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Lush
Lush is 'as sensuous as a summer afternoon among the vines and as funny as your best friends on their worst behaviour'
Lush takes the readers into the exclusive world of sommeliers and wine critics, following four characters who are each at a crisis point in their lives when they receive mysterious invitations to a vineyard estate in the South of France to drink the oldest bottle of wine in the world. Over the course of several days, they indulge in delicious food and drink, engage in raucous debauchery, and confront hard truths about themselves that will leave them changed forever. The novel tackles themes of class, racism, addiction, professionalism and privacy with a deft touch, balancing riotously enjoyable set pieces and thoughtful exploration of important issues.
Lush takes the readers into the exclusive world of sommeliers and wine critics, following four characters who are each at a crisis point in their lives when they receive mysterious invitations to a vineyard estate in the South of France to drink the oldest bottle of wine in the world. Over the course of several days, they indulge in delicious food and drink, engage in raucous debauchery, and confront hard truths about themselves that will leave them changed forever. The novel tackles themes of class, racism, addiction, professionalism and privacy with a deft touch, balancing riotously enjoyable set pieces and thoughtful exploration of important issues.
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First published May 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
April 21, 2025
4.5 !
I found this to be perfectly pretentious. A group of people, all existing within the world of wine, get invited to a Master Sommelier's home, in order to open and share a bottle of very rare wine.
Each person is at a point of crisis in their lives, though on the surface appear completely put together. But, upon arrival, bottles are opened, and the days begin to blur together into a luscious haze. Nothing will remain as it was.
This is a very indulgent book. The writing is flowery, the wine spoken of like it turns the world (and maybe it does!), and the people are so gorgeously flawed and human. It was easy to forget that we only knew these people for a few days. By the end I felt as if I knew them for much longer.
A book of the summer...everyone needs to pick this one up!
Thank you to the publisher for an early review copy!
I found this to be perfectly pretentious. A group of people, all existing within the world of wine, get invited to a Master Sommelier's home, in order to open and share a bottle of very rare wine.
Each person is at a point of crisis in their lives, though on the surface appear completely put together. But, upon arrival, bottles are opened, and the days begin to blur together into a luscious haze. Nothing will remain as it was.
This is a very indulgent book. The writing is flowery, the wine spoken of like it turns the world (and maybe it does!), and the people are so gorgeously flawed and human. It was easy to forget that we only knew these people for a few days. By the end I felt as if I knew them for much longer.
A book of the summer...everyone needs to pick this one up!
Thank you to the publisher for an early review copy!
June 11, 2025
It's beautifully written but by part two I was done reading it because nothing interesting was happening. The only thing interesting about this book is the writing. I considered finishing it because it was less than a fourth left... But no, I'd honestly rather just have a glass of wine and read one of the textbooks I'm studying.
May 19, 2025
Rochelle Dowden-Lord's debut novel "Lush" arrives with the tannic complexity of an aged Bordeaux—bold, layered, and deeply satisfying, yet not without its challenging notes. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of a French vineyard, this intoxicating tale follows four wine professionals—each broken in their unique way—as they converge to taste one of the rarest wines in existence. Much like the wine they've come to sample, these characters undergo a transformation that leaves readers simultaneously buzzing and contemplative.
The Bouquet: Plot and Premise
"Lush" centers on four distinct wine experts summoned to the estate of renowned Master Sommelier Jon Master and his artist husband Tao. The guests arrive with varying degrees of expertise and personal baggage:
- Avery Blackwood: A struggling sommelier supplementing her income as a wine influencer, navigating an industry that often values her appearance over her knowledge
- Cosmo Chapman: A young, brilliant Master Sommelier with a self-destructive relationship with alcohol
- Sonny Deere: An affable American millionaire whose popular wine brand lacks prestige
- Maëlys Farrow: A sharp-tongued French food and wine critic with a complicated relationship with motherhood
What begins as an exclusive tasting weekend spirals into a journey of excess, revelation, and tragedy. As the characters await their chance to taste a bottle of legendary "Quatre-Vingt-Dix"—possibly the last of its kind in existence—tensions rise, desires spill over, and relationships form and fracture. When Sonny loses a finger in mysterious circumstances, the drunken haze that has enveloped the weekend becomes impossible to maintain.
The Palate: Writing Style and Structure
Dowden-Lord's prose is sensuous yet precise—much like a sommelier's tasting notes. She deftly employs alternating perspectives, allowing readers intimate access to her characters' hopes and insecurities. The language flows like wine itself: sometimes sharp and acidic, other times rich and velvety.
Consider this passage that captures her distinct style:
"He's a young boy but he's not a child. He's not a man but he isn't so small anymore that he should be left out of things. There are things children don't know that he does, and he thinks that if that doesn't make him a man then at least he should have an honorary consideration and be able to do some of the things that men do."
The novel's structure mirrors inebriation itself—starting with clarity before gradually becoming more fragmented and dreamlike. Chapter titles draw from wine terminology ("Terroir," "Brut," "Angel's Share"), elegantly echoing the themes of each section. Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable control over her narrative, even as her characters lose control over themselves.
The Legs: Themes and Symbolism
"Lush" is deceptively complex, exploring several interwoven themes:
1. The Transformative Power of Wine
The novel examines wine not merely as a beverage but as a vehicle for memory, connection, and self-deception. Characters project their deepest desires onto the rare vintage they're summoned to taste, only to confront its disappointing reality.
2. Authenticity vs. Facade
Each character maintains a carefully constructed persona that alcohol simultaneously reinforces and dissolves. The wine industry itself becomes a metaphor for performance—where presentation and perception often matter more than substance.
3. Consumption and Excess
Dowden-Lord fearlessly examines addiction not through moralizing but through unflinching observation. The characters' relationships with alcohol mirror their relationships with themselves and others—sometimes nurturing, often destructive.
4. Memory and Identity
The novel cleverly explores how alcohol blurs the boundaries between what we remember and what we've invented. Cosmo's inability to recall whether he severed Sonny's finger becomes a haunting metaphor for the elusive nature of truth.
The Body: Character Development
The novel's greatest strength lies in its complex, flawed characters. Dowden-Lord has created a cast that feels startlingly real—neither wholly sympathetic nor entirely contemptible. Like fine wine, they reveal different notes depending on how you approach them:
- Avery emerges as the emotional center, struggling to be taken seriously in an industry that often views her as decorative rather than knowledgeable. Her evolution from insecurity to tentative self-acceptance feels earned rather than prescribed.
- Cosmo provides the novel's most heartbreaking arc. His alcoholism isn't portrayed as a moral failing but as a gradual erosion of self. His post-France sobriety serves not as redemption but as a painful reckoning with who he might have been.
- Sonny, initially presented as a wealthy dilettante, gradually reveals depths of empathy and resilience beneath his cheerful exterior. His statement—"I find it hard to be happy, but I try"—reveals volumes about his carefully constructed persona.
- Maëlys remains the most enigmatic figure—her brutal honesty about motherhood providing some of the novel's most unsettling moments. Her professional detachment becomes both her shield and her limitation.
The Finish: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Shines:
- Atmospheric Immersion: Dowden-Lord creates a sensory experience so vivid you can almost taste the wines and feel the summer heat of the vineyard.
- Dialogue: Conversations feel natural yet revealing, each exchange layered with subtext and unspoken desires.
- Industry Authenticity: The author demonstrates intimate knowledge of wine culture without overwhelming readers with jargon.
- Character Complexity: Even minor characters like Tao feel fully realized and essential to the narrative.
Where It Stumbles:
- Pacing Issues: The novel occasionally lingers too long in certain scenes while rushing through others.
- Perspective Shifts: While mostly effective, some transitions between viewpoints can disorient readers.
- Resolution: Some readers may find the conclusion's ambiguity frustrating rather than thought-provoking.
- Character Balance: Maëlys occasionally feels underutilized compared to the other central characters.
Decanting the Final Verdict
"Lush" is a remarkable debut that balances sensuous indulgence with unflinching examination. Like the rare vintage at its center, it may not be what readers expect, but it offers something more complex and lasting than simple satisfaction. Dowden-Lord writes with the confidence of a seasoned novelist, creating a world that feels both glamorous and treacherous.
This novel will resonate most strongly with readers who appreciate ambiguity and are willing to sit with uncomfortable truths. It isn't a light summer read, despite its sun-soaked setting. Rather, it's a penetrating examination of desire, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
For a debut novelist, Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable restraint and insight. "Lush" announces the arrival of a significant literary talent whose work, like the finest wine, promises to evolve and deepen with time.
The Bouquet: Plot and Premise
"Lush" centers on four distinct wine experts summoned to the estate of renowned Master Sommelier Jon Master and his artist husband Tao. The guests arrive with varying degrees of expertise and personal baggage:
- Avery Blackwood: A struggling sommelier supplementing her income as a wine influencer, navigating an industry that often values her appearance over her knowledge
- Cosmo Chapman: A young, brilliant Master Sommelier with a self-destructive relationship with alcohol
- Sonny Deere: An affable American millionaire whose popular wine brand lacks prestige
- Maëlys Farrow: A sharp-tongued French food and wine critic with a complicated relationship with motherhood
What begins as an exclusive tasting weekend spirals into a journey of excess, revelation, and tragedy. As the characters await their chance to taste a bottle of legendary "Quatre-Vingt-Dix"—possibly the last of its kind in existence—tensions rise, desires spill over, and relationships form and fracture. When Sonny loses a finger in mysterious circumstances, the drunken haze that has enveloped the weekend becomes impossible to maintain.
The Palate: Writing Style and Structure
Dowden-Lord's prose is sensuous yet precise—much like a sommelier's tasting notes. She deftly employs alternating perspectives, allowing readers intimate access to her characters' hopes and insecurities. The language flows like wine itself: sometimes sharp and acidic, other times rich and velvety.
Consider this passage that captures her distinct style:
"He's a young boy but he's not a child. He's not a man but he isn't so small anymore that he should be left out of things. There are things children don't know that he does, and he thinks that if that doesn't make him a man then at least he should have an honorary consideration and be able to do some of the things that men do."
The novel's structure mirrors inebriation itself—starting with clarity before gradually becoming more fragmented and dreamlike. Chapter titles draw from wine terminology ("Terroir," "Brut," "Angel's Share"), elegantly echoing the themes of each section. Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable control over her narrative, even as her characters lose control over themselves.
The Legs: Themes and Symbolism
"Lush" is deceptively complex, exploring several interwoven themes:
1. The Transformative Power of Wine
The novel examines wine not merely as a beverage but as a vehicle for memory, connection, and self-deception. Characters project their deepest desires onto the rare vintage they're summoned to taste, only to confront its disappointing reality.
2. Authenticity vs. Facade
Each character maintains a carefully constructed persona that alcohol simultaneously reinforces and dissolves. The wine industry itself becomes a metaphor for performance—where presentation and perception often matter more than substance.
3. Consumption and Excess
Dowden-Lord fearlessly examines addiction not through moralizing but through unflinching observation. The characters' relationships with alcohol mirror their relationships with themselves and others—sometimes nurturing, often destructive.
4. Memory and Identity
The novel cleverly explores how alcohol blurs the boundaries between what we remember and what we've invented. Cosmo's inability to recall whether he severed Sonny's finger becomes a haunting metaphor for the elusive nature of truth.
The Body: Character Development
The novel's greatest strength lies in its complex, flawed characters. Dowden-Lord has created a cast that feels startlingly real—neither wholly sympathetic nor entirely contemptible. Like fine wine, they reveal different notes depending on how you approach them:
- Avery emerges as the emotional center, struggling to be taken seriously in an industry that often views her as decorative rather than knowledgeable. Her evolution from insecurity to tentative self-acceptance feels earned rather than prescribed.
- Cosmo provides the novel's most heartbreaking arc. His alcoholism isn't portrayed as a moral failing but as a gradual erosion of self. His post-France sobriety serves not as redemption but as a painful reckoning with who he might have been.
- Sonny, initially presented as a wealthy dilettante, gradually reveals depths of empathy and resilience beneath his cheerful exterior. His statement—"I find it hard to be happy, but I try"—reveals volumes about his carefully constructed persona.
- Maëlys remains the most enigmatic figure—her brutal honesty about motherhood providing some of the novel's most unsettling moments. Her professional detachment becomes both her shield and her limitation.
The Finish: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Shines:
- Atmospheric Immersion: Dowden-Lord creates a sensory experience so vivid you can almost taste the wines and feel the summer heat of the vineyard.
- Dialogue: Conversations feel natural yet revealing, each exchange layered with subtext and unspoken desires.
- Industry Authenticity: The author demonstrates intimate knowledge of wine culture without overwhelming readers with jargon.
- Character Complexity: Even minor characters like Tao feel fully realized and essential to the narrative.
Where It Stumbles:
- Pacing Issues: The novel occasionally lingers too long in certain scenes while rushing through others.
- Perspective Shifts: While mostly effective, some transitions between viewpoints can disorient readers.
- Resolution: Some readers may find the conclusion's ambiguity frustrating rather than thought-provoking.
- Character Balance: Maëlys occasionally feels underutilized compared to the other central characters.
Decanting the Final Verdict
"Lush" is a remarkable debut that balances sensuous indulgence with unflinching examination. Like the rare vintage at its center, it may not be what readers expect, but it offers something more complex and lasting than simple satisfaction. Dowden-Lord writes with the confidence of a seasoned novelist, creating a world that feels both glamorous and treacherous.
This novel will resonate most strongly with readers who appreciate ambiguity and are willing to sit with uncomfortable truths. It isn't a light summer read, despite its sun-soaked setting. Rather, it's a penetrating examination of desire, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
For a debut novelist, Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable restraint and insight. "Lush" announces the arrival of a significant literary talent whose work, like the finest wine, promises to evolve and deepen with time.
June 11, 2025
Weird?
Great character study?
Unlikely and unlikeable characters yet…
profoundly relatable in many ways?
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Great character study?
Unlikely and unlikeable characters yet…
profoundly relatable in many ways?
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
February 19, 2025
Lush is a wine-soaked novel about what happens when four people are invited to the home of a Master Sommelier to drink one of the oldest bottles of wine in the world. There's Avery, a sommelier who makes most of her money as an influencer despite the reputational damage; Cosmo, a young Master Sommelier who was once the one to watch out for, but now is dogged by scandal; Sonny, who owns a popular wine brand that lacks prestige; and Maëlys, a critic who sees herself as separate to the others but has her own secrets. As they gather with the Master Sommelier and his husband, everyone spends days drinking, building up to the climax of the famous bottle, but they won't get through it unchanged.
I've enjoyed the recent influx of literary fiction that uses food and drink as part of the tapestry of the novel, so I was expecting Lush to be similar. It is in some ways, but it becomes far less about the wine and more about the people, an exploration of people with little in common except wine come together and face their lives. It is written in a hazy style that really suits the narrative, particularly how much the book says (or actively avoids saying) about alcohol and alcoholism, and that's perhaps the standout element for me, the sharp look at how a professional relationship to wine might change your relationship to drinking alcohol, or not. There's not a huge amount of plot, as might be expected from literary fiction focused on characters, and by following the four outsiders, you don't see much of the house's owners or know much about them, which again feels very intentional for the story being told.
This novel wasn't quite what I expected from it, neither a focus on the wine itself nor a scandalous plot, but rather something about the messiness of people and the disappointment of important moments. It feels ideal if you want a book for lazing around in summer, maybe on holiday, but you prefer literary fiction to actual "beach reads".
I've enjoyed the recent influx of literary fiction that uses food and drink as part of the tapestry of the novel, so I was expecting Lush to be similar. It is in some ways, but it becomes far less about the wine and more about the people, an exploration of people with little in common except wine come together and face their lives. It is written in a hazy style that really suits the narrative, particularly how much the book says (or actively avoids saying) about alcohol and alcoholism, and that's perhaps the standout element for me, the sharp look at how a professional relationship to wine might change your relationship to drinking alcohol, or not. There's not a huge amount of plot, as might be expected from literary fiction focused on characters, and by following the four outsiders, you don't see much of the house's owners or know much about them, which again feels very intentional for the story being told.
This novel wasn't quite what I expected from it, neither a focus on the wine itself nor a scandalous plot, but rather something about the messiness of people and the disappointment of important moments. It feels ideal if you want a book for lazing around in summer, maybe on holiday, but you prefer literary fiction to actual "beach reads".
June 19, 2025
I love it when I judge a book by its cover
December 3, 2025
Nothing happens in this book and all the characters are boring as hell.
The description suggested that 2 of the characters (Avery & Cosmo) have an intense romantic pull towards/understanding of one another, but this did not come across at ALL, and that pmo.
The description suggested that 2 of the characters (Avery & Cosmo) have an intense romantic pull towards/understanding of one another, but this did not come across at ALL, and that pmo.
August 4, 2025
Most books that involve wine, rich people, and a beautiful countryside are probably going to end up on my reading list. Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord checks all those boxes—and adds a layer of emotional complexity through its characters. Everyone in this novel is dealing with something, and the author excels at painting their inner lives with lush, sensory detail.
The writing itself feels like savoring a good glass of red wine—slow, textured, and rich. You don’t want it to end.
That said, I found myself getting a bit bored at times. Maybe it was my mood, but I kept waiting for the plot to pick up. In the end, it's really just a group of people drinking wine and talking about their problems.
Like a wine stain, some parts of this novel will linger. But for me, most of it will probably fade with time.
The writing itself feels like savoring a good glass of red wine—slow, textured, and rich. You don’t want it to end.
That said, I found myself getting a bit bored at times. Maybe it was my mood, but I kept waiting for the plot to pick up. In the end, it's really just a group of people drinking wine and talking about their problems.
Like a wine stain, some parts of this novel will linger. But for me, most of it will probably fade with time.
August 14, 2025
5+!!!- BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!! Enthralling, genius, gorgeous, lyrical writing that I couldn’t get enough of. If I were an underlining-in-my-books kind of man this whole novel would be covered. My socks are blown off! BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!
March 27, 2025
thank you netgalley for the ARC!
3.5 stars ⭐
this is a great book to read on your summer holiday in the south of France, with a cold glass of wine in your hand. in Lush, four diverse characters are invited to a vineyard estate of a master sommelier to spend a few days and at the end, taste the oldest bottle of wine in the world together.
the book started really great for me. the writing is beautiful (a bit lengthy and vague at times with lots of long sentences and commas, but i'm guilty of that myself, so i am in no position to judge) and engaging. the setting and characters all have an air of pretentiousness and snobbery, but that is to be expected with a book about wine and wine tasting, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. i could feel the french sun beaming, the coolness of the villa, i even found it difficult to read without sipping from a glass of wine myself (a win for the alcohol industry).
though the book skips between character's povs, the person we follow the most is Avery, a young black woman who works as a wine influencer and sommelier. while i was eager and interested to learn more about her history and background in the wine world at first, she grew increasingly more unlikable to me throughout the book, which made it hard to watch her make certain decisions, and to be invested in the possible romance that is introduced in the book. i was more interested in the other characters and wish they had had more depth and background, and more meaningful storyline. plenty of events happened between the arrival of the guests and their departure, but none of it seemed to have many consequences for the plot or the characters themselves, besides the pushing and pulling between the love interests. the romance was in fact what i liked the least, because it felt like forced chemistry between two selfish people treating each other abhorrently, probably due to the copious amounts of alcohol everyone was drinking. i realize that they were possibly written to be unlikable, but it felt like a will-they-wont-they where i was really hoping they wouldn't.
i enjoyed the book, the writing was good, but i think i'd enjoy it even more if the key characters had more depth and more background, even if it had meant the book being twice as long. would i pick up a sequel for my next pool-side read? probably, yes.
3.5 stars ⭐
this is a great book to read on your summer holiday in the south of France, with a cold glass of wine in your hand. in Lush, four diverse characters are invited to a vineyard estate of a master sommelier to spend a few days and at the end, taste the oldest bottle of wine in the world together.
the book started really great for me. the writing is beautiful (a bit lengthy and vague at times with lots of long sentences and commas, but i'm guilty of that myself, so i am in no position to judge) and engaging. the setting and characters all have an air of pretentiousness and snobbery, but that is to be expected with a book about wine and wine tasting, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. i could feel the french sun beaming, the coolness of the villa, i even found it difficult to read without sipping from a glass of wine myself (a win for the alcohol industry).
though the book skips between character's povs, the person we follow the most is Avery, a young black woman who works as a wine influencer and sommelier. while i was eager and interested to learn more about her history and background in the wine world at first, she grew increasingly more unlikable to me throughout the book, which made it hard to watch her make certain decisions, and to be invested in the possible romance that is introduced in the book. i was more interested in the other characters and wish they had had more depth and background, and more meaningful storyline. plenty of events happened between the arrival of the guests and their departure, but none of it seemed to have many consequences for the plot or the characters themselves, besides the pushing and pulling between the love interests. the romance was in fact what i liked the least, because it felt like forced chemistry between two selfish people treating each other abhorrently, probably due to the copious amounts of alcohol everyone was drinking. i realize that they were possibly written to be unlikable, but it felt like a will-they-wont-they where i was really hoping they wouldn't.
i enjoyed the book, the writing was good, but i think i'd enjoy it even more if the key characters had more depth and more background, even if it had meant the book being twice as long. would i pick up a sequel for my next pool-side read? probably, yes.
June 14, 2025
I was really looking forward to reading this based on the plot description. I think the concept is great and the writing is lovely in many places but there is also a disjointed and disorienting quality to it (possibly intentional to mimic the indulgent lifestyles of the characters) that made it difficult for me to follow and become fully invested in the story.
July 20, 2025
This may be the worst book I've ever read? I can't recall a time when I cared less about the fate of characters. Which, as it turns out, may have been a blessing, since the only thing that does seem to happen to them is them drinking wine.
July 1, 2025
Indulgent little novel about a group of sommeliers and other wine-adjacents who gather in France to think about wine and the state of their lives. Pretentious and sensory and meandering. I dug it, but only if you want exactly that mood.
August 7, 2025
make this into a movie you cowards 🔫🔫🔫
November 15, 2025
I think I tend to be more lenient with ratings on books I’ve read, but alas I am also just a girl who is easily entertained.
August 10, 2025
It’s almost as if this book was written specifically for me
June 6, 2025
One of the worst books I've ever read. If you thought wine lovers were pretentious and unlikeable sods, this book will definitely reinforce that perception. Characters are offensive and unbearable. Plot is worthy of a 50 page novella, not the ridiculously long drawn out book I struggled through. Plot flits from one uninteresting random event to another. Characters are all shallow uninteresting drunkards. And the grand reveal? Tasting the likely last bottle of an ancient vintage? Who could have guessed the wine was spent and horrible?! Ridiculous in all regards - avoid this book at all costs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2025
couldn’t finish. what was the point of this book? the writing wasn’t even bad but there was no direction or pace or tension. it felt like i was reading about plastic people - sure their faces had moles and maybe some bacne as well but just ascribing characters quirks and making them drunk doesn’t make them feel real
June 20, 2025
Did not like. I listened via audio and honestly I kept zoning out. Have no clue what this book was really about.
June 27, 2025
A pretty good little read, but if you’re not interested in the world of wine and awkward conversations / relationships this book could feel pretentious to some.
March 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail for the eARC in Exchange for my honest review!
Hazy, hedonistic, reckless, debauchery, excess, decadence, uninhibited, bacchanal
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better.
First half had its ups and downs. Second half had me so engaged I didn’t want to put it down! It was confusing at times as it skips around from person to person and scene to scene especially in the beginning. It starts to take off and become less meandering and more focused in the second half.
Explores each person, watching them as if you’re lounging on a slow, summer day overtaken by heat and alcohol numbing your mind to feel fuzzy! Which made the story feel almost like a fever dream for the reader. Each character has flaws and secrets revealed through the course of the holiday.
The book also explores the privilege and darker side of the wine industry. With commentary on the old vs the new, alcoholism, snobbery (I guess, or how closed off certain parts of the industry are for majority of the population), and the sexism that’s faced by female somms.
I enjoyed the lyrical prose and provocative imagery. The novel is filled with similes and metaphors to create a vivid setting and occasionally thought provoking sentimentality.
The title is accurate; everyone is drinking often and to excess. Overall I enjoyed my time with it and the second half definitely redeemed the book! I’d recommend if you want a meandering story that is purely vibes and would make Dionysus proud
Hazy, hedonistic, reckless, debauchery, excess, decadence, uninhibited, bacchanal
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better.
First half had its ups and downs. Second half had me so engaged I didn’t want to put it down! It was confusing at times as it skips around from person to person and scene to scene especially in the beginning. It starts to take off and become less meandering and more focused in the second half.
Explores each person, watching them as if you’re lounging on a slow, summer day overtaken by heat and alcohol numbing your mind to feel fuzzy! Which made the story feel almost like a fever dream for the reader. Each character has flaws and secrets revealed through the course of the holiday.
The book also explores the privilege and darker side of the wine industry. With commentary on the old vs the new, alcoholism, snobbery (I guess, or how closed off certain parts of the industry are for majority of the population), and the sexism that’s faced by female somms.
I enjoyed the lyrical prose and provocative imagery. The novel is filled with similes and metaphors to create a vivid setting and occasionally thought provoking sentimentality.
The title is accurate; everyone is drinking often and to excess. Overall I enjoyed my time with it and the second half definitely redeemed the book! I’d recommend if you want a meandering story that is purely vibes and would make Dionysus proud
June 11, 2025
Four individuals all associated in some way to the wine industry are invited to the French home of an elderly Master Sommelier and his artist husband to drink an old bottle of rare wine. What follows are long days of heavy, sometimes nonstop incoherent drinking. It’s a hot, boozy filled holiday. The story is about the people more so than the actual wine. Everyone has a messy somewhat flawed backstory; they connect with each other during their time together.
July 7, 2025
I enjoyed this premise quite a bit and overall it was a pleasant read. I'd probably give 3.5 stars but the characters were all so weird. I found their motivations and dialogue to be a bit nonsensical.
August 29, 2025
Absolutely loved. I’m a sucker for books that are lyrically written and all vibes/no plot. The deep dive into flawed, fascinating characters set within a French vineyard was gorgeous! The wine, the glamour, the atmosphere, all of it.
September 11, 2025
It took me a while to get into the novel but once I did I found it utterly compulsive. I found the characters, the drunkenness and the relationships explored through drunkenness very relatable. It felt hazy, dreamy, otherworldly- like when you’re in the haze of a drunken dream. I found myself at times missing that, feeling drawn to that haze but ultimately I ended the novel feeling I want to run as far as I can from relationships centred around alcohol, and sad for the times, the people I’ve been an absolute drunken mess around.
August 5, 2025
The writing in this is so observant and precise. It’s a fun atmosphere too.
May 17, 2025
thank you netgalley for the arc! this felt like reading white lotus except you're in the south of France and you are learning about wine. Would definitely recommend for an escape book!
December 13, 2025
i kept waiting for the plot to develop and the characters to actually do something and they just… never did. i will say that the actual descriptions of the different wines and tastings were my favorite part
December 24, 2025
Muy gratamente sorprendida.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews