Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher (July 5, 2025) Huge thanks to @avonbooks for the #gifted advanced reading copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year! After devouring Whisky Business last year, I couldn’t wait for Callum and Juniper’s story – and Scotch on the Rocks absolutely delivers.
Callum fell for Juniper years ago in a chance encounter…only to discover she was dating his brother. Then she became his brother’s fiancée. Then they broke up. But even now, she’s still off-limits – at least in theory. Because fate keeps throwing Juniper and Callum into each other’s orbit…and sparks fly every time.
I love a he fell first/it was always her romance, and Fletcher nails it. Callum’s quiet pining, Juniper’s guarded vulnerability, the weight of family loyalty – this is small-town slow burn at its finest. The McCabe brothers are chaotic and compelling, each one messy in his own way, and I’m obsessed with the dynamic between them and the women who challenge and change them.
What really stands out is the emotional depth Fletcher gives both leads. Yes, it’s steamy and swoony – but it’s also layered with growth, reckoning, and heart. And the messiest brother of all, Alistair, appears to be the center of the next book! I’m counting down the days!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Russ Bain and Rebecca McClay are electric. Their chemistry, frustration, and slow surrender come through perfectly in this dual narration. The accents? The tension? Chef’s kiss. (10h 35m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 