Julie's Review: Blush

Author: Jamie Brenner
Series: None
Publication Date:  June 22, 2021
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 381
Obtained: pubilsher via NetGalley                                                       Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Family, Wine and beating the patriarchy
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

Summary: For decades, the Hollander Estates winery has been the premier destination for lavish parties and romantic day trips on the North Fork of Long Island. But behind the lush vineyards and majestic estate house, the Hollander family fortunes have suffered and the threat of a sale brings old wounds to the surface. For matriarch Vivian, she fears that this summer season could be their last—and that selling their winery to strangers could expose a dark secret she's harbored for decades. Meanwhile, her daughter, Leah, who was turned away from the business years ago, finds her marriage at a crossroads and returns home for a sorely needed escape. And granddaughter Sadie, grappling with a crisis of her own, runs to the vineyard looking for inspiration. But when Sadie uncovers journals from Vivian's old book club dedicated to scandalous novels of decades past, she realizes that this might be the distraction they all need. Reviving the "trashy" book club, the Hollander women find that the stories hold the key to their fight not only for the vineyeard, but for the life and love they've wanted all along. Blush is a bighearted story of love, family, and second chances, and an ode to the blockbuster novels that have shaped generations of women. ~amazon.com

Review: I've always been a reader, pretty much have always carried a book with me for year which means I've read a lot of different genres but my favorite as a teen were the steamy books of Judith Krantz, Jackie Collins and Sydney Sheldon. My absolute favorite being Jackie Collins' Lucky Santagelo series. To me Lucky was brazen, smart and beautiful and someone not to be messed with. So when Ms. Brenner started giving clues about what this book would be about I KNEW I couldn't miss it. 

The Hollander Estates  is in trouble except no one knows except the two men in charge, Leonard and Asher. Even the matriarch, Vivian has been left in the dark until Leonard can't keep his wife in it anymore. As the family gathers for their annual visit, everyone is brought in much to the dismay of Leonard. Even though Leah was ousted from the family business 20 years prior for not being the right gender, she is trying to think of ways to save the business. Sadie, Leah's daughter, comes for her portion of the visit only to come upon her grandmother's old book club journal. 

Sadie is so curious that she looks for the novels in her grandparents expansive library. As she starts to read the books she wonders what her proper grandmother found so intriguing about these books. Meanwhile, the journal takes Vivian back to a time and some secrets she would have prefered to remain packed away. 

As in real life, the past collides with the present and Vivian has to deal with the choices she made years ago and the repercusions it might have on the survival of the business. 

I loved how Ms. Brenner connects the 3 women to the classic characters and how it helps make them bolder and braver. She definitely shows how maybe there is a bit more substance to these "trashy" novels than meets the eye. 

I have read all of Jamie Brenner's novels and have enjoyed all of them immensely but Blush is her best to date. I would highly recommend this one to anyone.