Novel and Nosh

A woman nicknamed “Mad Mabel” spends her life trying to disappear, and somehow that’s exactly what makes her impossible to forget. I fell hard for Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel, a funny, tender Australian mystery with a curmudgeonly lead, a shadowy childhood history, and a bold little seven-year-old who refuses to let the truth stay buried. If you like mysteries that don’t take themselves too seriously but still hit you right in the heart, you’re going to understand why I rated this one so high.

Because Novel and Nosh is all about books, food, travel vibes, and the art of living fully, I paired the story with an Australian classic: berry pavlova. I share the quick pavlova origin rabbit hole (Australia claims it, New Zealand argues back, and history gets messy), plus why pavlova shows up as a summer and Christmas barbecue dessert in the Southern Hemisphere. I also point you to the links I used, including a BBC piece and Ina Garten’s berry pavlova recipe source.

Then I get real about the bake itself. I walk through the core steps for a crisp-on-the-outside meringue, whipped cream, and a glossy raspberry sauce, along with the little frustrations nobody warns you about. And yes, I give the unfiltered verdict on whether it tastes worth the time, plus easy ways to use leftover berry sauce (hello, homemade yogurt ideas).

If you’re craving a cozy reading recommendation and a playful kitchen experiment, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend who loves book pairings, and leave a review so more readers and home bakers can find us.

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

We use five dystopian novels to get honest about what “nourishment” really means, from literal food security to the quiet loss of joy, memory, and connection. We leave with practical ways to prepare for disruption without panic and a gentle push to slow down and fully receive the life we already have. 
• social comparison as a thief of gratitude 
• why dystopian novels function as love letters to ordinary life 
• food scarcity and controlled abundance as a mirror for modern living 
• Wild Dark Shore and the seed bank question of trust and survival 
• The Light Pirate and climate disaster through a Florida lens 
• The Wolves of Winter and protecting home in a broken world 
• Station Eleven and the decision to protect art and meaning 
• The Giver and the danger of joyless sameness 
• buying a one-week emergency food kit for hurricane readiness 
• simple pantry strategies like rotating BOGO freezer items 
• microgreens and seed quilts as quick, fresh nourishment 
head over to novelinosh.com, join the community and share with us what you're doing to kind of live a more nourishing life this week. 

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

A perfect-looking marriage can be the most unsettling kind of story, especially when the cracks don’t show until you’re already hooked. We’re leaning into that delicious, can’t-put-it-down energy with a quick book and food pairing built for summer reading and late-night page turns. 

First, we share a real-life snapshot of the season we’re in: a home overflowing with dorm furniture, one kid finishing a chapter before moving into full-time apartment life, another heading off to college, and a hard-won decision to homeschool again to protect what matters most right now: sleep and health. It’s a reminder that reading isn’t separate from life. The books we choose often match our pace, our stress, and what we’re trying to savor before everything changes. 

Then we get into the pick: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, a sub-300-page psychological thriller that earns the “popcorn thriller” title for a reason. We talk about why going in blind makes thrillers hit harder, how the past-and-present structure builds tension, and what makes this one so bingeable when you’re in a reading slump and need momentum fast. 

To complete the vibe, we pair it with Trader Joe’s Hot Honey Popcorn, a buttery, movie-theater-style snack with a sweet kick that mirrors the story’s surface charm and hidden heat. Listen, share your thoughts with us, and if you enjoyed the pairing, subscribe, leave a review, and send this to a friend who always needs a new summer thriller.

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

We share five witchy books that match that crisp fall feeling, from cozy honeyed magic to dark fairy tale tension and full-on Oxford library suspense. We also swap comfort details and end with a pumpkin spice latte bread idea to turn your reading night into a whole vibe.
• The Honey Witch and a cozy curse-driven love story
• Wayward across three timelines and a hidden woodland cottage
• Sorceress Comes to Call as a Goose Girl retelling with dark edges
• The Crimson Moth duology for fast paced romance and revolution
• A Discovery of Witches for history, magic, and vampire-driven suspense
• Pumpkin spice latte bread with a coffee cream cheese glaze pairing
I will put a link for my blog post where I’ll post the recipe that I used.
If you’ve read it and you loved it, let me know.

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

We talk with Sasha Preston about The Sweetest Getaway and why women-led heist fiction can be a playful push toward real-life adventure. Along the way, we connect food, friendship, and creativity as practical ways to bring more novelty and joy into everyday life. 

• the premise of The Sweetest Getaway and its escalating heists 
• Jennifer as a rule follower who learns to take risks 
• Nari’s entrepreneurial chaos and the thrill of going bold 
• why food becomes a natural connector for culture and relationships 
• how short-story prompts reignite a “dormant” creative life 
• discovery drafting versus outlining for a series 
• beta readers and editors as the secret weapon behind stronger storytelling 
• novelty as a tool to slow time and make life feel bigger 
• affordable, sustainable ways to create adventure with friends 
• Sasha’s recent favorite read recommendation and her go-to smoothie 

If you would like to read the sweetest getaway, the first chapter for free, head to my website, sashapreston.com slash newsletter. Just sign up for the newsletter, you'll get the first chapter, and then you'll get fun little goodies from me as well from the newsletter.

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

October doesn’t need to be all errands and endless to-do lists. We’re leaning back into that old spooky season feeling, the one that shows up with the first chill in the air, longer shadows, and the quiet thrill of mystery you can’t quite explain. If you’ve been missing the sense of wonder you had as a kid, we’re here to help you bring it back in a cozy, grown-up way. 

We share a curated Halloween reading list built for maximum atmosphere: Bird Box by Josh Malerman for breathless, sensory horror; Our House by Louise Candlish for domestic suspense that feels uncomfortably real; and The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark for a psychological thriller packed with family secrets, shifting truth, and the eerie fog of memory. We also add two more page-turners to keep your fall TBR stack strong, including a tense psychological mystery and Scythe by Neal Shusterman, a timely dystopian thriller that turns big ethical questions into an unputdownable story. If you love thrillers, spooky books, and fall reading recommendations, this one is for you. 

Then we take the vibe off the page and into real life with “spooky season homework.” Pick one way to live October on purpose: a moonlit corn maze, a ghost tour, a haunted walk, or a simple night at home with candlelight, a warm drink, and a spooky but cozy movie. We also talk about choosing experiences that support local farms, small tours, and community organizations when you can. 

Subscribe for more cozy seasonal ideas, share this with a friend who needs an October reset, and leave a review with your favorite spooky read so we can add it to our list.

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

We hold space for how heavy the world can feel while still choosing small, practical ways to come back to ourselves. We talk about creating cozy corners that slow our pace, reduce mental noise, and make it easier to reconnect with friends, neighbors, and community. 

• grounding into seasonal living through small daily rituals 
• creating a cozy corner as a cue for rest and mindfulness 
• stepping back from constant input and screen-driven overwhelm 
• welcoming fall without letting consumerism take over 
• using warm lighting, candles, blankets, and layered texture for comfort 
• inviting real conversation to counter isolation and divisiveness 
• trying a simple 10-minute practice to reset your day 

This week I'm inviting you to create your own cozy fall nook. 

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

We share five cozy, bread loving book recommendations that double as an escape hatch into small towns, second chances, and bakeries that feel like home. Then we walk through our lazy sourdough method so you can bake a delicious loaf without getting stuck on perfection. 
• five bakery centered reads that spark instant bread cravings 
• small town reinvention stories with quirky characters and comfort vibes 
• magical realism and mystery elements that keep the food fiction fun 
• a beginner friendly sourdough mindset that skips the anxiety 
• how we handle sourdough starter from the fridge and revive it fast 
• our simple ingredient weights, overnight rise, and Dutch oven bake times 
Make sure to join the community, head over to novelandnosh.com for more information, show notes and links, and um enjoy your day. 

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more 

Head to www.novelandnosh.com to learn more