I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The writing just flowed and even though I could kind of predict what happened, I like the way in which the author got us there.

The descriptions of the wine made me miss my wine drinking days!

3.5 stars rounded up

This book has been on my to-read list for a couple years, but I forgot about it. However, after recently watching The Last Thing He Told Me show on Apple+ which is based on another novel written by Laura Dave, I decided to finally give this a read.

This book was a quick and easy read, clocking it at just over 250 pages. I finished it in two days. I enjoyed all the characters and the story was enjoyable, although a little predictable at times. Very light, perfect Summer read–just a story about a family vineyard and the main character trying to figure out what she should do next with her life.

*Disclaimer: I received the Kindle version for free from the publisher via NetGalley. However, all opinions are my own.*

Did not receive/read in time due to technical error on kindle/tablet. Not having left feedback has due to error has impacted my shelves. Leaving 4 stars.

I love wine, so this book appealed to me. It was a great little story that I really enjoyed and would recommend.

Laura Dave is a talented writer, but this story just didn't work for me. I've enjoyed other novels, and the style is consistent between them, but I guess the plot didn't grab me.

My favorite part of this story was the setting. It came alive and was almost like another character to me. This wasn't my favorite of Laura Dave, but I did enjoy the story of Georgia, who returns home when she finds out her fiancé has been harboring secrets. Secrets are a recurring theme of this book. I found it interesting and look forward to more by the author.

So annoyed when I save a review, a good review, and accidentally lose it, either by my own silly hand or the hateful, unreliable internet that exists to those of us in a country setting. My husband and I have been renovating a small cottage home we purchased several years back. The cottage is in town and not livable at the moment. So, we are ensconced in the country and at the mercy of Wi-Fi that can barely be called Wi-Fi. It's frustrating, to say the least. Sometimes I have great connection, but more than likely, not so much. I've lost quite a few reviews to the nefarious internet service here. And, you know, the second rewrite is NEVER going to be as good as the first. Besides, with the house reno going on, I have little time to read at the moment. Hate spending time doing a rewrite, especially on a book that just barely tipped the scales and made it to the like category. I digress. And with that said, let's get to the book, shall we?

<i>Synchronization. To operate in union. On a vineyard, synchronization meant watching and waiting until everything lined up.</i>

That's how Chapter 9 begins. More or less, it's also the theme of the story; Perfectly timed events in one's life coming together at an exact moment. Otherwise known as fate. Because Georgia Ford grew up on a vineyard she couldn't wait to get away from, she compares everything in her life to grapes ripening on the vine and finding their way to either becoming a great vintage or the mediocre runt of the litter. In other words, the entire story boils down to selection; choosing the right path. Or, how much does fate play a hand in our lives. Whatever. I'm not saying that it wasn't a clever way to tell a story but this story didn't razzle dazzle my reading taste buds. Parts I liked, very few that I loved, and some portions left me cringing. I mean, really. How likely is it that some of this stuff would ever actually happen? A stranger sharing a spoon of ice-creamed coffee? And you accept?! Ewww. Same stranger at a party grabbing wine glass straight out of your hand and taking giant gulps. Excuse me?! Nah. This would never happen. Georgia is supposed to be a successful attorney, yet, she's so passive. Her first meeting with the young, handsome (of course he is), competing wine executive and he's speaking to her like a BFF, offering her licorice. Yeah. Licorice. Supposedly that's his thing. Another thing that got on my nerves, Georgia describes her brothers as wonderful catches but I couldn't find one redeeming quality between the two of them. In fact, Papa Ford is the only member of Georgia's family that I actually liked. But, how crappy of him not to offer his own offspring the vineyard before selling to the competition down the street! His beloved vineyard that he started with a fistful of soil and rotting manure! I mean, c'mon. Then again, there really wouldn't have been a story to tell if that equation wasn't a factor. My biggest complaint had nothing to do with the story but more to do with sentence structure. Found myself rereading whole paragraphs to properly understand the author's intention. Quite a few times. It happened. Dave has proven herself and who am I to judge. Perhaps her writing style, at least here, is not for me. However, there were several things about this book that kept me reading. It was likable. Dave is apparently writing a screen version. Maybe this will be one of those rare cases that the movie is better than the book.



Thanks to NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title. Opinions are my own.

I loved this book from beginning to end. It is a wonderful story with fantastic characters