Another great one from Mindy's Book Studio. She has a 100% success rate, I have loved every book under her brand that I have read.

Friends in Napa is a book that is pure entertainment. It's so captivating and I loved the diversity of the characters.

The synopsis and the first chapter did grab my attention. But the rest.. it was missing something. These despicable people never redeem themselves, and their issues are seriously first world problems. If only those were the issues. But it was entertaining to a certain degree. Its like the trash TV, where everyone wants to be with someone else, or be someone else.. and there's an undercurrent of jealousy and hate. The end was very convenient. Not much of a shock after, just the after affects of bitter taste in your mouth that never leaves.
Don't expect more than just a character study, without much growth. Even our MC doesn't really get a redemption, she just realizes she can be whatever she wants because she has "grown up".

Just a train wreck I wanted to finish to see where it was going.. but it didn't really go anywhere. So there's that. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

Having been captivated by the narrative of my first experience with a desi author earlier this year - an Amina Akthar novel from Mindy's Book Studio - I approached Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar with eager anticipation. Sadly, this book left me profoundly disappointed.

Instead of a meticulously crafted mystery, readers are inundated with disjointed scenes, erratic character developments, and an absence of cohesive storytelling. Characters, supposedly mature adults in their forties, exhibit behavior more akin to petulant teenagers, lacking depth and authenticity.

The narrative was bogged down by excessive detail on luxury brands, ego clashes, and superficial relationships. The buildup to the supposed murder was non-existent, the intrigue non-existent and overshadowed by inconsequential subplots and unresolved conflicts.

As I skimmed through pages hoping for a resolution, I found myself disappointed by the lacklustre execution of the murder scene and the rushed conclusion in the epilogue.

What a fabulous thriller. I loved the way that old college friendships play such a big part of this read. The fact that it’s set in Napa was awesome! I also enjoyed the way everything ties together.

Got hooked just from the first new chapters. I love friendship drama! And this gave me college friends on navigating how to maintain their relationships. So much gossip and drama that kept me hooked all throughout. The book also tackles the hardships of marriage, living with kids, and maintaining a good career/work life. The thriller part is a bonus.

THis one was not for me. I wasn't able to get into it. I didn't like the characters and it seemed a bit superficial. Someone looking for a quick summer read may want to try this one, but it wasn't my favorite.

From the author of The Goddess Effect, comes a thrilling new novel set on a vineyard in Napa Valley. This time we follow Raj and Rachel Ranjani, and their closest friends who are there to celebrate the opening of the Ranjani’s winery. Tensions build in the lead up to the grand opening, so much so that one friend ends up dead.

Refreshing and brilliantly fun, Friends in Napa is Marikar’s best in class travel writing combined with an entertaining cast of characters. The result: a cocktail made up of secrets, money, power and a high dose of drama. I could not put this one down.