MockTales: 50+ Literary Mocktails Inspired by Classic Works, Banned Books, and More

A cute little book for sober and sober-curious mixologists. Through inventive and clever literary wordplay, comedy writer Fischer and bookstore owner and author Smith (Eat Your Feelings) present sobriety as enjoyable and accessible, reimagining social connection in a way that doesn’t rely on alcohol. After providing a comprehensive list of suggested barware, glasses, and nonalcoholic substitutes for liquor, the recipes begin. The authors include sections based on classic books, banned books, and book-to-movie adaptations. Standout recipes include “The Bell Jam Jar,” which couples apricot jam with sparkling soda to clear the “mental cobwebs,” and “Huckleberry Fizz,” featuring huckleberries and kombucha—what the authors call an “adventure in a glass.” Additionally, in a chapter for book clubs, Fischer and Smith encourage readers to make drinks for a crowd (a pitcher of “Taming of the Screwdriver” anyone?) and provide a section for book-related “Sober Games” in a nod to the Hunger Games series. Not a teetotaler? No problem: the authors invite readers to add their alcohol of choice to any drink.