~ Bite 7 ~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Setting: Vineyards of Napa Valley

Characters:

June: main protagonist who is currently planning her wedding to marry Kyle, but is still struggling with lost of her then husband, Josh

Josh: June’s husband that drowned, Andrew’s twin brother

Andrew: Josh’s twin brother

Bev: mother to Josh and Andrew

Summary: 

Told in dual p.o.v, this story follows June who is still reeling from the death of her husband Josh, who mysteriously drowned on their honeymoon ten years ago. In the current timeline, she is in a new relationship with Kyle—however in her hometown of Brooklyn, she begins to see Josh again, following her which her leads her back to Napa Valley to discover what really happened to Josh ten years ago.

Main Takeaways and Thoughts:

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. This book is seperated into sections, each with a short description on the process of making wine, as Josh’s family owns a vineyard in Napa Valley. Each chapter switches between the perspective of main character June, who continues to question whether or not her husband really drowned ten years ago, contrasted with Bev, Josh’s mom who is also reeling from her son Josh’s death, while she continues to deal with other personal matters in the current timeline.

In June’s perspective, we watch her slowly uncover secrets regarding Josh’s past—including perhaps the biggest secret and reveal of the story—Josh has a twin brother named Andrew. When June thinks she is being stalked by her dead husband, it isn’t until she travels to Napa Valley to get answers, she learns she really never knew Josh at all—I mean what kind of man doesn’t tell his spouse he as a brother, let alone a twin brother. Though, I am not always a fan of the twin brother plot twist, it did work and make sense for this novels plotline.

I enjoyed reading Bev’s perspective because you were really able to see her grief and almost mom-guilt, thinking of all the ways she could have prevented her sons death. Bev’s perspective reveals to the reader what Josh’s childhood was like, including his tormented relationship with his twin brother Andrew. Her persepctive also shows us Josh’s darker side—when he was accused of murdering his brother’s highschool girlfriend, though their was no concrete proof. Bev is also a pivotal charcter, who goes through her own arc of learning her husband cheated on her, to raising a newborn by herself, and finding new romance towards the end of the story.

As for the ending of the story, their were so many reveals and character revelations, however you are still left with so many questions, as the “reveal” as to what actually happened to Josh remains vague. That being said, it is revealed that Kyle, Junes current fiancé had a connection to the girl Josh was accused of killing in his youth when he was a teenager—they played tennis together. 

So overall, I would say if you love a fast-paced twisty thriller, that almost leaves you with more questions than answers, this book might be for you.

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