RED FRIDAY: When Weather Steals the Show

Let's be honest: There’s no month more tailor-made for book clubs than December. Outside, the wind howls, snow threatens to pile up, and the sun clocks out by 4:30 PM. It’s the perfect excuse to pull up a chair, pile on the blankets, and hunker down with friends over strong drinks, hot snacks, and a story built for cold nights.

This month at RED (Read, Eat, Drink), we’re leaning into the freeze—not by wishing it away, but by celebrating books where the weather isn’t just background noise. It’s a character in its own right.

READ: One by One by Ruth Ware

If you’ve ever found yourself staring out the window during a storm, wondering what would happen if you were trapped somewhere with a handful of “close” acquaintances, well, Ruth Ware’s One by One will scratch that very specific itch. The novel unfolds in a luxury ski chalet, where a slick corporate retreat goes very, very wrong after an avalanche cuts off all communication with the outside world. The snow isn’t just there for atmosphere—it drives every twist, every claustrophobic moment, and every secret that claws its way to the surface.

The book manages what the best cold-weather stories do: it makes you feel the isolation in your bones. The endless white-out plays tricks with your sense of reality. Ware’s snowstorm rivals any murder suspect.

Read more about *One by One* on Goodreads →

EAT: Pigs in a Blanket on a Stick

When the temperature drops, nobody cares about fussy appetizers. Pass the comfort food, please! We’re serving pigs in a blanket… on a stick! Think of these like tiny ski poles—a little wink to One by One’s slopeside setting. They’re warm, satisfying, and perfect for dipping into mustard or whatever sauce your crew prefers. Plus, they’re portable, so you can keep one hand free for your book or your cocktail (you’re welcome).

Get the recipe here →

DRINK: The Ski Bum

This month’s signature cocktail is “The Ski Bum”—a bracing blend that makes you feel like you’ve earned your spot next to the imaginary lodge fire. Whether you’ve been skiing or just sidestepping ice piles on your way to book club, this drink is for you! It’s sweet, a little sharp, and looks absolutely perfect in a mug or a rocks glass, depending on just how cold it happens to be.

Check out the Ski Bum recipe →

Book Club Topics: Break the Ice (Figuratively)

• How does weather shape the choices or emotions of characters? (One by One is a perfect example—are they trapped by snow, or by each other?)

• Have you ever read a story where the setting takes over the plot?

• Did you trust any character in the chalet? Who would you have teamed up with if you were there?

• What’s your own “trapped by weather” story?

• How did the book's wintry isolation make you feel? Cozy? Unsettled? Both?

  
  

Conclusion

December is the perfect time to gather with friends, enjoy a good book, and indulge in delicious food and drinks. The cold weather invites us to explore thrilling stories that keep us on the edge of our seats. So, grab your copy of One by One, whip up some pigs in a blanket on a stick, and mix up a Ski Bum cocktail. Let’s make this month unforgettable!

Happy reading, eating, and drinking!