I absolutely adored this book! It was so much fun to read! I loved the descriptions and especially the character development! Another great one by Melissa Brayden!

The amount of times I just wanted to scream “JUST TELL HER” while reading this book is wild! Jamie & Leighton’s journey in this story is certainly filled with a series of unfortunate events before they get their happily ever after!

I really enjoyed escaping into this romance novel! I could so clearly picture this book as a movie in my mind...it really felt like I was watching the characters the whole time! I was a little worried when I got to the time jump but the whole thing just felt right...real. Even when they were apart I was rooting for them to realize their love for each other in every interaction they had! I’m also desperate to find a place like Bourdeauxnuts! ☕️ 🍷

This was my first Melissa Brayden book and I cannot wait to dive into her others! Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the advance copy!!

I'm a sucker for a restaurant based romance, and You Had Me at Merlot had me ready to spend an afternoon at Bordeauxnauts. While I loved the setting, I found Jamie and Leighton to be a little tedious in their hot and cold romance, spread over years. For such a short book it felt like it took years to get to the HEA. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad read, but I definitely wish that Jamie and Leighton's romance had as much personality as Jamie's coffee shop.

Jamie is the proud owner of Bordeauxnuts, a coffee/wine bar fusion that sells the most delicious little doughnuts.. Leighton is a development coordinator for Carrington's Department Store, whose most recent project involves demolishing the beloved coffee spot.. But when the unlikely pair get closer and feelings start to evolve, will Jamie find out the truth? And what will Leighton do if she does?

I absolutely LOVED the setting and premise of this book, a coffee/wine bar set against a New York backdrop?! The author wasn't kidding, you really DID have me at merlot!! It also warmed my heart to see the found family elements both in Leighton's cousin + friends and in Jamie's employees + regulars! However, I do think the plot could've been executed a bit better? The timeskip was a bit disorienting and honestly felt kind of unnecessary? I think I would've enjoyed the story more on the whole had they actually dealt with the conflict at the start.

Leighton was definitely my favourite character of the two MCs - she deeply regretted what had happened and was extremely respectful of Jamie's boundaries. That being said, I think Jamie massively overreacted to the whole situation and if she'd have actually TALKED to Leighton, things would have gone much differently!! I can understand her being hurt, but I do think she held onto that grudge for a bit too long.. There was a severe lack of communication between these guys and so many moments of bad timing, but it would've been nice to see one of them make a move at those points instead of just sitting back!!

All that being said, I did really enjoy the ending and it was very satisfying to see all of the loose ends getting tied off! I'd honestly love a little bonus chapter for this book - there were so many amazing characters in here and I want to see how they're all doing!! But whilst I wait for that, I think I'm going to go take a candlelit bath and treat myself to a glass of wine..

3.5 stars!

I hated the voice in her head thing. The mains didn't get properly back together til like 95% into the book and they both started dating other people mid way through.

I really didn't vibe with this, I think it might have been the writing style, most of the characters fell flat, unfortunately, but I think it was the long chapters that gave me ick the most.

The plot was okay, but again, I want them to be together for a chunk of the book not just as business partners!

Sweet and delicious

Jamie owns Bordeauxnuts, an amazing business that combines selling coffee and doughnuts by day and wine by night. One day a new face in her queue of regular customers, suddenly changes Jamie’s world in ways she’d never dreamed of. Leighton is a development coordinator for a department store with plans to demolish Jamie’s business premises, but Leighton is also torn as it has become her new favourite place, and the owner’s not too bad either.

So this was perfect because Bordeauxnuts definitely sounds like the dream and needs to be real (please tell me places like this actually exist). From the moment we meet Jamie, her infectious nature and cuteness instantly endears her to you, so of course Leighton would not be able to resist. At first, Jamie’s reaction to Leighton, and the affect she has on her is just the cutest thing and it had my heart melting. I really wanted them to run into each other again and to develop some sort of friendship and relationship because they were just meant to be.

Melissa has packed this story full of quirky characters who are all unforgettable and contributing in their own way to making the story memorable. Leighton and Jamie’s connection as they grow closer, and then truths are revealed that make it all the more complex for them both. Despite Jamie’s happy-go-lucky nature, she is still hesitant to reveal how she really feels about Leighton after initially dipping her toe in the pool to find it dangerous and upsetting territory. Whereas Leighton took that chance, but is more closed off and in denial about what she really felt.

Such a great romance, with a slow burn romance that made the story super exciting!

“You Had Me at Merlot” by Melissa Brayden: A Review
Audio Book Review
Date: February 10, 2023

In Melissa Brayden’s sapphic romance novel, “You Had Me at Merlot,” we’re transported to a delightful place—the fictional Bordeauxnuts café in New York City. Owned by the sunny Jamie Tolliver, this cozy coffee shop by morning transforming into a wine bar at night, becomes the backdrop for what begins as a magical romance.

When Jamie meets the serene and drop-dead gorgeous Leighton Morrow, sparks fly. But Leighton is harboring a secret: she’s part of the team planning to take over the city block, including demolishing Jamie’s beloved café. As their relationship deepens (and catches fire), Leighton grapples with her feelings and the truth behind her presence in Jamie’s beloved business. Her fear of losing Jamie keeps her from coming clean, setting the stage for disaster.

The story takes an expected turn when everything comes crashing down. Jamie’s anger and hurt lead her to treat Leighton as if she were a villain. Trust shattered, Jamie declares their relationship over and that she could never trust Leighton again. But fate has other plans.

In a jarring leap (for me at least) the story fast-forwards three years where Jamie and Leighton run into each other and begin the long process of navigating a journey back to each other. Jamie’s cold comments and digs make it hard to believe in a future for them, let alone overcome their past and find a way to reconnect as even friends.

While I was frustrated with the slow slog of progress of their relationship, often seeming to take two steps back for a step forward, the allure of romance and the promise of redemption and the great secondary characters kept me going.

It took a long time, (way too long for me), for things to get better between Jamie and Leighton.

Towards the book’s conclusion my emotional investment had waned. Instead of overwhelming joy or satisfaction, I felt a mix of weariness and relief. The narrative lacked the consistent romance/relationship building and uplifting moments I craved throughout most of the story and opted instead for the last-minute happy ending.

My Audible experience was enriched by Lula Larkin’s skillful narration. She deftly differentiated between the two protagonists and seamlessly handled the diverse cast of side characters. Kudos to her!

This book follows Jamie and Leighton who meet at Jamie’s coffee/wine restaurant and have an instant connection. Then, they have a big fallout and stop talking. Three years later, they run into each other and reconnect as friends. But there still might be a spark there…

This was a really cute sapphic romance book. I really enjoyed both characters. The plot was well organized and I found it easy to root for Jamie and Leighton as a couple. I also loved the cozy feel with the coffee/wine restaurant, it was fun to read about that aspect. Melissa Brayden does a great job of navigating through the emotions of the characters. I enjoyed this book overall and will definitely check out some of Melissa Brayden’s other books.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Jamie is proud of what she accomplish with her coffee and wine bar Bordeauxnuts where she has fun nicknaming customers. Leighton is customer who is task with wether she can convince the owner into selling despite the fact she loves Bordeauxnuts what she didn’t expect was to have an attraction to the owner Jamie. Jamie and Leighton gets closer but when Jamie learns who Leighton work for she hurt and breaks it’s off years later they run into each other but Jamie isn’t ready to forgive which annoy me because Leighton has apologized but as they work together they get closer but Jamie doesn’t want to start anything so Leighton moves on but will Jamie realize what staring in her face before it’s too late. I enjoy this read even though Jamie annoy me I like seeing characters from different books from the author who help Leighton and Jamie along the way.

Grab a glass....or a bottle of your favorite wine, your favorite blanket, snuggle on the couch and enjoy this luscious, funny, sexy, heartwarming story. I am not a coffee drinker, but Brayden even makes some of the coffee drinks sound delicious. I want to go to a local branch of Bordeauxnuts and sip wine and eat tasty little doughnuts. Jamie, Leighton and the cast of characters who frequent the cafe are fun and sometimes quirky. The storyline is fresh and frustrating in that expected lesbian romance way. (It keeps the reader guessing and not wanting to put the book down...just one more chapter, it's only 1 a.m.) Loved it! There is definitely a little bit of Melissa in this book. (wine and doughnuts!)

Jamie owns a small business, cafe during the day and wine bar at night. It’s a hit with a group of wonderful regulars. Leighton works for a department store, which wants to buy out the area where Jamie’s cafe is located. There is romance, secrets and cheesy inner monologue. The secondary characters really play a nice role in making the cafe seem like the perfect place. Most of all I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Jamie and Leighton. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Melissa Brayden book and I really enjoyed her writing style! She has been on my TBR for awhile and I definitely want to check out more of her books, especially knowing that some of the side characters in this book are from her other published novels.

The connection between Leighton and Jamie was evident from the start. They had so much chemistry! I truly loved the beginning of this book and watching those initial sparks light up. I was hooked and couldn’t wait to read more of their story. I knew based on the description alone that this book was going to be rife with drama - and I was not wrong! However the drama was not quite what I expected it to be and I love that Brayden took some of these familiar tropes and packaged them up in a different way.

This was a unique book in that it was kind of almost two stories in one. The first 1/4 or so is not quite insta love, but definitely insta connection, but then the story skips ahead 3 years and becomes more of an enemies-to-lovers, second chance, slow burn kind of romance. So you get the opportunity to see both their first and second chance at love which was kind of cool. But it was also very jarring when the time skip happened and it pulled me out of the story and took me a bit to get reinvested.

I really liked Jamie and Leighton as people, but when it came to their relationship I found myself more frustrated with them than anything! Jamie is a big grudge holder and I felt like she reacted way harsher than the situation warranted. And the lack of honesty and communication about feelings was killing me at times! There were moments where I wanted to NOT want them to get back together, but they were just so dang good together that I couldn’t help but root for them even when they were driving me up a wall!

I loved getting to see their connection rebuild and their friendship blossom, but I wish we would have gotten to see them as an actual couple more. I don’t mind a good slow burn romance, but because I’d already gotten to see how good they were together I didn’t like having to wait so long for that spark to reignite. But I did love the way the story wrapped up!

I also truly enjoyed a lot of the side characters, especially the regulars at Bordeauxnuts - Genevieve in particular. That woman was spicy and had some great one liners!

I’ll definitely be checking out more of Brayden’s books, and I think I need to start with Kiss the Girl so I can get to know Jessica Lennox and Brooklyn Campbell!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian and Bi FMCs, multiple queer SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Femme/Femme, Second Chance, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Coffee/Wine Bar, New York, Sapphic Romance

⚠️TW/CW: sexual content, alcohol use; minor: cancer, death of a parent, infidelity

You Had Me At Merlot is dual POV that takes place in New York. Jamie Tolliver, the owner of a coffee shop by day, wine bar by night called Bordeauxnuts. Leighton Morrow, a development coordinator for a department store ran by her Cousin called Carringtons. They’re at odds against each other, but can anyone really deny the spark when they find it? Queue Rhianna’s - We Found Love In A Hopeless Place.

I really enjoyed the first quarter of the book, but then the story had a time skip 3 years into the future, which I did struggle with a bit initially. Jamie was both a really wholesome and funny, but also incredibly infuriating character. Her passion for how she built up Bordeauxnuts and the love she put into it is amazing. I wish it existed. Although I didn’t agree with Leighton’s choices, Jamie’s ability to hold a grudge like no one’s business was frustrating. I could see why she was upset and angry, but it did feel like her reaction to what happened was unfair. The length of time she held it and the way she behaved because of it drove me crazy at times because I just wanted her to stop getting in her own way with life and love. It had me dying inside desperate for that HEA. I loved all of the side characters, except for Helen. Helen can talk to the hand. Clarissa, Leo, the coffee gang, Courtney, Jessica, Mindy…they really added so much to the story for me without needing to be too heavy into the plot. I adored Jamie’s Mum. She was so sweet. It does contain easter eggs to Melissa’s previous books that returning readers will love, but for me this was her first book. I’m excited to go back and read about some of the other characters. The story is at times lighthearted, emotional and really sweet. I enjoyed the banter within Bordeauxnuts. The way Melissa has written the story, it does a great job of incorporating lots of different aspects of tropes to build an interesting and emotion provoking plot and characters with undeniable chemistry and a little bit of spice.

I don't know where to start. Melissa Brayden, You had me at Bambi.

Yes. It may look weird reading it but hear me out. So, here goes nothing.

The main MC has this Coffee-Slash-Bar depending upon the time of the day, Bordeauxnuts. It's a comfy, warm, feel-good kind of place where one can get themselves at home with a kind smile and talk from the owner. Jamie started the Bordeauxnuts and put it on the map with sheer determination, hard work, and confident decisions especially when it comes to PR. She has this habit of nicknaming people when people come and place their orders based on the first impression they leave on her. So, when Leighton for the first time came to place her coffee order and knocked the hell out of Jamie by looking the one Jamie ever wanted in someone with doe-eyes, remarkable features, and impeccable clothes, Jamie nicknamed Leighton Bambi's Mother. Ohhh. I laughed so hard the first I read it. Hilarious. So, you had me at Bambi.

These two, Jamie and Leighton, are a duo who you want to know. I mean it when I say the chemistry and sparks just flow between them. I don't even have to think more about writing this review. The words are just pouring out of me. There were moments when I wanted to scream in the Joey did in the 'Friends' TV sitcom, 'Why God Why?' There is pain and grief, hurt, and much more drama. But, I truly felt things for Leighton. Her hurt, her happiness, her grief, her emotions, all the things a person will feel if placed in those circumstances. She was amazing. A great journey for me to know her and read about her. Jamie too. But, I had conflicting feelings about her. I liked her character and the depth of emotions she carried with her. But, irrationally I got irritated when she denied herself to look beyond her own feelings and emotions. Though, knowing what she went through I shouldn't had these conflicting thoughts but I had. *shrugs* That's the power of writing.

Let's move on. When I started reading and got in the 'groove' of knowing the Bordeauxnuts and it's regular, I thought the regulars were imaginations of Jamie's like her voice-over. The moment Leighton thought she saw a few familiar faces I was like phew. They are real. Yay. Those regulars were amazing. The witty combat, cheerfulness, and solidarity were something to behold. The dialogues in the book are like seeing a play through a third eye, like through a screen. The scenes are rushing past you, slowly or otherwise fast-paced, however, you are there watching the scenes unfolding in front of you.

The end, however, made me feel bereft. I wanted more. Just a tad bit more glimpses into the life of the characters I quietly got fond of. Also, I really really wanted to see Jamie's nickname for Leighton in actuality. *Laugh*

My recommendation is for you to get a hold of this book. You won't regret it. One of my great reads.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and hence writing the review.

Well I love a Melissa Brayden book and this was no exception! I was bemused - and gutted- at first at how quickly the story seemed to be over as Jamie and Leighton seemed perfect for each other. I was rooting for them the whole way and for once I really wanted an epilogue !
I really really really wanted to sit and have a coffee and/ or glass of wine at Bordeauxnuts and get to know the regulars. I also loved how the wine from Tangled Valley was brought in. Great read again

Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Unfortunately I don’t think this was for me. I found the writing to be lengthy and boring. The use of metaphors was too much and I did not like that Bambi’s mother was used to describe someone. There were definite struggles with flow of writing and the inner monologue that would pop in.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy

Brayden has a way with words. She weaves magical stories that pull at the heartstrings and don't let go until long after you finish her book.

Jamie Tolliver owns a coffee/wine bar that is in danger of getting bought out by a department store chain. She was an engaging, likeable character and I loved her interactions with her regulars, it just added to the story and made me love it even more.

Leighton Morrow works for Carrington, the department store that is looking to expand and is sent in to check out Jamie's place, which she loved, but didn't expect to be intrigued by Jamie. She works hard and loves her job, but Jamie has her rethinking some things.

All is not well when Jamie finds out who Leighton really is and it goes from there. The longing, the banter, the laughter, this story had it all. It was wonderful. not to mention all the name drops and hints from Brayden's other works which I loved.

Fantastic job and I can not recommend this book highly enough. It's perfect. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was pulled in by the idea of a rivals-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers romance, but the main conflict fell really flat for me. It seemed like it was resolved super quickly, and then the author had to add extra random plotlines to make up for it. I liked the initial conflict of Leighton working in secret to evict Jamie's cafe, but that issue was resolved almost immediately, and there were still hundreds of pages left in the book.

”Jamie Tolliver had no idea how important today would be,” the voice-over inside her head said in that deep throaty voice of his.

That beginning gave me the best feels straight away for this book!
Jamie and Leighton - i liked how their story went, it was on damn fire from start then a fallout happens pretty early and jump 3 yrs forward and start over in that special Brayden way.
Ok so, let me say ive had a bit of a rollercoaster with her books, early ones ive read i dont know how many times - defo a special place in my heart , then a few came along that didnt hit it off with me at all, i absolutly hate that countdown to 80% you just knew shit was about to break loose everytime buuut lately all i feel is love for the books and i loved this one!
Xtra big plus the fallout was so early i could read without the aproaching 80% cringe!
The BIG big super plus tho- you know the easter eggs you discover in her books, where she mentions characters from other books here and there, Ooooboy this book had Chapters filled with cameos , it was freaking christmas morning of easter eggs (idk?)

A feel good book - click that buy button N0W!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Melissa Brayden for the opportunity to read this ARC!

You Had Me at Merlot is a fun and cute quick read. The book mainly takes place in a cute little coffee, donut and wine bar called Bordeauxnuts in New York City. Everytime I opened the book I felt like I was in the cozy shop with all the other regulars! I feel like Jamie and Leighton were well developed and likeable characters. There were a few times when considering their age they acted a little immature but it kept the story flowing! Over all it was an emotional, funny, feel good Rom Com and I am so glad I had a chance to read! It was a great start to my February reads!