Blush

Description

From acclaimed author Jamie Brenner comes a stunning new novel about three generations of women who discover that the scandalous books of their past may just be the key to saving their family's future. For decades, the Hollander Estates winery has been the premier destination for lavish parties and romantic day trips on the North Fork of Long Island. But behind the lush vineyards and majestic estate house, the Hollander family fortunes have suffered and the threat of a sale brings old wounds to the surface. For matriarch Vivian, she fears that this summer season could be their last-and that selling their winery to strangers could expose a dark secret she's harbored for decades. Meanwhile, her daughter, Leah, who was turned away from the business years ago, finds her marriage at a crossroads and returns home for a sorely needed escape. And granddaughter Sadie, grappling with a crisis of her own, runs to the vineyard looking for inspiration. But when Sadie uncovers journals from Vivian's old book club dedicated to scandalous novels of decades past, she realizes that this might be the distraction they all need. Reviving the "trashy" book club, the Hollander women find that the stories hold the key to their fight not only for the vineyeard, but for the life and love they've wanted all along. Blush is a bighearted story of love, family, and second chances, and an ode to the blockbuster novels that have shaped generations of women.

Jamie Brenner is the author of five novels, including The Forever Summer and The Wedding Sisters. She grew up in suburban Philadelphia on a steady diet of Jackie Collins and Judith Krantz novels, and later moved to New York City to live like the heroines of her favorite books. Jamie divides her time between Philadelphia and Provincetown.

One of: People's Best New Books USA Today's 5 Books Not to Miss Real Simple's Blockbuster Beach Reads That Are Quintessentially Summer Bustle's 44 New Must-Read Books Out This June E! News's 16 Books to Add to Your Reading List This June Good Morning America's 27 Books for June Veranda's 32 New Books You Don't Want to Miss This Summer Frolic's 25 Best Books of Summer 2021 "If sipping wine while gazing at lush vineyards appeals, this summery rose of a novel is for you." -People "Books, wine, and female power prevail in Blush." -Real Simple "A sweeping tale." -GMA.com "Take a lush trip to the North Fork of Long Island to spend some time with three generations of women in the Hollander family in The Forever Summer scribe's wine-drenched read." -E! News "Blush is a wonderful female-centered story that updates the sentiments of those earlier novels for today's woman." -Auburn Pub "Wonderful." -Frolic "Jamie Brenner, where have you been all my life?...In all seriousness this book was lovely did an exquisite job of bringing together feminism and family." -Fresh Fiction "Jam-packed with outrageous drama, sexy passion, and dysfunctional family dynamics, Brenner's delectable soap opera is the epitome of escapist reading pleasure. [Blush] is also a homage to the glitz-and-glam novels of the 1980s, a brilliantly conceived and expertly executed tale that provides a welcome reassessment of the often underestimated but in their own way fiercely feminist works of Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz, Shirley Conran, and the other big-shoulder-padded popular fiction stars of the time. Brenner starts with the clever concept of women bonding in a book group dedicated to 'trashy' novels and spins it into beach-reading gold." -Booklist "Brenner's lovely latest begs to be read with a view and a glass of wine....Brenner tackles complex issues including gender equality and the devaluation of women's interests with a light hand, balancing heavy topics with copious descriptions of wine, cheese, and classic romances. [Blush] is sure to please." -Publishers Weekly "Brenner deftly pulls from the canon for steamy encounters and dramatic confrontations-some worthy of a Dynasty reboot. A perfect beach read about a family crisis resolved by women." -Kirkus Reviews "Jamie Brenner rules the beach with her opus Blush. The Hollander family vineyard is at a crossroads, exposing their frayed relationships. When secrets are revealed, old wounds resurface, and they must find a way to come together or lose the legacy they treasure. We discover the Hollander's tender vines have deep roots that yield understanding and forgiveness. A spectacular read." -Adriana Trigiani, author of The Shoemaker's Wife "In Blush, her latest summer page-turner, author Jamie Brenner indulges readers with the story of three generations of headstrong women united in their efforts to buck male authority and save their family's struggling winery on the North Fork of Long Island. Brenner's fizzy tale of wine-making lore, family secrets, forbidden love-and a shared appreciation for Jackie Collins and Judith Krantz novels, make for an intoxicating read." -Mary Kay Andrews, author of Sunset Beach and Hello, Summer "This book about three generations of women discovering their power at a North Fork vineyard is delicious, delightful, and smart. Reading it feels like drinking a crisp glass of rose on a hot summer's day." -Jill Santopolo, author of The Light We Lost "Brenner's splendid novel depicts three very different women who find inspiration and guidance in the beloved, trashy novels of the eighties. I have no doubt that Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins are cheering from above at this feminist beach book that's sharp and funny, bursting with heartbreak and longing. Blush delights the senses and will thrill you to your core." -Fiona Davis, author of The Dollhouse and The Lions of Fifth Avenue "In Blush Jamie Brenner celebrates the grand dames of '80s ladies writers, Judith Krantz, Jackie Collins, and Shirley Conran, who teach us that life is about second chances. Love, sex, marriage and money are all the more thrilling when we think that we've lost them. Throw in three generations of women, a winery and cheese plates and we've got ourselves the kind of summer bestseller we snuck from our mothers' nightstands. Hot!" -Helen Ellis, author of American Housewife "Jamie Brenner's Blush is a delicious, big-hearted book about love, secrets, and pleasure-a novel that's easy to devour, but made to be savored. I adored every last drop." -Emily Henry, author of Beach Read "Cheers to Jamie Brenner and Blush! Readers will be rooting for the Hollander family vineyard and for Brenner's smart, spirited female characters who face inevitable change and fight to hold on to their precious legacy before it slips away. Add a truly spectacular setting brought to life, the novels of Collins and Krantz, lust, wine, secrets, and sunshine, and this book has all the ingredients for the perfect summer read." -Amy Poeppel, author of Musical Chairs and Small Admissions "In her most captivating novel yet, Jamie Brenner brilliantly captures the challenges and secrets behind a family-owned winery on the North Fork of Long Island. Blush is a truly decadent read and I found myself rooting for these characters, Vivian, Leah and Sadie, so fervently I didn't want it to end. Book clubs and women everywhere will be raising a glass of rose to this heartfelt story of love, courage and determination." -Nicola Harrison, author of Montauk