The Whistling Kettle Book Club

For the month of October, we're pairing The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden with Masala Chai.

Set in 1961 rural Netherlands, the novel follows Isabel, a reclusive caretaker of her late mother’s impeccably preserved country home - until her brother’s vibrant girlfriend, Eva, arrives and sparks a tense, obsessive relationship that gradually forces long-buried emotional and wartime secrets to surface.

Warm, complex, and richly spiced, Masala Chai weaves together cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other bold flavors to evoke both comfort and depth. Its layered spices reflect the charged dynamics between Isabel and Eva, heightening the tension and stirring of suppressed desires that simmer beneath the surface of the story - just as each spice in the tea unfolds with every sip.

Read & sip along! Use code: OCTOBERBOOKCLUB25 for 10% off Masala Chai, valid through 10/31/25 at 11:59pm EST. Shop in-store at The Open Door Bookstore for 15% off the book all October long!

For the month of September, we're pairing The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride with Ancient Forest Yunnan tea.

In 1970s Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the discovery of a skeleton unravels the long-hidden stories of Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where Jewish and Black residents lived side by side. Through the struggles of survival, the fight to protect a deaf boy, and the resilience of community, James McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community - heaven and earth - that sustain us.

Since Ancient Forest Yunnan comes from old-growth tea trees and carries deep, grounding flavors with notes of honey and earth, it felt like the perfect match for this novel’s themes of heritage and strength. Just as the book invites reflection on the power of community, this tea encourages you to slow down and savor each layered sip.

For the month of August, we're pairing The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl with Almond Lemon Panna Cotta tea.

A quiet woman inherits a mysterious Paris apartment and is swept into a world of vintage fashion, fine food, and long-buried secrets. Set against the charm of 1980s Paris, it’s a story of self-discovery, sensuality, and transformation.

Inspired by a decadent European dessert, Almond Lemon Panna Cotta black tea blend offers creamy vanilla, zesty lemon, and delicate almond - mirroring the novel’s elegance, indulgence, and awakening of the senses. It’s the perfect sip for a story steeped in flavor and flair.

For the month of July, we're pairing The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan with Raspberry Lavender herbal tea.

Perched on a seaside bluff, a lavender Victorian house holds a century’s worth of secrets. In The Cliffs, past and present collide as a woman uncovers the haunting, hidden history of the home she’s inherited. Atmospheric, emotional, and beautifully written - this story pairs perfectly with our Raspberry Lavender tea.

Raspberry Lavender tea combines floral and fruity, which aligns beautifully with the novel’s emotional layers - bittersweet memories, family ties, and unexpected discoveries.

For the month of June, we're pairing The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden with comforting Total Body tea.

A hauntingly beautiful tale set amid the shadows of World War I. Echoing with memory, loss, and the flicker of the supernatural, it’s a story that lingers like a chill in the air.

To complement this atmospheric read, we’ve chosen our Total Body blend - a gentle, comforting infusion of chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, honeybush, hibiscus, and delicate flower petals. With every sip, this calming tea wraps around you like a warm memory - the perfect companion for a novel filled with ghosts, grief, and glimmers of hope.

For the month of May, we're pairing North Woods by Daniel Mason with earthy, grounding Comfort Chaga tea.

An absolute tour de force of gorgeous writing, mesmerizing storytelling, and stunning imagination. This is one of the best books we've read in at least a decade!

This unforgettable novel intertwines human lives and the natural world across centuries - and Comfort Chaga is the perfect companion. Made with wild-harvested chaga from the Adirondacks, bee pollen, black pepper, and cinnamon, this earthy brew lets you taste the forest in every sip.

A New York Times Bestseller and an NPR book of the year comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

“Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent… impressive.” – The Washington Post

The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Stimulating is a caffeine-free herbal blend formulated with herbs and spices that have natural energy. Perfect for drinking before bed, its spicy ginger and cardamom pair with turmeric for an invigorating tea great to drink alongside this invigorating book!

For the month of March, we're reading Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout and pairing it with Blueberry Crumbcake tea.

New York Times Bestseller from Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout comes a “stunner” (People) of a novel about new friendships, old loves, and the very human desire to leave a mark on the world.

With her remarkable insight into the human condition and silences that contain multitudes, Eilzabeth Strout returns to the town of Crosby, Maine, and to her beloved cast of characters – Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, Bob Burgess, and more – as they deal with a shocking crime in their midst, fall in love and yet choose to be apart, and grapple with the question, as Lucy Barton puts it, “What does anyone’s life mean?” Strout illuminates the ways in which our relationships keep us afloat. And as Lucy says, “Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love.”

Since the book takes place in Maine, which is known for blueberries and maple syrup, we’re pairing this with Blueberry Crumbcake – a black/green tea blend full of delicious blueberry and maple flavor.

For the month of February, we're reading Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo and pairing it with our Anti-Strain herbal tea.

The remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled white man and William posing as “his” slave.

This refreshing herbal blend has a lingering sweet finish that will melt away life’s pressures. Orange peel, cardamom, cinnamon, and sweet licorice is sure to bring peace of mind as you read about Ellen and William Craft’s stressful journey to freedom.

For the month of January, we're reading Lone Women by Victor Lavalle and pairing it with our Java Bean tea.

The year is 1915 and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. She will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it - except Adelaide is not alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.

Most Americans drank coffee in Montana in 1915, thus the reason for choosing Java Bean Pu-erh tea. This tea has real coffee beans with a hint of cocoa making it the smoothest tea/coffee you’ll ever try!