with a tasty cookie or anything without a Soggy Bottom.

Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu (Graphic novel) Okay, so this one is actually about hockey. But Bittie is a stress baker and as he navigates hockey culture and dating life, he frequently stress bakes. Soooo many pies. This comic is funny and adorable and should be paired with the pie of your choice.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (Adult, fantasy)--I know I mentioned this one before, but it's a perfect fit for this topic. The book is about an orc who wants to retire from the mercenary business to start a coffee shop...in a town where no one has heard of coffee. As Viv navigates being a new business owner, she adds things to the menu. It's a cozy little book that I'd pair with your favorite hot beverage and a delicious pastry of your choice.

Sin Du Jour series by Matt Wallace (Adult, Urban fantasy) How to describe this series? Okay, if you've ever worked in a kitchen--especially in a restaurant--you know how wacky things can get. This series is a surreal romp through the NY restaurant scene, but full twisted creatures as well as gourmet food. So you're talking about fancy food, but also talking about what monsters eat...so, yeah. I would pair this one with a charcuterie tray and whatever potent potable you prefer.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Young Adult, Urban Fantasy)-- I know, I know, I just mentioned this one, too, but seriously, it's set in a restaurant. There's a lot of talk about delicious food and red wine. Plus, shapeshifters! Would pair with a good red and a plate of your favorite pasta.

T. Kingfisher's A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (Young Adult I think, fantasy). I think by now you all know that I will read anything T. Kingfisher writes. Her books are delightfully weird and have a good heart. This one takes place in a bakery. Her familiar is a sourdough starter. She makes gingerbread dance. Plus there are dead bodies. Keep baked goods on hand for this one!

If you're a romance reader, I would check out Jackie Lau's books (low angst, lots of ones that center around food) and Sarina Bowen's True North series (high angst, but lots of food and cider, especially the first one). Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert is another good one. Hibbert has a direct line to the laugh center of my brain. This one is about a cook and the owner of a B&B.

Cozy mysteries are great at food, and I can recommend Arsenic & Adobo and Vivien Chen's Death by Dumpling.

Recommendations from my writer friend, Martha Brockenbrough: (She texted me while I was typing this. Ha!) I haven't read either of these books yet.

Night Circus (Adult)

Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things (Young Adult) 

Okay, friend, that's it for this week. My usual request stands--if there's a book that makes you hungry every time you pick it up, drop it in the comments to add to our TBR piles.

-Lish