Reviewer: Samantha
I received a review copy
Summary:
A breakout novel from an author who “positively shines with wisdom and intelligence” (Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I leave You). “Laura Dave writes with humor and insight about relationships in all their complexity, whether she’s describing siblings or fiancés or a couple long-married. Eight Hundred Grapes is a captivating story about the power of family, the limitations of love, and what becomes of a life’s work” (J. Courtney Sullivan, Maine).
There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…
Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.
But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.
Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets…
Bestselling author Laura Dave has been dubbed “a wry observer of modern love” (USA TODAY), a “decadent storyteller” (Marie Claire), and “compulsively readable” (Woman’s Day). Set in the lush backdrop of Sonoma’s wine country, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.
Review:
First off, this cover totally grabbed me. The simplicity, the big ole grape, even the font, I loved it all. Massive kudos on the cover. And I also thought the blurb was incredibly well-written. I was sucked in just reading the short synopsis. This book was definitely hard to put down. I loved the close-knit family, even though during most of the book there are a lot of struggles between several of the family members. I was completely fascinated with Georgia and her love life and the deal with Ben and his huge secret. I had no idea how she was going to end up, or how she would handle it all. I thought the book read very steady throughout, but the ending had my heart pounding at certain parts and then made it impossible to put down. Definitely a great start to my summer reading list!
