What readers say
Read this in one sitting at the airport/on a plane. Unfortunately, not on my way to a summer in France, plucking grapes from their vines and falling in love like the protagonist, Alice. Slow burn romance, European summer- you can feel the heat of the sun beating on your back as you read, the sweetness of the overripe wine grapes. New York-native Alice has commitment issues, while her French crush (Henri) has the opposite problem. He is afraid to leave his long term relationship that is safe but boring, he is ‘on a break’, but feels the happiest he has felt in a very long time. Partly due to working at his uncle’s vineyard getting his hands dirty, mostly due to his ‘therapy sessions’ between the branches with Alice. A little smutty, a lot of metaphors. The language is vivid and descriptive. Not my usual read but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up. Really made me want to drop everything and work in the French countryside for a summer exploring a different version of myself. “And without admitting as much, I've been denying myself the pleasure of love for fear of letting it evaporate.”