Shelf To Table
Food Spotlight: Potato Soup
The perfect food pairing for this novel is Potato Soup. Soup is Mack’s favorite food in the novel—she loves every kind, and one of her most memorable dates with Noah is a cozy soup food truck outing. Since potato soup is one of my personal favorites, it felt like the perfect dish to represent this book: warm, comforting, and full of heart, just like Mack and Noah’s story.
Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson follows ER doctor Mackenzie Carter is done with disastrous dates—she’s endured everything from model train fanatics to men a little too fascinated with her tail. Meanwhile, grumpy cardiologist Noah Taylor faces a crisis of his own: his secret alpha identity has been exposed, and his career hangs in the balance unless he can prove he’s stable and mated. When Mackenzie suggests a fake relationship to solve both their problems, it seems like the perfect plan—until their pretend romance starts to feel all too real, and love becomes the wildest risk of all.
Page To Plate
Food Featured In The Book
Medium-rare steak is mentioned as Noah’s favorite meal in the book—a fitting choice for his character. Tender, rich, and perfectly balanced, it reflects his no-nonsense personality and hidden warmth beneath that gruff exterior.
Character Cravings
Noah Taylor is the definition of a grumpy, no-nonsense hospital doctor—an alpha wolf with a fierce protective streak, especially when it comes to Mack. He’s practical, disciplined, and always in control, so the perfect food for him would be something simple, hearty, and protein-packed. An omelet fits him exactly: straightforward, efficient, and customizable, the kind of meal he can throw together before a long shift or after a night spent watching over the people he cares about. It’s strong, satisfying, and solid—just like Noah himself.
Book Club Bite
For a fun book club bite, I think it would be perfect to serve a variety of soups with all the fixings on the side. Everyone could sample different flavors—like potato, tomato basil, or chicken tortilla—and customize their bowls with toppings such as cheese, bacon, croutons, or fresh herbs.
“I’m a five-star kind of gal. “
Your favorite food is soup.”
Lana Ferguson