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Love the Wine You're With
Three best friends decide to open a wine bar in Echo Park LA, where they encounter the trials and tribulations of dating, love, and life in Kim Gruenenfelder's Love the Wine You're With.
Jessie is finally about to realize her life-long goal of owning her own house, the first step to a wonderful marriage, kids, and life with her boyfriend of three years, Kevin; except after they find the perfect place, Kevin suddenly gets cold feet.
Nat is having a passionate affair with her gorgeous British boss Marc—unfortunately, he’s married. Now what?
Holly is an actress who still waits tables to pay the bills, and who is coping with the recent loss of her father. A particularly bad audition, where she snaps and tells off a big director, leads her to wonder what to do when you stop loving what you do. (And also what to do about her hot neighbor. Because, you know, hot neighbor.)
After each girl finishes a particularly awful workday, the three friends meet at their favorite wine bar, which has been sold by its owner for a huge profit and will close that night. In a moment of tipsy brazenness, Jessie suggests that the three of them open their own wine bar in the gentrifying Echo Park area of Los Angeles. An unapologetically girly place for good wine and good friends—which leads to a challenge for each woman: how do you fix a life that’s not actually broken, but needs an upgrade?
Jessie is finally about to realize her life-long goal of owning her own house, the first step to a wonderful marriage, kids, and life with her boyfriend of three years, Kevin; except after they find the perfect place, Kevin suddenly gets cold feet.
Nat is having a passionate affair with her gorgeous British boss Marc—unfortunately, he’s married. Now what?
Holly is an actress who still waits tables to pay the bills, and who is coping with the recent loss of her father. A particularly bad audition, where she snaps and tells off a big director, leads her to wonder what to do when you stop loving what you do. (And also what to do about her hot neighbor. Because, you know, hot neighbor.)
After each girl finishes a particularly awful workday, the three friends meet at their favorite wine bar, which has been sold by its owner for a huge profit and will close that night. In a moment of tipsy brazenness, Jessie suggests that the three of them open their own wine bar in the gentrifying Echo Park area of Los Angeles. An unapologetically girly place for good wine and good friends—which leads to a challenge for each woman: how do you fix a life that’s not actually broken, but needs an upgrade?
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2017
27 people are currently reading
1312 people want to read
About the author
Kim Gruenenfelder
10 books423 followersKim Gruenenfelder grew up in and around Los Angeles and began her career in TV at the age of nineteen. In addition to her books A Total Waste of Makeup, Misery Loves Cabernet and There's Cake in My Future, she has written feature films, episodic teleplays and two stage plays. She lives in Los Angeles, California. She loves her fans and can be reached through her website and on Facebook.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimgru...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimgru...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 15, 2017
This is a cute, light read. Best enjoyed with a glass of wine, if you wish. Maybe two or three. Don't be like me, stuck without wine even though you're a wine lover, because this book will give you a serious craving! It's heavy with dialogue and pure girl power. Lots of drama and romance. There's also some real substance because one of the characters is dealing with the loss of her father. It's clear from the acknowledgements that the author recently lost her own. I was expecting a happy and fun read, and I did get it. I've recently lost my own father though, and the acknowledgements really hit home with me and made me tear up. I was not expecting that. It's still a feel-good read that'll make you laugh.
In this story, we have three lovely ladies. They're best friends, and they're all very different but are completely and totally supportive of each other. Their friendship isn't without faults, but still admirable. One is a successful accountant with celebrity clients. She's starting to take the next step with her long term boyfriend, but he seems to be getting cold feet. Next, we have an actress who waits tables between gigs. She's been unlucky in love, and has been starting to reconsider her career path as she gets a little older. Next, we have a TV writer who would have a lovely relationship with her boss boyfriend... if it weren't for his wife. Drama city!
Their lives aren't by any means terrible, but they're all missing something that keeps them from being truly happy. What could be better than pooling their money together and opening a woman-centric wine bar?
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
In this story, we have three lovely ladies. They're best friends, and they're all very different but are completely and totally supportive of each other. Their friendship isn't without faults, but still admirable. One is a successful accountant with celebrity clients. She's starting to take the next step with her long term boyfriend, but he seems to be getting cold feet. Next, we have an actress who waits tables between gigs. She's been unlucky in love, and has been starting to reconsider her career path as she gets a little older. Next, we have a TV writer who would have a lovely relationship with her boss boyfriend... if it weren't for his wife. Drama city!
Their lives aren't by any means terrible, but they're all missing something that keeps them from being truly happy. What could be better than pooling their money together and opening a woman-centric wine bar?
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
December 21, 2017
So this is a weird feeling. I have liked/loved every Kim Gruenenfelder to date. I finished this book yesterday and absolutely disliked it. I only liked one out of the three characters we are introduced to in the book. We don't get a lot of development for any of the characters except one. The men (except for one) are all terrible people. The main plot (opening a wine bar) is barely in the book. Instead we get a fast forward years later and everything is coming up roses. I thought this have more funny stories about trying to run a business with your best friends, instead of sitting around and complaining and flirting with guys. Bah to this book. Bah humbug.
The three women in this book is Holly (struggling actress), Jessie (not thrilled with her job as an accountant and upset her boyfriend Kevin is not doing the right thing by proposing to her and getting a house together), and Nat (sleeping with her married boss).
FYI, I am not spoiling anything that is not in the synopsis for this book. My own damn fault for not looking at it before I purchased it. But Gruenenfelder was always on my "buy with no reservations list". Not anymore.
First off, I can't stand to read about cheating in a romance novel. Yes, I know it happens in real life, but I love my romance novels to not have cheating terrible ass people in it, with them trying to justify it. This is a key reason why I gave up on reading New Adult books cause there's always a whiff or out and out cheating going on, but people go, but true love and apparently that makes things better.
Second, I hated the whole trope with Jessie and her madness about not getting married with her boyfriend. She reminded me unfortunately of a character in one of Gruenenfelder other books. It just got old. And when she starts to get what she wants, it apparently is not enough cause her boyfriend doesn't like all the same things she does.
Third, the whole wine bar thing just came together too easily. We don't hear about any struggle, any issues with renovations, any problems getting customers. Hell, I was intrigued about the character of Nat trying to be a sommelier but failing at it, cause she didn't have a "nose." Instead we get some bs psychobabble about Nat and her issues via another love interest (I hated that dude) and apparently everything is good.
The only character I felt connected to throughout was Holly. Holly was awkward as anything with her crush, when she found out he was dirt, she was done (or at least partially done). I did like her with the guy she ends up being friends with, Joe. She and him both had a lot of more adult things to get through. Both lost fathers, and for Holly, she is still dealing with the everyday of not having her dad with her. Also reading about her trying to wean herself off of antidepressants made me feel for her too. I could have read a whole book about Holly. I really wish she had been the main character with the other two friends devoted to side characters until they got their own books. Sigh. Whatever.
The writing was not that great. We start in medias res and than we go back to what had the three friends ready to throw in the towel at their jobs. Than we get back to the scene we got during the medias res scene (and I mean exactly) and I seriously got ticked that we got a word for word repeat of something I already read.
The dialogue between characters except for Holly and Joe was not good. I seriously hated Nat and her bullshit rules (hey I have a rule, don't sleep with a married man and act like you got taken advantage of and pretty much until the end of the book you were still trying to be with him) and Jessie who just goes on and on about Giovanni to the point that he doesn't even feel like a real character, just a stand-in for the most perfect guy ever.
The flow was up and down. I tended to like Holly's POV chapters better. There is more meat in her story-line. The other two, nope.
The setting of Echo Park I thought would be really cool to delve into. You don't get that in this book at all.
The ending just made me roll my eyes. At least the way things ended, we won't have to see another book starring any of these people. I was hoping that maybe Gruenenfelder could save things in the end by pulling off what she did with "There's Cake in Your Future" by having a follow-up with the three friends and you getting to see that not everything was wine and roses. But nope, this is most definitely the end.
The three women in this book is Holly (struggling actress), Jessie (not thrilled with her job as an accountant and upset her boyfriend Kevin is not doing the right thing by proposing to her and getting a house together), and Nat (sleeping with her married boss).
FYI, I am not spoiling anything that is not in the synopsis for this book. My own damn fault for not looking at it before I purchased it. But Gruenenfelder was always on my "buy with no reservations list". Not anymore.
First off, I can't stand to read about cheating in a romance novel. Yes, I know it happens in real life, but I love my romance novels to not have cheating terrible ass people in it, with them trying to justify it. This is a key reason why I gave up on reading New Adult books cause there's always a whiff or out and out cheating going on, but people go, but true love and apparently that makes things better.
Second, I hated the whole trope with Jessie and her madness about not getting married with her boyfriend. She reminded me unfortunately of a character in one of Gruenenfelder other books. It just got old. And when she starts to get what she wants, it apparently is not enough cause her boyfriend doesn't like all the same things she does.
Third, the whole wine bar thing just came together too easily. We don't hear about any struggle, any issues with renovations, any problems getting customers. Hell, I was intrigued about the character of Nat trying to be a sommelier but failing at it, cause she didn't have a "nose." Instead we get some bs psychobabble about Nat and her issues via another love interest (I hated that dude) and apparently everything is good.
The only character I felt connected to throughout was Holly. Holly was awkward as anything with her crush, when she found out he was dirt, she was done (or at least partially done). I did like her with the guy she ends up being friends with, Joe. She and him both had a lot of more adult things to get through. Both lost fathers, and for Holly, she is still dealing with the everyday of not having her dad with her. Also reading about her trying to wean herself off of antidepressants made me feel for her too. I could have read a whole book about Holly. I really wish she had been the main character with the other two friends devoted to side characters until they got their own books. Sigh. Whatever.
The writing was not that great. We start in medias res and than we go back to what had the three friends ready to throw in the towel at their jobs. Than we get back to the scene we got during the medias res scene (and I mean exactly) and I seriously got ticked that we got a word for word repeat of something I already read.
The dialogue between characters except for Holly and Joe was not good. I seriously hated Nat and her bullshit rules (hey I have a rule, don't sleep with a married man and act like you got taken advantage of and pretty much until the end of the book you were still trying to be with him) and Jessie who just goes on and on about Giovanni to the point that he doesn't even feel like a real character, just a stand-in for the most perfect guy ever.
The flow was up and down. I tended to like Holly's POV chapters better. There is more meat in her story-line. The other two, nope.
The setting of Echo Park I thought would be really cool to delve into. You don't get that in this book at all.
The ending just made me roll my eyes. At least the way things ended, we won't have to see another book starring any of these people. I was hoping that maybe Gruenenfelder could save things in the end by pulling off what she did with "There's Cake in Your Future" by having a follow-up with the three friends and you getting to see that not everything was wine and roses. But nope, this is most definitely the end.
May 19, 2017
I was so glad to see another book by Gruenenfelder and thrilled that I was able to read a digital ARC. I was not disappointed! This book tells of three friends, all at a crossroads in life, who decide to open a wine bar together. I enjoyed reading as the friends, Nat, Jessie, and Holly, find the paths they want to travel. I also liked seeing them find romance. This was a fun and entertaining book, just what I've come to expect from the author. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
August 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this story! What’s not to love? Best friends open a wine bar and I get to tag along with them as they navigate the ups and downs of owning their own business and making it a success while trying to manage personal relationships. It felt a little overwhelming for me but Nat, Jessie and Holly have a wonderful friendship that drives their determination. I especially loved how these women find themselves on unexpected ground with their personal relationships and the direction it goes.
I loved all three of these women and how fearless they were. Nat realizes her relationship with her married boss is a dead end and watching her struggle with doing the right thing and doing what her heart wants was difficult. I admired her courage to step out of her comfort zone and starting her life completely anew. Jessie is a hopeless romantic and after dating Kevin for several years, it should be obvious that the next step is getting married, starting a family and buying a home. After they make an offer, Kevin backs out of the deal and gets transferred out of the country. I loved that Jessie isn’t willing to throw common sense out of the window and settle on her dreams. I thought Holly was bold and brash and completely adorable. She’s struggling to make it as an actress and is tired of auditioning for directors who treat her as a faceless void. She goes off a director who has his nose buried in his phone the entire duration of her audition and finds herself asking why she is torturing herself for a chance on a bit part television show or commercial.
All three of these women bring a wonderful energy to the story and I couldn’t decide on which one of them I related to the most. The author illustrates these women and their personalities so vividly that I found myself relating to all of them and could see myself wanting to hang out with them. The story drew me in very quickly and I found it hard to put the book down as I was anxious to know what would happen next.
My Final Verdict: This is a perfect choice for readers of women’s fiction. Love, laughter and tears all wrapped around friendship…and wine. I highly recommend this book to readers of women’s fiction and stories that will make them smile, laugh and cry. I also recommend this book be read with a crisp white or possibly a smooth red.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
I loved all three of these women and how fearless they were. Nat realizes her relationship with her married boss is a dead end and watching her struggle with doing the right thing and doing what her heart wants was difficult. I admired her courage to step out of her comfort zone and starting her life completely anew. Jessie is a hopeless romantic and after dating Kevin for several years, it should be obvious that the next step is getting married, starting a family and buying a home. After they make an offer, Kevin backs out of the deal and gets transferred out of the country. I loved that Jessie isn’t willing to throw common sense out of the window and settle on her dreams. I thought Holly was bold and brash and completely adorable. She’s struggling to make it as an actress and is tired of auditioning for directors who treat her as a faceless void. She goes off a director who has his nose buried in his phone the entire duration of her audition and finds herself asking why she is torturing herself for a chance on a bit part television show or commercial.
All three of these women bring a wonderful energy to the story and I couldn’t decide on which one of them I related to the most. The author illustrates these women and their personalities so vividly that I found myself relating to all of them and could see myself wanting to hang out with them. The story drew me in very quickly and I found it hard to put the book down as I was anxious to know what would happen next.
My Final Verdict: This is a perfect choice for readers of women’s fiction. Love, laughter and tears all wrapped around friendship…and wine. I highly recommend this book to readers of women’s fiction and stories that will make them smile, laugh and cry. I also recommend this book be read with a crisp white or possibly a smooth red.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
June 22, 2017
Wow! Love The Wine You're With by Kim Gruenenfelder is one of those books I want to tell everyone they must read. It's a story about friendship, dating, love and so much more. While the struggles of dating and loving someone are part of the storyline, this is really about everlasting friendship.
It's centered about three women. All three of them have been successful thus far, though they may not see it, each of them has a story to tell. What people see may not be exactly how they feel. I have to say my least favorite of the three women is Jessie. I think she's a bit whiny and her jealousy of Nat gets the best of her at times. Although Jessie's monologue may make her seem such a hypocrite and not a genuine friend every now and then, at the end she always comes through because her friendship with Holly and Nat is above all else.
As I read the story I felt for Nat. She's my second favorite character. Her affair with Marc (a married man) is a struggle for her. Even though she's the other woman and in other books this is kind of like a "ugh" type thing, I think Kim Gruenenfelder does a wonderful job in showing Nat's feelings for what is right and wrong. Nat is one of those characters a reader can love and hate then love again. She's a bit entitled and she's funny and cute. My favorite part is when Chris (her long lost love) shows up unannounced. Their banter is fantastic! I still can't picture how Chris looks other than he's bald and bold, but gosh. Next to Joe (I'll get to him in a second), he's one of my favorite.
Holly... well, she's hilarious. Her acting gigs and the things she goes through in auditions are if nothing but the truth. I rooted for her all throughout. She's my favorite of the three women. I don't know if it is because she's the most honest one of all or she is more relatable, I can't decide. Her crush on Sven and how awful that turns out is funny (well, at least until it happens to you) but it is such a true thing that happens more often than not in real life. I think many can totally relate, and this mishap makes Holly even more real. Like you want her to be your best friend (really!). It's just too bad she's a fictional character.
I'll admit the plot twist with Joe showing up during their bar opening is ingenious. I didn't see that coming. His persistence and then his banter with Holly about an "it's a nondate" is fabulous. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Holly and Joe are my favorite couple. I like that when Holly makes a decision she sticks to it, unlike Nat and Jessie.
There's so much more I can say about this book, but I'll leave you with: If you read anything this summer, read this book. I promise you won't regret it.
It's centered about three women. All three of them have been successful thus far, though they may not see it, each of them has a story to tell. What people see may not be exactly how they feel. I have to say my least favorite of the three women is Jessie. I think she's a bit whiny and her jealousy of Nat gets the best of her at times. Although Jessie's monologue may make her seem such a hypocrite and not a genuine friend every now and then, at the end she always comes through because her friendship with Holly and Nat is above all else.
As I read the story I felt for Nat. She's my second favorite character. Her affair with Marc (a married man) is a struggle for her. Even though she's the other woman and in other books this is kind of like a "ugh" type thing, I think Kim Gruenenfelder does a wonderful job in showing Nat's feelings for what is right and wrong. Nat is one of those characters a reader can love and hate then love again. She's a bit entitled and she's funny and cute. My favorite part is when Chris (her long lost love) shows up unannounced. Their banter is fantastic! I still can't picture how Chris looks other than he's bald and bold, but gosh. Next to Joe (I'll get to him in a second), he's one of my favorite.
Holly... well, she's hilarious. Her acting gigs and the things she goes through in auditions are if nothing but the truth. I rooted for her all throughout. She's my favorite of the three women. I don't know if it is because she's the most honest one of all or she is more relatable, I can't decide. Her crush on Sven and how awful that turns out is funny (well, at least until it happens to you) but it is such a true thing that happens more often than not in real life. I think many can totally relate, and this mishap makes Holly even more real. Like you want her to be your best friend (really!). It's just too bad she's a fictional character.
I'll admit the plot twist with Joe showing up during their bar opening is ingenious. I didn't see that coming. His persistence and then his banter with Holly about an "it's a nondate" is fabulous. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Holly and Joe are my favorite couple. I like that when Holly makes a decision she sticks to it, unlike Nat and Jessie.
There's so much more I can say about this book, but I'll leave you with: If you read anything this summer, read this book. I promise you won't regret it.
September 10, 2017
3.5. Easy enjoyable read.
February 28, 2017
Review to come closer to pub date.
Quick thoughts:
It's a cute book- reminding me of Lauren Weisberger's Chasing Harry Winston a bit. Overall cute book and something to enjoy for easy reading or beach time.
Quick thoughts:
It's a cute book- reminding me of Lauren Weisberger's Chasing Harry Winston a bit. Overall cute book and something to enjoy for easy reading or beach time.
June 27, 2017
This book looked awesome. What could be better than a group of friends opening a wine bar?? My biggest problem was while the book was supposed to be about three women and their friendships, they were hardly together! They were all juggling multiple men and that took up the majority of the book. On top of that, the book didn't focus on starting a wine bar. The women decide to start a bar and literally a page later the bar is up and running. I don't know. Maybe skip this one, guys...or at least get it from a library instead of spending money on it at Target.
April 12, 2017
won my copy in March from www.bookstr.com
received in the mail this morning
received in the mail this morning
December 30, 2021
Got an extra star for the half Japanese character.
May 5, 2017
Going to start off by saying that I really connected with this book and the characters. This isn’t like any of the books that I usually read, but the author did a really good job on making the characters and their troubles seem real. In the beginning, she gave really good backstories without dragging it along. There were no slow parts in this story, it kept moving a long and I couldn’t put it down.
This story is about three best friends, Natashia, Jessie, and Holly who are having a little bit of a difficult time in their lives. Relationship problems, work problems, and just trying to figure out where you fit in life. They are all three trying to find the guy of their dreams and a job that they don’t hate. I think a lot of people can relate to this book. In this story, the girls are in their mid-thirties, but I think everyone of all ages can connect to this book in some way. Everyone is trying to find their passion and a way to enjoy life. Sometimes you feel a little lost and not sure where to go. No matter what your age, I think you never really know exactly what you want. This definitely represents the real life of adulthood and going through it all with your best friends. I did feel like it ended very suddenly, but I guess all good books have to come to an end eventually.
This was a really great story, I also found some really nice quotes that I liked. One of my favorite in this book was,
“Find a guy that is like reading a great book: deliciously distracting and possibly life changing.”
I think all book lovers will appreciate this saying. I would definitely recommend this book, I believe a lot of people will enjoy it and feel really connected to the characters.
*this book was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
October 15, 2018
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
This book is such a fun read! Thirty-something women trying to figure it all out and they do. I enjoyed the women in the novel being hot-messes and not having it all together.
Three best friends decide they hate the jobs that they have and decide to quit and buy a wine bar. Each woman has her own relationship problems that are fun to follow throughout the novel. The author did a great job of making the characters real. Of course, the reader knows that everything will work out in the end. There are times we all needs a feel good novel and this one is a good one.
This book is such a fun read! Thirty-something women trying to figure it all out and they do. I enjoyed the women in the novel being hot-messes and not having it all together.
Three best friends decide they hate the jobs that they have and decide to quit and buy a wine bar. Each woman has her own relationship problems that are fun to follow throughout the novel. The author did a great job of making the characters real. Of course, the reader knows that everything will work out in the end. There are times we all needs a feel good novel and this one is a good one.
October 19, 2017
3.75- I really did enjoy this book and the dramatic lives of the three main characters. The story was cute and well written and I was very excited to win a free copy from Goodreads! My problem with this book was that I really struggled reading the advance uncorrected proof. I constantly focused on all of the errors instead of being more invested in the storyline and being excited to find out what happened next. I liked the book, but will not read another uncorrected proof.
July 22, 2017
Love the Wine You're With is a fun, entertaining book that demands to be read with a glass of your favorite wine. So pour your glass, kick back, and relax!
Read full review here - http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
Read full review here - http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
October 30, 2019
Easy, quick read. I wanted to see how they approached friends who open a wine bar together. It was nice to have characters who were in their 30s and were looking for love and success and were believable. The only downfall is a truly predictable ending. But it was cute.
March 15, 2018
Love this book about 3 women and their loves and friendship
November 25, 2024
3/5 ⭐️
These girls are a disaster, collectively and individually
These girls are a disaster, collectively and individually
May 1, 2017
This book was long-awaited after I finished and loved Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink. However, it was well worth the wait!
Right from the start, I was drawn into each woman's story, which started with their average day at work and led to them meeting up at their favorite wine bar one last time. There was a lot of humor, but Kim also made me feel sympathetic toward each character for one reason or another. Between Holly's grueling audition schedule, Jessie's annoying trust fund baby clients, and Nat's infatuation with her married boss, there was something worth drinking over at the end of the day.
I found myself laughing and smiling at times, as well as cringing at others. I enjoyed living vicariously through each of the women. I always appreciate when women are entrepreneurs in books and I love seeing how they build their business. This time, it was a wine bar. They had a lot of fun and creative ideas to get it off the ground. While I'm not much of a wine person, they made it sound enticing to visit their bar. Also, now I want to go to drag queen bingo. How fun!
However, I did have a few concerns. One is about timing, which I hope will be ironed out in the final print. It just read to me like one day was stretching out long enough to last three days. I also felt like the women had it way too easy in terms of getting guys interested in them. They each had two or more guys who were courting them in some way or another. If only every single woman could have a choice like that! Also, one huge issue between the women was resolved really fast, as it happened when the story was wrapping up.
This was a light and easy read for the most part. There's one sad situation that Kim has a personal connection to, and you can feel what she must have been feeling when she wrote it. I hope now that she has her writing groove back, there will be more stories like this in our future.
Overall, it's a perfect chick lit escape novel that you must include in your beach bag.
My dream movie cast:
Jessie: Kate McKinnon
Nat: Krysta Rodriguez
Holly: Celina Jade
Joe: Channing Tatum
Chris: Justin Hartley
Marc: Neal Bledsoe
Giovanni: Adam Croasdell
Kevin: Nicholas D'Agosto
Right from the start, I was drawn into each woman's story, which started with their average day at work and led to them meeting up at their favorite wine bar one last time. There was a lot of humor, but Kim also made me feel sympathetic toward each character for one reason or another. Between Holly's grueling audition schedule, Jessie's annoying trust fund baby clients, and Nat's infatuation with her married boss, there was something worth drinking over at the end of the day.
I found myself laughing and smiling at times, as well as cringing at others. I enjoyed living vicariously through each of the women. I always appreciate when women are entrepreneurs in books and I love seeing how they build their business. This time, it was a wine bar. They had a lot of fun and creative ideas to get it off the ground. While I'm not much of a wine person, they made it sound enticing to visit their bar. Also, now I want to go to drag queen bingo. How fun!
However, I did have a few concerns. One is about timing, which I hope will be ironed out in the final print. It just read to me like one day was stretching out long enough to last three days. I also felt like the women had it way too easy in terms of getting guys interested in them. They each had two or more guys who were courting them in some way or another. If only every single woman could have a choice like that! Also, one huge issue between the women was resolved really fast, as it happened when the story was wrapping up.
This was a light and easy read for the most part. There's one sad situation that Kim has a personal connection to, and you can feel what she must have been feeling when she wrote it. I hope now that she has her writing groove back, there will be more stories like this in our future.
Overall, it's a perfect chick lit escape novel that you must include in your beach bag.
My dream movie cast:
Jessie: Kate McKinnon
Nat: Krysta Rodriguez
Holly: Celina Jade
Joe: Channing Tatum
Chris: Justin Hartley
Marc: Neal Bledsoe
Giovanni: Adam Croasdell
Kevin: Nicholas D'Agosto
March 6, 2018
A fun book... kinda like watching “The Bachelorette “!
June 13, 2017
4.5 stars.
Love the Wine You're With by Kim Gruenenfelder is a heartwarming novel of friendship, new beginnings and love.
Best friends Jessie, Nat and Holly are each at a crossroad when they take the plunge and open a wine bar that caters to women. Jessie is an accountant whose three year relationship with boyfriend Kevin is in a holding pattern. Nat is a writer for a popular game show but her two year affair with her married boss Marc is starting to wear thin. Holly is an actress who is growing weary of her endless rounds of auditions that, more often than not now she is in her early thirties, end in disappointment. Tired of putting her future on hold, Jessie convinces Nat and Holly to join her in a new venture which brings many exciting changes into their lives.
Jessie is dissatisfied with both her professional and personal lives. So when Kevin changes his mind about a house they are planning to purchase, she decides it is time to seize control of her life. However, her decisiveness is limited to her new venture and she continues to waver on whether or not she should continue her relationship with Kevin. Her attraction to the bar’s wine rep Giovanni is unexpected but since she is still officially involved with Kevin, she instead introduces him to Nat. However, Jessie wonders if she is making a mistake when she is unexpectedly beset with jealousy.
Nat knows that sleeping with a married man is completely wrong but her resolve to end the relationship never seems to last long. However, this time, she is committed to her decision and she impulsively quits her job at the same time she sends Marc packing. Concentrating on getting the wine bar ready to open, Nat is not looking for a new man but when Jessie introduces her to Giovanni, she really has no reason to not date him. Nat is especially grateful for her decision when she remains tempted by Marc and a long ago love re-enters her life.
In addition to her career frustrations, Holly is also struggling with her lingering grief over her father’s unexpected death several months earlier. She has also decided to discontinue her long use of anti-depressants so her behavior is wee bit unpredictable as she attempts to silence her overly critical thoughts. Giving up her acting career is not a hardship and she is reveling in the freedom that comes with not having to worry so much about her appearance. An unanticipated introduction to much admired producer Joe Chavez leads to a surprising friendship after Holly declares a moratorium on dating.
Love the Wine You're With by Kim Gruenenfelder is an entertaining novel with a charming cast of colorful characters and an engaging storyline. Holly is the most personable and relatable of the women while Nat is the most irritating as she continues to make questionable decisions. Jessie is a little too risk averse and willing to settle when it comes to her love life. The wine descriptions are quite interesting and educational, but I have to confess they are a little wasted (pun intended :-) ) on me since I am not an oenophile. The romantic elements are rather understated but quite enjoyable. An absolutely divine novel of friendship, new beginnings and unexpected love that readers of contemporary women’s fiction are sure to love!
Love the Wine You're With by Kim Gruenenfelder is a heartwarming novel of friendship, new beginnings and love.
Best friends Jessie, Nat and Holly are each at a crossroad when they take the plunge and open a wine bar that caters to women. Jessie is an accountant whose three year relationship with boyfriend Kevin is in a holding pattern. Nat is a writer for a popular game show but her two year affair with her married boss Marc is starting to wear thin. Holly is an actress who is growing weary of her endless rounds of auditions that, more often than not now she is in her early thirties, end in disappointment. Tired of putting her future on hold, Jessie convinces Nat and Holly to join her in a new venture which brings many exciting changes into their lives.
Jessie is dissatisfied with both her professional and personal lives. So when Kevin changes his mind about a house they are planning to purchase, she decides it is time to seize control of her life. However, her decisiveness is limited to her new venture and she continues to waver on whether or not she should continue her relationship with Kevin. Her attraction to the bar’s wine rep Giovanni is unexpected but since she is still officially involved with Kevin, she instead introduces him to Nat. However, Jessie wonders if she is making a mistake when she is unexpectedly beset with jealousy.
Nat knows that sleeping with a married man is completely wrong but her resolve to end the relationship never seems to last long. However, this time, she is committed to her decision and she impulsively quits her job at the same time she sends Marc packing. Concentrating on getting the wine bar ready to open, Nat is not looking for a new man but when Jessie introduces her to Giovanni, she really has no reason to not date him. Nat is especially grateful for her decision when she remains tempted by Marc and a long ago love re-enters her life.
In addition to her career frustrations, Holly is also struggling with her lingering grief over her father’s unexpected death several months earlier. She has also decided to discontinue her long use of anti-depressants so her behavior is wee bit unpredictable as she attempts to silence her overly critical thoughts. Giving up her acting career is not a hardship and she is reveling in the freedom that comes with not having to worry so much about her appearance. An unanticipated introduction to much admired producer Joe Chavez leads to a surprising friendship after Holly declares a moratorium on dating.
Love the Wine You're With by Kim Gruenenfelder is an entertaining novel with a charming cast of colorful characters and an engaging storyline. Holly is the most personable and relatable of the women while Nat is the most irritating as she continues to make questionable decisions. Jessie is a little too risk averse and willing to settle when it comes to her love life. The wine descriptions are quite interesting and educational, but I have to confess they are a little wasted (pun intended :-) ) on me since I am not an oenophile. The romantic elements are rather understated but quite enjoyable. An absolutely divine novel of friendship, new beginnings and unexpected love that readers of contemporary women’s fiction are sure to love!
June 21, 2017
I won an ARC of "Love the Wine you're With" way back in March and I finally got around to reading it. It's weird when I take chances on books like these because I never know how they're going to go. I'm not usually drawn to chick-lit books and when I'm looking for new things to read I rarely gravitate towards books in this genre. However, this one caught my eye on a giveaway and since I was on my second (or third...or possibly fourth...don't judge) glass of wine I decided to enter to win an unedited copy. I mean I was literally loving the wine I was with at the moment. It seemed like fate. I was pretty excited when I received it in the mail!
Now I'm going to contradict myself for a moment. I previously stated that I don't gravitate towards chick-lit. I really don't. It's just lately I must be going through a phase. Maybe it's summer? Maybe I just need easy, light, happy stories? Maybe it's hormones? I don't really know but I'm suddenly craving these types of books. This book didn't disappoint and filled said craving!
I admit that it took me longer than usual to get the three main characters straight. I'd have to go back and reference who was who but it eventually stuck with me. I probably struggled a little more with how I pictured them in my head. I tend to always relate book characters to tv/movie folks. Nat was my hardest to visualize and I ended up just kind of ignoring her physical description. That's a personal issue though and nothing to do with the book itself. I'm just rambling.
I liked all of the characters even the ones I wasn't supposed to like. I liked how none of the girls had their crap together but they were trying as best as they could given that they didn't know what they really wanted out of life to begin with. They grew, they matured, they started figuring out what they did want in their own, messy ways. I liked that I rooted for them all. I wanted to see them get their happy endings. I wanted to see them mature and grow into the versions of themselves that they envisioned. Even the guys were great in this story. And it wasn't complete without the "prick with a c."
Plus, Drag Queen Bingo? I'm a small-town girl, y'all, but I want to go to Drag Queen Bingo!
I liked how the ending went. I really liked the glimpse into their futures. It was just a super enjoyable, quick read that has made me crave several bottles of wine...which I'm taking a break from at the moment. Or am I? After this book I may need to splurge a little.
I could see this book being a great movie if they stuck to the story! Someone should make this happen. Anyone have Reese Witherspoon's number? ;)
Now I'm going to contradict myself for a moment. I previously stated that I don't gravitate towards chick-lit. I really don't. It's just lately I must be going through a phase. Maybe it's summer? Maybe I just need easy, light, happy stories? Maybe it's hormones? I don't really know but I'm suddenly craving these types of books. This book didn't disappoint and filled said craving!
I admit that it took me longer than usual to get the three main characters straight. I'd have to go back and reference who was who but it eventually stuck with me. I probably struggled a little more with how I pictured them in my head. I tend to always relate book characters to tv/movie folks. Nat was my hardest to visualize and I ended up just kind of ignoring her physical description. That's a personal issue though and nothing to do with the book itself. I'm just rambling.
I liked all of the characters even the ones I wasn't supposed to like. I liked how none of the girls had their crap together but they were trying as best as they could given that they didn't know what they really wanted out of life to begin with. They grew, they matured, they started figuring out what they did want in their own, messy ways. I liked that I rooted for them all. I wanted to see them get their happy endings. I wanted to see them mature and grow into the versions of themselves that they envisioned. Even the guys were great in this story. And it wasn't complete without the "prick with a c."
Plus, Drag Queen Bingo? I'm a small-town girl, y'all, but I want to go to Drag Queen Bingo!
I liked how the ending went. I really liked the glimpse into their futures. It was just a super enjoyable, quick read that has made me crave several bottles of wine...which I'm taking a break from at the moment. Or am I? After this book I may need to splurge a little.
I could see this book being a great movie if they stuck to the story! Someone should make this happen. Anyone have Reese Witherspoon's number? ;)
June 14, 2017
Jessie, Nat and Holly love each other, but seriously wonder about how much they really love their current jobs and the men in their lives. So the BFFs decide to open a wine bar together in Kim Gruenenfelder’s novel, LOVE THE WINE YOU’RE WITH (St.Martin’sGriffin).
Jessie has the house and now she’s about to take the really big step and get married to her boyfriend of three years, Kevin. They had planned on filling that house with kiddies, but now Kevin suddenly has cold feet.
Nat is having a wonderful affair with her gorgeous British boss, Marc, but oops. Unfortunately, there’s a slight complication – he’s married.
Holly is dreaming of a career as an actress and still waiting tables, until she gets her big break. Her father passes away and she melts-down at an audition wondering if she really loves what she’s doing. And oh yeah, there’s that hot guy next door that has piqued her interest.
After each girl survives a particularly awful day at work, they meet up at their favorite wine bar, which has been sold and is going to close for good that night. Jessie, in an alcohol-induced haze suggests they open their own wine bar in the gentrifying neighborhood of Echo Park, in Los Angeles. The three of them could create a really neat girly place with good food and drinks. Of course, that leads to the challenge of each girl needing to fix her own life up first.
Some fun facts about author, Kim:
She loves to write with the smell of Starbucks French Roast wafting in the air … and a big cup in her hand.
She’s happily married, but her celebrity crush is Stephen Colbert.
If she wasn’t writing novels, she’d be on the writing staff of a television show.
Her favorite television shows growing up were “Charlie’s Angels” and “Mary Tyler Moore.” CA, because she loved seeing how women could be as badass as men. MTM because she’s amazed women are still fighting for the same things today, as they were 30 years ago.
Jessie has the house and now she’s about to take the really big step and get married to her boyfriend of three years, Kevin. They had planned on filling that house with kiddies, but now Kevin suddenly has cold feet.
Nat is having a wonderful affair with her gorgeous British boss, Marc, but oops. Unfortunately, there’s a slight complication – he’s married.
Holly is dreaming of a career as an actress and still waiting tables, until she gets her big break. Her father passes away and she melts-down at an audition wondering if she really loves what she’s doing. And oh yeah, there’s that hot guy next door that has piqued her interest.
After each girl survives a particularly awful day at work, they meet up at their favorite wine bar, which has been sold and is going to close for good that night. Jessie, in an alcohol-induced haze suggests they open their own wine bar in the gentrifying neighborhood of Echo Park, in Los Angeles. The three of them could create a really neat girly place with good food and drinks. Of course, that leads to the challenge of each girl needing to fix her own life up first.
Some fun facts about author, Kim:
She loves to write with the smell of Starbucks French Roast wafting in the air … and a big cup in her hand.
She’s happily married, but her celebrity crush is Stephen Colbert.
If she wasn’t writing novels, she’d be on the writing staff of a television show.
Her favorite television shows growing up were “Charlie’s Angels” and “Mary Tyler Moore.” CA, because she loved seeing how women could be as badass as men. MTM because she’s amazed women are still fighting for the same things today, as they were 30 years ago.
May 4, 2017
I got a chance to read this book early though Netgalley. I previously read Misery Loves Cabernet by this author and it was one of the funniest books I've read.
Three best friends, Nat, Jessie and Holly are at a turning point in their lives. They're all tired of the status quo and want to make some changes.
Holly is a struggling actress, grieving over her dad and single.
Nat has a job she loves at a game show, but she's dating her married boss and wants out.
Jessie is in a long-term relationship. She's working at a job she hates, trying to save up money to buy a house.
When Jessie's somewhat commitment-phobe boyfriend declines on yet another house. Jessie decides that she is tired of waiting for her boyfriend to make all the big choices in her life. So, she makes a big decision herself. She puts her nest egg into a wine bar that she talks Holly and Nat into joining.
Drama escalates with Nat and Jessie both debating leaving the relationships they are in and both becoming interested in Giovanni.
There are a number of potential love interests to keep straight in this story. The lives of Holly, Nat and Jessie will never be the same after opening their wine bar together.
Cute story. If you can have a good glass of wine on hand when you read it, I'd suggest it.
Three best friends, Nat, Jessie and Holly are at a turning point in their lives. They're all tired of the status quo and want to make some changes.
Holly is a struggling actress, grieving over her dad and single.
Nat has a job she loves at a game show, but she's dating her married boss and wants out.
Jessie is in a long-term relationship. She's working at a job she hates, trying to save up money to buy a house.
When Jessie's somewhat commitment-phobe boyfriend declines on yet another house. Jessie decides that she is tired of waiting for her boyfriend to make all the big choices in her life. So, she makes a big decision herself. She puts her nest egg into a wine bar that she talks Holly and Nat into joining.
Drama escalates with Nat and Jessie both debating leaving the relationships they are in and both becoming interested in Giovanni.
There are a number of potential love interests to keep straight in this story. The lives of Holly, Nat and Jessie will never be the same after opening their wine bar together.
Cute story. If you can have a good glass of wine on hand when you read it, I'd suggest it.
May 4, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Kim Gruenenfelder and was so excited to receive an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This, right here? Is chicklit at it's finest. We meet Jessie, Nat and Holly and follow them through their daily lives dealing with work, romance and, well, wine. After each suffers a slight setback - and too much wine, they decide to go into business for themselves and open a wine bar together.
Along the way they meet some good - and some not-so-good guys, but no matter what, these girls always have each other's backs.
This was a fun, light read. I really enjoyed the witty writing and playful banter between characters. While I know absolutely zero about wine, I also didn't feel that the wine part of the story overshadowed anything else.
If you are looking for something light but extremely entertaining, this is definitely the Reisling for you. (Oh come on, I had to do it!)
This, right here? Is chicklit at it's finest. We meet Jessie, Nat and Holly and follow them through their daily lives dealing with work, romance and, well, wine. After each suffers a slight setback - and too much wine, they decide to go into business for themselves and open a wine bar together.
Along the way they meet some good - and some not-so-good guys, but no matter what, these girls always have each other's backs.
This was a fun, light read. I really enjoyed the witty writing and playful banter between characters. While I know absolutely zero about wine, I also didn't feel that the wine part of the story overshadowed anything else.
If you are looking for something light but extremely entertaining, this is definitely the Reisling for you. (Oh come on, I had to do it!)
May 16, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Kim Gruenenfelder's latest "Love the Wine You're With" in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so very happy Kim Gruenenfelder is back!!! I know the author took much needed time off after her father's passing, and I'm so glad she found her way back to writing the fun, sassy, novels she does.
I loved "Love the Wine You're With" for many reasons. Three women who are best friends, and they aren't perfect - they all have flaws which they are graveling with (careers, boyfriends, family). These three best friends decide to leave successful careers (two of them) to open a wine bar! Their stories are easy to follow (sometimes in a large ensemble cast it is not easy to follow who is who), and their relationships are fun to watch grow. Wine Bar - need I say more??
I would highly recommend this to all my friends who love Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, and Wine!!
I'm so very happy Kim Gruenenfelder is back!!! I know the author took much needed time off after her father's passing, and I'm so glad she found her way back to writing the fun, sassy, novels she does.
I loved "Love the Wine You're With" for many reasons. Three women who are best friends, and they aren't perfect - they all have flaws which they are graveling with (careers, boyfriends, family). These three best friends decide to leave successful careers (two of them) to open a wine bar! Their stories are easy to follow (sometimes in a large ensemble cast it is not easy to follow who is who), and their relationships are fun to watch grow. Wine Bar - need I say more??
I would highly recommend this to all my friends who love Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, and Wine!!
August 15, 2017
I'm a bigger fan of chick lit when it's during the summer. Searching for a light read that is entertaining, fun, and fast paced...Love The Wine You're With came along and I decided to give it a go. Summer reading...yes indeed. Interesting characters. A group of independent and assertive women that know what they want in life...a story of friendship and motivation.....and wine...lots and lots of wine!! A solid entertaining read where you don't have to think too hard to understand but also challenges your intelligence just enough to be perfectly enjoyable...3 women embarking on a business venture...opening up a bar. Did I mention there's lots of talk of wine???
Recommend this read?? Yes Recommend this read with a nice glass of wine or two?? Double yes!!
Thanks as always to the wonderful peeps here at goodreads and to Kim Gruenenfelder and to St. Martin's Griffin for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
Recommend this read?? Yes Recommend this read with a nice glass of wine or two?? Double yes!!
Thanks as always to the wonderful peeps here at goodreads and to Kim Gruenenfelder and to St. Martin's Griffin for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
August 22, 2020
I was seeking something light after a book club read and a string of non-fiction. This was certainly light.
The story is about 3 friends, unsatisfied with their current situations, who open a wine bar. I was really hoping it would deal with work, with their relationship as friends, and really, just more with them. I had a hard time remembering which character was which by name. I knew one was an actor, one an accountant, and one a game show writer, but their names kept escaping me. The real focus on the book was about men. Falling in love, not falling in love, etc. It focused really heavily on the guys and their relationship to men, not their relationship with themselves or with others. I found that to be a bummer. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but even the ending was a let down.
I was really hoping for more.
The writing itself was not terrible - and funny at moments. I think that's actually what kept me going.
The story is about 3 friends, unsatisfied with their current situations, who open a wine bar. I was really hoping it would deal with work, with their relationship as friends, and really, just more with them. I had a hard time remembering which character was which by name. I knew one was an actor, one an accountant, and one a game show writer, but their names kept escaping me. The real focus on the book was about men. Falling in love, not falling in love, etc. It focused really heavily on the guys and their relationship to men, not their relationship with themselves or with others. I found that to be a bummer. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but even the ending was a let down.
I was really hoping for more.
The writing itself was not terrible - and funny at moments. I think that's actually what kept me going.
January 17, 2018
Of course the title is what drew me in originally - mention wine and I'm in! I connected with the characters enough to want to binge read it to find out where life was going to take them. I even teared up "with" one of them as she went through a rough time, putting myself in her shoes. I was also drawn in by the longing of my own to throw caution to the wind, find a passion and leave my old job behind, as did these women. So easily written, less easily done. ;) The book is set up where each of the 3 main character friends gets her own chapter to tell her story at the time, many times overlapping another friend's story which, happily, made it easy to decipher who was telling their tale at the time.
There were a few minor writing details that were over done in my humble opinion and stuck out to me like a sore thumb. For example, the term "postcoital", which I've never read so many times in one sitting, or the fact that every good looking man was described as having "clear (insert color here) eyes", and if you don't want to hear about every kind of wine there is to be had on the planet, maybe find another book. Me on the other hand (I wish I had a glass of wine in hand), I'm looking forward to making a few new bottled purchases with all of my new found wine knowledge. 😉 Now, I should not really speak on the subject of writing (or the errors within) as I myself am not a writer and I'm sure that if I were, my offenses would be much more noticeable and frequent. After having said all of that I should probably look back to review what I've typed out on my phone with my clumsy thumbs....😹
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will look for more of Kim Gruenenfelder's books in this genre. Cheers!🍷
There were a few minor writing details that were over done in my humble opinion and stuck out to me like a sore thumb. For example, the term "postcoital", which I've never read so many times in one sitting, or the fact that every good looking man was described as having "clear (insert color here) eyes", and if you don't want to hear about every kind of wine there is to be had on the planet, maybe find another book. Me on the other hand (I wish I had a glass of wine in hand), I'm looking forward to making a few new bottled purchases with all of my new found wine knowledge. 😉 Now, I should not really speak on the subject of writing (or the errors within) as I myself am not a writer and I'm sure that if I were, my offenses would be much more noticeable and frequent. After having said all of that I should probably look back to review what I've typed out on my phone with my clumsy thumbs....😹
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will look for more of Kim Gruenenfelder's books in this genre. Cheers!🍷
June 13, 2017
This is a wonderful happy light read! These three women- Jessie, Nat, and Holly- are acing the problems of mid- 30 somethings but they do so without self pity or regret. Each one of them is believable and relatable. In fact, the best thing about this book is that they channel their energies in an entrepreneurial way by opening a wine bar. Good on them! Yes, some of this is too easy (there are lots of guys) and yes it might not have a lot of twists and turns, but if you've looking for a book about three women taking control, then this is for you. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. I'd not read Gruenenfelder before but I'm going to look for her again.
August 31, 2017
Soft story about 3 friends,Holly, Natasha, Jessica who need a change in their lives so they decide to open a wine bar in the LA area. Each chapter focuses on one character the name of the character is below the chapter heading, which I did not realize until I was about 6 in. Makes it easy to track which character is telling her story. Romance is there, but each friend finding and discovering the proper (perfect?) man for her - with a bit of trial and error. Well developed characters that come across is real and who can be related to by readers. The friends support each other through it all. And, yes,there is a HEA ending for each - the fun part is getting there.
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