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jess_mango's review
4.0
One little misunderstanding leads to a big lie for Elizabeth "Birdy" Finch one summer. When her best friend Heather decides not to take a job as a sommelier at a hotel restaurant in the Scottish highlands, Birdy decides to show up in her place pretending that she is Heather. The problem is, she doesn't know much of anything about wine. Birdy keeps this all a secret from Heather and also studies her ass off to learn more about wine. She also finds herself falling for the hotel owner's son, which is a problem since he doesn't even know her real name.
This was a cute, sweet book without being too sappy. I liked the restaurant setting and all the talk about wine. Birdy was a fun character who just wanted to live her best life and almost immediately regrets her decision to pretend to be Heather. The novel was funny and will be a great beach read and the perfect pick for someone looking for something lighter.
What to listen to while reading...
Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac
Champagne Supernova by Oasis
Time to Pretend by MGMT
Someone to You by BANNERS
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
A Case of You by James Blake
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This was a cute, sweet book without being too sappy. I liked the restaurant setting and all the talk about wine. Birdy was a fun character who just wanted to live her best life and almost immediately regrets her decision to pretend to be Heather. The novel was funny and will be a great beach read and the perfect pick for someone looking for something lighter.
What to listen to while reading...
Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac
Champagne Supernova by Oasis
Time to Pretend by MGMT
Someone to You by BANNERS
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
A Case of You by James Blake
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Light but also layered, empathetic life-swap romance/comic story.
It's the plot of many a romantic comedy story: the (mostly) unintentional mistaken identity, the decision to simply take over their life to hide a truth, or make a point, or help someone out... or to attempt to have a fresh start.
Birdy hasn't made much of her life so far, and when her friend Heather, head over heels with a new man in another country, offers her an invitation in her stead to attend a swanky event, she jumps at the chance to feel like someone more successful for the evening. It's not all that hard pretending for one evening that she's actually a Master of Wine, it's quite fun.
But then Birdy is offered a job that Heather has turned down, a few months in a Scottish highland hotel, as sommelier/wine expert, as part of their plan to modernise and freshen up their establishment. How hard can it be?
Readers will know the kind of thing to expect - the momentary moral questioning, the identity problems, swotting up on her new expert subject, and of course... the staff Birdy is going to meet and have to live with for weeks and weeks.
As well as the slightly frothy storyline of a woman pretending to be someone else and making mistakes and having little successes along the way, with romantic entanglements ensuing, there are some slightly more weighty issues brought to the surface too - Heather's slightly creepy relationship developing overseas, with Birdy quietly offering support from afar. A staff member with a drink problem. A woman whose lack of achievement gives her a different perspective on the life she is 'borrowing'.
Very easy to listen to, this is perfect material for audiobook and paper. It's a pacey plot that feels like a 90-minute romcom, it has moments of romance and comedy, and you have a few characters you do empathise with. And a hot cook. And some rather interesting moments as Birdy teaches herself about wine.
Light enough for a summer read, but also more memorable than the instantly forgettable typical book this entails.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
It's the plot of many a romantic comedy story: the (mostly) unintentional mistaken identity, the decision to simply take over their life to hide a truth, or make a point, or help someone out... or to attempt to have a fresh start.
Birdy hasn't made much of her life so far, and when her friend Heather, head over heels with a new man in another country, offers her an invitation in her stead to attend a swanky event, she jumps at the chance to feel like someone more successful for the evening. It's not all that hard pretending for one evening that she's actually a Master of Wine, it's quite fun.
But then Birdy is offered a job that Heather has turned down, a few months in a Scottish highland hotel, as sommelier/wine expert, as part of their plan to modernise and freshen up their establishment. How hard can it be?
Readers will know the kind of thing to expect - the momentary moral questioning, the identity problems, swotting up on her new expert subject, and of course... the staff Birdy is going to meet and have to live with for weeks and weeks.
As well as the slightly frothy storyline of a woman pretending to be someone else and making mistakes and having little successes along the way, with romantic entanglements ensuing, there are some slightly more weighty issues brought to the surface too - Heather's slightly creepy relationship developing overseas, with Birdy quietly offering support from afar. A staff member with a drink problem. A woman whose lack of achievement gives her a different perspective on the life she is 'borrowing'.
Very easy to listen to, this is perfect material for audiobook and paper. It's a pacey plot that feels like a 90-minute romcom, it has moments of romance and comedy, and you have a few characters you do empathise with. And a hot cook. And some rather interesting moments as Birdy teaches herself about wine.
Light enough for a summer read, but also more memorable than the instantly forgettable typical book this entails.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
hollylou9's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Birdy drove me insane and I don't know how anyone would ever think they could pull that off. However, I read the book because I miss Scotland. I did like Jamie and it got better at the middle
justabookishbabe's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
blvckate's review
4.0
3,5/4??? I have really mixed feelings about this book. Sometimes I loved it and sometimes I was just like “hmmm okey”
judeybear's review against another edition
4.0
If you didn’t know this was a debut novel for Lizzy Dent you would never know.
The Summer Job takes us on a journey of lies and deceit built around a cunning plan created by main character Birdy. Little does Birdy know though that this journey of deceit will open a Pandora’s box of truths and secrets.
The first third of the book was light and almost fluffy however as the book progresses what we get is a solid, well written work of fiction. It’s an easy read but that in no way means it lacks substance. From about 35% I was hooked and had to get to the end. A brilliant debut offering from Lizzy Dent.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc copy.
The Summer Job takes us on a journey of lies and deceit built around a cunning plan created by main character Birdy. Little does Birdy know though that this journey of deceit will open a Pandora’s box of truths and secrets.
The first third of the book was light and almost fluffy however as the book progresses what we get is a solid, well written work of fiction. It’s an easy read but that in no way means it lacks substance. From about 35% I was hooked and had to get to the end. A brilliant debut offering from Lizzy Dent.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc copy.
judeybear's review against another edition
4.0
If you didn’t know this was a debut novel for Lizzy Dent you would never know.
The Summer Job takes us on a journey of lies and deceit built around a cunning plan created by main character Birdy. Little does Birdy know though that this journey of deceit will open a Pandora’s box of truths and secrets.
The first third of the book was light and almost fluffy however as the book progresses what we get is a solid, well written work of fiction. It’s an easy read but that in no way means it lacks substance. From about 35% I was hooked and had to get to the end. A brilliant debut offering from Lizzy Dent.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc copy.
The Summer Job takes us on a journey of lies and deceit built around a cunning plan created by main character Birdy. Little does Birdy know though that this journey of deceit will open a Pandora’s box of truths and secrets.
The first third of the book was light and almost fluffy however as the book progresses what we get is a solid, well written work of fiction. It’s an easy read but that in no way means it lacks substance. From about 35% I was hooked and had to get to the end. A brilliant debut offering from Lizzy Dent.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc copy.
bailzz's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bmusselman3's review
3.0
This was cute! I picked it up because I love the cover. I recommend pairing with a glass of wine. The first part of the novel didn’t catch my attention but it got better towards the end. It’s a light, summer read.