It's on me for not knowing this was the second book in a series. However, i went back and read the first one and jumped into this one.
I loved the cover. I thought it was really cute and the premise sounded interesting. I didn't connect to our main character and her storyline. The book and the writing were okay, it's a quick read and swoony at times. But overall, i didn't find myself intrigued enough and i didn't care much about the characters.

What an amazing read, a really good surprise! With engaging writing, a story that holds us to its pages, and a set of passionate characters. I loved every minute of this read!

Plot | 3⭐
Characters | 5⭐
Ease of Read | 4⭐
Quality of Writing | 4⭐

Overall | 4⭐

This is book 2 of the duology. It’s a fast read and well written book. I love her writing style. I’m looking forward to reading book 1. I also loved the cover. Getting the hard copy of this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Victoria is a busy woman and very independent and doesn't have time for a relationship until she meets Ricky. Ricky was just discovered as a rock star and has fallen head over heels for Vicky. This is a great read - can't wait for more from this author!

I DNFed this book at the 20% mark. That said, I understand how many love this book; it just wasn't for me, which is perfectly okay. I found the characters, especially the main characters and dialogue, to be insufferable. The plot and romantic interests felt very forced to me, with minimal background provided. I wanted to get into this book, but unfortunately, I could not. Thank you, Netgalley, for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

I'm so glad that I finally read this one! I absolutely adored the story, the main group of girl friends, and the undeniable attraction the two main characters felt for each other! Made up the perfect romance book!

"I hope I won't end up being just a song to you."
"If it's up to me, I want you to be the soundtrack of my life."

Cue me swooning, like I couldn't stop doing throughout the entirety of this book. Honestly, if I wasn't swooning because my heart was full of fuzzy warm feelings, it was being broken to then be put back together again and being even fuller for it.

Rockstar romances are one of my favorite types of books to read. There's just something insanely romantic about a hot guy being loved my the masses but only singing his song to you and being head over heels for you. And man oh man, did By Chance deliver on this!

I'll say it loud and clear: Ricky holds my heart. The way he went all in for Vicky right from the start, his determination, his one-liners, his songs, his intense stares while singing, the way he kept showing up for her even when she tried to push him away... I can't count the amount of times I had to stop reading for a minute or so out of pure fear of falling in love with Ricky myself. Let's be honest, I completely failed at that! The man is swoon worthy if nothing else. The way he always worries his scar or plays with his necklace when he's worried, anxious or thinking about something just did things to me. And then I haven't mentioned his tattooed arm, *faint*.

The romance in this book was sublime. I've got to give it to Sigal Ehrlich, she did a great job. The writing was so masterful that she managed to make a book based on instalove one of my new favorite books, even though I loathe the instalove trope. But, it was SO. WELL. DONE. It just felt natural. And the combination of that with both of the characters denying the intensity of their feelings, *licking my fingers because it was so delicious to read*. Vicky's emotional constipation (or defense mechanisms) was just the cherry on top.

Honestly, I'll never write a review that can do this book justice. I can only tell you that you NEED to read this book if you like:
- heartwarming contemporary romance
- swoon worthy, hot, tatted, lead singer of a band / rockstar x strong and powerful but emotionally constipated VP who has a hard time giving up control
- hilarious group of friends
- cheeky cows (read it to get it ;) )
- emotional damage that gets healed by the art of kintsugi (you know, the golden glue that's used to repair ceramics)

Ooh, I almost forgot to say it was so nice to read about Tyler and Ivi again, even if it was just for a few fleeting moments. Unplugged has a special place in my heart as well!

When I got this book I had no idea that this was the second book in the Poison & Wine series. But I still read it without reading the first one and I felt like it can be read as a standalone.

There were so many moments in this book that made me laugh and it was unusual to me because it's one of the very few books that has been able to do that.

This is told in dual POV which I absolutely loved. Even the side characters were done so perfectly. This book in general was perfection. If you are looking for a quick fun romance this is definitely for you.

I have to preface this review by saying I got the first book for free on Amazon and loved it so much that I purposely went out looking for the next book in the series. When I saw that it was available on NetGalley, I immediately snapped it up because I loved the friend group and the characters so much.

We met Vicky in the first book when her sister fell in love. She's a high powered executive who is constantly in rooms with mostly men. She has a enemies at work who are waiting for her to fail and she's very determined to stay on top. To not get entangled in relationships, she has a harem of men that she calls whenever she wants to hook up and the arrangement works for her until she meets Ricky who makes her question her stance on relationships.

I really related to Vicky and her determination in her job. Though I didn't really understand her disinterest in being in a relationship, I was able to relate to her and it was such an enjoyable read to see her and Ricky together. The main reason I came back to this book was because of her group of friends. They have the funniest group texts and are there for each other through everything and I love their dynamic.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for a honest review.

DNF. I simply could not get into this book. I see many 3+ star reviews so maybe i was in a reading slump or something. May try to read it again at another time. It’s also part of a series, so i dont like skipping books in series

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

This was a confusing book. I liked most of it, and then some of it, I found really odd. I think the issue for me was that I didn't realise that this was a sequel in a series, so the whole "chicken" thing really made no sense and just seemed really odd to me. Maybe it makes more sense if you read the first book?

I liked Vicky and Ricky (yes, their names rhyme), but I found some of the side characters, like Amanda, just really ridiculous.

My issue with Vicky is that she sort of comes across in the beginning as polyamorous, but that seems to be a "problem" that Ricky and her friends try to fix through the love of a good man. I don't know. I felt vaguely uncomfortable with it.

I also could smell that <spoiler> pregnancy plot </spoiler> a mile away. It didn't end the way I thought, but it also seemed a little out of nowhere.

Three stars from me.

Synopsis:
A play girl vibe from a practical corporate VP is an amazing take to the society norm of play boy. Vicky, a non-romantic relationship seeker turns head over heels for another budding music sensation. Ricky a passionate singer & musician don’t understand how he became overnight star and a heartthrob of all. With their always so gluey asses how can they manage not being together in a relationship? This is a perfect rom-com with flavors of steamy sex and music to heart.

Characters:
Victoria Nielson: VP at Clover Ltd
Patrick Hart: Lead singer in Broken Chords
Anna: Friends in Chicken Group
Amanda Linden: Music industry agent

Strong Points
o Romantic, funny and always steamy
o Light & sweet read

Conclusion: A nice light read by your favorite place. Group of besties standing up for themselves and each other. It has all the steamy elements of romance and a good share of heartache as well. If you are a swooner for rugged, handsome singers then you might also enjoy bossy, strong women.
Thank you #netgalley for the #arc!!

DNF. I feel bad rating this book so low, but I just couldn't get into it. I hoped by half way through I would start to feel it but it just never clicked for me. I see so many 3+ star reviews and I was seriously hoping to join but I couldn't. Vicky just got on my nerves too much and Ricky, while sweet, just wasn't making me swoon like I hoped he would.

"Its funny the decisions you make because you like someone... and then your whole life is different.
I think we're at that weird age where life can change a lot from small decisions."

This was such an enjoyable read! 👏👏👏
By Chance HAS IT ALL. Strong heroine. Sunshine hero. Ride-or-die friend group. Sigal Ehrlich will have you ROTFL one moment and filled with tears the next. A sweet and steamy romance with a connection between our OTP that could light a room on fire.❤️‍🔥😍🥰

For Ricky, it's only been about one girl since the moment they met. One night with Vicky and he was a goner. All they did was talk the night away, yet the connection there was unlike any other. Vicky is a no-nonsense, no strings attached kind of girl. For Vicky, relationships weren't something she did and feelings never got in her way. Yet when it comes to Ricky it seems to be a different story. She cant shake the feelings that continue to grow the more she is around him. With a sizzling connection neither can deny, Victoria and Ricky navigate through some real-life obstacles to try and give this thing between them a chance.

Victoria is a real go-getter. I loved her drive & her confidence. And Ricky... who doesn't love a lead singer with a bad boy look & a heart of gold.
Plus The "Chickens" I'm obsessed with the friend group name!!! So cute!!! 🐥🥹💛

I loved this story and the message it gives. Life is going to throw obstacles in your path, good & bad, but the small decisions you make can change your life forever.
IF you fight through the fear of opening up your heart you might just experience the magic it can bring!
✨💫🤍

I picked up this ARC knowing it was a second in the series. I almost immediately put it down to read the first one because I loved the witty banter and flow. (Sidebar; also loved the first book)

You could easily read this one without the first… but don’t miss out once you read this one I have no doubt you’ll pick up the other.

The story is about a strong independent female (Vic) with non traditional relationships that she makes no apologies for. That is until bad boy (Ricky) comes in and flips her agenda.

Questioning everything she isn’t sure how Rocky got under her skin, but he did.

You will not regret picking up this book that you won’t want to put down. Cheers to Sigal and this great read.

Quick Summary: Sexy, satisfying, and utterly swoon worthy!

My Review: Every now and again, one may happen upon a book that makes an impression. By Chance by Sigal Ehrlich is one such book that made a lasting impression on this reader. It was sexy and fun, it was satisfyingly sweet, and it was swoon worthy when it came to Vic and Ricky. They were totally relationship goals 2.0.

What I Loved About This Book:
- The Chickens were insanely funny. I loved their friendship circle. They were unapologetically who they were.
- The humor was crazy. I found myself laughing throughout my reading experience.
- The text stream needed its own zip code. I totally could have lived in it. (Lol...)
- The name of the establishment where the band played - I loved, loved, loved the name. The vibe was golden.
- The farm outing was hilarious. That cow scene was everything.
- The Hensgiving! (High 5 on that!!!)
- The author did a fantastic job of introducing the other characters. The new lead singer of the band and the drummer certainly got my attention. Also, I cannot wait to meet Justin. (Bring it on!)
- The leads were driven, fresh, and textured all on their own. When they came together, however, they were explosive.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Series Follow: Yes
Interest in being Beta reader: Yes

Appreciation is expressed to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley who provided access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have expressed are my entirely my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

* A review has been posted on Goodreads.

*ARC via NetGalley, thank you*

Full disclosure, I haven’t read the first book in the series but I was drawn to the cover and description, so I took a chance for an ARC. I’ve read books out of order before and could usually pick up without any problems but I struggled here. I’m not sure if it’s the author and their writing style that I’m unfamiliar with or the story itself but I felt…lost. The first several chapters had plenty of dialogue but it didn’t lead anywhere substantial until about 15% in when the metaphorical train finally takes off on the tracks, but I digress.

The premise of this book centers around Vicky, a go-getter VP who’s worked too hard to settle down with any man. She’s only looking for fun and casual dating yet Ricky, a literal overnight singing sensation and rising star, seems to be getting under her skin. They both have carefully crafted images to protect and dream careers to pursue but they can’t stay away from each other, much to the detriment of their professional personas.

In another time, I would say this book was an easy read (although SPOILER and CW re miscarriage) but it was almost too easy? The storyline has potential to be interesting but I really felt forced to finish because the characters were lacking depth. Sometimes it felt like paragraphs, even whole chapters, were just a blurb. There were just too many montage-feeling moments. We’re just being told of Vicky and Ricky’s descent into love instead of experiencing it as readers. My favorite books have me falling in love right along with the characters as they’re on ~their journey~ together, but I couldn’t get attached with these two.
Sometimes they simply expressed their longing for each other by literally listing things. It felt like reading the introductory paragraph to an essay, when you’re first taught to list all your talking points. An example from Vicky: Him making me dinner, the way he sometimes looks at me like he finds me precious, how his thin, plain necklace accentuates his beautiful, masculine neck, where a dark cross tattoo peeks out around his collar, the way he looks on stage when he’s caught up in a song. And mostly, this almost obsession-like buildup at the anticipation of what might happen between us each time he is near.
Another from Ricky: Her smile, the way she looks at me when she doesn’t think I’m looking, the sound of her voice, the way she makes me laugh, those enchanting blue eyes, her taste.

I think this book would be perfect for a “new adult” reader but I prefer my books with more wit and banter between the characters. The steamy scenes were good but nothing that I haven’t read before in a romance.

Unfortunately, as detailed as this story can be, it wasn’t enough for me to form any attachments to the characters let alone the book.

This is book two in Sigal Ehrlich's Poison and Wine series and I definitely felt like there were some things I missed from the first story. This book tells the story of soon to be rock star Ricky and casual dater Vicky, and while there were some parts of their story and romance I really enjoyed I felt like they went from 0-1000 soo quickly. Maybe there story starts in book one but as a stand alone their relationship felt rushed with all of the connection but none of the foundation.

Also this is petty but the whole name rhyming thing felt off and I did not like it. Truly I loved the Chickens and their traditions and their friendship. I thought their banter was fun, accurate, and a change of pace from all the heavy story happening in the book, but we don't get enough of that without Ricky coming around and Vicky keeping all the things she going through from them really undermined their group dynamics - again this is porbably cause I missed the foundation building of that friendship in book one.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

This book starts with a girl boss character and a sweet guy masquerading as the bad guy. From the second he was offered a contract, I felt like he was going to regret it. It was more interesting for me to read about Ricky and his obvious love for life and happiness. Vicky was a little harder for me to warm up to because she tried so hard to keep him at arm's length to protect herself. That character mold is getting a little used but as it is very common for real life, I get it. Skipped the steam, which felt like instalove to me. In the end, I was pleased with Ricky and Vicky.

eARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
5/5
There were moments where the characters and plot were frustrating but as you continue reading things get resolved. I loved the friendships shown through the book. Overall this was a fun read.