Hobbies are what make us human. Their entire purpose is to bring us joy outside of life’s responsibilities. My favorite books are ones with a main character who is truly passionate about their hobby because that love seeps into the entire story and makes the characters feel real instead of just words on paper.
Outside of work (and reading, of course), one of my favorite hobbies is cooking, especially for my loved ones. Acts of service are my love language, so there’s not much I love more than making a delicious meal and enjoying it with the people I care about. Because of that, I tend to identify with characters who are chefs or home cooks—characters who understand that cooking can be about so much more than putting food on the table. So, for the first installment of my hobby series, I’m rounding up fiction books about cooking, from professional chefs to enthusiastic home cooks who show their love through food.
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The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. The Seven Year Slip is a magical-realism romance where Clementine, our main character, temporarily moves into her late aunt’s apartment—only once she sets foot inside, she’s seven years in the past. In this case, the love interest is a professional chef, not a hobby cook. Still, you can feel his passion for food and cooking radiating off the pages, even though we never get his point of view.
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand. Hollis, a famous food blogger, suddenly loses her husband in a car crash. To help her through the grieving process, she invites four women from different phases of her life to spend the ~ perfect ~ weekend at her Nantucket home. As someone who adores hosting, I loved how much thought Hollis puts into creating an experience for the people she cares about, especially through food. Cooking and entertaining are woven throughout the weekend, making this one perfect for anyone who considers planning the menu half the fun of having people over.
Bonus: This is now a TV series on Peacock starring my girl Jennifer Garner!
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. An ER doctor falls for a small-town mayor and carpenter ten years younger than her. How on earth can they make it work? The love interest in this book isn’t a professional chef by any means, but he, like me, loves to cook for the people he cares about. There’s just something about feeding and nourishing your loved ones that can fill up your cup to the tippy-top.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Okay, this one is a little different from the rest, but I couldn’t leave it out. Elizabeth, a brilliant chemist, has to become the star of a cooking show as a single mother whose scientific contributions are constantly being overlooked. She doesn’t cook for the love of food: she cooks for the love of science (and to change societal norms, of course). Cooking might not be her passion in the traditional sense, but the kitchen becomes the place where she gets to put her intelligence, curiosity, and determination on full display—which earns it a spot on this list in my book.
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev. I haven’t gotten around to reading these yet, so I can’t personally vouch for them, but they fit the bill so perfectly that I couldn’t leave them out! Both books center around chefs—in the first, it’s the love interest; in the second, it’s the main character—and use food and cooking as an important part of their respective romances. They’re both modern retellings inspired by Jane Austen novels, so if you like your foodie fiction with a side of romance and Austen, these are probably worth adding to your TBR.
Maybe it’s the acts-of-service girl in me, but I’ll always have a soft spot for a character who says “I love you” by putting a plate of food in front of someone. Whether they’re running a professional kitchen, hosting their friends for the weekend, or simply cooking dinner for someone they care about, these characters understand that food can be its own kind of love language.
And, really, what better hobby is there than one you can share with everyone around you?
What’s your favorite fiction book about cooking? Let me know in the comments—I’m always looking for an excuse to add another book to my TBR.
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