I could sing my love for this book from the rooftops!! I fell in LOVE with these characters, OMG! I feel like author Laura Piper Lee is going to be one of those who gets better and better with ever book. And, I say that having absolutely loved Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair. She just keeps getting better and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Zoe lives and breathes her family vineyard. After her mother's death years ago, her father's heart didn't seem to be in the business anymore, so Zoe takes up a lot of the load. When he makes the decision to go home to Italy to be with his own dying mother, she is struck between knowing he needs to go, missing him intensely, and also freaking out because a huge opportunity for the vineyard is approaching. Her father has hired some help for her in his absence, but his replacement vintner is a major shock...

Laine, older sister to Zoe's childhood best friend-turned-enemy/business rival, and her very first crush- the girl who introduced her to queer awakening... the girl she just had a blind threesome with the previous night is her new vintner!?!?!?!?! OOF, so juicy! Trying to put the entire spectrum of their past behind them, Zoe tries to move forward and make the best of the situation. There is a lot riding on this season and she needs everything to go perfect. The juxtaposition of their disdain for one another and their growing sexual tension is just... chef's kiss! This is a super swoon-worthy romance. I adored Laine so much.

There is a lot of heart in this read. We get to see a lot of familiar characters from Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair, which I really enjoyed. This book just had me smiling from start to finish.

This was a SPICY small town queer romance that takes place in the same universe as Hannah Tate, beyond repair and sees Zoe forced to work with her first crush after a HOT night of surprise threesome sex. When Zoe's father hires Laine to help restore the family vineyard, she and Zoe have to figure out how to work with one another despite their different styles. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Amy Spalding or Ashley Herring Blake. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital an audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was beyond thrilled to be back in Blue Ridge. After meeting Zoe in Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair I couldn’t wait to see her again and read her story.

Zoe Brennan, First Crush was such a fun novel filled with tons of humor but with really beautiful commentary on grief, growth and forgiveness. I had tears rolling down my cheeks many times both out of laughter and emotion. The characters all felt real with great depth , the spice was delicious, and the banter top notch, I truly enjoyed this sapphic rom-com. Zoe and Laine are new favorites and I look forward to revisiting their story on reread.

BOOK REVIEW
TITLE: Zoe Brennan, First Crush
RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2025
There is nothing like your first crush
In Zoe Brennan, First Crush, Laura Piper Lee delivers another heartfelt and hilarious story set in the beloved small-town community introduced in Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair. Seeing familiar faces from the first book was a joy, as they brought laughter and unwavering support to this story. The way the community comes together is simply beautiful.
Laine comes back to Blue Ridge as Zoe is determined to win a spot as the host of a prestigious wine festival. Her vineyard is suddenly without a vintner, leading to this workplace romance between Zoe and her high school crush, Laine.
Zoe and Laine’s journey is a touching exploration of trust and love. Laine was exactly what Zoe needed, and watching her open her heart to someone willing to work hard for her love was heartwarming. Their connection is tender, genuine, and relatable.
And let’s not forget the humor—this book had me laughing so hard I nearly woke my kid during bedtime! As promised by Laura, the spice level is sizzling, making this a perfect blend of sweet, steamy, and laugh-out-loud fun. Another winner in this heartfelt series!
QUOTE
“Finding someone who loves you in all the ways you can’t love yourself just yet. Who gives you what you deserve, even when you don’t believe you deserve it.”

Thank you Netgalley, Laura Piper Lee, Union Square Co, Nerdfam for an eArc of this book.
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I wanted to like this will book so much.

There’s just a number of things that really irritated me. First of all the main character describes the romantic interest is butch and there’s no way that she’s Butch. And anyone who is a culture knows what a butch woman looks like. And it is not Laine.

Also, you can’t feel tattoos. And if you can, that means there’s something wrong.

I also really just found Zoe annoying. She’s incredibly whiny.

And for a small southern town that supposedly has a ton of queer people, I find it completely unbelievable that the largest vineyard owner is ridiculously homophobic.

I got through about 70 pages before my annoyance made me give up.

It wasn’t for me. But if you don’t read a lot of queer literature, and you’re just in it for the romance, I can see people liking this book.

Laura Piper Lee has done it again! After a ripper of a debut with Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair, I had no idea how this follow up could top it but holy red wine this was bloody fabulous. I am so thrilled Zoe Brennan got main character treatment as she was one of my favs from Hannah Tate and the Blue Ridge universe. Zoe Brennan, Beyond Repair is must read, it has off the charts sexual chemistry, perfectly timed humour, and a shit ton of heart. I will follow Laura Piper Lee wherever she wants to take me next.

When the book starts with a blindfolded threesome, you know that you're in for a real treat! The spice staarts and continues throughtout the book. When Zoe agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend and a stranger, she has no idea that the stranger is actually, Laine! Laine was Zoe's first crush. Zoe saw Laine as the ideal woman, as she watched her soccer games and hung out with her in high school. Now, Laine is the sister of Zoe's ex-best friend.

Zoe is also shocked to find out that she has to work with Laine, as Laine is set to take over at her family winery. Laine is helping out as Zoe's dad goes back home to Italy to see his family. Zoe and Laine agree to put their hookup (as steamy as it was!) behind them to try to work together.

The side characters are so much fun, and I loved all of the shenanigans at the winery too. It was so great to see Hannah and River from the first book in this series. I love seeing the Queer Mountaineers.

Overall, this book was spicy and sweet. The romance felt authentically queer, and it didn't fall into stereotypical tropes. Their banter was sexy, and they also had so many emotions too. I loved this book!

Come for the blindfolded sapphic three-way, stay for the cute and comedic moments...

Firstly, a little commotion for the cover!?!?!? Love it!

Secondly, I think I'm finally admitting to myself that butch/femme romances are my current catnip and so this scratched all my itches in all the right ways.

A slickly written, and hella queer, contemporary romcom Zoe Brennan, First Crush had lots to offer. Loved how deeply researched the wine side of the story was and although I did spend the first chunk of the book wishing Zoe's crush was actually her nemesis Rachel (I'm a sucker for a true enemies to lovers), by the end of the book it was very clear Laine was the woman for Zoe.

Yes, this book had lots of light, comedic moments but there was also depth to the story too, especially in regards to dealing with loss and grief, and learning how to confront the past and practise forgiveness.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

I have very mixed feelings about this book. In fact, it was a bit like a roller coaster: It felt very good at the beginning, a little strange in the middle, and then good again at the end.

I will say that whilst I did love these together at the beginning, what made me a bit iffy was how much Zoe had been obsessed with Laine before. I mean, some of it I read and was left thinking, "This is a little terrifying?" But, alas! Laine did not think it was weird and seemed to think it was a little endearing, so who am I to argue with that?

Despite that, I thought they were adorable together. I loved their character development, and the plot of the book was very enticing.

It was a good and easy read that I enjoyed for the most part.

I would give this book a good three stars. If Zoe's crush had not seemed so obsessive in the first place, making me a little uncomfortable, I would have rated it higher.

As much as I wanted to enjoye reading this book, it wasn't for me. I didn't find any connection between Laine and Zoe. Most of the time it felt like Zoe whined and complained about everything. The tension between them was non existant to me and I was not interested to everything that was going on with winning that wine competition.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

This was a really cute queer romance to begin 2025 with and I loved the originality of it taking place at a vineyard! Some of the characters and plot points felt a bit contrived to me at times but I enjoyed the sentimentality of the vineyard’s history and all that it meant to Zoe. Overall it was a fun (and sometimes spicy) read with a sweet underlying message.

Zoe Brennan, First Crush is a swoony entertaining romance story which balances emotions and laughs. Beginning with some spice, we love a good childhood crush returned. There's something not only about your first queer awakening, but also crush to haunt us again. At its core, Zoe Brennan, First Crush is about facing our fears. About realizing that we don't have to be in control all the time, that we can let others take care of ourselves. Our job isn't all of us, even if it's in the family.

Get excited to go back to Blue Ridge in this interconnected standalone following Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair! If you haven’t read Hannah Tate, it’s not needed to enjoy Zoe Brennan, but I HIGHLY recommend it so you can get a hilarious and heartfelt intro to Blue Ridge.

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee is full of humor, love, drama, and wine. In this spicy sapphic romance we follow Zoe as she runs a small winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains that her parents started. She’s dealing with the weight of keeping her family legacy going while working through her anxiety about finding love. The heavier topics are balanced out with the humor that Laura Piper Lee is a master at weaving in. It is impossible for me to sum up the journey this book takes, you’ve got to read it yourself - trust me, it’s worth it!

It was a nice read. I enjoyed how the interactions led Zoe to overcome her anxieties and see how capable she is. Her relationship with her dad is beautiful he's just so considerate and open to her feelings. There were many moments where Laine annoyed me, but I'm glad that her relationship with Zoe was growing despite the obstacles. I think one of my favorite parts, aside from Hannah's wedding, was when Rachel finally opened up to Zoe and voiced her insecurities and the reasons for their strained relationship.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced e-arc!!

Okay first things first- a blindfolded threesome in chapter TWO?!?! Amazing

This book was hilarious!! I was absolutely cackling at the bar scene, the goat, redneck wine tour, and when they had to pull off the tour for Everyday Bon Vivant drunk as hell! I was DYING

Not only was this book hysterical but it also showed beautiful found family and learning to let people in. Zoe and Laine were everything. I about died every time Laine called Zoe “boss”

🍇Small town romance
🍇Sapphic romance
🍇Workplace romance
🍇Enemies to lovers

Laura Piper Lee delivers another novel that had me laughing out loud often and falling in love with all the characters from page one. This novel is set in the beautiful Blue Ridge vineyard and tells the love story of Zoe Brennan, who is Hannah's best friend from Laura Piper Lee's first novel 🥰

Zoe & Laine have a "meet cute" in one of the most unique plot twists I've ever read and it just set the tone for this novel. I had so much fun reading about Zoe & Laine as they navigated relatable and realistic relationship hurdles and life events. This LGBTQ romance has sizzling chemistry and is moderately spicy (🔥🔥🔥🔥/5).

This novel has a small town feel with the plot of saving the vineyard with a contest and I was here for it 🎉 I absolutely loved Zoe's friends Teddy and Hannah, they just brought this book to life and I hope we get Teddy's story at some point 🤗

If you enjoy spicy rom coms with lovable characters and laugh out loud moments you need to add Laura Piper Lee's novels to your TBR list!

Thank you Union Square & Co for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Piper Lee, and Union Square and Co for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

LOVED!!!! I've definitely been in a romance mood this year (bonus points if it's sapphic), and this was such a delightful read in the genre!! As much as I've been wanting to read romance, I still can't get behind anything that is too cheesy/Hallmark-y, and this was not at all. Not only did the chemistry feel real and believable, it was also SPICY!! How the book opens had me hooked immediately, and I knew I was in for treat of all sorts. I was pleasantly surprised that Lee really goes in depth in the viniculture aspects of the book; I felt like I learned a lot about winemaking both as a whole and specifically in the Blue Ridge region. The side characters were also all great and had wonderful chemistry with the main characters as well. Everything just read really authentic, and while still cutesy-romantic, there was surprisingly a lot of depth and character growth. I'm excited to check out more from Lee as this book was exactly what I wanted out of a sapphic romance!!

This book was adorable. From finding yourself and healing to an epic love story what more could you ask for?

This book was like a breath of fresh air and got me out of a reading slump! I loved the idea of reuniting with your first childhood crush in adulthood without making it a standard second chance romance. Zoe truly got to know Laine as an adult and it was fun to see their relationship evolve from reluctant antagonizing coworkers to friends to lovers. I loved the little waiting game Laine played to ensure Zoe truly went into the relationship in the right headspace. Plus I loved all the cameos from Hannah and River! I also loved the nuance Laura brought to the complicated relationship of having an ex-best friend which is a concept I don’t see often in romance novels. The sting of the loss Zoe felt with her friendship with Rachel is a feeling so many young women go through it was a thoughtful addition I hadn’t seen before in a romance novel. Overall I loved it and look forward to Laura’s next works!
Thank you Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for my advanced and copy.

4.25 stars!

To say I was excited to receive the ARC for Zoe Brennan, First Crush is an understatement. Everything about the description of a lonely winery owner in the mountains of Georgia in this childhood crush to lovers romance was everything I needed this holiday season. Oh this book is wonderful! This was a goddamn delight. Every single part of it. The animosity between Laine and Zoe at the beginning made for a really playful “enemies” to lovers story. With many complexities of loneliness, fear of abandonment, inability to recognize the love in your life, sprinkled amongst a lot of good humor, strong wit, and lovable characters. This story was unpredictable (and boy did I try to predict some plot twists) and I loved that. Every twist and turn made sense but it wasn't something I knew would be coming until we were in the moment. This sapphic romance is everything and more and will be one I’ll be recommending time and time again!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book for an honest review!