If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably imagined your favorite fictional characters sitting down at a cozy little café, sipping on something warm (or strong!), and ordering their go-to comfort food. Since my characters live rent-free in my head—and honestly, they’re always chattering—I thought it would be fun to share what I imagine they’d order if they popped into a charming bookish café.
So grab your favorite drink, settle into your reading nook, and join me at the fictional—but—oh—so—real in my heart—
Books, Bread & Bourbon Café…
Ivy Culpepper from The Bread Shop Mysteries 🥖
Order: A thick slice of warm sourdough with rosemary and sea salt, slathered in honey butter (locally sourced, of course), paired with a dark roast coffee—no sugar, just a splash of cream.
Vibe: Ivy loves comfort, tradition, and flavor. Her order is simple but made with love, just like her. And yes, she’d bring Olaya a loaf of fresh bread as a thank-you.
Pippin Lane Hawthorne from The Book Magic Mysteries 🔮
Order: A lavender London fog with a vanilla scone, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and a touch of lemon zest.
Vibe: Pippin is thoughtful and a bit mysterious, always with a book in her bag (once she embraces the bibliomancer thing) and questions in her eyes. Her order has a hint of magic—like her family’s legacy.
Harlow Cassidy from The Magical Dressmaking Mysteries 🪡
Order: A sweet peach iced tea and a slice of bourbon pecan pie.
Vibe: Southern charm meets creative flair. Harlow’s order is a tribute to her roots—and yes, there’s just enough bourbon 🥃 in the pie to count.
Lola Cruz from The Lola Cruz Mysteries 🔎
Order: Café con leche and a spicy breakfast burrito with jalapeños and extra salsa on the side.
Vibe: Bold, confident, and full of energy. Lola’s order has bite—just like her. She’s fueling up before heading off to crack a case (and probably break a few rules doing it).
Bonus Guest: Dobby, Pippin, and Nacho (my real-life writing companions!) 🐾
Order: A trio of pupcakes—peanut butter, banana, and bacon—served with fresh water in a silver bowl. They’d each bark for a different flavor. (Nacho would also bark at the door. Just in case.)
Your Turn!
Which character would you want to share a table with at the Books, Bread & Bourbon Café?
What would you order? Drop your dream café order in the comments—I’d love to know!
And if you’re curious, I’d order a brown sugar oat milk latte (and when it’s fall, definitely a pumpkin spice latte☕️) and a big hunk of gluten-free sourdough slathered in butter and sea salt. Because some cravings never go away. 😉
Until next time,
Melissa
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