Review: Vintage Attraction by Charles Blackstone

Vintage Attraction
written by Charles Blackstone
published by Pegasus

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I was asked to review this book by the publicist. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: No, not really, but I mostly blame myself.  I ventured outside my favorite genres because, well, I like to drink wine, so I figured I’d give it a go.  In the same way that deep fried tofu is a gateway drug into full-blown vegetarianism, I figured a book about wine might be just the thing to interest me in the world of… err… literary professionals who write thinly veiled novels about their home lives.

That probably isn’t fair.  It’s not like Blackstone is a writer married to a… oh wait, yes he is.

My husband says I’m being too rough, and for once, I totally agree.  This wasn’t a book I would have picked for myself, but rather something new I was trying, and I failed.  It’s really not Blackstone’s fault.  He’s got impeccable grammar, a great vocabulary and, per his dust jacket photo, he’s a good looking guy.  It just seems to me that though we have much in common, if we met in person we’d probably spend most of our time arguing the semantics of “films” versus “movies.”  Add to that a plot resolution that left a vinegary taste in my mouth, and there you have it.  I should not be reviewing novels like this; they make me unnecessarily cranky.

Would I recommend it: Though there are many people who enjoy spending their leisure time reading novels that could be true, I’m not one of them.  There may be a novel out there that’ll draw me over to the more realistic side of the spectrum, but despite my love of wine, Vintage Attraction isn’t it.

Will I read it again: Decidedly not.

About the book – from Goodreads: Before Peter Hapworth meets Izzy, he knows the difference between Pinot Noir and peanut butter, but that’s about it. Lonely and frustrated with his academic career–as well as with dating–his life takes a sudden turn one night when he turns on the television. He’s transfixed by the woman staring back at him, a glass of wine swirling delicately in her hand–Isabelle Conway, one of the preeminent sommeliers in the world. There’s something about her. Somehow, he feels like he already knows her.

On a whim, he pitches himself as a guest on her popular TV show, and the two embark on a whirlwind courtship. But relationships require a delicate balance of nurturing and belief, much like winemaking. Hapworth and Izzy must navigate the complex mysteries of wine–and the heart–from glamorous social events and domestic travails in Chicago to the vineyards and rocky bluffs of Santorini in Greece. Vintage Attraction is a rich and insightful novel by an exciting, young literary talent.