Thank you to Netgalley, Orsay Press, and Chelsea Fagan for the advanced copy! I was immediately drawn to this book as the cover is absolutely GORGEOUS. I couldn’t wait to see the actual cover in person when the book was released.
I love how descriptive Chelsea is as a writer- not only with describing the locations and scenery in the book but also with her characters. Her description of the French chateau is beyond and makes you feel like you’re right there with them. It’s the book version of Emily in Paris, with all sorts of family drama and intrigue. Definitely the perfect summer beach read to get lost in!

A Perfect Vintage is the perfect summer read. As another GoodReads reviewer so perfectly stated, "If this book was a song, it would be Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift." In my mind, it was like a cleaner version of Robinne Lee's The Idea of You. It has everything you could want in an easy summer read: illicit romance + family drama + rich people problems + set in the countryside of a French chateau. Chefs kiss perfect. You're definitely going to want to add A Perfect Vintage to your summer reading list!

Thank you to Orsay Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book kept me interested from start to finish! Great imagery throughout and loved all of the characters and their development.

This novel was a beautiful story filled with some really great themes, including women's empowerment and independence, somehow without being "girlbossy." I felt that Lea was a well-rounded and dynamic character throughout the novel and I really enjoyed getting to learn more and more about her throughout. I found her complicated relationship with Stephanie realistic and heart-warming (in the end). While this book has a romance storyline, it is so much more, as are the lives of interesting women. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!

This book was very enjoyable and I found myself very involved in the entire story. I found at some times, things were described a little too much instead of being shown, but I felt like it got better as the story progressed.

The characters were likeable for the most part and the unlikeable parts were realistic, which I really like in characters. I wish that there was a bit more information on some of the side characters, but from what we saw of them I really enjoyed.

This book was a very fun summer read and will be great for the season.

If this book was a song, it would be Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift. If that isn’t enough to convince you to read it, this book is set in a dreamy chateau in the French countryside and features a romance between the mature, career-driven heroine and the much younger son of her boss. If you’re looking for your next beach read, look no further.

Read this if you love:
• Vacation romances
• The close proximity and age gap tropes
• Family drama (think Gossip Girl level drama but set in France)
• Strong female friendships

Thank you to Orsay Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

It had all of the right elements, but unfortunately this novel fell flat for me.

The plot was promising and the opportunities for drama were many, but I disliked Lea, the main character, and found myself unable to root for her or connect with the plot in any way because of that. Lea was her own worst enemy, and had she been able to set aside her workaholic tendencies and dropped her whole “But…I’m Old!” obsession (she’s 36…), she could’ve opened herself up to joyful relationships and so much more happiness.

As for the romance aspect, her attraction to and relationship with Theo seemed very sudden and didn’t have much build up. I would’ve liked for there to have been more obvious, mounting, real-life tension between them instead of just the attraction that was in Lea’s head which somehow ended up manifesting itself.

The writing was solid, and the plot had a lot of promise, but perhaps Lea just wasn’t the character for me. That being said I would give this author’s future work a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orsay Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Because my mom and I are planning a trip to Provence, I knew I wanted to read this book. And it definitely got me in the mood. Perhaps I need to clarify that a bit because A Perfect Vintage focuses on friendship AND a sizzling summer romance…with a younger man. So, no, it did not get me into the mood for that, thank you very much to my husband of 43 years. But it did get me excited to pack my bags.

Romance isn’t typically my favorite genre. I don’t like the predictability of them and, to be perfectly honest, I don’t like reading sex scenes even if they’re fairly mild. I don’t know what that says about me, but it’s true. A good kiss is about as far as I’m comfortable going! But this romance IS a fun summer read, and the steam factor is palatable for old fuddy-duddies like me.

Plus, there is enough depth to most of the characters to keep it interesting. The protagonist, Lea Mortimer, is a single woman who doesn’t have any children and who has developed a successful career helping clients transform their aging chateaus into boutique resorts. I haven’t read any other books in which this is the main character’s job and I found that fascinating. Sounds so glamorous until you get into the “reality” of what all it would involve.

Lea and her cousin, whose marriage is on its last leg, are best friends. When her cousin asks if she and her daughter can accompany Lea to France for the summer, Lea resists but eventually agrees to it. What unfolds is a messy tangle of romance and deception, with all the complications of two women in very different places in life trying to understand each other.

There’s a lot to love about A Perfect Vintage—the setting, old family money, wine and food, interesting professions—but my favorite aspects of the novel were how the author explored friendship and the May-December romantic relationship in which the woman is the “December.” Thanks so much to NetGalley and Orsay Press for my review copy.

This book took me about a third of the way into it to really get invested, but once I did I was hooked! The French landscapes, the excitingly unique job the main character has, the inter-character relationships, the romantic relationships with societally taboo age gaps, and the main character’s secret-filled summer all made this book intriguing and fun to read.

I feel like this would make such a fun miniseries and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a perfect summer read & a perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. It is slightly different type of book than I’m used to but I loved it because it reminded me of all the romcoms I used to love watching. Honestly, I’d love to see this book turned into a movie because it’d be amazing 🩷 if you like reading romance (doesn’t matter what type, you’ll still love it) 💋

I can across this book originally because I follow The Financial Diet's youtube page, and I always love Chelsea Fagan's commentary. She is a woman of many talents because this is the book of the summer! In this story we follow Lea, a 30 something independent career woman with no kids. Lea has her own business working with French chateau's and estates to transform them into luxury hotels. Naturally we are transported to France and all of the inner workings to get Hotel Chateau Victoire into shape. However, we get so much more out of this book than her time in France. Her cousin + her daughter last minute want to go with her due to her separation with her husband; she just needs to get away and France is the perfect place. There is lots family drama, age gap romance, idyllic French countryside vineyards, beautiful descriptions; it has it all. Love this and highly recommend!

A Perfect Vintage by Chelsea Fagan 4/5 star

First of all, Love this cover! It drew me in and I was excited to take a vacation via the text.

Who else wants to be in France for the summer? This book transports you there for a full American in Europe adventure of love, work, personal growth, and friendship.

Lea post break up decides to take a job in France and her bestie and her college aged daughter tag alongl. The setting of a villa is so descriptive that you are totally transported there. She is processing her life and finds herself falling for a hot younger man.

I love the style of this book, the language was elevated yet approachable. I felt like it was another type of story like "Emily in Paris" American abroad but yet fitting in and living the glam style.

To say this is the perfect summer read is an understatement—I may just read it again this summer by a pool with a Hugo spritz in hand. And I instantly wanted the sequel; I hope there will be one or I hope the author produces many more similar works out of her imprint. The setting is lush and transportive. The characters are surprisingly deep, believable, and dynamic. They are charming and they also screw up. Then they make amends. The female friendships are as central to the story as the romance. Speaking of the romance…it’s perfect. At times restrained; at times relentless. I will be recommending this to everyone who wants, all in one book, a getaway, a romance, and some sumptuously good writing.

Rich people- Check
Family drama- Check

Reminded me of Taylor Swift- Illicit affairs. Trust me, you want to read!!!

As a wine and travel lover I thought this book was perfect. I felt transported right to France. The writing was well done as was the story line. I will be reccomending tomy customers as a great summer or beach read. Thank you for the opportunity to check it out!

3.5

Talk about family drama.

A summer romance set in France. The setting in fab. However it was a bit slow paced for me.
It is spicy however not too spicy.
I felt as if I was transported into the French countryside this week.

When Lea and her cousin and daughter went to France and formed new relationships I felt it was too fast considering they were not properly formed. I also didn’t appreciate Lea lusting after a boy that was her cousin’s daughters age group as he liked her as well it was just a bit awkward for me.

It is a lovely romance novel especially with the settings.

I wish I could have gotten into this one more, but sadly I didn’t connect with the story or the main characters.

I loved the details of the south of France, the outfits, the atmosphere. The author did a superb job creating the scene, but Lea was so unlikeable and Stephanie was so frustrating, that I couldn’t appreciate those details as much as I wanted.

3/5 for me, but I would return to the author again in the future. Really good writer, the story just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a super slow burn. I wasn't sure what I was getting into besides a summer read. As you dive in deeper it revealed itself. I loved Lea character and doing whatever she can and putting herself first. She wasn't going to put someone before her until she met Theo. She had to go through some stuff on her own until she met him and fell in love.

4.5
Loved this escape to France that is equal parts sumptuous summer atmosphere and heavy hitting, believable emotional turmoil. Lea's relationships - to her work, to her family, and to her romantic life, are admirably nuanced and ring true in a way that is rare in its specificity and stickiness. This book doesn't frame "girlbossing" as aspirational, but it doesn't discount the value and purpose to be found in a woman's professional ambition either. Likewise, the exact type misogyny that Lea encounters as a single 36 year old woman without children is named and shamed without being preachy. AND there's a fantastic, supportive, hot romance with a younger man! It's a book that delivers on so many levels.

I really enjoyed A Perfect Vintage! The protagonist being a childfree woman in her 30s by choice was amazing. The setting in French wine country was super fun to read about. My only gripe is I felt like the build up for the romance storyline wasn’t really there, it felt like they all of a sudden were just obsessed with each other. Once it got going though I enjoyed them so much that I wasn’t bothered anymore. I really hope people pick this book up for a fun, well-written summer read!