I enjoyed this book a lot and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Brought up by Vera her aunt after her parents were killed amelia found life very difficult. it made me realise how important familyand friends are, especially when young. Amelia eventually makes the right decision to alow her to have a happy life.

A beautiful story, full of love and secrets and second chances. Katie Ginger's writing is always cheering and this was her best yet!

Amelia can't wait to leave home after University, to get away from her Great Aunt Vera, who never loved her but took her in when her parents died. It meant leaving behind her boyfriend Adam, who she felt would soon move on without her.

Amelia moves to Paris and becomes an interior designer, and builds a nice life for herself by shutting out thoughts of the past.

When Amelia heard that Vera has died and left her the farmhouse her world is turned upside down. She has to come home and tackle the ramshackle farmhouse before she can sell it, but people in the village are unlike the Parisians she has come to know, and Amelia finds things are not as straightforward as she thought they would be.

This is my first book by Katie Ginger and it won't be my last. It is a beautifully written, pacey book. The descriptions of the village are gorgeous - you want to go there, and the characters are fantastic and very believable. Who wouldn't want a coffee with Amelia  and Sophie. I loved this book - more please!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3900562287

Yet another wonderful book by Katie. Vera is an elderly spinster who ends up looking after her 8 year old niece at the age of 60. As Amelia goes up she finds Vera to be unloving and would prefer it if she was left alone. So aged 18 Amelia leaves to go to university leaving her old life and love behind. Ten years have passed when she receives a letter explaining that her aunt has died and left there old farmhouse to her. Realising that she will have to return turns Amelias life, head and heart into full on turmoil.

The mood of this book was just what I needed, a gentle story, engaging characters, a little bit of mystery and an underlying love story. You were rooting for Amelia from the get go to find her peace and find what made her happy. Great writing and one to enjoy.

I read this well into the night because it was so enjoyable. A common theme of discovery after a death but I found this different as it related to the war and the prejudices of that era as well as the emotions linked with loss, romance and friendships

Katie Ginger will brighten up your day with her charming, uplifting and poignant new page-turner, The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse.

Amelia’s life in Paris is as close to idyllic as it is possible to get, however, when she receives the surprising news that she has inherited her childhood home Meadow Farmhouse, she finds herself leaving France behind for the small village of Meadowbank. Amelia hopes to spend her time in Meadowbank restoring her aunt’s old farmhouse, however, she soon realises that she is going to have to confront her past head on – starting with her former flame, Adam. Will coming back home prove to be a mistake for Amelia? Or will it end up being the answer to all of her prayers?

As she begins the renovations on the farmhouse, Amelia discovers an old locket containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier. What is his connection to her great-aunt? And just what secrets has Amelia’s great-aunt been keeping from her family all along? As Amelia gets deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Meadow Farmhouse, she begins to settle into village life and finds herself getting closer and closer to Adam again. But just where does Amelia belong? Is it in Meadowbank with a community that has welcomed her with open arms? With the man who has come to mean the world to her? Or is it in Paris?

Will Amelia manage to solve a decades old mystery and find a place to call home? Or will she let her fears and insecurities condemn her to an unhappy future far from the people she has grown to love?

A blissful romantic escape that touches the heart and tickles the funny bone, Katie Ginger’s The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse is a compelling and captivating read that is immensely enjoyable. Katie Ginger never fails to pen witty and emotional stories peopled with characters you cannot help but fall in love with who live in picturesque villages you would just love to move to.

The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse is a spellbinding tale about coming home, facing up to the past and taking a chance on love again that is pure reading delight from start to finish.

Another year, another fabulous book by Katie – she certainly knows how to spoil us all! I mean, just look at that absolutely gorgeous cover, for starters!? I was immediately drawn in just by the cover, but the secrets within Meadowhouse had me completely enthralled.

Like all of Katie’s leading ladies, Amelia was one that you just couldn’t help fall in love with the second you meet her. She had quite a traumatic past and a lot of self-love to work on, thanks to her Great-Aunt Vera who never shied from expressing just how much becoming a parent to Amelia was not in the cards of her life. Returning home after the passing of Vera, Amelia was determined to figure out what had forced Vera to become the bitter woman she had been, from just eighteen-years-old. This was not only a journey of discovering Vera’s past, but it was also a journey for Amelia to discover how she felt about her present and what she wanted in her future… or shall I say, who she wanted in her future. She doesn’t feel that she belongs in her hometown, nor does she feel that she belongs in her new fancy lifestyle of Paris. It certainly doesn’t help when old faces show up on her doorstep with a not so warm greeting. Amelia’s mission is to revitalise the Farmhouse, find answers to all of Vera’s secrets, sell her childhood home and return to Paris – there was no hesitation within her beginning goals.

I really love the second chance stories, whether that be with a place or a person – it’s just such a lovely message to put out there, that everyone deserves a second chance, because life is just too damn short. An old flame, Adam, is definitely one piece of the puzzle for Amelia to be able to start her second chance back home and what a glorious addition that man was! He had his doubts and his trust issues towards Amelia, but he still never hesitated when she needed support, especially getting to the bottom of the Meadowhouse secrets. I was so eager to fly through the pages and follow the pair throughout their research. There was so many fascinating facts and people that they learnt about along the way, I became consumed with trying to piece Vera’s life together myself. When everything finally clicked in to place, I absolutely gasped out loud and couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it sooner! The way Katie finalised Vera’s story and with everything we learn coming to the end, I was actually brought to tears. All the bitterness and pain that Vera had felt for so many years finally made sense and it was heart wrenching, I must admit.

The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse is a story that is going to completely tug at your heart-strings. The romance within the present and the past are both extremely beautiful and I was overjoyed to see at least one have their happy ending. The setting that Katie describes is a place I would adore visiting, especially with the set of kind-hearted characters that come along with it. I was expecting this to be a stand-alone story, but it appears that Katie already has more in store for Amelia and Adam, possibly causing me to let out a little squeal of excitement! I am thoroughly looking forward to returning to Meadowbank.

This story takes us into Amelia’s world starting in Paris. However her great aunt Vera has left her Meadow Farmhouse in her will, so Amelia heads back to Meadowbank to get it ready to sell. She hasn’t been back in ten years and there’s a lot of unfinished business for her to deal with.

Meadowbank sounds so beautiful and has a massive sense of positive community spirit. Every character featured in this story had such full personalities, where each one brings something totally different to the story.

This is the perfect escapism read that will have you feeling happy, sad and everything in between. I am a fan of Katie’s books, she gives such detailed scenes where you can just imagine it all clearly in your head. I give ‘The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse’ 4*/5* 😊

Thank you to HQ for an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

Oh my goodness. I loved this book, I was hooked from the offset. We didn’t went to put it down once I started.
I loved Amelia and was rooting for her to realise her roots were not in Paris. I loved the friendship she made in the village with the doctors wife.
I was so happy she didn’t get to Sean back into her village life and had to work for it.
Adam seemed like such a nice guy and to realise that Amelias past traumas had affected her relationship made him a keeper in my eyes.
Katie is quickly becoming my favourite author. She writes about genuine emotions and the books are lovely.
This honest review was provided in exchange for an arc provided by netgalley

A sad and happy story. Amelia had had one tough life one way and another. Her Paris life did sound amazing but you can understand why when she came back she realised what mattered. Adam's woodwork sounded amazing. I liked Sophie's character. A good friend. The ending ws what you wanted

I loved this book and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Amelia was brought up by Vera her aunt after her parents were killed, but life was hard for her. You realise how important family, friends and true relationships are to a loving, happy life. Thankfully Amelia eventually makes the right decision.

A heartwarming, feel-good second chance romance.

Amelia and Adam are adorably awkward with each other after not seeing one another for ten years and I couldn't help but smile with all their blushing during their brief interactions. I laughed at her Facebook faux pas and I could just imagine how embarrassed she was about it. Their relationship was very relatable especially for anyone who has ever left home for university and found work away from home. I couldn't wait to see Amelia make the decision not to go back to Paris.

The close-knit community of the village was very endearing and charming. Everybody knows everyone else's business but at the same time, they rally round each other when times are not so good. It just gave a lovely atmosphere to the setting and juxtaposed nicely with Amelia's life in Paris.

The mystery surrounding Vera's past was very poignant and I found the historical detail very interesting. I could imagine that something similar could have easily happened here during the second world war as American servicemen spent some time socialising in Moville while they were stationed in nearby Derry.

The Secret of Meadow Farmhouse is a darling of a story and I loved every minute of it.

What a beautiful story. When Ameilia's Aunt dies and she inherits her childhood home ,she leaves her successful life in Paris to go back and intends to renovate it and sell it as soon as possible but while clearing out she soon starts to discover some long family secrets. She also has to face her childhood sweetheart Adam who she left without saying goodbye to. This was a really lovely read with a love and warmth shining through every page. I read it in less than two days and really recommend it A 5 🌟read

I’ve read a couple of other books by Katie Ginger so was looking forward to reading this one, and I was not disappointed, in fact, in my opinion this is her best so far.
Fully-formed and believable characters set in both Paris and a quintessentially English village, both of which Katie describes wonderfully.
A touching story of previous lost love and friendship, and the hope of re-kindling romance and finding new friendship. Touching issues of grief and loss sensitively handled and well described.
Secrets abound when Amelia returns to the home she shared with her emotionally cold Great-Aunt, Vera, after her parents died when she was young. Amelia begins to realise that things were not as black & white as she thought in childhood and that Vera’s own experience of loss made her how she was and prompted her to isolate herself from everyone, something Amelia realises she has been doing herself.
The blossoming re-kindling of both friendship & romance between Amelia & her childhood best friend, and first love, was lovely to read and the heartwarming way they navigate their way through forgiveness and understanding was lovely to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s filled from cover to cover with some of the the best writing of this genre. So easy to read and is captivating throughout the story that I ended up reading it in no time.
I’m thrilled to hear that this is only the first book of a series to be set in the village and can’t wait to read the next one, especially as I believe we’ve already been introduced to the character it will be focussed on.

Firstly, the cover of this book is truly beautiful. I felt enticed to enter Meadow Farmhouse and think the cover perfectly captures everything – it is exactly how I imagined this idyllic, peaceful setting. It’s a lovely story that is set in the quaint English countryside. I think the main thing that ruined my enjoyment of the story was the protagonist herself: I found Amelia selfish and rather ungrateful for everything that surrounds her.

Amelia arrives from her chic Paris apartment to Meadow Farmhouse. She has inherited it from her Aunt Vera with whom she has had an estranged relationship with. After losing both her parents as a child, Amelia’s Aunt Vera raised her – but with very few smiles and warmth. This has significantly affected Amelia and when the chance came for her to leave for university, Amelia did just that – without a backwards glance. Leaving behind a broken-hearted boyfriend, Amelia is reluctant to return to Meadow Farmhouse. Not only does it provoke memories of being raised by such a miserable woman who had few friends in the village, Amelia is also concerned about running into Adam. Memories she has buried under her “new life” experiences in Paris threaten Amelia’s judgement about where she is truly happy.

Although this book is about the mystery of Meadow Farmhouse, I don’t think the writer truly explores this. With the Prologue set in the past, I did wonder if this novel would have a dual-timeline narrative that would intensify the mystery of Amelia’s Aunt Vera. However, I do feel that the questions Amelia has were more of a side-story to the main plot. Instead, Ginger seems to focus more on Amelia’s emotional quandary and her renovations of the farmhouse, getting ready to sell it so she can return to Paris. This was the most disappointing element of the narrative as I was keen for more questions and enquiries into Aunt Vera’s locket and the mysterious photograph inside. I think Ginger could have elaborated more details in this sub-plot: either with flashbacks to Vera’s past or even more ambiguous items found in the Farmhouse.

With the lack of emphasis on the secrets, I think this makes it more of an average read about a woman who has broken a young man’s heart. The setting undoubtedly adds to the charm of the narrative but I feel it was quite similar to other books I have read in the past. I think Ginger needed to do more to make this stand out from other stories; the mystery of Aunt Vera would have achieved this. As such, I did not feel I had a spark with this narrative and, despite guessing Amelia’s final decisions quite early on, was hoping for more surprises along the way. Furthermore, I found Amelia’s attitude rather selfish and ungrateful. She has put up her emotional barriers as a result of her childhood and upbringing, but I think I was hoping that her experiences abroad would have matured her outlook more than what it has.

After reading the book, I was excited to see that this is the start of a series, with the next book being set in a library. Excitement! I hope Ginger is able to develop the next narrative further than what she has done here. There was so much potential to add to the mystery and questions that Amelia has and I think this could have added more layers to the plot. 

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the sweetness of the novel. The characters in this story are all very pleasant and I think they make a great potential for being the basis of the series. It was a sweet, summer romance story and I think the change that Amelia undergoes is definitely well-needed! I just wish there had been more mystery and less Amelia in the plot.

With thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, this book reduced me to a blubbering mess, but a good blubbering mess, as this second chance romance stole my whole heart, I will admit, second chance romances are not my favorites in the romance word, but there was just something about this book that just spoke to me.

Amelia was living a glamorous life in Paris, or so she tells herself, she has one person that she can call a friend, so when she has to go back to Meadowbank to sort out the farmhouse that she inherited from her aunt.

But coming face to face with her childhood sweetheart, the one person she never felt worthy of, Adam. But that is not the only thing Amelia has to face, and find out the sad history of the Aunt that she thought she knew.

The Secrets of Meadow Farm House is an outstanding book, well written and with characters filled with love.

Fantastic read, couldn't put it down as I needed to know Vera's secret, wonderfully written book that transports you to lovely village life and you feel as if you are actually there, loved the story and the romance, would love a follow up book from these characters

I am so glad that I downloaded this book on a non working day as I’ve read it in one sitting. Quite an emotional book that looks to the past, the present and the future. A lovely setting and delightful characters, a love story not to be missed.

I have been a fan of Katie Ginger's since I dipped into the Swallowtail Bay series early last year. It definitely provided some well needed escapism during lockdown 1.0. I am also an absolute sucker for a beautifully illustrated cover, just like this one.

The book opens by looking back at the past, and the young life of Amelia’s great aunt Vera. The opening of the book is uplifting to begin with, as news of a proposal announced. However, this is followed by quite a lot of drama. The book quickly establishes themes linked to: displacement, social class, identity, relationships and loss.

Once again, Katie Ginger quenches my thirst for escapist fiction. Her wonderfully descriptions and precise language makes me like I personally have been transported to the bustling city life of Paris or the small rural village life of Meadowbank.
I really liked the presentation and development of the character of Amelia. She is a complex and realistic character, renowned for her beauty, success and bravery for making a new life for herself after suffering a tragedy at a young age, and leaving Meadowbank in her shadow in order to make a career and name for herself in Paris. She is someone who, underneath an exterior which is described in the book as ‘cold’ and uppity, appears to be someone who deep down, is really looking for a lasting connection and love.

The romance plot of this story helps to drive it forward, as we learn more about the illustrious and unforgettable Adam, but as I have said there is so much more to this story than a romantic love story.

Overall, this has been an uplifting, gorgeous book which makes for perfect escapist reading. It has restored my faith in humanity on many levels, and brings to life an authentic community spirit which I personally don’t feel we often see in real life anymore. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of romantic fiction authors such as Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin.

⭐⭐⭐⭐