8 Romances to Read If Wine Is Your Entire Personality
Books that put the happy in happy hour
Ah, yes. I’m back with one of my favorite pastimes: reading books to celebrate the trips I have planned. Over the summer, I shared my list of Scottish romances after my last vacation, and now I’m heading to wine country!
Next week, I’ll be spending Thanksgiving in Napa with my in-laws and indulging in all the cabernet sauvignon I can drink.
I consider myself insanely lucky that I’m just a short drive away from some of the best winemakers in the world, where I can take in the stunning views of these gorgeous vineyards.
So, in honor of my favorite adult beverage, keep scrolling for my top winery romance recommendations.
8 Winery Romances That Put the Happy in Happy Hour
(Note: All links, if available, lead to Bookshop.org. If you make a purchase, you’ll support local, independent bookstores, and I’ll earn a small commission as an affiliate. It’s a win-win!)
Read and Recommended
A Lot Like Love by Julie James (2011). I’ll be saying this until the end of time: no romance lover’s life is complete without reading Julie James’ FBI/US Attorney series. This installment is one of my favorites and manages to tackle the fake dating trope without veering into obnoxious territory. To free her brother from prison, a wine heiress must team up with an FBI agent to take down a money launderer. Their chemistry crackles and warms me from the inside out.
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce (2024). Quite possibly the second-chance romance of this year, Jessica Joyce’s sophomore novel delivers. It feels fresh and modern while leaning into some fun Millennial nostalgia. You’ll root for these two characters as they plan their best friend’s wedding in Napa and rekindle their love that never left. The Ex Vows will cha-cha slide into your heart—real smooth.
Not Safe for Work by Lindsey Lanza (2024). This book is like a 2-for-1: a winery romance hidden inside a workplace love affair. I’m already sold on any story about the Bay Area tech scene, and this third novel of my former colleague Lindsey’s is my favorite so far. I got to beta-read Not Safe for Work, and the wine cellar scene alone is enough to live up to its name.
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (2023). Tessa Bailey’s books are the best kind of camp. They’re outrageous and kooky and require a healthy suspension of disbelief, but they’re always a bunch of fun. Per usual, the instalust is strong with Secretly Yours, and listening to the spicy scenes on audio had me squealing with delight. There are a few moments of sincerity to address recent wine country wildfires, but it’s the characters’ electricity that cranks up the heat.
On My Radar
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (2022). I’m about a quarter into Drunk on Love at the moment, so I can’t vouch for the whole book yet, but it already has a lot of elements I adore: a kickass woman-run winery owner, an affair with a younger man, and a one-night-stand that turns into an ethical office dilemma. And as someone who also wrote about a burnt-out tech worker who quits their lucrative job, I can definitely relate to this story.
The Accidental Crush by Mia Heintzelman (2024). After celebrating a raucous night together at Steamy Lit Con this summer, I’m Mia Heintzelman’s newest fan. I kicked off my holiday reading with her novella Married & Bright, and now I look forward to diving into her Fortemani series about a family-owned vineyard. The Accidental Crush is a workplace winery romance that’s sure to mix business with pleasure.
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee (2025). Laura Piper Lee has been on my radar ever since she taught me how to make a table runner using Canva, and after scanning the blurb of her sophomore novel, I can’t wait to read it next year. A blind threesome meet-cute between winery rivals? Yes, please!
Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni (2025). Taleen’s third novel doesn’t release until next fall, but after loving Lavash at First Sight, there’s no way I’m not immediately adding this one to cart. An Armenian enemies-to-lovers tale between a Bay Area wedding planner and a Napa winery owner sounds like it was written specifically for me. Can’t wait for the official book cover reveal!
Wine & Romance: The Perfect Pairing
Wineries make excellent settings for love stories with their lush backdrops and ability to engage all the senses. And when you drink a tad too much and make an impulsive decision with a major hottie, hijinks ensue 😉
My rock-climbing romance Love on the Rocks may not take place on a vineyard, but it does feature a woman on sabbatical in Yosemite who has a taste for the finer things, including wine. And next week it will be on sale!
I’m joining the Romance Book Lovers Black Friday event: From Nov. 29th - Dec. 2nd, you can buy Love on the Rocks for only 99 cents, along with 800+ other romance books.
I’ll send another reminder on Black Friday, so you don’t have to worry about missing out. In the meantime, leave me a comment below: What other winery romances would you add to this list? And which real-life wineries should I visit in Napa for Thanksgiving? I want to hear all your recommendations!