Novel and Nosh (private feed for [email protected])

Send us Fan Mail An 80-year-old woman trying to disappear quietly in her neighborhood sounds calm until you learn why everyone once called her Mad Mabel. I’m sharing my latest book and food pairing, and it starts with a real moment: when I try to branch out creatively, I sometimes spiral into “is this worthy?” thinking. So I’m leaning into what feels grounded and fun right now, a good story and something tasty to go with it. Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is a laugh-out-loud, big-hearted myster...

Send us Fan Mail A pool day book has one job: keep you hooked even when real life interrupts. I'm sharing seven poolside reads that are easy to drop and pick back up without losing the thread, with the kind of pacing that makes you say, “Just one more chapter,” before you jump in the water. If you’re building a summer reading list and want titles that feel fun, propulsive, and clear, this one is for you. I start by defining what actually makes a great poolside read: fewer characters to track...

Send us Fan Mail We fall hard for The Song Bird Of The Sorrows by Brady Otto, a romantic fantasy that mixes bird-centered world building with spies, assassins, and brutal bridal trials. We turn that mood into a bookish food pairing with a flourless chocolate cake and a toasted meringue topping, plus the baking lesson we learned the hard way. • picking up a surprise read from an independent bookstore and judging a cover with zero regret • quick spoiler-light setup of Princess Ayea,...

Send us Fan Mail A perfect-looking life is rarely as simple as it seems and sometimes the best way to process that truth is with a page-turner and a great snack. I’m savoring a summer that feels like it’s moving too fast, with big family transitions on the horizon and a house that looks like a dorm room exploded into it. Between kids growing up, heading to college, and shifting routines at home, I’m trying to stay present in this chapter and hold onto the moments that won’t come back. ...

Send us Fan Mail I try cooking through one cookbook for a full month and realize the idea sounds better than it feels once the flavors start to repeat. I review the Honeysuckle Cookbook by Dzung Lewis with the recipes that shine, the ones that miss for me, and the techniques I’m stealing for weeknight cooking. • Why a monthlong cookbook challenge sounds fun but gets old fast • What the Honeysuckle Cookbook is like and how it’s organized • Matcha recipes that confirm I don’t ...