sasha2599's review
3.0
This book was a pleasant beach read, but nothing special. I didn't find myself overly interested in the characters and the storyline seemed a bit slow. Still the characters and scenery were enjoyable.
**I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book**
**I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book**
rosietersigni's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Easy read - nothing exciting
verityw's review
3.0
********Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review******
I enjoyed this, not as much as I liked the last book by Bohnet that I read, but it's fun. It follows three women (of varying ages) over the course of a few months on the south coast of France.
I liked the three stranded story, but I didn't think we always had enough background about each of the women. And there are a fair few incredible coincidences in this, which just stretched things a little to far for me to give it a higher grade. Still a fun beach read though.
I enjoyed this, not as much as I liked the last book by Bohnet that I read, but it's fun. It follows three women (of varying ages) over the course of a few months on the south coast of France.
I liked the three stranded story, but I didn't think we always had enough background about each of the women. And there are a fair few incredible coincidences in this, which just stretched things a little to far for me to give it a higher grade. Still a fun beach read though.
bananatricky's review
4.0
Three and a half stars.
The story is set on the French Riviera and features three women: Rosie, who is opening a beachfront cafe after spending several years as the on-board chef on a yacht; Erica, whose husband Pascal died in a car crash which traumatised their daughter Cammie, who owns a bric a brac store; and Gee Gee a local estate agent who is struggling to make ends meet after her boyfriend Jay goes off to England to find himself.
The reader gets thrust into this world immediately, for a long time I thought that this might be part of a series and that if I had read the other book(s) I would understand the background, how Pascal died, the story behind Jay leaving etc. I can't see any references to this being part of a series however, so I assume this is just immersive writing.
We spend the summer with Rosie, Erica and Gee Gee as they run their businesses and deal with families and love. This is all about driving to Monaco to go to dinner or a party, copious glasses of champagne or rose wine sitting on the beach after work. About a society where everyone seems to know everyone else. When Rosie's mother has a new boyfriend everyone seems to know him already. It doesn't rain, there are no villains everything is low angst.
I liked this but I didn't love it. There is maybe too much going on with too many people and I felt as though we were just skimming the top of every emotion and interaction. We didn't need to follow Erica and Gee Gee as well as Rosie. But it did make me smile, it was pleasant, low angst, peopled by normal-ish people doing normal, if slightly glamorous jobs
I would say this is a perfect holiday book. And yet, on a very cold January afternoon I really felt like I was in the South of France sipping a glass of wine whilst walking along the beach with a handsome guy. So, if life is getting you down, or summer seems a long way away, why not spend a few hours in the South of France at a little beachside cafe?
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for review.
The story is set on the French Riviera and features three women: Rosie, who is opening a beachfront cafe after spending several years as the on-board chef on a yacht; Erica, whose husband Pascal died in a car crash which traumatised their daughter Cammie, who owns a bric a brac store; and Gee Gee a local estate agent who is struggling to make ends meet after her boyfriend Jay goes off to England to find himself.
The reader gets thrust into this world immediately, for a long time I thought that this might be part of a series and that if I had read the other book(s) I would understand the background, how Pascal died, the story behind Jay leaving etc. I can't see any references to this being part of a series however, so I assume this is just immersive writing.
We spend the summer with Rosie, Erica and Gee Gee as they run their businesses and deal with families and love. This is all about driving to Monaco to go to dinner or a party, copious glasses of champagne or rose wine sitting on the beach after work. About a society where everyone seems to know everyone else. When Rosie's mother has a new boyfriend everyone seems to know him already. It doesn't rain, there are no villains everything is low angst.
I liked this but I didn't love it. There is maybe too much going on with too many people and I felt as though we were just skimming the top of every emotion and interaction. We didn't need to follow Erica and Gee Gee as well as Rosie. But it did make me smile, it was pleasant, low angst, peopled by normal-ish people doing normal, if slightly glamorous jobs
I would say this is a perfect holiday book. And yet, on a very cold January afternoon I really felt like I was in the South of France sipping a glass of wine whilst walking along the beach with a handsome guy. So, if life is getting you down, or summer seems a long way away, why not spend a few hours in the South of France at a little beachside cafe?
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for review.
belinda31's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and immediately ordered another book by this author for my Kindle. They are nice atmospheric reads and someone starting their life over by owning a restaurant/bookshop etc. is my kryptonite. I love how the multiple characters created friendships.
cathbennett's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
camila_caminioca's review
1.0
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
This short novel follows the life of mostly three women (all English?) who live in the French Riviera. I really wish I liked this book, I'm always rooting for the author, but I just can't find anything positive to say about this book - except perhaps that it makes me wish I was in a cafe on the French Riviera right about now.
While the book did a good job interweaving the different story lines, it was irritating. It was irritating to see the main character Rosie pretend she's a strong independent woman when she can't say no to her ex-boyfriend when he blatantly stalks her. It was irritating to see blame put on her when she decides as a teenager to stop speaking to her father who abandoned her as a child. It was irritating to read mostly dialogue and not description, of how it feels to be on the Riviera, of the cafe, of the hot air, etc. It was irritating to get an idea of so many characters but none of them felt like rounded characters because they were all explored on the surface. Above all, I was irritated by the ending where everything seemed revolved without any effort or realism.
I think the idea was interesting but it wasn't explored enough to make a well-rounded book.
This short novel follows the life of mostly three women (all English?) who live in the French Riviera. I really wish I liked this book, I'm always rooting for the author, but I just can't find anything positive to say about this book - except perhaps that it makes me wish I was in a cafe on the French Riviera right about now.
While the book did a good job interweaving the different story lines, it was irritating. It was irritating to see the main character Rosie pretend she's a strong independent woman when she can't say no to her ex-boyfriend when he blatantly stalks her. It was irritating to see blame put on her when she decides as a teenager to stop speaking to her father who abandoned her as a child. It was irritating to read mostly dialogue and not description, of how it feels to be on the Riviera, of the cafe, of the hot air, etc. It was irritating to get an idea of so many characters but none of them felt like rounded characters because they were all explored on the surface. Above all, I was irritated by the ending where everything seemed revolved without any effort or realism.
I think the idea was interesting but it wasn't explored enough to make a well-rounded book.
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