Shelf To Table
Food Spotlight: Honey Taffy
The perfect food pairing for this novel is honey taffy. A staple treat in the charming fictional town of Eloraton is the honey taffy. It’s the perfect sweet for such a whimsical place—cute, nostalgic, and as soft and sweet as the town’s romance-filled vibe. After reading how much Elsy enjoyed indulging in it, I couldn’t resist hunting down a recipe to try for myself. I ended up finding the perfect one on MommyPotamus blog by Heather Dessinger, and it captures that same cozy, small-town charm.
A Novel Love Story by Ashely Poston
A Novel Love Story by Ashely Poston follows Elsy, a lifelong romantic who finds herself stranded in a mysterious small town that seems ripped from the pages of her favorite novels. As she navigates this bookish world, she’s drawn into a story of her own—one filled with love, second chances, and the magic of happily-ever-afters.
Page To Plate
Food Featured In The Book
A food mentioned in the novel is Frank’s Hotties, a fiery hot sauce famously used at the local bar to disguise the taste of their slightly burnt burgers—adding a kick of flavor and plenty of hometown charm.
Character Cravings
Eileen “Elsy” Merriweather is still nursing a bruised heart when she suddenly finds herself swept into the pages of her favorite book world. A dish as warm and enchanting as her new setting—and as hopeful as her healing heart—would suit her perfectly. The local favorite, the Honey Surprise, is just that kind of comfort: a dreamy breakfast plate of fluffy pancakes and golden French toast dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, drizzled with warm honeyed syrup, and topped with star-shaped strawberries. It’s whimsical and bright, capturing Elsy’s childlike wonder and the spark of excitement she feels as she steps into a world where anything is possible.
Book Club Bite
Favorite treats mentioned in your favorite books can be brought to your next book club to create an immersive and delicious experience. Recreating the foods your favorite characters enjoy—whether it’s a cozy baked good, a decadent dessert, or a savory comfort dish—adds a personal touch to the discussion and helps bring the story to life. It’s a fun way to feel like you’re living in your favorite book world, sharing the same meals and moments as the characters themselves.
“Love was a bunch of small things that added up to bigger things. Love was feeling valued. And accepted. Just the way you were. It was never feeling too much, or not enough, even though often you were both, because Love loved you anyway. Not in spite of it, but because of it.” -Ashley Poston