Even though it has been a few years since I last read any of this series from Joanne Harris, I was quickly drawn back into the magical world she created in a town in rural France.

I can't believe it's been decades since I first read (and loved) "Chocolat". Before starting "The Strawberry Thief" I re-read the three preceding books in the series. I feel like I know all of the characters personally and am really sorry to have to let them go. This latest offering from Joanne Harris is as delicious as I've come to expect from her work. I adore Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and would love to be one of its inhabitants. This series of books is magical, moreish and makes me happy in my heart. Joanne Harris is one of my all-time favourite writers and I firmly believe she can turn her hand to anything she sets her mind to, much like my beloved Vianne Rocher. I've found the arc of Reynaud most interesting and loved that we got to hear more from Rosette in "The Strawberry Thief". The back story of Narcisse was another wonderful addition. Loved it!

I have long been a fan of all Joanne Harris's books, and I have a real soft spot for the Chocolat series. Even the names of the books make me drool at the mouth.

It was a pleasure to return to Lansquanet and meet all our all friends, and some new. I always feel like there is a little bit of magic sprinkled across the pages.

Can be read as a standalone but I would advise reading them all and go on a journey.

Oh Joanne Harris, How I wish I could write like you!!!!!!

The Strawberry Thief is just glorious as ever. deeply sensual, dark and dense like cocoa and yet light and sweet like cream whipped to perfection. I am so pleased to be back in France with the gang again. all a little older, none all that much more open. secrets and magic unfurl and grip all in their thrall.

Oh, how lovely it was to go back to Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and spend more time with Vianne! Joanne Harris is such a talented storyteller, weaving history and magic and emotion into every page. I love the 'natural' feel of the magic of these books - at no point does it feel like these are fantastical tales; I am a believer along with Vianne and Anouk and Rosette.

The Chocolat books explore motherhood so poignantly, and this book is no exception. Vianne's fears at losing Rosette and her conflicting emotions over Anouk's continued absence from home, were, for me, the heart of the novel and felt so real and raw and honest. Of course, there were multiple threads to the story, weaving together mystery and peril and fear, but it is the parts on motherhood which will stick with me.

This was a beautiful and bewitching read, but I expected no less!

The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris is #4 in a series that started twenty years ago with Chocolat. I haven’t read the others, but found this can easily be read as a stand-alone.

It’s a slow paced read, with plenty to keep you interested. A tale of determination in a small town with its gossip and reluctance to change.

Told from the points of view of the priest, Reynaud, Vianne and her daughter Rosette, after a new business opens and the intrigue of the stranger causes tensions.

A beautifully written tale of love, family and chocolate…..

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

thank you for allowing me to read this book. it was very easy to read. i enjoyed the story line and the characters. look forward to reading more from this author.

Must confess that I gave this to my mum to read as she is a confirmed fan of Harris. Unfortunately, this one didn't hit the spot at all, and she said it was too twee and felt a bit laboured. Consequently she didn't finish it, and was disappointed overall.

Like the characters in Joanne Harris’s superb new novel, The Strawberry Thief, I’ve a confession to make. I loved her novels Chocolat and The Lollipop Shoes but for some reason the third in the series, Peaches for Monsieur le Curé, passed me by. However, that wasn’t going to stop me when I discovered The Strawberry Thief, which works wonderfully as a stand-alone too. The story focuses on Vianne Rocher’s ‘special’ child, Rosette, and the trouble caused in the village when she inherits a piece of woodland. The language used by Harris in the mystical elements of the novel is so beautiful that it’s easy to believe the more magical parts of the story. How lovely would it be to drink hot chocolate in the square, to walk in Rosette’s strawberry wood, to stroll by the river? But all is not picture perfect in the village… The Strawberry Thief was a delight to read. Now I plan on seeking absolution by reading Peaches for Monsieur le Curé too.

If you enjoyed Chocolat, you will love this book too. Harris takes the characters and follows them further. A bit of mystery, development of the personalities from Chocolat, plus introduction of some new ones, and a flavour of life in small-town France. The story ties up some of the loose ends from Chocolat in a satisfying way. The book could be read as a stand-alone story, but makes more sense as a sequel. A good read.

I am going to have to admit right at the beginning of this review that I have never actually read Chocolat so reading The Strawberry Thief was the first time I had been introduced to Joanne Harris’s work. Couple this with the fact that the style of authors writing is not one I would normally read, I did wonder if I would like it. I can honestly say that I am glad that I pushed myself to read something outside my normal comfort zone as I really loved it.
What seems like a charming story about Vianne Rocher and her daughter Rosette is actually so much more. Living in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes they seem to have a settled life with Vianne running an established Chocolate shop. Things change however when Rosette is left a plot of land when florist Narcisse dies. This does not sit well with his daughter who believes that the land should come to her so that she can sell it to developers. When the mysterious tattooist Morganne arrives, everyone starts to feel a little unsettled.
The story is told from three different points of view, Vianne, Rosette and the priest Reynaud, each one of them looking at events in a different way. Where this can sometimes be distracting in a book, I think in this instance it really works. Although the book centres on these three main characters there is so much more going on. Secrets from the past slowly find their way back into the present and people are forced to confront their actions. What I think I loved most was witnessing the change in Rosette. She goes from a shy child that only seems to relate to her mother, to finding her own voice and talent. Vianne has tried desperately to hold onto Rosette but even she finally realises that she has to let her go and find her own way in the world.
This is the fourth book in the series but don’t worry if like me you have not read any of the others as it is strong enough to stand on its own and at no time will you feel like you have missed an important piece in the story. Joanne Harris has created characters with enough depth that you can’t help but get invested in their journey of discovery about themselves and those around them. If you are going to pick up just one book that might not be your normal read, then The Strawberry Thief would be a good choice.

I can’t believe it is twenty years since I spent a day in the garden reading the wonderful and charming Chocolat. Since then we have had the sequel The Lollipop Shoes and now the exciting third book The Strawberry Thief. Vianne is back in Lansquenet-sous Tannes running her chocolate shop with her daughter Rosette, now sixteen, whilst Anouk is living in Paris. After the death of local Narcisse, who leaves Rosette his wood, trouble comes to the small town in the form of his family and a new threat to Vianne blows in on the wind. The book is set during the month of March and narrated by Vianne, Rosette, and Le Curé Reynard, and has excerpts from a letter to Reynard that tells Narcisse’s life story.

It was exciting to be back in Lansquenet and catching up with old characters and meeting new ones. The surprise of this book is that Reynard and Vianne are now friends, he has mellowed over the years and is not as strict on himself. Roux and the river people are still at Les Marauds, Caro Clairmont is still gossiping and Josephine has her cafe; it was like meeting up with old friends. There were also some memorable new characters in Michélè Montour, Narcisse’s horrible daughter, her husband Michel and son Yannick, who I felt very sorry for. The wind blows in the mysterious Morgane Dubois who rents Narcisse’s old shop, and who Vianne sees as a threat to the harmony of her life with Rosette and the community. Rosette is my favourite character, she has the wonderful innocence of children but understands more than people give her credit for. Many feel sorry for her, and Vianne, due to her difference and individuality, but she has such a wonderful outlook on life and has her mother’s gift for the understanding of the wind and is at one with nature; and of course she has Bam for company. Joanne Harris vividly brings these characters, and their quirks to life, making them jump off the page and into your heart.

Joanne Harris’s writing is remarkable, her observations and witty one liners bring the quirks of town life, the petty squabbles and allegiances to life and reminded me why I am such a huge fan of her writing. The attention to detail of the landscape, Rosette’s wood and the boats on the river are a picture postcard in my mind. In contrast to the beautiful setting there is a tale of murder, cruelty, the mother daughter bond and family feuds, that ripple through the quiet and quaint Lansquenet, bringing the wind of change to all.

The Strawberry Thief is a charming, bewitching and simply stunning read. It lived up to all my expectations, and left me feeling fuzzy and warm and incredibly happy; what more could you ask for in a book. I immediately felt familiar with the characters, and the plot had me engaged from the first with a murder mystery and the wind blowing in Morgane to add a bit of trouble to the community. This is a must read for fans of Chocolat, an absolutely fabulous read.

Vianne and her younger daughter are happily settled in the small town of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. Vianne spreading happiness and comfort through the medium of chocolate (it usually works for me....) and young Rosette wandering amongst all her friends, watching, listening, drawing and learning. There are problems - Vianne's older daughter Anouk is far away, living in Paris, and Rosette is all but mute and will not settle in mainstream education - but life is good. But then Narcisse, a rather grumpy old man who owns the florist shop, dies and leaves part of his property - an area of woodland with an old well and an overgrown strawberry field - to Rosette and a long letter, explaining the tale of his early years, to the local priest, Reynaud. This causes all kinds of problems with Reynaud, who fears the letter will also reveal secrets from his own past, Roux (Rosette's father and a free spirit who refuses to be tied down by any authority), whose instinct is to run away rather than have to keep Rosette's property in trust for her and with Narcisse's family, who seemed only to ever value him for an imagined inheritance. Things come to a head when the old florist's shop is let to a mystery woman who seems to share Vianne's magical powers. Having never read Chocolat I wasn't really aware of the more mysterious elements to these stories. Vianne, and Morgane the tattooist who moves to the village, have powers which are obviously some form of witchcraft. Like my very favourite sort of witches they tend to work on the principle of 'headology' - the products and services they provide are truly bespoke, based on their reading of a person's personality and needs (even if they are unaware of them themselves) - and Vianne, in particular, seems very connected to the world of nature. After experiences with another witch (alluded to and, I gather, connected to the second book in this series) Vianne fears Morgane and begins a campaign to try to move her on.

This book is a lovely mix of contemporary women's fiction with a strong strand of magical realism. With Narcisse's story there is also a historical angle as he tells of his childhood in the immediate post-WWII period. We are also led to think on all kinds of interesting themes - how parents can end up trying to raise the children they want rather than the ones they have, how fear for our children can blind us to our own faults and the power of forgiveness. The strongest one seems to be that letting go - of the past, of fear and of those we love - can be the hardest thing to do, but the most important.

Oh, this book! This beautiful , glorious memorable book that I did not want to end. It’s the kind of story to lose yourself in. One that you become so immersed in you lose all track of time and resurface hours later wondering where al the time has gone.

I felt bereft to leave this world and its characters behind, They were brought so vividly to life they felt real to me. How wonderful to have been able to spend more time in the world of Chocolat.

Simply stunning!

My full review will be posted as part of the blog tour soon.

There is always something comforting about returning to somewhere you know so well, to characters, that over the years you have grown to love and cherish. When the author also happens to be Joanne Harris you knew you were in for a real treat and The Strawberry Thief did not disappoint.

So, off I went to the sleepy French village of Lansquenet-Sous-Tannes and back into the lives of Vianne, Rossette, Roux and Reynaud. I could almost smell the luxurious aroma wafting from Vianne’s chocolatiere shop, my tastebuds salivating at the thought of the taste of her wonderful chocolate creations. Yet you sensed there was something not quite right, a gentle undertone of disquiet, the possibility of change lingering in the air.

Told in the alternating voices of Vianne, Rossette and Reynaud, Harris’s beautiful narrative captured the very heart of their emotions, their thoughts and their inner turmoil.

For Vianne, it was what every mother dreads, as her children grow up and want to spread their wings, it was the realisation that we cannot hold them close, cannot clip their wings but must give them flight and send them on their way.. You knew from the beginning Vianne’s need to prevent Rossette from finding her own voice was wrong, but that Harris would take you on a journey, that you would witness Vianne’s struggles, even if that meant hurting those around her.

Rossette, Vianne’s youngest daughter, was just the most wonderful character, unlike other children, her strange quips, her silence wonderfully endearing yet loaded with meaning. Harris brilliantly conveyed her feelings, her insights into the minds of those around her, that made your heart melt and want to reach out to her. She gave the feeling that she was special, unique, that bigger things were waiting for her yet you didn’t know what they would be and more than anything you wanted to discover what they were and where the story would take her.

Reynaud, the Priest, hid a secret that tore him apart that weighed him down, that burden getting heavier as he carried around the deceased Narcisse’s final confession, and you sensed his trepidation as he slowly read his story, his fear as he prepared to turn the next page.

Harris’s skilfully wove a mystery, a murder through the voices of her characters and what I liked was that although it was a big part of the novel it didn’t drown out the individual characters, but sat at their side, used as a tool for them to discover what they wanted, how they would resolve their own issues.

One character I did love was Montane, the newcomer. I loved her colour, her insight and Harris’s ability to use her to spark rumour, unrest, and division amongst the the villages.

The Strawberry Thief wasn’t about high drama and confrontations instead Harris used her narrative and characters to create gentle ripples that undulated throughout, that took the characters through the process and acceptance of change.

It was beautifully written, almost ethereal with a little sprinkling of magic dust that carried you along and I absolutely loved it.

Joanne Harris has once again weaved magic into her story in the most wonderful way. As an avid follower of her Chocolat series I adored this new one. Vianne continues her life in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes butnow is well established and accepted in the village. This time the story centres on Rosie her second child who is ‘special’ and why she is left the strawberry woods. It helped knowing some of the references to the previous books but not knowing would not detract from the story line itself..
Another great book by a magical author.

Once again, Joanne Harris weaves her special magic as we enter the small village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes where Vianne Rocher runs the deliciously evocative chocolate shop. I was instantly drawn back into Vianne’s life and mesmerised yet again by the charm of Harris’s writing. She takes us into a world of magical realism – but one totally accessible to rational readers like myself. I merely suspended disbelief and found myself happily believing in invisible friends and wondrous winds.
The florist, Narcisse, has died and his daughter sweeps into the village. She lets his shop to a mysterious newcomer and sets out to contest his will in which he left a patch of woodland to Vianne’s daughter, Rosette.
Narcisse also left a confession letter for Father Reynaud’s eyes only. Through this, which rather hilariously gets read by a succession of people, we learn of Narcisse’s disturbing upbringing. At the same time, we follow the vaguely troubling events that the winds are blowing into Lansquenet. Just who is the mystery woman who’s taken over Narcisse’s shop and is sending a frisson of unease through Lansquenet? As Vianne points out, “This town cannot contain us both.”
This is a wonderful, if disturbing, story about love, greed and the difficulty of letting go of loved ones. Harris draws her readers right into the heart of her stories. I was there in Rosette’s peaceful woodland, with its deep well and wild strawberries. I was there in Vianne’s chocolaterie, inhaling those exotic aromas. I sat with Reynaud as he battled his own demons while reading Narcisse’s letter.

Many ardent fans of Harris's have been awaiting a new novel from her for quite some time and what a spellbinding read it is. We return to Lansquenet-sous-Tannes to visit protagonist Vianne who has eventually settled in the area. The writing is lyrical and mesmerising and you can't seem to put it down come hell or high water, even when there are chores you need to tend to. The descriptions of the chocolate-making process and the local scenery are beautiful and so vivid you can smell, see, taste and hear the surroundings. The character development is superb as ever, with Harris using folklore and legend to infuse her story with an enchanted magic that is rare and special.

Despite being the fourth long-awaited novel in the Chocolat series it is certainly not essential to have read its predecessors in order to enjoy it, as there is plenty of background provided to ensure new readers are filled in. You are pulled into a world so rich in beauty and emotion that tearing yourself away is simply not an option; this is a story with multiple threads masterfully woven together by a storyteller of unimaginable ability. It's an altogether charming tale with a surprising gothic tinge to it. The slow unravelling of village secrets keeps the reader engaged and the ending was a very poignant and emotional conclusion to a brilliant series.

This is a bewitching read that will appeal to long-term Chocolat fans, dark fairytale aficionados and lovers of beautifully told whimsical stories.

Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

The compelling new Chocolat novel, published 20 years after Joanne’s Harris’s original bestseller

Vianne Rocher has finally settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has become her home. With Rosette, her “special child”, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend.

But when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy old village is once again thrown into disarray. The arrival of Narcisse’s relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in place of the florist’s across the square – one that mirrors the chocolaterie, and has a strange appeal of its own – all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence. Perhaps, even, a murder…

Vianne is settled and content in the village that was once so wary of her. She’s found her place and has become an integral part of the community. They understand her, and although many are still unsure of her ‘special’ child, Rosette, who doesn’t speak, but who manages to communicate in other ways, they’ve come to accept her as she’s part of who Vianne is. Rosette is happy to commune with nature, loves art and her imaginary friend, ‘Bam’, the monkey. She uses sign language when and if she chooses – and she’s selective about who she communicates with (don’t we all wish we could be a bit like that?) But don’t be fooled, silent waters run deep and she sees a lot more than people are aware of.

Narcisse the florist’s death brings upheaval though. He leaves a portion of land – his forest – to Rosette, his ‘Strawberry Thief’, with whom he had a warm, nurturing relationship, but his daughter Mimi is furious, convinced there must be something hidden in the woods that she’s determined should be hers.

And then a newcomer arrives to move into the old florist’s shop and it seems that the village has not moved on as much as we thought. They are as wary and apprehensive of her as they were when Vianne herself arrived! Clearly they still don’t take lightly to newcomers. But very soon, she manages to weave a magical spell on the inhabitants of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes leaving Vianne concerned that she might lose her own hard-earned standing in what has come to be her haven.

This is a book you need to read for yourself without relying on a reviewer to tell you too much about the story or the plot. You need to immerse yourself in it. And when you finally come up for air, you’ll understand.

Joanne Harris’s writing is whimsical and enchanting, drawing the reader in until you’re reading in an almost trance-like state. She’s a master storyteller, lulling you into the environment she’s created so that you can almost see the surroundings and taste what she’s describing.

Her characters are all solid. They seem to possess an innate wisdom – even the ones we’re very obviously not supposed to like! Harris draws from legend and lore to lend enhancement to every single facet of her narrative.

This is a monumental 5-star read that I feel deserves to become a classic, just like it’s predecessor, Chocolat.

My thanks to Orion Books for an eARC via NetGalley of Joanne Harris’ ‘The Strawberry Thief’ in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth in her Chocolat series and I have read and loved all of them. Harris provides enough background for new readers though the series is such a delight that I would recommend all of them to anyone wishing to enter this rich world of magic and chocolate.

Following on a few years from the events in ‘Peaches for Monsieur le Curé, Vianne Rocher and her daughter, Rosette, have settled down in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. Vianne has reopened the chocolaterie and become part of the community that had once rejected her.

The death of Narcisse, the florist, triggers change when he leaves a small woodland to Rosette and a confession addressed to Father Reynaud. His daughter and family are very upset with these bequests and seek to overturn them. In addition, a new mysterious shop opens in place of the florist’s and challenges Vianne’s sense of self and place in the village.

I could go on and on but feel it best to not say too much so as not to spoil the experience for other readers.

Harris is an accomplished storyteller and weaves together a number of storylines into the narrative. Themes such as guilt, relationships between parents and children, and manipulation are confidently explored. The symbolism is as always very rich. I fell in love with the little oak wood, which felt like a place outside time and the perfect setting for a dark faerie tale.

I was surprised to find that I was feeling less empathy with Vianne given some quite subtle changes in her use of magic. This is also Rosette’s tale, who at fifteen is coming into her own magic. A number of chapters are hers and others are Reynaud’s as he reads Narcisse’s confession.

I felt a little sad to reach the final pages though these characters and Lansquenet-sous-Tannes have a lasting place in my heart. It is a novel that I would happily reread.

The cover art is subtle and exquisite and I have preordered the hardback to join my existing collection of the series.

Highly recommended.