Member Reviews
I loved the aspect of the two main characters not being made perfectly for each other and I feel that it helped this book feel more realistic in terms of its romantic aspect.
However I could not with the cringey sayings, and there was just a lot of random all over the place where I feel like another round of editing may have done some good — perhaps this is just the authors writing though. If thats rhe case perhaps the author just is not for me.
I fell in love with the cover, title and blurb but the book itself did not hit like I expected.
This is Book 1 of the
Flora Valley Series and is the story of Shelby and Nate.
Shelby's Dad died, and her Mum wants to sell of the winery. .. something Shelby is very much against.
After enlisting an investor, in walks Nate... the man in charge of making the winery a success, so it isn't sold off!
The story itself is very sweet - boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, girl eventually does too and the backdrop of being in a winery is quite unique.
I was left with many questions unanswered on the other characters, so I was over the moon to realise that Catherine's next book in the series IS OUT NOW!
I loved Shelby as a character. She is strong and incredibly smart. It was obviously so hard to ask for help to save the winery, but she did! Plus, she has the pairence of a Saint with Nate 😆.
I love how she can't swear at all and comes out with all these alternatives, with most being very British... As a Brit, it's hilarious as you don't expect this!
Nate. Nate is a good character too, but he had to grow on me, whereas Shelby I loved from the start... Nate has serious jerk vibes initially, but as we learn about his past, we see a decent guy who has been burned.
Their love development is pretty fast, and I mean whiplash fast. This isn't usually a trope I get on with, but coupled with the winery story, it did seem to work quite nicely.
Afterall... we need our Nate to keep hanging around to help Shelby make a success of the business!
When I got into it, I ended up enjoying this story, and I've just bought Book 2... it's the Ava/Cam story, which I was dying to read more on, so I'm definitely a happy bunny now
Coupled with an iconic looking cover, this is a great little read summertime and winter alike!
I really tried to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like any of the characters, and for me, that’s a huge selling point. I also thought the love scenes were icky & I ended up skimming through them.
The things that initially drew me to this book are the cover for this one is adorable and I thought the title was super clever. I ended up DNF'ing this one because the writing style wasn't for me. There were too many random references, weird cringy sayings and too much out there stream of consciousness for me to care much about the story that was being told.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.
Before reading this book the tropes caught my eye (grumpy x sunshine and small town ❤️)
The fact that they are not 100% made for each other made this more realistic as many other books I have read have just been love at first sight and she falls first and he falls harder. I love the work love as well it’s just so good to see more jobs represented instead or just coffee shops!
I was hooked right away in this one! If there is an Enemies to Lovers trope I am going to like it. The characters had great development and I was surprised how much I liked them! Definitely recommend!
Boink-bonk...that threw me for a loop. Anyways....take Tessa Bailey's vineyard romance series, make the characters have some sexual tension and some fun characters around them and its a lighthearted fluffy read. You know what you're getting into.
Corkscrew You by Catherine Robertson is a humorous, easy read novel. It tells the story of protagonist Shelby, a woman navigating the complexities of midlife as she finds herself tangled in a series of unexpected events whilst trying to save her fathers vineyard business. With sharp wit and vibrant character portrayals, Robertson crafts a story that is equal parts comedy, self-discovery, and subtle romance.
Shelby is an instantly relatable and down-to-earth heroine, dealing with the messiness of life with humour and resilience. The secondary characters, ranging from the eccentric locals to the enigmatic love interest, are vividly drawn, adding depth and warmth to the story. .
I am already looking forward to finding out what happens next
Corkscrew You was a cute rom-com centered around a family winery. It was a quick enemies to lovers plot line but I also felt that the story was rushed and it could’ve been better explained their relationship a little bit more differently. But thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the e-ARC.
I struggled to get into this, I found the characters quite difficult to like and connect with which made me feel less invested in the storyline. I think this was just a personal thing as the book itself was well written with a decent storyline.
I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.
Thank you Netgalley and Catherine Robertson, for the e-arc. All opinions are my own, and are being left voluntarily.
This was a cute read, despite the falling head over heels that happened instantly.
A charming but somewhat predictable romance. I liked the vivid descriptions of the wine country and the chemistry between Shelby and Nathan. The story offers a cozy escape with a touch of spice.
Many thanks to HarperCollins and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Adorable romance. Reminds me of a hallmark movie in a book but with more spice. Can’t wait to read more from the author. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!
"Corkscrew You" by Catherine Robertson is a lively and entertaining novel that combines humor, romance, and a touch of sass in a delightful package. Robertson’s witty and sharp writing brings to life a story filled with sparkling dialogue, memorable characters, and a plot that twists as cleverly as a corkscrew. The novel centers around a protagonist who finds themselves navigating the ups and downs of life, love, and perhaps a bit too much wine, in a setting that is as charming as it is chaotic.
The title itself hints at the playful tone of the book, and Robertson doesn’t disappoint, delivering a story that is as much about self-discovery and resilience as it is about the intricacies of relationships. The characters are relatable and endearing, each bringing their own quirks and complexities to the narrative. As the protagonist deals with unexpected challenges and romantic entanglements, Robertson masterfully balances humor with heartfelt moments, making "Corkscrew You" a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Perfect for fans of contemporary romantic comedies with a bit of an edge, "Corkscrew You" is a fun and refreshing novel that will leave readers both laughing out loud and rooting for its characters to find their happy endings. Catherine Robertson has crafted a story that is as effervescent and satisfying as a glass of fine wine, making it a must-read for anyone looking for a good time between the pages.
It was ok. A cute rom com. However the enemies to lovers aspect was extremely rushed and could have been expanded on to make me care about the romance. It left me wanting more.
After losing her father, Shelvy Armstrong takes over the family business - running an entire winery. After the loss of her dad, the winery took a big hit in sales. Shelby’s determination keeps the winery afloat, but with the arrival of Nathan Durant, who is hired to help Shelby with turning the winery around.
This book surrounded the topics of grief, illness and mental health issues. This aspect I did like as any book that has mental health representation is doing something right.
The two main characters of this book were my least favourite for a variety of reasons. Let's start with Nathan Durnant… Now the longer this book went on, the more I started to dislike Nate’s character. He was genuinely all over the place, especially with his feelings towards Shelby. I understand his background and that he had a lot going on with his dad refusing treatment for his illness, however that does not give you the right to be a shitty person - there I said it. When they first meet, he doesn’t take well to Shelby. I appreciate he did just have a bad ending to his previous relationship that just happened prior to meeting Shelby. That was a big reason for Nate moving away, I’m assuming to have some form of fresh start. I understand Nate’s hesitancy to form a relationship with Shelby, as they would be mixing business with pleasure, Nate doesn’t want to let Shelby down. Moreover, he doesn’t want to let his guard down again and have his heart broken. I genuinely do feel that Nate struggles with low self esteem issues. His thought process about Shelby really had me thrown, it was such a rollercoaster ride. One minute he hated her then he loved her, then he was trying to stay away from her, to then wanting to be with her forever? I just couldn’t connect with their relationship, the story was far too short to get any real sense of character development. It was always really hard to keep up with, and got to the point it felt a bit repetitive. His dislike towards Cam was just totally unreasonable!! I really did not like the infatuation with Petra, it was quite weird.
Onto Shelby… I am torn with her because I felt like she would let Nate away with a lot. She kind of came across as a bit of a pushover. You can really get a sense of her grief after the loss of her dad, and how important the wine valley means to her. She is willing to put everything on the line for the valley. This shows Shelby’s determination. I loved that Shelby had a strong unit of friends that were there to support her no matter what happened in her life.
The relationship between Shelby and Nate unfortunately didn’t work for me, it felt unrealistic and rushed. I’m sure this whole book takes place in a short two weeks. And I’m sorry, but the spicy scenes felt really immature and a bit icky… (Not including the pie scene).
Side characters such as Ava and Cam, I did like. I liked Ava’s honestly and that she did not beat around the bush. Her character was fiery and she was a persistent character within the story. She seemed to be Nate’s rock in terms of being there during the hard moments in his life. She is strong, but her character seems to be things very close to her chest. I would really enjoy seeing a bit more about her life. This can be said for Cam too, he seems to have a lot to unpack with his character, he definitely gives off those mysterious vibes.
Thank you to Netgalley for this E-ARC!
✨ Publication date: July 5, 2024✨
Corkscrew You is an enemy to lovers, Insta love story by Catherine Robertson. It’s also the first book in the Flora Valley series.
Shelby Armstrong needs help. After her beloved father dies and leaves her their small winery to run, she is desperate to keep it open and thriving. Unfortunately her father wasn’t a great businessman and the financials aren’t fabulous.
In her desperation, Shelby seems out an investor who agrees to pump some much needed money into the business. However, the one caveat is he’s sending his own business manager to oversee the business operations, Nathan Durant.
Nathan comes from a family of overachievers and he’s recently been in France overseeing another successful winery overhaul. Helen knows emotions don’t mix with business but didn’t expect the instant chemistry he felt after meeting Shelby Armstrong.
Will Shelby and Nate be able to see beyond their business arrangement and come together as a couple? Or will their relationship never quite get off the ground?
I thought this book was okay. I liked the writing and it was a quick read. Insta love is probably my least favourite trope and I had a tough time believing the bond between Shelby and Nate in such a short time. There was also quite a few miscommunications and misunderstandings in a short period of time. I would read another book in the series though to see if the characters are a bit more developed. This is a 3 star read for me.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #catherinerobertson #corkscrewyou
Shelby's been managing her father's flailing winery since his death. The only investor she can find to save the winery brings in a new business manager, Nathan, and it's hate at first sight. Shelby worries that Nathan is going to get rid of all the personal touches that makes the winery unique, while Nate's just trying to make it profitable. As time goes on, Shelby and Nate have to learn to trust each other if their winery, and their relationship, is going to survive.
I was hoping for a cute winery romance, in the vein of Tessa Bailey's "A Vine Mess" series. This was a serious case of insta-love, which is never my favorite. Shelby was almost uncomfortably naive, and Nate's separate storyline about his father's illness felt too heavy for such a light romance, though I understood the parallel the author was trying to create with Shelby's experiences. I knew facts about the characters, but never really got a full picture, which didn't make me inclined to really care about Shelby and Nate's relationship. This could easily be a Hallmark movie, short and sweet, and all wrapped up in two hours or less.
Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for the eARC
I'm loving these romance novels, they're all written so well and the plotline play out really well. The characters are likeable and I love the way they interact and the way the storyline is written, it really was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.