
Friends in Napa
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Soneela Nankani
About this listen
“Smart and wildly entertaining…like drinking a glass of wine with an endlessly witty, scandalous friend.”–Mindy Kaling
Six old friends descend on Napa Valley for a luxurious weekend of fine wine and good times…until old tensions simmer to the surface. So much can go wrong in this dark comedy by the author of The Goddess Effect.
Just get yourselves here, everything else is on us.
Raj and Rachel Ranjani have invited a small group of their ride or dies from college for a celebratory weekend in Napa Valley. On the agenda: three nights in the couple’s vineyard mansion, a lavish dinner at Napa’s hottest new restaurant, exclusive tastings, and the grand opening of the Ranjanis’ ultra-high-end winery. It’s a reunion of six friends who haven’t seen each other in years. What could go wrong?
To start, there’s the less-than-warm welcome: a brick flung through a window and palpable tension between the hosts. But no worries—all Raj has to do is pop a few bottles of vintage Dom, and the college vibes come rushing back. So do old resentments, animosities, and unrequited crushes. Soon enough, the illusion of friendship shatters like a gossamer wineglass, and one of the friends ends up dead. Everyone has their motivations. Everyone has something to hide.
Here’s to a weekend in the valley. Drink up and watch your back.
©2024 Sheila Yasmin Marikar (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Soneela Nankani's narration maximizes this story of reunion and suspense. Her expressive voice captures the complexities of Raj and Rachel Ranjani's special weekend.… Nankani's skillful character differentiation immerses listeners in the diverse personalities and hidden agendas of the six main characters. Her pacing perfectly builds the tension, ramping up old resentments and secrets that have lingered over 20 years. As the conflict escalates to a shocking murder, Nankani's narration keeps listeners on the edge of their seats.” —AudioFile Magazine
“Marikar is skilled at dissecting the social-media-obsessed culture of comparison that traps so many people in its web.” —Booklist
“A perfect dose of suspense and deliciously complex friendships…Come for the mystery and friend drama; stay for the unbelievable lifestyle details. Marikar knows the best of the best from her years of writing about luxury travel, and it sparkles on every page. You’ll be packing your bags for Napa. The vineyards, the food, the fashion, every chapter is a dreamy escape—with a dark edge. It’s a Liane Moriarty set in gorgeous wine country.” —Kate Myers, author of Excavations
How boring this story is
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Unnecessary Rambling
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DNF
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Perfectly awful.
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Not my usual read.
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Obnoxious rich people
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Raj
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OK, I guess
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Our book club rated the book 1 star only overall
Not worth the purchase
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Really engaging story - hooked from the first chapter!
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