For Readers: Blog

"Tale"-gate season

Load up the coolers, the mini grills, and the trunks with all sorts of goodies: it’s tailgate season. Sure, football is here too. But let’s be real—the food and drinks are where it’s at! Supplement your treats with these tasty tales.

Head on out to the western suburbs and grab a burger with the Sullivans in Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close. JP Sullivan’s is a restaurant in Oak Park known for its legendary burgers whipped up by the Sullivan family patriarch, Bud. When Bud unexpectedly passes, various members of the Sullivan clan find their lives tilting on their sides. Described as a comedy of manners, the Sullivans get into all sorts of misadventures while trying to sort out the messes of their lives. But one thing remains true: JP Sullivan’s is always there. Fans of Kevin Wilson and Emma Straub will eat this up. [e-book | print]

Check out J. Ryan Stradal’s latest Midwestern culinary adventure: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club. When Mariel’s grandmother leaves the family restaurant to her instead of her mother, Florence, tensions between the duo mount. Further adding to the stress is the potential expansion of Mariel’s husband Ned’s chain of restaurants. However, when Mariel and Ned suffer a loss, the supper club becomes their oasis. As much a generational saga as it is a charming window into small town life, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is sure to tick all the boxes. [e-book | print | audiobook | large type]

Simmer Down by Sarah Smith. It’s dog-eat-dog in the world of Maui food trucks—or at least that’s what Nikki is quickly learning. She’s got a great spot near the beach, she and her mom and are wowing the crowds with their Filipino foods…but now she’s got a rival. A new food truck, run by Callum, has shown up and is disrupting the flow. He wants the beach spot and he’s taking customers. Nikki’s just about had it, so she challenges him to a bet at the Maui Food Festival. Winner takes all. But, of course, what’s rivalry without a little romance? If you adore the enemies to lovers trope and lots of yummy food descriptions, this one’s for you! [print]

Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, and…Amanda Moore and Frank Pogociello. Family feuds and star-crossed lovers are at the root of KJ Dell’Antonia’s The Chicken Sisters. The Moore and Pogociello families have long been enemies with a common goal to have the best fried chicken in the state of Kansas. When Amanda marries Frank, she’s banned from her family’s restaurant. Spur of the moment, Amanda decides to apply for a reality show competition that focuses on competing restaurants. When the Moores and Pogociellos are picked for the show, it’s a whirlwind of sister—and chicken—rivalry for the ages. [e-book | print | large type]

Follow the rise and fall of a fictional soda empire in American Pop by Snowden Wright. Houghton Forster always had big dreams, from the woman of his dreams to the dawn of a new era of beverages. Starting his career in his father’s drugstore, he works his way up to a business tycoon after he invents Panola Cola and founds a company. As a result, the Forster family is launched into fame and wealth. However, there’s always a dark side to the glitz and glamor. The pressure and stress of the family’s legacy falls heavily on the Forster children, ultimately leading to the downfall of the family. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Mystery. Betrayal. Scandal. The most expensive bourbon in the world. Cooper McQueen is the richest man in Kentucky, and he has just spent the night with a beautiful stranger—a stranger who also happens to be a thief. Although, she claims she’s the rightful owner of the million dollar bottle of bourbon she lifted from Cooper’s home. The stranger, Paris, weaves a shocking tale of the history of the distillery that produced the bourbon. As more details come to light about the Red Thread distillery, will Paris be able to convince Cooper that the bottle belongs to her? If you want a soap opera you can read, check out The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz. [print]

⏤Emily