Heralded as “impossible to put down” (Elle), and named a Best Book of the Summer by Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, and Us Weekly, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide… What if your beloved … intersect.
There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide… What if your beloved fiancé, he of the crinkly smile and irresistible British accent, had kept a life-changing secret from you? And what if, just a week before your dream wedding, you discovered it?
Georgia Ford, bride-to-be, hops in her car and drives through the night, from Los Angeles to Sonoma, to her safe haven: her family, and the acclaimed family winery. Georgia craves the company of those who know her best, and whom she truly knows. Better yet, it’s the eve of the last harvest—the best time of the growing season, and Georgia knows she’ll find solace—and distraction—in the familiar rituals. But when Georgia arrives home, nothing is at all familiar. Her parents, her brothers, the family business, are all unrecognizable. It seems her fiancé isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets…
Eight Hundred Grapes is a story about the messy realities of family, the strength (and weaknesses) of romantic love, and the importance of finding a place to call home. “This winning tale will both satisfy on a literary level and encourage oenophiles to pour themselves a glass of a recent vintage to enjoy while reading; it’s a tasty treat for wine lovers and teetotalers alike” (Publishers Weekly). You won’t be able to put this “addictive” (Us Weekly) novel down.
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It did give me insight into the world of vineyards and winemaking and how difficult it is.
This was a fast read. The story was interesting and i learned about wine. I was looking for an interesting story and this book fulfilled my wishes.
Best first chapter ending I’ve ever read! Kudos, Laura Dave!
Georgia Ford is a young LA attorney about to be married to a successful British architect, but she returns to her roots—the Last Straw Vineyard, where her family is struggling mightily. This story revolves around the grape harvest (did you know it takes 800 grapes to make one bottle of wine? Now you do.) Lots of emotions and quirky humor.
I loved this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.
love everything she has written!
I must say reading this book touched me on a personal level. It is a whirlwind of drama and a journey of discovery. I enjoyed reading this book so so much.
Georgia is getting ready to be married in less than a week when she’s trying on her wedding dress and happens to see her fiance walk by the window with another woman. Another woman and her daughter, who turns out to be his daughter, a daughter Georgia had no idea about. So Georgia does what any women would do, she runs(drives 9 hours) home to her family. The one place she thought she could find solace and advice is nothing more than more drama and heartbreak. Georgia learns that her family is falling apart, her parents are selling their property where they grow grapes to make wine and her older twin brothers are not talking to each other. This causes much devastation in Georgia’s already confused life.
I felt for Georgia and her confusion about forgiving her fiance Ben(which i did not want) and figuring out what she really wanted with her future. There’s hidden messages all throughout the book which are so perfect and meaningful. Laura Dave wrote an amazing story of family, finding out what we really want with our lives, and learning its never to late. I let out a little happy sigh with the way this book ended, I couldn’t have been more happy with the outcome of everything. I loved it so much, although I was curious about what would happen with Georgia’s brothers.
This has become a feel good read for me and I will cherish it.
This book gets three stars because while I enjoyed it, there was little that made me want to pull it out and read. The writing was good, but the book was predictable. A friend recommended it, she loved the book, so maybe my expectations were too high.
Quick read with interesting characters, fun exploration of the bumps in the road all romantic and familial relationships hit.