Fall in love with new reads and recipes this autumn
There’s nothing like spending a rainy fall day wrapped up in a good book—especially a new book with that fresh paper smell. We’ve rounded up 13 that ought to occupy you well into the autumn for their cheese-related content. From cookbooks with vivid photographs of cheese-laden dishes to stories of life paths altered by Comté and Camembert, you’re sure to find a page turner among these options.
1. Feasts on the Farm: Over 60 Seasonal Recipes and Stories of Sustainable Farming from Tomales Farmstead Creamery by Tamara Jo Hicks and Jessica Lynn Macleod (Chronicle Books, 2025, $29.95)
Feasts on the Farm sheds light on what it’s like to run a sustainable farmstead creamery and how to eat with the seasons. Photos of baby goats and green windswept fields capture the idyllic vibe of the farm while recipes make creative and liberal use of Tomales Farmstead Creamery’s assortment of award-winning cheeses. Overall, it’s a feast for the eyes full of easily replicable recipes for any time of year—we can’t wait to make the Smoky Baked Eggs with Chickpeas and Goat Cheese next time a craving of breakfast for dinner strikes. Available now.
2. I’ll Have What Cheese Having by Anne-Marie Pietersma (2025, $50)
Anne-Marie Pietersma is a 2025 culture Hot Lister with a love for romantic comedies, leading her to pen I’ll Have What Cheese Having. Though the book was released earlier this year, we’re including it on this list because it definitely has a fall vibe; after all, its title is inspired by When Harry Met Sally, which Salon called the “perfect fall movie.” Inside the book, you’ll find 22 cheese pairings for 22 iconic Hollywood films. Available now.
3. Goats in America: A Cultural History by Tami Parr (OSU Press, 2025, $24.95)
If you’ve ever overlooked goat cheese, think again. Blending history and cultural context, Tami Parr shares how goats came to arrive in North America and their roles in indigenous and nonindigenous communities over time. She also takes a look at the societal value of goats today as social media stars. An insightful read from Oregon State University Press. Available now.
4. Cheese Magic: Seasonal Recipes, Plates, and Pairings by Erika Kubick (Running Press Adult, 2025, $22.40)
Culture alum Erika Kubick follows up Cheese Sex Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed with Cheese Magic—a practical guide and cookbook with seasonality at the center. As with her last release, there’s a witchy vibe; a recipe for Lemon Poppyseed Goat Cheese Scones is placed alongside a description of Ostara, the pagan goddess of the dawn. A perfect read for this upcoming Halloween/Samhain. Available now.
5. The Vegan Creamery: Plant-Based Cheese, Milk, Ice Cream, and More by Miyoko Schinner (Ten Speed Press, 2025, $26.99)
Miyoko Schinner is a leader in the vegan movement, especially when it comes to plant-based cheese substitutes. What makes The Vegan Creamery unique, however, is its commitment to recipes that mimic authentic cheesemaking techniques like culturing and fermentation. Learn to make Schinner’s French-Style Soft Truffle Cheese for boards, a tangy goat cheese-inspired spread with a plant milk base, and even her version of chocolate chip cookie ice cream for dessert. Available now.
6. Parm to Table: Italian American and American Italian Recipes from Ponza to the Bronx by Christian Petroni with Lesley Porcelli, foreword by Martha Stewart (Harvest, 2025, $28)
We’d be remiss to not include a book endorsed by Martha Stewart. Bronx-born chef Christian Petroni came to prominence after his appearances on the Food Network and opening multiple locations of his Italian restaurant, Fortina. His new book celebrates Italian cooking, with a special focus on the Italian-American and Neapolitan fare of his childhood. Expect a smattering of classics, including eggplant parmigiana, mozzarella sticks, and more. Available Sept. 23, 2025.
7. Chesnok: Recipes from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia by Polina Chesnakova (Hardie Grant, 2025, $34.50)
Chesnok is a robust, thoughtful cookbook. Its cover evokes coziness while the content within makes the Soviet diaspora accessible. Learn about everything from the role of smetana (cultured sour cream) in Eastern European cuisine to how two different styles of Georgian khachapuri are made. Available Sept. 30, 2025.
8. Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor by Hetty Lui McKinnon (Knopf, 2025, $40)
Linger offers several refreshing twists on salads, with at least a couple boasting a good dose of cheese. Bring Turnips with Whipped Pistachio Feta to Friendsgiving and turn heads, or make the Caprese Salad with Grilled Pineapple to impress in-laws. Frankly, it doesn’t matter which dish from Linger you choose to make—you’re in good hands with James Beard Award winner Hetty Lui McKinnon, whose recipes serve as great dinner table conversation pieces. Available Oct. 7, 2025.
9. Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing by Anna Ansari (DK, 2025, $35)
The spices and flavors once found along the Silk Road trade route underscore Anna Ansari’s debut cookbook. Notable examples of dairy-forward recipes are those for doogh, an Iranian yogurt spritzer garnished with mint and rose petals, and gaymak, a Turkic clotted cream that Ansari recommends “slather[ing] on a fresh-from-the-tendir bread, with honey drizzled on top and accompanied by a strong cup of tea.” If you’d like to eat your way through ancient history and Eastern cultures this fall, let Ansari’s book lead the way. Available Oct. 14, 2025.
10. The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul by Michael Finnerty (Aevo UTP, 2025, $29.95)
Can cheese cure burnout? It did for Michael Finnerty. The Cheese Cure is the story of how Finnerty, a journalist, threw himself into the world of cheese as an apprentice monger at London’s famous Borough Market. His new line of work didn’t turn out to be any old job, though—it gave him community and ignited his passion for living again. It’s a memoir that might feed your soul as much as Comté and Camembert fed Finnerty’s. Available Oct. 21, 2o25.
11. Athens: Food, Stories, Love by Diane Kochilas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2025, $40)
Fan of the Mediterranean diet? Then you’ll probably love Athens by Diane Kochilas, host of PBS show My Greek Table. There are more than 100 recipes in the 400-page book; among the ones for cheese pies, a standout is Kaseropita Kourou, featuring a kasseri and graviera cheese mix inside a pastry pocket. Get the recipe below and experience a taste of Greece for yourself. Available Oct. 28, 2025.
12. One Cheese to Rule Them All: In Search of the World’s 100 Best Cheeses by Patrick McGuigan and Carlos Yescas (Murdoch Books, 2025, $24.99)
World Cheese Award judges Patrick McGuigan and Carlos Yescas team up for One Cheese to Rule Them All, putting their heads together for this catalog of 100 cheeses from across the globe. This book is great for anyone looking to boost their cheese IQ, as it covers renowned styles and obscure ones. Available Nov. 11, 2025.
13. Rome: A Culinary History, Cookbook, and Field Guide to the Flavors that Built a City by Katie Parla (Parla Publishing, 2025, $45)
Cookbook writer Katie Parla has made a name for herself exploring regional Italian cuisine. In November, she’s releasing Rome: a cookbook and guide all about the city she calls home. Discover recipes for delicacies such as Gnocchi All’Amatriciana and Torta di Ricotta e Visciole (a sour cherry and ricotta tart), each calling for hefty amounts of Italian cheese. Available Nov. 13, 2025.
Alana Pedalino
Alana Pedalino serves as Managing Editor of culture. Her work has been featured in Bon Appétit, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. She loves to write, cook, and kayak. Find her bylines at alanapedalino.com.
