Book Club Menu Novels & Stories

The words lodged in Aria’s chest like a pebble in a shoe. She forced her smile wider. “Yeah,” she said. “Happily ever after.” Lena finished her makeup. “Come on,” she said, grabbing her bag. “We’re going to be late.” - - - The café was already humming when they arrived. The evening rush had thinned but not disappeared. Mia sighed when she saw them. “Finally!” she said, subtly pointing. “We’ve got a book club in the corner, they asked for five cinnamon buns and three lattes. One with sugar, two without.”

It has been a whirlwind, how these guys do it I have no idea, they have stamina made of steel. The restaurant is doing really well, Lukov told me that the bookshop-café is always busy, the kids love the reading sessions of an afternoon when they finish school. It was only going to be a morning opening for this part of the restaurant for moms to meet up and enjoy some down time before they had to go back home to start chores and get ready for the kids coming home. But it was doing so well, and a few people asked if we could run an after school coffee and reading club so that’s what happened.

—Aiden got all pinkish at the top of his cheekbones—“helped me come up with something you would like.” “Maybe I should go out with him.” “I would strenuously object.” She unwrapped the book and burst out laughing. It was a folio society edition of Rebecca. The restaurant turned out to be a wood cabin built on a traffic island near London Bridge. Inside, it was clean and unfussy, all grown-up shades of brown, and books everywhere—there was even one on their table, a copy of Eros the Bittersweet. And it turned out the whole deal was about telling stories through food. Which she… yeah. Cheesy or not, she loved it.

The awareness of him beside me, solid and present, made my thoughts scatter. "So," he said, glancing at me. "Book club meetings are on Sunday afternoons. I really hope you will at least check it out once." "I'll be there," I said. "Unless I chicken out." "I'll text you the details," he said. "And if you change your mind, I’ll hold it against you till the day I die."

Then the server came to take our order. Professor Reed barely looked at the menu before ordering the roasted squash tart, black pepper pasta, lemon-butter trout, and blood orange panna cotta. My fingers stopped against my water glass. I had mentioned all of those. Two months ago, when my thesis had nearly driven me insane, I sent my anonymous boyfriend a screenshot of this faculty club’s seasonal menu. If I survive this thesis, I’m coming here for the trout and that blood orange dessert. He replied almost immediately. Noted. When we meet, I’ll take you there.

Like someone had started carving something beautiful and then walked away. “Where are we going?” I asked. He gave nothing. Men like him probably didn’t waste words on their victims. Too busy murdering families and ruining perfectly good evenings. Or maybe he had a speech problem. I squinted my eyes at him as I tried to imagine him having difficulty with words. “I have book club tomorrow. We’re doing Pride and Prejudice. I’m supposed to bring scones. I would really like not to miss it.” Still zero reaction. Not even a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

There was no resemblance but that didn't mean they didn't belong in the same family tree. He motioned to everybody present. "Now that we've all said our names, I welcome you all to this humble bookclub. May you all find what you need." He smiled, showing teeth. "Now that you are all here, let's get this party started. And before I forget," he waved at the cookies, "Feel free to refresh yourselves with the buffet presented herein." "What are those white thingies?" Spark asked pointed to the other tray. "You mean milk?" "I don't eat or drink anything white." The two silver loops on bottom lips glittered as she spoke. "White and death are counterparts."

Julie began as she pulled into a parking spot, “you’re a strong woman. With time, you’ll find your way. Just remember, you’re not alone.” She stepped out of the car, and it immediately enveloped me in the familiar scent of books and the aromatic smell of coffee. Julie led the way into the renovated book club. The space was transformed; it felt inviting and warm. While it kept the charm of the wooden interior, new elegant furnishings made it look vibrant. As I remember, the library section had expanded, with more seating arrangements, and the ambiance was comforting.

James mumbled. “Alright. Let’s order some lunch and then Eliza can tell us the big secret.” The older man pulled out his phone. “I think Chef Mariana had some Philly cheese-steaks on the menu today, James you game?” “You don’t even have to ask,” he replied swiftly. Blakeney touched his thumbs to the screen of his phone. “And you Eliza?” he asked her. She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Can you ask her if she’ll just bring me one of those large chicken Caesar salads?”

“Have we made our selections?” I stared at him then looked back down at the menu. “We need a few more minutes, please, Zander,” Melissa said. “Of course.” He smiled and moved away. The menu, I thought, was a great idea. I picked it up and read, Caviar Service with Heirloom Milled Cornbread Hot Cakes and Accoutrements. “Sarah, please don’t hide behind the menu.” I put it down. “We can’t talk about this.”