Synopses & Reviews
A breakout novel from an author who “positively shines with wisdom and intelligence,” (Jonathan Tropper,
This Is Where I leave You) “Laura Dave writes with humor and insight about relationships in all their complexity, whether she’s describing siblings or fiancés or a couple long-married.
Eight Hundred Grapes is a captivating story about the power of family, the limitations of love, and what becomes of a life’s work” (J. Courtney Sullivan,
Maine).
What if your beloved fiancé, he of the crinkly smile and the irresistible British accent, had kept a life-changing secret from you? And what if, just a week before your dream wedding, you discovered it?
When these questions become realities for bride-to-be Georgia Ford, she does the only thing that seems to make sense. She runs. She hops in her car and drives through the night, from Los Angeles to Sonoma, to her safe haven, to her messy and loving family, and their acclaimed family winery. Georgia craves the company of those who know her best, and whom she truly knows. And, on the eve of the harvest, Georgia knows she’ll find solace—and distraction—in familiar rituals. But when Georgia arrives home, nothing is at all familiar. Her parents, her brothers, the family business, are all unrecognizable. It seems her fiancé isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets. And, much to Georgia’s dismay, it seems likely that this harvest may be the family’s last.
Bestselling author Laura Dave has been dubbed “a wry observer of modern love” (USA TODAY), a “decadent storyteller” (Marie Claire), and “compulsively readable” (Woman’s Day). Set in the lush backdrop of Sonoma’s wine country, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.
Review
“I couldn't put
Eight Hundred Grapes down! Laura Dave writes with humor and insight about relationships in all their complexity, whether she's describing siblings or fiancés or a couple long-married.
Eight Hundred Grapes is a captivating story about the power of family, the limitations of love, and what becomes of a life's work.”
—J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author of Maine and The Engagements
Review
“Laura Dave paints Sonoma County and its inhabitants with both warmth and smarts in this delicious novel.
Eight Hundred Grapes is fun and thought-provoking, and is guaranteed to make you deeply thirsty for some Pinot Noir.”
—Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of The Vacationers
Review
"Endearingly quirky...winningly explores the romantic choices we make."
—USA Today on London Is the Best City in America
Review
“Resolutions arrive slowly and often unexpectedly for each of them, giving this satisfying novel legs. A lovelorn winemaker's daughter seeks the right way to crush sour grapes into a winning blend.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Review
“A charming summer read with depth, just perfect with a glass of California wine.”
—Booklist
Review
“Secrets and love affairs on a Sonoma vineyard mean reading with wine is basically mandatory.”
—Cosmopolitan
Review
“Need a vacation? Dave will transport you with mouthwatering lasagna, breathtaking vistas – and an unforgettable lesson in loyalty.”
—Glamour
Review
“The fabulous Laura Dave is back with another tale of love, marriage, and family.”
—Popsugar.com
Review
“The idyllic life of Georgia Ford is crashing down – oh, and it’s just days before her wedding. Cue cold feet.”
—Marie Claire
Review
“[A] breezy rom-com.”—Us Weekly
Review
“Dave (The First Husband) both charms and pulls at the heartstrings in this well-crafted novel… this winning tale will both satisfy on a literary level and encourage oenophiles to pour themselves a glass of a recent vintage to enjoy while reading; it's a tasty treat for wine lovers and teetotalers alike."— Publishers Weekly
Review
“This novel’s hero discovers the complexity of human relationships and desires amid the well-researched backdrop of a fictional Sonoma winery.”—Wine Enthusiast
Review
“Dave’s tightly woven family drama is best enjoyed with a glass of wine (or two); readers found this one impossible to put down.”
— Elle (#1 Reader's Prize Selection)
Review
"Laura Dave’s latest is just another shining example of her expertise in exploring complex relationships and all the heartache, nuance, and ultimately, joy, that comes with them. "- goop.com
Review
"Eight Hundred Grapes is a quick, fun read, perfect for swallowing in one, delicious gulp rather than careful, measured sips." -Bustle.com
Review
"Your new escapist summer read."- Purewow.com
Review
“Reading Dave is like experiencing the sea-salty edge of a Nicole Holofcener movie that you’ve never seen, with set decoration by Nancy Meyer.”
—Lithub.com
Synopsis
Named "Best Book of the Summer" by Glamour * Marie Claire * US Weekly * Good Housekeeping * Cosmopolitan * Elle Magazine * Wine Enthusiast * Health Magazine * Metro New York * InStyle* Pop Sugar * CBS Local * BookTrib * AV Club * and as the #1 Library Reads Pick *
There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide....
Growing up on her family's Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother's lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.
But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiance has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.
Georgia does what she's always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiance is not the only one who's been keeping secrets....
Bestselling author Laura Dave has been dubbed "a wry observer of modern love" (USA TODAY), a "decadent storyteller" (Marie Claire), and "compulsively readable" (Woman's Day). Set in the lush backdrop of Sonoma's wine country, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.
In this breakout novel from an author who "positively shines with wisdom and intelligence" (Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I leave You), Laura Dave "writes with humor and insight about relationships in all their complexity, whether she's describing siblings or fiances or a couple long-married. Eight Hundred Grapes is a captivating story about the power of family, the limitations of love, and what becomes of a life's work" (J. Courtney Sullivan, Maine).
About the Author
Laura Dave is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Eight Hundred Grapes, The First Husband, The Divorce Party, and London Is the Best City in America. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; Ladies Home Journal; Glamour; Redbook; Self; and The New York Observer. Dave has appeared on the CBS Early Show, Fox and Friends, and All Things Considered; and Cosmopolitan recently named her a “Fun and Fearless Phenom” of the year. Her novels have been published in eighteen countries and have been optioned for film by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Universal Studios. Fox 2000 optioned the rights to Eight Hundred Grapes with Dave writing the screenplay.