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!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Tales You Can Taste: 26 Fiction Book Recommendations for Foodies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Children’s Books

Starting with the littlest readers, here are some children’s books sure to captivate your kiddo with enchanting illustrations and thought-provoking themes:

Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran

With Chinese folklore, mouthwateringly vivid food, and a thoughtful exploration of loneliness and the power of community, Gwei the Hungry Ghost is the perfect read for foodies longing to explore the Hungry Ghost Festival alongside the sweetest ghost friends.

Mr. Chow’s Night Market written by Emily Sun Li; illustrated by Yu Ting Cheng 

Powerful, welcoming, and heartwarming, Mr. Chow’s Night Market celebrates the joy and power of community, creativity, being yourself, and trying new things, highlighting the importance of collaboration and asking for help when you need it amidst the backdrop of Taiwan’s first night market.

Music of the Bells written by Anitha Rao-Robinson; illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Vibrant and empowering, Music of the Bells beautifully highlights the power of movement and dance, introducing readers to Kathak (a classical Indian dance form) and exploring dance as a storytelling medium.

Where Do Stories Live? by Meenal Patel

Where Do Stories Live? enchants as it brilliantly emphasizes the power of stories and the myriad ways in which they are born through beautifully peaceful, calming illustrations. 

Middle-Grade Books

For middle-grade readers, here are some sweeping stories with magic and adventure galore:

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Brimming with Hindu mythology, found family, and a hilarious cast, Aru Shah and the End of Time is the cinematic first book in the Pandava series. 

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

With Korean mythology, fox-magic, and gripping action, Dragon Pearl is an unputdownable space opera.

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien 

Joyful, playful, and fierce, Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword is a delightful fantasy that blends martial arts and figure skating. 

Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel by Kara Bodegón-Hikino 

Filipino folklore, an action-packed journey perfect for fans of Pokémon games, and heartwarming friendship await readers in Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel.

Young Adult (YA) Books

For YA readers, here are some irresistible reads with everything from horror to fantasy to romance to game-show shenanigans:

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen 

Heartfelt, sweet, and scrumptious, A Bánh Mì for Two is a sapphic romance set in Vietnam featuring street food, family, and friendship.

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim 

Celestial Banquet is a riveting, delicious fantasy with Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore and a propulsive, vicious cooking competition.  

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado

Coming Out Perfect beautifully explores Filipino culture and the weight of familial expectations, fitting in, and coming out, offering a welcoming and uplifting graphic novel. 

Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee 

With sea-swept imagery, a compelling murder mystery, and a dash of romance, Heiress of Nowhere delivers an immersive historical mystery set on Orcas Island, Washington, in 1918.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Evocative and immersive, I Am Not Jessica Chen thoughtfully presents themes of burnout, imposter syndrome, and love against a dark academia backdrop.

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Just Between Us is an addictive, fierce, and romantic YA graphic novel with a swoon-worthy sapphic romance and figure skating.

Midnights with You by Clare Osongco

With a tender romance, late-night driving lessons, and a powerful exploration of family trauma, Midnights with You is an emotional, romantic contemporary novel.

Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon

Featuring an action-packed wilderness game show, a witty cast of characters, and an adorable romance, Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted is an addictive, cinematic contemporary novel.

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Strike the Zither is a fierce retelling of the Chinese classic The Three Kingdoms, filled with political intrigue and star-crossed lovers.

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall 

Haunting, propulsive, and raw, That Which Feeds Us is a horror-infused thriller with sisterhood and sapphic love that celebrates and honors Hawaiian culture, history, folklore, and resilience.

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

The Fox Maidens is a sweeping graphic novel set in 16^th-century Korea with a sapphic romance and Korean mythology.

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker 

Immersive, gritty, and magical, The Keeper of Night brilliantly weaves Japanese folklore into a gripping adventure that takes readers to London, Japan, and the Japanese underworld.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Medical-inspired magic and a Vietnam-inspired world unite in The Last Bloodcarver, a lush and mystery-infused fantasy.

The Last Tiger by Julia and Brad Riew

Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ love story, The Last Tiger is a powerful, romantic, and adventurous tale with hope, high stakes, and magic.

Zhara by S. Jae-Jones

Zhara is a witty, creative, and addictive fantasy with East Asian mythology, found family, and a pinch of Cinderella.

Adult Books

For adult readers, here are some books to satisfy your literary cravings, from mythology to monsters to magic to mystery:

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa

Magical, cozy, and emotional, A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang serves up a heartfelt and compelling story set in an enchanted bakery.

Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin

Splendidly strange and wonderfully haunting, Aunt Tigress is a compelling urban fantasy with sapphic love inspired by Chinese and First Nation mythology.

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Vibrant and propulsive, Black Salt Queen captivates with its Filipino-inspired world, powerful cast, and political intrigue.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a spellbinding, romantic fantasy with Chinese mythology and lush prose.

Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo

Set in New York City, 2075, Local Heavens delivers an addictive reimagining of The Great Gatsby, filled with cyberpunk technology, queer love, lyrical prose, and a Filipino American Nick Carraway.

Red City by Marie Lu

Vicious, dark, and magical, Red City presents an alternate Los Angeles with alchemy and star-crossed love.

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung 

A cinematic standalone featuring Chinese culture, a powerful mother-daughter bond, and political intrigue, The Last Mandarin is a gripping thriller from start to finish.

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg 

Adventure, love, and Thai mythology meet in The Last Phi Hunter, a witty and action-packed fantasy debut.

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

A twisty and haunting gothic thriller, The Manor of Dreams delivers a compelling concoction of sapphic love, family drama, mystery, and a haunted garden.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

The Poet Empress is a lush, immersive, and vicious fantasy with court politics, magic, and Chinese mythology.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei 

The Stardust Grail delivers an innovative and unputdownable adventure with a treasure hunt, found family, and riveting heist.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard 

Brimming with Indian mythology, hilarious characters, and swoon-worthy romance, The Starlight Heir is a sweeping romantasy.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

The Subtle Art of Folding Space delivers a heartfelt, propulsive, and creative sci-fi novel with delicious dim sum, generational trauma, and physics.

These are just some of the countless incredible books waiting to join your TBR list this AANHPI Heritage Month! Many are out now, and some release later this year, making it the perfect time to preorder to continue the celebration and amplify AANHPI stories throughout 2026. Happy AANHPI Heritage Month, and happy reading!

The post 36 Books To Add To Your AANHPI Heritage Month TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.