30 Young Adult Books About Food You Need to Read

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

A Pho Love Story is a sweet contemporary that features rival family restaurants, and young love. It follows Linh and Bao as they navigate their parents feud while discovering their own feelings for each other. It’s such an entertaining read that so many will enjoy!

Hungry Hearts edited by Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman

If you’re a fan of young adult anthologies, than you’ll want to read Hungry Hearts. Each short story is interconnected and explores food, culture and love. It features stories from so many wonderful authors like Sandhya Menon, Anna-Marie McLemore, SK Ali, Sangu Mandanna and more!

It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill

A young adult contemporary rom-com that features pizza sounds like the perfect book to me. It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story follows Beck, who gets free pizza for life because she was born in the bathroom of the pizza restaurant. When she starts working at the pizzeria, disaster hits and she might lose the one thing that feels like home.

Love à la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm

If you love food and travel, than this is the book for you. It follows Rosie who goes to Paris to participate in a prestigious cooking school run by a celebrity chef. While there, she meets Henry and sparks fly as they both prove their cooking skills in the kitchen. If you want romance, food and the beauty of Paris, than definitely pick this one up!

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Gelato is the perfect book to transport you to Italy and eat all the gelato you can. It follows Lina, who travels to Italy to meet with her father because it was her dying mother’s wish that she get to know him. While there, she teams up with Ren and discovers hidden bakeries and her mother’s secrets that leads to self-discovery.

Love from Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill

Love from Scratch follows Reese, who gets her dream internship at a local cooking channel. While there, she competes against Benny, another intern for the fall job position. When their cooking video goes viral, their chemistry is undeniable but so is their competition. It’s a fun and charming contemporary rom-com that’s perfect if you love cooking and friendly competition.

North of Happy by Adi Alsaid

North of Happy is a heartwarming contemporary book. It follows Carlos, a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States, who has a strong passion for cooking but his family doesn’t see it as more than a hobby. When his older brother is tragically killed, he runs away to the States to pursue his passion. While there, he works for a celebrity chef and falls for his daughter. North of Happy is an emotional and charming story that so many will love.

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma

If you enjoy food, dancing and drama, than you’ll want to pick up Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance. It follows Radha, who tries to reinvent herself while attending the Princeton Academy of Arts. Jai is the captain of the Bollywood Beats and quickly realizes that Radha is the person he needs to have the best show-stopping senior year.

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

There’s nothing better than ice cream — except maybe a book about ice cream. Stay Sweet is all about a summer ice cream stand that is run by a group of girls. It has ice cream, summer weather, romance and also features feminism.

The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R Shrum

If you’re a fan of cooking shows, than this is the book for you. The Art of French Kissing follows Carter, who wants to be a chef. When she has the opportunity to compete in a competition for a scholarship, she jumps at the chance. The only thing in her way is her unbearable opponent, Reid. It’s like a Chopped episode with romance that will keep you turning the page.

The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding

The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) follows Abby, who lands an internship at her favourite fashion boutique. While there, she falls for another intern, Jordi. She also meets Jax, who needs her help finding the best burger in Los Angeles. It’s an LGBTQ+ contemporary rom-com with yummy food, fashion, friendship and love.

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim

If you’re looking for more of an emotional and heartfelt contemporary, than you’ll want to try The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling. It follows Anna, who helps at her dad’s restaurant and takes care of her siblings. When she meets Rory, she feels like it’s her opportunity to be a normal teen. But, dealing with her mother’s worsening health complicates things.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

I’m a big fan of Sarah Dessen books but The Truth About Forever is one of my personal favourites. It follows Macy, who covers her boyfriend’s summer job at the library while he’s away at brain camp. When she stumbles into a catering job, she meets Wes and her summer takes a turn. It’s a classic Sarah Dessen book that you can’t help but love!

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

I absolutely adored every minute of Tweet Cute. It follows Pepper, a perfectionist who runs the social media account for her family’s restaurant. When another restuarant accuses them of stealing their recipe, a social media war starts. It just so happens that the person on the other end is her nemesis, Jack. I highly recommend picking this one up if you haven’t already — it’s so cute!

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This is a fun and entertaining contemporary rom-com with music, summer weddings and yummy food. When Quinn confesses her crush on Tarek, he leaves for college without a word. Since their families work together, they now have to spend the summer working together. If you’re looking for a perfect summer read, than this is the book for you!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

What Happened to Goodbye is another sweet contemporary romance by Sarah Dessen that also happens to feature food. It follows McLean, who moves around with her dad because of his job as a restaurant consultant. When she finally moves to a place she wants to stay, she meets Dave, who helps her discover who she truly is.

Where There’s a Whisk by Sarah J Schmitt

Where there’s a Whisk is another great young adult book that features a competition. It follows Peyton, who gets a chance to compete on Top Teen Chef. While there, she discovers that there’s much more competition than just creating a good dish.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

With the Fire on High follows Emoni, a high school senior who feels at home when she’s in the kitchen. Her responsibilities as a teen mother and caring for her Abuela, make it difficult to keep up with her passion. It’s a beautiful, heartwarming novel about family, culture and food that so many will love.

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

If you’re looking for a sweet contemporary that features food and travel, than you’ll want to add A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow to your list. It follows Lila, who travels to Winchester, England for three months to relax and reset. While there, she deals with a grumpy cook, the lack of sun, and flavourless food. When she meets Orion, a teashop clerk, her visit takes a turn.

A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen

A Taste for Love is another sweet and charming rom-com about family, find love and delicious food. It follows Liza, who agrees to help her mom at their bakery’s annual junior competition. While there, she realizes that all the contestants are young men that her mother has picked for Liza to date. If you love the bachelorette and food, than you’ll want to pick this one up.

Café con Lychee by Emery Lee

Café con Lychee follows Theo, who wants to get away from his parents’ cafe and their rivals’ son Gabi. When a new fusion cafe threatens both of their family bakeries, the two team up to save them and end up growing closer.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

If you’re looking for a fantasy that will leave you hungry, than you’ll want to pick up Heartless. This Alice in Wonderland prequel reimagines the Queen of Hearts when she was young. It follows Catherine, a talented baker who wants nothing more than to open up her own shop with her best friend. When she meets Jest, the court joker, life takes a turn. With magic, love and food, this is a great book to pick up.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

There’s nothing better than a taco — except maybe a book that features tacos. Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet follows Penelope, who dreams of opening her own pastelería, but her parents have different plans for her. When she meets Xander, the new hire at her dad’s taco restaurant, she starts to question her future. It’s such a wonderful book about family expectations, food, young love and finding yourself.

The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta

The Heartbreak Bakery follows Syd, who uses baking as a way to cope. While working at the Proud Muffin, people start breaking up after they eat Syd’s breakup brownies. When Syd meets Harley, the cute delivery person they work together to fix things, with Syd’s magical baking. It’s the perfect combination of contemporary romance and magical realism that so many will love.

The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer

When Ellie is dumped by her boyfriend on the first day of senior year, nothing can get worse. But then she has to share a home economics class with him and his new girlfriend. While in the class, Ellie makes new friends and unexpectedly turns the worst experience into one of the best.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

What I Like About You follows Halle, who has a young adult book blog that pairs custom cupcakes with the covers of books and her reviews. While she keeps this part of her life a secret, her online persona Kels, becomes friends with Nash. When they happen to meet in real life, she’s not sure how to tell him who she truly is.

Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck

Donuts and Other Proclamations follows Oscar, who runs a food truck with his grandfather. When Oscar is roped into helping Mary Louise, also known as Lou, complete her project of reducing food waste, life takes an unexpected turn.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

If you’re a fan of Disney, especially Cinderella, than you’ll want to pick up Geekerella. It follows Elle, who loves the sci-fi series Starfield. When she sees a cosplay contest for the new Starfield movie, she wants to win — unless her stepsisters get their first. It’s the perfect Cinderella retelling that also features food — what could be better than that?

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

If you’re looking for the perfect LGBTQ+ contemporary with an incredible 1980s food truck, than this book is for you. The Music of What Happens follows Max and Jordan, who happen to be complete opposites. But their chemistry is undeniable and over the course of the summer, their lives change.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

The Way You Make Me Feel follows Clara, who loves to prank others. When one of her jokes goes a little too far, she’s punished by working at her dad’s food truck for the summer. WHile there, she deals with her uptight classmate Rose and a cute boy named Hamlet. It’s a perfect summer read that will leave you hungry!