There’s nothing better than reading a fabulous book — unless you’re reading a fabulous book while eating one of your favorite snacks. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of reading recommendations based on popular snack foods, whether you enjoy munching on popcorn, savoring decadent chocolates, or indulging in an ice cream sundae.
Favorite Snack: Popcorn
What to Read: A Thrilling Action-Adventure
Just like at the movies, popcorn is your best bet for a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Whether it’s a science-fiction adventure, heist novel, or western, you won’t want to tear your eyes away from the pages of these books. Popcorn is perfect for just grabbing a handful at time to give you sustenance while you make sure the hero saves the day. Here are two books that are ideal for popcorn lovers.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Brothers Eli and Charlie have been ordered to kill a man in the 1850s Old West. But as they journey from Oregon City to Sacramento, Eli starts having second thoughts in this western filled with both violence and comedy. Bonus: This entertaining book was adapted into a 2018 film starring John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
When aliens are rumored to land on Earth, a motley crew — including an alien ambassador, biologist, rapper, and soldier — may be the only ones keeping the first contact from turning into an apocalypse. You’ll enjoy the twists and turns of this science-fiction thrill ride down to your last popcorn kernel.
Favorite Snack: Chocolate
What to Read: Romance
If you’re craving something sweet, fruit dipped in chocolate may be just the thing — especially if you pair it with an equally sweet love story. Whether you’re eating chocolate-covered cherries, orange peels, or another fruit, the combo of flavorful fruit and rich, creamy chocolate is a match made in heaven. If you’re looking to experience an equally perfect pairing of characters in a romance, here are two books that will get your heart racing.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Science gets sexy in this New York Times bestseller. After sending a sample to a DNA matchmaking company, single mom Jess is paired with the company’s founder, whom she already knows — and dislikes. But love surprises even the most data-driven people, as you’ll see in this tartly sweet romance hailed “laugh-out-loud, sweet, charming, and humorous” by Library Journal.
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Written by USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins, this American historical romance packs a lot of swoon. In 19th-century Wyoming Territory, feisty Regan arrives as a mail-order bride for widower and father Colton. Closed off to love, Colton just wants a mother for his daughter. But the spirited Regan ignites in him a one-of-a-kind passion that turns their marriage of convenience into true love.
Favorite Snack: Charcuterie
What to Read: Literary Fiction
If you’re a foodie, chances are you love charcuterie — those plates filled with cold meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, and crackers. Why not carry over that discerning taste to the books you read? Literary fiction is a genre that’s filled with many critically acclaimed, award-winning books that pair fantastic stories with incredible writing. Enjoy a tangle of prosciutto while checking out our lit fic picks below.
The Men by Sandra Newman
This thought-provoking new novel starts with an incredible premise: One night, every person with a Y chromosome disappears from Earth. Like other women, Jane is left with no husband or son, and questions no one can answer. Jane, along with the remaining female population, struggles to find out what happened — and what to do next.
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
In 1970s New York, Black singer Opal joined forces with Nev, a British singer-songwriter, and their band shot to fame. Now, a reunion is on the horizon, but is Opal ready to open up about their checkered past? And is the music journalist interviewing her ready to know the truth? Though fictional, the themes here are so fully realized that the New York Times Book Review said the novel “feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories.”
Favorite Snack: Ice Cream
What to Read: Southern Women’s Fiction
It’s light, it’s sweet, it’s perfect for summer — not that you don’t still enjoy it year-round. If you’re an ice cream fan, you know there’s nothing better than a bowl of the sweet, creamy, cold treat, whether it’s an elaborate trending flavor or tried-and-true vanilla with a cherry on top. If this is your ideal snack, pair it with a story of a Southern woman’s escapades in friendship, work, and love. Like the best ice cream flavors, you’ll find a delectable mix of ingredients in the books below, including humor, family dysfunction, romance, and heartwarming moments.
How Lulu Lost Her Mind by Rachel Gibson
When her mother’s dementia worsens, relationship guru Lou Ann must return to their Louisiana home to help care for her. The problem is Lou Ann has always had a fraught relationship with her mom, who’s been married five times. In this funny and poignant book, mother and daughter must cope with their changing minds and relationship in a Southern setting guaranteed to give you all the feels.
Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton
This USA Today bestseller centers on an Alabama family whose lives are altered by their choices, not to mention one big hurricane. Childless couple Betsy and Ty have been focusing on their dairy farm — until Betsy’s sister drops off her two daughters for the summer while she reconnects with her photography. As they all adjust to a new family configuration, a storm brews on the horizon, both literally and figuratively.
Favorite Snack: Ants on a Log
What to Read: Fantasy
Hear us out: This childhood treat of celery stalks filled with peanut butter and dotted with raisins shouldn’t just be for kids. First, it’s filled with multiple food groups, not to mention a truly tasty juxtaposition of crunchy celery and creamy peanut butter, with the raisins adding a sweet surprise. But it’s the creative whimsy of this treat that convinces us it’s perfect for fantasy readers who love using their imagination to picture the fascinating worlds of their books. Here are two books ideal for creative ants-on-a-log snackers.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
You’ll be captivated by this story of the Montoya family, whose members are blessed by strange powers, especially after their matriarch dies and turns into a tree. Years later, when danger comes calling, the descendents must return to Ecuador to unbury the secrets of their family’s dark past and powers. But will the Montoyas survive the revelations?
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
If you haven’t yet read this spellbinding blend of historical fiction and fantasy, you’re in for a treat. Based on Jewish and Arabian folktales, it follows Chava, a golem who meets Jinni Ahmad in turn-of-the-century New York. As the two very different beings struggle to bond, a grave danger forces them to work together.
Favorite Snack: Dark Chocolate Truffles
What to Read: Mystery
Bitter yet sweet, dark chocolate is what you reach for when you want a dessert, but one that’s unique and complex, slowly revealing shades of flavor. Eat it in the form of a truffle and you’ll also be met with a filling of cream, liquor, or nuts — maybe something you expected, and maybe something that caught you by surprise. If truffles are your chosen snack, check out one of the mysteries below, which offer complex puzzles alongside shocking twists.
No Rest for the Dead by Various Authors
The problem with picking a mystery novel, like a chocolate truffle, is that there are so many good authors to choose from. With this unique novel, there’s no need to choose: you’ll get a complete story written by over two-dozen bestselling authors, including Sandra Brown, Jeffery Deaver, and Kathy Reichs. Each author took turns penning the edge-of-your-seat tale of a detective who revisits the murder of a museum curator.
Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest
A twisty mystery is served with a dash of the supernatural in this Cherie Priest novel. To solve her late fiancé’s murder, struggling travel agent and psychic Leda agrees to help Seattle detective Grady on a cold case. But the plot thickens when they discover the two cases may be related. Throw in a quirky cast of characters and some psychic karaoke and you’ve got the makings of a mystery you’ll be reading long after your box of chocolates is gone.
About the Author: G.G. Andrew
G.G. is a freelance writer and author of romance and women's fiction, including the short story "Everything Left Unsaid" in the collection A Million Ways: Stories of Motherhood. A Texas transplant, she lives outside Houston with her husband and two sons, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. In her spare time, she enjoys browsing bookstores, yoga, paper crafts, cooking, genealogy, and anything related to Halloween. She's probably drinking tea right now.
