I want to say Laura Piper Lee puts the COM in RomCom because this book was funny as hell, but you know what? She put the ROM in full force also! This book was full of steamy scenes and brilliant one-liners, I had a blast reading it. I hope we get more books about the other friends in this crew, because they were all a blast, and I loved seeing more from Hannah and River!

I really enjoyed Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair & was super stoked to get the ARC for this book! This one started out promising but quickly went downhill for me. The plot was moving too slowly, Zoe's reactions to things were a bit much/over the top and some things were just a bit too ridiculous for me to be able to continue. My favorite part of this was the queer rep! Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

This is a fairly amusing romcom, mostly fluffy but with some sadder emotional beats. It feels very cinematic and I could practically picture myself sitting in a movie theater and watching the antics play out. This was a cute, fun, spicy sapphic romance. Overall if you're looking for a sapphic romance story based at a wine vineyard, this would be a pleasant one to pick up.

I’m not gonna lie, I don’t know whether I’ll remember much about this story in the future, but I had a lot of fun listening to it. From the very beginning. I didn’t expect a super hot blindfolded threesome in the first chapter and it kept me entertained during my daily elliptical trainer session. I mean, I just had to know who the third woman was, or rather, get confirmation, and so my exercise stretch that day lasted longer than usual. So yeah, Zoe Brennan, First Crush starts with an almost literal bang. Since her mother’s death when Zoe was twelve, her dad has worked hard to keep their Georgia winery going, to keep the dream alive. Now thirty, Zoe is in charge of marketing, and doing her best to put their small vineyard on the map. Hosting this year’s edition of a huge wine festival would be an amazing opportunity and Zoe won’t let Rachel, her ex-BFF turned enemy, steal it from her. Alas, her father is suddenly called to Italy to be with his sick mother, and to replace him as vintner, he hires Rachel’s Napa-trained older sister and, more importantly, Zoe’s first crush.

The chemistry between Zoe and Laine is electric and I love that the one night stand to forever trope mixed with a dash of enemies to lovers turns temporarily into a very slow burn, testing Zoe’s limits as well as the reader/listener. The pacing is a bit uneven but the quick-witted dialogues sprinkled with slapstick comedy kept my interest up. The narration by Lindsey Dorcus works perfectly, each voice fitting its character well, in turns mischievous and vulnerable.

If you’re into quirky secondary characters, mad goats, sexy athletes turned vintners, and Nellie Oleson wannabes, this book is for you.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee!

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I tried multiple times, but just could not feel any connection to the protagonist... and the writing just did not hit for me. A lot of it did not feel true to my personal experience as queer woman, but that's just me! I appreciate what the author was trying to do, and think this one could be great for other readers. Thank you for the chance to read and review!

Unfortunately this book was boring to me. It is possible I just wasn't in the right mood to read it, as the premise sounded really cute. I am dissapointed but I may come back to this one in the future.

This was my first WLW book I’ve read and I loved it!!! There was something so palpable, real, and beautiful about the love story and the connection between our main character and love interest. I enjoyed the plot and the banter. The side characters were hilarious and charming.

• when tasked with managing her family’s vineyard, zoe is surprised when the temporary vintner replacing her father is the sister of her ex-bff-turned-business-rival, laine. not only is she zoe’s queer awakening, but they also had a surprising one-night-stand the day before laine’s first day. can the two of them put their differences aside to save the winery?
• this book was such a delightful surprise??? i was really rooting for zone & laine, and even though this book had a third-act breakup (*eyeroll*), the ending was very satisfying!
• this was a lot smuttier than i was anticipating, so be aware if that’s not what you’re looking for in a romcom!

This book gives all the feelings! It's funny and angsty and sizzling 🥵

It flowed well and kept me interested. I really love the setting! Like hellooo? I'm packing my bags 😂

It should go without mention that I looooved seeing sapphic love 🧡🤍🩷

What could go wrong (or right😉) with your ex bff’s older sister/your first real crush/world renowned winemaker coming back to your small town to moonlight as a winemaker at you family’s vineyard for months while your winemaker dad goes to his home country for an extended stay to look after your aging Nonna?!

This book was the best mix of funny, heartfelt, and warm, fuzzy, and spicy feelings in true @laurapiperlee fashion! Another absolutely wonderful 5 star read!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book!

⅘ stars.

Tropes:
-childhood friends(ish)
-first crush EVER
-forced proximity
-workplace romance
-small town romance
-sapphic

Trigger/content warnings: death of a parent (off page), death of grandmother (off page)
*check all content warnings please!


Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee was SO fun. This book had a lot of moving parts but it really worked for me. Zoe runs a vineyard with her father. She has lived on the vineyard her whole life and when her mother passed away when she was twelve, she started helping her dad run it. The vineyard on the land right next to theirs is the rival vineyard that her ex-best friend runs so when a prestigious wine festival comes to town, Zoe must get the spot to host before her rival Rachel can. While all this is happening her first gay crush, laine, is back in town for a visit.

The side characters in this book are fun, and even stronger if you’ve read the first book set in this town, Hannah Tate Beyond Repair. The small town vibes are so strong and cozy and I'm trying to figure out how to join the ‘queer mountaineers’ group. Personally I felt this ending was a bit rushed, and the pacing was a little off but I was having so much fun with this book it did not bother me enough to stop reading, or to feel a certain way about the book. I really love how Zoe and Laine are written.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square and co. publishing for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #sapphicromance #sapphicbookreview #sapphicbooks #sapphicbook #queerbooks #queerreaders

A cute romance that brings you the homey feels 💓

Enemies to lovers
Winery
Friends to enemies
LGBTIQA

This is a delightful and emotional read that will captivate fans of lighthearted, humorous, and heartwarming romance, particularly those who enjoy stories about found family, sapphic love, and overcoming grief, making it a perfect fit for readers who crave a feel-good, LGBTQIA+ romance with a touch of humor and a whole lot of heart.

A mix of tackling grief and insecurity with a high spice level that started at just 6% in. I enjoyed this one and it made me want to read the first connected standalone, as well.

This book was such a delight to read - it felt like a breeze getting through! It was witty, heartfelt and laugh out loud funny. The gay representation was done so well and the sapphic love story has quickly become one of my new favorites. It was definitely spicy but also done in what I felt was a tasteful way. The rivalry between Rachel and Zoe kept me intrigued and I was glad to see how it all resolved in the end. I’m so happy to have read an ARC of this and am definitely excited to now add Laura Piper Lee’s other books to my TBR! Her writing style was simply divine and so easy to digest. I need more to this story!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐈 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲’𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬, 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐈 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬. “𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐨𝐨?” 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭. “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜?”

OH MY GOD this book is so good. It's such a horny slow burn, which I am a sucker for. But it's got so much heart and love and passion.

Audio note - Lindsey Dorcus narrated this alone and was SO good. Absolutely loved her portrayal of Zoe.

This book is single person POV but I didn't even mind it. Zoe grew up on her family's winery and knew she was gay from her first look at her best friend's older sister, Laine. But when Zoe's family winery needs help and Laine is back from wine country in need of a job, Laine becomes Zoe's vitner.

Zoe has never had anyone stay for her, and Laine is out to prove that she's all in for her.

And did I mention it was horny? We have a blindfolded threesome, masturbation in front of a window, face sitting and so much sapphic goodness this book is equal parts sweet and spicy. I was laughing and kicking my feet and everything was just so good.

“𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰, 𝐙𝐨𝐞, 𝐈 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐝.” 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭,” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞. “𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝?”

The added layer of grief from Zoey's mom and the fact that people don't stay for her brought me to tears at time. The book has so much depth and was really just lovely.

It will make you want the taste of a good wine and the love of a special person. I just absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the ALC in exchange for this review.

As promised, “Zoe Brennan, First Crush” is a spicy sapphic romance. It’s a companion/sequel to “Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair”, which I didn’t realize going in, but I don’t feel that I missed anything by not reading it first. Zoe is quite relatable and Laura does a great job of writing about anxiety and how it affects the character in a realistic way. Zoe and Laine’s relationship, though it had a bumpy start, grew into so much more, bringing out the best in each other. Their snarky-ness, banter and sexual tension is off the charts! This book has the perfect balance of many laugh out loud, sexy and sweet moments. The book is also hilarious and emotional while dealing with important and sometimes difficult topics (death of a parent, grief, difficult family relationships). Laura Piper Lee has such a way with characters. Everyone in this story felt authentic and stayed true to their motivations. Everyone NEEDS a Teddy in their life! One of the best parts of this book is the way the mountain towns of Georgia are so beautifully described like you're right there the golden hour as you read! I wish Bluebell Vineyard was real so I could go hang out with the amazing characters in this book and drink some good wine. If you’re a fan of romance, I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Laura Piper Lee, Sterling Publishing and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I will definitely go back and check out the first book in the series and I can’t wait for her next book!

Let the wooing begin!!! I really enjoyed this sapphic novel set at a Blue Ridge vineyard. Zoe Brennan doesn’t have much of a life beyond her beloved Bluebell Vineyard. It was her mother’s dream and it has become the connection to her after she died when Zoe was twelve. When Zoe’s dad unexpectedly goes to Italy he arranges for Laine Woods, a trained and skilled vintner to work at the vineyard. Laine was Zoe’s first crush as she became aware of her own sexuality. Zoe was once best friends with Laine’s younger sister who is now an arch enemy. Her family runs a more successful neighboring vineyard.

Zoe meeting Laine again is an unforgettable moment in the story. I love the extended community feel in the book. There were several side characters that give the feeling of a found family. They brought extra humor and warmth. Also I noticed two were previously featured in the author’s first book Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair (Feb 2024). I’ve already put that book on hold at my local library.

The author writes with a lot of descriptions. Some of it felt repetitive (colors, flavors), but now I want to visit the Blue Ridge mountains and see them in the sun setting. I also want to sample the earthy wines and I don’t drink alcohol. LOL. I loved how worn down Zoe is and yet she doesn’t give up. She is lonely and you feel it. I love the wooing between she and Laine. And they really connect over time without jumping to intimacy.

I enjoyed this romance and appreciate the extras including; friendship, family, grief, and community. (4.5 Stars)

Zoe Brennan, First Crush is another amazing title by Laura Piper Lee.
This was a really fun book! I pretty much knew from the first page that I was going to enjoy the writing style. The characters were really well developed, the plot was paced perfectly, and the romance was swoon-worthy.