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Love Notes #2
A Study in Sparkling
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26The author of the “brilliant” (Library Journal) An Academic Affair returns with a steamy romance about a recently separated single mom who’s absolutely not looking for another relationship...only to fall for the younger owner of her favorite wine bar.
Fiona Fisher thought she had it a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
The perfect read for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling proves that Jodi McAlister truly is “a writer to watch” (Booklist).
Fiona Fisher thought she had it a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
The perfect read for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling proves that Jodi McAlister truly is “a writer to watch” (Booklist).
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 27, 2026
About the author
Jodi McAlister
20 books853 followersBy day, Jodi McAlister writes romance novels. By other time of day, Dr Jodi McAlister studies them. She's written romantic comedies for adults, romantasy and contemporary romance for young adults, and several academic books.
For adults
If you're a reality TV lover, the Marry Me, Juliet series are the books for you. Even if you're not a reality TV lover, they might be the books for you - several reality TV haters have enjoyed them.
The trilogy all take place at the same time on the same season of a reality dating show called Marry Me, Juliet (which bears a very strong resemblance to The Bachelor). While they all stand alone and can be read in any order, they work best when read in order.
Start with Here For The Right Reasons (he's the series lead, she's the contestant he eliminates on the first night), move on to Can I Steal You For A Second? (she's a contestant, she's... also a contestant), and finish with the book the New York Times called a "full-on villain romance", Not Here To Make Friends (she's the villain, he's the producer who's pining for her).
For young adults
If you're a romantasy reader, you'll like the Valentine series, a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series about smart girls, small towns, and scary fairies. There are three books: Valentine, Ironheart, and Misrule. If Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Holly Black sounds like something you’d be into, these are the books for you.
And if you're a theatre kid, Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending is the book for you. It's my love letter to theatre kids as someone who used to be one.
Academic books
No one really cares much about these on Goodreads, do they? More info on my website if you're interested.
About Jodi
Jodi is originally from Kiama, a seaside holiday town on the south coast of New South Wales, and has lived in a bunch of different cities: Canberra (where she did her undergrad degrees), Wollongong (where she lived while she did her PhD in Sydney), and Hobart (where she held her first academic job) among them. Currently, she lives in Melbourne, where she works as a Senior Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture at Deakin University.
When she’s not writing about romance, Jodi is an academic studying romance. Her research focuses on representations of love in popular culture and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching (and let’s be real, writing huge amounts about) The Bachelor/ette is technically work for her.
**Want to dip your toes into the Valentine universe? Try the free short story Galentine, set a year and a bit before the events of Valentine. http://jodimcalister.com.au/galentine/ **
**Want to read a bonus epilogue to Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending? Check it out here: https://jodimcalister.com.au/libby-la... **
For adults
If you're a reality TV lover, the Marry Me, Juliet series are the books for you. Even if you're not a reality TV lover, they might be the books for you - several reality TV haters have enjoyed them.
The trilogy all take place at the same time on the same season of a reality dating show called Marry Me, Juliet (which bears a very strong resemblance to The Bachelor). While they all stand alone and can be read in any order, they work best when read in order.
Start with Here For The Right Reasons (he's the series lead, she's the contestant he eliminates on the first night), move on to Can I Steal You For A Second? (she's a contestant, she's... also a contestant), and finish with the book the New York Times called a "full-on villain romance", Not Here To Make Friends (she's the villain, he's the producer who's pining for her).
For young adults
If you're a romantasy reader, you'll like the Valentine series, a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series about smart girls, small towns, and scary fairies. There are three books: Valentine, Ironheart, and Misrule. If Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Holly Black sounds like something you’d be into, these are the books for you.
And if you're a theatre kid, Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending is the book for you. It's my love letter to theatre kids as someone who used to be one.
Academic books
No one really cares much about these on Goodreads, do they? More info on my website if you're interested.
About Jodi
Jodi is originally from Kiama, a seaside holiday town on the south coast of New South Wales, and has lived in a bunch of different cities: Canberra (where she did her undergrad degrees), Wollongong (where she lived while she did her PhD in Sydney), and Hobart (where she held her first academic job) among them. Currently, she lives in Melbourne, where she works as a Senior Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture at Deakin University.
When she’s not writing about romance, Jodi is an academic studying romance. Her research focuses on representations of love in popular culture and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching (and let’s be real, writing huge amounts about) The Bachelor/ette is technically work for her.
**Want to dip your toes into the Valentine universe? Try the free short story Galentine, set a year and a bit before the events of Valentine. http://jodimcalister.com.au/galentine/ **
**Want to read a bonus epilogue to Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending? Check it out here: https://jodimcalister.com.au/libby-la... **
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 8, 2026
thank you to netgalley for this arc!
this is unfortunately going to be a low 3 star read for me. i absolutely loved the premise, and i adore Sato, our mmc, but i was finding myself constantly frustrated and irritated by our fmc and her actions and thought processes. she was insistent on keeping their relationship a secret, and Sato was far too accommodating, to the point of it being detrimental to him. it felt like our fmc was walking all over him for this entire book, and it felt disrespectful to me. how many times i had to read scenes where she was obviously embarassed of him, and he just put up with it, really irked me. i essentially just felt bad for him for 300+ pages.
this is also an age gap romance (he’s mid twenties, she’s mid thirties, so really not a big deal in my books), and it was referenced faaar too many times for my liking. i also feel like it was a tad insta-lovey for me, and we lacked actual depth and relationship development within the story itself - lots of text messages were shoehorned in in place of actual scenes, and i feel like that let the chemistry down a bit.
this is unfortunately going to be a low 3 star read for me. i absolutely loved the premise, and i adore Sato, our mmc, but i was finding myself constantly frustrated and irritated by our fmc and her actions and thought processes. she was insistent on keeping their relationship a secret, and Sato was far too accommodating, to the point of it being detrimental to him. it felt like our fmc was walking all over him for this entire book, and it felt disrespectful to me. how many times i had to read scenes where she was obviously embarassed of him, and he just put up with it, really irked me. i essentially just felt bad for him for 300+ pages.
this is also an age gap romance (he’s mid twenties, she’s mid thirties, so really not a big deal in my books), and it was referenced faaar too many times for my liking. i also feel like it was a tad insta-lovey for me, and we lacked actual depth and relationship development within the story itself - lots of text messages were shoehorned in in place of actual scenes, and i feel like that let the chemistry down a bit.
arcs-to-read
June 2, 2026STOP. STOP IT RIGHT NOW, I GOT THE FREAKING ARC!!! 😭😱 AHHHH I'M SO EXCITED TO READ THIS 🤭💖🩷
anticipated
February 20, 2026Book 2?! Fiona?! Book 3?! Elias?! 👀🤞
Read
April 8, 2026full review tk closer to pub day but i really loved this second book in the series! 🩵
a massive amount of wine involved, but especially fantastic character growth🥰🙂↕️
a massive amount of wine involved, but especially fantastic character growth🥰🙂↕️
Currently Reading
June 5, 2026I GOT THE ARC OML, i’m so happy this is my first ever arc that i was approved for and im so excited to read this. the cover is actually so fricking cute.
Want to Read
June 4, 2026I enjoyed An Academic Affair but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I'm thankful for publishers invite to continue the series.
This story is about a single mom who is not looking for love or another relationship yet again can't stay away from a younger owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all, unlike Fiona Fisher. On paper, they make no sense. He's 8 years younger and she's had a rough couple of years. Can they agree to keep things casual or will they give into their mutual attraction?
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Jodi McAlister for an early copy!
Publication: September 15, 2026
This story is about a single mom who is not looking for love or another relationship yet again can't stay away from a younger owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all, unlike Fiona Fisher. On paper, they make no sense. He's 8 years younger and she's had a rough couple of years. Can they agree to keep things casual or will they give into their mutual attraction?
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Jodi McAlister for an early copy!
Publication: September 15, 2026
Want to Read
June 9, 2026✨ 𝕒𝕣𝕔 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 ✨
OMGOMGOMGOGMOMG I GOT THE ARC
OMGOMGOMGOGMOMG I GOT THE ARC
pre-reads
June 5, 2026・❥・⁀➷ 🍷📚𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
how are you going to tell me I got denied for the first one yet accepted for this one. like cmon now 😭
OH WELL. better one than none ig😝
how are you going to tell me I got denied for the first one yet accepted for this one. like cmon now 😭
OH WELL. better one than none ig😝
June 2, 2026
6 stars, AGAIN!
I got an ARC and started it right away but I loved this book so much that I will be ordering both paperbacks ( I mean Academic Affair and Study in Sparkling) and rereading them a lot.
The amount of times I teared up was crazy. I do get emotional sometimes when reading but rarely to such extent and really almost never actually cry.
Single mom of three dealing not only with divorce but her (ex)husband living double life for years? AND reverse age gap trope? This is like a catnip for me.
It’s very easy for a book to not live up to the hype when your expectations are high. Mine were off the charts high, but I am happy to report that Jodi McAlister delivered. (Not that I doubted even for a second!)
Exceptional writing, capturing different difficulties of Fiona’s and Sato’s situations - their respective ones and common one. My heart broke oh so many times. For Fiona, her girls, the complexity of relationship with her parents and brothers.
The story focuses A LOT on wine and while I don’t really drink any alcohol and wine is the second last type of alcohol I like, I enjoyed all the wine bits a lot.
I just love this book. I loved the plot itself, the story telling, pacing, execution, writing, how the characters are built, basically I loved every little thing about this book.
There are some very unlikable characters and you will get angry at times but the way they are written - flawless.
Go read An Academic Affair now and put this title on your TBR.
I am already so giddy for Jodi’s next book!
*might edit my review later and add some quotes. Check out my reading updates, I added a few ;)
The biggest thank you to Atria for the eARC 🩷🩷🩷
Updating as of 2 June 2026 cause I got NetGalley widget with such good marketing email that I want to rate this email 6 stars too.
Copied from Atria Marketing mailing:
“
🍷 he falls first, she falls harder
🍷 slow-burn emotional intimacy
🍷 second-love stories
🍷 yearning so good it should probably be illegal
Funny, romantic, sexy, and deeply relatable, A STUDY IN SPARKLING is a story about rebuilding, discovering who you are outside of everyone else's expectations, and finding the courage to believe you deserve to be fully chosen.
For every reader who's ever watched Ginny & Georgia and thought, What if Georgia actually ended up with Joe?”
🩷 After reading this book I can tell you the above is not only good marketing but truly describes what A Study in Sparkling is about 🩷
I got an ARC and started it right away but I loved this book so much that I will be ordering both paperbacks ( I mean Academic Affair and Study in Sparkling) and rereading them a lot.
The amount of times I teared up was crazy. I do get emotional sometimes when reading but rarely to such extent and really almost never actually cry.
Single mom of three dealing not only with divorce but her (ex)husband living double life for years? AND reverse age gap trope? This is like a catnip for me.
It’s very easy for a book to not live up to the hype when your expectations are high. Mine were off the charts high, but I am happy to report that Jodi McAlister delivered. (Not that I doubted even for a second!)
Exceptional writing, capturing different difficulties of Fiona’s and Sato’s situations - their respective ones and common one. My heart broke oh so many times. For Fiona, her girls, the complexity of relationship with her parents and brothers.
The story focuses A LOT on wine and while I don’t really drink any alcohol and wine is the second last type of alcohol I like, I enjoyed all the wine bits a lot.
I just love this book. I loved the plot itself, the story telling, pacing, execution, writing, how the characters are built, basically I loved every little thing about this book.
There are some very unlikable characters and you will get angry at times but the way they are written - flawless.
Go read An Academic Affair now and put this title on your TBR.
I am already so giddy for Jodi’s next book!
*might edit my review later and add some quotes. Check out my reading updates, I added a few ;)
The biggest thank you to Atria for the eARC 🩷🩷🩷
Updating as of 2 June 2026 cause I got NetGalley widget with such good marketing email that I want to rate this email 6 stars too.
Copied from Atria Marketing mailing:
“
🍷 he falls first, she falls harder
🍷 slow-burn emotional intimacy
🍷 second-love stories
🍷 yearning so good it should probably be illegal
Funny, romantic, sexy, and deeply relatable, A STUDY IN SPARKLING is a story about rebuilding, discovering who you are outside of everyone else's expectations, and finding the courage to believe you deserve to be fully chosen.
For every reader who's ever watched Ginny & Georgia and thought, What if Georgia actually ended up with Joe?”
🩷 After reading this book I can tell you the above is not only good marketing but truly describes what A Study in Sparkling is about 🩷
Want to Read
February 22, 2026this one sounds so intriguing, especially since i already liked fiona and satoshi in an academic affair. i love to see the single mom trope, and i'm so shocked to see that we finally get a reverse age gap, because i rarely see them in romance books. i have hiigh hopes for this, and i'm already seeing myself reading this by the beach in the summer
Currently Reading
June 8, 2026I GOT THE ARC!!!
Want to Read
April 28, 2026⋆˚ʚɞ
pre-read : wdym i got the arc ♡ᰔ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა
pre-read : wdym i got the arc ♡ᰔ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა
Did Not Finish
May 19, 2026I tried reading this book, but after a few pages I just could not get into it. I think you really have to be a wine lover to enjoy this book. And honestly? I prefer my MMCs to be straight.
I’m sure other people will love this book though! Just not for me. 💔
I’m sure other people will love this book though! Just not for me. 💔
Want to Read
June 9, 2026An Academic Affair 3/5
Oh book two!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!
Oh book two!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!
June 4, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for an ARC of A Study in Sparkling!
As a fangirl of An Academic Affair, I basically squealed when this ARC arrived in my inbox. I could not wait to dive into the story of Satoshi & Fiona and it did NOT disappoint!!
I truly have no notes. Jodi McAllister has built such a cozy cast of characters in this series that combines many of my favorite things (reading, wine, and romantic tropes). It felt like settling back in with family and friends to be brought back into their world for another love story full of complicated twists and turns. I devoured this in two days and I am already hoping for another book about two characters that I THINK there was some foreshadowing of/set up for in this book!!
As a fangirl of An Academic Affair, I basically squealed when this ARC arrived in my inbox. I could not wait to dive into the story of Satoshi & Fiona and it did NOT disappoint!!
I truly have no notes. Jodi McAllister has built such a cozy cast of characters in this series that combines many of my favorite things (reading, wine, and romantic tropes). It felt like settling back in with family and friends to be brought back into their world for another love story full of complicated twists and turns. I devoured this in two days and I am already hoping for another book about two characters that I THINK there was some foreshadowing of/set up for in this book!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 🌟 rounded up!
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Marketing for the eARC of this book. Review provided voluntarily
I have been waiting for this book since it was announced, considering “An Academic Affair” was one of my top reads of last year. We were introduced to Fiona and Satoshi in the previous book so we get a general idea of what their story will be like, beforehand.
Fiona has been going through big life challenges after finding out her husband has left her and her kids for his secret second family. She finds support in Satoshi, owner of the bar that she adores. Satoshi has been in love with Fiona since over a year now, and even though he is 8 years younger than her, he wants her more than his next breath. Together they navigate their situations, getting closer in the process and falling harder for each other.
I really enjoyed how raw and vulnerable Fiona’s storyline was. Her emotions during the divorce proceedings, her resilience, and her devotion to her children was simply out of this world. I also liked how down bad Satoshi was for her from the very beginning and would do literally anything for her and her children. It was nice to see how Jonah and Saddie are cruising through their marital life as well.
My biggest issue with this book was the amount of missed opportunities. There was so much tell and not enough show, several miscommunication or even no communication, and no real build up to the relationship. We see how they develop a bond mainly through emails and text messages exchanged. We barely see them together for a good half of the book and their moments are always interrupted by others or loaded with inner monologues. We had such good opportunities to have them come closer organically, but it felt too much and too rushed and at the same time not enough spark was there.
Moreover, we see a lot of Fiona’s struggles with divorce and custody arrangements as well as Satoshi’s problems with his upcoming exam and managing bar. However, it would have been nice to see them helping each other outside of their own personal relationship. Fiona “helped” Satoshi study for his exam, but again that was only shown through text messages. One or two scenes of them actually being together in this journey would have helped a lot to make their relationship more sturdy.
Finally, we had a good intro to complex sibling relationships in the first book. I was hoping we could’ve seen more of that sort of connection with Satoshi and his family. They were mentioned a lot, but it all felt very surface level.
P.S: I am also a little pissed that Fiona’s ex did not get much of the karma he deserved!
Nevertheless, I love Jodi’s writing and enjoyed this soft romance laced with heavy themes. Cannot wait for the next instalment.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Marketing for the eARC of this book. Review provided voluntarily
I have been waiting for this book since it was announced, considering “An Academic Affair” was one of my top reads of last year. We were introduced to Fiona and Satoshi in the previous book so we get a general idea of what their story will be like, beforehand.
Fiona has been going through big life challenges after finding out her husband has left her and her kids for his secret second family. She finds support in Satoshi, owner of the bar that she adores. Satoshi has been in love with Fiona since over a year now, and even though he is 8 years younger than her, he wants her more than his next breath. Together they navigate their situations, getting closer in the process and falling harder for each other.
I really enjoyed how raw and vulnerable Fiona’s storyline was. Her emotions during the divorce proceedings, her resilience, and her devotion to her children was simply out of this world. I also liked how down bad Satoshi was for her from the very beginning and would do literally anything for her and her children. It was nice to see how Jonah and Saddie are cruising through their marital life as well.
My biggest issue with this book was the amount of missed opportunities. There was so much tell and not enough show, several miscommunication or even no communication, and no real build up to the relationship. We see how they develop a bond mainly through emails and text messages exchanged. We barely see them together for a good half of the book and their moments are always interrupted by others or loaded with inner monologues. We had such good opportunities to have them come closer organically, but it felt too much and too rushed and at the same time not enough spark was there.
Moreover, we see a lot of Fiona’s struggles with divorce and custody arrangements as well as Satoshi’s problems with his upcoming exam and managing bar. However, it would have been nice to see them helping each other outside of their own personal relationship. Fiona “helped” Satoshi study for his exam, but again that was only shown through text messages. One or two scenes of them actually being together in this journey would have helped a lot to make their relationship more sturdy.
Finally, we had a good intro to complex sibling relationships in the first book. I was hoping we could’ve seen more of that sort of connection with Satoshi and his family. They were mentioned a lot, but it all felt very surface level.
P.S: I am also a little pissed that Fiona’s ex did not get much of the karma he deserved!
Nevertheless, I love Jodi’s writing and enjoyed this soft romance laced with heavy themes. Cannot wait for the next instalment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After the brilliance of An Academic Affair, I was incredibly excited to dive into Jodi McAlister’s newest release, and I am thrilled to report that it turned out to be everything I wanted and more. Drawn in from the very first chapter, I absolutely loved this book, devoured it completely, and already know it is one I will be rereading a lot. My expectations were off-the-charts high, which can often lead to disappointment, but McAlister delivered flawlessly. The story hits on themes that are absolute catnip for me, resulting in a rare, deeply emotional reading experience that had my heart breaking and left me tearing up a crazy amount of times.
The plot follows Fiona Fisher, a single mom of three girls who thought she had the perfect life away from the suffocating expectations of her parents and brothers. Her world is completely shattered and humiliated when her husband reveals he is leaving her for a secret second family he has been living with for years. Dealing with a devastating divorce and learning to trust again feels impossible, which is why she is absolutely not looking for another relationship. Enter Satoshi Tsukamoto, the owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi wants it all, but between running his business and studying for the hardest test in the world—the Master Sommelier exam—there aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else. Except, of course, for Fiona, the favorite customer he is head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, a relationship between them makes no sense. Beyond the delicious reverse age gap trope—he is eight years younger than her—Satoshi has no time for romance, and Fiona is buried under the trauma of her ex-husband's double life. Yet, the mutual attraction is undeniable, and when Satoshi suggests they give in to the tension to let off some steam, neither can resist keeping things casual. The relationship develops beautifully, capturing the unique difficulties of both their individual situations and their complicated dynamic together.
The story focuses a lot on the world of wine, and even as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, I found myself thoroughly enjoying all of those details. McAlister’s exceptional writing, pacing, and execution shine through in every aspect of the book. While there are some very unlikable characters in the mix that will make you genuinely angry, they are written perfectly to serve the plot. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling is a magnificent story of healing and unexpected love that proves Jodi McAlister truly is a writer to watch.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The plot follows Fiona Fisher, a single mom of three girls who thought she had the perfect life away from the suffocating expectations of her parents and brothers. Her world is completely shattered and humiliated when her husband reveals he is leaving her for a secret second family he has been living with for years. Dealing with a devastating divorce and learning to trust again feels impossible, which is why she is absolutely not looking for another relationship. Enter Satoshi Tsukamoto, the owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi wants it all, but between running his business and studying for the hardest test in the world—the Master Sommelier exam—there aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else. Except, of course, for Fiona, the favorite customer he is head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, a relationship between them makes no sense. Beyond the delicious reverse age gap trope—he is eight years younger than her—Satoshi has no time for romance, and Fiona is buried under the trauma of her ex-husband's double life. Yet, the mutual attraction is undeniable, and when Satoshi suggests they give in to the tension to let off some steam, neither can resist keeping things casual. The relationship develops beautifully, capturing the unique difficulties of both their individual situations and their complicated dynamic together.
The story focuses a lot on the world of wine, and even as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, I found myself thoroughly enjoying all of those details. McAlister’s exceptional writing, pacing, and execution shine through in every aspect of the book. While there are some very unlikable characters in the mix that will make you genuinely angry, they are written perfectly to serve the plot. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling is a magnificent story of healing and unexpected love that proves Jodi McAlister truly is a writer to watch.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️ for me!
While I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I felt like A Study in Sparkling was just okay. Though the prologue immediately gripped my heart, the rest of the book kind of struggled to make good on the tension and yearning it promised.
I am absolutely down for this new leading man era - the alternative, unique, non-stereotypical hero. I was immediately intrigued by Satoshi’s character. I loved that he was a master of his craft, incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about wine and hosting. I loved that he was gentle and kind. I kept thinking, “This guy is truly saying all the right things. He has the perfect reactions to every situation!” Though I did enjoy his softness and understanding, I wished I had felt a little more chemistry between the pair. I felt the friendship, I didn’t feel the romance. Maybe seeing them go on dates would’ve helped?
Though I know Fiona had absolutely been through it with her ex-husband Matt, I struggled to fall in love with her as Satoshi had. The author really lost me when Fiona approached Satoshi and asked him to help her cheat on her almost ex-husband. Why was that necessary? Why did he give into her instead of calling her up to be a better person? I think this quote embodies my issues with their relationship: “You have been the perfect partner to me, Satoshi, but I’ve been a terrible one to you. You made me feel like a queen, but I’ve made you feel like shit, and I had no idea I was doing it.” She used Satoshi, and that is just not what real friends do.
Pacing was a little bit of an issue for me as well. I skimmed several of the chapters that focused on Fiona or Satoshi’s families. I also found that I was not very interested in reading big chapters of emails and text messages. I would’ve loved to have seen several of those scenes actually fleshed out in sorry form, not just mentioned via text.
Though I have no natural interest in wine, one of the best parts of the book for me was how the author made the art of being a sommelier and wine approachable and interesting. The writing made it easy to understand Satoshi’s passion for the craft.
A Study in Sparkling didn’t dazzle me, but it wasn’t a bad book. If readers are interested in wine, a unique male lead, a romantic relationship built firmly on companionship - they may like this book!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
While I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I felt like A Study in Sparkling was just okay. Though the prologue immediately gripped my heart, the rest of the book kind of struggled to make good on the tension and yearning it promised.
I am absolutely down for this new leading man era - the alternative, unique, non-stereotypical hero. I was immediately intrigued by Satoshi’s character. I loved that he was a master of his craft, incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about wine and hosting. I loved that he was gentle and kind. I kept thinking, “This guy is truly saying all the right things. He has the perfect reactions to every situation!” Though I did enjoy his softness and understanding, I wished I had felt a little more chemistry between the pair. I felt the friendship, I didn’t feel the romance. Maybe seeing them go on dates would’ve helped?
Though I know Fiona had absolutely been through it with her ex-husband Matt, I struggled to fall in love with her as Satoshi had. The author really lost me when Fiona approached Satoshi and asked him to help her cheat on her almost ex-husband. Why was that necessary? Why did he give into her instead of calling her up to be a better person? I think this quote embodies my issues with their relationship: “You have been the perfect partner to me, Satoshi, but I’ve been a terrible one to you. You made me feel like a queen, but I’ve made you feel like shit, and I had no idea I was doing it.” She used Satoshi, and that is just not what real friends do.
Pacing was a little bit of an issue for me as well. I skimmed several of the chapters that focused on Fiona or Satoshi’s families. I also found that I was not very interested in reading big chapters of emails and text messages. I would’ve loved to have seen several of those scenes actually fleshed out in sorry form, not just mentioned via text.
Though I have no natural interest in wine, one of the best parts of the book for me was how the author made the art of being a sommelier and wine approachable and interesting. The writing made it easy to understand Satoshi’s passion for the craft.
A Study in Sparkling didn’t dazzle me, but it wasn’t a bad book. If readers are interested in wine, a unique male lead, a romantic relationship built firmly on companionship - they may like this book!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Study in Sparkling is the next installment in Jodi McAlister's Love Notes series, following An Academic Affair, which you should definitely read first. You'd for sure still be able to follow along, but An Academic Affair is great—funny, heartwarming, hot, all the things. You'll have a full picture of the landscape, get to know Sadie and Jonah AND build anticipation for this sweet story following Fiona and Satoshi.
I enjoyed so many elements of A Study in Sparkling. First off, a nonwhite, nonhetero man like Satoshi is such a welcome MMC to get to know. Viewing his whole self—confident and insecure at times, soft and strong—it's the inclusive sort of masculinity and also just being a man who is also a person that I, for one, cannot wait to see become more commonplace. One of Fiona's children is nonbinary, and Satoshi serves as both a role model for them and a conduit for Fiona to help strengthen her child's confidence through the literature she has Satoshi pass on to them.
Acceptance is a major theme throughout the book. Fiona is working to accept herself and determine what her life will look like after her marriage ended. She struggles to let the world see who she really is, worrying about her family's expectations and those of mere acquaintances over her own happiness. Satoshi is pushing himself beyond his limits to become a Master Sommelier without considering and enjoying the level of success he's already achieved. Fiona's children face accepting the siblings from their now-absent father's newly introduced other family.
Regarding their relationship, Fiona struggles to believe that Satoshi could or should want to be with her, considering their age gap and their differing life stages—she's in her mid-thirties, and he's in his late twenties. Satoshi mistakenly—but understandably—reads many of Fiona's actions as indicative of her being embarrassed by who he is. Before they can sort out their future together, they need to work to accept themselves.
This world of humans that McAlister has created is a delight to spend time in, and I look forward to more from it! Perhaps focusing on Fiona's brother, Elias, or Satoshi's brother, Isamu, and his secret new love interest ;)
Thank you to Jodi McAlister, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I enjoyed so many elements of A Study in Sparkling. First off, a nonwhite, nonhetero man like Satoshi is such a welcome MMC to get to know. Viewing his whole self—confident and insecure at times, soft and strong—it's the inclusive sort of masculinity and also just being a man who is also a person that I, for one, cannot wait to see become more commonplace. One of Fiona's children is nonbinary, and Satoshi serves as both a role model for them and a conduit for Fiona to help strengthen her child's confidence through the literature she has Satoshi pass on to them.
Acceptance is a major theme throughout the book. Fiona is working to accept herself and determine what her life will look like after her marriage ended. She struggles to let the world see who she really is, worrying about her family's expectations and those of mere acquaintances over her own happiness. Satoshi is pushing himself beyond his limits to become a Master Sommelier without considering and enjoying the level of success he's already achieved. Fiona's children face accepting the siblings from their now-absent father's newly introduced other family.
Regarding their relationship, Fiona struggles to believe that Satoshi could or should want to be with her, considering their age gap and their differing life stages—she's in her mid-thirties, and he's in his late twenties. Satoshi mistakenly—but understandably—reads many of Fiona's actions as indicative of her being embarrassed by who he is. Before they can sort out their future together, they need to work to accept themselves.
This world of humans that McAlister has created is a delight to spend time in, and I look forward to more from it! Perhaps focusing on Fiona's brother, Elias, or Satoshi's brother, Isamu, and his secret new love interest ;)
Thank you to Jodi McAlister, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.5 stars
The "Academic Affair" was my favorite romance last year or possibly ever, and the "Study in Sparkling" is a strong sequel that does not require reading the first part. For those who read it, we follow Satoshi, a wine-bar/bookstore owner and Fiona, a freelance journalist and a mother of three in the middle of the divorce (sister of Jonah from the previous installment). We already knew these characters but here they are explored in depth in a way that can immediately pull in new readers. Satoshi, an overachiever, falls first and hard for his favorite customer, Fiona—and realizes his feelings the night her husband abandons her for his secret family. That's the prologue and we follow the couple a year later, when Fiona navigates a messy divorce and Satoshi shyly acts on his feelings. I like the reverse age gap (8 years) and reverse dynamics: on the surface, Satoshi seems young, carefree, and self-confident while Fiona is ridden with low self-esteem ingrained by her toxic father and douchebag ex-husband. In their growing relationship, however, Satoshi is the shier one: so! much! yearning! The dynamics are messy: Fiona is divorcing, she cares for her three children, she struggles with her reputation in the small town; but it is all handled believably and beautifully. The writing is great, the characters actually develop, and they have strong friendships/family dynamics.
Unlike the first installment, this one was not a 5-star for me because it was simply not as strong FOR ME, but it is actually a matter of personal preference for this novel. I did not find the world of wine and sommeliers as appealing as the world of academia in book #1; I was a bit disappointed that some loose threads from book #1 were not resolved here (Chess! But that actually promises future potential!); and I hated Fiona's ex-husband and found it a little depressing to read how he tried to insert himself back into his children's lives (however, other readers might appreciate a non-idealized description of a divorce). I did love that Fiona got her love story and I'm looking forward to other books in the series (my qualms with this one actually testify to the strength of the series as a whole).
The "Academic Affair" was my favorite romance last year or possibly ever, and the "Study in Sparkling" is a strong sequel that does not require reading the first part. For those who read it, we follow Satoshi, a wine-bar/bookstore owner and Fiona, a freelance journalist and a mother of three in the middle of the divorce (sister of Jonah from the previous installment). We already knew these characters but here they are explored in depth in a way that can immediately pull in new readers. Satoshi, an overachiever, falls first and hard for his favorite customer, Fiona—and realizes his feelings the night her husband abandons her for his secret family. That's the prologue and we follow the couple a year later, when Fiona navigates a messy divorce and Satoshi shyly acts on his feelings. I like the reverse age gap (8 years) and reverse dynamics: on the surface, Satoshi seems young, carefree, and self-confident while Fiona is ridden with low self-esteem ingrained by her toxic father and douchebag ex-husband. In their growing relationship, however, Satoshi is the shier one: so! much! yearning! The dynamics are messy: Fiona is divorcing, she cares for her three children, she struggles with her reputation in the small town; but it is all handled believably and beautifully. The writing is great, the characters actually develop, and they have strong friendships/family dynamics.
Unlike the first installment, this one was not a 5-star for me because it was simply not as strong FOR ME, but it is actually a matter of personal preference for this novel. I did not find the world of wine and sommeliers as appealing as the world of academia in book #1; I was a bit disappointed that some loose threads from book #1 were not resolved here (Chess! But that actually promises future potential!); and I hated Fiona's ex-husband and found it a little depressing to read how he tried to insert himself back into his children's lives (however, other readers might appreciate a non-idealized description of a divorce). I did love that Fiona got her love story and I'm looking forward to other books in the series (my qualms with this one actually testify to the strength of the series as a whole).
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Cheers to A Study in Sparkling! I read this age gap romance—she’s older—in 24 hours and I’m ready to go back and read it again. Jodi McAlister creates relatable characters with plenty of yearning, challenges, and joy, and puts them into an impossible to put down story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tasmanian mom Fiona Fisher meets sommelier Satoshi Tsukamoto when she walks into his wine bar/bookstore Tsundoku. They strike up a friendship over wine and her child Lex’s nonbinary experiences; turns out, pansexual Satoshi is a kind and supportive mentor. But once Fiona’s husband leaves her for his secret second family in Melbourne, she relies on Satoshi’s friendship too. Satoshi’s been in love with Fiona for ages, but doesn’t want to push her too fast. Can he balance their growing relationship with running a business and studying for the master sommelier exam without scaring her off?
It’s completely reasonable that Fiona has massive trust issues, with her ex’s lying and trampling all over her self esteem. It’s wonderful to see Satoshi be immediately all in, since she deserves that level of love and devotion. And while they have tons of chemistry, it’s refreshing to read a romance where the couple spends time getting to know each other too.
One of the things this book does so well is highlight the role of families; even when they have good intentions, they can be overwhelming when they try to help. The kids here are great, which isn’t something I say often. I adore Lex, and the way they follow their own path, and support Fiona at the same time. And, I wish there was a real life Tsundoku nearby so I could become a regular too.
My review doesn’t do this book justice, it’s just so good! Fiona and Satoshi are wonderful characters who deserve their hard earned HEA. If you love an emotional romance with tons of chemistry and lots of wine too, read A Study in Sparkling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tasmanian mom Fiona Fisher meets sommelier Satoshi Tsukamoto when she walks into his wine bar/bookstore Tsundoku. They strike up a friendship over wine and her child Lex’s nonbinary experiences; turns out, pansexual Satoshi is a kind and supportive mentor. But once Fiona’s husband leaves her for his secret second family in Melbourne, she relies on Satoshi’s friendship too. Satoshi’s been in love with Fiona for ages, but doesn’t want to push her too fast. Can he balance their growing relationship with running a business and studying for the master sommelier exam without scaring her off?
It’s completely reasonable that Fiona has massive trust issues, with her ex’s lying and trampling all over her self esteem. It’s wonderful to see Satoshi be immediately all in, since she deserves that level of love and devotion. And while they have tons of chemistry, it’s refreshing to read a romance where the couple spends time getting to know each other too.
One of the things this book does so well is highlight the role of families; even when they have good intentions, they can be overwhelming when they try to help. The kids here are great, which isn’t something I say often. I adore Lex, and the way they follow their own path, and support Fiona at the same time. And, I wish there was a real life Tsundoku nearby so I could become a regular too.
My review doesn’t do this book justice, it’s just so good! Fiona and Satoshi are wonderful characters who deserve their hard earned HEA. If you love an emotional romance with tons of chemistry and lots of wine too, read A Study in Sparkling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to like this one after enjoying An Academic Affair. And while it had a fun premise, it didn’t quite capture my interest as much as I hoped.
What I did like: I loved Satoshi as the lead - he is a softer MMC than the average and I loved how he did everything with his entire heart. He was so kind and caring and a delight to read about. I also liked the emotion captured around Fiona, her kids, and the divorce, especially the different impact to the kids and how they were coping with things. All in all, these characters seemed well developed which I appreciated. Lastly, I liked all the details around wine (tasting notes, things about being a sommelier, etc). While I’m allergic to wine so literally know nothing, I thought it was a cute detail to carry through and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy it a lot.
Where I struggled: first and foremost, it was with Fiona herself. She was selfish and self absorbed (e.g., never thinking about Satoshi and how her actions impacted him, how anything with Jonah or Saddie came second to her and her own drama, etc). I especially hated when Fiona wanted to. ‘Cheat on her husband’ and made Satoshi a worse person for being involved in it.
I also struggled staying interested in the plot at times, especially in the chapters that were entirely text or email exchanges. In the chapters that were more traditional, it was a lot more about their independent life and troubles, not how they as friends or a couple communicated and grew in their relationship together. It felt like more of their relationship was text and physical intimacy, but not actually spending time or actually talking about things together.
While overall not for me, it could be a good book if you like compiling characters and couples who firmly have their own lives that live parallel with one another.
Thanks to Jodi McAlister, Atria, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I did like: I loved Satoshi as the lead - he is a softer MMC than the average and I loved how he did everything with his entire heart. He was so kind and caring and a delight to read about. I also liked the emotion captured around Fiona, her kids, and the divorce, especially the different impact to the kids and how they were coping with things. All in all, these characters seemed well developed which I appreciated. Lastly, I liked all the details around wine (tasting notes, things about being a sommelier, etc). While I’m allergic to wine so literally know nothing, I thought it was a cute detail to carry through and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy it a lot.
Where I struggled: first and foremost, it was with Fiona herself. She was selfish and self absorbed (e.g., never thinking about Satoshi and how her actions impacted him, how anything with Jonah or Saddie came second to her and her own drama, etc). I especially hated when Fiona wanted to. ‘Cheat on her husband’ and made Satoshi a worse person for being involved in it.
I also struggled staying interested in the plot at times, especially in the chapters that were entirely text or email exchanges. In the chapters that were more traditional, it was a lot more about their independent life and troubles, not how they as friends or a couple communicated and grew in their relationship together. It felt like more of their relationship was text and physical intimacy, but not actually spending time or actually talking about things together.
While overall not for me, it could be a good book if you like compiling characters and couples who firmly have their own lives that live parallel with one another.
Thanks to Jodi McAlister, Atria, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cheers! 🥂 Jodi McAlister’s newest novel, A Study in Sparkling, had ARC reviews out last week and of course that means I’ve already gobbled up the entire thing.
If there’s one thing this author knows, it’s Romance. As a literal expert on the topic, she has a way of taking a trope you’ve seen a million times and putting the perfect spin on it to make your heart melt. Fiona and Satoshi’s love story was such a fresh new take on a timeless trope (Age Gap) and these characters just melted my heart. Fiona’s emotions and feelings were so real and raw. Her inner monologue was beautifully done and SO relatable as a mother. Satoshi, on the other hand, is a true lover boy and the way he feels so deeply, works so hard, and is so focused on what mattered to him just made him the perfect book-boyfriend.
The relationships and characters in this book all stand out in their own ways. You can tell these was so much thought and intention behind every part of it. Not only Fiona and Satoshi, but of course Jonah and Sadie from “An Academic Affair.” Fiona’s three children, minor characters like Satoshi’s brother Isamu, Sadie’s sister Chess, and even our main bad guy Matt all have deep personalities and struggles of their own. There are no one-dimensional characters here. For so many reasons, a study in sparkling is a clear 5 star book for me.
If you love rom coms, you need this book in your life. Lovers of Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World, Meghan Quinn’s Til Summer Do Us Part, and of course any of Jodi McAlester’s own masterpieces will eat this book up.
I know what you’re thinking — how long do I have to wait to read it?! Fear not, literary lovers. A Study in Sparkling is out in Australia on July 28th. For my fellow Americans, we have a bit of a longer wait til September 15th. HOWEVER I can assure you it is well worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jodi McAlister for a free ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and this is a voluntary review.
If there’s one thing this author knows, it’s Romance. As a literal expert on the topic, she has a way of taking a trope you’ve seen a million times and putting the perfect spin on it to make your heart melt. Fiona and Satoshi’s love story was such a fresh new take on a timeless trope (Age Gap) and these characters just melted my heart. Fiona’s emotions and feelings were so real and raw. Her inner monologue was beautifully done and SO relatable as a mother. Satoshi, on the other hand, is a true lover boy and the way he feels so deeply, works so hard, and is so focused on what mattered to him just made him the perfect book-boyfriend.
The relationships and characters in this book all stand out in their own ways. You can tell these was so much thought and intention behind every part of it. Not only Fiona and Satoshi, but of course Jonah and Sadie from “An Academic Affair.” Fiona’s three children, minor characters like Satoshi’s brother Isamu, Sadie’s sister Chess, and even our main bad guy Matt all have deep personalities and struggles of their own. There are no one-dimensional characters here. For so many reasons, a study in sparkling is a clear 5 star book for me.
If you love rom coms, you need this book in your life. Lovers of Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World, Meghan Quinn’s Til Summer Do Us Part, and of course any of Jodi McAlester’s own masterpieces will eat this book up.
I know what you’re thinking — how long do I have to wait to read it?! Fear not, literary lovers. A Study in Sparkling is out in Australia on July 28th. For my fellow Americans, we have a bit of a longer wait til September 15th. HOWEVER I can assure you it is well worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jodi McAlister for a free ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and this is a voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've enjoyed all of McAlister's previous books - from her thinly veiled Bachelor world to An Academic Affair - McAlister's love of romance novels and romance tropes make her books so fun, even when she's covering heavy topics, and so it's fun to see the spotlight turn from our last MMC, Jonah, to his sister Fiona, who we met as a supporting character in a previous book. Fiona was the impetus for Jonah to decide to marry his rival, Sadie, and so anyone who has previously read An Academic Affair will come in already with an understanding of Fiona's horrible ex husband Matt, her obnoxious father, and her brothers who might try hard, but often miss the mark (but who love her very much).
We also met our MMC, Satoshi, as the sweet and sensitive owner of the local winebar, and this book is defnitely a friends to lovers trope. The two care about each other, and I do appreciate that the book never really makes us doubt how they feel about each other, but instead how messy life can be, especially when Fiona is coming out of a messy long term marriage (great to see side character Chess shine as the lawyer who gets justice for Fiona), and Satoshi is working to get to the next level in his career. This book has a lot of information about wine - and I definitely wanted to eat some cheese after reading it - although I did miss the footnotes in the first book that were so perfectly Jonah.
The book did make me excited to continue the series. We get to know Satoshi's brother Isamu better, i in a way that makes me excited to meet him as the main character in our next story, and I'm hoping there's a happy ending for Fiona's brother Elias - perhaps with an old flame? Thanks to Atria for the early copy and I can't wait to read what's next.
We also met our MMC, Satoshi, as the sweet and sensitive owner of the local winebar, and this book is defnitely a friends to lovers trope. The two care about each other, and I do appreciate that the book never really makes us doubt how they feel about each other, but instead how messy life can be, especially when Fiona is coming out of a messy long term marriage (great to see side character Chess shine as the lawyer who gets justice for Fiona), and Satoshi is working to get to the next level in his career. This book has a lot of information about wine - and I definitely wanted to eat some cheese after reading it - although I did miss the footnotes in the first book that were so perfectly Jonah.
The book did make me excited to continue the series. We get to know Satoshi's brother Isamu better, i in a way that makes me excited to meet him as the main character in our next story, and I'm hoping there's a happy ending for Fiona's brother Elias - perhaps with an old flame? Thanks to Atria for the early copy and I can't wait to read what's next.
June 6, 2026
4.25
Fiona’s husband just left her. He was leading a double life and had another family. The story jumps to a year later and he has not contacted them or paid any child support. Fiona’s father has been financially supporting her and her brothers having been helping with the kids. Satoshi has provided her emotional support. He runs a wine bar combined with a bookstore. He has been in love with her since she was married. But Fiona doesn’t think she has anything to offer him. He is 8 years younger, extremely attractive, single and had a really hot ex boyfriend. She’s an older mother of three with the body to prove it.
First let me say I loved Academic Affair was one of my favorite books last year. It was so witty. I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting but I missed the witty banter. I also got frustrated with the fmc’s spiraling. She went from 1 to 10 in a few minutes. Anything could
Set her off. I do understand that her confidence has to be completely destroyed after finding out her husband had a second family the entire time they were together. I loved Satoshi he was a wonderful book boyfriend. I thought the sex scenes were well done. The writing was excellent. Also the authors detailed about wine was wonderful. She must have done a ton of research. I highly recommend this series and I cannot wait to
read more. Im wondering if the next book will be about Elias and Julia or Satoshis’ brother and his secret girlfriend. I’m already recommending this to friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Fiona’s husband just left her. He was leading a double life and had another family. The story jumps to a year later and he has not contacted them or paid any child support. Fiona’s father has been financially supporting her and her brothers having been helping with the kids. Satoshi has provided her emotional support. He runs a wine bar combined with a bookstore. He has been in love with her since she was married. But Fiona doesn’t think she has anything to offer him. He is 8 years younger, extremely attractive, single and had a really hot ex boyfriend. She’s an older mother of three with the body to prove it.
First let me say I loved Academic Affair was one of my favorite books last year. It was so witty. I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting but I missed the witty banter. I also got frustrated with the fmc’s spiraling. She went from 1 to 10 in a few minutes. Anything could
Set her off. I do understand that her confidence has to be completely destroyed after finding out her husband had a second family the entire time they were together. I loved Satoshi he was a wonderful book boyfriend. I thought the sex scenes were well done. The writing was excellent. Also the authors detailed about wine was wonderful. She must have done a ton of research. I highly recommend this series and I cannot wait to
read more. Im wondering if the next book will be about Elias and Julia or Satoshis’ brother and his secret girlfriend. I’m already recommending this to friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was given an advanced copy of this book, and voluntarily chose to leave a review. All opinions are my own.
Fiona is a single mother trying to manage after discovering her husband had a secret second family in another part of the country. After he left her for them, she’s done her best to get her life back on track. Satoshi is a sommelier and wine bar owner who has been in love with Fiona for awhile. Fiona and Satoshi begin dating, while also dealing with the pressures of business and life.
I liked this book and enjoyed reading it. Wine was a huge part of the story, and as a non drinker that aspect could have gotten overwhelming, but Jodi did a good job at not being over the top with it. I could read the story and not feel lost, which I appreciated.
The emotions were so real in the book, and how out of control Fiona’s life felt at times was sad. Her ex was a terrible person, and really did a number on her self esteem. I’m glad Satoshi was able to show her that she was a desirable, smart, and strong person. Satoshi needed to learn to let go of the control a little and let others help him. I was glad when he saw that wasn’t the way to go.
Fiona did make some assumptions about what would be best for Satoshi at the end of the book, and it took her really thinking things over to realize that wasn’t fair to him. I was so happy when they truly communicated and laid it all out there. I’m hoping for another book in the series, perhaps Satoshi’s brother!
3/5 on the Spicy Scale - only a few scenes, but the language was explicit
M/F
Anxiety/Panic attacks
Fiona is a single mother trying to manage after discovering her husband had a secret second family in another part of the country. After he left her for them, she’s done her best to get her life back on track. Satoshi is a sommelier and wine bar owner who has been in love with Fiona for awhile. Fiona and Satoshi begin dating, while also dealing with the pressures of business and life.
I liked this book and enjoyed reading it. Wine was a huge part of the story, and as a non drinker that aspect could have gotten overwhelming, but Jodi did a good job at not being over the top with it. I could read the story and not feel lost, which I appreciated.
The emotions were so real in the book, and how out of control Fiona’s life felt at times was sad. Her ex was a terrible person, and really did a number on her self esteem. I’m glad Satoshi was able to show her that she was a desirable, smart, and strong person. Satoshi needed to learn to let go of the control a little and let others help him. I was glad when he saw that wasn’t the way to go.
Fiona did make some assumptions about what would be best for Satoshi at the end of the book, and it took her really thinking things over to realize that wasn’t fair to him. I was so happy when they truly communicated and laid it all out there. I’m hoping for another book in the series, perhaps Satoshi’s brother!
3/5 on the Spicy Scale - only a few scenes, but the language was explicit
M/F
Anxiety/Panic attacks
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!
local yearning man can be a tiny bit feral, as a treat
Dr. McAlister is so good at weaving her tangled webs. I don't think there was a moment in this book where I didn't viscerally feel the weight of everything trying to bear down on Fiona and Satoshi. There were so many factors trying to keep them apart, and it was actually so cathartic to watch it all come crashing down so that they could finally approach each other with nothing but themselves. I really, really love Satoshi and Fiona as our lead couple. There's almost nothing they have in common on paper, but their mutual goodness and decency is such a strong connecting thread, and it makes it very easy to root for them.
I do think I wish that the thread with Matt was a little more fleshed out-- Fiona spends so much time comparing Satoshi and Matt in her mind that it would have been great to rub it in Matt's face a little bit. Similarly it would have been great to see more of Satoshi bonding with Fiona's kids, not as the owner of Tsundoku but as someone who will eventually be a replacement father figure to them. He's such a perfect match for the family, and it would have been great to see just a tiny bit more of that. Still, I'm so pleased with what we got, I always have a good time in a McAlister novel.
Loved this, can't wait for book three when Isamu and Chess finally reveal their torrid affair. Or maybe they'll be scooped by Julia and Elias's decades-long situationship, who can say? 😂
local yearning man can be a tiny bit feral, as a treat
Dr. McAlister is so good at weaving her tangled webs. I don't think there was a moment in this book where I didn't viscerally feel the weight of everything trying to bear down on Fiona and Satoshi. There were so many factors trying to keep them apart, and it was actually so cathartic to watch it all come crashing down so that they could finally approach each other with nothing but themselves. I really, really love Satoshi and Fiona as our lead couple. There's almost nothing they have in common on paper, but their mutual goodness and decency is such a strong connecting thread, and it makes it very easy to root for them.
I do think I wish that the thread with Matt was a little more fleshed out-- Fiona spends so much time comparing Satoshi and Matt in her mind that it would have been great to rub it in Matt's face a little bit. Similarly it would have been great to see more of Satoshi bonding with Fiona's kids, not as the owner of Tsundoku but as someone who will eventually be a replacement father figure to them. He's such a perfect match for the family, and it would have been great to see just a tiny bit more of that. Still, I'm so pleased with what we got, I always have a good time in a McAlister novel.
Loved this, can't wait for book three when Isamu and Chess finally reveal their torrid affair. Or maybe they'll be scooped by Julia and Elias's decades-long situationship, who can say? 😂
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Jodi McAlister’s unique, big-hearted characters make this story so special! The story takes place in Hobart, Tasmania where Fiona and Satoshi first meet at his restaurant/wine bar/bookstore. Fiona’s family visits there and they became close friends. Then Lex, Fiona’s teenage child, comes out as nonbinary, and her husband suddenly leaves them. Fiona is devastated to find out he has another family and has moved to Melbourne to live with them! Luckily, Fiona’s brother, Jonah and his girlfriend, Sadie (from An Academic Affair) move back to Hobart and help Fiona and her kids.
Satoshi sparkles! He is very good looking with bleached blond hair and although he’s eight years younger than Fiona, the age gap never feels awkward. He is kind and supportive to both Fiona and Lex. Wine is his passion and he’s studying for the Masters Sommelier exam. Fiona offers to be his study partner! Some of their wine talk went over my head but I loved the tasting quotes at the beginning of each chapter that hinted at things to come. This was my favorite - it fit the characters so well, ‘Good grapes make good chardonnay, but great chardonnay becomes great because someone has carefully, patiently, lovingly worked out what those grapes need.’
There was a lot of angst that slowed down the pace toward the end, but I ended up enjoying the story. I can’t wait to see who will get their story next - I’m hoping for Satoshi’s brother. Many thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of the book. My full review will be at The Passionate Reader (link in bio) closer to the review date 09/15.
Satoshi sparkles! He is very good looking with bleached blond hair and although he’s eight years younger than Fiona, the age gap never feels awkward. He is kind and supportive to both Fiona and Lex. Wine is his passion and he’s studying for the Masters Sommelier exam. Fiona offers to be his study partner! Some of their wine talk went over my head but I loved the tasting quotes at the beginning of each chapter that hinted at things to come. This was my favorite - it fit the characters so well, ‘Good grapes make good chardonnay, but great chardonnay becomes great because someone has carefully, patiently, lovingly worked out what those grapes need.’
There was a lot of angst that slowed down the pace toward the end, but I ended up enjoying the story. I can’t wait to see who will get their story next - I’m hoping for Satoshi’s brother. Many thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of the book. My full review will be at The Passionate Reader (link in bio) closer to the review date 09/15.
June 5, 2026
Thank you, Atria, for blessing me with an ARC!
This book centers around a single mom (Fiona) — whose husband cruelly abandoned her for his secret family — and her rebuilding her life after that. Fiona’s love interest, Satoshi, owns a wine bar that she frequents, and he has been desperately in love with her for a very long time. If you prefer a male main character who YEARNS and is obsessively in love but not in a toxic, possessive way, this is the book for you.
Satoshi is such a sweetheart, empathetic, and truly understands and adores Fiona. Throughout the book, Fiona battles insecurities and trust issues that are obstacles in developing a relationship with Satoshi, but despite the challenge, he never makes her feel less than. He repeatedly validates her, and there are countless pages where he ruminates on how wonderful and beautiful she is. It really is a beautiful love story.
There are so many things that I adored about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone! I’ll just say that it was so refreshing to read about characters that behave and talk like real adults. Also, I thought it was so cool that you’re able to pick up some wine knowledge from what is sprinkled throughout the book, and in my opinion, the queer representation (Fiona’s child and Satoshi) was done right.
If you haven’t already, I recommend checking out the first book in the series, An Academic Affair, which is also fantastic.
This book centers around a single mom (Fiona) — whose husband cruelly abandoned her for his secret family — and her rebuilding her life after that. Fiona’s love interest, Satoshi, owns a wine bar that she frequents, and he has been desperately in love with her for a very long time. If you prefer a male main character who YEARNS and is obsessively in love but not in a toxic, possessive way, this is the book for you.
Satoshi is such a sweetheart, empathetic, and truly understands and adores Fiona. Throughout the book, Fiona battles insecurities and trust issues that are obstacles in developing a relationship with Satoshi, but despite the challenge, he never makes her feel less than. He repeatedly validates her, and there are countless pages where he ruminates on how wonderful and beautiful she is. It really is a beautiful love story.
There are so many things that I adored about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone! I’ll just say that it was so refreshing to read about characters that behave and talk like real adults. Also, I thought it was so cool that you’re able to pick up some wine knowledge from what is sprinkled throughout the book, and in my opinion, the queer representation (Fiona’s child and Satoshi) was done right.
If you haven’t already, I recommend checking out the first book in the series, An Academic Affair, which is also fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was so disappointing. I really went in with high hopes, but was let down by the FMC. What could’ve been a sweet romance turned out to be a very frustrating read.
My biggest gripe with this novel is the amount of telling there was. We’re told through a series of text messages about intimate moments between Sato and Fiona, but we never see them truly navigate their relationship.
I did not connect with Fiona at all. I felt she used Sato and took advantage of his generous nature. I wasn’t crazy about her keeping their relationship a secret. Look Fiona got dealt a shitty hand, and it’s understandable that she would be hesitant to enter into a relationship after the betrayal she’s felt. I get it, but I did not love the dynamic between her and Sato. He gives and gives and gives to his own detriment. I just felt that Fiona was very selfish. She does admit this but because the relationship felt so one sided it was difficult for me to root for them. I didn’t truly feel that Fiona loved Sato. Frankly, he deserved better.
The pacing is slow, and I was fighting for my life trying to finish this one. I just didn’t feel invested in the relationship, but to be honest it didn’t seem like Fiona was either. This was a miss for me.
This was so disappointing. I really went in with high hopes, but was let down by the FMC. What could’ve been a sweet romance turned out to be a very frustrating read.
My biggest gripe with this novel is the amount of telling there was. We’re told through a series of text messages about intimate moments between Sato and Fiona, but we never see them truly navigate their relationship.
I did not connect with Fiona at all. I felt she used Sato and took advantage of his generous nature. I wasn’t crazy about her keeping their relationship a secret. Look Fiona got dealt a shitty hand, and it’s understandable that she would be hesitant to enter into a relationship after the betrayal she’s felt. I get it, but I did not love the dynamic between her and Sato. He gives and gives and gives to his own detriment. I just felt that Fiona was very selfish. She does admit this but because the relationship felt so one sided it was difficult for me to root for them. I didn’t truly feel that Fiona loved Sato. Frankly, he deserved better.
The pacing is slow, and I was fighting for my life trying to finish this one. I just didn’t feel invested in the relationship, but to be honest it didn’t seem like Fiona was either. This was a miss for me.
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