Although I have seen this author's name around before, this is the first time I have picked up one of her books to read and I was not disappointed. I will search out more by this author for the future.

Del and Ollie have moved to a rambling farmhouse in Provence, France. It has not worked in healing the gaping chasms in their marriage and after six weeks - they are due to return to the UK.

Expect in a whim, completely out of character Del decides to stay and watches as her husband drives away from their life.

Now all alone, Del is faced with starting her life again. What can she do? How will she pay for the house?

Del finds herself drawn to the friendly locals and has more in common with their lifestyle than the expats who have set up home and are trying to a piece of Britain abroad.

Upon finding an old recipe book she discovers that lavender was used extensively in cooking and tries out a few recipes. Encouraged by Fabian who runs the local antique come junk shop who provides her with more than just furnishings for her farmhouse. He introduces her to more locals and also to someone who can help her reinvigorated the lavender fields that once dominated the countryside.

Armed with new friends, a new outlook and a new project it looks like Del is staring to find out who she is in the backdrop of love, loss and lavender.

This book has everything you could possibly want - warm sunshine, the scent of lavender (if that is your thing), the mouth watering recipes created by Del and the food at the bistro, the joy of helping those less fortunate than yourself and the sharing of all of this to create a great summery read.

Such a lovely story of love, hope and success. The characters are strong and the story well written. An easy read which makes you laugh out loud and brings a tear to your eye.

A lovely story of how Del decides to stay on in France and say goodbye not only to her husband but all that is fimiliar to her. Because of her welcoming nature, she makes friends in unexpected ways. Her love of lavender opens doors to her earring a living and eventually gaining a family, that she never thought she would have

I read this book in a day and really enjoyed it but there were a few things that didn't sit well with me so I'm also going to mention those in my review. We first meet Del as her and her husband Ollie are about to head back to the UK after only 6 weeks in France. Del realises she doesn't want to go and stays and then has to decide how to survive with little money, no furniture, a neglected house and a mortgage to deal with.

When she goes to the nearby village for some furniture she also finds a cookbook with recipes containing lavender and this gives her an idea and everything stems from there. So she starts baking and cooking and the smells practically leapt off the page at me, the best one I felt was the lemon and lavender chicken and the honey and lavender ice cream, honestly even typing it makes my mouth water. Through selling her bakes Del meets others in the village and settles into a bit of a rhythm, she meets new people, makes new friends and disagrees with a few others.

I really did enjoy this story and the sense of optimism and hope that pervaded it but I also found some things a bit unrealistic. Everything in the book seems to happen in the space of a few weeks and I felt it was a bit rushed, Del's finances don't add up for me and I'm not convinced that a new arrival in a small village would end up doing what Del did in only a few weeks. However, as I've said, these issues aside I did enjoy the story, the bits I've mentioned did detract a little but not enough to stop me enjoying it.

The descriptions of the food were fabulous and had me craving croissants and hot chocolate for breakfast and I got a real sense of peace in the house in the quiet, early mornings. It sounded like the perfect place to go to rediscover yourself and there was a lot of hope and positivity which added to the overall feel of the book. 

If you want something light and full of warmth, and delicious food, then this book is worth checking out. I'm still going to keep The Oyster Catcher on my tbr and I'm looking forward to reading it at some point in the future.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

"Del and her husband Ollie moved to a beautiful village in Provence for a fresh start after years of infertility struggles. But six weeks after they arrive, they’re packing the removal van once more. As Del watches the van leave for England, she suddenly realises exactly what will make her happier…a new life in France – without Ollie.

"Now alone, all Del has is a crumbling farmhouse, a mortgage to pay and a few lavender plants. What on earth is she going to do? After discovering an old recipe book at the market run by the rather attractive Fabian, Del starts to bake. But can her new-found passion really help her let go of the past and lead to true happiness?"

This is the first book I've read by Jo Thomas but I loved the community feel she created in France, and the picturesque scenes. I will certainly now look into other novels Jo Thomas has created to see where else I can escape to!

I found the story slow to get in to at the start, but as Del started settling in to French village life, I found myself escaping further into the story, and cheering Del on to achieve her goals.

I loved the characters, especially Del who is all about giving people second chances and who feels like a friend to all. I also loved her relationship with Stephanie and Tomas, showing that family does not have to be blood but is who you choose and those around you.

The novel was feel-good and pure escapism; a perfect, heartwarming holiday read.

This is far from a whimsical story. It is one of courage, hope, sadness, happiness and moving onwards with life. It makes for a great escape to Provence, France. It is a very pleasant read indeed and one that I enjoyed.

Rifts appear in relationships as other things happen in life and just mount up. This is what is portrayed with great emotion and tenderness at the start of Del and Ollie’s tale. This is a tale about entering into a new era of life. For Del and Ollie it will be apart.
France however sounds idyllic with its market stalls selling anything from chandelier’s to lavender and then there are the patisseries with their lovely baking. For the bakers out there, there’s plenty of inspiration from macaroons to using lavender as a herb for tulles.
The contrast is stark between this and the other realities of life that Ollie and Del have to deal with. A place can look nice, but there can still be so much going on, including the challenges that being expats can impose and the decisions that have to be made, whether to stay or leave. It casts a story of how being an expat takes some getting used to as there is a whole new way of living with so many differences, even small ones, to get used to and it isn’t that you wake up in another country and can or should expect it to be like that one you left.

There is strength of character depicted through Del, it’s realistically written though, from the heartache and difficult decisions to make, to the moving onwards with her life. She does however make a friend in Carine and her dog – Ralph as you follow their lives and follow the scent of lavender throughout.

Taking second chances and giving second chances also features as does romance and emotional challenges to overcome when people move on. There are however some really nice feel-good factors and warmth to be found throughout this book.

Although occasionally rushed near the beginning, the book is a very good read and I recommend it.

If you know me you know I love Jo Thomas. I often say she's my favourite author because her books always put smile on my face and warm my heart.

What I appreciate the most about Thomas' novels is that they are filled with hope.
They are always stories about women who start again, and find the love/success.

Escape to the French Farmhouse is not an exception. It follows our main character Del who leaves her husband and starts again, and eventually finds hope, love, new friends and starts new business.

However, even though it sounds similar to other books written by Jo Thomas, it was pretty different than them.
It has more perspective on side characters that make this novel unique.

However, I felt like Del wasn't the one who was building the story, but like everything that was happening in the story just happened to her, for her benefit.
It was like the plot was based around her, instead driven by her.
I really didn't like how her husband was pictured as a bad guy. I mean, even there she had to be the victim, wouldn't it be enough to leave him out of the picture once he was gone?

Also, I don't agree with the moral of the story.
We could argue on that, and I think both sides would be right and wrong, but in the end, I didn't change my mind.
I was on "bad character's" side, and that is probably the biggest reason why I feel the way I feel.

The writing was great, as always.

In the end I still want to encourage you to read Escape to the French Farmhouse because so many readers enjoyed it and I hope you will too.
I still can't wait to read Jo Thomas' next book because she is still my number 1 author.

This really does feel like an escape to Provence. A gorgeous easy read, perfect for feeling like you’re in lavender-scented south of France with a wonderful village community of eclectic and lovable characters.

It must be a very brave person that decides to pack everything up and move to another country. However, it wasn't to be for husband Ollie who soon returns to England, leaving Del to make that fresh start alone. A lovely sunny and uplifting novel, just what is needed at the moment.

Every now and again it's nice to read a happy, sun-filled novel where people are kind and courageous and take care of each other. Escape to the French Farmhouse is just such a book.

After failing several rounds of IVF, Del and her husband Ollie moved to Provence to start a new life. Six weeks later, with nothing working out the way Ollie expected, they are packing to move back to England. But when it's time to say goodbye to the farmhouse they've bought, Del realises she doesn't want to go back and instead stays behind to give try living in a small French village on her own.

The village is everything you could wish it to be, with kind and friendly people who welcome and help Del. The farmhouse was originally a lavender farm, so when Del finds an old Provencial cookbook of lavender based recipes she starts baking biscuits and cakes to sell at the markets. Along her journey of finding her place in the village she makes friends, including the handsome young man at the recycled furniture store and even helps some less fortunate people find a better life.

So while the novel may be painting a slightly idealistic, romantic picture of life in a small French village, it makes for a lovely heartwarming story with some ups and downs along the way, a little romance and a happy ending. Perfect escapist reading for lockdown, the beach or for those of us daydreaming of sunny days filled with the scent of lavender while huddled next to a wintery fireside.

A hugely talented author. Cannot wait for her christmas novel. Take me back to where it is set, im in a bubble, another great book.
This book is set in the rolling countryside of France, a coup[le go to move out there but one deicdes to stay on and enjoy France. Del found herself and each day she surprised herself. She has to be self suffecient and finmd a way of finding a job and keeping things running to survive, she doesnt want to go back to England. In time, she decides to go to a market and finds a recipe book and begins to bake once again, can she find new friends? camn she survive? Then friends of Ollies turn up, but shes sure they are sent from Ollie to bring Dell back but Del is adamant shes staying where she is.
I loved this book, i am looking forward to the next.

Escape to the French farmyard by jo Thomas
what can I say about this book wow I loved it you smell and see the lavender in your mind it sounded wonderful garden All the lavender and a farmhouse pictures of setting the French Alps in the background or the lavender in the field the smell of the home made food i love how they set up selling things .The food making the descriptions were so good you could taste the food and you could see and smell it in your mind the characters are wonderful and warm they all become your friends I love the how Story progress and I love how you saw the characters grow Jo just put you on the journey with them it a lovely well written book great for the summer time i can not recommend enough i really could picture it all going on just love it a nice easy read pack with a lovely warm plot .5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

What a wonderful book - you can almost smell the lavender and feel the French sun coming right off the pages. Del and her husband Ollie have moved to Provence to start a new life but things haven't worked out exactly as planned. Follow Del's adventure this summer and finish the book with a smile on your face.

Del and Ollie moved to France six months previously, and, as it has not lived up to Ollie’s expectations, they are now packed up ready to go back to the UK. At the very last minute, as the removal lorry is about to head off, Del realizes that she wants to stay and try to make a go of it somehow.
What follows, even bearing in mind this is a work of fiction, is pretty far fetched. There are some interesting threads about the treatment of homeless people, and the behaviour of the British ex-pats in the town. I liked that Del took Stephanie, and her son Tomas, under her wing and helped them build a new life. Some of the characters, however, were not convincing as fully rounded human beings.
Jo Thomas vividly captures the sights and aromas of Provence, and you can almost smell the lavender as you read the story. For me, this was also part of the problem; there is just too much lavender. Don’t get me wrong, I love the smell, in soap and bath oil, but not the taste in absolutely everything I eat.
Told in the first person, we get the whole story through Del’s eyes – which has its limitations – with a lot of repetitious thoughts, and no alternative perspective. This is really hard to pull off, and here it just did not work for me.
With an attractive cover and a cute dog, Escape to the French Farmhouse is a great way to take your mind off the British weather.
Thanks to the author, Corgi and NetGalley for a copy to review.

This was a lovely book. Jo Thomas is a new author for me, and I was slightly concerned the story would be too emotional for me. The cover was very appealing, so I went ahead anyway, and I’m glad I did.

I really liked the variety of characters in this book, many of them have been through a difficult time. I enjoyed seeing Del and Stephanie, in particular, come into their own. The setting is lovely, the lavender farm and town shine through as a character in their own right. I also enjoyed the gentle romance(s), which are interesting without excessive drama. The theme of found family is strong, and heartwarming.

This would be a great book for anyone looking for a gentle romance, full of found family.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

A lovely story perfect location France.Wonderful characters beautiful lavender I imagine being surrounded by fields of it the wonderful aroma.A perfect escape the real work novel.#netgalley#randomhouseuk

I absolutely adored this read!

A woman in her 40s being brave and starting again is always up my street but Escape to the French Farmhouse ticked every box for me.

Wonderful characters, beautiful setting and well written. Go and buy it right now!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jo Thomas book but Escape to the French Farmhouse certainly reminded me how good an author she is. This book follows Del. She’s moved to Provence with her husband Ollie for a fresh start but six weeks after they arrive she realises she’s beginning another new start, alone in France. We follow her as she begins to make a new life for herself, immersing into the local community, making friends and above all understanding the importance of second chances. With some great characters and a handsome love interest this book is a totally heartwarming feel good read. Thank you to Random House UK and the author for the chance to review.

First Jo Thomas book for me, but won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this book, sheer escapism, wonderful believable characters, some laugh out loud moments and a great story!
I would recommend this book
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Jo Thomas for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I love Jo Thomas' books and this was no exception. The beautiful setting of the lavender fields of Provence and the essentially French characters of Fabien and Henri brought the story alive. A wonderful story about second chances.