this book was fun to read, light hearted with a little bit of spice. really enjoyed diving into this book and would recommend it to anyone who asked if if they should read it. good fun characters that you would love to read about. nothing about this will be a disappointment. fun quick read with feel good moments.

I bet you've heard great things about Whisky Business. Well, now that I've read it, I can confirm it's worth the hype!
Whisky Business is a very good enemies to lovers romance. Malcolm and April have every reason to dislike each other. They really couldn’t be more opposites. And yet, they can't deny their strong chemistry. I don't know about you, but I just LOVE it when the dislike and the attraction between the MCs are equally strong. Mal and April's forced proximity, their costant bickering, their fights, their attempts to get along, their efforts to resist the attraction... everything was so well written! And the spice? In this case, the slow burn is mandatory. But, believe me when I say that once it burns... it BUUUURNS! As a matter of fact, in exchange for our patience, the author rewards us with some chef's kiss spicy scenes.

"Whisky Business" by Elliot Fletcher is a delightful grumpy-sunshine romance that warms the heart. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Isle of Skye, the novel follows Hollywood actress April Sinclair as she returns to her Scottish hometown to revive her family's whisky distillery. The dynamic between April and master distiller Malcolm Macabe is filled with tension and sparks, making their journey from enemies to lovers utterly charming. Fletcher skillfully develops their characters, allowing them to grow and evolve throughout the story. Despite Mal's grumpy demeanor, his underlying care for April shines through, adding depth to their relationship. With its beautiful setting, steamy moments, and endearing characters, "Whisky Business" is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies with a twist.

Very grateful to the publisher for this copy, opinions are my own.

This was pretty good, full of tropes and not particularly realistic just like all the best straight-to-netflix cheesy romcoms. Whisky Business is heavy on the spice in the second half of the novel (seriously, it’s every couple of pages) but it doesn’t detract from the story at all.

If you’re a fan of the classic romcom tropes (grumpy x sunshine, best friend’s brother, forced proximity, and he falls first), then you’re in for a treat with Whisky Business. Add a couple of cute dogs, small town charm, a failing family business, and the potential for even more novels in the future (I just want to see Heather and Juniper happy too, okay?) - this book is a perfect cosy, yet spicy, bedtime read.

My only quibble would be that Mal is too perfect. There was no misunderstanding, no miscommunication, no flaws at all - he is definitely a man written by a woman, and in this instance it just feels too good to be believable.

4.75 ⭐️ Screaming, crying and all around devastatingly in love with this book.

I had already read this book before - this is a reread for me, and the fact that I still loved it as much as I did the first time says so much about this book. Most importantly, this edition was given to me as an eARC through NetGalley (thank you so much!) and it has an extra special epilogue chapter at the end, and -omg- I could cry. It's so beautiful.

Both MCs in this book are so different from one another, and in my opinion, neither are particularly likeable. April is an actress trying to cling to what feels like her already fleeting career due to issues she can't help but silently blame herself for, and Malcolm is a gruff, quiet, gentle giant with heaps of social anxiety stemming from a difficult childhood in and out of hospitals. The chances of such different people having this kind of intense chemistry together feels impossible, but it's so, so incredibly beautiful to witness.

So... yeah. I did enjoy this book immensely. This entire story feels like an odd, contemporary fairytale. Mal is this mix of Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh all rolled in one -aka just an anxious teddy bear deserving of all kinds of love and attention!- and I can't get enough. This book is by no means perfect, and there are a couple of times where the characters make... let's just call them questionable choices (imo), but there's one thing that makes this book superior to most other romances out there.

THERE IS NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP.

Listen, there's nothing that turns me off a romance faster than an unnecessary, drawn-out breakup. And to be honest, if it would have happened here, I wouldn't even have called it unnecessary. There were so many ways this could have gone wrong, or at least many other outcomes where the MCs chose to put themselves as individuals above one another and their relationship. I truly think that it's one of my favourite things in the entire book. Even though they are scared for themselves, and their feelings, they still put the other and the chance of a future together first. I loved the friends and family aspect too, and I cannot wait to see future books about Juniper, Heather, Callum... There were so many hints to possible future books, and I want them all!! And if one of them is not Callum x Juniper I'm going to be so heartbroken (it might not be for everyone, but I so sincerely do not care about Alastair... he can get his own book too, just not with Juni!)

Thank you so much RL for the rec! She was the first that put me on to this story, and even the second time around, I love this book so much. Even if it's not perfect, this could definitely be used as a yardstick to measure all other romcoms I read in the future.

🌶🌶🌶- This is a spicy book, and although I don't think it's too over-the-top, it does have a generous handful of s*x scenes. Mal is HOT -yes, I say that with all caps. The fact that he's always so anxious when he speaks, but finds the words to 'spicy talk' with April... I have no words. I just loved it all!

This review has already been uploaded to Goodreads!

"Whisky Business" is a romcom written by Elliot Fletcher. A fast paced, captivating and funny book characterized by effervescent writing, a wonderful setting and excellent characters. A tale that kept me glued to the pages, absorbing me completely and leaving me fully satisfied.

The story takes place on the Isle of Skye, a beautiful and picturesque place, described in a vivid and effective way. I loved the choice of this setting and was captivated by its views

April and Mal (Malcolm), protagonists with their respective first person povs, won me over! April is a Hollywood star in decline, an actress who has won several major awards but now seems to have hit rock bottom in her career. Oppressed by a difficult situation, April impulsively returns to her hometown on the Isle of Skye in an attempt to distract herself and lick her wounds. Once here, she decides to restore her family whisky distillery, which is in dire financial straits. And this pushes her straight into the path of Mal, her old acquaintance, who currently manages the distillery and was aiming to buy it. April is a sunny, vivacious and chatty woman, accustomed to hiding her doubts and fears behind a carefree mask. Mal, on the other hand, is a grumpy, taciturn and reclusive man who detests social interactions outside of his family and a few trusted friends. The two could not be more different, and yet, overcoming their initial dislike, they find themselves working together to save the distillery. And slowly, the close proximity pushes them to interact, igniting a sizzling passion. I loved the relationship between April and Mal so much! A powerful grumpy x sunshine that made me laugh, smile, and swoon repeatedly! The spicy then is really hot, with scenes that sent me into juices! In addition then there are two adorable dogs, lovely foxes and fantastic secondary characters!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Elliot Fletcher took me by storm, I am absolutely in love with this novel. Set against the breathtaking background of Skye, Whisky Business will steal your heart (and make you want to read it with a dram.)
Fletcher has a way of writing that makes you entirely drawn into the story, painting vivid scenes, and enticing scenes. I read this in what felt like a blink of an eye, and I so wish I could go back and read it for the first time again.
This is a fantastic and compelling opening to a series, Fletches sets up the rest of the siblings in a way that made me see if I was able to pre-order the sequel already.
Absolutely fantastic, 10/10 stars!

I am going to be honest, I had already read Whisky Business in 2023 and requested an ARC of the new release purely so I could read the bonus content in it.

This was one of my favorite reads of 2023. This is one of those books that will make you dream of a holiday in Scotland, or even of leaving all behind you and moving there completely (maybe don’t make rash decisions based on one book but also you do you), and will make you swoon and fall in love with the characters in a heartbeat (April and Malcom are precious and should be protected at all cost).

A super cute romance! I really liked the characters and their love story, although they did feel a little two dimensional and trope-y in parts. I also enjoyed the setting and the added plot of the distillery. Certain scenes were a little overwritten, and I wish some background characters had more depth, but I still enjoyed this romance for what it was, a fun love story.