The Ultimate Book & Beverage Pairing Guide for Avoiding Your Family This Holiday
By Gracie Thomas
When the family small talk inevitably turns into “So, seeing anyone these days?”, it’s time to retreat and hide, preferably with a drink in one hand and a book in the other. This guide pairs the perfect escape reads with equally comforting drinks, curated for introverts, book worms, and anyone who’s mastered the art of "taking a little breather”. From slow-burn romances to sharp thrillers, we’ve matched each genre with a drink that fits your ideal mood.
Romance + Mulled Wine
There’s no better cure for awkward family conversations than a fictional love story that actually delivers. Book Pick: Book Lovers by Emily Henry – because who doesn’t want to root for a prickly editor finding love in a small town while hiding from your passive-aggressive grandmother in your childhood bedroom? Drink Pairing: A warm, spiced mulled wine with a cinnamon stick to stir your feelings (and your alibi for why you can’t possibly rejoin game night). Vibe: Flushed cheeks, knitted blankets, and plausible deniability.
Thriller + Cold Brew (Spiked, if Necessary)
For when the tension of family dinner isn’t quite enough. Book Pick: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – dark, twisty, and perfect for channeling all that pent-up passive aggression.Drink Pairing: Cold brew coffee over ice and maybe a splash of bourbon if you’re feeling bold. It’ll keep you alert for every twist – both in the plot and at the dinner table. Vibe: Sharp, caffeinated, and slightly dangerous.
Cozy Fantasy + Lavender Tea
A gentle escape to a world where magic solves the drama and no one argues about politics over pie.
Book Pick: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – a cinnamon roll fantasy about starting fresh (literally, with coffee and baked goods). Drink Pairing: Lavender chamomile tea with honey. It tastes like a soft blanket and smells like “I’m not available right now.” Vibe: Peaceful, pastel, pleasantly anti-social.
Dark Academia + Red Wine
You can’t pick your family, but you can pick a book about brilliant people making terrible decisions.
Book Pick: The Secret History by Donna Tartt – because nothing says “holiday spirit” like moral decay in a New England college. Drink Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon for rereading key passages and contemplating your own mysterious air.
Vibe: Intellectual escapism meets dramatic lighting.
Nature Memoir + Peppermint Hot Chocolate
For when you wish your relatives would just go for a long walk in the woods – and maybe stay there.
Book Pick: The Thursday Club by Richard Osman Drink Pairing: Peppermint hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows (and a hint of peppermint schnapps, if you need extra serenity).
Vibe: Mindful, restorative, and wrapped in fleece.
This holiday season, self-care looks a little like sipping something warm, flipping pages, and ignoring the chaos on the other side of the door. Whether your escape is romantic, suspenseful, or enchantingly soft, remember: it’s not antisocial, it’s survival.