Books & Bottles: The Hunting Wives & Seven Hills 2020 Rosé

You guys … summer is flying by and it’s stressing me out a little bit. Haha. Soon my pictures will go back to being indoors… and not at the park (which is where I spend all my time reading). Let’s not mourn summer just yet! Right? We still have loads of time. So, let’s get into today’s Books & Bottles: The Hunting Wives & Seven Hills 2020 Rosé.

If you’re new to my Books & Bottles Series: Welcome! This is a monthly post where I write about the book I read and also share a bottle of wine that I tried. It’s been a way to keep me honest during this, well, insane year but also helping prioritize reading and get into books I wouldn’t normally pick up.

This year, I’ve been really good at supporting local wines. Each wine bottle has been a Washington State wine. I actually wrote a blog post on the 10 Best Washington State Rosés last month because we are just killin’ the rosé game this year.

okay okay, enough chit chat on catching y’all up. Let’s get into this month’s B&B series.

Table of Contents

The Book: The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

Y’all … this boooooook. I hope you’re ready for a wild dramatic ride.

A brief synopsis:

Sophie, her husband and child, move out of the big Chicago city to small town East Texas. Leaving her editorial position at a major magazine to build her personal brand as a lifestyle blogger. As she steps into her new community, she becomes fixated on a very wealthy and sensuous woman, Margot.

Margot happens to have a close knit group of prestigious women that Sophie needs to be a part of. After stalking the group for a few months, Sophie gets an invite into The Hunting Wives social circle and gets a run for her money. They’re not at all what she was expecting.

When a body turns up, the heat is on, drunken and scandalous stories unfold as the cops investigate this small town murder. Sophie finds herself at the center, lying and being a person she didn’t know she was… at the forefront of it all.

Honest review:

I’m conflicted – I disapproved of 3/4 of the actions in this book. I despised almost every character. The obsessive behavior displayed from the main character, Sophie (who doesn’t feel like a Sophie to me, you know?), was so over the top it actually caused me to take a social media hiatus in real life. Her constant need for the attention and approval from people, primarily from Margot, is unhealthy. To the point where I felt that she could benefit from therapy.

The narcissism in this book threw me over the edge with Margot. She’s the type of person who shines so much that everyone is attracted to her. It’s like she’s a magnetic force of power around the people she allows in her circle. She gets what she wants because she’s beautiful and sexy and she can make her problems go away with money and privilege.

You will not want to be friends with these women. You will want to walk away from the drama of these housewives, but you will eat up ever last word of this book while you watch their train-wreck unfold.

Book rating: 3.5 stars

I’d give it a 3.5 stars due to my confliction and the slowish lead up… and the stress. I literally got to 70% in this book and had to finish it. Does that make it a good book? or just good drama?

Have you read The Hunting Wives? Tell me what you thought below!

Seven Hills Rose 2020 and The Hunting Wives — Picnic Spread with The Hunting Wives & Seven Hills’ 2020 Rosé

The Bottle: Seven Hills Winery’s 2020 Dry Rosé

Wine Review time! I was first introduced to Seven Hills Winery at the 2019 Taste of Washington Wine Event in Seattle. It might have been my last big event before… “the c-word” hit the world. Anyway, I actually took a photo of the 2018 rosé. I only took photos of the tastings I reallllly enjoyed. It’s also one of the oldest wineries in the valley. So, when my friend and I went to Walla Walla last month, I had to get a tasting on the calendar.

What I’m tasting:

This is a lighter rosé and I wouldn’t call it fruity, per se. It’s a dry-er, more acidic wine than some might like but, personally, I love a dry rosé. It’s got quite a smooth finish with lovely hints of grapefruit.

I will say, compared to my notes from the 2018 rosé, I liked that one more. However, I’m not very surprised. 2020 was a big forest fire year in Washington State. Even though the vines may be the same, the elements might have altered the grapes.

What makes this wine unique:

The Seven Hills 2020 dry rosé is primarily made of Cab Franc grapes! It was also harvested several weeks before the normal red grape season, which is probably what makes it a bit more acidic and dry.

It’s also the loveliest color! A beautiful pinkish copper hue.

Overall wine grade: B+

It’s really only because I’m comparing it to the previous 2 years of wine. We were fortunate enough to be spoiled rotten at our tasting. We tried the 2019 and the 2020 rosé. Shocked to my surprise. I liked the 2020 the least of the three years but I didn’t hate it! It was still delightful!

Honest! It’s the perfect summer patio wine.

Also, these opinions are my own so, perhaps you should go out and try it yourself. I didn’t buy a bottle while at the winery (because I bought two other reds) but I did pick this one up a few weeks ago, on sale, at the metropolitan market. If you’re a local, grab it before it’s gone.

What are you reading and what’s your go-to summer wine? I’m dying to know what others are reading and drinking. 💕