If Your Favorite Thanksgiving Dish Were a Romance Trope

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite cozy holidays. The air smells like cinnamon, my TBR pile is taller than the mashed potato bowl, and “reading with snacks” officially counts as self-care. It’s the perfect time to combine two of my favorite things: comfort food and comfort reads.

So, here’s a little game. If your favorite Thanksgiving dish were a romance trope, which one would it be? Think of this as a buffet for your bookish heart. Grab a fork and let’s find out.

Pumpkin Pie = Friends to Lovers

Sweet, dependable, and always there when you need it. Pumpkin pie doesn’t need to try too hard to be loved. It’s the best friend who’s been in your life forever, the one you suddenly realize you’ve loved all along.

Book vibes: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Mashed Potatoes = Second Chance Romance

Soft, comforting, and somehow even better the second time around. Mashed potatoes feel like coming home to something familiar. A second chance romance has the same energy: a little bit nostalgic, a lot of heart, and absolutely worth another try.

Book vibes: Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino, The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Turkey = Enemies to Lovers

The centerpiece of the table and maybe a little dramatic about it. Sometimes it feels like too much, but by the end you can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it. Just like that person who drives you crazy until you realize you are completely obsessed.

Book vibes: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Pecan Pie = Forbidden Romance

Rich, indulgent, and just a little sinful. You know you shouldn’t, but you are going to anyway. That’s the spirit of a forbidden romance: tempting, addictive, and impossible to resist.

Book vibes: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, Praise by Sara Cate

Green Bean Casserole = Found Family

Warm, familiar, and a little messy. Everyone has their own version, and that’s what makes it special. Found family stories are exactly like that: a little chaotic, full of love, and completely comforting.

Book vibes: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Stuffing = Small Town Romance

Hearty, cozy, and always reliable. Stuffing is the small-town favorite that never fails to comfort you. Think small cafes, nosy neighbors, and the person you didn’t expect to fall for but did anyway.

Book vibes: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Sweet Potato Casserole = Grumpy x Sunshine

Soft and sweet with a gooey topping that feels like a hug. This one has layers: warmth and sweetness mixed with just a bit of chaos. The perfect match for a grumpy x sunshine romance that leaves you smiling.

Book vibes: Book Lovers by Emily Henry, The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Cranberry Sauce = Fake Dating

A little tart, a little sweet, and somehow it just works. Cranberry sauce is the surprise hit of the meal, just like fake dating stories that start as a convenient plan and end with very real feelings.

Book vibes: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

Dinner Rolls = Insta-Love

Soft, warm, and impossible to resist. You don’t have to overthink it, you just dive right in. Sometimes love, like carbs, really can be instant and completely satisfying.

Book vibes: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Hot Apple Cider = Slow Burn

It starts off subtle and builds until you are completely wrapped in it. The longer it sits, the better it gets. That’s the beauty of a slow burn: the wait makes the warmth even sweeter.

Book vibes: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Bonus Round

Apple Pie = Opposites Attract because classic and chaos can still make perfect sense together.

Leftovers = Second Chance Epilogue because sometimes love, and pie, are even better the next day.

So, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish and which trope do you think fits it best? I’m firmly in my mashed potato era; all comfort and no regrets.

If you try this with your own table, tell me what everyone picks. There is nothing I love more than overanalyzing food and fictional people.

Until next time, keep your heart warm, your plate full, and your TBR ready for seconds.

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