Happy Release Day!
Blush
Blush by Jamie Brenner
Women's Historical Fiction, 381 pages
Published June 22, 2021 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
From acclaimed author Jamie Brenner comes a stunning new novel 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.
My thoughts about Blush~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)
First line—"Prologue—1985 Cutchogue, New York - Spring. It was the time of year known as bud break, that late-spring moment when the entire vineyard turned green."
What a wonderful story this was, set in a beautiful, working vineyard in New York. I loved spending time there. Who wouldn't? And it was awesome to get an insiders look at the running of the place.
Three generations of women come together at the Hollander Estates winery, each with their own issues, trying to figure out their purpose and goals. I love generational stories centering around strong women who forge a life for themselves and who are there for their female family members. There was so much love, support, and growth in this story.
As they all struggle, they resurrect an old tradition of the book club that Vivian held years ago. The three women read and discussed books from the past, books that I read also when they came out and loved as much as they did. That part of the story was fun!
I really loved everything about Blush—the setting, the characters, the books, the support the women had for each other, and the growth that they each experienced. I'm not sure why I haven't read anything by this author before but I'm a big fan now. This was the perfect story to take me away this summer and I thoroughly enjoyed my vacation at the vineyard. I highly recommend it!
I received a copy of Blush from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
About the author
Jamie Brenner grew up in suburban Philadelphia on a steady diet of Jackie Collins and Judith Krantz novels. After college, she left her hometown for New York City to live like the heroines of her favorite books. Her novels include the national bestseller The Forever Summer, The Wedding Sister, and Summer Longing, which People Magazine calls “a delightful escape.” Her next novel, Blush, will publish June 22, 2021 with Putnam. ~ Goodreads
Jamie divides her time between New York City, Philadelphia, and Provincetown.. For contact info, tour dates, and book clubs please visit www.jamiebrenner.com and Instagram @jamiebrennerwrites
Connect with Jamie
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