Italian Food Fiction: Books Around Italy for Food Lovers

Along with reading and travel, food is another of my great loves. So what could be better than combining literature with one of the culinary epicentres of the world? This delicious list of Italian food fiction is sure to leave you with some wanderlust… and potentially an appetite too!

About Italian Food Fiction

These Italian food fiction titles are listed in order of publication, and the books represent a wide range of genres and styles. Some novels are purely fictional, while others form memoirs and include recipes too. Some are focused on specific gourmet regions such as Tuscany, Sicily and Naples; while others expand beyond the borders of Italy to also incorporate cities such as New York and Paris in their tales. I hope you’ll find some novels to pair with your next trip to Italy, or a wee glass of wine at home. 🍷

This list of Italian food fiction is a constant work in progress, so please feel free to make any additional recommendations for other readers in the comments below. I love receiving your suggestions and sharing them with our reading community!

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Italian Food Fiction

1996: Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (Tuscany)
1996: Italy for the Gourmet Traveler by Fred Plotkin
1996: Midnight in Sicily by Peter Robb (Sicily)
1999: Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes (Tuscany)
2000: La Cucina by Lily Prior (Sicily)
2002: Nectar: A Novel of Temptation by Lily Prior
2004: The Food of Love by Anthony Capella (Rome)
2004: Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson (Tuscany)
2004: A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure by Marlena de Blasi (Tuscany)
2006: The Wedding Officer: A Novel of Culinary Seduction by Anthony Capella (Naples)
2006: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (also Indonesia and India)
2007: Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy by Michael Tucker
2007: The Book of Unholy Mischief (aka The Chef’s Apprentice) by Elle Newmark (Venice)
2010: Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson (New York and Italy)
2010: Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life by Frances Mayes (Tuscany)
2010: Keeping the Feast: One Couple’s Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy by Paula Butturini
2011: Exciting Food for Southern Types by Pellegrino Artusi
2013: Appetite by Philip Kazan (Florence)
2013: Margherita’s Notebook by Elisabetta Flumeri and Gabriella Giacometti (Roccafitta)
2013: An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey (England, Italy)
2016: The Winemakers: A Novel of Wine and Secrets by Jan Moran (Napa, Italy, Paris)
2017: Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Crystal King (Rome)
2019: The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King (Venice, Rome)

What do you think of these Italian food fiction books?

Do you know some amazing books that I’ve missed? What’s your favorite foodie destination in Italy? Have any restaurant recommendations? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this Italian food fiction in the comments below!

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