I was OBSESSED with how cute this is! It reminded me of a hallmark mystery movie. Very cozy but also has you looking on your toes! Loved this!! Fantastic work, definitely recommend.

I ate this book up! This book is filled with humor like Schitt’s Creek and Only Murders in the Building and it was so fun. I was so invested in this mystery that I couldn’t go to bed until I figured out who done it.

Pomona, a Paris Hilton-esque hotel heiress, finds herself trying to solve her grandmother’s murder as her grandmothers’s will states that all accounts are frozen until the culprit is found. Pomona is thrust into the real world with no place to live, no job, and no skills - moving in with her nanny’s son is her only option. These two become novice detectives unearthing family secrets to solve the crime and unfreeze their expected inheritances.

Pomona learns the importance of surrounding yourself with people who love you fully, that money doesn’t buy happiness, and that she can prove herself even when others underestimate her.

This was such a fun and cozy mystery rom-com! While mostly lighthearted, there were some emotional moments that I loved so much.

I genuinely really loved Pomona. She had her moments of being stuck up and mean, but ultimately she’s a kind person. Gabe was just so lovely. Their team up was just so fun, cute, and hilarious. The side characters were interesting and fleshed out.

The mystery was so well done. While a bit predictable, I was still impressed with the execution of the story. The pacing was perfect. The writing was easy to read and fit the story well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I don’t normally read mystery rom-coms, but this made me want to explore this genre more! Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder and Bellamy Rose can So write a book! This was absolutely one of my most fun reads in a minute. Pom, a hotel heiress who finds her self suddenly cutoff following her grandmother's murder, is our leading lady taking us along with her as she learns to navigate the real word, solve a murder, and fall in love at the same time. Fans of Ally Carter will love this one!

Think of a hotel heiress like Paris Hilton, but losing everything because of a clause in a will. Because of the untimely death of her grandmother, Ponoma has to leave the Afton hotel with a bag in tote and move into an apartment, shared by Gabe, the son of Pom's old nanny. Rather than sitting around, Pom decides to try to solve the case herself. The story is a fun read, captivating writing from the start of the novel.

Okay, let’s start with the obvious: this book is exactly what you’d expect from a rom-com murder mystery—glitzy, snarky, and absurdly fun in concept. But like Pomona herself, it sometimes trips over its own designer stilettos trying to juggle the drama, the humor, and the whodunit.

Pomona Afton is every spoiled heiress stereotype wrapped in sequins and topped with a martini. She stumbles into her grandmother’s murder like she stumbles into every scene: clueless but fabulous. Her transformation from "Do I have to touch the subway pole?" to amateur sleuth is entertaining, if predictable. The problem? She’s more “TikTok influencer solving crimes for clout” than Nancy Drew. She’s hilarious, but her character growth feels rushed, like she suddenly trades her Louboutins for morality in the last 50 pages.

Then there’s Gabe, the grumpy hot guy from the wrong side of the wealth gap. He’s basically the human version of a fixer-upper: rough edges, hidden charm, and just enough emotional baggage to keep things spicy. The chemistry between him and Pom is chef’s kiss, but their enemies-to-lovers arc? Predictable as a Hallmark holiday movie, and I say that with love.

As for the murder mystery, let’s just say Grandma Afton’s murder had all the intrigue of an episode of Clue for Rich People. The setup is fun—paranoid society queen slips a “solve my murder or lose all the money” clause into her will—but the mystery itself feels like it’s playing second fiddle to the romance. Pom and Gabe’s sleuthing often veers into Scooby-Doo territory, minus the dog and with way more champagne.

What did work? The dialogue. The banter is on point, the insults are delightfully biting, and Pomona’s inner monologue could have its own reality show. The commentary on class differences hits some solid emotional beats, but it’s hard to take seriously when Pom complains about losing her penthouse while eating ramen for the first time.

Final thoughts: This book is like a sparkly cocktail at an exclusive party—fun, a little shallow, and best enjoyed with zero expectations. If you’re looking for a rom-com murder mystery with ridiculous antics and rich-people drama, this is for you.

I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

In this rom-com meets murder mystery, Pomona Afton, a spoiled hotel heiress, must investigate her grandmother’s suspicious death to unlock her frozen trust fund. Her grandmother’s will has a clause that freezes the family’s assets if her death isn’t explained. With no other options, Pomona moves in with Gabe, the son of her family’s former nanny. As they team up to solve the murder, Pomona finds herself growing emotionally and even falling for Gabe. But as the case unfolds, Pomona must decide if regaining her old life of luxury is worth the risk of losing him.

Genre: Murder Mystery, Romantic Comedy

Trope(s): Forced proximity

My personal rating system:
⭐ Not for me.
⭐⭐ I somewhat liked (some of) it.
⭐⭐⭐ I mostly liked and connected with it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.

My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.

Review:
“Afton Hotels wasn’t a family company in that all of its employees became family. It was family company in that the family in charge and nobody else mattered.”

I was excited to read this book before even before I realized that Bellamy Rose was Amanda Elliot’s pen name. She is such a fantastic writer. Who knew that “murder mystery meets rom com” was the genre I’ve been missing most in my life? I couldn’t put this book down (and admittedly stayed up hours after my bedtime to finish it). So, listen. I had the murderer figured out in the first third of the book (only because I kept pausing and putting my brain into overdrive to analyze the evidence), but then I kept second-guessing it because the author does such a good job with Pom’s investigation and what/when she learns specific information. Even once the murderer was revealed at the end, I was like “whoa, but that’s the motive!? Holy crap!” There is so much juicy goodness in this one. And don’t even get me started on Gabe and Pomona as a romantic duo. Their chemistry is beautiful, and their development as a romantic couple is a nice slow burn. I love that they both learn and grow together so that they’re both ready to be in a relationship with the other person. They have a lot of past traumas to reconcile with before they are ready to connect with someone from a different world. As for Pomona herself, I expected her to be insufferable at the beginning, but I actually liked her from the start. She clearly had some flawed thinking and views of the world, but that was a given considering her upbringing. Her personal viewpoints and growth in this book became my favorite part of the story.

I hope there are so many more Pomona books in the future. I would read a million of these.

The Cover: Yes, yes, yes! It captures the story 100%.

My Favorite Things:
• Pom’s first day at the coffee shop when Gabe hands her the “Rachel” nametag. I nearly melted.
• Gabe being on Bluetooth while Pom investigates her cousins at the spa. So much happened here that helped to build up their relationship.
• Pom always thinking about Doe on How to Slay and how she would handle the investigation.
• The identify reveal of RibbetRabbit TOOK ME OUT. I was laughing so hard.

A spoiled heiress must investigate her grandmother’s death in order to gain back her trust fund, all while discovering how to be her own person and maybe even in falling in love in this rom-com meets murder mystery.

When Pomona Afton, Upper East Side hotel heiress, stumbles out of a gala and upon the scene of her grandmother’s murder, her first thought is that the society queen won’t be missed for her kind, cookie-baking ways. In fact, she was mean, greedy, and paranoid—so paranoid that she secretly slipped a clause into her will mandating that, should she die an unnatural death, all the family assets get frozen. And if the “unnatural death” isn’t explained? Those accounts stay frozen.

Practically overnight, Pomona is locked out of her penthouse with no other option than to move in with a roommate: Gabe, the irritable (yet handsome) son of her former nanny. Not only is his apartment cramped, but it doesn’t even have a doorman. Or a chef! Pom needs someone to solve this murder, like, yesterday, so she can get her trust fund back.

And Gabe? He needs this murder solved because that’s the only way his mother, who toiled for the Afton family for years, will ever get the retirement money she deserves. As Pom’s family clams up, blocking the police at every turn, Pom quickly realizes that if she wants her glamorous life back, she’s going to have to put on her big-girl Manolos and do it herself…with the help of Gabe, who she’s falling for more and more by the day.

Can Pomona Afton (who previously couldn’t solve a crossword in the bath on a hungover Sunday) actually solve this murder? And if she does return to her former life of luxury, will it be worth the possibility of losing Gabe?

Super grateful to receive a digital ARC of this book.

There was the perfect amount of mystery and romance for me. I loved that Pomona spent a lot of the book reflecting on how her life changed in many ways after losing everything. Being conscious of how we live our lives is so important and sometimes we get so wrapped up in the now that we stay stagnant. We stop growing and learning. This was such a sweet book that dipped its toes into that. I love how encouraging Gabe was, he is exactly the kind of person Pomona needs on her life, Encouraging her, putting his faith in her, and enjoying her pastries.

My Instagram review will go up the week the book comes out.

A cozy mystery about a NYC socialite who loses everything and tries to solve her grandmother’s murder while also learning to bake. Oh and she also has a super cute new roommate. The FMC reminded me of Alexis Rose. A little in her own world, doesn’t realize her privilege, but is trying to be a better person and means well. The romance forced proximity plot was cute but just ok. I didn’t totally feel that type of chemistry between the characters. They seemed more like good friends.

Overall, the plot moved quickly and it was a fun read. Seemed like book two was teased at the end and I definitely would read it. 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books & NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, it was so cute and cozy. This book is great for those who love a good mystery with a side of romance. One of my favorite parts is that it is well written and on the shorter side so if you are looking for a fun and quick read this is it.

I love Pomona so much, she’s like what I imagine Paris Hilton was in the early 2000s, but sweeter. The tone of this was perfect, poking a little fun at her while giving her room to grow and start taking herself seriously, and it was just so cute at the same time as being a solid, entertaining mystery. I would love to see this become a series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Bellamy Rose for the opportunity to read this early!

Imagine a crossover between Only Murders in the Building and Gossip Girl—it’s packed with drama, laugh-out-loud moments, and a mystery so twisty it kept me guessing until the end (I didn’t piece it together until 80% through!). The writing is sharp, clever, and effortlessly engaging, making it impossible to put down.

Pomona Afton, the FMC, is a character you can’t help but root for. She starts off spoiled and unaware, but her growth throughout the story is incredibly satisfying and adds depth to the narrative.

This book is the perfect pick for a cozy weekend or whenever you want something fun, fast-paced, and addictive. I highly recommend it and am putting it on my must-read list. If you’re a fan of juicy mysteries with a dash of rom-com, this book deserves a top spot on your TBR.

Ever wondered how Paris Hilton would react if she had to investigate a murder? Neither have I, but this book answers it. Simply put: it's a fun time. Pom is over-the-top, completely out of touch, yet extremely down to earth. It worked well to have the character be ridiculous, because cozy mysteries are ridiculous by nature. Her character development was the best part of the story, especially in her recognition of her own intelligence. Do I wish the mystery itself was a little less predictable? Sure. But ultimately I had a great time reading this, and I think others will too :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

So first of all, WOW! I was not expecting what happened, and usually I am one to discover the plots. Without wanting to give any spoilers, I can honestly say that this book is funny, cute and mysterious. It has it all. I will totally reccomend you do yourself a favor and read this book. It is a short cute read, lighthearted (somewhat if we forget the murder) and honestly amazing.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Bellamy Rose for the opportunity to read this ARC, I am truly honored and happy to have had this chance. Can't wait to read whatever comes next.

First - thank you to Atria books for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give unbiased feedback.

When I received the email from Atria asking if I would be interested in reviewing this book, their description grabbed me immediately. It sounded like something I would absolutely love. And while I do feel like the idea was good, I don't feel like it was executed very well. I lived in the Upper West Side of New York City for years, and though I do feel like the personality quirks of a spoiled rich girl were absolutely correct, there were just so many things I couldn't get past. Like how the girl that has never cooked anything in her life is a baking savant. I did get a hefty laugh out of the "shame" in living in Queens, though. I also felt like the writing was very, very juvenile and I couldn't get past that, either.

2/5 stars from me. I would still read more from Bellamy Rose, but this one didn't do it for me.

This was such a fun, low-stakes read! It’s about Pomona Afton, a spoiled heiress who has to solve her grandmother’s murder to unlock her frozen trust fund. The catch? Her grandmother wasn’t exactly beloved, and everyone’s motives are all about the money. With no penthouse or doorman to fall back on, Pom ends up living with Gabe, the grumpy (but cute!) son of her former nanny.

It’s totally predictable and a bit ridiculous (no one even mourns the grandma!), but it gave me total Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen *detective vibes.* A light, silly, and super cute read!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!

“Delightful” is not a word often used to describe a murder mystery, but Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder was truly a delight!

-Riches to rags
-Spoiled hotel heiress
-Murdered grandmother
-Only Murders in the Building meets Gossip Girl meets The Simple Life
-Roommate-turned-love interest

I will say that the premise was pretty campy, but please just suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

I had so much fun with this book! It’s everything I love in a light read—romance, humor, and just enough mystery to keep things moving. Pomona Afton, our rich-girl-turned-amateur-sleuth, might be clueless and spoiled at the start, but she’s so likable you can’t help but root for her. She’s never mean, just hilariously out of her element, which made her journey of self-discovery so satisfying to watch.

And Gabe? He’s the perfect balance to Pomona’s chaos—kind, supportive, andsweet. I especially loved how he introduced her to baking, something that became so much more than just a hobby for her. Their romance gave me all the classic romcom vibes—sweet, slow-burn, and full of chemistry. I found myself smiling every time they shared a scene.

The relationships in this story really stood out to me. Pom’s growth felt so real as she figured out who she was beyond her wealth and privilege. Watching her gain confidence and build genuine connections, especially with Gabe, was heartwarming.

The murder mystery was fun, even if it wasn’t super intricate. I’ll admit, their detective skills were... let’s call them “creative,” but that just added to the charm. It felt more about the journey than the destination, and I was totally okay with that.

If you’re looking for a light, feel-good story with strong character development, sweet romance, and a few laughs, this is it. It’s the perfect pick-me-up book, and I’d definitely recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun, quick read! Imagine if Blair Waldorf was forced to solve a murder alongside Dan to get her inheritance and you’ve got Pomona Afton Solves a Murder. The plot and character development was fairly surface level but it kept the book fast paced and easy to read. Would recommend for a lighthearted beach read.