Rochelle Dowden-Lord’s debut novel “Lush” arrives with the tannic complexity of an aged Bordeaux—bold, layered, and deeply satisfying, yet not without its challenging notes. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of a French vineyard, this intoxicating tale follows four wine professionals—each broken in their unique way—as they converge to taste one of the rarest wines in existence. Much like the wine they’ve come to sample, these characters undergo a transformation that leaves readers simultaneously buzzing and contemplative.
The Bouquet: Plot and Premise
“Lush” by Rochelle Dowden-Lord centers on four distinct wine experts summoned to the estate of renowned Master Sommelier Jon Master and his artist husband Tao. The guests arrive with varying degrees of expertise and personal baggage:
- Avery Blackwood: A struggling sommelier supplementing her income as a wine influencer, navigating an industry that often values her appearance over her knowledge
- Cosmo Chapman: A young, brilliant Master Sommelier with a self-destructive relationship with alcohol
- Sonny Deere: An affable American millionaire whose popular wine brand lacks prestige
- Maëlys Farrow: A sharp-tongued French food and wine critic with a complicated relationship with motherhood
What begins as an exclusive tasting weekend spirals into a journey of excess, revelation, and tragedy. As the characters await their chance to taste a bottle of legendary “Quatre-Vingt-Dix”—possibly the last of its kind in existence—tensions rise, desires spill over, and relationships form and fracture. When Sonny loses a finger in mysterious circumstances, the drunken haze that has enveloped the weekend becomes impossible to maintain.
The Palate: Writing Style and Structure
Dowden-Lord’s prose is sensuous yet precise—much like a sommelier’s tasting notes. She deftly employs alternating perspectives, allowing readers intimate access to her characters’ hopes and insecurities. The language flows like wine itself: sometimes sharp and acidic, other times rich and velvety.
Consider this passage that captures her distinct style:
“He’s a young boy but he’s not a child. He’s not a man but he isn’t so small anymore that he should be left out of things. There are things children don’t know that he does, and he thinks that if that doesn’t make him a man then at least he should have an honorary consideration and be able to do some of the things that men do.”
The novel’s structure mirrors inebriation itself—starting with clarity before gradually becoming more fragmented and dreamlike. Chapter titles draw from wine terminology (“Terroir,” “Brut,” “Angel’s Share”), elegantly echoing the themes of each section. Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable control over her narrative, even as her characters lose control over themselves.
The Legs: Themes and Symbolism
“Lush” by Rochelle Dowden-Lord is deceptively complex, exploring several interwoven themes:
1. The Transformative Power of Wine
The novel examines wine not merely as a beverage but as a vehicle for memory, connection, and self-deception. Characters project their deepest desires onto the rare vintage they’re summoned to taste, only to confront its disappointing reality.
2. Authenticity vs. Facade
Each character maintains a carefully constructed persona that alcohol simultaneously reinforces and dissolves. The wine industry itself becomes a metaphor for performance—where presentation and perception often matter more than substance.
3. Consumption and Excess
Dowden-Lord fearlessly examines addiction not through moralizing but through unflinching observation. The characters’ relationships with alcohol mirror their relationships with themselves and others—sometimes nurturing, often destructive.
4. Memory and Identity
The novel cleverly explores how alcohol blurs the boundaries between what we remember and what we’ve invented. Cosmo’s inability to recall whether he severed Sonny’s finger becomes a haunting metaphor for the elusive nature of truth.
The Body: Character Development
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its complex, flawed characters. Dowden-Lord has created a cast that feels startlingly real—neither wholly sympathetic nor entirely contemptible. Like fine wine, they reveal different notes depending on how you approach them:
- Avery emerges as the emotional center, struggling to be taken seriously in an industry that often views her as decorative rather than knowledgeable. Her evolution from insecurity to tentative self-acceptance feels earned rather than prescribed.
- Cosmo provides the novel’s most heartbreaking arc. His alcoholism isn’t portrayed as a moral failing but as a gradual erosion of self. His post-France sobriety serves not as redemption but as a painful reckoning with who he might have been.
- Sonny, initially presented as a wealthy dilettante, gradually reveals depths of empathy and resilience beneath his cheerful exterior. His statement—“I find it hard to be happy, but I try”—reveals volumes about his carefully constructed persona.
- Maëlys remains the most enigmatic figure—her brutal honesty about motherhood providing some of the novel’s most unsettling moments. Her professional detachment becomes both her shield and her limitation.
The Finish: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Shines:
- Atmospheric Immersion: Dowden-Lord creates a sensory experience so vivid you can almost taste the wines and feel the summer heat of the vineyard.
- Dialogue: Conversations feel natural yet revealing, each exchange layered with subtext and unspoken desires.
- Industry Authenticity: The author demonstrates intimate knowledge of wine culture without overwhelming readers with jargon.
- Character Complexity: Even minor characters like Tao feel fully realized and essential to the narrative.
Where It Stumbles:
- Pacing Issues: The novel occasionally lingers too long in certain scenes while rushing through others.
- Perspective Shifts: While mostly effective, some transitions between viewpoints can disorient readers.
- Resolution: Some readers may find the conclusion’s ambiguity frustrating rather than thought-provoking.
- Character Balance: Maëlys occasionally feels underutilized compared to the other central characters.
The Terroir: Literary Context
“Lush” by Rochelle Dowden-Lord positions itself in conversation with other works exploring addiction, desire, and professional obsession. It shares DNA with Stephanie Danler’s “Sweetbitter” and Jay McInerney’s “Bright Lights, Big City,” yet carves its own distinctive niche. Unlike those works, Dowden-Lord’s novel doesn’t romanticize excess but examines it with clear-eyed compassion.
The novel’s exploration of wine culture recalls Rex Pickett’s “Sideways,” though “Lush” delves deeper into the psychological underpinnings of wine obsession. Its questioning of memory and responsibility brings to mind Emily St. John Mandel’s “The Glass Hotel“—both novels explore how we construct narratives around our complicity.
Decanting the Final Verdict
“Lush” by Rochelle Dowden-Lord is a remarkable debut that balances sensuous indulgence with unflinching examination. Like the rare vintage at its center, it may not be what readers expect, but it offers something more complex and lasting than simple satisfaction. Dowden-Lord writes with the confidence of a seasoned novelist, creating a world that feels both glamorous and treacherous.
This novel will resonate most strongly with readers who appreciate ambiguity and are willing to sit with uncomfortable truths. It isn’t a light summer read, despite its sun-soaked setting. Rather, it’s a penetrating examination of desire, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
For a debut novelist, Rochelle Dowden-Lord demonstrates remarkable restraint and insight. “Lush” announces the arrival of a significant literary talent whose work, like the finest wine, promises to evolve and deepen with time.
“Lush” by Rochelle Dowden-Lord is like the rare bottle at its center—unique, complex, and impossible to forget even after the last page is turned.
Perfect Pairings
If you enjoyed “Lush,” consider these complementary reads:
- “Sweetbitter” by Stephanie Danler
- “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl
- “Cork Dork” by Bianca Bosker
- “The Ensemble” by Aja Gabel
- “Bright Burning Things” by Lisa Harding
Pour yourself a glass of something special and savor this debut—just remember to taste responsibly.
