Over 20 Cozy Romance Books That Celebrate Food, Cooking, and Falling in Love

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I love food and I always have. 

I remember seeing a tweet on Twitter (before it became X) where someone said they literally eat just to survive, and they don’t get any joy from food. I just couldn’t relate. 

I get strong cravings all the time. One day, I plan to write a more personal post about my health and how food plays a big role in my life, but for now, let’s just say food has always been a comforting constant for me.

That’s why I absolutely adore romance novels where food is front and center – whether it’s part of the plot or just a big part of the characters’ lives. 

In this post, I’ve listed some of my favorite foodie romance books. 

Some are about baking, others about restaurants, and a few follow chefs and they all serve up something so heartwarming (and mouthwatering).

I’ll probably add more recommendations to this post when I read new ones, even if I don’t have the strength to write a full update in the same format. 

Just know you’ll find some deliciously good books here. 

Sweethand by N.G. Peltier

If you love enemies-to-lovers foodie romance books with a wedding, this one’s for you.

Cherisse is a passionate pastry chef trying to stay out of love drama – especially with anyone in music.

But guess who shows up just in time to ruin her peace? Keiran, the annoying man she’s always clashed with. 

Now, they’re forced to work together for her sister’s wedding. 

The banter is spicy, the chemistry is chef’s kiss, and I loved watching Cherisse grow softer around him, especially while still chasing her dessert dreams. 

This Caribbean baking romance is full of heart, heat, and sweet treats. I adored how their love story simmered slowly like a perfect cake in the oven. 

If you enjoy slow-burn chef romances with family pressure and delicious tension, this is such a satisfying read.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

This YA foodie romance gave me butterflies and cravings for mooncakes.

Dylan wants to win a teen mooncake competition to honor his late mom and help his family’s Chinese takeout shop. 

But then Theo appears – charming, rich, and distracting in the most delicious way. 

When they start fake dating for a wedding, sparks fly and everything gets more complicated. 

I loved how this sweet fake-dating romance unfolded with mouthwatering food scenes and warm family moments. 

Dylan’s love for cooking melted my heart, and watching him find joy, confidence, and real connection was so special. 

If you enjoy queer baking romances with heart and humor, this is a warm hug in book form. 

Also, the mooncake bits? So precious. You’ll want to hug this book and eat dim sum right after.

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg

A small-town baker meets dinosaur bones in this unique and swoony foodie romance.

Alisha dreams of opening her cookie shop in Chicago, but right now she’s making desserts in her family’s restaurant. 

Then Quentin, a shy paleontologist, shows up when fossils are found in her backyard and suddenly, sparks are flying with the guy who’s nothing like the cookie-cutter romances she’s avoided. 

I adored the way their worlds collided: sweet desserts, science, ambition, and that little ache of wanting more. 

It’s a fun, feel-good cooking romance novel that reminds us love sometimes shows up in the middle of chaos or right after a giant bone is dug up.

If you like cinnamon rolls (both the dessert and the men), this gentle, charming story is a treat.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

This beautiful Latinx foodie romance is bursting with flavor, family, and finding where you belong. 

Pen dreams of opening a bakery beside her dad’s taco restaurant, but her parents want something else for her. 

Then Xander shows up, searching for home, family, and belonging. 

I loved how food wasn’t just background – it meant something. The way the kitchen brought them together made me emotional. 

This isn’t just a first love baking romance. It’s also about immigrant identity, big dreams, and the sweet and bitter truths of growing up. 

I felt Pen’s frustration and hope so deeply, and Xander’s heart made me tear up. 

If you love foodie romances that explore love, culture, and dreams, this story wraps it all in cinnamon and warmth. 

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

A pun-filled, queer baking competition romance? Yes, please.

Shireen is a teen baker who lands a spot on a televised competition just as she’s nursing a broken heart. 

Her ex is also competing (awkward), but there’s also Niamh – flirty, fun, and making things extra complicated. 

I loved this so much, because it’s funny, heartfelt, and full of sugary tension. Shireen’s love for donuts and her family’s bakery made me want to open my own.

There’s also some light drama, adorable romance, and those fun moments that make YA food romance books so good. 

If you like The Great British Bake Off and sweet sapphic crushes with a little sprinkle of chaos, this is the book for you. 

I was rooting for Shireen (and her donuts) every step of the way.

Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

Honestly, this quiet, deeply cozy food-themed historical romance feels like sipping warm tea with a friend.

It’s not your usual foodie romance in that it’s more about connection, letters, and how food ties people together. 

Joan and Imogen start as strangers writing letters about recipes, but what blooms is something truly heartwarming. 

I adored how their bond grew – how food, laughter, and life’s highs and lows created this unforgettable friendship. 

There’s love here, too and it’s gentle, surprising, and sweet. 

This book reminded me how food heals and brings people together, even across time and space. 

It’s perfect for readers who love tender friendship stories with a side of love and food writing. 

If you need something soft and soul-nourishing, this one absolutely delivers.

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett

A queer foodie workplace romance with a grumpy chef and a boss who loves control? I knew I’d love this one and I for sure did.

Amy is trying to save her restaurant, and Sophie – a talented but withdrawn chef – might be the secret ingredient she needs. 

Their chemistry sizzles, especially when they have to work together under pressure. 

I loved how messy and real their journey was, and how their romance slowly heated up. 

Sophie’s quiet strength and Amy’s vulnerability made me feel so much. 

This LGBTQ+ cooking love story is equal parts spicy and soft, and I really felt for both women as they navigated business, desire, and identity. 

This is your next favorite read if you enjoy slow-burn kitchen romances that taste like courage and comfort food.

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

Jada, fresh from a reality TV heartbreak, ends up working at a cupcake shop owned by grumpy football player Donovan. 

When the media thinks they’re dating, they decide to go along with it to help the bakery and her public image. 

But soon, pretending gets complicated. I loved how this story mixed sugary desserts with sweet, slow love and personal growth. 

The fake dating trope was done perfectly here and it’s full of laughs, longing, and lovely tension. 

It’s a romantic cupcake novel that’s playful but has heart too. 

If you like your foodie love stories with spice, sweetness, and characters who learn to trust again, this one’s a total treat.

Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy

This plus-size foodie romance novel is pure joy and self-love. 

Savvy’s breakup makes her realize it’s time to rebuild her life – starting with herself. 

I adored how food, home, friendship, and personal growth all mixed together here. 

As Savvy renovates her kitchen, she also renovates her heart. The contractor? Oh yes, he’s handsome, and the tension? Very tasty. 

This story celebrates food, healing, and falling in love when you’re finally putting yourself first. 

Savvy’s love for cooking (and the memories tied to it) felt so special to me. 

If you love body-positive romance with food, found family, and renovation vibes, this is the warmest comfort read. 

You’ll want to hug this book and make something delicious right after. 

A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos

This spicy food psychic romance has one of the most unique foodie love stories I’ve read.

Lumi can taste emotions through food, but she’s been burned by life and is focused on her goals. 

Enter Julien, a hot-shot chef with confidence and charm – maybe too much charm. 

Their kitchen rivalry turns into something deeper when Lumi tastes his cooking and feels his emotions. 

I loved how this magical realism chef romance brought passion, sass, and a little mystery to the table. 

Watching Lumi follow her heart and her dreams, despite all the drama, made me cheer. 

This book blends Dominican flavors, love tension, and food magic in such a fun way. 

It’s like your favorite dish with a surprise and I totally devoured it.

Let me know which of these books you’re planning to give a try and if you’re a full-on foodie romance lover like me, I’d love to hear your favorites too.

The related posts below have even more lovely romance recommendations, and if you’re in the mood to really read, you can check out this tag to see all the romance book lists I’ve written this year. 

There’s something for every kind of romantic heart.