The 1920s world of A Fortune of Sand glitters with glamour and possibility—but simmering beneath the grandeur lies a graveyard of secrets. For your book club gathering, I suggest a menu that reflects both the elegance of the 1920s and the tension beneath it— food that feels indulgent, curated, and just a little deceptive.
A quintessential prohibition-era cocktail, the French 75 is elegant, celebratory, and slightly dangerous. Served in a coupe glass, it mirrors the tension of the Lennox family: beauty on the surface, volatility beneath. It’s a bubbly cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne, typically garnished with a lemon peel twist.
-Ruta Sepetys
Book Club Menu,Note, Book Giveaway
Mocktail version: Use chilled lemonade topped with a splash of tonic water for a refreshing sparkle.I
Optional twists of Fortune for your French 75:
To represent:
Marjorie: Add a drop of edible gold shimmer on top.
Lilah: Slightly over-pour the gin to release “the truth beneath the twenties.”
Chet and Bernice: When no one’s looking, take a quick slug of champagne, directly from the bottle.
Bonafante: Splurge and pop for Pol Roger.
Gramps, Graham, and Duncan: Sprinkle with a few blackcurrants