I enjoyed reading this so much that it was finished during one day....I was so happy to find a new author that I went directly to Amazon to buy ( I almost NEVER pay for books!) all her other novels. Imagine my surprise when I find out this is a debut novel, it doesn’t read like a debut novel and I read a lot. The characters are cleverly written and completely believable, they even feel like people I know, which is why I was so invested in their lives that I wanted to continue and find out where they go and what happens next. Even if this isn’t eventually a series I want to read more from such an accomplished storyteller, so many thanks to Lizzie for writing this and Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a copy in exchange for an honest review. I had a total escape today from the weather, covid and Brexit.

So what is this about:

Well Birdy Finch didn't just imagine it. She did it. Which might've been an error. And the life she's run into? Her best friend, Heather's.

The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems...

Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?

And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked (but who thinks she's someone else)?

What to say about this?! I really enjoyed this book. I just loved Birdy, she is such a good character. This book is foody's dream.
And James how cute is he?!
I must say that this book gave my a little anxiety. I was expecting other shoe to drop the whole book. That is way only 4 stars. This book gave my nerves a work out. Lol.

Birdy is a ypung woman who hasn't yet got her act together so when her sommelier friend Heather goes to Italy leaving a Scottish hotel without a wine waiter, Birdy steps in. After all how difficult could it be? She looks at the website and sees a run down hotel with a pretty small wine list and decides to have a go. Trouble is, she has no qualifications and little idea of wine. And the hotel is clearly on the up with an ambitious chef and a massive wine list.

This is an ok read. I didn't warm to the character of Birdy. I've read too many similar stories where a young woman gets herself into a pickle and i certainly didn't find it 'laugh out loud'. It's redeemed slightly by a sympathetic take on alcoholism and an attempt to explain Birdy's behaviour by attachment issues. This latter though was sketched over and clumsily done.

I also wasn't convinced by the setting. The west coast of Scotland in summer and no references to midges? Come on!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

A sweet read. I wondered how Birdie managed to get herself in such a pickle, and I enjoyed reading about her adventures in a remote hotel in Scotland where she is working as a sommelier, even though she isn’t....... I came to like Birdie and understood her reasons for getting in such a web of deceit towards her best friend, employer and her colleagues. The book is about self discovery, friendships, love, secrets and what can be achieved through hard work. An enjoyable debut novel and I’ll definitely be looking out for Lizzy Dent’s next book. One for the suitcase, if we’re ever allowed to go on holiday again!

What Birdy thinks will just be a fun trip turns in to something more as she pretends to be her best friend Heather to get a live-in job in a posh hotel in Scotland. she soon realises that she risks letting a lot of people down, not just Heather, but James who she meets and works with in Scotland. Will she be able to dig herself out of the hole she created?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a book that makes me pretend that I could be on holiday. Will definitely re-read it. Loved it.

I enjoyed this story and I flew through it. It made me feel as if I was in the Highlands, which is a great release during these covid times. The character of Birdy is complex but compelling in this chick-lit, which I thought was refreshing.

I absolutely loved this book! Thanks to Penguin General and Netgalley for the early review copy.

Our heroine is Elizabeth Finch (nicknamed Birdy). She is a perfect rom-com heroine, funny and loveable.

She finds herself working at a remote Highland hotel and we follow her journey working there, through the funny and sometimes testing times.

The author also deserves credit for tackling alcoholism, as it is unusual for this topic to be included.

Perfect for fans of Beth o'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lindsey Kelk, I will definitely be recommending this book to my Instagram followers when it is released - a five star read!

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is really interesting because she’s so flawed (essentially committing identity fraud against her favourite person in the world) but it’s so easy to warm to her. I loved following her story, meeting the whole host of characters around her and I absolutely want to go and stay at that hotel now.

I really hope we get more from Lizzy soon.

If we were still able to go on holiday for beach reads, this would be a great book to take- a sweet rom com starring Birdy, whose life isn't going too well, so she takes the place of her oldest friend Heather as a sommelier in an exclusive Scottish highland hotel. Throw in a hunky man or two, lots of outdoor romantic settings, a misunderstanding or two - plus lots of wine on hand- and we're away.