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Zoe Brennan, First Crush
A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.
Zoe Brennan may be the loneliest lesbian in Blue Ridge, but at least she has her family vineyard to keep her busy.
When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to town, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—being chosen would put Bluebell Vineyards on the map, and she could stick it to the vineyard next door, run by her ex–best friend (now enemy), Rachel. But when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, Bluebell is left without a vintner.
Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend, and excitingly, a stranger. But once the blindfolds come off, Zoe realizes the hot butch that rocked her world isn’t a stranger at all. It’s Laine Woods—Zoe’s first crush, Rachel’s big sister, and, Zoe is horrified to discover, the Napa-trained vintner Zoe’s dad just hired as his replacement.
While they try to ignore their sizzling chemistry, Laine’s snobbery and Zoe’s pride collide at every step, creating a generous pour of professional—and sexual—tension. Collaborating is the only way to win the festival, but when that means late nights under the stars and letting go of the past, Zoe must be careful—or Laine might crush her heart for good.
Perfect for fans of romance novels who enjoy their smut wrapped in wit and wine, Zoe Brennan, First Crush delivers everything lesbian romance readers crave - from deliciously crafted enemies to lovers tension to the cozy comfort of small town romance charm. Readers who enjoy some depth to their spicy books will love this intoxicating tale of a vineyard owner getting a second chance with her first crush.
Zoe Brennan may be the loneliest lesbian in Blue Ridge, but at least she has her family vineyard to keep her busy.
When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to town, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—being chosen would put Bluebell Vineyards on the map, and she could stick it to the vineyard next door, run by her ex–best friend (now enemy), Rachel. But when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, Bluebell is left without a vintner.
Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend, and excitingly, a stranger. But once the blindfolds come off, Zoe realizes the hot butch that rocked her world isn’t a stranger at all. It’s Laine Woods—Zoe’s first crush, Rachel’s big sister, and, Zoe is horrified to discover, the Napa-trained vintner Zoe’s dad just hired as his replacement.
While they try to ignore their sizzling chemistry, Laine’s snobbery and Zoe’s pride collide at every step, creating a generous pour of professional—and sexual—tension. Collaborating is the only way to win the festival, but when that means late nights under the stars and letting go of the past, Zoe must be careful—or Laine might crush her heart for good.
Perfect for fans of romance novels who enjoy their smut wrapped in wit and wine, Zoe Brennan, First Crush delivers everything lesbian romance readers crave - from deliciously crafted enemies to lovers tension to the cozy comfort of small town romance charm. Readers who enjoy some depth to their spicy books will love this intoxicating tale of a vineyard owner getting a second chance with her first crush.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2025
94 people are currently reading
10401 people want to read
About the author
Laura Piper Lee
6 books231 followersLaura Piper Lee writes lots of things--desperate pleas to her partner for emergency caffeine, to-do lists that never get done, impassioned texts on her favorite supplements (it's Berberine, look it up)--but she only gets paid to write adult romantic comedies featuring characters as hapless as she is.
Add her newest book, Zoe Brennan, First Crush to your want-to-reads shelf if you love steamy, sapphic romcoms with professorial butch love interests, power play, and lots of wine!
Things you'll find in Zoe Brennan:
*A lot of on-page spice,
*a sexy, bossy butch love interest,
*a LOT of jokes, and
*a perpetually single lesbian in a small queer mountain town who's married to her vineyard because relationships are scary.
Add Laura's debut Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair to your to-reads shelf, or hell, if you want to be a hero, buy it even!
Things you'll find in Hannah Tate:
*on-page spice
*a hot Golden Retriever boyfriend (he even lives in a treehouse y'all)
*a LOT of jokes, and
* a single mom who's trying to build her whole life from the ground up with two leaky breasts and an infant strapped to her front.
Add her newest book, Zoe Brennan, First Crush to your want-to-reads shelf if you love steamy, sapphic romcoms with professorial butch love interests, power play, and lots of wine!
Things you'll find in Zoe Brennan:
*A lot of on-page spice,
*a sexy, bossy butch love interest,
*a LOT of jokes, and
*a perpetually single lesbian in a small queer mountain town who's married to her vineyard because relationships are scary.
Add Laura's debut Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair to your to-reads shelf, or hell, if you want to be a hero, buy it even!
Things you'll find in Hannah Tate:
*on-page spice
*a hot Golden Retriever boyfriend (he even lives in a treehouse y'all)
*a LOT of jokes, and
* a single mom who's trying to build her whole life from the ground up with two leaky breasts and an infant strapped to her front.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
August 11, 2025
this was a delight, do ya hear me? a goddamn DELIGHT.
i adored the honest, realistic writing and belly laughing humor, how is one so versatile??? the gay rep was done so fucking well; sometimes in romances it feels like one girlypop is playing “the man” particularly in contemporary romances, but this straddled the line of women’s fiction-esque with such an authentic portrayal of a woman - GASP - loving a woman 🩰
the setting was SO atmospheric and i’ll be dammed if i don’t start up my own vineyard now (wine connoisseurs are so attractive for what!!) my only gripe would be that the pacing occasionally dragged? unless that was my slump talking but we’d get these really solid scenes only to sit with them too long or have odd breaks/baloney filler in between.
overall, i HIGHLY recommend this one! thank you to union square and co. for the arc!!
i adored the honest, realistic writing and belly laughing humor, how is one so versatile??? the gay rep was done so fucking well; sometimes in romances it feels like one girlypop is playing “the man” particularly in contemporary romances, but this straddled the line of women’s fiction-esque with such an authentic portrayal of a woman - GASP - loving a woman 🩰
the setting was SO atmospheric and i’ll be dammed if i don’t start up my own vineyard now (wine connoisseurs are so attractive for what!!) my only gripe would be that the pacing occasionally dragged? unless that was my slump talking but we’d get these really solid scenes only to sit with them too long or have odd breaks/baloney filler in between.
overall, i HIGHLY recommend this one! thank you to union square and co. for the arc!!
February 13, 2025
Silly, cute and quite horny.
This was a very conventional romcom, just substitute the usual male lead with a woman and it’s every other romcom I’ve ever read. She even growled and had muscular forearms. This was basically M/F but gender is a spectrum so 🤷♀️.
But it was cute enough, the story was wrapped up nice and tight even if no one really behaved like a normal human being, so pretty much your standard romcom. Sometimes romcoms surprise me and have depth and realistic human stories, but most of the time they don’t. This one didn’t.
So it’s a light, fluffy listen with low conflict and high sex (I found myself fast forwarding through the abundant sex scenes that took up most of the last half of this).
This is a perfectly well written romcom, very similar to hundreds of others I’ve read. It was a smooth listen and didn’t take much brain power. But I did cringe a lot and had to speed through some pretty cheesy moments. My tolerance for that kind of thing is at an all time low right now.
So this might work as a very light read for someone who doesn’t really care about representation but wants to try sapphic romcom without actually dealing with conflicts that might arise therein.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.
**************************************************
Got the ALC (just learned this term, for audiobooks). Let’s see if I can finally break my curse with sapphic books.
This was a very conventional romcom, just substitute the usual male lead with a woman and it’s every other romcom I’ve ever read. She even growled and had muscular forearms. This was basically M/F but gender is a spectrum so 🤷♀️.
But it was cute enough, the story was wrapped up nice and tight even if no one really behaved like a normal human being, so pretty much your standard romcom. Sometimes romcoms surprise me and have depth and realistic human stories, but most of the time they don’t. This one didn’t.
So it’s a light, fluffy listen with low conflict and high sex (I found myself fast forwarding through the abundant sex scenes that took up most of the last half of this).
This is a perfectly well written romcom, very similar to hundreds of others I’ve read. It was a smooth listen and didn’t take much brain power. But I did cringe a lot and had to speed through some pretty cheesy moments. My tolerance for that kind of thing is at an all time low right now.
So this might work as a very light read for someone who doesn’t really care about representation but wants to try sapphic romcom without actually dealing with conflicts that might arise therein.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.
**************************************************
Got the ALC (just learned this term, for audiobooks). Let’s see if I can finally break my curse with sapphic books.
May 12, 2025
hot take maybe but laine was bad at her job ????? like girly pop was struggling and yet she found love anyway - inspiring to know lol
February 25, 2025
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.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
January 9, 2025
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee is a delightful and witty sapphic romance that combines heartfelt storytelling, laugh-out-loud humor, and a healthy dose of sexual and professional tension. Set in the beautiful backdrop of Blue Ridge vineyards, this story delivers a refreshing take on enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance tropes, with plenty of authentic queer representation to make your heart soar.
Zoe Brennan is a hilariously relatable protagonist. Her mix of snark, pride, and vulnerability makes her a delight to follow, especially as she tries to juggle her family vineyard’s future, a prestigious wine festival, and the unexpected return of her first crush and one-night-stand partner, Laine Woods. Laine, a talented Napa-trained vintner, is the perfect foil to Zoe’s stubbornness—snobby, confident, and just as prideful. The banter between them is sharp, biting, and downright hilarious at times, yet it’s filled with an undercurrent of longing and unresolved feelings that keeps the tension alive throughout the story.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how well the queer representation is handled. The romance feels incredibly authentic and avoids falling into stereotypical tropes. Instead, the story is layered with genuine emotional depth, exploring what it means for two women to love and navigate complicated histories together. The chemistry between Zoe and Laine is electric, and their growth as characters—both individually and as a couple—is deeply satisfying.
The humor in this book is spot-on. The antics of the Queer Mountaineers and the colorful cast of family and friends are laugh-out-loud funny, adding levity and charm to the story. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from deeper themes, like facing the past, forgiving mistakes, and learning to let go of pride to find peace and joy.
The vineyard setting is another highlight, immersing readers in the competitive world of winemaking while adding a layer of richness to the plot. Watching Zoe and Laine work together to prepare for the wine festival adds both professional stakes and intimate late-night moments under the stars that make the romance all the more compelling.
If there’s one critique, it’s that some of the conflicts feel slightly drawn out, and a few plot points could have been explored more deeply. However, the charm of the characters and the humor of the story more than make up for these minor things.
Zoe Brennan, First Crush is a heartfelt, hilarious, and tender romance about growth, forgiveness, and finding love where you least expect it. With its realistic characters, witty banter, and swoon-worthy tension, this book is a must-read for fans of sapphic romance and anyone who loves a good laugh alongside their love story. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Union Square & Co. & Laura Piper Lee for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Zoe Brennan is a hilariously relatable protagonist. Her mix of snark, pride, and vulnerability makes her a delight to follow, especially as she tries to juggle her family vineyard’s future, a prestigious wine festival, and the unexpected return of her first crush and one-night-stand partner, Laine Woods. Laine, a talented Napa-trained vintner, is the perfect foil to Zoe’s stubbornness—snobby, confident, and just as prideful. The banter between them is sharp, biting, and downright hilarious at times, yet it’s filled with an undercurrent of longing and unresolved feelings that keeps the tension alive throughout the story.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how well the queer representation is handled. The romance feels incredibly authentic and avoids falling into stereotypical tropes. Instead, the story is layered with genuine emotional depth, exploring what it means for two women to love and navigate complicated histories together. The chemistry between Zoe and Laine is electric, and their growth as characters—both individually and as a couple—is deeply satisfying.
The humor in this book is spot-on. The antics of the Queer Mountaineers and the colorful cast of family and friends are laugh-out-loud funny, adding levity and charm to the story. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from deeper themes, like facing the past, forgiving mistakes, and learning to let go of pride to find peace and joy.
The vineyard setting is another highlight, immersing readers in the competitive world of winemaking while adding a layer of richness to the plot. Watching Zoe and Laine work together to prepare for the wine festival adds both professional stakes and intimate late-night moments under the stars that make the romance all the more compelling.
If there’s one critique, it’s that some of the conflicts feel slightly drawn out, and a few plot points could have been explored more deeply. However, the charm of the characters and the humor of the story more than make up for these minor things.
Zoe Brennan, First Crush is a heartfelt, hilarious, and tender romance about growth, forgiveness, and finding love where you least expect it. With its realistic characters, witty banter, and swoon-worthy tension, this book is a must-read for fans of sapphic romance and anyone who loves a good laugh alongside their love story. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Union Square & Co. & Laura Piper Lee for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2025
AHHH I LOVE WHEN WOMEN
this book was so good 🥹 i started it on a whim yesterday after reading the description and thinking “yep this is the chaos i need rn” and i am SO pleasantly surprised by how much i adored lane & zoe
this book was so good 🥹 i started it on a whim yesterday after reading the description and thinking “yep this is the chaos i need rn” and i am SO pleasantly surprised by how much i adored lane & zoe
February 10, 2025
What an adorably fun book! Not only do we have a super cute duo who “definitely don’t have feelings for each other” but the sense of community and support within Blue Ridge was what really won me over. Also, who doesn’t love a threesome meetcute lol
January 28, 2025
This was a light hearted rom com. Sure there are some emotional stories and situations, but they are written well and keep the story upbeat. There were so many times I laughed out loud. LGBTQ cast of characters who were fun with big personalities. Many spicy moments. The narrator did a good job and made this an easy listen.
February 20, 2025
Zoe Brennan, First Crush has a lot going for it—a charming small-town setting, a winery backdrop, and a main character, Zoe, who is so relatable in her need to prove herself and make everything perfect. I loved the cast of side characters, from the supportive friends to the hilarious goat, and the humour and wit made this an entertaining read. There were moments when I was giggling away or cringing on Zoe's behalf. I also really enjoyed the workplace tension between Zoe and Laine after their blind-folded threesome. This romance definitely had plenty of chemistry.
That said, I struggled with Laine as a love interest. Because the book is told entirely from Zoe’s POV, it was difficult to fully understand Laine’s decisions, and at times, she I wasn't impressed by some of her behaviour towards Zoe. For me, this made it hard to root for their relationship. While their romance had its moments, I would have loved more depth in Laine’s backstory—especially her reconnection with her family—so her actions felt more fleshed out.
Despite my mixed feelings on the romance, the book was still a fun and engaging read with great queer representation, strong friendships, and an entertaining rivalry with Zoe’s ex-best friend turned vineyard competitor. If you enjoy witty banter, a touch of drama, and a cozy small-town atmosphere, this is definitely worth picking up.
Oh, and I'd be remiss not to mention Lindsey Dorcus' amazing narration. She did an exceptional job at portraying the characters for the audiobook I listened to.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I struggled with Laine as a love interest. Because the book is told entirely from Zoe’s POV, it was difficult to fully understand Laine’s decisions, and at times, she I wasn't impressed by some of her behaviour towards Zoe. For me, this made it hard to root for their relationship. While their romance had its moments, I would have loved more depth in Laine’s backstory—especially her reconnection with her family—so her actions felt more fleshed out.
Despite my mixed feelings on the romance, the book was still a fun and engaging read with great queer representation, strong friendships, and an entertaining rivalry with Zoe’s ex-best friend turned vineyard competitor. If you enjoy witty banter, a touch of drama, and a cozy small-town atmosphere, this is definitely worth picking up.
Oh, and I'd be remiss not to mention Lindsey Dorcus' amazing narration. She did an exceptional job at portraying the characters for the audiobook I listened to.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2025
This was witty, entertaining, funny, and beautifully atmospheric following the sapphic romance between Zoe and Laine.
I love the winery backdrop and attention to detail, it felt authentic when Zoe talks about it being her love and her parents legacy, and I love the winery competition.
Touches of drama come from her long time rival Rachel, ex best friend turned enemy who runs the competing vineyard, as well as family tensions, and all the angsty feelings for her new employee and first crush.
The workplace tension was layered between animosity, pride, stubbornness, vulnerability and trying to remain professional. I loved their chemistry together, and how supportive Zoe's friends are.
The goat was hilarious, and I loved the sass and charm. It also has fab queer representation and I adored Zoe's best friend and his hilarious honesty.
I love the winery backdrop and attention to detail, it felt authentic when Zoe talks about it being her love and her parents legacy, and I love the winery competition.
Touches of drama come from her long time rival Rachel, ex best friend turned enemy who runs the competing vineyard, as well as family tensions, and all the angsty feelings for her new employee and first crush.
The workplace tension was layered between animosity, pride, stubbornness, vulnerability and trying to remain professional. I loved their chemistry together, and how supportive Zoe's friends are.
The goat was hilarious, and I loved the sass and charm. It also has fab queer representation and I adored Zoe's best friend and his hilarious honesty.
January 25, 2025
If you are the author, this review is not for you. Please move along.
Content warnings: alcohol (a lot of it, consumption, talk, etc), parental death (past, off-page, and then also Zoe's grandma is ill/passes away, also off page), lesbophobia, homophobia,
Rep: Zoe (MC) is cis, Italian-American, and lesbian. Laine (LI) is white, lesbian, butch and uses she/they pronouns (but I think the author forgot this because after Laine introduces herself to Zoe's friends with she/they pronouns, not once is it used in the narrative for Laine at all). Other queer characters. I am unfortunately forgetting any other rep.
Content warnings: alcohol (a lot of it, consumption, talk, etc), parental death (past, off-page, and then also Zoe's grandma is ill/passes away, also off page), lesbophobia, homophobia,
Rep: Zoe (MC) is cis, Italian-American, and lesbian. Laine (LI) is white, lesbian, butch and uses she/they pronouns (but I think the author forgot this because after Laine introduces herself to Zoe's friends with she/they pronouns, not once is it used in the narrative for Laine at all). Other queer characters. I am unfortunately forgetting any other rep.
February 11, 2025
Audiobook/Book Review 🍇🍷
Thank you so much @unionsqandco @dreamscape_media for the gifted copy + audiobook!
Zoe Brennan, First Crush
by Laura Piper Lee
Narrated by Lindsey Dorcus
About the book 👇🏽
When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to town, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—being chosen would put Bluebell Vineyards on the map, and she could stick it to the vineyard next door, run by her ex-best friend (now enemy), Rachel. But when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, Bluebell is left without a vintner.
Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend, and excitingly, a stranger. But once the blindfolds come off, Zoe realizes the hot butch that rocked her world isn’t a stranger at all. It’s Laine Woods—Zoe’s first crush, Rachel’s big sister, and, Zoe is horrified to discover, the Napa-trained vintner Zoe’s dad just hired as his replacement.
🍷🍇 My thoughts:
I was not expecting so much steam but I loved it! It’s a light and swoony read/listen you’ll be able to binge over a weekend or in one sitting if that’s your taste. The audiobook narrator did an incredible job with this story and will have you hanging on every word. What I really enjoyed was that we get right into the good stuff… just immediately jumping right into the story that you really don’t have any choice but to be immersed in it. Everyone had their own set of personalities that were realistic, making this story feel cozy because the characters felt familiar. This is the first book I’ve read by Laura Piper Lee and it definitely will not be my last.
Happy reading! 📖🎧🍇🍷
Thank you so much @unionsqandco @dreamscape_media for the gifted copy + audiobook!
Zoe Brennan, First Crush
by Laura Piper Lee
Narrated by Lindsey Dorcus
About the book 👇🏽
When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to town, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—being chosen would put Bluebell Vineyards on the map, and she could stick it to the vineyard next door, run by her ex-best friend (now enemy), Rachel. But when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, Bluebell is left without a vintner.
Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend, and excitingly, a stranger. But once the blindfolds come off, Zoe realizes the hot butch that rocked her world isn’t a stranger at all. It’s Laine Woods—Zoe’s first crush, Rachel’s big sister, and, Zoe is horrified to discover, the Napa-trained vintner Zoe’s dad just hired as his replacement.
🍷🍇 My thoughts:
I was not expecting so much steam but I loved it! It’s a light and swoony read/listen you’ll be able to binge over a weekend or in one sitting if that’s your taste. The audiobook narrator did an incredible job with this story and will have you hanging on every word. What I really enjoyed was that we get right into the good stuff… just immediately jumping right into the story that you really don’t have any choice but to be immersed in it. Everyone had their own set of personalities that were realistic, making this story feel cozy because the characters felt familiar. This is the first book I’ve read by Laura Piper Lee and it definitely will not be my last.
Happy reading! 📖🎧🍇🍷
July 13, 2025
I forgot how abrupt an ending feels when there’s no epilogue! I did the audiobook for this one and really loved it. It’s funny and truly so horny.
Loved love loved Teddy the most.
Loved love loved Teddy the most.
January 30, 2025
3.75. Zoe and Rachel are no longer friends which makes it really difficult for Zoe to be around Laine, Rachel’s sister. They try to avoid one another but that becomes impossible when Laine is recruited to the family owned vineyard Zoe runs. Laine was her first crush and they have to learn to work together to keep the vineyard going!
This story was really cute! Such a sweet sapphic romance with fun side characters. One of the characters was so corny one moment then making me laugh out loud the next. Very realistic for a goofy friend I’m sure we’ve all had. I liked the setting and wine talk along with the pacing and writing. I really enjoyed this one!
Lindsey Dorcus did amazing at portraying the characters for the duration of the audio I listened to.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Laura Piper Lee, and Dreamscape Media for providing this free audio ARC. Also thanks to Union Square & Co for my physical copy. This is my honest review. This published on January 21st!
This story was really cute! Such a sweet sapphic romance with fun side characters. One of the characters was so corny one moment then making me laugh out loud the next. Very realistic for a goofy friend I’m sure we’ve all had. I liked the setting and wine talk along with the pacing and writing. I really enjoyed this one!
Lindsey Dorcus did amazing at portraying the characters for the duration of the audio I listened to.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Laura Piper Lee, and Dreamscape Media for providing this free audio ARC. Also thanks to Union Square & Co for my physical copy. This is my honest review. This published on January 21st!
March 8, 2025
I thought this was a fucking blast!
And when I say that I was giggling and kicking my feet while reading this book, I am not exaggerating.
I enjoyed so many aspects of this book,
From the romantic story between Laine and Zoe to the side characters and their journey through the movement of the plot, to the atmosphere of the vineyard and the small town, all the way to the deep messages of grief, loss, pride, and insecurity that shown beneath the laughter and hijinks in this story.
It had just the perfect balance of romance and depth mixed with lightheartedness (and yes there were moments that I cringed, but it's a rom-com to a T so it's all part of the fun)
The author puts so much work into making you truly feel the tension, love, and devotion between Laine and Zoe, and the way the setting was utilized to push their romance forward was beautifully done. It felt like a movie in my head and that's some of the best types of book in my mind.
I thought the pacing was perfect for this type of book, none of it felt like it overtly dragged, and each conflict was handled in a way that felt honest and real.
I truly enjoyed all the incorporations of the side characters in the story of Laine and Zoe, and I think my only issue is with the fact that some of the dialogue and the way characters responded to certain situations felt unrealistic and a bit cartoonish, but I suppose that is meant to add to the romantic comedy magic.
Laine's character can come off as frustratingly arrogant, but as we move through the novel you can't help but fall in love with her, and I absolutely love the way her story was explored and the message about how you can do stupid things out of love was tied up well.
Overall 4.5 stars, and I hope these horny lesbians get the long beautiful life they deserve!
Thank you to Netgalley, The author, and Dreamscape Media for giving me an ARC of the audiobook, this is my honest and willing review. 😊
And when I say that I was giggling and kicking my feet while reading this book, I am not exaggerating.
I enjoyed so many aspects of this book,
From the romantic story between Laine and Zoe to the side characters and their journey through the movement of the plot, to the atmosphere of the vineyard and the small town, all the way to the deep messages of grief, loss, pride, and insecurity that shown beneath the laughter and hijinks in this story.
It had just the perfect balance of romance and depth mixed with lightheartedness (and yes there were moments that I cringed, but it's a rom-com to a T so it's all part of the fun)
The author puts so much work into making you truly feel the tension, love, and devotion between Laine and Zoe, and the way the setting was utilized to push their romance forward was beautifully done. It felt like a movie in my head and that's some of the best types of book in my mind.
I thought the pacing was perfect for this type of book, none of it felt like it overtly dragged, and each conflict was handled in a way that felt honest and real.
I truly enjoyed all the incorporations of the side characters in the story of Laine and Zoe, and I think my only issue is with the fact that some of the dialogue and the way characters responded to certain situations felt unrealistic and a bit cartoonish, but I suppose that is meant to add to the romantic comedy magic.
Laine's character can come off as frustratingly arrogant, but as we move through the novel you can't help but fall in love with her, and I absolutely love the way her story was explored and the message about how you can do stupid things out of love was tied up well.
Overall 4.5 stars, and I hope these horny lesbians get the long beautiful life they deserve!
Thank you to Netgalley, The author, and Dreamscape Media for giving me an ARC of the audiobook, this is my honest and willing review. 😊
October 13, 2024
Laura Piper Lee does it again! I’m so happy to be back in Blue Ridge for Zoe’s story. This is my first sapphic romance book, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed getting to know Zoe, and see her bloom into her authentic self. The sense of community the characters in this town have, makes you feel like you’re family. The adventures of the Queer Mountaineers, Jamal’s Keep Calm and Karaoke Wednesday and the Blue Ridge Field Day Festival should all exist in real life. I loved Zoe’s parents’ love story and how she continued her mom’s legacy. I was so happy to see characters from Hannah Tate Beyond Repair. Zoe and Laine’s relationship, though it had a bumpy start, it grew into so much more, brining out the best in each other. Their snarky-ness, banter and sexual tension as off the charts! This book has the perfect balance of many laugh out loud, sexy and sweet moments. I loved it!
🍷Sapphic romance
🍷Small town
🍷Quirky characters
🍷Enemies to lovers
🍷Workplace romance
🍷No third act breakup
🍷Laine’s her ex-best friend’s older sister
🍷Vineyard rivalry
🍷There’s a pet goat
🍷There’s a blindfolded threesome in chapter 2
Spoiler free moments that made me LOL:
-“Chop-chop”
-The Woods” family dinner and the whole “bitchiness disease” issue.
-Someone named their kids Edward and Bella.
-“Shoelaces”! - at the kid’s soccer games
-“Her Guiding Gay Light”
-Boss N’ Beave’s Wine Depot
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square and Co for the arc! All opinions are my own.
*It can be read as stand alone, but it’s better if you read Hannah Tate Beyond Repair first. :) *
🍷Sapphic romance
🍷Small town
🍷Quirky characters
🍷Enemies to lovers
🍷Workplace romance
🍷No third act breakup
🍷Laine’s her ex-best friend’s older sister
🍷Vineyard rivalry
🍷There’s a pet goat
🍷There’s a blindfolded threesome in chapter 2
Spoiler free moments that made me LOL:
-“Chop-chop”
-The Woods” family dinner and the whole “bitchiness disease” issue.
-Someone named their kids Edward and Bella.
-“Shoelaces”! - at the kid’s soccer games
-“Her Guiding Gay Light”
-Boss N’ Beave’s Wine Depot
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square and Co for the arc! All opinions are my own.
*It can be read as stand alone, but it’s better if you read Hannah Tate Beyond Repair first. :) *
December 15, 2024
Full review to come - but MARRY ME LAINE
Zoe Brennan, the lonely owner of Bluebell Vineyards, is determined to win a prestigious wine festival and outshine her ex–best friend’s vineyard, but when her father leaves town, she’s forced to work with Laine Woods, a skilled vintner and her first crush. As the two clash over their professional differences, their undeniable chemistry threatens to reopen old wounds and complicate their chances of success—both in business and in love.
I loved this book. It was so witty and heartfelt and so damn RELATABLE. I literally highlighted a paragraph on my kindle and sent it to @laurapiperlee asking if she lived in my brain. The description of loneliness hit so hard in this book.
The field day had me cracking up. Zoe’s friends were incredible. Laine calling Zoe boss. The red neck wine tour. The blindfolds (iykyk). The SPICE. I have the most massive crush on Laine. I loved seeing Hannah and River and the crew!! The showcase was amazing. The found family!!!! I am in love with this book.
In a word - obsessed.
Zoe Brennan, the lonely owner of Bluebell Vineyards, is determined to win a prestigious wine festival and outshine her ex–best friend’s vineyard, but when her father leaves town, she’s forced to work with Laine Woods, a skilled vintner and her first crush. As the two clash over their professional differences, their undeniable chemistry threatens to reopen old wounds and complicate their chances of success—both in business and in love.
I loved this book. It was so witty and heartfelt and so damn RELATABLE. I literally highlighted a paragraph on my kindle and sent it to @laurapiperlee asking if she lived in my brain. The description of loneliness hit so hard in this book.
The field day had me cracking up. Zoe’s friends were incredible. Laine calling Zoe boss. The red neck wine tour. The blindfolds (iykyk). The SPICE. I have the most massive crush on Laine. I loved seeing Hannah and River and the crew!! The showcase was amazing. The found family!!!! I am in love with this book.
In a word - obsessed.
February 4, 2025
Zoe Brennan, First Crush
ELC review! This was a cute, sapphic romance. I loved both the narrators and the vineyard setting! This romance started out with a spicy threesome and went from crush to hook up to dislike to lovers. The character arcs were fantastic but I wish we had some side character development. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
Spice scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read this if you like:
🍇high school crush/sexual awakening
🍷lots of nerdy discussion about wine making
🍇excellent banter
🍷spicy blindfolded threesome scene
Thank you to Dreamscape media and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy of this one!
ELC review! This was a cute, sapphic romance. I loved both the narrators and the vineyard setting! This romance started out with a spicy threesome and went from crush to hook up to dislike to lovers. The character arcs were fantastic but I wish we had some side character development. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
Spice scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read this if you like:
🍇high school crush/sexual awakening
🍷lots of nerdy discussion about wine making
🍇excellent banter
🍷spicy blindfolded threesome scene
Thank you to Dreamscape media and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy of this one!
May 3, 2025
4.5 stars
Wow this book starts with a bang. It had me laughing right from the start. I was hooked! I really enjoyed it. It had such a great plot and I’ve never read about a vineyard before, so that was also fun! Definitely recommend giving this a go! The audiobook was also very well done.
This books written in first person with a single POV. Small town, enemies to lovers, first crush (childhood crush), workplace romance. 4x spicy scenes (one is F2B).
Wow this book starts with a bang. It had me laughing right from the start. I was hooked! I really enjoyed it. It had such a great plot and I’ve never read about a vineyard before, so that was also fun! Definitely recommend giving this a go! The audiobook was also very well done.
This books written in first person with a single POV. Small town, enemies to lovers, first crush (childhood crush), workplace romance. 4x spicy scenes (one is F2B).
June 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Georgia! Wineries! Childhood friend’s older sister to enemies to coworkers to lovers! UGA mention! Blue Ridge GA is a small town filled with characters with big personalities a la Schitt’s Creek. The family wineries vying for a showcase to put them on the map sets the scene for realistic conflict. The romance was steamy and I loved a childhood crush revisited. Also loved that everyone involved got to heal a little bit.
January 16, 2025
3.5 rounded up
This was a SPICY small town queer romance that takes place in the same universe as Hannah Tate, beyond repair and sees Zoe forced to work with her first crush after a HOT night of surprise threesome sex. When Zoe's father hires Laine to help restore the family vineyard, she and Zoe have to figure out how to work with one another despite their different styles. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Amy Spalding or Ashley Herring Blake. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital an audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was a SPICY small town queer romance that takes place in the same universe as Hannah Tate, beyond repair and sees Zoe forced to work with her first crush after a HOT night of surprise threesome sex. When Zoe's father hires Laine to help restore the family vineyard, she and Zoe have to figure out how to work with one another despite their different styles. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Amy Spalding or Ashley Herring Blake. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital an audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 20, 2025
thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook copy!
this is out Jan 21 2025.
--
i fear i may need to stop trying romance.
this simply didn't work for me on multiple levels and it was hard to maintain a suspension of reality to get through some of the excessive cheese.
here we have zoe, lonely and sad, and now facing having to handle operations for her family's struggling vineyard since her father must return to italy to aid his dying mother. so naturally, zoe has a threesome. here's the first plot point where i struggled - why? it felt like such a strange thing to include, especially since zoe seems to have no interest in polyamorous-related things throughout the rest of the book, really. maybe it was a reason to shove a sex scene into the first 5% of the book, i don't know.
in fact - and this is probably just a me issue - but this book felt weirdly and unnecessarily sexual often. i'm not a prude, but two side characters were walked in on during sex. and it was so excessively sexualized given the scene was meant to be, uh, some people accidentally walking in on it and being embarrassed about it instead of like, observing them.
anyway, one of the two other people at the threesome turns out to be zoe's childhood crush and dun-dun-dun, the person that's going to help take care of the vineyard and help make the wines while zoe's dad is gone.
laine's arrogant and frankly frustrating, deliberately ignoring zoe's knowledge of how her own family's wines are made, including refusing to participate in various processes to keep mold out of the wine, various processes to make the wine taste like the standard from the brand. i think what's most frustrating to me is that laine is a liar, knows that zoe won't want to leave her family's vineyard, and purchases her own vineyard in another state. the idea? she lied about it so she has time to talk zoe into it. and later, laine snarls that she should be able to have everything she wants. with zero consideration of what zoe's going through. gross.
zoe's not a real peach, either. a part of this plot that came up a couple of times - apparently when zoe was a teenager she stole one of laine's sports bras and hid it in a box under her bed full of other laine keepsakes. this is weird. this is a violation. it's not cute, it's not funny. and at the end of the book when zoe SHOWS laine the stolen underwear i got pretty annoyed with this book as a whole.
i don't even want to get into the tidily wrapped subplot involving rachel, laine's sister, sabotaging the wine at zoe's vineyard. none of these characters feel like real people making real people decisions, which seems to be an issue that occurs in romance novels in general. if you like cheese, this one may be for you, but it simply did not work for me.
this is out Jan 21 2025.
--
i fear i may need to stop trying romance.
this simply didn't work for me on multiple levels and it was hard to maintain a suspension of reality to get through some of the excessive cheese.
here we have zoe, lonely and sad, and now facing having to handle operations for her family's struggling vineyard since her father must return to italy to aid his dying mother. so naturally, zoe has a threesome. here's the first plot point where i struggled - why? it felt like such a strange thing to include, especially since zoe seems to have no interest in polyamorous-related things throughout the rest of the book, really. maybe it was a reason to shove a sex scene into the first 5% of the book, i don't know.
in fact - and this is probably just a me issue - but this book felt weirdly and unnecessarily sexual often. i'm not a prude, but two side characters were walked in on during sex. and it was so excessively sexualized given the scene was meant to be, uh, some people accidentally walking in on it and being embarrassed about it instead of like, observing them.
anyway, one of the two other people at the threesome turns out to be zoe's childhood crush and dun-dun-dun, the person that's going to help take care of the vineyard and help make the wines while zoe's dad is gone.
laine's arrogant and frankly frustrating, deliberately ignoring zoe's knowledge of how her own family's wines are made, including refusing to participate in various processes to keep mold out of the wine, various processes to make the wine taste like the standard from the brand. i think what's most frustrating to me is that laine is a liar, knows that zoe won't want to leave her family's vineyard, and purchases her own vineyard in another state. the idea? she lied about it so she has time to talk zoe into it. and later, laine snarls that she should be able to have everything she wants. with zero consideration of what zoe's going through. gross.
zoe's not a real peach, either. a part of this plot that came up a couple of times - apparently when zoe was a teenager she stole one of laine's sports bras and hid it in a box under her bed full of other laine keepsakes. this is weird. this is a violation. it's not cute, it's not funny. and at the end of the book when zoe SHOWS laine the stolen underwear i got pretty annoyed with this book as a whole.
i don't even want to get into the tidily wrapped subplot involving rachel, laine's sister, sabotaging the wine at zoe's vineyard. none of these characters feel like real people making real people decisions, which seems to be an issue that occurs in romance novels in general. if you like cheese, this one may be for you, but it simply did not work for me.
September 1, 2024
I received an ARC and could not wait to head back to Blue Ridge and read Zoe’s story. As promised, Zoe Brennan, First Crush is a spicy sapphic romance. It’s a companion/sequel to Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair. Zoe is quite relatable and Laura does a great job of writing about anxiety and how it affects the character in a nuanced and realistic way. The book is also hilarious and emotional while dealing with important and sometimes difficult topics (death of a parent, grief, difficult family relationships). The group of characters are also super relatable and it’s like sitting with a group of friends. If you’re a fan of romance, I highly recommend this book, it definitely had me kicking my legs and giggling.
November 2, 2024
Didn't like it much overall. Toughed it out, but was hard to read, much too cheesy for my taste. Extra star for having a cute message
May 1, 2025
Rating: 4/5
Things I loved:
The slow-and-steady recovery of a high-achieving perfectionist who has never figured out how to lose. Laine was so frustrating for me at times, and I think it's partially because she's deeply relatable (in a way I hate to admit!). She is so caught up in her own insecurities that she struggles to see what's happening around her and misses some really critical insights into the lives of friends and family. I loved seeing her work to build back her own self-confidence in a truly sustainable way.
Zoe. Zoe is fantastic, and if anything, I feel like she's too forgiving and gracious when I would probably stay petty! But I do love that for her.
Queer found family. The Queer Mountaineers are so good, and I loved seeing a best friend really come through in the third act.
The struggling family business in a small town. This is one of the few real overlaps I can judge in my own life and it hit very close to home. Having grown up in the ever-present shadow of my family's fourth-generation greenhouse/florist, I really appreciated seeing Zoe's inability to separate her complicated grief from her own career ambitions and her stubborn refusal to feel shame for the patchwork ways a small business holds itself together (hey, we used a potato masher to strip the leaves from rose stems for cut-flower vases, so I see your plastic-wine-bins and stand in solidarity). It's hard to convey just how much you can love something that also feels like a massive burden and how quickly you will cut out anyone who says a word against it because it's YOURS. I loved this.
Things I didn't love:
I really wish there had been a conversation related to sexual health in this - the absence was noticeable for me in the opening blind-folded threesome. I really appreciate when authors show how to have an affirming and non-stigmatizing conversation about sexual health and STI history before oral, in particular, and that doesn't get page time here.
The sub-plot with her dad. I love the family's backstory, to a point, but my patience for lovesick-in-grief when it involved some fairly profound parental neglect came up short.
Ugh, Rachel. Just, Rachel.
Ultimately, I zipped right through this and really enjoyed the central romance, even if a few beats didn't really work for me.
Things I loved:
The slow-and-steady recovery of a high-achieving perfectionist who has never figured out how to lose. Laine was so frustrating for me at times, and I think it's partially because she's deeply relatable (in a way I hate to admit!). She is so caught up in her own insecurities that she struggles to see what's happening around her and misses some really critical insights into the lives of friends and family. I loved seeing her work to build back her own self-confidence in a truly sustainable way.
Zoe. Zoe is fantastic, and if anything, I feel like she's too forgiving and gracious when I would probably stay petty! But I do love that for her.
Queer found family. The Queer Mountaineers are so good, and I loved seeing a best friend really come through in the third act.
The struggling family business in a small town. This is one of the few real overlaps I can judge in my own life and it hit very close to home. Having grown up in the ever-present shadow of my family's fourth-generation greenhouse/florist, I really appreciated seeing Zoe's inability to separate her complicated grief from her own career ambitions and her stubborn refusal to feel shame for the patchwork ways a small business holds itself together (hey, we used a potato masher to strip the leaves from rose stems for cut-flower vases, so I see your plastic-wine-bins and stand in solidarity). It's hard to convey just how much you can love something that also feels like a massive burden and how quickly you will cut out anyone who says a word against it because it's YOURS. I loved this.
Things I didn't love:
I really wish there had been a conversation related to sexual health in this - the absence was noticeable for me in the opening blind-folded threesome. I really appreciate when authors show how to have an affirming and non-stigmatizing conversation about sexual health and STI history before oral, in particular, and that doesn't get page time here.
The sub-plot with her dad. I love the family's backstory, to a point, but my patience for lovesick-in-grief when it involved some fairly profound parental neglect came up short.
Ugh, Rachel. Just, Rachel.
Ultimately, I zipped right through this and really enjoyed the central romance, even if a few beats didn't really work for me.
September 16, 2025
Oh what a mess this was. I don't even know where to start...
Both main characters were insufferable but Laine truly was a demon. My god the selfishness and entitlement was on another level. Expecting your partner to give up their entire life for you that you go ahead and buy a business behind their back and not tell them is crazy, no? And the fact that she got mad at Zoe when she was found out truly was the icing on the shit cake. It's so bad it borders ridiculous.
Call me a purist, traditionalist or whatever but while I'm not against having copious amounts of sex scenes in a book, I do however have a problem when there's sex scenes between one of the mcs and other characters lol. The second chapter of the book had a threesome sex scene between Zoe, Laine and a mutual acquaintance of theirs, it was the first reunion they had and I just think the author could have set that up better.
Lastly, and this is mostly a pet peeve because I experience this irl too, but if you give your characters she/they pronouns, I expect for both of these to be used interchangeably by the characters AND the narrative. 20% into the book, Laine introduces themself with dual pronouns and then gets she/her'd the entire book.
There's probably more that I hated about this book but it's been over a week since I finished it and my anger blocked most of it out once I dropped the book so...
Both main characters were insufferable but Laine truly was a demon. My god the selfishness and entitlement was on another level. Expecting your partner to give up their entire life for you that you go ahead and buy a business behind their back and not tell them is crazy, no? And the fact that she got mad at Zoe when she was found out truly was the icing on the shit cake. It's so bad it borders ridiculous.
Call me a purist, traditionalist or whatever but while I'm not against having copious amounts of sex scenes in a book, I do however have a problem when there's sex scenes between one of the mcs and other characters lol. The second chapter of the book had a threesome sex scene between Zoe, Laine and a mutual acquaintance of theirs, it was the first reunion they had and I just think the author could have set that up better.
Lastly, and this is mostly a pet peeve because I experience this irl too, but if you give your characters she/they pronouns, I expect for both of these to be used interchangeably by the characters AND the narrative. 20% into the book, Laine introduces themself with dual pronouns and then gets she/her'd the entire book.
There's probably more that I hated about this book but it's been over a week since I finished it and my anger blocked most of it out once I dropped the book so...
May 22, 2025
4.5/5. I loved this book! Zoe is a delight. She’s smart and capable, loving and bright, and a little self conscious. Laine is also amazing. She’s confident, thoughtful, and witty. I absolutely adored seeing these two get together. Their meet cute was hilarious and sexy. I love the tension when Laine begins working at the vineyard and I adore Laine’s courting. I loved the side characters and the little side stories (like the goat). Rachel has me intrigued because I get her, even though she kinda sucks a lot of the time. I laughed multiple times throughout this book and had a generally good time.
Notes: 2/5 spice levels, boss/employee, winery owner/wine maker, high school crush, small town
Notes: 2/5 spice levels, boss/employee, winery owner/wine maker, high school crush, small town
July 14, 2025
Lesbian romance... she hooks with her childhood crush. Her dad owns the winery...
Hoopla 🎶
Hoopla 🎶
July 21, 2025
I love me a good rom com, what can I say? This hit home in so many ways, loved loved this. Off to read all of Laura Piper Lee’s books now!!
February 11, 2025
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Zoe Brennan, First Crush was a sapphic romcom about a failing winery and the lesbians running it. This book was double horny with a capital H. Don’t get me wrong, I dont mind a horny book, but the characters being SO horny for each other ALL THE TIME was a little distracting and felt forced. I did enjoy the characters and the emotional relationship that built, I loved the setting, and I did find myself chuckling along while listening. I think the book could have been a little shorter, some parts felt a little drawn out when they didn’t have to be. All in all I enjoyed this one, though!
3.5⭐️
Zoe Brennan, First Crush was a sapphic romcom about a failing winery and the lesbians running it. This book was double horny with a capital H. Don’t get me wrong, I dont mind a horny book, but the characters being SO horny for each other ALL THE TIME was a little distracting and felt forced. I did enjoy the characters and the emotional relationship that built, I loved the setting, and I did find myself chuckling along while listening. I think the book could have been a little shorter, some parts felt a little drawn out when they didn’t have to be. All in all I enjoyed this one, though!
3.5⭐️
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