luckyliza13's review against another edition
5.0
"We take coincidences like that one very seriously here, very seriously indeed,' he said deliberately. "They are life's signals to us."
"Those are precisely the kind of coincidences I was missing."
I. Love. This. Book. In fact, I may actually reread it because I feel I missed highlighting passages that I want to remember.
I do think if I read this when I was 20-30 years younger than I am now it wouldn't have the same impact on me as it did. So, younger women may not understand Marianne's complacency, her despair, her transformation, her unveiling, as much as women my age will know and find relatable.
There is surely no coincidence that I came across this book and read it at this point in my life. As Yann told Marianne, it is a "life signal." ❤️
"Those are precisely the kind of coincidences I was missing."
I. Love. This. Book. In fact, I may actually reread it because I feel I missed highlighting passages that I want to remember.
I do think if I read this when I was 20-30 years younger than I am now it wouldn't have the same impact on me as it did. So, younger women may not understand Marianne's complacency, her despair, her transformation, her unveiling, as much as women my age will know and find relatable.
There is surely no coincidence that I came across this book and read it at this point in my life. As Yann told Marianne, it is a "life signal." ❤️
hannmaer's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time staying interested in this book, until it got more towards the middle and end. That’s when I feel that things really took off and I absolutely loved it. I really connected with the last half of the book and it beautifully told the store of self rediscovery. I just wish the first half of the book was just as interesting.
sheilabookworm3369's review against another edition
3.0
A decent story with fun characters. some parts too sweet, some parts so not sweet, and 1 less realistic character showing not one redeeming quality.
thislemonreads's review against another edition
3.0
I think the title for this novel is wrong; I didn't feel like the bistro was the heart of the story at all; it was the town of Kerdruc itself, and the cast of characters Nina George populated it with. I would have called it something like the "The Village by the Sea" or some such thing.
This is a book that feels like it takes place out of time; or could take place in any time. And I think that is part of the magic of it.
I hated Marianne to begin with but she found her alone just in time to hold my attention as the protagonist of the story.
Mostly now I just want to go back to Brittany...
This is a book that feels like it takes place out of time; or could take place in any time. And I think that is part of the magic of it.
I hated Marianne to begin with but she found her alone just in time to hold my attention as the protagonist of the story.
Mostly now I just want to go back to Brittany...
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Visit the locations in the novel - link: The Little Breton Bistro
What started as a very sad and quite depressing novel, after finishing it, I sat down and realised what I’d just read and the story I’d been on with her. It’s very very poignant and really makes you think about your own life and why Marianne did what she did and what brought her to that point. I can’t and don’t want to give anything away but it’s a journey of discovery in many ways and there are many delightful moments despite the sad cloud which hung over the start of the novel.
This was also a very gourmand tour of France – From Paris to Brittany this was a feast for the eyes and tastebuds as well as for the mind. Food becomes the symbol of hope and discovery, as Marianne literally tastes the landscape via all her senses and starts to appreciate the small things, the freedom from being away from her old life.
There were some very funny moments – those nuns! – and the scenes in the restaurant in Kerdruc were brilliant. The visit to Aven – ah this is just a wonderful journey and through the unique and emotions of the landscape – very French and very lyrically written.
There is a lovely mix of a message to look for the simple things in life, to love and appreciate the detail in the everyday and to use art and creativity to really open up your world. This book carries a strong message with an air of melancholy but the overall impression of it left me wondering about my own life and feeling glad I’d read it.
What started as a very sad and quite depressing novel, after finishing it, I sat down and realised what I’d just read and the story I’d been on with her. It’s very very poignant and really makes you think about your own life and why Marianne did what she did and what brought her to that point. I can’t and don’t want to give anything away but it’s a journey of discovery in many ways and there are many delightful moments despite the sad cloud which hung over the start of the novel.
This was also a very gourmand tour of France – From Paris to Brittany this was a feast for the eyes and tastebuds as well as for the mind. Food becomes the symbol of hope and discovery, as Marianne literally tastes the landscape via all her senses and starts to appreciate the small things, the freedom from being away from her old life.
There were some very funny moments – those nuns! – and the scenes in the restaurant in Kerdruc were brilliant. The visit to Aven – ah this is just a wonderful journey and through the unique and emotions of the landscape – very French and very lyrically written.
There is a lovely mix of a message to look for the simple things in life, to love and appreciate the detail in the everyday and to use art and creativity to really open up your world. This book carries a strong message with an air of melancholy but the overall impression of it left me wondering about my own life and feeling glad I’d read it.
riverdogbookco's review against another edition
4.0
Another sumptuous tale from the best-selling author of The Little Paris Bookshop. While this tale weaves its way from Germany to France following downtrodden Marianne on her journey of self-discovery, the reader will be enthralled by the luscious language of food and the vivid descriptions of the sea and the countryside, and will revel in the self-fulfillment and true love that Nina George's characters all find.
ioanaisreading's review against another edition
5.0
It's a poetic and funny novel, it reminds a little bit of Brit-Marie from the novel Brit-Marie was here. As most novels whose setting is the beach during the summer, it created a cozy feeling, with quirky characters whom you cannot help but endear. It's the kind of novel that presents the good characters clearly, making sure you see their goodness, and the bad characters truly bad, making sure you don't miss their nastiness. It presented love as the only important force in the universe, and you couldn't help but cheer for them. However, I do not remember the names and particularities of every characters, only the most important ones. At some point they seemed alike, and I'm referring to the women. Not a deal breaker, though.
At some point there were some eyebrow-raising details, but because the story and the main character, Marianne, were presented so smoothly and as if everything happened naturally I let them pass. The novel starts in a somewhat gloomy way, but it doesn't stay that way for long. It didn't catch my interest from the very beginning, but too changed soon. Some lines the characters have made me straight-up laugh, and I don't often laugh at a book. It's just that it took me by surprise, and it was a nice surprise.
I read Nina George's The Little Paris Bookshop about two years ago. I enjoyed that novel, but The Little French Bistro I liked more. Maybe it's the setting and the summer vibes and the perfect timing when I read the novel - whatever it was, it was a perfect read at the right moment.
If you want to read a novel set in France, a novel that sends summer vibes with a touch of melancholy and even sadness, but with a good ending, pick up this novel. It is a novel with an eventually daring character and a perfectly dreamy setting.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
At some point there were some eyebrow-raising details, but because the story and the main character, Marianne, were presented so smoothly and as if everything happened naturally I let them pass. The novel starts in a somewhat gloomy way, but it doesn't stay that way for long. It didn't catch my interest from the very beginning, but too changed soon. Some lines the characters have made me straight-up laugh, and I don't often laugh at a book. It's just that it took me by surprise, and it was a nice surprise.
I read Nina George's The Little Paris Bookshop about two years ago. I enjoyed that novel, but The Little French Bistro I liked more. Maybe it's the setting and the summer vibes and the perfect timing when I read the novel - whatever it was, it was a perfect read at the right moment.
If you want to read a novel set in France, a novel that sends summer vibes with a touch of melancholy and even sadness, but with a good ending, pick up this novel. It is a novel with an eventually daring character and a perfectly dreamy setting.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
dannb's review against another edition
3.0
It's an ok read... good look at a woman trying to break free of a "squashed" life.
cricket771's review against another edition
3.0
If there was a 2.5 star option that is what I would have gone with... there wasn't anything wrong with this book but it wasn't great either. I struggled to get fully invested and found myself wanting to get to the end for the sake of knowing what happened to the characters but in lots of ways not caring what the end brought either.
jaclynday's review against another edition
3.0
A delightful, feel-good French romp devoid of any real characterization. That doesn't really matter. You're reading this for the happy things, not the deep ones.