I wanted to like Corkscrew You. I’m generally a fan of workplace romance and enemies to lovers, but pretty quickly I found this book to be both tiring and embarrassing. I got very annoyed by Nate’s constant switching into French, which felt unnatural and more like the author wanting to show off language skills. I also didn’t like the pacing, specifically of the romance, and the language used in the sex scenes was kind of unbelievably embarrassing.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and thought the storyline was good. It flowed well and left plenty of my imagination

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of Corkscrew You, in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Robertson's 'Corkscrew You, will take you on a fun journey through the intertwining worlds of romance and winemaking. The book follows the determined Shelby Armstrong as she endeavors to rescue her father's struggling winery, a task that leads her to seek assistance from the cryptic Nathan Durant, a man she both despises and desires. Their relationship is a complex and full of conflict and chemistry, with a single unexpected kiss sparking a wild connection between them. Throughout the narrative, Robertson skillfully blends sharp wit, instant attraction, and simmering passion in the interactions between Shelby and Nathan. Their banter is laced with playful jabs, while the intensity of their burgeoning romance crackles with undeniable allure. As their personal and professional lives become increasingly entwined, the boundaries between love and business blur, creating a tantalizing tension that drives the story forward. In addition to the central romance, 'Corkscrew You' delves into deeper themes of family, trauma, ambition, and the intricate dynamics of business relationships. Shelby's determination to safeguard her family's heritage and Nathan's inner struggles add layers of complexity and emotional depth to their characters, making them relatable and multifaceted. Despite the fast-paced nature of the plot, which keeps readers eagerly turning pages to uncover the next twist, some may find the rapid progression of events detracts from a more nuanced exploration of character development. Nevertheless, the novel remains a captivating and entertaining read, offering a perfect blend of charm, humor, and passion for fans of romantic comedies. Overall, 'Corkscrew You' is a testament to Robertson's engaging storytelling and her ability to craft compelling characters and narratives. With its blend of romance, wit, and emotion, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers, offering an enjoyable escape into the world of love, wine, and the complexities of human relationships.

Ugh, I wanted to like this book. The premise seemed promising. However, I debating on DNFing after almost every chapter. The dialogue was cringey. The relationship was rushed. The plot and number of characters was chaotic. Not a fan of this one. However, I do appreciate that NetGalley and the publishing company gave me the opportunity to read this arc. Won’t be reading another from this author anytime soon, sadly.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: a few open-door spicy scenes
TWs: death of a parent, dying parent who is refusing medical intervention, mental health (depression)
standalone: book 1 in the Flora Valley series
final thoughts: there was so much about this book that was promising and ultimately it wasn’t for me, but I did finish it and read book 2 to really give it a shot. I had a very difficult time with the MMC calling other woman gorgeous, beautiful, pretty, etc. but not in turn giving the FMC the same treatment… it really gave me the ick. I kept losing track of the ages of both MCs (who are in their late 20s) because they are both childish, but also well known in their fields.
In my opinion, this would be a quick road trip read for someone looking to get some good spicy scenes and a fun storyline without getting attached to the characters.

read this book if you love

😬 angst
🏝️ forced proximity (working together)
🤐 miscommunication
💘 instalove
😏 kinky (food play, phone sex)
😳 forbidden lovers (boss/employee)
🔀 opposites attract
🤜 mild rivals-to-lovers
🏡 small town
😂 romcom
💼 workplace romance
😡 grumpy/sunshine

Good, but not my favorite. The synopsis gave off Tessa Bailey vibes but that’s as far as they went.
Nate is hired to help save Shelby’s family winery. They butt heads until they fall in love. The characters felt a little under developed and immature. The grammar seemed odd.
Thank you to Catherine Robertson, NetGalley, and One More Chapter for allowing me to read this story early in exchange for a review!

I did not finish, I didn’t like the writing style, that’s on me. But also some of the replacement curse words felt childish considering I’ve heard there’s a lot of spice in the book? Just not for me, unfortunately.

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this, but struggled at times with the intensity of the trope-yness of the story and narrative. Enjoyable, but wouldn’t revisit.

I was so excited to read this book especially after seeing how cute the cover was but it was too insta lovey for me. I think if you are someone who enjoys insta love and are looking for a fast paced book then this might be the one for you.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the author for this arc!!

The story of Shelby Armstrong and Nathan Durant, who clash over the fate of Flora Valley Wines. Shelby is all heart, while Nate is tough love personified. Despite their differences, they discover a surprising chemistry, especially in the bedroom. But love and money make things complicated, and they must navigate their feelings while saving the winery. It's a tale of romance, conflict, and whether opposites really do attract.

This book was like getting a box of fancy chocolates from an actual chocolate shop and you think you found one of those yummy chocolate caramels (or whatever your favorite one is) but then you bite into it and it's actually a raspberry coconut (or whatever your least favorite one is). The tropes all sounded right up my alley: forced proximity, dislike to love, vineyard, etc. Turns out, this book is not up my alley, or any other alley.

First of all the writing was just atrocious. I took notes while reading for my review and the very first thing I was was "atrocious writing." I was under 10% of the way through when I wrote that. This book is the absolute definition of telling instead of showing, which made this a very slow and painful read.

Then we have the characters. The fmc was incredibly childish. She's supposed to be super optimistic and sunshine-y but it just comes across as naive. It doesn't help that she refuses to curse and refers to sex as "boinky boink" at one point. She also uses the phrases "queenly throne" and "regal dominion" to refer to her *word I can't say on this site.* The mmc was fine but he definitely has a thing for older women considering every older women he sees has him stumbling in love.

Speaking of love, he fell in love with the fmc in under a week! And believe me, it definitely felt fast. Furthermore, he never gave any reason for it. They met and the next day he thought "omg I'm falling in love with her. Gasp!" Why though? Seriously.

I have a whole bunch of other reasons for such a strong dislike of this book but they all seem kinda petty so just know that there's other awful things within this book.

tl;dr: childish fmc, mmc falls in love in under a week, atrocious writing, "boinky boink."

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy.

I have to start this review by saying I love the setting of a vineyard. I’m not sure why, but I find the vineyard/winery setting so endearing so from the start, I was rooting for this book to be good. I really did enjoy reading this book, though sometimes I felt like the characters left something to be desired. I did feel like the book shone when it embraced being more of a romcom vs trying to be deep/heavy at times, as the tone shifts could feel like a lot. Overall, I’d say this is a solid beach read.

I loved the dual POV and the forced proximity trope in this book. It was a cute, witty read that went by fast with some good, old fashioned spice.

Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Robertson, and One More Chapter for early access to this book in exchange for my honest option.

I wanted to get into this book but I couldn’t. The synopsis sounded so cute and the characters too. But the more I read, I was struggling. Eventually had to stop about 40% in. The weird words Shelby used to replace cus words was so childish in my opinion. I get not all people cus or enjoy books with foul language. Just don’t write any of that into the story. Boink-boink….i can’t.

Dual POV, Spicy, He's Her Boss, Forced Proximity, Small Town, Insta Love

Shelby and Nate meet while forced to work together to save her families winery. Both of these characters have a lot going on in their lives as Nate is recovering from a broken engagement, moving back home, and dealing with his father's illness while Shelby is grieving her father and trying to save the winery from being sold off. The connection between Nate and Shelby could have been more developed, hard for the reader to believe in their instant connection. Overall, a quick, fast paced read, with HEA.

Charming and funny opposites attract. Shelby is so optimistic and her father’s vineyard is her everything. Nate is here to help the vineyard, not to make friends and definitely not to fall in love. After reading many slow burns before this, I appreciated the change in pace.

This book was cute. It was a really good mix of lighthearted and serious topics. Overall I enjoyed this book.

This was a cute romcom and a fast read. The stakes were low and the romance progressed quickly. The spice level was about a three for me. I liked the characters and enjoyed the dual POV and the inner dialogues. The characters were quirky and realistic and I enjoyed their banter. I’d read more of this series featuring some of the side characters introduced here, they could all warrant their own stories.

Shelby, a bubbly and outgoing girl, loses her father and after the rest of her family decides to sell the family winery, it’s up to her to save the business somehow.
After months of searching, she secured an investor willing to take the risk of helping her out - on one condition. Shelby must work with a big shot Harvard graduate, Nate. Nate’s role is to manage the business because while Shelby knows the ropes of MAKING the wine, she can’t quite let go of those small town roots that her father planted so deep within her.
After deciding to give each other a shot, Nate is forced to make a tough decision after his own father’s health declines.

With strong supporting characters (personally, Kiki is a MAJOR MAJOR favorite), Dylan the Duck, the pigs named after Star Wars that I refuse to spoil for you because you just MUST read, and all the other helpers on the farm (humans AND animals), this was a great quick and cutesy read!

The initial get together was a little bit rushed and I wish there was a bit more buildup but I really loved this book and am sooo excited to dive into the next one

Unfortunately, this was not a book that I enjoyed at all. The dialogue made me physically cringe and I did not enjoy anything I learned about a single character.