Whether competing in a magical culinary competition or traveling a dangerous road alongside Viking mercenaries, one cannot deny the importance of good food to fuel the adventures. From mysteries with mouth-watering meals to cozy fantasy novels with scrumptious sweets, I’ve gathered some of my favorite food-infused stories that will satisfy your food and fiction cravings alike:
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
A sweet and tender young adult (YA) contemporary romance set in Vietnam brimming with sapphic love, family, and street food.
A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa
A lush, compelling cozy novel with an adorable cat and delicious treats set at a magical bakery.
A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner
A whimsical, vibrant cozy fantasy with magical creatures, a gripping bake-off, and found family.
Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle
An addictive and lush story of hunger, food, love, ghosts, desire, and loss set in the New York City culinary scene, perfect for fans of Hadestown.
Bread is Love written by Pooja Makhijani; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
A beautiful, sweet, and heartwarming children’s book of bread, family, and joy.
Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim
A captivating, immersive YA fantasy with a cutthroat cooking competition, Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore, and vivid food descriptions that explores food’s connection to culture and the ones we love.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
A cute, uplifting YA romcom with a mooncake-making competition, fake-dating romance, and the sweetest corgi.
Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England
A comforting, sweeping cozy fantasy filled with farmers market trips, magical baked goods, a ghost granny, and a tender romance.
Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran
A stunning, lush, and vivid children’s book with Chinese folklore, food, friendship, and community set during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen
A tender and tasty YA romcom inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, brimming with banter, Asian food, family, love, and trips to the Pasadena Farmers Market.
Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin
A riveting and sharp cozy whodunit set in London with cinematic cooking scenes and a propulsive murder mystery.
Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
A beautiful, welcoming collection of interconnected stories with Native pride, frybread, laughter, belonging, and love.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
A charming, calming cozy fantasy set in a coffee shop with sapphic love, pastries, fantastical creatures, and, of course, coffee.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A sharp, witty, and empowering historical fiction novel filled with wit, chemistry, and cooking set in the 1960s.
Like Wafers in Honey by Leah Eskin
A sweeping, atmospheric, and witty debut following two timelines filled with vivid historical details, recipes, and family.
Nacho Boyfriend by Gigi Blume
A funny and swoony romcom with tender family dynamics, delicious Mexican food, and a delightful fake-dating romance.
Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho
A swoon-worthy and sweet YA romance set in Brazil that blends the family feud and enemies-to-lovers romance of Romeo & Juliet with delicious baking scenes.
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
A sea-swept, lyrical, and adventurous cozy fantasy brimming with sentient plants, peach pie, yearning, and the perfect dose of danger.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill
A spellbinding and scrumptious YA debut with immersive baking scenes, exhilarating culinary challenges, and heartwarming friendship, perfect for readers transitioning from middle-grade to YA reads.
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
An adorable, charming, and immersive children’s book with baked goods and the cutest tiny dragon.
The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan
An enchanting and gripping cozy fantasy with a thrilling murder mystery, sapphic love, tea, mythology, and sweet treats.
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride
A sweeping, emotional YA novel-in-verse with an achingly beautiful sapphic romance, family recipes, and a twisty plot.
The Lone Wolf Café by Sydney Wilder
A welcoming and magical cozy fantasy with baking, tea, witches, and werewolves, perfect for autumnal reading and Halloween.
The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda
A cinematic, lyrical historical novel set in sixteenth-century Mexico with adventure, sisterhood, and pre-Hispanic food.
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
An adventurous, fierce fantasy infused with Norse mythology, action, food, and a pinch of spice.
The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu
A creative and propulsive sci-fi novel filled with physics, dim sum, and family.
From charming children’s books to heartfelt YA romcoms to gripping adult murder mysteries, there’s a little something for every foodie here. These books serve up delicious food descriptions alongside their captivating characters, cinematic settings, and propulsive plots. Happy reading!
