Pinot and Puha

by Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby, Kirsty Roby

A modern day take on Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, set in Wellington, New Zealand. Mel has her bookstore. She doesn't need a man. Especially not a yob like Jesse. Right?
After an unconventional and nomadic childhood, all Mel wants is a successful business and a stable life. She's focussed on the new bookshop she's just opened with her best friend Ellie and the wine and cheese evenings they're about to start.
But Mel is up against obstacles. There's drama with the neighbouring construction site, a boutique owner who seems hell bent on causing problems, interfering family members and baffling incidents of vandalism.
If Mel WAS looking for a man, surely her suave, well-dressed landlord Nate would be the perfect match. Her mother certainly seems to think so. So why is it that she's so distracted by the sexy but surly builder working next door?
Mel should know better than to judge a book by it's cover.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

264 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Pauline Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mel, and best friend Ellie open a book shop, with added coffee facilities, and with wine and cheese in the evenings. However all is not well with tradies, a landlord and one particular nasty neighbour.
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Never judge a book by its cover right? This is a blokey type of book with black humour, which might not suit your taste.

I was pleasantly surprised that each chapter has a quote of Pride & Prejudice and I absolutely loved the bakes in this book, such as scones, cupcakes, muffins, and a favourite of mine, ginger slice. I also enjoyed the memories of cheese toasties which I haven't had for a very long time.

This book is set in Wellington, where I have visited and this is why I picked up this book in the first place. Alot of reminiscing went on for me, such as the water front, botanical gardens, and the famous Cuba Street with the bucket fountain.
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Recommend to readers who like alot of drama in their book, also for readers who would like a glimpse into the kiwi culture, although not your usual "bros" , "yeah, nah", "nek minutes" and "always blow on your pie" that I am used to.
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4 star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanking the authors for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Pinot & Puha - Nikki Perry & Kirsty Roby
Genre - Drama - NZ Fiction
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264 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2023

[Reading Lady Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book was a cute fun read!

The notes I took away from this read was "fun", "Jesse is hot" and "omg this book makes me so hungry by the way the authors talk about food mmmmm"

The plot twist was a great surprise too!

[Rach Goninon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride + Prejudice homage but with a distinctive Kiwi flavour. Funny characters, hilarious dialogue and some clever twists make this a great read. You'll only be disappointed when it's finished!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy romance read, set in Wellington, so it was fun to have a story set around local places. Loose Pride and Prejudice inspiration with a bit of a plot twist at the end.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

When was the last time you read a book in a day? Well I devoured Pinot and Puha by @write_doozy last weekend and I loved every second!

This was the perfect book for me at the time as I wanted something that felt familiar (this one is set in Wellington) but also something with cozy vibes and this book gave that!

In this book we follow Mel as she opens up a Bookshop with her best friend. But this isn’t just an ordinary bookshop, they also have wine and cheese nights - what a vibe!

As I mentioned, I read this one last Sunday and it was just the perfect read at the time. I am also very excited cause tomorrow I’m going to Nikki and Kirsty’s launch tomorrow for their new book Half of Hartwell Hotel. I have a feeling that I’ll enjoy that one just as much as this one!

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

bonus pick for book club. this was fun but ultimately didn’t have a lot of payoff. i enjoyed the setting and the familiarity having grown up in wellington myself, but nostalgia was not enough to bring the rating up :(

[Bid Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun easy read, you guys are amazing!! Loved it ❤️

[Ashleigh Neame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pinot and Pūhā is a light and easy read perfect for a day at the beach. Set in Aotearoa New Zealand's capital city, this book is a fantastic diversion from the stresses of your typical daily life. But even though it's a light read, it doesn't disappoint with the surprises. There were many pleasant surprises that made me laugh, and one epic surprise that had me raising my eyebrows in shock. I think the reason the surprise worked so well was because of the way the characters were written.

I 100% loved the way the characters were portrayed in this novel. The authors claim to write characters who could actually be real people, and I think they definitely achieved that. I could picture each character as I was reading as they were all very real and relatable. Mel was a booklover (like me) who dreamed of owning her own bookshop. She had customers who loved books as well, and I could definitely see myself in one called Olive. Her scummy landlord could (and probably does) exist in real life, as does the hot builder from next-door and his crew who get together for drinks after work.

I started reading right after I watched the Netflix movie Falling Inn Love. The movie is set in small-town Aotearoa New Zealand with Kiwi characters, the majority being played by real Kiwi actors. If Pinot and Pūhā ever gets made into a TV show, I think it would have the same vibes as that movie. Friendly, very Kiwi, and oh-so-relatable.

To the authors - let's start a petition to get this book on screen!

[Mrs Moa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the story starts with the FMC opening a book shop that also specialises in cheese and wine nights - sold!

A romcom set in Aotearoa, New Zealand with a touch of a Pride and Prejudice retelling and a taste of Christmas.

Our FMC Mel, has more than one love interest. She has her suave and charming landlord, Nate, and then there’s the grumpy and brooding builder, Jesse, who seems determined to interrupt her peace.

I absolutely adored this romance, a sweet read with a bit of a mystery twist I didn’t see coming.

[Starfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this contemporary romance book club pick, especially since it was written by a Kiwi author duo and set in Wellington... but I just... didn't.

DNFed at Chapter 8 after realising that I didn't really like any of the characters, and the humour was just falling flat for me. Ah well, you win some, you lose some

[Harooon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this trashy romance novel because of its preposterous title, which had me chortling aloud in the library, and forced me into a conversation with a convalescing P-head. Every now and then I'll read something for the hell of it.

Mel opens the shop of her dreams with best friend Ellie. Her over-refined, skeezy landlord is constantly hitting on her. The un-refined tradie next door is constantly at odds with her. Who will she end up with?

I got some enjoyment out of this book because it's set in Wellington, where I lived from age 17 till age 27. It includes many references to places (mostly bars) that I recognise. Thistle Inn; old as, it's where Te Rauparaha drank out his last day. I'm going to meet an old friend there tomorrow (not Te Rauparaha). Foxglove; I know someone who used to work there. The Bucket Fountain; it still sucks.

This book is supposedly based on Pride & Prejudice. Each chapter is prefaced with a quote therefrom. I can't say I've ever read Pride & Prejudice; but I can say I've read Pinot and Pūhā.

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It was a light, breezy read and it had love, suspense, realistic loveable main leads and a few unloveable side characters. I loved the suspense at the end, how it kept unfolding in little details over the book and yet didn’t overtake the story and was intriguing and had a realistic and satisfying ending. This reminded me of the books that got me into reading this genre and it was such a nostalgic reading for me. It was doubly cool to actually know the places mentioned and not just have to vaguely imagine the descriptions. I highly recommend this book!!

[Patsy Pickup · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantic feel good easy read that makes you want to keep reading more. I put the book down with a smile on my face and felt good about life in general. Really like the way the characters were introduced in this book. Enjoyed the twists with a bit of NZ culture added to the mix. Would definitely recommend you read this book if you enjoy a bit of romance reading.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the kiwi language and flavour, I eased into the story like slipping into my most comfortable pair of shoes. The characters were interesting and relatable. And there was a satisfying ending. I understand the authors were going for an easy read and they achieved that in spades. It might be too light for some, but it suited my mood perfectly.

[Natasha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great weekend read! Easy going and relatable (I own a bookshop) but enough pace to keep me wanting to turn the page. Great to find local (Auckland NZ) authors and I look forward to reading their other books!

[Stephanie Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did, but I did. It makes no pretence at being anything else except an enjoyable Jane Austen tribute but as a book lover, I loved the bookshop setting and the fact that it is in Wellington, NZ. Well done, sisters😊!

[Liz Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It was such a good read. Made me want to open my own bookshop/cafe. Inspired me to bake and I love a good enemy’s to lovers trope. Plus a bit of mystery. This book had it all. Such a fun heart warming read with giggles included. Auto read authors hence forth

[QW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this cute modern romance based near my hometown in Wellington, New Zealand. It’s loosely based on Pride and Prejudice and was a delightful, fun and light read. I liked the quick pace of the story and the descriptions of the characters, especially the hot builder, Jesse!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, enchanting story. Really enjoyed it.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just what I needed. A true 5+ stars for me.

[Melissa :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Donna Goodacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollicking good story. Easy to read, especially with a glass of wine.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this Pride and Prejudice retelling. The characters were so much fun. I loved Mel, she was very relatable and I have never wanted to be a character in a book so much. She owns a bookshop, that serves wine and cheese, has an amazing best friend and some fun love interests. I enjoyed Jesse as one of her love interests, their chemistry was electric and I loved their banter. Mel’s family members, the different customers and shop owners in the street made for a great side cast. There were ones I loved, some I loved to hate and others that had me laughing out out.

I love the two authors writing style. You can’t tell that there are two different authors, the writing is seamless. They really bring characters to life and I love their sense of humour and the way they bring together fun but also tackle some tricky topics. I loved getting glimpse into both Kiwi and Māori culture and all the food references. I enjoyed the twist at the end. It was such a fun read I was said it was over.

[Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

"📚✨ Just finished this modern-day twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, set in the charming backdrop of Wellington, New Zealand. 🇳🇿

The author's writing truly lets you immerse yourself in the story, but I have to admit, it started a bit slow. Then, bam! It wrapped up with an unexpected twist that left me shocked.

Meet Mel, the determined owner of a dreamy bookshop. 📖🍷 Alongside her best friend Ellie, they've created more than just a bookstore; it's a community hub with wine and cheese nights. 🍷🧀

But oh, the challenges! 🛠️ Nearby construction, a finicky boutique owner next door, quirky family art, and a string of mysterious vandalism incidents. And don't even get me started on Mel's landlord, who's more interested in her than rent. 😅

Pinot & Puha is a delightful, easy-breezy read – the perfect companion for a lazy afternoon. ☀️💕 #BookReview #ModernAusten #CozyReads"

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pinot and Puha by Nikki and Kirsty Roby is a delightful modern take on Pride and Prejudice that’s both accessible and engaging. It’s an easy read that shines with relatable banter, well-written character chemistry, and the joy of watching relationships form and evolve.

The twist at the end was a real highlight—I didn’t see it coming and couldn’t figure out who was responsible, which kept me hooked until the last page. While I’ve never read the original Pride and Prejudice, this story stood out on its own with its humor, heart, and modern sensibilities. A refreshing take on a classic, perfect for a light and entertaining read.