Reviews

Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

sharon5657's review against another edition

Go to review page

Geared for Gen Z and young adults. 

goatcheesereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A classic “fun n flirty” read from Amazon First Reads. I wouldn’t recommend this book persay but it wasn’t a waste of time either. The plot was interesting enough, caused me to reflect on the choices we make and where they lead us in life. White Lotus vibes for sure! This is a fun book to read on a night in with a bottle of wine

kcp3321's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

College friends reunite for a weekend getaway grand opening at a winery.  The tension between the characters is palpable.  Each is struggling through their own issues while assuming that their friends (frenemies?) have it all.  The secrets, flaws, schemes, and animosities catch up to them and they're faced with how best to move forward.
This didn't read like a suspense or thriller for me, more of a friendship drama with a murder (not a spoiler, this is how the book opens).  None of the characters were very likeable and most were very shallow and superficial but that seemed to be the point.

kristenlovesbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

stone_cold_kat's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

sammarcario's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

willcommitarson's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

niharikaaaaaa9's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I picked up this book for three specific reasons:
1. I had read a slew of heavier of books, and I wanted something light & thrilling
2. This took place in Napa, and it seemed fun to read a book where I would know some of the places 
3. 1/2 of the main characters were Indian / Indian-American, and it seemed nice to be able to understand some of the cultural references in the book without having to Google. 

#3 was actually the nicest (for me); at one point in the book, one of the main characters says a line from a Bollywood song, and I had never seen that in a book before. 

Did I enjoy this book? 3/5. I thought the start of the book was much better than the end; the set up for the plot was fantastic, and it did keep me guessing, but the resolution was done far too fast and very confusingly. I'm not quite sure, even after I finished reading the book, how the resolution came about. It seemed like it was hand-wavily explained to avoid having to think through some of the tricker details.

ms0blonde's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

eggatha's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

2.75