A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister is a single mom, friends-to-benefits romance full of steamy scenes and tons of heart.
This is the second Jodi McAlister book I have read, and she’s becoming one of my favorite romance writers. I loved that she continued the series and wrote a new love story. Fiona and Satoshi’s love story feels like reading a rom-com. Fiona is a single mom in the middle of a heavy divorce and needs to blow off steam; Satoshi is willing to help her have some fun. He may be younger and the sommelier at her favorite wine bar. Why not have a little fun with no strings attached? What could go wrong?
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A Study in Sparkling Overview
Title: A study in Sparkling
Author: Jodi McAlsiter
Pages: 384 Pages
Publish Date: September 15th, 2026
Genre: Romance
My Star Rating: 4/5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone!)
Grab Your Copy Here: https://amzn.to/4x0aulG
Synopsis From Amazon
Fiona Fisher thought she had it all: a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, catastrophically in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
My Review of A Study in Sparkling
First, let me thank Jodi McAlister, NetGalley, and Atria Books for an advanced reading copy of A Study in Sparkling. I loved reading Fiona and Satoshi’s love story. Last year, I read An Academic Affair and appreciated the continuation of the story, but with different main characters.
I liked the way this book started, with Satoshi recounting the times he definitely didn’t fall in love with Fiona. It was endearing to read and made me really like his character. As a second-born child, I related to Satoshi’s unwillingness to let his older brother help and viewed it as him not trusting Satoshi.
I really enjoyed the wine blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. My knowledge of wine is limited, but I feel like I understand more about wine after reading this book. Plus, sometimes those wines sounded absolutely delicious!
Another thing I enjoyed was the spicy scenes. They never felt overdone and kept it realistic. Also, it worked with the story as an added bonus and wasn’t just the story.
I like Fiona and found her story with her ex very frustrating and relatable. I loved reading about her children’s reactions to what was going on. They seemed like really good kids who were dealt a bad hand. I loved Lex; they really shined in this book. They were the humor and heart of the story for me.
Lastly, I’m glad we got to see Sadie and Jonah be a part of this story but not take it over. I enjoyed the way that Sadie made fun of and alluded to the relationship between Fiona and Satoshi. A true sister-in-law move!
A Study in Sparkling is perfect for anyone who loves a friends-with-benefits romance with a single mother and a younger man. This book is full of spice and definitely worth the read.
More Romance Books
- Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh Book Review
- Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan NetGalley Book Review
- The Shippers by Katherine Center Book Review
- The Follow Through By Lauren Andrew Book Review
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoy reading A Study In Sparkling as much as I did. It’s such a sweet and sexy story that will have you cheering for Fiona and Satoshi to have their happy ending. If you read this book or have any questions about it, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you!
Lastly, if you enjoyed this review, pin it for later on Pinterest. I appreciate all the love and support.
Thanks for reading,
Kel
