A review by judeinthestars
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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.

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