This novel was an enjoyable and light mystery/romance read. I enjoyed reading but did feel like it was missing some areas where the characters or plot could’ve been developed more.

This book had a lot of interesting ideas it wanted to explore but refused to engage with any of them in much depth at all. Maybe I was just expecting more from it than it was interested in being but I saw a lot of potential that was largely unrealized. I'm really bummed because I was looking forward to it. It was still a fun popcorn type read but idk I thought it would be better.

This was a quick, fast moving cozy that was a great escape read. It had some early 2000s vibes - think Paris Hilton solving a murder. I liked that Pom wasn’t afraid to take down her family if necessary, especially since they were just awful to her. There was some decent character growth which made me appreciate Pomona a bit more. The romance felt a bit rushed but in a shorter book (under 300 pages) I see why it was. There is definitely room for a sequel with Pom and her group of friends!

Pomona Afton is a rich girl who's been told all her life that she's empty, dumb, can't understand things, doesn't have what it takes to do real work, and has generally been crapped on by her entire, mostly horrible, family. When her curmudgeon miser grandma is murdered, there's an addition to the will that if foul play is involved in her death, everything gets taken away from the family until it's solved. Without her money, Pomona finds her gumption, and at the urging of her new roommate Gabe, tries to solve the murder.

Pomona learns about work, the kindness within her that she's ignored or hidden for fear of being vulnerable, the desire to do something that feels worthwhile, and that she is actually really good with people and asking questions. She builds better relationships with her family members that don't suck, while also finding a guy that she values for exactly who he is because he feels the same about her.

It's a cozy mystery with some big laughs, and a good ending with believable red herrings.

What’s an heiress to do when her grandmother dies leaving her trust fund in balance? Solve the murder, of course!

Upper East Side hotel heiress, Pomona Afton, is locked out of her penthouse with not other option than to move in with a roommate after her grandmother’s death. While her trust fund is frozen, she’s stuck with her former nanny’s irritable (and handsome) son Gabe. His apartment lacks a doorman, a chef and space, so Pom and Gabe team up to get her back in her penthouse and out of his hair. What transpires is a fun foray into sussing out the killer.

I was excited for this novel. The premise was like Gossip Girl meets Only Murders in the Building meets Paris Hilton to me, so I signed up. This skews a little younger, so I would say I may not be the intended audience. It was fun and entertaining with a touch of low-key romance. Overall, this would be a fun book to have along for a weekend getaway.

Thank you to Bellamy Rose, Atria and NetGalley for a gifted digital copy for an honest review.

Gossip Girl meets Finlay Donovan in this mystery/romance novel.

The book is fun, but it does lean a bit toward a more YA feel. There is romance, character growth, and a simple murder mystery that brings the couple together. Spice level is low.

Overall, a fun, easy read.

4/5 stars
1/5 spice (kissing)

Pomona, a wealthy hotel heiress, finds her grandmother murdered the morning after a charity gala. Her grandmother, known for being horrid and greedy, had recently inserted an iron-clad clause in her will freezing the family’s assets if she died under suspicious circumstances.

Now, Pomona finds herself locked out of home and trust and must move in with Gabe, the son of her former nanny. While they navigate their cramped living situation, Pomona is determined to solve the murder of her grandmother to regain access to her trust fund. Gabe wants to find the killer so his mother can retire comfortably after years of working for Pomona’s family. As they work together to uncover the truth, Pomona’s growing feelings for Gabe complicate her desire to return to her lavish life.

Pomona initially comes off ditzy and spoiled but has great character growth throughout the story that she reminds me of Elle Woods (legally blonde), Alexis Rose (Schitt's Creek), or Cher Horowitz (Clueless). Even with Pomona's initial character flaws, I sympathized with how awful her family treated and spoke about her. I enjoyed the lessons Pomona learned upon hitting rock bottom and loved the romantic subplot between her and Gabe. Bellamy Rose did a great job at throwing me off with red herrings and enjoyed how the clues fell into place. This is a quick, who-dun-it read that could be read in day (255 pages) and could see this becoming a cute series.

Thank you, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tropes:
Who dun it Rom-Com
Riches to Rags
Romantic subplot

Hotel heiress Pomona Afton has an easy life. She goes to parties and posts on social media and lives in her family’s hotel. She’s never had to struggle or get a job or live on her own. She’s known the best things in life without knowing how hard other people have to work for what they have. Her lifestyle just fell into her lap.

And then it all changed.

Pom’s grandmother was the matriarch of the family. Her son, Pom’s father, was supposed to take over the business, but Grandma found him wanting. She had started teaching Pom’s brother Nicholas the business. He was being prepped to take over the entire Afton Hotel empire. But then Pom found her grandmother murdered, and within hours, she and her parents and brother were given 30 minutes to vacate the hotel. Apparently Grandma had concerns that she might meet an untimely end, and her will specified that all the family funds were frozen for a year. So all the Afton family members are no longer welcome at the hotels, and all their bank accounts and credit cards are frozen. Pom has no job, no money, and no home. And to get it all back, she’s going to have to figure out who killed her grandmother.

Pom has to find a place to live first. Her parents are staying with friends and their dogs in the Hamptons, but Pom doesn’t want to be a fifth wheel there. She tries a friend, but she doesn’t have room. So she takes Nicholas up on his offer to sleep on the sofa at his girlfriend’s apartment. She tries to make some money with an influencer campaign for an upcoming designer, but the comments left on the social media posts are too unkind, causing the designer to back out. After a couple of days, Pom feels like she’s in the way with Nicholas and Jessica, so she says yes to the only other offer she got, to move in with her former nanny’s son.

Gabe takes her in and shows her a tiny bedroom she can use. He even gets her a job at the coffee shop he manages. Life is challenging, as is the cash register, but Pom keeps trying. She learns about grocery shopping and laundry and starts stress baking. Best of all, she discovers that Gabe’s cat is the one that ran away ten years ago, when she went off to college. They had given Squeaky to Gabe, and he’s taken care of him all that time.

Pom is determined to find out who killed her grandma though. She and Gabe make a list of suspects, but for Pom, it’s mostly family. Is it possible that someone close to Pom is the one who murdered her grandmother and destroyed her life? And once Pom gets her life back, will she still want it?

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder is a a clever murder mystery about how a spoiled rich young woman can lose everything and find what’s most important. It’s suspenseful and ironic, fun but with a depth that is engaging on so many levels. There is the schadenfreude of watching the rich girl fall, then the happiness of watching her figure out what makes her happy, then there is the puzzle of who killed Grandma and how Pom and Gabe can figure it out and bring the killer to justice.

I loved this book. Pom turns out to be a charming character, and I couldn’t help but root for her as she was struggling without all the money she had taken for granted for so long. It was fun watching her bake and worrying about laundry. But she’s smart and determined and compassionate, and she loves her cat, so this is someone I love to read about. At the end of the book, Pom jokes with Gabe about solving another mystery, and if that happens, I am all in.

Egalleys for Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This book was so much fun to read. It’s a fairly cozy murder mystery set in Upper East Side Manhattan where an insanely wealthy hotel heiress has to solve her grandmother’s murder in order to restore her family’s access to their money, properties, and the business itself. The book was sweet and charming and I could not put it down.

Pomona Afton is a classic archetype of a rich young woman who has never had to do anything for herself. Suddenly, she finds herself without an apartment, access to her closet, and her personal staff that has taken care of her every need her entire life. Despite being shallow at times and lacking in some basic skills, Pomona is earnest and it’s a ton of fun to watch her grow. I loved exploring the different relationships Pomona has with her family, friends, and her new roommate, Gabe.

The book is a pretty light read and has a secondary romantic plot. It had great characters, a solid plot, and was such an enjoyable read. Thank you to Bellamy Rose and Atria Books for this advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to receive this arc when I found out that Bellamy Rose is the same author as Amanda Elliot, who wrote Best Served Hot which I read a few years back. I remember enjoying that book but this book was a little underwhelming. It felt very, almost too YA for me. It’s murder mystery meets gossip girl but very very PG, and overall, for someone who’s never really read a murder mystery, it was a cute, fun introduction but I think I just expected more. I’m sure many people will love it though.

The mmc’s name however? Idk how I can get past that lol because be fr lmfaoooo

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for the advanced read of this books. A spoiled heiress looses everything when her grandmother is murdered. The only way to get it back is to solve the murder with some new allies. This book was lighthearted and gave a different view into a life that most of us only see in tabloids. I didn’t like Pomona at first but I loved her self development throughout and by the end I was rooting for her. It is sad what it had to take for her to realize her potential and what her dreams are. Sometimes the most mundane things can be what set us apart. Cooking, ability to talk to people, and finding your passion in life. Reconnecting with old friends and romance. This book had a little bit of all of it. Enjoyable read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ms. Rose for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Of the three NetGalley books I read that debuted this week, this was the best of the bunch. Spoiled hotel heiress (think Paris Hilton crossed with Alexis Rose) Pomona Afton is thrown out of her posh life when her assets are frozen following her grandmother's murder. She moves in with her old nanny's adult son Gabe, and tries to solve the murder to unlock her trust fund.

The mystery and the solving thereof are not really the draw here (although the mystery is certainly entertaining, and the deceased Granny is so horrible literally everyone is a suspect): the draw is Pomona herself and her growth journey. She's intentionally drawn initially as a vapid, oblivious princess who gradually grows to appreciate the mundanities of the life of the 99%. The romance is, frankly, tertiary to Pomona's personal journey and the mystery. This is a quick read - maybe 250something pages? - and the fact that Pomona (and not, say, the police) solves the mystery is a bit of a stretch. That being said, it was cute, fun, and charming, sort of like Pomona's baked goods. I enjoyed it immensely.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

“I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone more unique than you.”“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

This book was so funny, such a fun ride to read, and I usually don't read mysteries but Pom has a way of capturing you.

As Gabe told her, she has a charm and a way to speak to people and get them hooked. And that's exactly what happened with me.

Nor only was the mystery good, but Pomona's arc was the best, because it was natural and real and she's a sweetheart but hilarious. And her and Gabe were absolutely adorableeeee.

I also liked some other secondary characters and it definitely lives up to my expectations!!!

Pomona Afton can so do whatever she wants and puts her mind too, my funny fantastic lover fashion badass girlie!!!

I'm sure I'll come and add more of my favorite quotes very soon.

A heiress who needs to solve her Grandmother’s murder to get her trust fund back.

This book was fun and witty. It had a unique voice with the main character and I loved the mystery with the romance.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder is Bellamy Rose‘s first book in the mystery/romantic comedy genre. It’s a clean (no profanity or sex scenes) mash-up of Clueless and Only Murders in the Building.

Pomona Afton is a spoiled, Upper East Side hotel heiress who discovers that her mean, greedy grandmother was murdered. Unfortunately, Mrs. Afton was paranoid enough that she included a clause into her will mandating that all the family assets get frozen if she should die an unnatural death. Immediately Pomona is locked out of her penthouse and has no choice except to move in with a roommate. Her beloved former nanny offers up her son’s cramped apartment, complete with irritable son, Gabe.

Pomona is a fish-out-of-water once she loses access to her trust fund. It’s like that old reality show with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, except Pomona is a lot more likeable. Pomona realizes that she will have to solve her grandmother’s murder because her family isn’t helping the police. Gabe is invested in helping her, both to get her out of his apartment and so his mom can collect her retirement. Naturally Pomona and Gabe fall for each other, but can a relationship between these two last?

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder is a fast-paced, clean and hilarious mystery/romance with engaging characters. It’s a definite page-turner that will keep readers engrossed over a weekend. This book would make an excellent TV movie

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Atria Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a cute story, the FMC was a bit stereotypical rich girl and the pacing was a bit slow. the mystery was cute and the couple was sweet. The spice was low.

Pomona Afton is a party girl socialite, whose family owns several hotels. She just loves to have a good time going to galas and doesn’t have a care in this world. Her grandmother is murdered which then triggers a clause in the will - if her grandmother dies of unnatural causes all of the assets are frozen. Now Pomona has 30 minutes to gather her belongings and leave her apartment.

She ends up calling her former nanny who tells her that her son, Gabe, is looking for a roommate. Pomona moves in with Gabe and starts working at the coffee shop he manages. When the police have made little progress in finding the killer, Pomona decides to investigate the mystery herself…with Gabe’s help of course!

I liked how Pomona and Gabe balanced each other and worked together. There was a little bit of romance between them but really the focus was on solving the murder, which was fine with me. I enjoyed watching Pomona figure it all out while she worked on herself and what she wanted to be when she grew up.

I do wish that we had more information about Gabe’s mom. Something was going on with her and Pomona’s grandmother but we never found out what that was. I need some answers here!

This was a quick read and recommend this if you enjoy

🕵🏻‍♀️ cozy mystery
🕵🏻‍♀️ Only Murders in the Building vibes
🕵🏻‍♀️ socialite meets the real world

I just wasn't a fan of this one... I kept reading because the premise had potential but it was never developed. Pomona (?!) Afton was boring, even while investigating a murder. And that's saying something. Hope you have better luck!!

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder comes out next week on March 18, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.

The first time Grandma called, I ignored her. That probably sounds heartless to you, but only because you're picturing a stereotypical grandmother. You know, one who bakes cookies. Gives lots of hugs. Loves her grandchildren unconditionally.

Marion Elizabeth Hunter Afton hugged you as if your clothes, no matter how clean, would dirty her impeccable tea dress. Any cookies she'd bake would probably have arsenic in them.

So when my phone lit up with GMA MARION as it buzzed against my breakfast table, I pushed it to the side so I couldn't see it. It was early still, or at least early for a Saturday. For all she knew, I was sleeping.

This cozy mystery mixed with a little romance broke my streak of hating that genre mashup! I couldn't stop reading about this heiress with a murdered grandmother who lost access to her riches and hotel-home. The pacing was quick but carefully plotted, and the romance added a sweet and believable angle without ruining the feel of the mystery. This title was described as Cher from Clueless meets Only Murders In the Building, and I think that description is spot-on. Pomona is loveable, not just in spite of but because of her quirks, and her character growth is endearing to watch. Would definitely enjoy more titles from this author - she also writes rom-coms under "Amanda Elliot", and some of those books are definitely on my TBR!

CWs - Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Blood, Murder, Classism, Racism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Cannibalism

After Pomona’s grandmother dies, her grandmother’s final Will and Testament freezes the family’s inheritance unless her murder is solved within one year’s time. Pomona and her new roommate, have to start at the beginning and determine who of her grandmother’s enemies had the best motive– which doesn’t really narrow it down. Hidden secrets and new family dynamics are unburied, and Pomona’s life will never be that carefree again.

If you liked Schitt’s Creek and love a murder mystery, this is going to be right up your alley. After her grandmother’s death, Pomona has 20 minutes to pack a bag and leave the hotel premises. Her old nanny hooks her up with a place to live with her son, Gabe, when she can no longer stand to live with her brother and his girlfriend. Pomona has never lived in the real world and has approximately zero life skills, so her new life has a lot of growing pains.

With this premise, the book is a perfect mix of character driven and plot driven storylines. The murder and the loss of her inheritance pushes along the murder solving plotline and in the meantime, it pushes her character growth to learn how to make it in the real world. Every chapter has a little more character growth, and by the time you reach the end of the book, Pomona learns that she isn’t as useless as her family made her think. While the murder isn’t very complex and the clues easily lead the reader to the murderer, it creates a fun secondary storyline to help push along Pomona’s character growth without getting bogged down in internal monologues. There is a tertiary romance storyline, but it is extremely low-key and very sweet. It was nice that the romance was an outcome of her character growth instead of propelling the growth.

I don’t know if this will remain a standalone, as there was a brief hint at the end that it might not be, but if it’s not, then I will be ready for the next book!

#netgalley #pomonaaftoncansosolveamurder #atriabooks