A good, luscious and complex romance but the writing style felt a bit too dense despite that. Worth picking up for the complex characters and immersive plot.

I really wanted to like this more, but I felt like the plot wasn't clear at times.

Overall it was a fine and quick read and I would recommend it to a select group of friends.

A Perfect Vintage by Chelsea Fagan is a charming novel set in the idyllic French countryside, featuring a summer at a French chateau and vineyard turned hotel. With the promise of beautiful wine tastings, opulent settings, and a dash of rich people drama, this book certainly has the ingredients for a perfect summer read. While I was captivated by the atmospheric setting and the idea of working in a picturesque vineyard, the story itself was a bit of a mixed bag.

The book follows Lea, who is at a crossroads in her life. She’s drawn to her niece’s crush, a man who is twelve years younger than her, and the tension between them creates an age-gap romance that adds some heat to the story. While the romance was an enjoyable element, I was a bit put off by Lea’s self-centered behavior at times. She seemed to struggle with emotional maturity, which occasionally made her actions frustrating. There were moments where I wished she would stop second-guessing herself, as it felt like we spent a little too much time in her head, and it made the pacing slower than I expected.

That being said, the book really shines in its family dynamics and the relationships between the characters. The connection between Lea, her sister Stephanie, and niece Maya was heartwarming, and I found myself particularly invested in Stephanie’s budding romance with Alain—seeing Stephanie happy was such a joy. Additionally, the setting was described so vividly that I could almost feel the warmth of the French sun and the romance in the air.

Overall, I’d give A Perfect Vintage a 3.5-star rating. The setting, rich drama, and character growth were definite highlights, but the romance felt like it took a backseat at times, leaving me wanting more. If you enjoy family drama, atmospheric settings, and character growth, this book is worth a read, but don’t go into it expecting a heavy romance. I’ll definitely be open to reading more from Chelsea Fagan in the future!

This was one of my favorite books of 2023 and I've re-read it twice since! The perfect mix of sultry and sexy with heartfelt and realistic. This was truly a romance for sophisticated adults.

I must say this book wasn’t bad. I enjoyed how it was witted and it kept me engaged. I have this a 4 star rating.

A Perfect Vintage was an interesting story about a woman helping convert a French estate into a boutique hotel. When she invites her cousin, who is going through a rough divorce, and her cousin's daughter to help her, a romance develops between her cousin and the owner, while she falls for one of the owner's sons in a very much forbidden romance. It's all messy affairs that can lead to much more than heartbreak. It was an interesting and entertaining read.

Not my favorite. I love reading about wine but found the writing a little awkward. Was hoping for it to transport me a bit more.

As I was preparing for my own travels to the French Countryside, I was excited to pick this book up. Sadly, this was a total miss from the beginning. I tried several times to get into this story, but the writing just felt off kilter for me and I could not connect with the main character, even though we share many commonalities. I wanted to love this one, but ultimately I did not finish.

Finally got a chance to read this over the summer, the cover is such a draw for the season and while I didn’t find the story particularly fresh or new I did think it was a great book for summer poolsides.

If you enjoy rich people behaving badly, juicy plots and decadence look no further.

It was like arm chair travel but more like soap opera armchair, does that make sense?

Read for some fun, stay for the settings.

A Perfect Vintage is a beautifully written novel with depth and heart. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a contemplative romance that offers more than just a love story—it’s about finding balance, healing, and appreciating life’s rich flavors. The setting and atmospheric writing really made it enjoyable for me. I thought the main character's journey felt authentic and real. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you Orsay Press for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

📚: A Perfect Vintage by Chelsea Fagan
⭐️: 1.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

I’m going to keep this review short. Great premise, subpar execution. I’ve never disliked a main character more and I’ve never disdained a central couple in what’s billed as a romance novel before. I thought about DNF’ing several times, but wanted to push through for the sake of my NetGalley reviews - but honestly, I had to put this down last night to do a meditation on the Calm app instead. That’s how not into it I was. 🫠

Regardless of this rating, thanks to Orsay Press LLC via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Perfect Vintage is out now.

A Perfect Vintage is the perfect escapist read. I've been a fan of the author for a while, particularly enjoying her content on interiors and hosting, and I was delighted that she managed to get those elements into this book about Lea, an American in France working to convert a family chateau into a hotel. The descriptions of the renovations and the dinner parties would be enjoyable alone, but then you've got the romance, which is delightfully untypical. Lea falls in lust and then love with the much-younger son of her clients, and despite being confident and successful in her career, their romance brings insecurities to the surface. She worries that her age and her desire to not have children will doom them to despair or break up. It brings realism and a more serious tone to a story that could easily have been pure frothy fun.

Overall this was a good book but it just kind of fell flat. I couldn’t connect to many of the characters and it was kind of slow in the middle. But it picked up and I e joyed it by the end.

I found this book to be a compelling read about rich people drama and the French countryside. It was full of drama and I was totally there for it. The MFC was relatable and well written even if she is a bit controlling sometimes. It’s a fun summer read for sure.

I love rich family drama!! This book definitely delivered on that front. However I feel like I’ve read similar stories before and I just wanted something that really wowed me you know??

When Lea Mortimer invited her cousin and niece to go with her and to spend the Summer making over a chateau in the Loire Valley didn't imagine that her work for the Lévesque family could turn into a mess.

I liked the premise of this book and its cover, the french setting was inspiring, but I found the story too long and it lost my attention more than once.

Lea is a workaholic, despite her strict and controlling demeanor I was still able to connect with her. She deserved to find her place in the world and be happy.

I was really satisfied and happy for the ending.

I love both family drama and then to add in rich people summering in France?? This was a great summer read. I loved the vibes and all the characters.

Sure! Here is a 4-star review of “A Perfect Vintage” by Chelsea Fagan:

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"A Perfect Vintage" by Chelsea Fagan is a captivating and evocative novel that beautifully captures the essence of romance, ambition, and the pursuit of dreams. Fagan’s engaging prose and vivid descriptions transport readers to the picturesque vineyards of France, making this story a delightful escape.

Fagan’s writing is both elegant and accessible, with lush descriptions of the French countryside and the winemaking process adding a rich layer of authenticity to the narrative. The romance subplot is handled with a delicate touch, balancing tension and tenderness in a way that feels genuine and deeply satisfying.

I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. It was a fun read and I will definitely be recommending it!

A perfect vintage is the perfect summer holiday novel. Captivating and engaging, with well drawn characters who jump off the page, it’s an escapist sun soaked winner.