Spoiled heiress Pomona Afton is cut off from her trust fund after the suspicious death of her grandmother freezes the family's assets. Turned out of the penthouse, she finds herself rooming with her former nanny's son, Gabe, in a cramped, dingy apartment, but the close quarters lead to changes Pomona never expected as she and Gabe try to sort out who had it in for her grandmother.

This mix of mystery and rom-com was charming. It was fast-paced, with an adorable friends-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of the investigation. Gabe is swoony in a sweet way, and his support of Pomona is really charming. They put the "amateur" into amateur sleuthing with their less-than-subtle techniques, but it's all part of the fun. However, Pomona's growth is at the heart of the story. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and a heart of gold that adversity polishes to a shine. As the story progresses, she really finds herself and learns to stand on her own two feet. Her internal dialogue is often hilarious.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and lighthearted tone, even while touching on deeper issues, including some of Pomona's family drama and the damaging effects of social media. The mystery isn't overly complex, but it is cute and entertaining, with a bit of a Schitt's Creek vibe, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Atria Books Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for the gifted ARC

This one is a lot of fun! If you 're looking for a mystery that you can pitch to YA readers who are fans of Only Murders in the Building with a side of adorable rom-com, this one works!

Pomona Afton is one of the offspring of the very wealthy Afton family. When her grandmother is murdered (and Pomona finds the body), all of the family's assets are locked, and if no one figures out who killed her grandmother, they will stay that way. Goodbye, minimal consequences party girl lifestyle, goodbye penthouse apartment. Pomona has to find her way - from rooming with her former nanny/housekeeper's very adorable son, to working at a coffee shop (with said adorable son), to trying to figure out who killed her thoroughly unlikeable grandmother.

Bellamy Rose has done a terrific job of writing a well-realized main character. Pomona really grows along the way, and we go from wanting to tell her to stop being such a drama queen to actually rooting for her. The very dysfunctional family dynamic is well-captured, to help us understand why Pom is the way she is. I definitely had a sense of where things were going in terms of the murderer before Pomona did, but she gets there in the end! Lots of red herrings to get caught up in, which I always find fun. The romance is cute and light and very friendly to readers who are not looking for a ton of steam.

I'm looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for the e-arc.

3.5!
this was a good read for people who loves light-hearted mysteries, its both a fresh and familiar! there were some part that were a bit predictable but it still is a very pleasant read
The writing is also very engaging, light toned, quick pacing with a good balance of humor, mystery and romcom!

thank you netgalley for the arc!

No one has ever taken Pomona seriously, including herself. When the matriarch of her family is murdered, the family loses everything unless the culprit can be found. Pomona sets out to get her life back, but finds something better along the way.

This was a sweet story of an aimless heiress who learns that money isn't everything, and gains some confidence along they way. The book is short and sweet, with a warm fuzzy ending. There are a lot of "poor little rich girl" moments, but there's also some really heartbreaking moments that give backstory to who she is in the present day. I appreciated Pomona's character growth as well. While it may not be as drastic as we want at times as readers, it was steady and the ending wrapped it up nicely. I also liked Gabe as a steadying hand as she's thrust into a whole different world than she's known before.

3.5 rounded up

Pomona Afton is a spoiled heiress who spends her time partying with friends. When her grandmother is murdered, her life as she knows it is suddenly ripped away. There was a stipulation in her grandmother’s will that stated if her death be of unnatural causes, then all of the Afton family assets will be frozen. With nowhere to go, Pomona calls her former nanny, and she offers Pomona to be her son’s roommate. At first Pomona rejects the offer, but the living situation with her brother and his girlfriend turns out to be not ideal. She ultimately decides to move in with her former nanny’s son, Gabe. His apartment way smaller than she is used to but at least she has her own room and shouldn’t be there too long. Right? Wrong. Pomona learns that if her grandmother’s death is not solved within a year, all the family assets will stay frozen. She asks for Gabe’s help to solve her grandmother’s murder so she could go back to the life of luxury. Gabe isn’t too thrilled about his new roommate, but agrees to help because it’s the only way his mother will get the retirement money she deserves. As they work together, they realize that the other is not so bad and become friends. Pomona also learns a few things about herself along the way. So much so that she’s questioning whether she wants to go back to her old life. And if all of it is worth the possibility of losing Gabe.

I really enjoyed this debut book from Bellamy Rose. It had a good balance of mystery and rom-com elements. Pomona reminded of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. I had a feeling I knew who murdered Pomona’s grandmother but the author threw me off so much that I second guessed who it was. In the end, my initial theory was correct. I loved how Pomona was able to really find herself and what made her happy. Her character growth from the beginning was great. I didn’t like how her family always treated her like she was some airhead and didn’t know anything. I loved that Gabe was able to show her that she was smart and could do anything. They were so cute together. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m interested to see what comes next from this author.

Thank you Atria Books, Bellamy Rose, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is a quick cozy mystery with a hint of romance. Pomona reminds me of an early 2000s Paris Hilton trying to solve a murder, which definitely comes with its fair share of humor. She is so spoiled and obnoxious but yet kind of endearing. I really enjoyed her character development, with her learning how to demand that people in her life treat her better.

The mystery was predictable to me, but it was still enjoyable to watch Pomona figure it out. I also found it very hard to believe that she learned how to bake so quickly and easily, considering she didn’t even realize she could go to the grocery store for chocolate chips herself. However, it was an enjoyable read that kept me turning pages!

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy women’s fiction with mystery and a little romance. Because it spans a few genres, I also think this book would be the perfect palate cleanser for anyone in a reading slump. It was easy to read and entertaining! Thank you to Bellamy Rose, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Read if you like:
💕 Family mystery/drama
💕 Cozy mysteries
💕 Celebrity characters
💕 Delicious baked goodies

While the book was a little slow to start for me, I was quickly engrossed in the story. I loved the mystery element without the characteristics of a standard mystery novel. I was constantly guessing who did it. Pomona was absolutely terrible but had a wonderful character arc and finally stood up to her mother which made me happy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC!

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder
By: Bellamy Rose
4 stars

I went into this one completely blind. I know that I read the description at some point but when I picked up the audiobook thanks to S&S Audio, I was shocked at first! Pomona was so insufferable in the beginning of this that I thought “there’s no way people like this exist!” After giving it some time I came around once it was clear that this fall from grace for Pomona and her family was setting her up for this huge character shift and thank goodness it did!

Pomona Afton is a wealthy 20-something coming from a family who gained their immeasurable wealth from the hotel business. When he grandmother and matriarch of the family ends up murdered, her family, who all live in penthouses atop the Afton Hotel in NYC, are forced to evacuate and all their wealth is frozen due to the nature of her grandmothers death. If they cannot solve the case of who murdered her grandmother within 1 year, they lose their fortune. Pomona moves into an apartment with her longtime nannies son, Gabe, and must learn how to be a regular person from doing laundry, working a regular job, and eventually, trying to solve her grandmothers murder.

This was wonderfully done from the evidence collecting, to interrogating her family members and hotel staff, and even with Pomonas whirlwind of self discovery away from the life of privilege. Pomona’s naivety with life was gently handled by an understanding Gabe who never belittled her, but believed in her. I loved how she took a simple hobby of baking and turned it into a passion that reshaped her world. I loved that through her lack of wealth, Pomona was forced to take a look at her past relationships and actions and forge new, meaningful bonds with those around her.

While this was a murder-mystery at its core, it was entertaining and engaging. I didn’t once suspect the true murderer and honestly, I love that! The true story was watching Pomona grow into herself and use her new skills to make a world for herself that she wouldn’t have been able to do without the tragedy that kickstarted the whole story.

I’m excited for anything else Bellamy Rose writes! Thank you to Atria for the eARC and S&S Audio for the ALC!

4.5 stars! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from this mystery rom-com but I loved what it turned out to be! Pomona’s whole life gets turned upside down after her grandmother is murdered, and as she works to try to solve the murder with the help of Gabe, she learns so much about herself and who she wants to be going forward. Despite the storyline revolving around a murder, I found this story to be really cute and funny! Pomona’s growth throughout the book is evident. I love her relationship with Gabe and how he helps to bring out the best in Pomona and makes her really consider what she wants in her life. I also really enjoyed the exploration of friendship in this book. Pomona learns some hard lessons of who she can rely on and how to make amends, and how to decide what kind of people she wants in her life. Overall a great read!

Pomona Afton is everything you imagine when you imagine a ditzy airhead living on generational wealth. Yes, she has a college degree but most basic things in life don’t even occur to her. Yes, she claims to live by herself, but this just means living in her own suite in one of her family”s hotels with her own personal assistant taking care of her needs and whims. Her life basically consists of attending galas, detoxing after galas and planning to attend the next, How other people”s lives differ from her own doesn’t even occur to her, she’s an Acton, a queen bee. Now this story would be much if it weren’t for something to interrupt this kind of mindless existence and something does. The matriarch of the family, Pomona’s grandmother is killed quite gruesomely in her personal suite. Pomona discovers her, because her grandmother, the one who technically controls the purse strings had been wanting to talk to her. Now the family discovers that their matriarch’s last will included a provision in case of her violent death, all assets are moved into a trust and the family is kicked out of hotels and out of access to funds - showing who the grandmother feared most, those closest to her. Was she right in her assessment ? After a harsh awakening of what life in the real world means and what little marketable skills she actually possesses. Pomona starts an investigation into the murder, the only way to free up the assets, she starts to work in a coffee shop and starts a baking business and lives with a roommate, her former nanny’s son and discovers the power of actual friendship mending rifts.
This is a cozy mystery at its core and it is a good one with the appropriate amount of twists and red herrings making this a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Mvrder by Bellamy Rose ❤️
Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • RomCom Mvrder Mystery
ARC Review
255 pages
🗓️ March 18

❤️mvrder mystery
💙roommates to lovers
❤️opposites attract
💙socialite sleuth
❤️close proximity
💙workplace romance

📍“Do you think she’s capable of terrible things?”
“I think everybody is capable of terrible things. That’s what makes us human beings.”

Cute, bubbly and fun. Pomona Afton — the book, not the character — was quite the amusing read that genuinely had me having a good time.

Pomona Afton — the character, not the book — was not the most relatable to me and the growth seemed a bit… superficial. But she entertained me so thoroughly and had me smiling quite a lot. So, team Pom after all.

But Gabe… Gabe needed a bigger spotlight. Or maybe it’s just me and my book boyfriend tendencies. I loved their dynamic together and couldn’t get enough.

I didn’t even try to guess whodunnit this time. This is not a book with that kind of tension. This is one of those you grab when you need something crunchy and flavorful but nothing too intense or elaborate that you can’t eat it on the sofa.

Yikes. I was not a fan of this one in the slightest. I could feel it from the beginning but I wanted to give it a fair chance. It did not get any better for me.

I could not connect to Pomona in any possible way. She was uppity and rude and so so judgy. She hated on her own looks and hated on other people constantly. I couldn’t buy into a single one of her relationships (friendships or otherwise). Everything about her felt so disingenuous. Her “change” to become a “better person” was not believable. And it ended with her still judging people she was supposed to be close to. So yea, she didn’t really change at all.

The only decent person was Gabe and I could not wrap my mind around him falling for someone like Pomona.

Not a 1 star because it wasn’t inherently problematic but definitely wasn’t one I enjoyed at all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder

Rating: 4 stars
Content: Mild language, mild spice
Reading Method: 📱on Kindle, as an ARC @netgalley

Synopsis: Pomona Afton has the life- she’s the largest hotel chain heiress, her luxury apartment in her NYC hotel overlooks Central Park, she’s the girl everyone wants to be, until one night she loses it all due to her grandma unknowingly changing her will, which was only found out because of her grandma’s murder. Thrown from the life she knows, can Pomona find who murdered her grandmother and restore wealth to herself and family?

This book was a cute quick read- think Paris Hilton solving a murder! There were parts that were rushed for me, but what wasn’t rushed was Pom’s character arc! I giggled often in this book, and cheered Pom on throughout. This book would be a perfect beach read for your next vacation, or any time you need a palate cleanser! Thank you @netgalley for the ARC copy, Pomona Afton publishes March 18th.






#bookreview #arc #murdermysterybooks #whodunnit #beachread #easyread

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Atria Books.

It took me a bit to get into this story, but I finished it in one afternoon once I got started. I enjoyed it, but the characters and story fell a little flat. The mystery kept me reading to the end, as I did not guess who had done it until Pomona did.

While I enjoyed Pomona and her personal growth, her naïveté also seemed exaggerated (granted, she was stated as oblivious by a character who knew her well, which definitely fits). Also, how is she a masterful baker after one batch of brownies, after barely baking before? Some of the other wealthier “evil” characters were also over the top as well, but I think that was definitely the author’s intention.

The mystery & crime-solving aspects were fun, though Pomona was not as bumbling as I’d maybe expected - it almost seemed too easy. I also think the lack of law enforcement involvement was unbelievable (expensive lawyers aside). Like they had not even reviewed the security footage from the night of the murder?

Pomona and Gabe’s friendship was cute, but their relationship felt really rushed - I didn’t really feel any chemistry or tension (there is very little spice, though, if that is something you’re looking for).

Overall, a light, fun, enjoyable at the time read (but not very memorable).

This was so fun!! Paris Hilton meets Only Murders in the Building. I loved the premise and the mystery of it all. Very suspenseful and fun.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

This book was so adorable! And I know most people don't describe mysteries as "adorable" but even while wrapped in a mystery, everything about this book was cute. Pomona is a spoiled heiress with a huge heart and a desire to be better and her slow-burn romance with Gabe was...you guessed it, adorable. The red herrings all worked and left guessing as to the identity of the real culprit, and I enjoyed the redemption friendship story with Vienna too. I love that it left the door open for Pomona to so solve another murder!

A spirited and entertaining mystery featuring an unlikely detective- a spoiled 20 something hotel heiress who must find the villain who killed her grandmother or lose it all forever. Pomona, who parties hard, is the one who finds her grandmother. When she's evicted from her apartment and all her bank accounts frozen, she moves in with the (hot) son of her childhood nanny and joins him working at a coffee shop. Turns out she might not be able to cook but she can bake and so starts a small business even as she starts investigating her family. Who among them is the killer? This gets a bit madcap in spots and there are plot holes (how is she paying for the ingredients for all those treats?) but it's got a good heart. And Pomona, as annoying as you could find her, becomes someone you will root for. And Gabe is a delight. I liked that there are unexpected elements here (no spoilers) and the storytelling is good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this.

Right from the start, this cozy mystery was fun and funny and overall charming. Pomona Afton is some sort of mix of a Paris Hilton meets London Tipton, a rich hotel heiress who has it all. That is until her grandma is murdered and due to a clause in the will, all family assets are frozen unless the murder is solved. And so, Pomona Afton decides to solve the murder!

This story made me giggle a lot (I really enjoyed Pom’s asides and over-clarifications) and was a fun story to try to play along with. Did I solve the murder before reaching the end? Well….about half way through I made a guess and…just barely missed! I still had fun trying to read between the lines and figure out the whodunnit though. Primarily, this is a cozy mystery but there is a dash of closed door romance hidden in these pages as well for the romance girls. A quick fun read and makes me want to read even more by this author (plus — great news — Bellamy Rose is a pen name for her mystery book. This is actually rom com writer Amanda Elliot who I have been wanting to read for a while after hearing great things about Love You a Latke!)

Pomona Afton, can SO solve a murder! After the murder of her grandmother, Pomona finds herself without the luxurious life she's used to. The only way to have it back is the murderer being brought to justice. Pomona and her new roommate take it upon themselves to figure out who dunnit. This was a fun, easy, entertaining read! I really enjoyed the humor and mystery that this story told. Reading Pomona's character journey was so much fun, as she begins to have more confidence in her future and develops her independence. And, I always love when a book has a baking aspect to it!

4.5 stars

This was my first mystery romance and I had fun! I’ve been a thriller/horror reader in the past and I’m more a romance reader now so this was a fun and light middle ground. I liked the characters and enjoyed Pomona’s growth throughout. The communication between the MCs was great and very grown up despite how Pomona was depicted early on. The mystery was well done too. I had hunches and my early hunch ended up being correct but there were times I was like “oh but maybe it was this person”. I also like that the solution wasn’t something off the wall because those always feel forced to me. Overall, I had fun and I’d read more of Pomona mysteries if they continue (which I felt was alluded to in the epilogue).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!