Blush ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blush by Jamie Brenner

Equally Worthy

G👀dreads

...about three generations of women who discover that the trashy novels of a bygone era just might hold the key to saving their family's coastal winery--and to finding the love that's eluded them.

For decades, the lush vineyards and majestic manor house of the Hollander Estates winery made it the North Fork of Long Island's premier destination for lavish parties and romantic day trips. Now the Hollander family fortunes have suffered, and as matriarch Vivian Hollander prepares for the arrival of her daughter and granddaughter for their annual summer reunion, she fears it might be their last. Worse, selling the family legacy to strangers might expose the dark secret she's harbored for thirty-five years....

Visits to the winery have been bittersweet for Leah Hollander Bailey ever since her father refused to let her take her place in the family business. Now a successful Manhattan shop owner, Leah loves the life she's built with her husband and daughter--but with her store, and her marriage, at a crossroads, she can't help but view this year's pilgrimage home as a sorely needed escape.

College senior Sadie Bailey has a thesis to write, and the towering shelves of the manor's library offer endless academic inspiration. But when Sadie discovers evidence that her proper Grandma Vivian once ran a book club dedicated to the scandalous women's novels of decades past, the shockingly outrageous tomes give her new insight into her family's glory days.

Resurrecting the trashy book club begins as the distraction all three women need. But as they battle to save their birthright and heal old wounds, they just might find that the pages contain everything they need to know about how to fight for what they want--and for the life, and love, they deserve.

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

The How/Why: Stop the presses, screeching halt! I follow Jamie Brenner on IG. I just received a newsletter and in it she says she's: 
I’m giving away a copy of one of my novels. Blush is my love letter to the gloriously soapy blockbuster novels of the ’80s. It’s a story told through the eyes of a mother-daughter-grandmother book club. (There’s also a wine dynasty in peril, because of course there is.) I’ll be randomly choosing one Diva from the email list, so if a copy of Blush is headed your way, you’ll be hearing from me.
So I thought, that sounds cute. I have no delusion of winning (I never win book giveaways) but I wondered if it was available on Libby or Hoopla. YES. Then I scroll down and it's narrated by one of my all-time fav narrators Julia Whelan. Hits>Borrow NOW. Thank you Libby! 
The other book of Jamie's that I listened to last year which was one of my five star fabs was The Weekend Crashers, review here. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

🎉 Overall Enjoyment? 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? Maybe 🤷 Not necessary but I could see a sequel following this story. Same as when I read The Weekend Crashers. 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Yes ➕ All.Of.Them. She has one coming out in May that I have on my radar: Blue Angel. 

💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? No

🌶 Spice? A smidge, about a half of green pepper 🫑

🌪 Plot Twist? A bit of breeze

👟 Pace? Very Good

💻 Tidbits ~ LOVED IT - worthy of all the capitals! Wine, Cheese, and the reincarnation of a 1980's "trash books" book club. What's not to love?!?!

With the winery in financial trouble, Leonard (Daddy Hollander) decides to sell, much to the pushback from the ladies in the family (wife, daughter, granddaughter). Leonard is a stubborn old goat and his way is the only way, even though his way is on the brink of financial ruin. The Hollander women will do whatever it takes to save the family business. 

Wife Vivian, as been in the background letting Leonard make all the decisions and is hoppin' mad that he never told her they were in trouble. She can't stand by and watch their legacy vanish.

Daughter Leah owns a successful cheese shop in the city but always wanted to be involved in the business. Daddy said it wasn't woman's work and dismissed her. There is no such thing as gender equality in Leonard's mind. Leah is out to prove him wrong.

Granddaughter Sadie is not used to struggling in college until recently. When she comes home to the winery and hears the news, she wanders up into the library to be alone and work on her school project.
She finds a little secret compartment on a shelf. She picks the lock and discovers Grandma's old journal from her book club back in the day. That sparks a reading journey of some of the old classics which includes Chances by Jackie Collins, Scruples by Judith Krantz, Lace by Shirley Conran. They start reading them and discussing them and picking out all the gems about female empowerment.  Book Club Party of Three. 

Bridget, son Asher's girlfriend and internet influencer joins in, initially thought to be an opportunist since Asher is pretty full of himself being too handsome for his own good. He asks Momma to let her join their little book club. Reluctantly Book Club Party of Four. 
Can I join in?!?!

There is an offer for the winery that comes with lots of drama and old secrets. 
OH, there is drama. I love drama as long as its someone else's! 
OH, there are secrets. I love secrets as long as they're someone else's! 

Can these women save the business? Can they put the life lessons in the pages of old classic books to use? NO SPOILERS. 

Added bonus: the audiobook is narrated by the fabulous Julia Whelan so you know before you hit play that every character will come to life to tell their stories. 

🎧 Narrator: Julia Whelan - Excellent as always

🎧11.0 hours 🕮 384pages


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