A review by arisbookcorner
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

DRUNK ON LOVE continues to showcase Jasmine Guillory's talent as a reliable romance novelist who is going to center Black people and food in an enjoyable story. This book wasn't groundbreaking but it was inoffensive and I loved the Napa Valley setting. However after reading six or seven of Guillory's books I do want her to push herself a bit more, her books seem to stay at the "representation matters" level and not go deeper. I hope with her next book that changes as I do think she could pull it off based on her interests and political views. Margot was the less interesting character though, she needed more than the tired cliché of "woman torn between love and career." I also kept wanting to pull her aside and tell her to just TALK to Luke, her brother, etc. I had a soft spot for Luke and his embarrassment at quitting a fancy, high stress job due to burnout because I could personally relate. He also had more depth because it seemed like we spent more time in his head and learning about his family dynamics first hand. Guillory also wisely keeps things from being creepy by having her characters acknowledge the power imbalance and resist the sexual tension until a more appropriate action is taken that removes the issue. As always I appreciated that Guillory has her characters inhabit fully fleshed out worlds, we consistently learn about the characters' family and friends which makes the books feel more real. I loved the Napa setting and that the book somewhat touches on what's needed to build a successful winery and the challenges of being a Black owned winery in particular. The events Margot and Luke come up with seem very fun and I need Brown Estate or another winery to implement them ASAP. The book should have ended with a recommended wine list or pairing! The characters are sweet, the setting rich and the pacing (romantic tension) is even. It's charming and has potential to be a new series as I'd happily learn more about the secondary characters with some tweaks to the writing.