You’ll have to excuse me while I fan-crush for a moment. BrewGirl is one of my favorite reads of 2016, and I was over the moon when Eliza David graciously agreed to stop over for an interview. She’ll be here next month as well, sharing a guest post. Keep reading for my review and to see what Eliza says inspired her (and what’s in her fridge!).
Author: Eliza David
Title: BrewGirl
Genre: Romance
Length: 212 pages (Kindle)
Release Date: February 20, 2016
What happens when a feminist meets the chauvinist of her dreams?
When Zoe Taylor was a pudgy brown little girl in the mid-Eighties, she dreamed of being one of the tall, thin, and white BrewGirls – the spokesmodels for Windy City Brewery, the staple beermaker of Chicago for over a century.
Fast forward to 2016 – Zoe’s thirty-five, more curvy than pudgy, and working for Windy City Brewery as their lead marketing director. Her BrewGirl aspirations far behind her, Zoe is a self-proclaimed feminist who enjoys spending time with her best friend Ben, avoiding judgmental glares from her marriage-minded mother Marjorie and uptight
twin brother Franny, and being a stellar employee to her demanding boss Diane.
Everything in her life changes the day she meets real-life Ken Doll Nick Webster, a twentysomething sales ingénue she’s forced to work with on a beverage launch. After greeting her with a compliment about her breasts, Zoe instantly hates him. Two months later, she falls in love.
But when she suspects that Nick is still carrying on with his rumored playboy ways, Zoe becomes unrecognizable to herself. From spying to crying, Zoe’s focus shifts from herself to monitoring her younger boyfriend’s every move. When she uncovers a heart-wrenching secret that threatens to tear both her relationship and her family apart, Zoe has to find her voice again.
This was my first book by Eliza David, but it won’t be my last. So far, this is hands-down the best book I’ve read this year. I know a book is good when it can bring me a full range of emotions, everything from laughing my butt off to wanting to smack every character to crying both with sadness and with joy and relief.
I picked it up because feminist-me loved the concept: a feminist falls for a misogynist. I’ll admit, I wondered if that could possibly go anywhere but wrong on so many levels, and I showed up for the inevitable train wreck. I wasn’t disappointed, and it was done in such a clever, skillful way.
Zoe had me hooked right from the start. While her life is otherwise nothing like mine, I could absolutely relate to having the feminist mom who made me read “old lady books” as a kid. I wanted to crawl into the pages of the book and laugh and commiserate with Zoe over drinks.
Sexy Nick is delightfully awful from the minute he waltzes into Zoe’s life. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand what Zoe saw in him–he’s a thousand shades of terrible. And yet, I loved her for owning her conflicted feelings and letting them take her along for the ride. As horrible as he is, Zoe shows incredible growth as a person through her involvement with him.
There were so many side characters, and it would be hard to pinpoint which were my favorites. I loved them all for different reasons. I loved the honest talk between Zoe and the women in her life. Too often, books show the nastier side of women’s interactions. There’s plenty of tension here, sure, but there’s a much larger helping of real love among them.
Ultimately, this is an unconventional love story that’s more about friendships, family, honesty, and fidelity than about romance. It is women’s lit at its finest, and every book should aspire to this level of depth and emotion.
Every woman who calls herself a feminist should read this book. It’s sexy, smart, and complex, a perfect blend of everything I want in a novel. Eliza David is a powerhouse writer and someone who has taken things to the next level. Well done.
For real, multifaceted women, a wild ride of emotions, and some stick-with-you truths, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018ZVID5O
After working on the campaign draft for hours, Zoe decided to sneak off to Guapo’s at three. Ben was off but she needed to wash the taste of BrewGirl IPA off of her tongue. She pulled up to the bar and greeted Ramon, one of the bartenders.
“Pint of the chocolate lager, please,” she said, handing her card to Ramon.
He shook his head. “You know your money’s no good here, Miss Taylor. Mr. Ramirez would kill me.”
She winked with a smile, sliding her card back into her billfold. “That boy’s gonna go broke feeding me free beer. I’ll still hit you with a monster tip, as always.”
As Ramon returned the wink and walked to get Zoe’s draft, she heard a voice to her right say, “Did someone say ‘free beer’?”
Zoe’s gaze was down as she stuffed her wallet into her purse. “Yeah, I got it like that.”
“Not surprised,” the stranger replied. “I bet a girl with a rack like yours can get anything she wants.”
Instantly annoyed and prepared to tell him off, Zoe spun her head to face the rude and untoward stranger. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt hypnotized by the green pools that posed as the beautiful stranger’s eyes. As her gaze danced across his lean muscular frame, she noted that he looked nothing like the typical stuffed suit happy hour patron that pulled up to Guapo’s bar. Her attention was brought to his lusciously pouty lips as he gave them a quick swipe with his tongue. She felt herself clench as he continued.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive my inappropriate reply, Miss…” He stuck out his hand to her.
Zoe snapped out of her hypnosis and shook his hand. “Taylor. Zoe Taylor.”
The man raised his eyebrows. “The Zoe Taylor? Of Windy City Brew?
“That’s me, live and direct. And you are?”
He dropped her hand and took a sip of his own chocolate lager, toasting the pint glass in her direction. “Me? I’m Nick Webster.”
“The Nick Webster?”
He gave an eyebrow wiggle, turning Zoe on even more. “Live and direct.”
Zoe stared at him, still in disbelief. “So what happened to you this morning?”
“I was sick,” Nick said before taking a sip and glancing at the Bulls-Knicks basketball game on the elevated television behind the bar.
Zoe watched him as he set the beer back on the bar. “Sick, but well enough to drink beer, I see.”
He looked at her as he pointed to the pint. “Hair of the dog.”
“So you were hungover – not sick.”
He nodded. “Same thing.”
“Except not,” Zoe replied.
He straightened his back, his pecs pressing through his thin white t-shirt. “Why’re you so concerned with my absence? Did you miss me?”
Zoe shook her head with a haughty laugh as she reached for the beer Ramon set before her. “I don’t even know you.”
“Oh, you know me,” Nick said with a smirk. “Your reaction said it all.”
Eliza is the author of the five-star rated, six-book Cougarette Series as well as her latest release, BrewGirl. Born and raised in Chicago, Eliza currently resides in Iowa City. When she’s not writing, working full time, or raising two children with her loving husband, she enjoys reading, fitness, and the occasional bit of celebrity gossip. Eliza is also a featured blogger for the Real Moms of Eastern Iowa. She’s currently working on Book Two of the BrewGirl series, BrewGirl in Vegas.
Website: http://ElizaDavidWrites.com
Blog: http://www.elizadavidwrites.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizadwrites
IG: https://instagram.com/writegirlproblems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elizadwrites
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00S3T495M
Google+: https://www.google.com/+ElizaDavidWrites
Tumblr: http://elizadavidwrites.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12419007.Eliza_David
Today I’m welcoming Eliza David to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about BrewGirl.
What inspired you to write this story?
As anyone who follows my personal Facebook page knows, I love to talk about pop culture and one of the hottest buzzwords in pop culture these days is ‘feminism’. One of my Facebook posts ran the gamut when discussing the word: What is feminism? Do we need feminism? Who’s a feminist? That last question planted the developmental seed of my main character Zoe Taylor in my head. I started with Zoe in mind and thought, “Could a feminist fall in love with a misogynist?” Then I took it a step further and decided to make Zoe a marketing exec in one of the most masculine industries – beer. Thus, BrewGirl was born.
A.M. says: That last question—who’s a feminist—is a good one. Lots of different opinions on the answer. I think Zoe answered it pretty well, though. 🙂
Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?
I think that Zoe and Nick (Zoe’s misogynistic love interest) represent a duality in me – part feminist, part chauvinist. While I can drown in the womanist writings of Alice Walker, Nora Ephron, and bell hooks, I also love fart jokes and Andrew Dice Clay. Although I embrace both sides of my ribald personality, I am a strident advocate for all women, first and foremost.
A.M. says: I love that, and I love that you’re openly embracing the duality.
What was the hardest part of writing this?
Making Nick likeable, which was a challenge I hadn’t had to endure when I wrote my MC’s love interest in my previous book series, The Cougarette. Jay of the Cougarette Series – despite his many faults – was a good guy. A very heart-on-his-sleeve type of man. On the other hand, the reader isn’t sure what to expect from Nick. I made him approachable, gorgeous, and good humored…but can you trust him?
A.M. says: He’s so not my type, ha! But I kept thinking maybe I just needed to be more open-minded.
Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?
I think that my favorite passage in the book is when Nick gives Zoe a vintage copy of a book written by her favorite author, Alice Walker. That touched me as a bookworm because my husband knows that if he wants to make me a happy camper, all he has to do is drop me off at the bookstore. Zoe’s that kind of girl, too, and I think that adds to Nick’s likeability (however fleeting!).
A.M. says: Oh, man. Yeah, that’s me as well. It’s even worse now that I can get eBooks at the click of the mouse.
Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.
I am currently working on the second book in the series, BrewGirl in Vegas. It’s due out in July.
A.M. says: Woo hoo! Can’t wait.
Who do you write for (your audience or who you hope to reach)?
I write for people who enjoy reading about women who revel in their flaws, hold down their own lives, and know how to have a good time with a hot guy who usually ends up becoming a headache.
A.M. says: Ah, just about the perfect read. 🙂
What do you wish people knew about your books or characters?
My characters are all works in progress. They come full circle (…eventually) but the books serve as my readers’ peek into that journey.
A.M. says: For sure! I think that’s the kind of thing which really speaks to readers, almost like a grown-up coming of age story.
Are there any common themes you see in your work?
The main thread between both of my lead characters (CeeCee Banks of The Cougarette and Zoe Taylor of BrewGirl) is their involvement with younger men. That’s the surface theme, but beneath that, my work touches on the triumphs and joys of being a woman. My characters have been cheaters and the cheated. They’ve been in therapy. They’ve been celebrated. They’ve moved across the country for a better life. They been betrayed by family. They have fallen in love with strangers. My ultimate goal with my novels is to give my readers a main character they care about and want to see win through it all.
A.M. says: “The triumphs and joys of being a woman.” That’s what stood out to me as well in BrewGirl. I loved how the women fought just as hard for their relationships with each other as with their partners.
Word Sprints!
- What’s a charity/cause you support? I am huge supporter of my local library. It’s my favorite place in town!
- What are you currently wearing? A striped Forever 21 maxidress and a leopard print Snuggie. I’m weird, but you’ll get used to it.
- Do the people in your life know about your writing? Oh yes. I have a husband and two kids so I always have to give them The Talk whenever I begin a new project.
- What makes you unique? I’m a broad. Seriously, broads are rare these days; everyone wants to be a lady, a princess, a bad bitch, a bossbabe, etc. All of those are fine and dandy, I suppose – but I like to drink, curse, tell dirty jokes in mixed company, sing at the top of my lungs, laugh loudly…and read quietly.
- As a kid, were you a Goody-Goody or a Wild Child? I walked the line between both – still do!
- What’s on your to-be-read shelf? Oh man…too many to list, but next up for me will be a reread of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity. I read it in college and didn’t appreciate it.
- What’s on your playlist? Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and the new Gwen Stefani.
- What’s in your fridge? Eggs, Andes Mints, salad, and leftovers
- What’s on tap? Red Bull, a half-full bottle of Bordeaux, Capri Suns, and a sixer of New Belgium
- What’s your wake-up routine? Roll over at 5:21am, check my social media pages for nine minutes until the Snooze alarm goes off at 5:30, write until 7, and get ready for the dayjob and school dropoff.
A.M. says: Pretty sure your answer to #4 is just about my favorite response I’ve gotten to that question. Thanks for stopping by, and you know you’re welcome here any time!
[…] I had the awesome opportunity to chat with author and blogger A.M. Leibowitz. We talked about a few choice topics like feminism, writing, and BrewGirl (which she adores!). CHECK IT OUT! […]