Who doesn’t love cheese? With the hundreds of varieties, there’s a cheese out there for everyone—with the possible exception of vegans and lactose intolerant people. To celebrate our mutual love of cheese on January 20, National Cheese Lovers Day, we’ve paired different kinds of cheese with SparkPress books. Yum!

Deepest Blue by Mindy Tarquini + Blue Cheese

The choice to pair Deepest Blue and blue cheese goes far beyond the blue commonality—although we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t awfully convenient. Blue cheese is an acquired taste and requires a mature pallet. The same can be said of Deepest Blue. If you like a sharp, salty cheese, blue is the way to go. If you like sharp writing and complex worlds, Deepest Blue is for you.

Mission Afghanistan by Elie Paul Cohen + Brie

We had to pair this memoir of a Franco-British civilian doctor with a French cheese. Of course, that’s not the only reason. The brie we have in the states is slightly different then it is in France. In France, the cheese is unstabilized and the surface turns slightly brown. The American translation is stabilized. Like this cheese, Mission Afghanistan is a translation from the original French.

The Blue Witch by Alane Adams + Mozzarella

Unlike most cheeses, mozzarella is not aged—it is best eaten fresh. This is a young cheese with an inoffensive flavor that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy. Thus, much like The Blue Witch, it’s perfect for kids. The Blue Witch is a juvenile fiction title, and the first in the Witches of Orkney series. With its exploration of the world of Orkney and magic, it’s a story that even the pickiest of reader will love.

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams + Babybel

This cheese, in its iconic red wax coating, is sold in tiny rounds marketed as an on-the-go snack. Sweet enough that your kids won’t turn up their nose and sophisticated enough flavor for an adult, this cheese is the perfect pairing for a children’s book. Like babybel, The Circus Thief is great for kids, but also has a layer of maturity with the 1920s setting and the moral lessons.

The Leaving Year by Pam McGaffin + Mascarpone

This smooth cheese can be sweet or savory, just like The Leaving Year. In this story, Ida loses her father, and then goes on a journey to Alaska to learn more about him—and herself. It goes down smooth as can be. Mascarpone is often used to enhance the taste of a dish without overwhelming it. McGaffin expertly uses Native Alaskan mythology as the mascarpone of her book—enhancing it without overwhelming it.

The Thorn Queen by Elise Holland + Manchego

If you are not careful, like a rose, this cheese can prick you. The inedible herringbone rind acts almost as a thorn for this delicious cheese—and gives an intricate, almost otherworldly pattern, in combination with the grass moulds. Like the juvenile fiction title, The Thorn Queen, manchego is kid-friendly. The flavor is largely dictated by how long it has aged, but like this book, it’s a crowd pleaser at any age.

Sarah’s War* by Eugenia Lovett West + Monterey Jack

Like this cheese, Sarah is a true American. She’s lived in the colonies her entire life and is a Patriot during the American Revolution. However, she must acquire mannerisms as mild as the flavor of Monterey jack in order to flirt information out of the Loyalist soldiers so she can report back to General Washington. This classic “American” cheese is a perfect pairing with this new American story.

*Not out yet, but available for preorder now.