Lucy Coleman never disappoints with her beautiful settings and heartwarming stories. Fern and Aiden win the lottery and Aiden suggests a marriage gap year to each go off and follow their own dreams and fantasies. Aiden to Australia and Fern settles in Provence and befriends a local artist Nico. I was slightly worried about not getting a great HEA but alas I was not disappointed.
4.5 stars for me!

I did struggle with this, it wasn’t a book I ran back to keep reading. The characters weren’t that appealing and I wanted to experience more of France than what I got in this book

Another lovely story by this author, Fern is a great character and I love the way her character grows in the retreat in Provence, she becomes so much more confident and I know they say opposite attract but is Aiden the right man for her.... or is it Nico?

I can't imagine taking a "Marriage Gap Year". Summer in Provence is the story of Fern and Aiden. A married couple who seem to be going through the motions of life together. When they win the lottery, Fern wants to pay off the cottage and bills and then start a family. Aiden, who loves to travel and have adventures, wants to travel the world. That is of no interest to Fern, so they agree to take a year to do what they want and then settle down and start a family. Fern heads to Provence to a retreat for a year. She offers to work at the retreat in exchange for painting lessons. Fern is in her element. She has undiscovered talent and is also great with people. Aiden is off mining in Australia, hiking, surfing etc. As Fern gets more comfortable at the retreat, a gallery offers to sell her work and she discovers some secrets about painter, Nico. As communication between Aiden and Fern becomes less frequent, this reader figured out where that relationship was going.

I really liked Fern's character and wanted her to find the happiness she craved. Was her place with Aiden or at the retreat with Nico? I liked how she discovered what made her happy and Aiden does as well. I know they say opposites attract, but can they go back to their old life? Fern is strong, smart, caring, compassionate and talented. She is a great character to carry this story. The secondary characters all played an important part in her journey and helped her figure out what she really wanted. Their backstories were great and showed us more about Fern based on how she reacted to each of them. The setting was beautiful. I would love to spend time at a retreat like that, although not for a year. This was an enjoyable, enchanting and heart warming story of self discovery, love, learning new skills, relationships and moving on.

Lucy Coleman didn't disappoint with this book! Her writing is amazing as it always is. Loved traveling to Provence with her book

This was a sweet book - although I found the start slow, it eventually got better. I wasn’t quite prepared for the time jumps but I enjoyed seeing the progression of Fern’s story and how she blossomed and grew personally. As a person who wants to always be there for her loved ones, I strongly identified with Fern and cheered her on when she did what made her happy. I loved how the author wrapped up everyone’s stories.

I really enjoyed this book!
The reader becomes part of the story and characterisation is excellent. If you love heartwarming stories this is one for you- pure Escapism
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood books and Lucy Coleman for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Loved the book and a fan of Ms. Coleman for a long time. Another story to put yourself into the characters and say what would I do. Plus you get to go to a location you wish you were at. Outstanding.

I jumped at the chance to read Summer in Provence because I have previously enjoyed reading a couple of Lucy Coleman's holiday romances, and was expecting this story to be along similar lines.

The story takes place over the course of a year, and is one of self discovery rather than romance. Fern and Aiden have been married for seven years, and have been together since school. Now approaching thirty, Fern is aware that their relationship is flagging, but has said nothing.

Fern has an amazing bit luck and scoops a million pounds in a lottery win. Money isn't everything, but this little windfall could help to get them back on track. Aiden has always craved adventure and long haul travel. Fern is terrified of flying, and prefers to stay closer to home, and her family. Aiden suggests a marriage gap year, so they can both fully indulge their own interests. Reluctantly, Fern agrees to his idea, and while Aiden is travelling the world, she has decided to volunteer at a retreat in Provence where she can explore her artistic abilities.

Fern is a nurturing character, having always looked out for her family, she now bonds with the people staying and working at the retreat. She becomes a big sister figure to Kellie, and helps her find her place in the world. Nico, the owner of the retreat is an artist and recognises Fern's developing talent. He mentors her. They work in his private studio, undisturbed, where they find they have a special affinity for each other.

Fern's husband, Aiden, is contacting Fern less frequently, and she begins to wonder about his relationship with his travelling companion Joss, and whether things will get back on an even keel once they are back home.

Summer in Provence sees Fern grow in confidence as an artist, and learn to relax a bit. The ending was not what I was expecting, and I thought it was a nice touch for the final chapters to tell us what happens to some of the characters going forward.

I found Summer in Provence to be a thoughtful, gentle read, and one which reminded me that everything happens for a reason.

Lucy Coleman doesn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the Provence in this setting. Very fun.

Many thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Author Lucy Coleman has done it again, written a book with an extremely strong and likable character in Fern.

Fern and husband Aiden decided to take a year off backpacking. Aiden moved to Australia and Fern to a château in Provence where she received art lessons from Nico.

I loved Fern, she was bold and kind and talented too. It was wonderful to see her discovering herself. The story was not just about marriage but about friendships and enjoying life.

The story was heart warming, the characters eclectic. The book was everything a Lucy Coleman book ought to be. Simply brilliant. Nobody can capture the strength of a woman like her.

An fantastic book to help escape from the current Corona world. Complete escapism.
Great characters and an excellent easy reading style.
Perfect holiday reading even when you can't be lying on a beach.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book to give you an escape from everything that’s happening in the world today: Corona, isolation, social distancing, panic, and all the emotions that we’re going through every day right now!

Fern and Aiden have been married for seven years, and although Fern realises that something definitely seems to be bothering Aiden recently, she’s sure that they’re as solid as ever. Every relationship goes through ups and downs but she’s certain that whatever it is, it’s just a blip and it will pass. When they suddenly win a substantial sum of money, Fern expects that this will smooth over all of the rough edges that they’re going through and that their lives can continue happily, if not a lot more comfortably! She couldn’t be more wrong. The money brings more upheaval than she could ever have imagined.

Aiden wants to take a ‘gap year’ and Fern is initially horrified. But being the amenable, calm, collected and level-headed person that she is, she listens to his reasons and when they make the announcement to friends and family, she joins him in doing so, presenting a united front and making it look like a fait accompli.

So off Aiden goes, far afield to Australia with his backpack. Fern chooses something closer to home as she absolutely will not board an aeroplane, for reasons that become apparent later on. She has chosen to travel to a restful retreat at Château de Vernon in scenic Provence. Although guests usually stay for a week, Fern has arranged to stay for longer, willingly agreeing to help out around the Château. In return, she will also receive art lessons from the owner, Nico.

Fern quickly settles into her ‘new normal’ although she is still struggling to come to terms with what’s going on in her marriage, unsure of what this year of separation will mean for her and Aiden when they are reunited. She also finds their limited communication to be a contributing factor, as the time difference often makes it difficult for them to connect as often as she’d like.

Readers will quickly identify with Fern. She’s likeable and although I initially thought she wasn’t a very strong person, I came to realise that what looked like weakness and her constant need to please others, was actually quite a strong character trait. While she was going along with what others wanted, Fern was standing back, deciding what would be the right course of action for herself … very clever! There’s nothing quite like thinking you’re content with the life you’re living, thinking that it’s all you’ll ever really be able to have, only to discover that there’s actually an entire world out there, and a whole new life waiting for you to experience it!

Every single character in this book is so well thought out and so well-rounded. Lucy Coleman has developed solid back stories for each of them, and I absolutely love what she did at the end (ha! you’ll have to stick around to see what she does there … no cheating!). The story is absorbing and readers will definitely lose themselves in the beauty of the Provence countryside. The author’s descriptions bring the area to life, and you can almost feel like you’re right there as you get to know each character and the reasons why they’ve each chosen to take a bit of time out at this retreat. I know I certainly wanted to visit while I was immersed in this beautiful book.

This is highly recommended reading, especially for the time we’re in right now. It’s perfect escapism. 5 stars for this lovely story about discovering who you are.

Lucy Coleman never disappoints.

A wonderful story of self discovery, community and finding where you belong.

Fern is a rock who holds her family together. When her husband suggests a year apart to pursue their dreams she is shocked and devastated.

But we don't always know what we need and Fern discovers a different side to herself in Provence.

Summer in Provence took me to a place that I have always wanted to visit. To be able to wander around the blue gold fields, inhale their intoxicating scent and visually see its purple beauty for myself, is high up on my bucket list.

However, I was not enchanted by this novel as most reviewers have claimed. I really wanted to like this story, but there was too much focus on Nico’s moods and temperament, but I didn’t feel like the relationship between him and Fern was truly detailed. To me, it just seems that their relationship just happened and that the story was concerned with validating what a kind and thoughtful person Fern was. As a result, I wasn’t drawn into the story like I normally am with most books that I have read. It was almost a DNF but I wanted to stick it out to see if it got better. It didn’t. So although I’m glad I gave it a chance, it took me a lot longer to read and ended up me wanting to get it over and done with so I can move on to my next read.

Fern and Aiden had what it takes to make a marriage last - or so it seemed. Both had married young, put aside ideas of higher studies, dug deep into jobs and settling down. An unexpected windfall resurrects Aiden's dreams of travelling, of adventure into the beyond. For Fern unexpected though this was, shocked really, she is willing to let Aiden go, both take a gap year from their marriage and both pursue their respective dreams.

For Fern it was painting. Something she loved to do and had no opportunities, no training and no money for all this time. Now with a years sabbatical ahead of her, she volunteers for a villa in Provence which runs various courses for people.

Very descriptive on the one hand of Provence which sounds fabulous and on the other hand a disintegrating relationship, when you add the stresses of long distance, lack of communication and the niggling feeling that things are getting away from you and with no idea of how you can get it back on the former keel it was, takes us into this story

Very well written.

I adore stories by Lucy Coleman and this was one that skipped to the top of the to be read pile.
Summer in Provence is a beautiful tale of realising that the life you have, however perfect it seems, may not be the one meant for you. Fern and Aiden win the lottery leading to Aiden deciding he needs a break and wants to travel for a year. Fern was more than happy as they were and using the money for something useful but a year out is what she is lead to. Fern goes to a retreat in Provence that helps people to get away from life for a week and involved in creative pursuits. This is a time for herself and she spends it helping others and learning to paint, but as time goes on Fern and Aiden go through different experiences, they learn more about themselves as well as each other. A year is a long time apart but it could be just what they need to be happy.
This was wonderful to read and one I found really hard to put down. I was drawn in by Lucy's amazing story telling and the level of detail to every characters stories and emotions. The setting was incredible and I would love to go to a retreat in the sun learning about yourself and being creative.
This was an unforgettable story and one that I keep thinking about. I was excited that Lucy had written extra pages at the end of the story telling readers what happens to the characters and I loved that. Sometimes its nice to have a book finish when it does but sometimes it is just as nice to read what happens in the rest of that characters life.
Summer in Provence is an amazing read and one I would highly recommend for all book lovers.

Found it hard to put this book down when I had to let it go and get some sleep (how dare sleep make itself known when this is so engaging? LOL) Absolutely loved the setting, the depth of the emotions and feelings, the love that you somewhat see coming but which then takes you like a tidal wave. Astounded how I was made to feel exhilaration with Fern, the hurt, the veritable pivot that changes her life.
The pace was also great, jumping in places months ahead but without letting you feel that you've missed anything along the way.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but my goodness, this tugged so much at my heart - you'll know why and how when you read this!
Also absolutely adored the little epilogue-type snippets the author included at the end for every character - stroke of genius! Perfect dose of whimsy and also not letting the warmth that had come throughout the tale fade away.
OMG, this is a beautiful, beautiful book! Absolutely loved it!

So the main stars of this story are Fern, Aiden and Nico who are each on a journey that can end in a multiple of ways. Now this story is very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed every word. It was easy to get into and this story really grips your attention. All the descriptions were beautiful in this book, to the point that I feel like I need to now book a holiday to Provence. Overall I enjoyed this book and the story really grips the readers attention and holds their interest starting at the first word right until the very last word.

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.