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Service Entrance
Cordelia Winthrop once ruled Paris cotillions and launched a disastrous fashion line. Now, broke and desperate, this rebellious ex-debutante is hiding out in a Montecito pool house, facing a reality as beige as her last collection. She needs a second chance, a fresh start, and maybe just a hint of purpose.
Her a grueling job as personal assistant to Lucrezia Wilde, an eccentric, high-maintenance ex-supermodel and queen of Southern California elite society. Lucrezia's demands are outrageous, spanning from Hermès scarf organization to bee venom facials, and most importantly, discreetly spying on her notoriously elusive billionaire ex-husband, Hemlocke Wilde.
Life in the gilded cage of Montecito takes an electrifying turn when a latte-induced collision introduces Coco to Ash—a charming, mysterious stranger whose quick wit and even quicker smile threaten to derail her carefully constructed new life. Their sizzling connection ignites a passionate affair, filled with witty banter and a tantalizing forbidden attraction. But every stolen kiss and shared secret deepens Coco's unease.
Is Ash the genuine, soul-baring man she’s falling for, or just another player in Montecito’s high-stakes game of manipulation? As Coco finds herself entangled in family secrets, mistaken identities, and a perplexing twin brother mix-up, she’s forced to confront devastating truths about trust, betrayal, and the cost of true love. Can she save her job, reclaim her dreams, and find her own path to self-love and lasting happiness behind the manicured hedges?
Dive into this smart, sexy, and utterly captivating Montecito romantic comedy with a heartwarming twist. Perfect for fans of witty women's fiction and tales of career redemption where a down-on-her-luck heroine finds purpose, passion, and maybe even a secret billionaire who’s more than meets the eye. If you love glamorous settings, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fiercely independent woman's journey of self-discovery, Service Entrance is your next obsession.
Her a grueling job as personal assistant to Lucrezia Wilde, an eccentric, high-maintenance ex-supermodel and queen of Southern California elite society. Lucrezia's demands are outrageous, spanning from Hermès scarf organization to bee venom facials, and most importantly, discreetly spying on her notoriously elusive billionaire ex-husband, Hemlocke Wilde.
Life in the gilded cage of Montecito takes an electrifying turn when a latte-induced collision introduces Coco to Ash—a charming, mysterious stranger whose quick wit and even quicker smile threaten to derail her carefully constructed new life. Their sizzling connection ignites a passionate affair, filled with witty banter and a tantalizing forbidden attraction. But every stolen kiss and shared secret deepens Coco's unease.
Is Ash the genuine, soul-baring man she’s falling for, or just another player in Montecito’s high-stakes game of manipulation? As Coco finds herself entangled in family secrets, mistaken identities, and a perplexing twin brother mix-up, she’s forced to confront devastating truths about trust, betrayal, and the cost of true love. Can she save her job, reclaim her dreams, and find her own path to self-love and lasting happiness behind the manicured hedges?
Dive into this smart, sexy, and utterly captivating Montecito romantic comedy with a heartwarming twist. Perfect for fans of witty women's fiction and tales of career redemption where a down-on-her-luck heroine finds purpose, passion, and maybe even a secret billionaire who’s more than meets the eye. If you love glamorous settings, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fiercely independent woman's journey of self-discovery, Service Entrance is your next obsession.
- GenresRomance
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
27 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 21, 2025
Kiki Astor’s latest is a sumptuous confection — a witty, sun-drenched romance steeped in Montecito glamour. Coco, a clever and charming heroine at a turning point in her life, escapes to her godmother’s pool house (naturally!) only to tumble headlong into a beguiling affair with a man who may not be what he seems.
The prose sparkles with humor and heart, layered with deliciously authentic glimpses of Santa Barbara’s most iconic haunts. As secrets unfold behind the ficus hedges and Pacific sunsets, the story deepens into something both playful and poignant. A radiant delight from start to finish — and the Audible AI narration (on my version) even adds to its cultivated yet cheeky flair!
The prose sparkles with humor and heart, layered with deliciously authentic glimpses of Santa Barbara’s most iconic haunts. As secrets unfold behind the ficus hedges and Pacific sunsets, the story deepens into something both playful and poignant. A radiant delight from start to finish — and the Audible AI narration (on my version) even adds to its cultivated yet cheeky flair!
December 7, 2025
This is my second book by the quite fabulous Kiki Astor and I will definitely be ordering more!
I enjoyed the characters in this one more than in Low Season in St Tropez. Coco was also a mess but one immediately saw potential in her. Lucrezia was my personal favorite…unhinged attention to detail is so relatable!
I enjoyed how bizarrely the plot unfolded. Of course there was only one logical explanation but there was certainly enough doubt thrown in to keep one wondering if perhaps one had missed something crucial.
The setting made for a character itself. I’m not at all familiar with that area and it was great fun googling all the restaurants and shops! I hadn’t realized all those little towns are all so clustered together! Old friends in Santa Barbara have been urging me to visit for decades…this book made me feel a little closer to acquiescing!
I quite appreciated the brisk even pacing of the action. A skillful mix of details, scene-setting with full sensory descriptions, dialogue and interior thoughts. So many writers get bogged down in one or another and then skip something you would quite liked to have known! I always appreciate weather and smells!
Pink Palazzo will be my next book!
And if podcasts are part of your life, I’d heartily recommend her podcast “Awkward Etiquette”…informative sociology, design and very charming and funny!
I enjoyed the characters in this one more than in Low Season in St Tropez. Coco was also a mess but one immediately saw potential in her. Lucrezia was my personal favorite…unhinged attention to detail is so relatable!
I enjoyed how bizarrely the plot unfolded. Of course there was only one logical explanation but there was certainly enough doubt thrown in to keep one wondering if perhaps one had missed something crucial.
The setting made for a character itself. I’m not at all familiar with that area and it was great fun googling all the restaurants and shops! I hadn’t realized all those little towns are all so clustered together! Old friends in Santa Barbara have been urging me to visit for decades…this book made me feel a little closer to acquiescing!
I quite appreciated the brisk even pacing of the action. A skillful mix of details, scene-setting with full sensory descriptions, dialogue and interior thoughts. So many writers get bogged down in one or another and then skip something you would quite liked to have known! I always appreciate weather and smells!
Pink Palazzo will be my next book!
And if podcasts are part of your life, I’d heartily recommend her podcast “Awkward Etiquette”…informative sociology, design and very charming and funny!
February 11, 2026
Why does Old and New Money always involve such cruelty in their scents, materials and food? Every choice of their so-called luxury cost tremendous lives, land and resources; yet they are the judgemental ones. Times are changing fast, especially in many countries where these excesses are increasingly being frowned upon. Also, Old Money in the USA is not always Old in the European perspective, especially if most of the brands and places mentioned in the book and by social media‘ luxury commentators’ are generally the most obvious and crass choices. I needed a book while having a dismal bout of Covid and something more light compared to the other books I was reading and this book is suitable light and predictable. The depiction of the developing female friendship was very nice. I respect the description of the smell of Ash, but older guys, especially in his wealth class always have another underlying scent too, which most romance books ignore, but if you know, you know. The book is rather well-written and I did enjoy the attention to detail and the descriptions. I am not well versed enough in American ‘celebrity’ culture to get the name-drops, but I am sure it is apt.
August 14, 2025
What an Escape
I’ve turned to Kiki Astor’s books recently for an escape from the horrors of the world.
They can be a bit formulaic but I really enjoy all the background research of the settings.
The attention to detail about furnishings, fabrics, the china, etc. , are as comforting as a cashmere wrap on a breezy morning.
I just finished my third of her books read in the last few months.
I’ve turned to Kiki Astor’s books recently for an escape from the horrors of the world.
They can be a bit formulaic but I really enjoy all the background research of the settings.
The attention to detail about furnishings, fabrics, the china, etc. , are as comforting as a cashmere wrap on a breezy morning.
I just finished my third of her books read in the last few months.
August 5, 2025
glamorous romance
Another book from this author that I love, this may be my favorite as it takes place in my hometown. I truly couldn’t put this down, I love hearing about fabulous places, gorgeous clothes, and wondering how Ash was going to redeem himself. This was a super fun ride!
Another book from this author that I love, this may be my favorite as it takes place in my hometown. I truly couldn’t put this down, I love hearing about fabulous places, gorgeous clothes, and wondering how Ash was going to redeem himself. This was a super fun ride!
September 29, 2025
perfect beach read
I loved looking up the actual places on google maps. There were enough twists to keep me entertained. worth reading.
I loved looking up the actual places on google maps. There were enough twists to keep me entertained. worth reading.
January 12, 2026
hard to put down!
Such an enjoyable read! There is drama and character development and social commentary I wasn’t expecting, but deftly woven in. Definitely recommend.
Such an enjoyable read! There is drama and character development and social commentary I wasn’t expecting, but deftly woven in. Definitely recommend.
August 3, 2025
Lights! Camera! Action!
Okay, it’s not a movie—but Service Entrance by Kiki Astor feels like one. Think snappy dialogue, lush settings, unforgettable characters, and plot twists that make you gasp, giggle, and grin.
This book is everything at once: a juicy love story, a wry “fish out of water” tale, a peek behind the hedges of the ultra-rich, and a surprisingly helpful gardening guide (seriously!). It’s also a mystery with just enough intrigue to keep those pages turning long past sunset.
Perfect for a beach day binge or a cozy weekend escape, Service Entrance reads fast and fun. I devoured it in two sittings—with a cold drink in hand and a smile on my face. Total summer gold.
One of the things I adore about “Auntie” Kiki Astor is that she writes what she knows—and it shows. The details ring true, the characters are vivid, and the insider knowledge is sprinkled like sea salt on good fries. I’ve already recommended it to friends who just moved from NYC to Santa Barbara—this book is practically a field guide to the local scene.
Case in point: the First Thursdays art walk in SB plays a role in the story. One of my friends is an artist, and now she’s planning to check it out—because yes, this book is also a fabulous way to discover real-life gems.
Astor’s female characters are sharp, quirky, and refreshingly real. They don’t follow the script, and their inner lives—complete with imposter syndrome, reinvention, and quiet strength—are handled with heart and humor.
Bottom line? Take a detour from your own routine and soak up a glamorous, heartfelt slice of California coastal life. You’ll be glad you did.
Okay, it’s not a movie—but Service Entrance by Kiki Astor feels like one. Think snappy dialogue, lush settings, unforgettable characters, and plot twists that make you gasp, giggle, and grin.
This book is everything at once: a juicy love story, a wry “fish out of water” tale, a peek behind the hedges of the ultra-rich, and a surprisingly helpful gardening guide (seriously!). It’s also a mystery with just enough intrigue to keep those pages turning long past sunset.
Perfect for a beach day binge or a cozy weekend escape, Service Entrance reads fast and fun. I devoured it in two sittings—with a cold drink in hand and a smile on my face. Total summer gold.
One of the things I adore about “Auntie” Kiki Astor is that she writes what she knows—and it shows. The details ring true, the characters are vivid, and the insider knowledge is sprinkled like sea salt on good fries. I’ve already recommended it to friends who just moved from NYC to Santa Barbara—this book is practically a field guide to the local scene.
Case in point: the First Thursdays art walk in SB plays a role in the story. One of my friends is an artist, and now she’s planning to check it out—because yes, this book is also a fabulous way to discover real-life gems.
Astor’s female characters are sharp, quirky, and refreshingly real. They don’t follow the script, and their inner lives—complete with imposter syndrome, reinvention, and quiet strength—are handled with heart and humor.
Bottom line? Take a detour from your own routine and soak up a glamorous, heartfelt slice of California coastal life. You’ll be glad you did.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews