GRAPE JUICE

A New Yorker finds herself, and perhaps a bit of romance, in a therapeutic trip to French wine country.

Desperate for a change of pace from her accidental relationship and lack of fulfillment in her job as a wine sales representative, Alice takes advantage of an offer from her boss to work a wine harvest in Alsace, France. In reality, Alice knows it was more a mandate than a suggestion; her boss has sensed her waning passion for her job for quite some time. For three and a half weeks, she’ll enjoy the hard labor of picking grapes with a global group of fellow wine appreciators. Alice is one of only two women on the crew and the only American. As the work begins, Alice often finds herself paired up and in conversation with the vineyard owner’s nephew, Henri. He comes with his own brand of relationship baggage, and their grape-picking often involves deep, probing questions and intimate conversations. Those working the harvest build a lovely community together, enjoying communal meals and finding moments to confide in one another, complete with a good glass of wine. Alice’s fledgling friendship with her roommate, the affable Australian Ruby, is particularly sweet, as they giggle and gossip about their colleagues. There’s a comforting slice-of-life quality to Alice’s time at the winery, as she forges connections that may or may not last. Henri and Alice ease into a cozy rapport and their chemistry leans toward an introspective, slow burn. The mundanity of it all could be a blessing or a curse, depending on the reader. Dedicated romance readers should be warned that there’s no neatly tied up happily-ever-after, but rather a hopeful and open-ended happy-for-now resolution for Alice and Henri.

Reminiscent of a summer fling, this is a warm and relaxing though fleeting read.