In celebration of Creative Ice Cream Day on July 1, we’re bringing back our SparkPress Ice Cream pairings. So grab your book and an ice cream scoop, because you’ll want to dig into these sweet treats and addictive reads.

Sentient + Dippin’ Dots

Do you remember when Dippin’ Dots first came out and it felt like we were suddenly living in the future? That’s the same feeling found while reading Sentient. James has been experimenting on his AI, Alpha. When Alpha starts asking questions he can’t answer, he soon realizes that it has become sentient. Deeply engrained in real science, Sentient will leave you in awe of how far science has come—and how close we are to sentience in AI.

The Bus to Beulah + Mexican Hot Chocolate Ice Cream

You’re going to want a cup for this spicy chocolate ice cream; a cone will melt all over your hand as you lose track of time with this fast-paced thriller. Maria is kidnapped upon discovering a human trafficking ring on her way to start her new job across the border in the US. Her disappearance triggers a desperate search to find her before it’s too late.

The Walled Garden + Lavender Ice Cream

Cozy mystery-meets-literary love story in this novel set in a romantic English garden. A floral ice cream is the obvious choice to pair here. Compared to rose ice cream, lavender is a less obvious choice, but in the language of flowers—a big theme in The Walled Garden—lavender symbolizes serenity, elegance, and refinement; exactly how you should feel in an English garden.

Will’s Surreal Period + Superman Ice Cream

When Will develops a brain tumor, he starts painting in this bright, surrealist style. Enjoy a cup or cone of this similarly bright and surreal ice cream—a mixture of Blue Moon, Cherry, and Lemon—while he weighs his options. Should he have surgery to remove the tumor, going back to his drab artistic style, or should he abstain so he can produce this art until the tumor kills him?

21 Questions + Sea Salt Ice Cream

This book is the epitome of a beach read. Sixteen-year-old Kendra is preparing to attend surfing competition in honor of her late brother. When she and Brock, the bad boy at school, meet at the homecoming dance, sparks fly. They get to know each other through a game of 21 Questions. We wanted to pair this novel with something light, summer-y, and salty to mimic the sea, and Sea Salt Ice Cream is all that plus rich and creamy.

Cold Snap + Screaming Bonito

Curl up with your kitten and treat them to the first-ever cat ice cream, Screaming Bonito, as you read this cozy mystery told through the eyes of Bijou, a housecat who helps her human run the Fox Burrow Pet Inn. But when a murder/dognapping happens, Bijou summons her inner Viking and fight for her clan.

Mermaid Queen + Mermaid Ice Cream

What other flavor than Mermaid Ice Cream could pair with this magical story? This vanilla-based ice cream with sour blue and red raspberry swirls and candy flakes will satisfy your sweet tooth while you read about how Capricorn, the mermaid queen, is trying to force Odin to make her goddess of the seas. Will Abigail be able to stop her without going too far down the path of dark magic?

The Girl Who Ruined Christmas ­­+ Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate Ice Cream

This adorable Christmas-themed novel for tweens centers on Brady, who must stay in Harper Hollow Falls all December after she accidentally destroys their prize fir, destined for the White House. Get in the mood to learn the true meaning of Christmas with a classic Christmas flavor. In the winter, you’d be sipping on some hot coco with a candy cane, so why not some frozen peppermint hot chocolate ice cream for a Christmas in July treat?

Charming Falls Apart + Coffee Ice Cream

If you’ve ever fantasized about having a meet cute in a coffee shop, this pairing is right up your alley. This book is the embodiment of that fantasy—down-on-her-luck Allison becomes a regular at the new coffee shop owned by the very attractive Eric. What could be more perfect pairing on a hot summer day, than a book taking place largely in a coffee shop and some coffee ice cream?