“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.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Pomona Afton is New York City's it girl. The heir to a hotel conglomerate, she has always had everything she could ever want at her fingertips. So when her grandmother is murdered and leaves a provision in her will that if she dies unnaturally all the assets will be frozen until the murderer is caught, Pomona is suddenly homeless, broke, and completely unaware of what it takes to make it in the world.

No one has much faith in Pomona to make it on her own -- after all, she's never had a job or filled her days with anything more than shopping and partying. But when she moves in with her former nanny's son she realizes there is no one in a better position to team up with him and solve her grandmother's murder. And while doing so will restore her coffers, her fall from grace has opened her eyes to her ability to be more than just a party girl.

Sweet and fun!

This book is described as a murder mystery rom com. I feel like the "rom com" aspect wasn't at its fullest potential & felt more like an afterthought. I did enjoy the way the murder mystery kept you on your toes for sure!

This book was so fun! Started off by giving some Schitt's Creek vibes which I was so here for and mixed with a murder mystery was a blast. I loved Pomona and her character growth, Gabe was so sweet, and I am always won over by a good cat. I really enjoyed this and hope there's a sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this free advanced copy. This book has a really fun premise and was an enjoyable, quick read for me! I love the "socialite fallen from grace" plot, and feel like the mystery plot added some fun variety. I did take a while to get into the book, because I feel like the first half was a little slow to pick up. Overall, reading this book was a great way to spend some of my weekend!

It takes the murder of her not so nice grandmother to make Pomona her life as she knew it was gone. Basically left with the clothes on her back she is forced to make her way without her wealth. She is determined to solve the murder to get back her old life. She enlists the help of her new roommate Gabe. This leads to some entertaining sleuthing. As she settles more into her new life she realizes how shallow she was. There is more to life than galas and social media. This was fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

It's a great murder mystery! Pamona Afton is such a charming main character. As a big fan of stories about the upper-class elite, I thought this book was a great way to incorporate that with the murder mystery genre without being too dark or intense.

This one wasn’t my cup of tea. Think Paris Hilton solving the murder of her grandmother. It was slow and it just didn’t capture my interest.

Pomona is a socialite who loses access to that life when her grandmother is murdered. Instead she moved in with her former nanny's son and the two work together to solve the murder.

Around the second half of this book, it really picked up for me. Once she started actually working on moving forward and focusing on doing things, it got more enjoyable and fun. I really enjoyed Pomona's arc and her character growth. It felt fun to see her grow and change.