Shelf To Table
Food Spotlight: Chocolate Milkshake
The perfect food pairing for this novel is a chocolate milkshake. They instantly evoke the retro diner that Charlie and Josh stopped at during their tense road trip. The sweetness and comfort of a milkshake also stand in stark contrast to the dark, dangerous situation Charlie finds herself in, highlighting the unsettling blend of innocence and menace running through the story.
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
Survive the Night by Riley Sager is a tense cat-and-mouse thriller set almost entirely in a car, where two strangers on a late-night road trip must decide if one of them is a killer.
Page To Plate
Food Featured In The Book
Salisbury steak is one of the foods mentioned in the novel when the two main characters stop at a diner during their thrilling road trip. It’s a classic comfort meal that perfectly captures the gritty, small-town diner atmosphere.
Character Cravings
A pork roll feels like the perfect dish to represent the main character’s tense journey into the unknown—especially with a potential serial killer in the car. It’s simple, salty, and unfussy, the kind of quick, comforting bite someone might grab before realizing their life is about to spiral into danger. That small, ordinary meal stands in stark contrast to the fear and uncertainty ahead, emphasizing how suddenly normalcy can shatter when you’re thrust into a nightmare.
Book Club Bite
Road trip snacks like pretzels, chips, candy, and sodas are the perfect companions for this novel—they’re easy, grab-and-go treats that capture the spirit of an adventurous journey.
“Never drive more than five miles over the speed limit, cops won’t bother you for that… but sometimes your only choice is to drive like hell.” -Riley Sager