I loved this book. It’s the first book I’ve read from this author but I will definitely be looking for more.

I was drawn in from the minute our main character ditched her husband - it rather was confident enough to go for what she wanted in life. I’m a big believer in being brave and finding your own adventure so this book felt like I was chatting to a best friend

As an ex pat myself I loved how Del got to know the locals and didn’t stick with the other ex pats. The clearing sounds very much like the kind of project I would be involved In and actually has Inspired me - Ive been happy to settle a little bit for comfort recently. I think this might be just the push I need to step outside my comfort zone again

All of the secondary characters were great too - I particularly loved Stephanie and Henri, such wonderful people and again people I’d like to be friends with

I loved how the chapters were short bc I could justify ‘just one more’!!!

Really really uplifting book. I loved it

My first, but not my last Jo Thomas read ! A wonderful story set in the French Provence, with wonderful characters that are very believable and the setting makes you want to pack your bags and go live there. The story starts with middle aged couple Del and Ollie who move to France from the UK to make a new start of their marriage, at least so Del thought. Soon she finds herself separated from Ollie as he moves back to the UK and Del decides to stay. She lives in an old farm house, which back in the day, was a thriving lavender farm that has few lavender plants still living. Most townspeople aren't very happy with the "UK invasion" of their French town because most don't really want to adopt the French culture and their people. They would rather hobnob with their old cronies from the UK., but Del is different and wants to fit in and absorb the culture and it's people and the town's people see that in her and accept her with open arms as she brings back life to the lavender farm, it's town and it's people. The author, Jo Thomas, knows how to take you to a foreign land and make you feel you are walking the streets and breathing the air and tasting the native food and culture. A marvelous book, I can't wait to go on my next trip with author Jo Thomas. "Escape to the French Farmhouse" is a lovely read and a wonderful "escape". Five lavender stars is my rating *****

A new start in France. Rejecting her husband she makes a new life by becoming part of the French community and making her own french family. She also finds love with a french toyboy. A sweet romance set in Provence.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

A beautifully romantic story set in France, just what I needed. A nice, easy light-hearted read. I think the only thing that would make it better was if I was reading a book version and it had a scratch and sniff panel of the smell of Lavender!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Steady paced, great characters, I was absorbed throughout. Will be reading more books by the author in the future!

FTC disclosure: I would like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with an advance reader copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

Such a great book for a summer escape!

I loved this book, all the components. As far as the story goes there were elements of connection, community, and belonging interlaced with real life challenges and celebrations that were relatable on so many levels.

The author brought forth all the emotion in just enough detail where I could easily sink my teeth into without feeling an incompleteness or feeling drained. The book overall was actually happy and uplifting, even though some stories were quite sad and deeply resonating with me. Stories with subplots that read like I was having a conversation with a best friend. Sometimes the main character was like, ok, what are you doing? But it was a story, her story, and life is not perfect and all the elements of her life were brought in full circle.

I was looking forward to wherever the story was going to take me.

As far as the writing goes, I loved the pacing and tone. Just enough moving the story forward, balanced with backstory, revelation, and self-reflection. Overall the amount of events were fast for the length of time they were set in, but it worked as a driving, yet delicate force to include necessary happenings that were realistic enough to be attainable.

1st person present is my least favorite POV to read, but this was done well because every word, every sentence was intentional, purposeful. It was written with such fluidity that it was a joy and pleasure to read.

The subplots with bigger stories flourished with a diverse enough cast of characters where each had distinguished charm all in their own both in the main character’s description and interaction with them, as well as in dialogue.

And simply the setting. The description of the French countryside, encompassing the main character’s house, market, and lifestyle centered around the beautiful scenery and delicious bakes from the star of the show, lavender, really made me feel like I was there enjoying it along with them. I’ve only been to Charles de Gaulle airport mind you, but through this story of imagine, I was among the lavender fields and dining out, the warm sun on my face, with a crisp, chewy lavender macaron and glass of wine, loving every bit it.

Highly recommend for an absolutely lovely summer read and I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.

This is another delightful read from an author who has the wonderful ability to whisk you away to another part of the world, immerse yourself in a fabulous story and become one of the peripheral characters, following the cast around.

I truly felt like I was walking alongside Del, on her walk into the local village, I felt like I was part of her life at the ramshackle old farmhouse that she lived in, and was one of the fabulous friends that she’d made along her journey. The smell of the lavender came through the pages of the book and made me feel like I could reach out and touch it.

Jo’s books always inspire me to travel more, experience more and to broaden my horizons. Her lead characters are rich with heart, spirit , friendship and kindness.

Escape to the French Farmhouse is a gorgeous story of hope, love and taking second chances that you are offered. I would highly recommend this as a read to transport you away from the current times, to another beautiful setting and experience the atmosphere, the culinary delights and the wonderful line-up of characters that continued to surprise me all the way through.

This is a truly magnificent tale which will warm your heart and leave you with a great big smile on your face.

Bravo Jo Thomas. Bravo!

A book to truly escape with into Provence . When her husband gives up on their life in France, Del realises its the end of their dream and their life together. She slowly rebuilds her life , finds friends, happiness and a new career . I found it hard to put down, to see if Del's new dreams came true. Wonderful and believable.

This is a great summer read which I really enjoyed. Being a francophile I love anything set in France and this is set in Provence evoked by being set in a village surrounded by lavender fields. Ollie and Del are leaving, the move to France hasn't worked out so they are going g back to England. But Del needs a new start away from Ollie so she stays in their French mas and begins to build a life there. The story illustrates the frictions between the French folk and the ex-pats but it also tackles prejudice and tolerance. It is an easy read and very enjoyable. In some places I wanted more detail or past history but overall, it's a nice summer read. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

A treat for all the senses as were a transported to a French farmhouse, which is situated on a lavender farm, filled with delicious bakes, lavender infused cooking and for the heart a potential new romance.

It's a story filled with friends old and new, and a rather brave lady Del who decides she will stay in Provence alone, instead of going back with her husband, having realised the relationship has run its course.

I loved how instead of Del mixing with the ex-pat community, she went out of her way to become a member of the French community, a real local. Actually Del's relationship with the ex-pat community was rather interesting to see.

Del is such a big hearted person, her relationship with Stefanie and Tomas was great to see, especially based on the beginnings it came from. Then there is Fabien, who runs the local broancte (flea market), and is determined to help Del settle into her new life, and there is clear chemistry between them.

There are so many wonderful subplots running through this novel and it was a joy to be a part of Del's life, and of those in the little Provence village.

Escape to the French Farmhouse has all the elements you would expect from a Jo Thomas novel and combined them into another truly wonderful story that I couldn't get enough of.

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

A book with a feel good factor. Being transported to a small rural town in Provence was a great escape from the problems of lockdown in this country! A lovely story, plenty of twists and a happy ending. It would be a good holiday read but instead I completed it in my sunny garden in two afternoons. Thoroughly recommended.

This is a delightful book!
I did find Del rather irritating though, the way she second guessed everyone and decided to do what she thought would be best for them, what they should want her to do, without actually thinking of discussing it with them first!
But I loved the feeling of the Provence heat and the descriptions of the scents, scenes and views of this colourful region.

Del has moved to France with her husband, Ollie. It is their chance at a fresh start after the heartbreak of finding out they cannot have children. Six weeks later the van is packed, ready to go in the opposite direction, back to England. But this time it leaves without Del. Now Del has to find a way to make money so that she can keep the lavender farmhouse.

There is a common theme to books by Jo Thomas. They all have friendly, warm characters, are set in wonderful locations and leave the reader with a contented glow that comes with an escapist read.

This is a very gentle read. Del seems rather abruptly to decide to leave her husband, or rather to let him leave. She soon finds herself with a way of making money. Her new impulsiveness finds her with new friends, a new business and possibly a new love.

Having spent the last 6 weeks with the expats, Del realises the real way of feeling at home is to integrate with the local culture. She soon finds that the local residents are welcoming and friendly, happy to help her settle in.

Del is coming to terms with the ending of her marriage and her dreams of becoming a parent. She embraces life in Provence, challenging herself to learn French, to cook and to make a go of living on a French lavender farm. She makes friends with Fabian almost immediately and so gathers to her a mis-matched group of people to her, from Stephanie the teenage runaway to Henri, the owner of the local bistro and Alain, one of the homeless living on the outskirts of town.

There aren't scenes of great peril, rather ups and downs as Del irons out her new life, coping with potential stumbling blocks that soon smooth out.

As said above, this is a gently paced story, the story line progresses at a suitable pace and the characters all have their place. It was lovely to spend a few virtual days in the French countryside, speeding through the pages. A nice, escapist read.

This book provided a welcome escape from Lockdown Life and I was transported into rural France to journey with Del through a tough season of change in her life.
I enjoyed the characters in this book and loved the sense of comminuty that was created and I felt affirmed that good can come from adversity - in all sorts of unexpected ways.

Del and Ollie have bought an old farmhouse in France where lavender used to be grown, but when Ollie decides to leave and return to the UK, Del chooses to stay. The couple had been experiencing problems within their marriage, largely due to failed IVF treatment among other issues, and this is a new start for Del.
The story is set in Provence, and surrounding scenery and village landscape are well described by the author, you can almost see the beautiful scenery and smell the lavender fragrances. Having little money, Del needs a job of some kind and is helped and given inspiration by the villagers, making friends along the way, especially Fabien with whom she becomes attached to. She also helps Stephanie (a young mother) and Tomas her baby. Having been given an old French recipe book, she decides to try her hand at making some tempting new dishes. All sounding delicious!
A light-hearted, warm story of friendship, making friends and rediscovering old ones, and communities helping each other out. The characters are well drawn, especially Del, who is inspired to try new things and succeed in her new life. Recommended light-hearted Summer reading.

I just devoured Escape to the French Farmhouse, from page 1 I was hooked. I could not put this book down and read it in a day. I was transported to the sunshine in France I was so engrossed in the book. I can smell the lavender from here.

The setting for this romance is glorious and you can absolutely picture the beautiful fields around the farmhouse and the village nearby. This is not a chocolate box description of the village life. You see the tensions between the french and the ex-pats who do not try to integrate and the difference between the respectable side of the village and the rougher areas and indeed, the homeless. There are some vividly drawn villagers who crop up during the story.

Giving others a second chance and starting over are major threads through the story and apply to more than the central characters. del herself has a few demons and problems with her self -image and a running sore caused by childlessness and the menopause. Finding an alternative family and accepting people for themselves are also lessons learned. For a lovely escapist read which involves the reader to the end, do give this one a try.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

Pure wonderful escapism!! No sooner had I started reading this book, I had a full picture of all the characters, landscape, the Bistro, Brocante, Estate Agents, and most importantly, because it was one of the main characters, the Lavender!!!! This book was just the right tonic, for cheering you up, especially because of the situation we find ourselves in at the moment!!!! I couldn't wait to read the next part, everytime I picked it back up!!!! I was fully engrossed in the beautiful scenery, smells, lovely people, or not so lovely people, everytime I picked it up to read!!! What a fabulous story!!!! Thank you!!!!

A Great Book for a rainy day or if you are in need of something during the lockdown and need to escape to a little village in France then this will be the book for you... This book had all the feels and emotions to make each page just fly by and before you know it you have reached the last page. It had such a feel-good fix that you will find yourself smiling without realising it.

I recommend this book with five stars it came to me just at the right time.

This is a warm jumper on a cold day type of book. Heartwarming with a little bit of regret and panic thrown in!

Del may have been deserted, but the author makes sure she is surrounded by friendly strangers and finds her inner peace in the end. A great set of characters, a proper hot chocolate treat of a book,one to lose yourself in. Very comforting!