Rochelle Dowden-Lord
autor
Lush
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION* A STYLIST BEST BOOK OF 2025 * A DAZED MUST-READ NOVEL FOR 2025 * A GQ MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 *A TIMES BEST NEW BOOK *'A sumptuous treat' Bolu Babalola'Breathtaking ... dare I say, intoxicating' Okechukwu NzeluA mysterious invitation to drink the oldest bottle of wine in the world - who could resis? wine influencer, a rising star sommelier, a caustic food critic and an ingenuous American millionaire gather at a sprawling French vineyard estate at the request of a renowned Grand Sommelier. Each arrives at a crucial point in their lives, and each has something to prove. As glasses are emptied, rivalries fermented and secrets spilled, the guests and their host must confront hard truths that could change their lives forever. Heady and subtly powerful, Lush is a bittersweet reckoning with class, beauty, hedonism and desire. 'Intoxicating' Times'Heady [and] sun-soaked' Dazed
Lush
Four very different people, each at a crucial point in their lives, arrive at a French vineyard estate for a transformative experience - but not the kind they expected.
Wine influencer Avery has given up her exploitative but fiercely fought sommelier job to be here, hoping it will earn her the prestige and funds she needs to survive. Rising-star sommelier Cosmo comes from privilege but is struggling to conceal that his life is in freefall. Millionaire Sonny earns scorn for dabbling in his tacky supermarket wine brand, while caustic French critic Maëlys hovers, poised to record their indiscretions. Finally, there's the enigmatic Master, who relishes the sway he holds over his guests almost as much as his partner, Tao, resents it.
As glasses are emptied, rivalries fermented and secrets spilled, each must confront hard truths. Heady and subtly powerful, Lush is a bittersweet reckoning with class, beauty, hedonism and desire.
