Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve nearly started this audiobook a handful of times. The description sounded good but there was some unknown thing holding me back. Yesterday I took the jump and downloaded it to my phone. Sidenote: I let my Audible subscription lapse and am now a very happy Libro.fm customer. You actually get to OWN your purchases AND help a brick-and-mortar store of your choice!

I suppose my first impression was that I didn’t care for the father’s accent from the narrator. And really that might be my only real beef with the story and production. We’ve got two adults who each have their own issues and, after a bit of back and forth and letting boundaries lax, we ended up with a very beautiful love story.

Here’s the blurb:

Zoe Brennan may be the loneliest lesbian in Blue Ridge, but at least she has her family vineyard to keep her busy.

When a prestigious wine festival announces it’s coming to town, it kicks off a battle royale among local vineyards vying for the opportunity to host it. Zoe’s in it to win it—being chosen would put Bluebell Vineyards on the map, and she could stick it to the vineyard next door, run by her ex–best friend (now enemy), Rachel. But when Zoe’s father is called home to Italy to care for his sick mother, Bluebell is left without a vintner.

Dejected, Zoe impulsively agrees to a blindfolded threesome with a friend, and excitingly, a stranger. But once the blindfolds come off, Zoe realizes the hot butch that rocked her world isn’t a stranger at all. It’s Laine Woods—Zoe’s first crush, Rachel’s big sister, and, Zoe is horrified to discover, the Napa-trained vintner Zoe’s dad just hired as his replacement.

While they try to ignore their sizzling chemistry, Laine’s snobbery and Zoe’s pride collide at every step, creating a generous pour of professional—and sexual—tension. Collaborating is the only way to win the festival, but when that means late nights under the stars and letting go of the past, Zoe must be careful—or Laine might crush her heart for good.

I laughed (so much laughing) and cried (not as much crying but more than a couple) and thoroughly enjoyed the journey with Zoe and Laine. The whole cast of characters were a joy to get to know. Even Rachel. I mean, we’re all just insecure meatbags to some degree, right? We all want love and think, in some way or another, that we’re not worthy. This book was sort of a celebration of that. That and finding out that, in reality, we’re all deserving and capable. Well, most of us. Probably. During today’s political climate, my faith in humanity has been shaken pretty damn hard. But this is not the time for those thoughts.

I saw that the author’s first book was about Hannah – Zoe’s right hand – and River – Zoe’s cousin. If I were tempted to read a straight romance, I’d give it a go. But I’m not. Not today.

I definitely will reread Zoe Brennan, First Crush and already tagged it on my Libro.fm app as a reread. (and if you want to try Libro.fm, here’s my personal referral link: my personal referral link – use the code “switch” when you sign up and get extra credits)

I hope Laura Piper Lee comes out with more Sapphic romances.



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