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After the brilliance of An Academic Affair, I was incredibly excited to dive into Jodi McAlister’s newest release, and I am thrilled to report that it turned out to be everything I wanted and more. Drawn in from the very first chapter, I absolutely loved this book, devoured it completely, and already know it is one I will be rereading a lot. My expectations were off-the-charts high, which can often lead to disappointment, but McAlister delivered flawlessly. The story hits on themes that are absolute catnip for me, resulting in a rare, deeply emotional reading experience that had my heart breaking and left me tearing up a crazy amount of times.
Book Description
The author of the “brilliant” (Library Journal) An Academic Affair returns with a steamy romance about a recently separated single mom who’s absolutely not looking for another relationship...only to fall for the younger owner of her favorite wine bar.
Fiona Fisher thought she had it all: a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
The perfect read for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling proves that Jodi McAlister truly is “a writer to watch” (Booklist).
About Jodi McAlister
Jodi is both an author of a scholar of romance fiction. As an author, she's the author of romance novels for both adults and young adults, including the Marry Me, Juliet trilogy and the Valentine trilogy. As a scholar, she's written several academic books about romance and is the Vice President of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance.
My Thoughts
After the brilliance of An Academic Affair, I was incredibly excited to dive into Jodi McAlister’s newest release, and I am thrilled to report that it turned out to be everything I wanted and more. Drawn in from the very first chapter, I absolutely loved this book, devoured it completely, and already know it is one I will be rereading a lot. My expectations were off-the-charts high, which can often lead to disappointment, but McAlister delivered flawlessly. The story hits on themes that are absolute catnip for me, resulting in a rare, deeply emotional reading experience that had my heart breaking and left me tearing up a crazy amount of times.
The plot follows Fiona Fisher, a single mom of three girls who thought she had the perfect life away from the suffocating expectations of her parents and brothers. Her world is completely shattered and humiliated when her husband reveals he is leaving her for a secret second family he has been living with for years. Dealing with a devastating divorce and learning to trust again feels impossible, which is why she is absolutely not looking for another relationship. Enter Satoshi Tsukamoto, the owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi wants it all, but between running his business and studying for the hardest test in the world—the Master Sommelier exam—there aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else. Except, of course, for Fiona, the favorite customer he is head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, a relationship between them makes no sense. Beyond the delicious reverse age gap trope—he is eight years younger than her—Satoshi has no time for romance, and Fiona is buried under the trauma of her ex-husband's double life. Yet, the mutual attraction is undeniable, and when Satoshi suggests they give in to the tension to let off some steam, neither can resist keeping things casual. The relationship develops beautifully, capturing the unique difficulties of both their individual situations and their complicated dynamic together.
The story focuses a lot on the world of wine, and even as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, I found myself thoroughly enjoying all of those details. McAlister’s exceptional writing, pacing, and execution shine through in every aspect of the book. While there are some very unlikable characters in the mix that will make you genuinely angry, they are written perfectly to serve the plot. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling is a magnificent story of healing and unexpected love that proves Jodi McAlister truly is a writer to watch.
Other books I've read by Jodi McAlister HERE!!
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