⭐️ 4/5 | 🌶️ 2/5
First person narrative | Single Narrative
Pomona is a New York City socialite who lives a spoiled life in her family’s luxurious hotels. That all comes to a a halt when the heiress stumbles across her grandmother’s death. She may not miss the mean hag, but a recent update to her will means that Pomona must take matters into her own hands and solve the murder herself if she wants her luxurious lifestyle and trust fund.
Along the way of her investigation she does some major soul searching and discovers her own persona. No one’s ever had high expectations for her and she’s never been taken seriously. Not only does she find something she’s passionate about and GOOD at, she also learns the strength of standing up for herself, being genuine and humble, and showing gratitude and humility. She realizes too who she wants to keep closest to her and who she needs to set firm boundaries with.

It took just a little bit for me to really get into because I wasn’t sure how much more of the ditzy, self absorbed, obnoxious rich girl charade I could handle. At times the details seemed a little excessive in getting the point across. The toxic relationships she has with her family were disheartening but really played a role with her character development.
It would’ve been nice to get more of a personality from Gabe’s character, and more SWOON. I was also really missing the SPICE and wanted more steamy chemistry and tension.

My favorite genre mashup is Mystery RomComs so I was SO excited to read this book and I look forward to reading more from Bellamy Rose.

Many thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me this advanced reader copy of the book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Pomona’s character arc is where this book shines. She starts off hilariously oblivious, but watching her navigate the real world—learning how to budget, discovering a love for baking, and slowly piecing together her grandmother’s secrets—makes her transformation so satisfying. And while the romance with Gabe is more of a slow simmer than a fiery burn, their dynamic is full of sharp banter, reluctant teamwork, and just the right amount of tension.

The mystery itself is engaging, with twists and turns that keep the story moving at a quick pace. The mix of complicated family drama and high-society scandal adds plenty of intrigue, making it impossible to put down. My only minor complaint? I would have loved a bit more romance, but honestly, the murder-solving hijinks and Pomona’s hilarious inner monologue more than make up for it.

(Review will be posted on my blog a week prior to release, March 11th, 2025)

This is a cozy mystery with a touch of romance and character growth. The story follows Pomona Afton, a spoiled heiress whose life is turned upside down when her wealthy grandmother is murdered. A clause in her grandmother's will freezes all family assets until the murderer is found, forcing Pomona to leave her luxurious lifestyle behind.

Pomona moves in her former nanny’s son, Gabe, and begins to navigate the real world for the first time. As she struggles to adapt, she discovers a passion for baking and starts to grow as a person. Determined to solve the mystery, Pomona investigates her grandmother's death, uncovering secrets and unexpected twists along the way. The story blends humor, heart, and suspense, with Pomona's transformation and her budding romance with Gabe adding depth to the narrative.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder seamlessly weaves romance into its cozy mystery, creating a narrative that flows effortlessly. The chemistry between Pomona and Gabe adds depth to the story without overshadowing the suspenseful plot. Watching Pomona grow from a sheltered heiress into a determined sleuth is both heartwarming and inspiring. Her journey through challenges feels authentic, and you find yourself rooting for her every step of the way.

The book’s quick pace and engaging style make it a delightful read, perfect for cozy mystery lovers looking for a touch of romance and character development. Highly recommend it as an entertaining and satisfying escape!

I enjoyed this book! It was a light-hearted mystery that I didn't know I needed at the time. Despite being a wealthy heiress, Pomona's character is relatable, and her transformation was great to watch.

The (some) secondary characters were also lovable. And the author wasn't afraid to show complicated family dynamics. I honestly didn't think I'd like this book as much as I did! I only wish we got more romance.

Bellamy Rose’ debut novel is a fun read with quirky characters, back stories, laughs and romance. Rose gives us a peek into NYC high society and the psyche of a “poor” little rich girl forced to find her way.

Afton Hotel heiress, Pomona Afton, is an overly indulged twenty-something until her grandmother is brutally murdered and her family loses access to their privileged lifestyle. With hopes of solving the murder and resuming her fairy tale life Pomona jumps into sleuthing and the story takes off!

This is a welcome rom-com read that you will definitely enjoy. I hope Bellamy Rose is working on her next story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was absolutely adorable! The note inside side by the editor described it as Paris Hilton if she was starring in “Only Murders in the Building” and that is it exactly! Pomona is an “Afton” and lives in the Afton Hotel in NYC. Her grandmother is the matriarch of the family and real POS. She winds up murdered and her will freezes the families assets since she passed in a “unnatural” way until her killer can be brought to justice.

Pomona has always been somewhat mistreated and neglected by her family so she has virtually no confidence in her street smarts, but she decides to take it upon herself to solve the murder to get her lifestyle back. Along the way, she grows up a lot and even starts to fall in love with her old nanny’s son.

I loved this journey and Pom’s inner dialogue was hilarious and heartfelt. The murderer was a surprise and I loved watching her gain confidence in herself and navigating the “real world”. My only complaint was she seemed to become an expert baker overnight which seemed a bit unrealistic lol.

Overall though I would recommend this if you’re looking for a no spice murder mystery rom-com!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Hotel heiress Pomona Afton has exactly one thing to do in life: whatever the hell makes her happy. After nearly thirty years of sucking on that silver spoon, Pom (yes, Pom) fills her days with brunching, shopping, gala-attending, and not much else. While her older brother is poised to take over the family empire, Pom (and her family) gave up any hope of her pulling her own weight long ago (not that she hasn't tried, and failed). But when granny is brutally murdered, and the funds are frozen until the crime is solved, the most unlikely candidate to get her designer shoes dirty investigating is... well... Pom.

This book was so much fun! The murder mystery was full of twists, and it never felt <I>completely</I> unrealistic. But really the best part of this story for me was Pom's development. Rose did a fantastic job of making a spoiled, lazy, self-centered character actually lovable (which is no small feat), and her growth believable. At her core, Pom had always been a kind and generous individual, but, much like any of us would we continually tore down by family and propped by up with money, she had some serious issues to start working through.

A great addition to any modern cozy mystery fan's library, I'll be waiting with bated to breath to find out if Pomona Afton will return in another story!

enchanting. Pomona was an awesome main character. Very Elle Woods-ish in general vibes! Gabe was a cool LI, and the others were definitely distinct and cool. I'm hyped for the next one!! 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a cute and cozy mystery with some romance thrown in. I enjoyed it well enough but for me it also personally fell flat a lot. I was not invested that much in these characters or the mystery, and the pacing was a little off. I found myself skimming. I'd love to see more from this author though, there were parts that had me laughing a lot!!

2.25⭐️
thank you NetGalley for the eARC, this is my honest review!
once again, the premise is good but the book doesn’t execute it well.
the fmc is insufferable. I get that she’s supposed to be this out of touch heiress, and she does sorta grow/change, but some things she says/does/thinks are just too much for me to overlook. her character could have been written so much better than this.💔
the murder mystery was super predictable and every step the mcs took in solving it was way too convenient.
the mcs either needed to be written better, or needed to be aged down; they act/speak/think like teenagers but are almost 30…?
(lowkey this book could work as YA if some aspects like age changed. it doesn’t work as adult tho, imo)
also, there were some minor grammar errors and inconsistencies, but that could just be the arc copy?

I thought the book sounded intriguing but the characters just ruined it for me. I was a fan of either the FMC or MMC. The mystery wasn't so great that it kept my attention. I really struggled to finish this one.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Was pretty intrigued by the premise of this. Pictured some kind of fun blend of Schitt’s Creek and Only Murders In the Building. Story was interesting enough if not overly complex. I struggled with the lead character. I think I went in hoping for Alexis Rose but what I got was a lot less charming and not as likable, This also had a knock on effect on the romance for me. A quick easy read but not really for me. 2.5 🌟

pomona afton had it all - money, fame & popularity - all thanks to her rich family
but once her cruel grandmother gets brutally murdered, all of their funds get cut off until the murder is solved.
pomona begins to accept her new life with no job, money or prospects … & moves in with her old nanny’s son gabe.
gabe convinces pomona to try and solve the murder of her grandmother to restore her access to her family funds while also helping her adjust to normal life.

what a cute book! it was a very light read.
nothing too intense & i wasn’t dying to solve it or finish the book, but i liked it!
such a cute plot & i think it did what it intended to do.

thank you netgallery for this arc !!

Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder by Bellamy Rose is funny, heartwarming and cozy- also a mystery!
She's a lovable, messy heroine, a there's "enemies-to-allies" romance, and a mystery that was fun to read. I enjoyed this book.

4 stars ⭐️ This was such a fun cozy mystery read! It was giving Only Murders in the Building vibes. The humor was spot on! The romance is totally clean. It was a refreshing read after a heavy month of steamy romances for me in February.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick read. Cute & cozy, whodunnit mystery.

Thank you Atria & Emily Bestler Books for granting me an ARC! All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.

DNF. I was sent this book a few months back and have not had any interest in picking it up. I know it is a romance, mystery, humorous book, but I do not like mystery books because it makes my anxiety bad.

Hotel heiress Pomona finds her grandmother murdered and her inheritance frozen until the death is explained. Rooming with her former nanny’s attractive but grumpy son Gabe, Pomona must solve the murder herself to regain her fortune and secure Gabe’s mother’s retirement.

This novel is just as much fun as it sounds. Pomona is sympathetic and, despite her party girl lifestyle, quickly takes responsibility for herself. The romance is emotional and the mystery plot suspenseful.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Right from the start, this is such a wonderful read. It’s a perfect mix of romance and mystery while remaining an easy read!

Pomona Afton, a privileged heiress, finds herself in a situation unlike anything she has ever experienced before. She needs to solve the mystery of her grandmother’s murder in order to access her trust fund. After getting kicked out of the hotel where she lives, Pomona moves in with her former nanny's son, Gabe. Together, they work to solve her grandmother's murder so that Pomona can get her life back.

There is lots of adventure and humor throughout while also demonstrating Pomona’s growth and self-discovery throughout the entire ordeal.

Overall, this book was delightfully charming and so good! The characters were very well written and the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance between Pomona and Gabe was also super sweet and they had awesome chemistry. A great cozy mystery/romcom with lots of interesting moments!

i actually LOVED this!! just what i needed after reading romcoms back to back in febuary 🙏 the mystery and romance was so perfect. i loved the writing style and the character arcs were amazing.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review