This was a good Sunday afternoon read. With al the descriptions it was like I was there in France! Enjoyed the storyline with all the characters too.

I came for A PERFECT VINTAGE’s gorgeous, summery cover and ended up being completely swept away by its idyllic setting and messy family drama. The main character, Lea, converts old French family estates into boutique hotels for a living and typically spends her summers on location. This summer, Lea brings her newly divorced cousin/best friend Stephanie and Stephanie’s daughter along, and the drama they all individually and collectively get into with the family who owns the estate threatens Lea’s work assignment, professional reputation, and personal relationships. This book’s forbidden, age gap romance reminded me of THE IDEA OF YOU while also making me feel like I was at the estate in the French Loire Valley through Chelsea’s descriptive, specific writing. Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down and it comes out June 6, so I think it would be a really solid vacation or poolside read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orsay Press for the digital advanced reader copy of A PERFECT VINTAGE in exchange for my honest review!

I wanted desperately to like this book so much more than I did. It felt so much longer than it needed to be, and I was really not a fan of the main character, Lea. I thought she came across as a petulant child who was self-absorbed, and complained more about something being wrong with her than trying to do something about it. The first half of the book felt like we were getting to the point where Lea and Theo were together - then we spent the majority of the rest of the book with her alternately convincing herself it's okay for them to be together or convincing herself they could never be together. It got old, really quickly. I was also unimpressed with the big drama towards the end: what kind of "professional" are you that you leave in the middle of the night - after sleeping with the son's owner who you just freaked out on? Leaving lots of work to be completed, and lots of conversations - however tough they may be - unfinished?

Ironically, I have zero problem with the maturity level of Theo, or the age difference between Theo and Lea. What I do have a problem with is the lack of emotional maturity Lea has, no matter how many times she touts her maturity and that she has to be the adult in the situation.

I wasn't overly impressed with any other the other characters, either. I thought Theo acted true to how a mature 24 year old would act; I thought Stephanie was weak up until the end when she went off on Lea for hurting Maya (love seeing the momma bear come out, good for you!). I will say that I am a HUGE fan of Uncle Nico - I loved how he came in, handled the situation that no one else seemed capable of handling, and was able to basically sort out his family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book- the setting and family drama were excellent for a summer escape read. Took away one star because the main character was extremely self-important and unlikeable at times.

This book creates its own atmosphere - something I love in a book. It's written in a unique style that will be polarizing: either it pulls you in or it repels. It pulled this reader in. I devoured this book, drinking it like the wine that flows freely in many scenes within its pages. I'm not familiar with this author or "The Financial Diet" work that she's known for, but I very much appreciate the decision to publish independently and the ability that granted Fagan to retain the unique voice that defines this book. The way "A Perfect Vintage" is written defies several "writing rules" but it absolutely works here. I loved reading this and feeling immersed in this luxurious French world for a few days.

I love this story idea but in practice found the pace slow and struggled to get into the story. I ultimately did not finish this story. Thank you for the chance to review in exchange for an honest review.

Greetings from the Loire Valley where the wine is crisp and the company feels like family. A Perfect Vintage left me with a smile on my face and I wish I could say more books made me do that—what a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve been kept in great company for however many hours you engage with a book. I think I enjoyed it so much because I haven’t quite ever read a book like it. It would be easy to assume that this would be a typical coming of age story where a young naive American girl goes to France, meets a handsome worldly Frenchman, has an affair with him, and becomes a sophisticated woman. But this is not that story. We have our heroine Lea who is good at her job of organizing and setting up a hotel within a revitalized French winery, and yet she is very human with her small insecurities and need of being told that she is valued and respected in her career. She does meet a Frenchman, but nothing is stereotypical about him. Theo is young yet confident and has such an easy air about him knowing how to read Lea and take a step back when necessary. I adored how perfectly matched his calm was to her nervous energy.

It’s difficult to describe Chelsea Fagan’s writing style, but it is so unique and un-formulaic that I just kept thinking to myself how much I enjoyed the dialogue of her characters and their descriptions as seen through Lea’s eyes. The ways that Theo talks to Lea make her feel like her choices are what she’s wanted all along. I highlighted so many passages of Theo’s words to Lea; just trust me that you will fall for this man because of his ease with her. If Lea has a love language, it’s definitely words of affirmation and the things he says to her and writes to her are effortlessly sexy. The romance in this book is more emotional romance than physical, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

But this story is even more importantly about friendship between women. Friendship is a form of love and sometimes it’s messy, sometimes it’s difficult, and Stephanie and Lea’s is no exception. The relationship between mother, daughter, aunt and cousin are made of strong bonds, but even those bonds can be tested occasionally. I felt like the friends reactions were always realistic towards one another (even if I didn’t like them) and it was fun seeing multiple romances unfold between this group of women. A great fiction debut, I hope to read more from Chelsea Fagan in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Orsay Press for this advanced copy. I chose to read and review this book and all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars! The cover is such a stunner and this book will make for a great beach read this summer. It was a little slow at times but I enjoyed it overall. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up.

I have a lot of conflicting feelings about this book.

Firstly, the writing was gorgeous. I really felt all the extravagance and chic-ness that one might associate with a chateau in France. The vibes, the setting, it was all immaculate. And besides that, I do think the book was just well-written. I also think the author knows her character very well, and did a good job putting us inside of her head. It was almost hard to tell if I was meant to like Lea or not. But I think I liked that conflict.

Things I didn’t like: the relationship between Lea and Theo made me incredibly uncomfortable. And I’ve been trying to unpack if there’s sexism in that, but I also think there is more to it. There was an obsession from Lea towards Theo that I just simply couldn’t relate to. Even in romance books, I don’t think the obsession is quite to the level that was portrayed in this book. So for them to then start a relationship that eventually turns to love just felt…unbalanced maybe? If this were a straight lit fic book, I could see the obsession angle working for me, but because I think we are ultimately supposed to be rooting for Lea and Theo, it just made me uncomfortable. Maybe a Theo POV would have helped alleviate some of this so!

Overlooking that, I think the pacing was just off. I was expecting the big blow up to come much sooner than it did (and I think it could have), and then once it did happen we were only left with a few chapters to wrap everything up in. Nobody explicitly apologized in person or page (Stephanie’s email does not count for me based off of the emotional intensity of the conflict), so while Lea may have felt like she got closure, I, personally, did not. I also didn’t care for the time jumps, as it kind of cheapened the little emotional growth Lea did go through. I was hoping for more from her and Alain, or just more from her career path and being this uptight woman. I could’ve used another chapter or two at the end to fully give us the closure we all wanted (to write off Maya’s apology in a paragraph?? I’m not over it).

And this is where things continue to feel conflicting for me. Because I finished the book, and at one point decided I was on the train and needed to finish it in one sitting. I think this is really going to work for the lit fic girlies out there who understand that it’s softer than a Serious Literary Book, and for the romance girlies who understand that not every character is going to be likeable.

I’d definitely read more fiction from Chelsea too, her prose is really lovely, and I’m always down for a well-written book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I was drawn in by the premise of the book and the gorgeous cover, but I’m not sure the book lived up to the expectations. I loved the way Fagan described the setting. I would book that hotel right now! I did not really find myself rooting for any of the characters though. I’m not sure why, but I was definitely disconnected. Lea was quite unlikeable and her reactions to everything, especially with Stephanie, were so overblown that it was hard to be invested in her as a character. I would read another novel from Fagan for the way she writes a setting, but character development and pacing of this one were not my favorite.

This novel is a delight of a read. I loved the scenery elegantly described in the Loire Valley, France. The job that Lea has, remodeling old chateaus into boutique hotels in France, is a total dream job but not one without setbacks. She has purposefully set her personal life on hold and doesn’t believe in mixing work and home. That is until this summer when she is renovating a house accompanied by her peppy cousin (going through a divorce) and her college aged niece. They encounter a French family steeped in tradition and full of handsome men. Lea finds herself dangerously attracted to the youngest, 12 years younger than her. I loved reading this story and having it all unfold in the way it did. I didn’t know what to expect and was a little suspicious as Lea had been so adamant about not becoming involved with the families she works with, but the author really handled it well. I’d love to read more from this author in the future!

My review will be posted on both goodreads and Instagram within the week, once content photographs are taken and edited!

Www.instagram.com/hilaryisbookingit

Imagine transforming a worn French chateau into a beautiful, thriving space in the midst of family drama.
Lea Mortimer and her bestie, plus daughter are spending the summer working on restoration of the Chateau until they meet the French family and some surprises are in store!
Lovely read- perfect for summer! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Chelsea Fagan’s A Perfect Vintage, is a perfect summer rom-com. The story is a light, fun adventure with a little side drama and sexy dessert paired nicely with the French countryside and a lot of wine. The author’s focus on age differences in relationships with both genders playing different roles; gives the reader some things to consider. Does an age gap matter? How much of an age difference is too much? Is it less socially acceptable if a woman dates a younger man?
Fagan unfortunately mars her ability to stretch the reader’s mind through her inability to stretch the English language. Her repetitive use of “had been,” “had,” and “that” shows a lack of imagination and is a disservice to the reader. Good work with a proofreader/editor would push A Perfect Vintage into a four or five star review.

I was so excited to get an advance copy of this book and it did not disappoint! The story of businesswoman Lea Mortimer going to France to turn a family chateau into a premier hotel includes all the wonderful twists and turns of a romance novel but with a modern edge. Lea's best friend, Stephanie, and Stephanie's teenage daughter join in on the business trip as Stephanie is avoiding a messy divorce back home in New Jersey. This book had a bit of the vibe of Under The Tuscan Sun including, romance, renovating adventures, and finding oneself in difficult times. This is a must add to your summer beach reading!

A Perfect Vintage is A Perfect Read. I love a book that goes beyond the expected. You're not simply transported to a beautiful French chateau for a summer of wine tasting and sun. Lea Mortimer is a complex character with depth and baggage that shapes the way she navigates life. Women like Lea aren't typically represented in media and the author breaks the mold by complicating the stereotype of the career-driven childfree woman. Issues of social class, sexism, ageism, power, identity, and family add texture to the novel and make the story compelling. I'm always a fan of female friendships and novels that demonstrate just how complicated and wonderful life can be.

I need to come back to this one – maybe when the sun's shining, I'm on holiday, and I have zero plans. I really wanted to love this, but after a promising start, the plot just wasn't grabbing me.

The premise though? I love it. A child-free woman who's killing it in her own business, forging a name for herself by revamping dilapidated French chateaus into beautiful boutique hotels? Written by a woman who's built her own personal finance media empire? Amazing.

This isn't your typical beach read, women's fiction, or romance, and I hope to give it another chance this summer to share more about it.

In terms of the "woman escapes to beautiful vineyard and finds love" genre that's been trending for a while now, I'm still on the team of These Tangled Vibes by Julianne MacLean. But in any case, I'm certain A Perfect Vintage is going to be popular on the beach this summer. And the cover is perfect.

Lea Mortimer is a highly sought-after design consultant specializing in transforming French country estates into boutique hotels, relishing in the freedom as a single, childfree woman. Lea finds herself taking her cousin and closest friend, Stephanie, and college-aged niece, Maya, along with her to the Loire Valley in France for the summer to get them out of dodge during Stephanie's heated divorce. As they tag along for Lea's latest work assignment, despite their best intentions, they threaten to complicate the tightrope act of launching the hotel on time. And when Lea unexpectedly falls for the much-younger son of her boss, she quickly learns the beauty and danger of losing control. Affairs bloom, inheritance wars are full-swing, and betrayals threaten even the most solid relationships. Lea realizes that it's not just a broken heart she's risking, but her entire, meticulously-constructed life.

I absolutely fell victim to judging a book by it's cover and immediately requested this on NetGalley based on the stunning cover. I really enjoyed the premise of this book - a 30 something, child-free FMC is something I don't see super often in my recently-read books. The descriptions of the scenery and the chateau during the design process were so in depth and really painted beautiful pictures, but I felt like the character development fell a bit flat in comparison. Because of the lengthy descriptions to set each scene, I did find myself skimming along during several drawn-out sections, sadly. I really yearned for more of the relationship between Lea and Theo, I feel like fleshing out their chemistry and conversations would have done a world of difference for this book since those scenes FLEW by. Overall, though, I loved the age-gap between both couples in this book, and I have a feeling this will be a hit this summer for those seeking a feel-good women's fiction/romance novel!

Enjoyed this one from start to finish. Love a story about a women coming into her own and not caring about what other people think about it. The plot of Lea having to grow into her personal confidence in order to find her happiness was a wonderful feel good book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

A Perfect Vintage - Mini Review 🥐⬇️

Arc - Pub Date June 6

I really enjoyed this book. It was written like you were experiencing this French country estate being turned into a boutique hotel and that you were along for the ride 😊

The characters were well written and there is drama at every turn. I did give it one less ⭐️ because in my opinion I found it a tad bit slow in the middle but nothing to pass up this book on 😁

There is a 100% chance that in another multiverse, I am a consultant transforming rundown family châteaux into boutique hotels in the French wine country. That’s exactly what Lea Mortimer does with great success each summer in “A Perfect Vintage”. This summer, however, her best friend who’s in the middle of a nasty divorce and her college age daughter are tagging along and threatening to upend Lea’s perfectly curated freedom. With things already off the rails, Lea unexpectedly falls for her boss’s much younger son. Love and betrayal abound endangering every aspect of Lea’s tightly controlled being.

I first heard about this book through a targeted marketing email. I saw the cover, read the description and immediately pre-ordered the book. The next day I saw the book on NetGalley and put in a request because I needed to read it ASAP!

“A Perfect Vintage” has a little bit for everyone! There’s romance, intrigue, and sexiness all wrapped up in a beautiful destination. This would make the perfect book club book. There are so many things to discuss! What would you have done in Lea’s shoes? In Stephanie’s? I suspect the answers will vary wildly depending on personal circumstances!

While I think this is a fun book, it ultimately fell a little flat for me. I was expecting luxury, extravagance, and flagrant obsession. I kept finding myself wishing Fagan would push deeper, take things further, give MORE. As a single, childless, 36 year old woman myself, I just wanted Lea to lean in. (Even though I hate that phase.) If you’re going to have a summer tryst with a younger French man, go for it with all you’ve got! Don’t apologize for it. Be a little selfish. Take up space! Fagan has plenty of reasons or excuses for why Lea constantly holds back. Some more justified than others. Mostly though, I took major issue with the mechanism that finally allowed Lea to accept what she deserved. All together, these things got in the way of the indulgent fantasy I had in mind when I picked up the book.

Overall 3 ⭐️ for me. Temper your expectations, and you’ll enjoy this book.

Final note: How gorgeous is this cover painted by Elizabeth Lennie!!!

Thanks to the publisher, Orsay Press, and NetGalley for the eARC copy for review. All opinions are my own.

#ThePerfectVintage #NetGalley