Harvest Dreams

by Jacqueline Fein-Zachary

Walking through the luscious Napa harvest in the summer of 1982, agricultural student Kate Bauer is inspired to grow grapes, and charismatic business major Sydney Barrett might just be the perfect person to make that dream come true. If only Kate knew what to do with her unexpected attraction to Sydney.

On the threshold of the AIDS pandemic, Kate is appalled by her father’s homophobia toward her closeted uncle, Louie. When Uncle Louie dies, he leaves his potato farm on Long Island to Kate. Soon Kate and Sydney are planting thousands of baby vines, even as the unspoken desire between them grows.

As the vineyard thrives, Sydney caves to family pressure and heads to Paris for a once- in-a-lifetime banking apprenticeship, leaving Kate to struggle with the feelings for Sydney that never wane. Their possibility for a shared harvest grows faint until Sydney returns, and a threat to the vineyard and their dreams forces them to confront their unresolved feelings.

236 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2023

Reviews

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvest Dreams... I enjoyed it. Very good debut novel. And I'm looking forward to future realises from Jacqueline Fein-Zachary.

Harvest Dreams is set (way) back in the 1980s- my favourite era to read about. As you've probably guessed based on the plot, there's plenty of farming community going on in this story. The many characters could have done with more ‘sparks’ but this hasn't squashed the storyline. And with the story being set in the 80s there's no surprise you'll find homophobia in the storyline.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and would love a sequel showing them later in life.

4 out of 5.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely interesting foray into the 1980s via a queer romance focused on a budding winery dream. I was surprised by this story and how much it focused on the business side of things. I would've liked a more nuanced ending as it seem rushed to me. Overall enjoyable time.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a throwback with a good story line. However, I just didn't connect with it. I still recommend as this might appeal to someone else.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts in the fall of 1982 when Kate Bauer is an agricultural student and meets Sydney Barrett a marketing major. Sydney is from a wealthy background and has dreams of owning a vineyard after travels in France. Kate is from a more modest background with her father and beloved uncle splitting a large family. When the uncle leaves his potato farm to Kate it is a chance for she and Sydney to try and make a dream come true.

I had to turn off my logical mind many times reading this story. I wasn’t clear on how Kate is affording to attend UC Davis when she is from Long Island. While Kate finishes her senior year Sydney is in France working and learning more about wine making. But it just kind of skips them making plans together to the point that Kate isn’t sure if Sydney will show up at the farm after her graduation. With my MBA I cringed that there is never a discussion of anything financial between the two. Kate is spending her inheritance and using her land. She only needs a portion of land to start with, does she still farm potatoes as well? How is the farm surviving till they can make wine? I got pages of wine details but not day to day practicalities. Sydney sells her car but it is presented as her breaking from her showy wealth upbringing not as a way to raise money to invest in the farm. Both MCs get jobs but I’m not clear if that is for growing the business or are they making just enough to feed and support themselves. I am also perplexed that one conversation with a new sister-in-law somehow opens a whole new understanding of Sydney’s family.

This reads as more of general historical fiction than romance because for half the book the two MCs aren’t together. I did like the era for showing the need to be more discrete and for lack of acceptance. I don’t want to be so nit picky because there is a nice story here. There is a wonderful sense of farm community helping each other. I love the caring angels that help a person with aids live their final days in dignity. The two main characters are hard working but I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between them. I don’t think it helps that they both are with other people during the book before they are together. I got weary of trying to guess practical details that are skipped over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Jordana Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters became so real to me so quickly. I loved watching them grow and evolve together. And the detail re the vinyard and making wine was crazy. What a great story. I feel so sad that it's over! What is going to happen next?!?!

[sandra williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so refreshing to read this book about two strong, determined
women who work their way through family, societal and personal issues
to come together in a loving relationship based on a passion for wine-making and, of course, for each other.

Kate and Sydney come from different socio-economic backgrounds. Each has at least one parent who is not supportive of their relationship or the vision that they have for their future in the world of wine-making. Both have been hurt by past relationships whose memories stand in the way of
their reaching out and opening themselves to new love.

These obstacles and the conflicts that they create are artfully balanced by
the author’s description of Kate’s supportive mother and uncle, neighbors who pitch in wholeheartedly to save the young vineyard from the perils of unpredictable weather, and most importantly by the author’s articulate and loving description of wine making, from planting, harvesting, pressing to fermenting the grapes.

Kate and Sydney work exhausting hours to bring their dream of their own vineyard to fruition. They fall in love with each other and with their hard won vineyard at the same time. The symmetry of the progression of these two journeys is inspiring. When they leave us, we wish that we could fast forward to see them today. We know that they would be undaunted by future challenges, successful, and always in love.

[Jackie Fein-Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an excellent book and story. BUT ... before I say another word, I am saying this as the AUTHOR of this book! Obviously I am prejudiced but the truth is, I am very proud of this book. It is my first and it took a long time to write. I applaud other writers, those who want to write a novel and certainly publishing companies who publish the books we want to read (especially those who publish gender non-forming characters and the stories these folks tell). I just came on the site to see what's out there and who is reading what. The date read is arbitrary since I've read it many times. I put the date it was published as when I "started" it and today's date as when I "finished" it.

[Diane Dicarlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always excited to read a debut novel. I wonder what the author will bring to the story. What will she say...how will she say it? First things first. Will it hold my attention? Will I like the characters?Harvest Dreams did hold my attention and I would like to go to dinner with Sydney.

I was most impressed with the way the author was able to teach me about wine making without making me feel that I was in a classroom. The "instruction" was so natural to the story that I did not feel that I was being educated, all the while, I was learning so much. This is a talent that not all writers have. It is especially impressive since this is a story where wine making is so integral to the story line.

This is a book that touches on several important topics which, although it is set in the 1980s, still live with us today. It is a very "human" story.

[Katiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harvest Dreams is one of those books that lingers with you long after you finish the last page. Jakie Fein-Zachary writes with so much tenderness and intention, you can feel the care poured into every word. The story feels deeply human, full of quiet hope, reflection, and emotional truth. It reminded me to slow down, to notice growth where I hadn’t before, and to believe in the beauty of becoming. A truly meaningful read.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a really good read but this story jumps over too much and then stays much longer than it should. I admit sometimes trying to keep the timeline of the characters in this book …..well it didn’t go well. Read twelve chapters. That’s as far as I went. I suggest you read other reviewers you trust because they may have had a different view.
ARC via NetGalley/BSB

[richard zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: author is my sister. Debut novel 10 yrs in the making. This is a personal and intimate story of love, faith and perseverance, an admirable balance between the art and science of winemaking, intense family dysfunction and above all, how love conquers all. Artfully researched and full of passion, Harvest Dreams presents its own version of “ The Grapes That Last!”

[Karen Ruymann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This prose, romance, and character developments would be more appropriate if classified as YA, it might be inspiring/helpful to some young women.

The descriptors of the processes, finances, hard work, and inevitable challenges of starting a winery were terrific. Well-researched and removed all of the romantic inclinations that one might have about this difficult career path!

[John B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a labor of love. Harvest Dreams carries a gentle wisdom that unfolds naturally, never rushed, never forced. Jakie Fein-Zachary’s voice is confident yet compassionate, and the themes resonate in a way that feels personal and universal at the same time. It’s the kind of book that meets you where you are and leaves you a little richer for having read it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, soulful read. Harvest Dreams is thoughtful, engaging, and written with such heart. You can tell the author truly believes in the story she’s telling, and that belief translates to the reader. It’s inspiring without being heavy, reflective without losing warmth. I closed the book feeling grateful and already wanting to recommend it to others.

[Reading Rad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of personal growth of two 1980’s college women who come into their own and create a vineyard. Loved the locales- Napa, Paris, North Fork, LI. I’ve read it twice and first fell in love with Sydney, then realized how incredible Kate is and love her, too.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a debut and an indie author it was written well. I think the editor should have stepped in a bit more to simplify the plot and some of the writing- as the pacing at times felt very off or some chapters feeling much too short. Especially towards the later half.

[Rachel Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great characters, and I learned a lot about wine making!

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly standard lesbian romance by a first-time author. I thought the writing was nicely done and I enjoyed the parts of the narrative about growing grapes and making wine.