A cozy mystery about a NYC socialite who loses everything and tries to solve her grandmother’s murder while also learning to bake. Oh and she also has a super cute new roommate. The FMC reminded me of Alexis Rose. A little in her own world, doesn’t realize her privilege, but is trying to be a better person and means well. The romance forced proximity plot was cute but just ok. I didn’t totally feel that type of chemistry between the characters. They seemed more like good friends.

Overall, the plot moved quickly and it was a fun read. Seemed like book two was teased at the end and I definitely would read it. 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books & NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, it was so cute and cozy. This book is great for those who love a good mystery with a side of romance. One of my favorite parts is that it is well written and on the shorter side so if you are looking for a fun and quick read this is it.

I love Pomona so much, she’s like what I imagine Paris Hilton was in the early 2000s, but sweeter. The tone of this was perfect, poking a little fun at her while giving her room to grow and start taking herself seriously, and it was just so cute at the same time as being a solid, entertaining mystery. I would love to see this become a series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Bellamy Rose for the opportunity to read this early!

Imagine a crossover between Only Murders in the Building and Gossip Girl—it’s packed with drama, laugh-out-loud moments, and a mystery so twisty it kept me guessing until the end (I didn’t piece it together until 80% through!). The writing is sharp, clever, and effortlessly engaging, making it impossible to put down.

Pomona Afton, the FMC, is a character you can’t help but root for. She starts off spoiled and unaware, but her growth throughout the story is incredibly satisfying and adds depth to the narrative.

This book is the perfect pick for a cozy weekend or whenever you want something fun, fast-paced, and addictive. I highly recommend it and am putting it on my must-read list. If you’re a fan of juicy mysteries with a dash of rom-com, this book deserves a top spot on your TBR.

Ever wondered how Paris Hilton would react if she had to investigate a murder? Neither have I, but this book answers it. Simply put: it's a fun time. Pom is over-the-top, completely out of touch, yet extremely down to earth. It worked well to have the character be ridiculous, because cozy mysteries are ridiculous by nature. Her character development was the best part of the story, especially in her recognition of her own intelligence. Do I wish the mystery itself was a little less predictable? Sure. But ultimately I had a great time reading this, and I think others will too :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

So first of all, WOW! I was not expecting what happened, and usually I am one to discover the plots. Without wanting to give any spoilers, I can honestly say that this book is funny, cute and mysterious. It has it all. I will totally reccomend you do yourself a favor and read this book. It is a short cute read, lighthearted (somewhat if we forget the murder) and honestly amazing.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Bellamy Rose for the opportunity to read this ARC, I am truly honored and happy to have had this chance. Can't wait to read whatever comes next.

First - thank you to Atria books for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give unbiased feedback.

When I received the email from Atria asking if I would be interested in reviewing this book, their description grabbed me immediately. It sounded like something I would absolutely love. And while I do feel like the idea was good, I don't feel like it was executed very well. I lived in the Upper West Side of New York City for years, and though I do feel like the personality quirks of a spoiled rich girl were absolutely correct, there were just so many things I couldn't get past. Like how the girl that has never cooked anything in her life is a baking savant. I did get a hefty laugh out of the "shame" in living in Queens, though. I also felt like the writing was very, very juvenile and I couldn't get past that, either.

2/5 stars from me. I would still read more from Bellamy Rose, but this one didn't do it for me.

This was such a fun, low-stakes read! It’s about Pomona Afton, a spoiled heiress who has to solve her grandmother’s murder to unlock her frozen trust fund. The catch? Her grandmother wasn’t exactly beloved, and everyone’s motives are all about the money. With no penthouse or doorman to fall back on, Pom ends up living with Gabe, the grumpy (but cute!) son of her former nanny.

It’s totally predictable and a bit ridiculous (no one even mourns the grandma!), but it gave me total Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen *detective vibes.* A light, silly, and super cute read!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!

“Delightful” is not a word often used to describe a murder mystery, but Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder was truly a delight!

-Riches to rags
-Spoiled hotel heiress
-Murdered grandmother
-Only Murders in the Building meets Gossip Girl meets The Simple Life
-Roommate-turned-love interest

I will say that the premise was pretty campy, but please just suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

I had so much fun with this book! It’s everything I love in a light read—romance, humor, and just enough mystery to keep things moving. Pomona Afton, our rich-girl-turned-amateur-sleuth, might be clueless and spoiled at the start, but she’s so likable you can’t help but root for her. She’s never mean, just hilariously out of her element, which made her journey of self-discovery so satisfying to watch.

And Gabe? He’s the perfect balance to Pomona’s chaos—kind, supportive, andsweet. I especially loved how he introduced her to baking, something that became so much more than just a hobby for her. Their romance gave me all the classic romcom vibes—sweet, slow-burn, and full of chemistry. I found myself smiling every time they shared a scene.

The relationships in this story really stood out to me. Pom’s growth felt so real as she figured out who she was beyond her wealth and privilege. Watching her gain confidence and build genuine connections, especially with Gabe, was heartwarming.

The murder mystery was fun, even if it wasn’t super intricate. I’ll admit, their detective skills were... let’s call them “creative,” but that just added to the charm. It felt more about the journey than the destination, and I was totally okay with that.

If you’re looking for a light, feel-good story with strong character development, sweet romance, and a few laughs, this is it. It’s the perfect pick-me-up book, and I’d definitely recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun, quick read! Imagine if Blair Waldorf was forced to solve a murder alongside Dan to get her inheritance and you’ve got Pomona Afton Solves a Murder. The plot and character development was fairly surface level but it kept the book fast paced and easy to read. Would recommend for a lighthearted beach read.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder is a cozyish/romantic (??) mystery (weird to say in the same sentence!) that hits many of the right notes but also fell short for me in a few areas.

The premise is fun and hits on the "rich people behaving badly" nerve, and the pacing kept me engaged as I tried to unravel the clues.

I found the main character, Pomona, a bit grating at times. Her occasional immaturity didn’t endear her to me initially, but I appreciated how she evolved throughout the story. There was definite character development, and by the end, I was more invested in her journey than I thought I would be.

One thing that surprised me was the reveal of the murderer. It wasn’t the direction I expected, which was a nice twist. I always enjoy it when a cozy mystery keeps me guessing until the end.

Overall, the book was perfectly fine. It's not a standout, but it is an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries. It wasn’t the most groundbreaking mystery but fun enough for a light, relaxing read. The book's ending feels like there might be another in the series coming (unless I'm getting this confused with another book), but if that's the case, I'd pick up the next in the series.

I just had such a fun time reading this. It was quirky and funny and the FMC, despite all of her rich girl BS, was really very likable. The mystery was the focus, but the touch of romance was nice as well. I would definitely pick up this author again!

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so fun! Pomona’s family is insanely rich but when her grandma gets killed, all the assets are frozen. Pomona is out of her family’s hotel and finds herself a roommate to her ex nanny’s son. She soon gets a few lessons in reality that she’s never had to face. While trying to find her grandma’s killer so her family can have their money back, she finds herself along the way. Likable character, funny, sweet guy, and just an enjoyable ride.

I really enjoyed reading Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder. I thought it was a fun premise and that it was executed well. However, there was one thing I really disliked: Pomona. 🫣 She was an insufferable and spoiled brat for a large part of the book. She did grow, adapt, and change, but it took a little while. I’m glad I stuck it out though, because it was worth it in the end. If you’re a fan, like I am, of Only Murders In The Building, I definitely recommend you pick this one up.

A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.

I was so bored unfortunately. The synopsis sounded so cute and fun, but I just couldn’t get into it at all. I kept getting distracted by thinking about other things I’d rather do or read ;(

I went into the book with 0 expectations, I hadn't read any of Bellamy's earlier works and did not know what to expect. The summary does prepare you for the book pretty well but the book in itself is so fun! I reminded me of when I first read the Princess Diaries. This book is lighthearted, very humorous, easy breezy read and unexpectedly, a decent whoddunnit murder mystery.

The FMC is not relatable to the average girl but you can tell she's lovable, underestimated and mostly misunderstood. The exposition and set up doesn't take a lot of real estate in the book which makes it digestable, without boring the reader. I had many laugh out loud moments, very rare for me but the FMC is funny without meaning to be. There are instances where you almost feel bad for Pom, with how everyone treats her. The book makes it very easy to judge her but obviously, that's the aim here. Her character growth takes on faster pace as well, just like the book but I thought it was convincing enough for the reader to believe she's capable of greater things. Personally, redemption arc for our FMC was great, predictable (but we knew that, right? we're not here hoping for rocket science, ppl!), a semi forgettable love interest -making for an overall funny, memorable and quick read.

A great read and a definite recommendation if you're looking for a light hearted, lovable, quick read. I read it one one day!

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for the availability to read this ARC. I really enjoyed this read and liked how it mixed romance with mystery. I felt like the novel flowed well with the plot and the dialogue. I appreciated the character development for Pomona while also acknowledging that things previously would have been different for her.
I look forward to future titles by this author!

This was a fun, fast paced read that was definitely more cozy than serious. Pomona is a spoiled party girl who discovers her hotel magnate grandmother dead. After her grandmother's death, Pomona and her family find themselves kicked out of their penthouses and locked out of their trust funds. While her parents and brother have places to land, Pomona finds herself turning to her beloved nanny for help - in the form of her cranky son, Gabe. Together, the pair embarks on their own investigation into the murder so Pomona can go back to her "real life" and get out of Gabe's hair, and apartment. Along the way there are hijinks and shenanigans, a budding romance, and personal growth.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Pomona starts off as the stereotypical rich girl who has everything handed to her but her growth seemed to follow a mostly genuine trajectory. Gabe was a delightful grumpy to her sunshine and it was fun watching him being impressed by her and helping her learn her worth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with a little sass and a lot of growth, Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose might just hit the spot. This was a fun read, and while it had its share of lighthearted moments, it also gave me some surprising twists that kept me guessing along the way. It's expected to be published in March 2025, so keep your eyes out for this one.

The story centers around Pomona Afton, who starts as an over-the-top spoiled brat, completely reliant on her cushy life. But when her wealthy grandmother is murdered and the will freezes all of the family’s assets for a year—unless the murderer is found—Pom is thrown headfirst into the real world. Watching her fumble (and fail!) through her first job and then slowly transform into a more grounded, relatable character was so satisfying.

The mystery itself was also enjoyable. I’ll admit, I thought I had it all figured out within the first few chapters. I was patting myself on the back, ready to solve the case before Pom. But then Bellamy Rose threw in some fun twists that kept me on my toes. It wasn’t mind-blowing or overly complex, but it was layered enough to keep me engaged and turning the pages.

I also loved the cozy vibes woven throughout—baking, cozy apartment feels, and the dynamic relationships Pom builds along the way. There’s a nice balance of humor and heart, and the ending ties everything up in a way that leaves you smiling.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little character transformation and some unexpected turns, this one’s worth picking up. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Bellamy Rose.