***3 Stars***

This book immediately caught my eye with it's cover and title, also who can resist a man with long hair and a beard amiright?!?! I'm always going to be game for books set in Scotland because I dream of one day going and visiting a pub with everyone knows your name vibes but also the Whisky is grade A. That being said, I feel terrible that I just didn't fall in love with Ruby and Brochan's love story. This is a Grumpy/Sunshine + a bit of instalove on behalf of our male lead. Ruby has decided to pin a country (any country) on the map and go there, she has a cookbook to write and needs inspiration/change of scenery. The Scottish Highlands is where we travel and here is where this story delivers! the author did well with creating the atmosphere we all think of when imagining Scotland and paired it with a charming cast of characters literally in a pub! Ruby has just moved into this cottage and will be working in the Pub's kitchen. The cottage she's living in needs a bit of repairs and that is where our love interest makes his appearance.

Tall, dark haired, broody and won't shy away from complimenting our female lead, Brochan is very easy to swoon over. He has some baggage surrounding his father but it seems like in the romance department he's ready to find his lobster and Ruby has caught his interest. Our girl Ruby also has some baggage however hers is more surrounding her previous relationship. This is where I struggled where I struggled, the insecurities that played out in her interactions with Brochan as a result of what I see as unhealed wounds were not a fun time. Although I could see where she was coming from, after a while of her insisting something was more than it wasn't...I got turned off of her. Brochan isn't without fault, I didn't love that he withheld some info with regards to a previous relationship he was in...more like who he was romantically linked to. These issues definitely played a part in my enjoyment, I want to root for the ship and I just couldn't because I didn't believe these two were ready. Perhaps if the ending was slowed down a bit and healthy dialogue exchanged, then I could've bought into these two being together. Again, where this story really shined was the small town vibes, side characters and the descriptions of food paired with whisky! 3 stars for enjoyability, I'd give this author another go.

Delicious food recipes, fantastic settings as dreamy cottage in a tiny Scottish highlands, a chance to taste barrels of Scotch and charismatic, handsome Scottish man! Isn’t this book definition just like the definition of stairway to heaven! Food critic Ruby Spencer didn’t buy a stairway to heaven but she definitely rented that lovely and also a little dilapidated cottage by changing her scenery from Manhattan and Scotland to get more inspiration for her new book!

Her muse is definitely reserved, sulking, bearded, handy man Brochan stops by to fix things in her place. Both of them carry their own heavy baggages from their past relationships. They eventually become friends and of course when the attraction is palpable, they cannot resist to want more than friendship!

This book was cute, but not anything to write home about. The third act breakup just seemed unnecessary to me; why does this continue to be a thing? I enjoyed the setting and who doesn't like a Scottish male love interest?

I had a hard time with this one because I couldn't stand Ruby for most of this book. I thought she was taking a front-row seat in other people's business. I mean, she knew the major for all of two days, and she chose to keep her secret about the man she was sleeping with

Also, the breakup made no sense to me because I thought that it was apparent to everyone the identity of the other women; I mean, it seemed clear to me.

Considering how much anger Brochan had toward old love, I was surprised he was so willing to start a relationship with Ruby.

If you love a small-town Scottish story, you may love this and have different feelings for Ruby.

Such a fun book- made me want so whiskey! And a sexy Scott to drink it with! Cute romcom I have told many about already. East to read, fun to follow. Insta- love isn’t always my thing but it worked here!

This was good I enjoyed this book way more than I expected too it was a fun book to read over the weekend

this book was soooo amazing! i think everyone needs to try to read this book! it was so fun. the characters are so lovely and amazing and beautifully written. thank you so much netgalley!!!!!

This book was cozy, lovely and dreamy.

Ruby Spencer takes a leap of faith and moves to Scotland from Manhattan for a year to write a cookbook.

Brochan is a handsome handy man who fixed things all around. They had a great chemistry but the baggage stops them from moving forward in their life.

Th other characters in the book were delightful.

Rochelle Bilow has created a beautiful atmosphere and setting taking us to Scotland without getting on a plane. I didn't want anything more than to take a long break and live there.

It was an interesting and surprising plot showcasing how the community comes together and how it matters. The writing was good though some bits were repetitive and went haywire.

This was a sweet and simple slow burn romance with grumpy and sunshine leads to root for.

Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this.

I loved all of the Scotland vibes of this one. Bilow made me feel like I was there eating the food, walking the meadows and hanging with the people. Pack your bags! We’re going to Scotland!

I really enjoyed Bilow's debut romance - who doesn't love a foray into small town Scotland? Ruby and Brochan were a great couple and I enjoyed following their story.

okay, pop off Ruby Spencer - this book was great!! My rule of thumb is that I will reach for any romance set in the Highlands, ESPECIALLY one that's also a small town romance. Ruby and Brochan were wonderfully paired, and I always love when the seemingly gruff surly hero is just a lovable cinnamon roll with family values LOL. I loved the found family aspect, and that this was above all about Ruby's journey and her sense of self.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing, and Rochelle Bilow for access to this e-ARC!!

I enjoy a small town setting romance and this one is set in Scotland.
This slow burn romance was a delight to read. There’s a lot to love in this book. The small town setting is described gorgeously, the characters, food and whiskey though let’s not forget the broody handyman. All of this with the added chemistry makes for an entertaining read.

I didn’t think I’d like this as much as I did. Women who transplant into a rural area and manage to hook up,with the one eligible bachelor in town usually feels forced to me, but I really bought the chemistry btn ruby and brochan and loved the found family aspect. The third act break up was a bit forced but overall charming.

As soon as I finished this novel, I started recommending it to people in my life… especially my foodies and wanderlusters. It was cute and a quick read. Nikki Massoud did a great job narrating the audiobook.

I absolutely loved this book and read it in under 24 hours. My gosh, this was a gem of a book.

I'm not sure what did it for me - the characters (Rudy, Brochan and Grace), the food, the setting (Scotland!), the love story (slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance) - but every single bit of "Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year" worked for me. I'd like to point out that I'm not usually a fan of foodie type novels, but this one was just enough food chatter to grab my attention without boring me too death. I think the food mixed with the atmosphere is what really did it for me. Oh, and the people! I love the village, the setting, the sense of home.

"Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year" was a lighthearted read, with loveable characters, visit worthy setting, and a couple you find yourself cheering for from first meet cute. Ruby's growth made her the perfect heroine and that HEA? Doesn't get more perfect.

For me Ruby and her new Scottish friends make this novel. There's the believed love triangle, the sexy guy, the friendly and accepting town and of course Ruby's self-awareness journey. All were very entertaining. I enjoyed this, my first book by Bilow.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Everyone needs to move to Thistlecross immediately.

This book seriously made me consider what I was doing with my life. I definitely explored moving to Scotland for my own Whisky Year.

Ruby Spencer moves to Scotland to write a cook book but does not anticipate falling in love (nobody ever does) with the town and the sexy Scot Brochan.

Together they navigate friendship, romance and saving the town pub.

This if filled with amazing side characters and a lot of heart. I was so entranced and just think it was a special live story. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

A certain subset of women will love this. I’m not one of them. Either I’m growing grumpier as I age, or I just don’t give a fuck anymore. Maybe I never did.

I never liked romances growing up. It was recently pointed out to me that the genre was pretty white and hetero until very recently. As I’ve explored the genre further and discovered more diversity in it, I’ve enjoyed it more.

This is a white American making bad decisions with a white Scot. Real original. Not. Outlander, this isn’t. And I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I’m over the third act breakup. Why? Why must we suffer?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Ruby Spencer is a lucky girl, living my dream! I have been obsessed with Scotland well before Outlander. I went there decades ago as a teenager and fell in love with the country. I like what the author writes about how Outlander has sort of ruined Scotland because everyone who flocks there isn't going to experience Scotland that way, and that people will miss out on so many good things about Scotland because of it.

Lately I've been getting books with really well-written men. Brochan is one of those men. It's all the things he loves about Ruby, It's the kind of man he is, what he stands for, how he treats other people. And it doesn't help that he was good looking, either.

This book ticks off all the right boxes: Scotland, food, romance, a good story. I look forward to reading more books by this author. You should read this one, too!

Thanks, NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and freely expressed.

Ruby Spencer has quit her job and bought a one way ticket to Scotland. After a string of bad break ups and realizing her job wasn’t as fulfilling as she once thought, what does she have to lose?
This was a pretty standard romance novel. A few lines made me make this face 🤨 (she tastes like Mayonnaise? He bit the flesh between her armpit and boob? Why?) but overall who doesn’t want to read about a woman flying to Scotland and living the dream.