Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

A great read about friendship, life and wine. I enjoyed the characters and all their layers. Twist and turns indeed.

A story about longtime friends and the dysfunctional relationships that can lead them to seriously bad decisions.

How can an all expenses paid, ultra luxurious weekend in Napa be a bad idea? When college friends come together to celebrate the launch of one couple’s winery, but nothing is as it seems. The five friends plus one husband have lost touch with who they really are and the roles they have in each other’s lives. But things go seriously wrong and one of the friends ends up dead. What happened? And who is the killer?

An okay read and a bit of a stretch ending. The story definitely builds to unravel the mystery but you don’t really like any of the characters by the end. So you don’t really care who did what to whom.

This book was not for me. I could not get into the story or characters. I tried several different times to see if it was just my mood, but it wasn't a good fit.

I wanted to like this book because the setting sounded right up my alley, but this was very underwhelming. Super slow and shallow characters that were very unlikable.

This book is my catnip: a group of college friends reunite years later in Napa to enjoy a weekend in a lavish Napa mansion. Why don't I have any college friends with Napa mansions or wineries? Sigh. Anyway, these aren't the friends you actually want--it's not long until mysterious events start to disrupt the weekend and you learn that the friends are frenemies. The book propels itself to a twisty reveal after one of the friends ends up dead. I loved the backbiting, the wry humor, and yes--the house porn. LOL. This is a perfect book club book!

This was exactly what it claimed to be.

The setting and overall vibe of the book were perfect for what I wanted and kept me engaged through the murder and mystery of it all. I think Marikar did a good job with pacing and balancing background information with plot direction. Often with books like this, author's struggle to find that balance. I read this in part because I was excited about my upcoming trip to Napa and this absolutely kept up my excitement.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar!

🍷💀 Book Review: Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar 💀🍷

What happens when six old friends reunite in a luxurious vineyard mansion in Napa Valley? If you’re thinking “fine wine and nostalgia,” think again! Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar is a wickedly sharp, darkly funny tale of friendship, secrets, and plenty of spilled wine…and blood.

Raj and Rachel Ranjani throw an all-out reunion, complete with exclusive tastings and lavish dinners, but from the moment a brick smashes through their window, it’s clear this trip isn’t going as planned. The college vibes come rushing back, along with all the messy feelings these friends thought they’d left behind. And when one of them turns up dead, the tangled web of secrets, resentments, and unfulfilled crushes unravels with a vengeance.

Marikar delivers a perfect blend of dark comedy and suspense that’ll have you laughing one moment and questioning everyone’s motives the next. Each character is layered and flawed, adding to the thrill of wondering who’s hiding what—and why.

If you’re a fan of juicy friendships, high-stakes drama, and a sinister twist on luxury living, Friends in Napa is the ultimate page-turner. Just be careful who you bring to your next reunion. 🍇🥂🖤

🍇 Question for You: If you could sip on any wine in the world during a thriller like this, what would it be? 👀🍷

I thought this was readable but nothing remarkable. I can't think of any readers that this book would particularly appeal to.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The beginning of this book was just stream of consciousness thoughts from our main character, who I found very annoying. Nothing happened for so long that I lost interest and decided not to finish this one.

Wanted to love this one because I am a Northern California gal who spends a lot of time in Napa for escape time. Unfortunately, it didn't feel realistic to me as I know Napa. Was also a bit slow with the pacing. But it had potential and humor, and I'd be happy to try another book by this author, perhaps in a different setting.

This book was an interesting read. It felt like a slower start. It was harder than usual to get through, and I'm not sure about the character development in it either.
It feels like it could benefit from more editing.
It was a cool premise but definitely one we're seeing a lot more nowadays.
This book would be a good beach read I think, when you're not looking for a huge commitment but just something to read.

Sheila Yasmin Marikar's Friends in Napa is a delightful blend of friendship, drama, and suspense. This sparkling novel whisks readers away to the luxurious world of wine country, where a group of college friends reunite for a weekend of celebration and revelry.

Marikar's characters are both relatable and intriguing, with complex personalities and hidden depths. The author skillfully explores the dynamics of long-standing friendships, as old wounds resurface and new connections form. The stunning Napa Valley setting provides a picturesque backdrop for the unfolding drama, and the descriptions of wine and food are simply mouthwatering.

As the weekend progresses, tensions rise and secrets are revealed, leading to a shocking twist that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Friends in Napa is a captivating escape that offers a perfect balance of humor, intrigue, and heartfelt moments.

Whether you're a fan of friendship dramas or simply looking for a fun and entertaining read, this novel is sure to delight.

A group of friends are invited to a reunion at a lavish winery hosted by two of the most wealthy friends in the group. All expenses are covered, the friends just need to get themselves to Napa Valley and embark on a week of luxury and pampering.

As a reader, you’d expect this to be a juicy story about the most extreme examples of extravagance complete with drama as the personalities of all these “friends” clash in a small environment. But no. The characters are all terrible, even the ones you think would be the most logical and down-to-earth are just not. There is so much name dropping, brand dropping, social comparisons, judgmental thoughts and behaviors. It was exhausting. None of them had a redeeming quality and the clichés were so over the top that it just made this book ridiculously unbelievable and gross. Was it all supposed to be a joke? Some commentary on the lives of the 1%? I have no idea, but if so, I don’t think it landed. I think there are other stories that have done this better and not had me hating the characters so much.

Maybe this is just a bad time with the state of the world to have read a book like this, but I just did not like it and it took me awhile to get through it. At least it was a complementary copy and short.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I really thought this book was going to be different.

Unfortunately I found it unrelatable and had a hard time getting through.

This book drew me with the fabulous cover and as a Northern California native I felt a tad relatable. However a much darker and richer crowd than I expected. I obviously count relate to the champagne problems of buying a winery for millions but I found the vibe of the book was too spacey for me, I generally like a morally grey character I just couldn’t dive in to any of these characters. Overall the writing was very visual and the location was my favorite aspect.

Would read more from this author just think this didn’t come all the way together for me.

Book Review: Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

Rating: 2 Stars

As I delved into "Friends in Napa" by Sheila Yasmin Marikar, I was excited to explore the luxurious world of Napa Valley alongside six old friends reuniting for a weekend getaway. The premise promised a dark comedy brimming with fine wine, simmering tensions, and unexpected twists.

However, my experience with the book left me wanting more.

The story revolves around Raj and Rachel Ranjani, who invite their college pals for a celebratory weekend in their vineyard mansion. What begins as a promising reunion soon unravels into a series of conflicts and hidden agendas, culminating in a shocking turn of events.

While the setting of Napa Valley exudes opulence and sophistication, the pacing of the plot felt sluggish, failing to build suspense effectively. The characters, touted as complex with deep-seated resentments and secrets, fell flat, lacking the depth needed to truly engage me as a reader. As tensions escalated, I found myself detached from their predicaments, unable to fully invest in their fates.

The climax, which should have been a crescendo of suspense and revelation, instead fell short, leaving me underwhelmed and craving a more impactful resolution. Despite the promising premise and the allure of a dark comedy, "Friends in Napa" failed to deliver the gripping narrative I had anticipated.

While the cover art of the book is visually appealing and the synopsis holds great promise, my overall experience with the novel was marred by its slow pace, one-dimensional characters, and lackluster conclusion. As much as I wanted to love this book, it fell short of my expectations. Yet, as with any reading experience, not every book will resonate with every reader, and "Friends in Napa" may find its audience among those seeking a light read set against the backdrop of wine country.

In conclusion, "Friends in Napa" by Sheila Yasmin Marikar may not have been the captivating read I had hoped for, but it serves as a reminder that literary tastes vary widely among readers, and what doesn't resonate with one may well enchant another.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar will have you wondering are your friends really your friends? When you want to show off to your friends how rich and successful you are why not invite them to your vineyard for the weekend. There seems to be a lot of things that should have been left in the past that resurface when everyone gets together. Everyone seems to have secrets that they hope will not come out!

I wasn't a big fan of this book. Usually to enjoy a book I have to have some reason to care about terrible characters but there wasn't anything remotely likable or redeeming about them. Not my favorite!