The First Post in My Book to Board Series
If you had told my high school self that one day I’d have a mini library in my house, spend my evenings reading romance novels, and create charcuterie boards inspired by book covers… I would’ve laughed. Hard.
Reading? Not interested.
Rom-coms? Definitely not.
Back then, I wasn’t reading much at all. If I wanted suspense, mystery, or a good scare, I was watching horror movies or bingeing thriller shows—not picking up a book. Romance novels weren’t even on my radar.
Fast forward to my 40-something self, and somehow everything has changed.
These days, you’ll usually find me with a romance novel in one hand and a cup of coffee (or a cheese board) in the other. Somewhere along the way, reading became one of my favorite ways to slow down. It gives me a chance to put my phone away, unwind after a busy day, and escape into another world for a little while.
Don’t get me wrong—I still love a good horror movie or psychological thriller, and every now and then I’ll pick up one in book form (Verity by Colleen Hoover absolutely lived up to the hype). But romance novels have completely stolen my heart.
As my love of reading grew, I also found myself appreciating something else—the cover art. Book covers have become works of art in their own right. Every color, font, and illustration is thoughtfully chosen to capture the feeling of a story before you even read the first page.
That’s when the idea hit me…
What if I combined my two favorite hobbies—books and charcuterie?
And just like that, Book to Board was born.
In this new series, I’ll be transforming the cover art of some of my favorite books into charcuterie boards, using colors, textures, and ingredients to bring each cover to life. And I couldn’t think of a better book to kick things off than Beach Read by Emily Henry.
My First Book to Board: Beach Read by Emily Henry
Cue the witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and just enough emotional depth to keep you completely invested. Emily Henry has a way of making her characters feel like real people, and before you know it, you’re completely rooting for them.
It’s funny, heartfelt, surprisingly emotional, and the kind of book that makes you want to keep reading “just one more chapter”… until suddenly it’s midnight.
Needless to say, it earned its spot as the very first book in my Book to Board series
Designing a Beach Read Charcuterie Board
Instead of creating a board inspired by the story itself, I wanted to recreate the cover art using food.
The cover of Beach Read instantly feels like summer with its bright, cheerful colors. I used those same colors as inspiration when selecting every ingredient for the board.
Yellow
- Gouda
- Lemon slices
- Honey
- Candied pecans
- Lemon Curd
Blue
- Blueberries
- Backberry Preserves
Coral & Peach
- Fresh peaches
- Strawberries
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Ranier cherries
White
- Triple cream Brie
- White cheddar
- Butter crackers
- Yogurt-covered pretzels
Finally, I added fresh mint and delicate edible flowers to capture the light, breezy feeling of the cover.
The result is a board that looks like it belongs right beside the book on a sunny afternoon.
Shopping List for This Beach Read Charcuterie Board
Cheese
- Triple cream Brie
- Gouda
- Aged White cheddar
- Spreadable Herb cheese like Boursin or Alouette
Charcuterie
- Pepperoni
- Prosciutto
Fruit
- Peaches or nectarines
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Green grapes
- Granier cherries
Crackers
- Butter crackers
- Water crackers
Sweet Additions
- Honey
- Lemon curd
- Candied pecans
- Blackberry Jam
- Yogurt-covered pretzels
Garnishes
- Fresh mint
- Edible flowers
- Lemon slices
Why I’m Starting the Book to Board Series
One of my favorite parts of creating charcuterie boards has always been finding inspiration in unexpected places.
I’ve created boards inspired by holidays, sporting events, seasons, and recipes—but books feel different.
Book covers are already beautiful works of art. Every color, font, and illustration is chosen to capture the mood of the story before you’ve even turned the first page. Reimagining those covers as edible charcuterie boards is such a fun creative challenge, and it combines two hobbies I never imagined would become such a big part of my life.
If high school me could see this, she’d probably still be laughing.
And honestly… I’d laugh with her.
Because I never would’ve guessed that I’d become someone who genuinely looks forward to reading (romance novels at that) —or that I’d build an entire cheese board inspired by one.
Life has a funny way of surprising you.
More Book to Board Creations Are Coming
This is just the beginning.
I already have several more Book to Board creations planned, inspired by some of today’s most popular books and their iconic cover art. Whether you’re a romance reader, thriller lover, or somewhere in between, I can’t wait to keep bringing these stories to life—one charcuterie board at a time.
If there’s a book you’d love to see transformed into a charcuterie board, let me know in the comments.
And be sure to check back soon for the next Book to Board creation!
Beach Read Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut the Brie wheel in 16ths and fan out in the upper right corner of the board.
- Slice the Gouda wedge into triangular slices and fan to mimic the rays of the sun from the book cover.
- Fold the prosciutto into loose ribbons and arrange beside the Brie.
- Create pepperoni rose for texture and visual interest.
- Add crackers in upper left corner, cascading downward.
- Add a small bowl of blueberry jam and add blueberries to represent the blue tones of the cover.
- Layer peach slices, strawberries, and green grapes around the board to recreate the warm summer palette.
- Add bowls of honey and lemon curd.
- Finish with lemon slices, fresh mint and edible flowers before serving.
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