Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

★★★★☆

Named after the number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine, this drama centers on a family that owns a winery in Sonoma County. The drama primarily comes from complexities in the romantic relationships of everyone in the family. 

The main character, Georgia Ford, is a successful lawyer about to marry her fiancé, Ben. During her final wedding dress fitting, Georgia’s world is shattered when she discovers Ben has been keeping a secret. Rocked by the discovery that Ben has a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Georgia retreats to her family’s vineyard, where she tries to decide what to do next. There, she finds that not only has her fiancé been hiding secrets, but her family, which includes twin brothers, is also harboring their own. As Georgia navigates the complexities of her relationships, she must confront her fears and uncertainties.

My second read by Dave, Eight Hundred Grapes, explores themes similar to those in The Last He Told Me, including family, love, and betrayal. However, Eight Hundred Grapes adds layers of the importance of finding oneself and exploring what might have been.

This story was packed with observations about regrets and sacrifices in a relationship—it was clearly written by a woman who knows a thing or two about the complicated feelings that can come with romantic relationships. One of those simplest yet truest lines is: “Be careful what you give up. You get it back however you can.”

I liked that the story unfolded over a few days. I also appreciated the multigenerational storyline. I was just as interested in what was happening with her parents as with Georgia and Ben. I kept going back and forth about how I wanted things to turn out with Georgia and with her parents.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. One of the most compelling aspects of the novel was its suggestion that sometimes, the most significant paths are the ones we never saw coming. I also highlighted many introspective lines – about 30 altogether – which is always a sign of good writing for me.

My review of The Last Thing He Told Me is available here.