Have your cake and read it too

Even though I’m not a huge fan of romance novels, I must admit that they can be just the thing to throw in your bag when you head to the beach or other vacation destination where you will have plenty of relaxation time. They are fast paced, the best ones have some unexpected twists and turns, but everything always turns out well in the end. A new crop of romance novels makes the genre more intriguing to me as a food lover. As Eater explains, these books combine food themes with an overarching romantic narrative.

From 2020 to date, there have been at least two dozen romance novels released that revolve around food themes, and more are in the pipeline. Backdrops underpinning the action include reality cooking shows, fictional food magazines, dueling food trucks, and doughnut shops. Why are romance authors turning to these topics? The simple explanation is that they are writing about what they like.

For GBBO fan TJ Alexander, his novel Chef’s Kiss provided him with an opportunity to play with foods that he would not be able to make in real life. “You get to come up with these creative ideas of how you would do it if you had the skills,” Alexander says. Another reason these books have become popular with publishers is that they are written by a more diverse audience, meaning they can gain a wider audience and introduce people to other cultures. “Going back to the idea that food and romance are universal human needs, it’s an easy entry point for authors to show their culture or their heritage and educate their readers,” says Kristine Swartz, a senior editor at Berkley Publishing Group.

Have you read any good food-themed romance novels recently? If so, please share in the comments!