By Nicole Danielle

Romance & Refreshments: Cocktail Pairings for Two Irresistible Romance Reads

There’s something magical about the way a good romance novel lingers with you — like the final sip of your favorite drink, warm and satisfying. We’re trying something new for Season 2 Episode 16 of the podcast: curating a collection of cocktails for you to choose from so you can have the perfect beverage in hand when you listen to the episode which airs August 5, 2025.

We feel these drinks make the perfect complement to our two book selections, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake and Mixed Signals by B. K. Borison. Whether you’re in the mood for snarky small-town tension or soft-baked cinnamon roll love, these six cocktails are crafted to pair perfectly with two beloved romance novels.

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💋 For the Bold & Bittersweet: Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

A sapphic rom-com about second chances, found family, and falling hard when you least expect it. These cocktails reflect Delilah’s fierce wit, Claire’s layered warmth; and the messy, gorgeous chaos of falling in love in your hometown.

French 75

Effervescent and elegant—like Delilah’s style in liquid form.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz gin
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 3 oz chilled Champagne
• Lemon twist for garnish
  Instructions: Shake the gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into a flute, top with Champagne, and garnish.

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Blackberry Sage Margarita

Tart, earthy, and unexpectedly seductive—just like the chemistry between Delilah and Claire.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 3–4 blackberries
• 2 sage leaves
• 1 oz lime juice
• 3/4 oz agave syrup
  Instructions: Muddle berries and sage, shake with remaining ingredients, strain over ice. Garnish with blackberry and sage sprig.

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Spicy Paloma

Bright and assertive, with just the right amount of heat.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 2 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup
• Jalapeño slices
• Sparkling water to top
  Instructions: Muddle jalapeño, shake with juices and agave. Strain into glass, top with sparkling water, and garnish with jalapeño or grapefruit slice.

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🧡 For the Sweet & Sincere: Mixed Signals

In this cozy small-town romance, a soft-spoken baker and a high school Spanish teacher struggle to get their signals straight — but oh, the payoff is worth every misread text. These drinks channel the warm fuzzies, cinnamon-sugar kisses, and soft vulnerability of B.K. Borison’s world.

Honey Bourbon Sour

Smooth and golden—like Caleb’s patient, honey-drizzled charm.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz honey syrup (1:1 honey + hot water)
  Instructions: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel or cherry.

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Classic Piña Colada

Sweet, creamy, and a little retro—because even cinnamon rolls deserve a vacation cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 1 oz heavy cream (optional for extra richness)
• 6 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
  Instructions: Blend all ingredients until smooth. Serve in a hurricane glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.

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🍁 Cinnamon Maple Old Fashioned

Warming and deep, like Layla’s slow-burn realization that love might be right in front of her.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/4 oz pure maple syrup
• Dash of cinnamon
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  Instructions: Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange twist or cinnamon stick.

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✨ Final Sips

Whether you’re flipping pages in a bubble bath or hosting a romance-themed book club night, these cocktails are a toast to love in all its forms — messy, tender, spicy, and sweet. Pair the right drink with the right book, and you’ve got the kind of night that lingers long after “The End.”

Cheers to love — on the page and in the glass. 🥂📚

Want to pick up a copy of these books? You can purchase Delilah Green Doesn’t Care from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here. And Mixed Signals is available at Amazon here and The Ripped Bodice here. And click here for the podcast episode starting August 5th.