2 Chill-Out Books to Read Over July 4 (and More)

An ode to California farm country, Katherine Taylor's smart, winningly dry novel follows Ingrid Palamede (known to her friends and family as "Inky"), a prodigal daughter who returns to the family vineyard after a painful break-up and, in the process, rediscovers her ties to the land. Despite Ingrid's initial resistance, she soon realizes she's the only one in her family capable of keeping the farm from ruin. Whether or not she'll choose to stay—and wind up with an old hometown flame—is the question that keeps the pages turning. Though Taylor's arch dialogue sometimes grates, the witty characters and descriptions of Fresno's acres of grapes, farm-to-table food culture and, of course, various varietals (a Malbec "so rich and viscous, you couldn't see your fingers on the other side of the glass") make this tale as relaxing and crave-able as that first post-work sip of wine.—