Pomona Afton is a hotel heiress who finds herself in a bit of trouble (trouble for an heiress that is). Her grandmother is murdered and the Afton family finds their assets frozen - unless the murder is solved.

Pomona finds herself out on the streets after she is evicted from the hotel, and must learn to live on her own and make a living (something she has never had to do before). She moves in with her old nanny’s son and enlists his help in solving the murder as it will be a win win for everyone involved.

Along the way, Pomona grows as a person and develops into a character you want to see succeed in life.

Bellamy Rose (aka Amanda Elliot) freshman novel in the murder-mystery category will leave readers wanting more.

Thank you to the publishers and author for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Hilarious romance and intriguing mystery for Pom and Gabe to solve while falling in love. Loved every second of it

This was such a cute book, I really enjoyed Pom's character and how she developed over the course of the book. I genuinely was left guessing until closer to the end on who the murderer was, I loved the way it all tied together. It gives Only Murders In The Building vibes in the best way possible. The romance between Pom and Gabe is super sweet - overall, an enjoyable and fun read.

It can be tough to balance romantic comedy with mystery, but the author did a great job striking the right chord. The tone immediately grabbed me, being light-hearted and funny, and made it clear what world (socially) the story was set in.

The mystery was well-done with genuinely surprising twists, overall never feeling too heavy due to how funny Pomona’s voice was. The pacing was spot on, fast without ever feeling rushed, in a way that made me unable to put it down. I also really appreciated Pomona’s character arc and found it to be believably written.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pomona Afton is a spoiled hotel heiress (think Paris Hilton or Alexis Rose vibes) whose grandmother is murdered and she finds herself with a frozen trust fund and nowhere to live. The only way she can get her life back is if they catch her murderer.

At first, Pomona seems willing to sit back and let everything play out, assuming it will all be resolved in a week or two. She soon learns that it won’t be that easy. With limited options and former friends not returning her calls, Pom turns to her former nanny for advice. Her son, Gabe, is in need of a roommate, so Pom moves into his small apartment (which is further East than she is truly comfortable with) and works at his coffee shop. After exactly one day of actual work, Pomona decides that the best course of action to get back her fortune is to solve the murder herself.

The plot is very well paced. The murder provides a good mystery, with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. There is a small romance subplot with Gabe and Pom, but it doesn’t overpower or take away from the mystery plot.

I really enjoyed reading Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder! I will be looking for more from Bellamy Rose (which is a pen name for writer Amanda Elliot).

This novel centers around a wealthy young woman in her twenties whose grandmother’s death leads to an unusual inheritance condition: she must solve the mystery of her grandmother’s death to claim her fortune.

The story adheres to a narrative pattern I find very enjoyable, and I was particularly impressed with the character development throughout. Pom, the protagonist, is wonderfully crafted—charismatic and easy to root for. I am eagerly looking forward to more books in this series, as Pom’s journey has thoroughly captured my interest.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Pomona Afton, a spoiled hotel heiress in NYC, has to find her grandmother's murderer in order to gain back access to her trust fund.

This was OK but nothing special. Take one of the characters from Gossip Girl, take away all of her money suddenly, and make her solve a murder to get it back. The writing was fine but I found most of the characters to be rather unlikeable. Even when Pomona "changed" after losing her money. I feel like she didn't actually learn much in the end. It all felt a little predictable as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

When Pomona Afton's grandmother is found murdered, Pomona's whole world is turned upside down. Her family's assets are frozen, and her oly chance at making it on her own is shacking up with her old nanny's gorgeous son. Part ditzy heirss and part sleuth, Pomona is determined to find the killer, and get her old life back.

Cute story, likable characters, and an easy read.

I thought this was a cute cozy mystery. I really like the main character of Pomona, and even though the mystery was pretty easy to solve, I enjoyed it.

This was such a cute mystery!

Pomona is a hotel heiress, who is unceremoniously kicked out of the family hotels, after the murder of her grandmother. She moves in with her former nanny's (hot) son and decides she can solve the murder and get her life back.

This was a fast-paced read, which I loved, but what really stuck out for me was the character growth. Pomona starts out as a very different character than we see at the end of the story.

The one area that was a bit of a let-down for me involved one of the conflicts in the book. I felt like it was built up for 80% of the story and then the "big" reveal was actually very minor. It just didn't have the impact that I expected after the way it was alluded to for so much of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would recommend to anyone looking for a cute, light-hearted, and wholesome book.

POMONA AFTON CAN SO SOLVE A MURDER is a delightful rom-com meets murder mystery and probably the most fun I've had reading a book in ages! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

When her grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances, Pomona needs a place to live, a job, and help solving the case! Enter Gabe! A bit of an opposites attract situation as they both adjust to their new situations. Good romance and good mystery all in one!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Watch for Pomona Afton Can SO Solve a Murder to come out March 18, 2025.

As always thank you netgalley and publisher for a copy!

It took me a few days after finishing to really think about how I felt about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as a whole, however I did dislike every character but the grandma, which is ironic. I felt like none of the characters really grew and they didn't have any redeeming qualities.


We follow Pomona after her grandmother was murdered and her 'fall from grace' as she attempts living well below what she's used to and her search for her grandmothers killer. She moves in with her old nanny's child and he helps her with interviewing her suspects and searching for the killer. I thought their dynamics were really cute though I wasn't sure how it was going to play out eventually. There were characters that didn't seem to add much to the plot. Over all it was cute and I would recommend it to a friend,

3.25 Stars

Pomona has more than a little bit in common with Alexis from the fictional Rose family. Both lived privileged lives off their family money, both lose everything in the blink of an eye, and both are determined to get back with they lost. Oh, but Pomona’s story does take a different turn. Her grandmother was murdered and until someone figures out whodunnit, the family is cut off financially.
Lucky for Pomona,her old nanny still cares about her and finds her a place to live… with Gabe, her son. Soon Pomona has him helping her find the killer and realizing there is more to life than just jet setting around the world.
A cozy mystery with a sprinkling of romance and learning how to be your best self.

4.5⭐

thank you Netgalley for providing a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

13+

—spoiler free—

romance: 4/10 (a few sweet kisses, mentions of the fmc having hookups in the past, mentions of an affair)

cursing: 5/10 (infrequent damn, hell, shit, ass, bitch. F-ck a few times. Semi frequent Lord’s name in vain)

violence: 6/10 (Pom’s grandmother is stabbed to death. Pom is attacked and threatened with murder)

other: Characters have a reported past of drinking and partying. Mentions of vaping. One side character is non binary. Pom supports art galleries exclusively for artists of color and queer artists.

first person, past tense

publish date: 3-18-2025

**“Never move to Florida, Pom. It’s all alligators and old people.”**


–OVERVIEW–

FIRSTLYYY when this book comes out I need to get myself a copy. Bc this was so freaking good. I was hooked from the first page.

Also, this book is 100% clean! Not even any fade to black scenes which I appreciated after so many books I’ve read this year having spice in it. I needed a break ahaha

The plot twists were so good, I had no idea who dunnit (tho I might just be high-key stupid…). It shaped up to be a great book that kept me super entertained.

The romance was super cute and I am in love with Gabe… Like seriously 🥲

It’s amazing. Genuinely. Please go read it.

The relationships in this book were so strong, and the forgiveness and apologies in this book was so heartfelt and I loved how the characters worked past disagreements.

-the writing-
While it wasn’t phenomenal it’s definitely better than books I’ve read in the past (COUGH Powerless. COUGH If He Had Been With Me. HACK). I hope this book gets all the hype it deserves and more.
I laughed out loud a couple times hehehehe

**His smile was like the rising sun, “You want to go to Jackson Heights with me?”
I linked my elbow with his. “I’d go anywhere with you.”**


–PLOT–

Pomona Afton as grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth. She had everything she ever wanted, clothes, money, boys. But it all comes crashing down after a clause in her Grandmother’s will put the whole company on pause after her untimely murder. The only way to reinstate the Afton’s Family Fortune is to catch the perp before a year passes. But to do so Pomona will have to have her wits about her… and possibly a little help from the son of her childhood nanny, Gabe.
Swimming in a sea of suspects and motive, will Pom and Gabe be able to catch the killer before it’s too late?

10/10 fast paced plot that had me on my toes.

**“Your grandma sounds like a bitch. I knid of want to kill her. Oh, wait….”**


–CHARACTERS–

POM
-> so, first off, her name is SO obnoxious. Like wtcrap is that? Pomona? Pom? POM POM? Was that on purpose? Bc it made me want to pull out all of my hair. And I get that she’s snotty, that makes sense, she’s supposed to be that way. But that didn’t stop me from finding her so annoying in the first quarter of the book. Tho, she got infinitely better as time went on and I found myself liking her more and more. There’s something charming about a character with a high society past being brought down so low she can’t even afford a taxi. It’s almost a good thing that her grandmother got murdered….
I loved that she had a baking addiction, and if I’m being completely honest there were several times as I was reading that I had to put the book down and bake *myself* something. I don’t have her skill though hahaha.

GABE
-> excuse me, hottie alert. Guys, he works at a coffee shop and takes night classes so he can become a TEACHER. If that’s not the cutest thing ever, I don’t know what is. I am now parital towards the idea of naming a future son Gabriel. Don’t tell my future husband.
He’s so humble and he has a shy side which I found so freaking adorable. 
He would not appreciate being called “cute” or “adorable” but he’s not around to give me the stink eye so I think it’s okay.

SQUEAKY MEATBALL
-> I don’t rlly have much to say abt this little ball of fluff, besides the fact that Squeaky and or Meatball are both hilarious names. And I love cats. So bonus points for him. He made me want to snuggle with my grandma’s cats, but unfortunately for me, my grandma lives five hours away 🤡


**Family wasn’t only flesh and blood, though. Family was about who  loved you and who built you up, not tore you down.**


–CONCLUSION–

Add this to your tbr and I will be a happy girl.
It’s a super light read, and has the murder mystery aspects while also still being lighthearted and fluffy.

**“I think everybody is capable of terrible things, that’s what makes us human beings.”**


–PLAYLIST–
I’ll just put ones in that I thought of as I was reading

no body, no crime - Taylor Swift
Anti Hero - Taylor Swift
You’re On Your Own Kid - Taylor Swift
Bones - imagine Dragons
Close to You - Gracie Abrams
Rise Up - Imagine Dragons
Whatever it Takes - Imagine Dragons
Sad Songs in a Hotel Room - Joshua Bassett
Perfect - One Direction

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I enjoyed this book - the romance, the mystery and a well-written plot. Pom and Gabe were so great and I really enjoyed getting into this.

3.75 stars rounded up. This was a cute, cozy mystery with a little bit of romance. I enjoyed following Pomona's adventures as she works to solve her grandmother's murder.

This was such a fun read! Gave Alexis Rose and Only Murders In The Building vibes! I love a good mystery where it keeps me on my toes the entire time! I was rooting for the FMC to solve the mystery the entire time!

~3.5 stars rounded up~

This book was such a cozy and fun mystery read. This story focuses around Pomona Alton, a heiress who has a societal fall from grace following the bewildering death of her grandma. Without access to her high maintenance lifestyle and trust fund, Pomona must come together with a childhood acquaintance in order to solve her grandma’s murder and take back her life.

Pomona is very reminiscent of Paris Hilton and Alexis from Schitt’s Creek. The plot was very fast moving and entertaining to read. The main things that I didn’t love about the book was the way it changed scenes. Sometimes I would lose track of where they were geographically because of how the author transitioned from one paragraph to another. However, it was a nice low stakes, low stim mystery novel. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a more light hearted book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

Pomona Afton, a spoiled heiress reminiscent of Alexis Schitt, lives a glamourous and leisurely lifestyle which she shares with all of her followers on social media. When she finds her grandmother murdered after an important gala, Pomona's spoiled-girl lifestyle is stripped away overnight and Pomona is locked out of her former life until she solves the murder and thus regain access to her trust fund. Desperate for somewhere to live and out of options, Pomona moves in with Gabe, the handsome son of her former Nanny, who offers to help solve the mystery so his mother can get the retirement money that she is owed from Pomona's family. Reluctantly at first, the two work to solve the mystery and discover that they are a great team with chemistry that cannot be denied.

I loved this book!! The characters were so lovable and Pomona in particular had great character growth from the start of the novel when read as irritatatingly superficial to the end when she gains confidence, a sense of her true self, and a piece of the reader's heart. Bellamy Rose writes a clever and funny cozy mystery that is Schitt's Creek meets Only Murders in the Building meets (insert your favourite rom com here). Bellamy Rose is no stranger to the rom com world as typically she writes under the name Amanda Elliot. After reading Pomona I will be reaching for Elliot's backlist in 2025 and cannot wait for the second installment of Pomona to come out.

Highly recommend if you are a fan of cozy mysteries or want to read a light thriller. I had a fantastic time.

Many thanks to Atria Books, Simon and Schuster, and Bellamy Rose for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars