At first, I was intrigued but the premise: hot shot MBA graduate turns down best job in the world with the best company in the world, thus losing her fiancé-to-be, to take over marketing and outreach for a struggling Sonoma winery -- where there just so happens to be a hunky, talented son. That's why I kept forging through strange, convenient twists of plot, of forgettable characters meant to be meaningful, all the ... Well. I won't go on -- I didn't go on with this story, recognizing only 25% of the way through that it really wasn't for me.

The Shortest Way Home
By
Miriam Parker


What it's all about...

Hannah and Ethan are on their way to beginning what they both believe will be their life after grad school. Ethan wants his own start up while Hannah has taken a prestigious job in NYC. They are in Wine Country...relaxing before graduation...when Hannah begins to question this established course for her life. Does she want this life as much as Ethan does? Hannah isn’t quite sure and with an extreme leap of faith...Hannah tosses it all aside to work at a winery...a winery with tons of issues!

Why I wanted to read it...

I just simply wanted to read this because I loved the cover and I loved the sound of this book. Even though Hannah and Ethan and William...the son of the vineyard owners and a budding love interest for Hannah...were in their 30’s...none of them seemed to know what they really wanted for their lives.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

I actually loved that almost everyone in this book was changing, evolving, growing and learning about themselves. The book was filled with interesting characters. This book was filled with beautiful wine country scenes and descriptions. Hannah had a lovely little cottage...vineyards and great food were everywhere and these all made reading this book satisfying and relaxing...pages turned in an easy comfy way!

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love a beautifully written story set in a beautiful area will love this book. I did!

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

This was a great book. The character development was fantastic, and I loved the ending ;) I will definitely be reading more of Miriam Parker in the future--you have a devoted fan!

I really liked the setting of this book and that it was really about recreating yourself in a place where you belong. I loved all the talk of the different wines. Parker is great at building a world that you feel like you are really there and want to go there.

4 Stars and a Glass of Wine🍷 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a book all about finding the right path in life for you.... and what happens when you figure out your “dreams“ aren’t really your own? Would you be brave enough to veer off the path that everyone expects from you? And would you be able to sacrifice financial security for personal fulfillment? What really makes a person happy... money? Love? A feeling of purpose? This really was a book that made you think and made you want to visit Sonoma and have a glass of wine!

Hannah has just graduated from the MBA program at Berkley... she has everything a girl could want... degree from an elite school✔️ prestigious new job✔️ apartment in Manhattan✔️ equally successful and wealthy boyfriend✔️ so why is Hana so tempted to take this temporary low-paying job at a struggling winery? So is saying goodbye to her “dream life“ and saying hello to Sonoma the right thing to do for Hannah?

Hannah was a likable character and you really respected her for taking the harder path.... you will also love her character because she is a book lover and even better not a pretentious book lover! The setting at this winery in Northern California was absolutely stunning! I loved all the little tidbits we learned in this Book about wine making and marketing... I also really liked all the secondary characters and the sense of community in this book... there is a little romance in the book, but for me it really took a backseat to Hannas self discovery story... I am a huge fan of character development throughout a story and this book was all about Hannah‘s growth, and I loved it for that!

Such a delightful story filled with love, family, friendship, new beginnings, self discovery, and of course wine! Absolutely recommend!

*** many thanks to Dutton for my copy of this book ***

In this story, Hannah is just finishing up graduate school in San Francisco. She and her boyfriend Ethan decide to take a few days and drive to Sonoma for a break. Hannah ends up being enchanted (not like in the magical way) with a winery they visit and she starts to question her choices and what she is going to do with her future.

This book had me at Sonoma. The husband and I went there for our honeymoon and we really had a lovely time. We actually were in Healdsburg not specifically Sonoma. But I digress.....

The author did a great job in capturing the essence and the feel of the area. You get the feeling when you are there that the families and winemakers are passionate about making wine and instilling that love of wine to others. And that makes up the essence of this story.

Hannah's story is also about following your passion and making decisions that others may not agree with or even understand. This is also something I have some familiarity with (move from Toronto to Toledo?!?) I think this is captured well in the story. Sometimes you need to do things because they feel right and not because it's the logical choice. And Hannah struggles with that.

Overall this was a delightful story that kept my interest and is great for a beach/cottage read but also has enough depth to it to make it thoughtful and meaty.

I gave it a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

Full disclosure: I received this eARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. (Thanks NetGalley!)

This book, The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker, is going to be a favorite for someone.

It is, unfortunately, not a favorite for me.

This genre, summery novels of self-discovery and idyllic locations, have always been hit or miss with me.

This book is a miss, although it was just interesting enough that I finished it.

Set in Sonoma, California wine country, wine is absolutely the point around which all things in the story revolve. It is why Linda and Everett are married, it is the thing they and their fathers did with their lives, it is what Hannah likes to drink with every meal, it is… everything.

If you like wine, this could be the book for you.

Not tying it entirely to wine, of course, the other unifying point around which things seem to revolve is a bit of what could be called Rich People Problems.

Hannah, newly graduated from business school at Berkeley and about to take a six-figure salary for a starting job at Goldman Sachs in New York, spends much of the book bemoaning her poor Iowa upbringing while contrasting it to an internship at Tiffany’s in New York all while somehow amassing the ability to give up said job for an $800 a week gig as… helper of sorts at a struggling winery in Sonoma. I mean, it helps that the winery job comes with a cottage to live in (and all the wine she can drink!), but I didn’t find her relatable enough to be likable.

It was hard to care if she chose Ethan, the super-rich Park Avenue boy who decides to slum it, as it were, and found a start-up app company because his buddies at Google want new jobs, or William, the son of the winery owners, who she manages to fall head-over-heels in lust/love with after a grand total of maybe three meetings. To Parker’s credit as an author of this sort of book, Hannah chooses neither - and that is why this book got bumped to two stars for me.

But Hannah’s unrelatable and kind of a brat, Ethan is mildly abusive to Hannah, Linda and Everett have a twisted, toxic relationship built on a modern day arranged marriage, and… there just wasn’t much here for me.

I think maybe I finished the book because it is a very fast read, the downside of that being that all of this, all of these life-changing decisions occur over the course of a summer, but really a couple weeks. Marriages break and are rebuilt, a massive heart attack is fully recovered from, a former farm girl marches in and takes over a century and a half old winery with permission from the supposedly very invested owners, affairs are had, a For Rent sign turns into a successful AirBnB B&B and… it’s just too much.

For me.

Maybe not for you. Try it if you like this sort of thing. It has it’s good points.

(I received a copy of The Shortest Way Home from NetGalley and Dutton in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)

After having read countless psychological thrillers, I would call The Shortest Way Home a great palette cleanser.

Hannah, thirtyish, is graduating from a top business school, starting a highly coveted job and living with her boyfriend in an expensive Manhattan loft. Could life get any better than this? That is the million dollar question is this book.

This book could have easily taken a turn down Hallmark/Lifetime movie script, but it didn't. It was well written and since the book takes place in a winery, the descriptions are superb. Every time I picked up the book, I wanted a nice glass of something!

While the book was a bit on the side of cliche, there was quite a bit of depth in the characters, written in a great setting, and not everything was wrapped in a nice pretty bow at the end. Great quick read for my summer vacation!

I adored this debut novel from Miriam Parker.  It was exactly what I was in the mood for without knowing it.  It was one of the best books I read this month.  I loved all of the characters in this book and really was invested in the story.  It is a novel on the shorter side at 320 pages and I read it very quickly.  I wanted a glass, okay, really a bottle, of wine and plate of cheese by a fire while reading this story.

Hannah is about to have everything she has ever dreamed of - a great job in New York, a new apartment, and a boyfriend (Ethan) who is about to propose. When they go on a little weekend getaway to Sonoma before they graduate from grad school, Hannah makes a decision that may completely change the course of her life. She is offered a job at a family-owned winery doing marketing, and actually stops & thinks about it.

When she decides to abandon all she knows & jump in full force, she is able to grow & learn so much more about who she is as a person. She works to save the winery, but is also working to save herself.

This was an enjoyable & cute read. I loved all the references to wine & wine country. It transported me & made me want to go be in Sonoma. I enjoyed the book because it wasn't a typical romance where everything wraps up nicely in the end. I realized that I was about 90% of the way through the book, and her love interest issues hadn't been resolved yet, but I wasn't mad about it. I did wish there was a little bit more, but I thought it was a good homage to a strong, independent woman, who is discovering herself.

I would recommend this book if you're a fan of female characters discovering themselves, family dynamics, and wine. So much wine. But it's so fun! This is a great summer beach read.

Hannah is well on her way to having her dream life in New York: a wealthy, non-loser boyfriend, a Master’s in Business Management, and a finance job opportunity at a huge company that will pay exceedingly well, and move her in the direction of her life plan, far better than what she left behind as a teenager in Iowa. But when Hannah and her boyfriend decide to visit a few wineries before school ends in California, Hannah falls in love with a little winery and vineyard called Bellosguardo, where she is offered a marketing job by its owners, starting immediately! There, she can live in an adorable cottage beside the vineyard, save a company that actually needs her, and slow down from the hectic, beige life of a wealthy New York businesswoman. But what will happen to her boyfriend and their life plan? Is being impulsive for once something that will truly change her life for the better?
The Shortest Way Home is a delightful escape to California wine country, along with reevaluation of life goals, and an homage to taking a chance on your dreams, or finding new ones, no matter what age. This book will leave you craving good wine and cheese, the views of a gorgeous sunset over a vineyard to go with it, and maybe a puppy in your lap too.

Thirty year old Hannah Greene heads to Sonoma California for a weekend wine trip with her fellow graduate student boyfriend, Ethan.
Both are finishing up their last term at the Berkeley Haas School and after graduation will be heading to New York. Ethan and Hannah already have jobs waiting for them and their futures planned.
Hannah landed the job of a lifetime at Goldman Sachs. A seemingly perfect life awaits Hannah and Ethan, who will joining two friends in software app development.
While they wait for their room to be ready, the couple stop at the Bellosguardo Winery and suddenly Hannah’s future as well as Ethan’s takes a sharp detour. Throwing caution to the wind, Hannah abandones her planned “perfect” life in New York for a less secure marketing job at the small family run Bellosguardo Winery.
The struggling Winery is in need of help and Winery owner, Linda, offers Hannah a low paying job with room and board at the Winery. Hannah accepts the offer and leaves a stunned Ethan at the airport as he goes to New York alone but hoping that she will realize her “mistake” and come to her senses.
Author Miriam Walker writes a beautiful book that is simple yet detailed as we watch Hannah discover herself along with her strength as she uses her skills to save the Winery.
She finds her true self and falls in love but not the obvious one, the love of people from her past as well as people that will be part of her future and beautiful Sonoma, California.
You will find yourself wishing that you could read this book at a Winery outside on a beautiful sunny day with a glass of your favorite wine reading this book.
The Shortest Way Home was a book that reminded me of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken, where Frost says “two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Some might say that poem represents a regret but not in Hannah’s life as she takes the path less traveled but will find that this is her “perfect” path to Home.
The Shortest Way Home is a wonderful read and makes a great discussion book for book clubs.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. My reviews are unbiased and my own. #netgalley #ShortestWayHome

I love the cover of this book, I think it looks cute and happy! The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker is on my To-Read list, at the very top! Its getting awesome reviews and I am so excited for Miriam! “Delightful” “Heartwarming” and “a gem” are just some words used to describe this novel.

Here’s the official synopsis:

After years of dreaming of and working toward a life more stable than the one she grew up in, Hannah is finally about to have everything she ever wanted. With a high-paying job, an apartment in Manhattan, and a boyfriend about to propose, all she and Ethan have to do is make it through the last couple of weeks of grad school, and the future they had planned will be theirs to keep.

But when they take a romantic weekend trip to Sonoma, and Hannah is spontaneously offered a marketing job at the first (and seemingly financially unstable) winery they visit and doesn’t immediately refuse, their meticulously planned forever comes crashing down around them. And then Hannah impulsively does the unthinkable–she turns down her job in New York and decides to stay in California.

Abandoning your dream job and life shouldn’t feel this good. But for Hannah, it is an eye-opening experience; and she realizes that maybe, after all her dream-chasing, she hasn’t actually been caring for herself. And this new life certainly seems like a dream come true–living in a picturesque cottage overlooking a vineyard in lush Sonoma; new friends with pasts and hopes the likes of which she’s never encountered before; and William, the handsome son of the winery owners and an aspiring film director who captures Hannah’s heart only to leave the very city she let go.

The mission to rescue the failing winery becomes a mission to rescue Hannah from the image of herself she thought she wanted. The young girl who ached to escape Iowa and leave her past behind for a glamorous life is now given the chance to come to terms with the upbringing that made her who she is.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this was turned into a Lifetime or Hallmark movie!

Hannah and her boyfriend Ethan take a trip to wine country, a getaway fro them. Away from all the noise of the big city they will soon be living in. Only it doesn’t go according to plan. Hannah falls in love with place and the people. She decides to stay.

Hannah has an amazing job waiting for her, but be such a free spirit puts a monkey wrench in the life that her and Ethan were planning. I just adored Hannah for they way she is. Hannah has made friends in the short time during the trip and has so many ideas that will help the slowly fading winery. But, Ethan is so nonchalant about her ideas, he doesn’t agree with her decision to help this family. I get the laid back attitude. but this is your girlfriend not wanted to leave the vacation place. He kinda agrivated me a little. but I was happy to see Hannah follow her heart and her own needs.

There were a few other characters that play a pivotal role in the story. The owners of the winery (Williams parents) were just adorable together. And William the son on the owners and is a free spirit as well just like Hannah. William has big plans to leave. But he also had in interest in Hanna, so the question came to mind while I was reading, would he possibly stay to help with her plans for his parent winery? Or would he move on to what he thought was bigger and better things.

The setting was just beautiful. I would soo love taking a trip to wine country after reading this, from the people to wine. To me, it seemed like the perfect place for Hannah too. She could use her skills and maybe even find something more and work on her own happiness. It was quite a journey to follow and the ending was just perfect.

The read was so engrossing, emotional and sweet, from the character development to the slow burn romance. I loved it! and I think that readers who enjoy the contemporary romances will enjoy this one too.

4.5/5 stars! I absolutely love books where the female character is starting over in a new location. This lovely gem of a book is about Hannah, who decides to stay in Sonoma after visiting while on vacation. She has graduated college and is a bit lost, as most college graduates are. Hannah’s quest to find herself, and what is important to her, is an eyeopening journey. Miriam Parker has such a beautiful way of writing.

This was such a sweet book! Warning, do NOT attempt to read this book on your lunch break or in the morning hours if you are not prepared to open up a bottle of wine and truly enjoy! I attempted to do so, and found that this novel screams to be enjoyed with your favorite bottle. I absolutely loved how the author described Sonoma, the vineyards and the wines. So relaxing and enjoyable.

I related to the characters well and loved the development of each. The story seemed predictable, but in the end wasn't, just like life.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

What a fun summer read! I love stories of people taking a leap and starting over outside of their comfort zone my practical mind find them inspiring! This was such a fun romantic read with such a lush backdrop I felt like I was in wine country too the writing made it all so vivid! This is the perfect book to curl up with a good glass of wine with or for a ladies book club! Will definitely be checking out this author again!

Sometimes it isn't easy to really know what you want out of life, it's a difficult. challenge As with the main character in this book, Hannah is struggling to find her path, to make sure wherever that road takes her, it's the one she wants. On a visit to a winery in Sonoma Hannah takes a leap of faith and gives up everything she thought she wanted....a prestigious job at Goldman Sachs in New York, her boyfriend Ethan her soon to be fiancé and an apartment in New York City. She gives up everything to help out a family-owned winery with a job offer that will pay her $800.00 a week because somewhere deep inside her she feels this is what she honestly wants to do.

I read this book in one sitting today, savoring every page and enjoying how Ms. Parker brought these characters to life. It was interesting to see how Hannah became a more self-assured person, stronger and more defined in her goals and what she wanted. This book was very satisfying and I loved it from beginning to end. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is harmless, easy read. I'm guessing people will call it their beach book, knowing you can be distracted, doze off, drink a tad too much wine, then realize pages have passed without you paying attention, but you can guess what you have missed.

Hannah is on the road to "having it all" — great boyfriend, top-tier MBA degree, hotshot job — but on a romantic weekend in Sonoma she decides to forsake the conventional path for a simple life helping to run a failing winery. For someone who waxes poetic about her future retirement in wine country every time she goes (ahem, me), this book was a dream. It's a light read with a great female lead who is figuring out who she is and what she wants in life, and bucking societal conventions to do so! Great debut novel from Miriam Parker.