Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of three rom-coms: QUEERLY BELOVED, LOOKING FOR A SIGN, and BED AND BREAKUP, all from Dial Press/Random House. Susie is also a bookseller at her favorite local indie bookstore and a cupcake enthusiast. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.
Foodie romances? I’ll take a baker’s dozen! I simply can’t get enough food and drink in a love story. Chef protagonists, restaurant drama, cocktail-driven meet-cutes, cozy bakeries, and culinary travel are all the keys to my heart. There’s something deeply intimate about sharing a meal with someone, trading bites from your plates and marveling at new flavors, licking your lips, and moaning at a bite that perfectly hits the spot. And there’s nothing more romantic than cooking for someone you’re wooing!
If you too love a food-centric love story, I’ve got three new releases and two upcoming romances to add to your TBR. From aspiring restaurateurs and rival chefs to grumpy bakers and cocktail connoisseurs, these books are sure to surprise and delight. Just be sure to have snacks on hand, because they’ll definitely also make you hungry.
Taste the Love by Karelia & Fay Stetz-Waters
Sullivan and Kia were rivals (with secret crushes on each other) during culinary school. Afterward, their food took them in different directions: Sullivan opened an upscale sustainable restaurant while Kia built an award-winning food truck. Kia has her eye on a patch of land with a rich ecological landscape that she envisions as a great place for food trucks — the same forestland a fast-food company wants to flatten and develop. It just so happens that Sullivan’s family owns the land. Sullivan sees a way to foil the fast-food company’s plan by proposing a marriage of convenience to Kia. Two rival chefs make for a doubly delicious foodie rom-com.
All Access members, read on for four more foodie romance novels.
Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of three rom-coms: QUEERLY BELOVED, LOOKING FOR A SIGN, and BED AND BREAKUP, all from Dial Press/Random House. Susie is also a bookseller at her favorite local indie bookstore and a cupcake enthusiast. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.
The Dating Prohibition by Taj McCoy
After traveling the world, Kendra returns to her hometown ready to bring her dream of opening a speakeasy-themed bar and supper club to fruition. But she didn’t anticipate how much returning home would make her feel like a kid again, butting heads with her parents, feeling overshadowed by her restaurateur big brother, and crushing on her brother’s best friend, BJ. Despite the romantic tension between them, BJ tells Kendra that she, as his best friend’s sister, is “off-limits”. Still, BJ supports Kendra’s restaurant idea, and the more they work together to make it a reality, the harder it is to stick to his word. Taj McCoy’s drool-worthy food descriptions will make you wish you could join Kendra’s speakeasy supper club IRL.
It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram
After proposing to his boyfriend and getting turned down for being “boring”, Ramin decides to mix things up by taking an impromptu trip to Italy. Ramin definitely didn’t expect a visit to a gelateria to lead him to Noah, his high school crush, who’s visiting Italy with his son and ex-wife. Both looking for adventure, Ramin and Noah dive into a romance as they eat and drink their way across Italy. But can their new selves exist once the vacation is over? The vivid Italian settings, luscious flavors, and daring love story make It Had to Be Him a holiday you can enjoy from your couch. (Just make sure you have wine and cheese handy.)
My Fair Señor by Alana Quintana Albertson (coming November 25)
Nothing says romance like tequila and tacos. Jaime is a model and influencer whose family owns a massive fast-food taco chain. Tired of hawking other people’s tequila brands, he decides to start his own. But he’ll need help. Jaime turns to his ex from college, Alma, who’s now a tequila expert and the owner of a popular mezcal bar. Will Jaime’s education in tequila reignite their college flame? This third book in Alana Quintana Albertson’s “Love & Tacos” series is a tipsy, tantalizing treat for food lovers.
Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade (coming November 25)
Baker Karl and audiobook narrator Molly are former friends who almost had something more before life took them in different directions. When Molly hears about Karl’s obituary in the local paper, she rushes home in grief — only to learn the obituary was a mistake and Karl is very much alive. She decides to spend her short time in her hometown reconnecting with Karl, watching how confident he is in the kitchen, and wondering if all their missed connections might have been leading them to right now. If you love a grumpy baker and mouthwatering baked goods, Second Chance Romance is just what you’re craving.
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