Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes. Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share. At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie. Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?
I was overjoyed to have been accepted on the Booktour for The French House Share, having received an ARC to read and review. It was the perfect antidote to the more emotionally exhausting books I've read recently ... upbeat, beautiful location and lots to smile about. Although Bella has her moments during the novel, it really is a story about resilience coming out on top. From the very beginning, I found myself really enjoying this book and quickly rooting for Bella to get her happy ever after. She's a character who feels very human. She's flawed, emotional and easy to empathise with, which made her journey all the more engaging. I particularly liked the non-chronological narrative; it added depth to the story and slowly revealed key moments in a way that kept me invested throughout. The French setting brings a wonderful sense of romanticism to the novel. Harvey's descriptions made me long for sun-soaked days, charming streets and that effortless French atmosphere, which worked beautifully alongside the storyline. The book is well written, warm and thoroughly enjoyable, striking a great balance between romance, self-discovery and hope. Overall, The French House Share would make the perfect holiday read because it's comforting, escapist and easy to fall into. I received an advance reader copy from Love Books Tours, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the book tour for this lovely novel. A solid four-star read for me.
Reader Comments
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts on this review!
Join the conversation — log in to leave a comment on this review.
Log in to comment →