I liked this way more than I thought I would. Is this a super deep mystery… no, but it is wildly entertaining! The way Pomona had to navigate life without all of her money and luxuries in general was quite impressive and fun to read.

I really liked how her transformations happened in a way that seemed organic to her. The way Pom was able to overcome the stereotypes everyone had been applying to her was truly remarkable. Also, the banter between Gabe and herself was actually hilarious and I wish there had been way more. Pomona was able to work through the murder and evidence even though no one had any sense of confidence in her (including herself) and showed her bravery. I definitely appreciated the way Pom was able to discover what she truly loved to do and ultimately go after it. The rekindled friendships / relationships were actually super heartwarming!

I definitely with be picking up book 2 when it releases next year! I for sure completely recommend reading this book.

A breezy, feel-good mystery with rom-com sparkle and a heroine you’ll root for. Pomona’s transformation from bratty socialite to determined sleuth is satisfying and surprisingly heartfelt. However, the murder mystery isn’t overly complex, so seasoned thriller fans may find it light.

Ultimately, Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder is a fine book. I honestly think the major issue with the book is that it's so short. In the NetGalley app it's only 237 pages and that includes the pages at the beginning and the acknowledgements at the end. In that small space, there's a murder with multiple suspects to investigate, a romance, Pomona changing from a spoiled heiress to someone who figures out how to more genuinely care about the people around her. and she also learns to bake bakery quality treats and starts a whole business around it. It's just a lot in such a small page count and it needed room to breathe. It doesn't help that the story takes place in a short amount of time too, meaning Pomona decides to bake some brownies for the first time and has a business about a week later.

What I think could have absolutely sunk this book and, thankfully. didn't, was Pomona herself. While it wasn't a perfect balance, she does learn how to be a somewhat decent person pretty quickly, but she also doesn't change with just a switch, which could have messed with her characterization. I can see if some people don't like her, but I thought she was fine.

I will say, I did call who the murderer was pretty early, although that's just going to be a by person thing, but this isn't a bad book at all and if you want a breezy murder mystery, you could do much worse.

In this funny and entertaining new romance novel, readers follow Upper East Side hotel heiress Pomona Afton in the immediate aftermath of her grandmother’s sudden and fairly unnatural death. Locked out of the penthouse and lacking funds, Pomona moves in with Gabe, the son of her former nanny, and has to solve the murder to get her trust fund back -- and Gabe needs her to solve the murder so his mother gets the retirement money she deserves. Taking on the real world and learning as she goes, Pomona must solve the murder and figure out what she really wants from life in this entertaining new rom-com murder mystery. The characters are the absolute stars of the book, and readers will love the evolving, tropey dynamic of Pomona and Gabe. Pomona is not necessarily the most likeable of protagonists, but she certainly is interesting and continues to grow and change over the course of the novel. Similarly, the mystery is really interesting and detailed, and the different suspects add some necessary tension and drama to the murder and Pomona’s character development. Fun, exciting, and high-stakes, readers will really enjoy this new rom-com murder mystery novel and its incredible cast of characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This cozy mystery follows Pomona Afton, a spoiled hotel heiress turned accidental detective, after discovering her grandmother's murder. With her trust fund frozen and nowhere to go, she teams up with Gabe—her former nanny’s grumpy (and cute) son—to solve the case.

While I enjoyed Pom’s growth and her dynamic with Gabe, their romance felt rushed and lacked chemistry. The mystery was light and fun but needed more depth and stronger suspect development. Still, it was the perfect palette cleanser during a reading slump!

Pomona Afton is the kind of main character you root for and want to follow around with a notebook: snarky, curious, and just messy enough to be real. The mystery is cozy with a twist of chaos, and the small-town vibe adds an extra layer of charm (and secrets 👀).

The pacing had a few hiccups in the middle, but the ending was satisfying, and I genuinely loved the humor and voice throughout. If you’re into quirky heroines, slightly over-the-top murder mysteries, and a hint of slow-burn tension, this one’s for you.

Thanks to Bellamy Rose and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review!

I always want to branch out but I don't like cutesy with my mystery, and as a result, I should have known this just wasn't for me. It's fun for the right reader; I'm just not that reader.

4.5 stars. A deliciously fun romcom murder mystery, starring a spoiled heiress who discovers her own potential. I should’ve known that an Amanda Elliott book would heavily feature food. Everything Pomona eventually makes sounds amazing. The ending perfectly sets up a sequel, so dare we hope for more Pomona and Gabe and everyone else.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

i love this book so much amazing may the quick fox junp ober the lazy brown fogclassic example, utilizing all letters of the English alphabet. It's a pangram, meaning it uses every letter at least once.

Title: Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder
Author: Bellamy Rose
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)

This was a fun read with a quirky main character and a classic small-town mystery vibe. If you like the Finlay Donovan series, then you'll probably like this one too. Pomona is a bit of a handful, but her determination and humor kept things entertaining. The mystery itself was interesting, though sometimes a little predictable. The pacing was mostly good, though a few parts felt slow or a bit drawn out. I also wish some of the side characters had been more developed because they felt a bit flat. Overall, it wasn’t perfect, but it was an enjoyable cozy mystery that kept me turning pages.

If you like light, character-driven mysteries with a bit of humor, this one’s worth a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Pomona is a rich socialite and the granddaughter of a massive hotel owner. Her life is turned upside down when someone murders her grandmother. Struggling with the loss of trust she realizes the only way to regain it is by proving who the murderer really was.

With her trust gone, she moves in with her old nanny's son in his 2 bedroom apartment. To make ends meet, she has to get a real job at a coffee shop while also working to solve the mystery of her grandmother’s death.

There are plenty of twists and turns, romance, and suspense along the way.

She finds herself learning that happiness doesn’t come from her trust money or fancy hotel apartment.She discovers a love for baking and starts to fall for the nanny’s charming son, all while uncovering the truth behind her grandmother’s murder.

This was a very enjoyable, often funny cozy mystery. Pomona was a fun heroine with a mostly likable supporting cast. The mystery was just twisty enough to keep me wondering if my initial guess was right. (It was but the book was still a lot of fun.) The case was wrapped up nicely in this one, but I could see this being the start of a series. I'd definitely be interested in checking out a potential sequel.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Cute mystery story. Pomona was a little hard to like at the beginning (I do think the author wanted that opinion so she could have a sort of redemption arc). I liked the addition of some romance as well. I really enjoyed it.

I loved Pomona and Gabe so much, this was just so cute and so good, I wasn’t expecting the twist and I loved seeing Pom come into herself. I will absolutely be reading more from Bellamy Rose!

Cute and fun!! This is one of the best versions of spoiled rich girl learns how to live in the real world. Pom was so sweet and genuine I just adored her. The mystery was fun and cozy, and the romance was delightfully sweet.

The mystery she is trying to unravel is perfectly woven into a story of self discovery and growth all while being tied up with a perfect little romance.

A Mystery of Murder and Manolos. High Society Homicide is a blend of witty dialogue, a compelling mystery, and a charming romance. Can Pamona really solve a murder? And will her quest for her glamorous life back be worth potentially losing the one person who truly sees her? This book delivers a refreshingly fun and engaging whodunit that kept me guessing and rooting for its heroine.

When I saw a review saying this book was what would happen if London Tipton had to solve a murder, I was sold. The plot of this book was so much fun. The execution however fell flat for me. This was a cute cozy mystery, but I felt like it needed more development.

Pomona, a wealthy hotel heiress, finds her grandmother murdered the morning after a charity gala. Her grandmother who is known for being horrible, greedy type of person who had recently just entered an iron-clad clause in her will freezing the family’s assets if she died under suspicious circumstances.

Now, Pomona finds herself without a home and trust which causes her to move in with the son of her former nanny named Gabe. While they navigate their cramped living situation, Pomona is determined to solve the murder of her grandmother in order to regain access to her trust fund.
Gabe has his own personal reasons to find the killer. He wants to so his mother can retire comfortably after years of working for Pomona’s family. They decide to work together to uncover the truth, While this is going on Pomona’s feelings for Gabe complicate her desire to return to her previous lavish lifestyle.

Pomona initially comes off kinda ditzy and spoiled but as the book goes on her character grows throughout the story. She kinda reminds me a little like Reese Witherspoon's character Elle Woods in Llegally Blonde, Even with Pomona's initial character flaws, I sympathized with how awful her family treated and spoke about her. I really enjoyed the romance between her and Gabe. Bellamy Rose did a great job putting this story together. I hope you enjoy it just as much ax I did! Happy reading y'all!

Witty, immersive cozy mystery – Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose introduces a spunky sleuth, quirky small-town charm, and an engaging whodunit. Rose’s sharp dialogue and twisty pacing delight.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder surprised me in the best way. I came in expecting a fluffy cozy mystery, but what I found was a clever blend of sass, scandal, and self-discovery—all wrapped up in a murder investigation that kept me hooked from page one.

Pomona is the kind of character you can’t help but root for. She starts off as a down-on-her-luck heiress who’s more Prada than practical, but watching her evolve into an amateur sleuth with real grit and heart was so satisfying. She’s witty, self-aware, and just flawed enough to feel real. Her voice is sharp and funny, and I loved being in her head as she pieced together the mystery.

The plot itself has all the best cozy elements—family secrets, a nosy main character with no real credentials, and of course, a murder that hits close to home. I did suspect the killer before the big reveal, but that didn’t take away from the drama or emotional payoff. The motive behind the murder genuinely surprised me and added depth to what could’ve been a one-note villain.

I also really appreciated the romantic subplot—it’s slow-burn and swoony without taking over the main story. Gabe is charming and grounded, the perfect foil to Pomona’s sometimes chaotic energy.

I will say the pacing lagged just a bit in the middle, but it picked up quickly once Pomona got serious about her investigation.

If you love cozy mysteries with strong female leads, a touch of glam, and a solid mystery at its heart, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to Atria for the eARC!