Friends in Napa

A Novel

By: Sheila Yasmin Marikar, Mindy Kaling - introduction

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

“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.

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

Nothing happens, on and on writing, boring . So trendy , but no story development, and totally boring.

Unnecessary Rambling

This was one of the worst I've ever listened to. Obviously written by and for the 40-somethings, with an attempt at sounding like a social media 30-something, this author spews her knowledge of the world of the obnoxious elite. It took FOREVER to get to the point(s), and then it was completely anticlimactic.

DNF

I have only DNF 2 books in my life and this is one of them unfortunately.

Perfectly awful.

None of these characters were likable, let alone realistic. Had high for this but was very disappointed.

Not my usual read.

This story was not the usual things I like to read. I usually go in for crime dramas and I don't know how I got this one by mistake.

Obnoxious rich people

It’s hard to spend this much time with people you don’t like at all. Unfortunately I did just that with this book.

Raj

The hostility of Raj was too too pronounced and thus became unbelievable to me and my listening ears.

OK, I guess

I'm sure it's a decent book to read and even though the narrator did a fantastic job, I wish I hadn't used an audible credit on it. The lingo and style probably appeals more to the younger than 45 crowd, but I found it annoying.

Not worth the purchase

The book was all over the map . Would love to get my credit back .
Our book club rated the book 1 star only overall

Really engaging story - hooked from the first chapter!

I flew through this audiobook! I loved the characters. They were so multidimensional, and almost all of them were relatable in a different way. I didn’t know whether to hate some of these characters, or to feel compassion for them and give them a hug, and I think that’s the hallmark of good character development. The story was also so well developed, and the interactions and individual story lines of each character were really fascinating. I don’t want to spoil much, but the story reels you in from the first chapter, and I just couldn’t stop listening!