There’s nothing quite like setting up the lawn chairs on a fresh spring day with a good book and something to sip on after being cooped up all winter. Whether you’re looking to get philosophical in solitude or rip through the pages of a romantic drama, we’ve got something for you. Read on for some curated pairings of spring cocktails and mocktails with equally refreshing reads.
Spring Cocktails
Bramble — Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Bubbly and perhaps surprising for those out there who aren’t gin lovers, the bramble has a perfect balance between sweetness and tartness, making it the perfect companion as you dive into the complex lives of Cleo, Frank, and their closest friends and family. Cleo, a 24-year-old painter from Great Britain, is months away from her student visa expiring and still yearns to find where she fits in New York City.
When Frank comes along offering her the chance to get her Green Card, have her needs provided for, and explore her art, the pair impulsively decide to get married, yet they never expect the ways that their relationship affects the people closest to them.
Rose Petal Martini — Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
With delicate floral aromas and a boldness to match the storyline, the rose petal martini pairs excellently with the stories of Elio and Oliver as they explore their relationship over one intense summer. Rich with fresh-blossoming romance and intimacy that catches both the characters — and perhaps the reader — by surprise, Call Me By Your Name is a heart-wrenching, honest, and vibrant tale of unexpected love set in the scenic Italian Riviera.
Indifference battles with desire as fear fights obsession as the Elio and Oliver navigate their complex, short-lived attraction. Though their time together is a mere six weeks, their relationship will shape their hearts for the rest of their lives.
Lemon Gimlet — The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Though “Gimlet” would make a lovely hobbit name, that’s not the only reason this book is a great match for the tangy drink that reminds us of sunny spring afternoons. Join the burglar — though you can hardly call him one when he first embarks on the journey — Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, and their troop of 13 dwarves as they journey to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim the dwarf kingdom of their fathers, now inhabited by the formidable dragon Smaug.
Along the journey they will face great peril and must sharpen their wits if they are to survive, let alone succeed, in their quest. The timid and meek Bilbo becomes a friend of the elves, escapes the clutches of goblins and trolls, raises his sword against giant spiders, and soars through the skies in the claws of giant eagles on his journey. Needless to say, when he returns to the shire after the troop accidentally starts the legendary Battle of Five Armies, his Shire-dwelling neighbors back in Hobbiton find him quite peculiar indeed.
Strawberry Margarita — Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Tart and nuanced like the relationship between a renowned thief and the ruler of an empire, the strawberry margarita is as complex and rich as the story we’ve picked to accompany it. Kazi has elevated herself in society through her quick hands and silent feet, from a formidable thief in the streets of Venda to an even more powerful Rhatan, or right hand-woman of the Queen of Venda. She, along with her fellow Ratan, are sent to investigate the goings-on of the Ballenger empire, a thriving yet closely guarded trade city run by the Ballenger family.
The purpose of their investigation: to look into transgressions against new settlements in Venda and find out the “who” and the “why” behind them. Along the way, Kazi finds herself tethered to the recently-appointed head of the empire, Jase Ballenger. As the two fight for their own regions, they have an even more difficult battle to wage — one against their own hearts.
Spring Mocktails
Mint Rhubarb Lemonade — Normal People by Sally Rooney
The unique pairing of mint, rhubarb, and lemon is as unexpected as it is delicious — much like the romance between Connell and Marianne in this story. The two could not be more different. He’s the jock socialite while she’s antisocial and lonesome. But when the pair run into each other a year later at Dublin College, the roles are completely reversed.
Connell is suddenly uncertain in himself in a new environment where he is not enmeshed in his prior social fame, and Marianne finds herself an adept player in a new social world. As they grow through college, the pair flit this way and that, attempting to avoid each other, but still finding themselves drawn together as if by some unstoppable force. Attraction, perhaps? When their lives are pushed to opposite extremes, the pair is forced to reconnect with their feelings, and each must decide how far they’re willing to go for the other.
Cucumber Spritz — The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Refreshing, crisp, and earthy, a bubbling cucumber spritz pairs perfectly with the touching and beautifully honest story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This worldwide classic has drawn on the hearts of readers young and old since its publication. When a pilot finds himself stranded in a desert and accompanied by an unexpected young fellow who asks him strange questions and has even stranger stories, he is forced to reconcile with life’s absurdities.
The boy tells the pilot of his travels between planets, of his life on an asteroid, and his love for a rose. While visiting Earth, he learns of love and friendship, and is surprisingly critical of and confounded by the pilot’s obsession with the practical. A touching depiction of childhood innocence and a refreshing — yet perhaps a jarring reminder of the loss of whimsy and imagination that many of us experience as adults — The Little Prince is certainly a must-read.
Ginger Mint Kombucha — Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Tangy, zesty, and herbal, a ginger mint kombucha will make an excellent companion as you traverse the US on the seat of a motorcycle. In a grounded and precise exploration of the human emotional and intellectual psyche, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is as textural as it is adventurous. Drawing on deep introspection through the lens of a man who journeys across the country with his young son and their companions, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an investigation into the way we live — and what we love.
Whether you prefer a light, crisp fizz or a tart and tangy buzz, one of these pairings is sure to spruce up any spring afternoon!
Looking for more book and drink pairings? Check out this article to start getting excited for summer sipping!
Click here to browse the Bookstr team’s favorite reads!
