Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Del and Ollie decide to move back to the UK after just a few weeks in rural Provence in France. Their marriage seems to be crumbling like the house they live in. Just as their belongings are loaded into the removal van Del has a change of heart and decides to stay leaving Ollie to return to the UK on this own. Del makes herself a life by becoming part of the community and discovers that Ollie was returning to the UK to be with his lover who was pregnant.

What a gorgeous book this was as Jo Thomas once again delivers a wonderful read. Del and Ollie had dreams of a new life in rural Provence, unfortunately their marriage is rather like the old house they move into, crumbling! They both decide it is time to go back home, but Del has a change of heart and decides to stay.

Thank goodness for Ralph, loyal if a little disobedient, Oh he is the dog by the way. With her mind made up, Dell decides to make a go of living in a foreign country alone, with no money and no friends. As she starts to find her way around the local market, she learns a little more about the farmhouse and the lavender that used to be grown there.

It is not long before Del finds that there is more to her than meets the eye, a shame she doesn’t see it herself. This is a gorgeous book with some fabulous characters, Dell herself is one of life’s helpers and people seem to be drawn to her.

With stunning scenery and characters what is there not to like. While all sounds perfect and idyllic there are clouds on the horizon and they show themselves soon enough.

This is another wonderful read and one that definitely warms the heart. Uncertainty and nerves of a new start and the support of friends help move this story along and I was easily transported to the perfumed lavender hills of the location and I stayed there for the whole afternoon as I read this book from start to finish. This is another Jo Thomas book that I would definitely recommend.

Oh my! What a wondrous, sunshine-drenched, inspiring and wholly evocative read this was. From the glorious setting of Provence to the magnificent foodie delights and entertaining characters of this tale, I adored ‘Escape to the French Farmhouse’ and savoured every last page of it, much like I was eating a homely, delicious meal made by Henri in his gorgeous little bistro himself. If escapism is what you’re after, then there’s no need to look any further because this story has it all. Jo Thomas will whisk you far, far away from reality and take you somewhere much more pleasant, with the freedom to roam the lavender fields, the beautiful village nearby, and the river just a short walk away from the place you’ll be calling home. You’ll love your stay here, I promise.
In ‘Escape to the French Farmhouse’ by Jo Thomas, readers join the lovely Del as she discovers that life isn’t all about staying shtum to avoid rocking the boat. Her marriage to Ollie is not working. It’s as simple as that. And it’s while Del is looking up at the beautiful yet battered farmhouse they’ve only recently moved into but are now leaving, that she realises she’s followed Ollie’s dream rather than her own. It was Ollie’s idea to come here, for them both to have a ‘fresh start’, the place fitting Ollie’s ideal after he’d become rather addicted to A New Life in the Sun and Escape to the Chateau. Yet, it was only Del who’d had to make the sacrifices, who’d had to leave her job in the UK that she adored so much, was respected in, and it was Del who’d had to leave her friends behind. It quickly becomes apparent that the balance is not right in this relationship, and when it becomes clear that Ollie has no real concrete plan for when they return to the UK, I was genuinely baffled. What on earth was wrong with this man? Did he just plan to drag poor Del everywhere with him, until he found a decent wi-fi signal, because it certainly seemed that way. Coupled with the loss of Del’s mother, failed IVF treatment and Ollie being made redundant, it was clear that Del was troubled, and it’s no surprise really. But I think, sometimes, it’s in the way your partner reacts to things that really tells you all you need to know about them, and I was in agreement with Del when she decided to stay behind, and let Ollie return to the UK alone.
‘I’ve never felt more certain of anything. I’m not going back to my old life with him. We’re over. Finally, the cracks are wide open and the ceiling is on the floor. Now all I have to do is work out what kind of ceiling I want to put up.’
It is here, once Del makes this courageous decision, that her life changes course completely and I absolutely loved it. There is nothing more satisfying than a woman saying no to something, regardless of what everyone else will think of her decision. No, she doesn’t want to be unhappy anymore. No, she doesn’t want to eat in fancy, posh restaurants, and no, she doesn’t want to go back to the UK with Ollie because nothing will change. The same age-old issues will be there. She knows, in all certainty, that there is no saving their marriage, and so, she makes the decision for both of them, and I respected her for that. Sure, she’s scared and a little nervous about what she’ll do now, but it all becomes clear soon enough, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent beside Del as she discovers what it is that truly makes her heart sing, and it turns out that it’s nothing like what Ollie would have wanted.
This truly is an inspiring story with so much heart and soul at its centre. Thomas writes beautifully and with warmth, describing the farmhouse with its ‘lavender blue shutters’ and ‘peach-coloured stone walls’. I wanted to be there myself, to enjoy a glass of rose’ whilst looking out over the valley, to the lavender farm in the distance, perhaps as the sun set. It was dreamy and tempting and incredibly potent. Thomas had me falling under the spell of this place entirely and I wanted nothing more than to head there myself, spend a week or two beside Del as she figured out what she’d do next.
There was a real sense of adventure within this story, too. The unknown was a huge theme because once Ollie leaves, Del is left with only Ralph for company. She has no job, so of course this means no steady income, and no friends, either, so there’s no one she can turn to for help. Plus, she still has a mortgage to pay off, so it’s not like she can sit around, really, although in place like that, you’d be sorely tempted to. But as Del ventures further out, into the town and the market place, Thomas really highlights the community feel and the sense of new friendships on the horizon. As the novel progresses, we see Del join the community and it’s wonderful, watching her evolve and grow as a person, becoming brave and creating a life for herself, from practically nothing. From baking to helping friends in need, Del is no longer an outsider but one of the townspeople, and it lifted my heart immeasurably.
Jo Thomas provides readers with the most gorgeous sense of escapism in her latest release. It was everything I had hoped for and more. It opened up an entire new world not only for Del, but for me, too. I was excited for all that awaited Del, and felt truly inspired by her story. Because the truth is, life is far too short to force yourself to stay in something that no longer makes you happy. Do the things that make you feel alive, take the chances that make your heart race, and enjoy the moments you never saw coming.
This was a gorgeously uplifting, happiness-inducing tale of taking chances and being brave, of letting go of the past and looking forward to the future. I absolutely adored it, and ‘Escape to the French Farmhouse’ by Jo Thomas is receiving a five out of five rating from me. With thanks to the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book, that of which has no reflection in providing a fair and honest review.

This is another fabulous feel good read from Jo Thomas set in the the idyllic sounding Provence however with a very realistic balance of characters reflecting the more true to life population of the locals, ex-pats and less fortunate. The story features around Del who having been persuaded to move to France by her husband finds herself just six weeks later preparing for them to go home when she realises it’s not life in France that is the issue but her marriage, She finds herself with little but an empty French farmhouse and a determination to make her life in France work. I loved the thoughtfulness of this story and the theme of second chances, it’s a very optimistic read in less than perfect times.

A beautiful book that really takes in the surroundings. I felt like I was really there.
It was a story of self discovery m. I found it very positive but tinged with sadness.
A lovely summer read

I loved the descriptions of France and the lavender farm. I have never been there but felt I had when I had finished reading this. A story of doing what you feel is right makes this a compelling read. Highly recommended

Just the book for a lockdown. You can smell the lavender.

Del and her husband Ollie move to a farmhouse in Provence for a new start. But, after only six weeks the removers are back packing up their belongings. As Del prepares to get into the car with Ollie she makes a decision. She is not leaving!
So she stays in a crumbling farmhouse, a few lavender plants and no income. However, this is a new determined Ollie and soon she is back on her feet and showing she can be independent and enjoy life.And who knows what is round the corner?

Great story offering some feel good moments as well as some sadder bits. Thoroughly enjoyable and easy to read.

The cover was stunning, the characters likeable and the story had me enthralled. Just what I needed to get me through this awful pandemic . A true escape xx

This novel left me slightly unsettled. I loved the story and the way it was written - its a perfect book for summer to put your feet up with. The unsettling bit was actually it was a far from realistic view of french life. Its perfect escapism reading though if you're happy to view it with rose tinted spectacles and ignore what would really happen in many situations in the book. Its otherwise a very gentle, easy to read light hearted story which gives you a nice warm feel good flow!

Good characters and an interesting story. Nice feel good read,could almost smell the lavender. Would like to have seen the recipes.

My goodness was this book a roller-coaster of many, many different emotions. Del is an incredible leading woman in this story and I really admired her bravery and motivation throughout - leaving her husband wasn't an easy task, however, it allowed her to begin the stunning life she finally pursued for herself. I couldn't have fallen in love with little Provenance town if I tried - every single character we meet brought so much to Del's new life and it really had me wanting to up and move there myself! The community most definitely had each other's backs through and through and although Del wasn't your typical local, they all warmed to her and made her feel like one immediately. It really helped that Del had every intention to become a look and worked so hard in making it happen.

The story between Del, Stephanie and Tomas was just the most heart-warming thing I have ever read about. It had me wanting to ball my eyes out at just what a perfect little family they had become, especially knowing Del's own journey to motherhood. It really does tug at your heart-strings and it also taught me that you don't have to hold the same DNA to be a family. The people you surround yourself with can become your family and that be enough. In this case, Del really did have a lucky break and I couldn't have been more happier for her. Her blossoming relationship with Fabien was also so incredibly gorgeous - despite the highs and lows they had to face, they were both so in love and was more than happy in making a couple of sacrifices because in the end, they had all they needed.

The perfect read for a gorgeous sunny day. Jo does not disappoint at all with this one and I am definitely going to be investing in her other stories immediately.

I have the ultimate respect for Jo Thomas as an author. It doesn't matter where her novels take place, the images she creates in her text are so vivid and descriptive, you can see yourself there, almost picture-perfect. The last book of hers I read featured Sweden (A Winter Beneath the Stars, https://amzn.to/2VHQjsV ) and I just wanted to head off there. This book, set in Provence, France, was just as vivid. The theme running through the book was lavender, it was used for baking, for oils etc. and it was grown, the descriptions meant I could almost smell the lavender as we wandered through the lavender farm.

The story begins just as our heroine Del makes the huge decision not to head back to the UK with her husband but to split and remain in France, but not knowing how she will support herself, she knows she's not happy with her husband. At this stage, we don't understand why and said husband does not appear to be all that bad only a little self-centred. So we don't know if he will come back as a hero or a villain, although it's clear when we meet Fabien that he is our hero, a genuinely lovely, kind and generous person, who always thinks of others and helps where he can. He's the man for Del, but it won't be easy for him to win her over.

We have a lovable supporting cast, Henri, the local bistro owner who starts Del off on her home baking business. We have Corine, the estate agent who was selling Del's house but turns into a valuable ally. Then there is Stephanie, a teenage mother and former thief and her adorable son Tomas, who provide the family Del was missing from her life along with all the dramas that go with it.

This is a lovely story about town life with a feel-good factor of supporting one of your own. The townsfolk quickly take Del on as their own because she is willing to adapt and to help others, to immerse herself into the town and not see herself as there to improve the people and places, only accept their ways and learn from them. In doing so, her character develops and grows.

A romance as soothing as the lavender that surrounds it.

Amazing storyline, had me captured from first chapter! Absolutely loved it and made me want to move to France!

A real feel-good read, perfect for the moment when there’s time to sit and read. I read this in an afternoon, and couldn’t put it down. A romance, set in Provence, lavender fields, lavender scents and tastes, and cooking. What happens when Della decides she know longer wants to return to England, and how she finds work, love and a place in France. A tasty book , it was a shame the recipes weren’t available in the preview copy I read.

A beautiful story that transports the reader to Provence. Del and Ollie flee to France for a new start after Del fails to conceive. However after 6 weeks they decide to sell up and move back to the UK. At the last minute Del decides she can't go back to a life where neither of them is happy. Left with just a farmhouse and the clothes on her back, Del has to make a life for herself. She meets Fabien who sets her up with the basics from his brocante, and starts to cook. Gradually she meets Stephanie and her son Thomas, and Henri who owns a bistro. Their lives become intertwined in a way Del could never have imagined. A love story at its best. You can smell the lavender.

Another amazing book from Jo Thomas.

Thank you for allowing me to read an early copy of this book which I absolutely loved.
As soon as I started reading I was transported to Le Petit Mas and could see and smell the Lavender and the descriptions of the foods had my mouth watering!
Del & Ollie's dream life in France is over after just 6 weeks but Del realises that so is their marriage and decides to stay in France totally alone except for her trusty yet clumsy dog Ralph. As her confidence grows and the story progresses she makes friends and integrates into the local community.
This is a fantastic story of bravery, friendship and love and although may make starting a new life abroad seem easy, it was certainly the dreamy escapism I needed during lockdown.
This is an honest review and I certainly cant recommend this book enough. Wonderful!

'm torn by this novel, the grumpy cynical side of me says this is a typical rose-coloured glasses view of living in a foreign country where the locals are only too happy to help out a complete stranger, just because they smile and attempt to speak the language. Even the attempts at showing that not everything is picturesque is done in a soft-focus way.

And yet the other half of me, the one that wells up when she sees a 99 year old man walking round his garden to raise money for the National Health Service, tells the cynical side to back off bi-yatch because we loved this. The chance to start a new life, albeit at the eleventh hour, in rural Provence, France against a backdrop of lavender (even though I can't stand the smell of the stuff) comes to Della just as she realises her marriage to Ollie is over. As he returns to the UK, as so many expats do after only a short time, Del chooses to stay. Del and Ollie's life in Provence had been about eating at the fancy bistro and meeting the other expats in the pub for a quiz night, it had nothing about becoming part of the local community. On her own Del quickly makes friends with a young man at the local brocante (half junk shop, half antiques shop, half flea market - hey, I'm an accountant I can make numbers do whatever I want), the local estate agent and a local restauranteur and her mission to find a new career to pay the mortgage on the crumbling French farmhouse they bought leads her to start baking biscuits and cakes infused with the local lavender.

This was feel-good stuff, the sort of novel where everyone is friendly and helpful, the only nasty people are the British expats who don't see the irony of trying to push people out 'who don't belong' in their idealised version of Provence The descriptions of the food that Del bakes are really mouth-watering (despite the addition of lavender) and I am only sorry that the ARC did not have the nine pages of recipes which are promised for the final book.

Overall, if you are looking for an escapist romance where the sun always shines and you change your life on a whim this is definitely the novel for you. It's warm, gentle, life-affirming and just the sort of thing to read on the beach (or in lockdown) or even on a cold winter's day when the idea of sunshine and warmth seems a distant memory.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I really wanted a nice, quick, lighthearted read to escape from the world for a bit and I wasn't disappointed.

I know the area that this book was set in. The descriptions of the colours, smells and people transported me straight there. The recipes made my mouth water and I have actually googled cooking with lavender.

A lovely heartwarming book to read on the beach or around the pool this summer.

I was asked to read this book early and I’m so grateful that I did as it’s simply amazing such a great read and has you hooked and makes you feel are in the sunshine in France. It’s a warm heartwarming read and full of starting over and baking and romance and making new friends. The characters are brilliant.
Del and her husband Ollie have been living in a run down cottage in the Provence of France in a small village but after six weeks they decide to pack up and move back to England. As they are leaving the cottage Del says to Ollie she can’t stay with him and go back to England so stays in the cottage. She needs to start all over again and find a way to make a living. Can she do it and when she finds at a local market a recipe book and she starts baking again will she be able to be happy and make a living. She makes new friends along the way but will she find romance again and when her friends turn up from England does she think Ollie has sent them to make her go back but she is set on staying. Will she find romance and will she be able to make a new living for herself on her own.
Perfect read and believe you are there in France.