This is a interesting story about a married couple that need a change in their life. They are both unhappy in their jobs and have been unsuccessful in their attempts to have a child. So they pack up and buy a fixer upper chateau in France.

The chateau needs more work than they anticipated and since neither of them speak French, the renovations are going slowly. After an accident has Mark moving away, Emma is left to sort the mess on her own. Did they make a colossal mistake?

This is my first book by Gillian Harvey and I really enjoyed it, I think most of us have the romanticised dream of buying a chateau in France and renovating it and saving them from ruin but this book perfectly balanced that dream and the reality of moving to a new country with a language you can't speak with the difficulties that in itself provides. I found the main character Emma really interesting, at the start I found her frustrating with her lack of ambition to help with any of the renovations but as she develops throughout the book and her confidence grew I had real warmth for her and I was not expecting the ending which made me happy. I also enjoyed Rachel as a character, that older sister roll where you are expected to hold it all together for everyone is a roll I understand and I was glad she was able to build a closer bond and be honest.

Gillian Harvey has done it yet again. Another book to make you feel good and take you away from everyday life into a world of love and friendship. 

Moving to France to live in a run down chateau Mark and Kate didn’t realise just how much their lives would change. Having sold up in England they had little money to spend on making the Chateau habitable and ready to commence the business they wanted to start.

Like all marriages there are high and lows. This book is full of love and hope. Even though there is a language barrier, Kate finds the real her, hiding under the stress and sadness of the past.

The characterisation was marvellous and I loved them all. The setting of the chateau was wonderfully descriptive and could imagine yourself walking around it. I  laughed and cried. Thoroughly recommend this as a summer read.

Thank you Gillian Harvey for brightening up my week.

I absolutely loved this book, the story snd what it was aiming for. The disappointment, probably me, I didn’t like like the character Emma. She left me a bit sour as she was woo is me. She’d been through a lot in her years, understand how it reflected in her character. She mellowed towards the completion of the book, but the irritation stayed with me. Having said that, obviously a good read to get my emotions raised!!

A wonderfully uplifting read… A lot of sparkle and mischief… The characters are fabulous… A very relaxing read!
Loved it!

I really love Gillians books, they are always such a lovely ray of sunshine.

The character descriptions and storylines are always so lovely.

I love France, and have and continue to have many good memories visiting my mum and step dad there.

It's a beautiful country and buying a Chateau is the dream right...well it's someone's dream and it wasn't mine until I started reading this haha. Gillian has a way of sucking you into the story to stand by the characters as if you're part of the story too.

As always this author transports us into the beautiful setting of France and a French escape. This story was not as light hearted as previous reads by this author but was just as good and covered a lot of issues involving love and loss and fertility in a sensitive way.

The story and characters were engaging and loved how Emma took charge of her life and grew in strength and courage and confidence as the book progressed and how the story gave hope about never giving up your dream no matter what obstacles life throws at you.

I look forward to reading what this author writes next.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved the French setting, the beautiful descriptions and the warmth of the characters. It would make a perfect holiday read for anyone off to France, but it was equally good on my own sofa in drizzly Britain especiallyat the moment! Can't wait to read Gillian Harvey’s next book.

This is a really lovely story about self discovery and determining your own capability when things go awry. I really enjoyed the story and the character development throughout. Watching Emma grow and realize that she is more than capable through the renovation of the Chateau as well as in life is inspiring and delightful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

In the book, we follow a married couple Emma and Mark who buy a chateau in France and go on the adventure of renovating it and making it their home. Their age difference is clear when the problems come to the surface as it is evident how different they are thinking. But nevertheless, they are trying their best to navigate the renovation of their new home. The things don’t go as they wish for and their relationship is on the rocks.

It was very nice to see that Emma didn’t give up when Mark ended in the hospital. She did her best to take things in her hands and on that path, she met other people from the area, learning what chateau means to them.I really liked how this story was about not giving up on your dream, even if you have hardships. We will always have hardships but it is important not to give up.

If you want a lift and something to show you that you shouldn’t give up on your dreams, no matter how crazy they are, pick up this book. Gillian’s writing will catch you and capture your heart, taking you to the wonderful chateau. It will be a nice journey, perfect for the colder months to snuggle under the blanket, get cozy and read.

This book is a touching tale of love, loss, and seizing control of one's life. Emma faces challenges at work, struggles with infertility, and watches her father's decline. When her partner Mark suggests buying a chateau in France, Emma is skeptical but agrees. However, renovations prove daunting, money becomes tight, and their relationship faces strain. Despite the hurdles, Emma discovers her inner strength and resilience. The story skillfully blends adventure with poignant themes like grief and infertility, making it a compelling read with relatable characters and beautiful imagery.

I loved this. I thought at first it was going to be formulaic, but, just as you thought you’d worked out where it was heading it did a rollercoaster switch😊 highly recommend

A fresh start for a couple needing it, overcoming anxieties and learning strengths is the premise for The French Chateau Escape. You follow the FMC as she finds that she is more capable than she ever realized and cheer her on.

Gillian Harvey can be counted on for a delightful read and she never disappoints. Love the atmosphere she creates - she's so good at transporting us to France.

Harvey is an author and freelance writer living in France whose books are reliable good reads, fun, and often funny stories that will have you dreaming of selling everything and moving to France because, despite everything, her protagonists end up making things work. Her latest is The French Chateau Escape and I'm excited to join other book reviewers and bookstagrammers on the official blog tour!

“It seemed like a good idea. Selling everything we owned. Just Mark and me, swapping our tiny, little, terraced London home – and the heartbreak of not being able to start a family – for an entire chateau in the middle of France…”

Though the blurb sounds light-hearted, this is a bit more than a fun "Brits move to France and encounter challenging, sometimes hilarious situations" read. Emma's dad suffers from serious mental health issues and the stress of aging parents is a theme that runs throughout the book. Emma and Mark have their own challenges both health-wise and related to starting a family so, as well as all the issues that come with purchasing a rundown chateau in rural France, they are dealing with serious life issues too.

I've read all of Harvey's novels set in France and I think this one might be my favourite because it doesn't just show the "French dream" aspect of the story. Having bought and renovated a house in France, I appreciated so much of what she shares about the process. It's definitely a "feel good" read (in the end) with a lot of very realistic scenarios depicted (so. much. paperwork. to deal with when moving to/ renovating in France). You'll finish this in one or two sittings so grab a hot chocolate or a glass of wine and settle in for the ride. A great armchair read!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the e-book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am not receiving any compensation for doing so. Neither the author nor the publisher reviewed this post prior to publication. All opinions are my own.

Full review here: https://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2023/11/the-french-chateau-escape-gillian-harvey/

A brilliant read. I enjoyed this one it made me think of all those tv programmes, Escape to the Chateau. Full of warmth and made me smile. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a lovely, quick read. It was funny and quirky. The characters although sometimes naive were enjoyable. Who hasn’t had fantasies of selling everything and buying a chateau in the French countryside?

The French Chateau Escape by Gillian Harvey was a wonderful warm read. It was a book that just gripped me at the beginning till the end and I just wanted to go on holiday, feel the sun on my face and skin. Sit underneath a tree in the shade and open my kindle to read the latest book by this wonderful author Gillian that always write from her heart.
This book was no different it was brilliant, full of love and laughter.

This has always been our dream. And now it’s coming true.......

I remember saying this many years ago and now I live in France so this book was wonderful.

I highly recommend this book 5 star read

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book. It was a lot of fun to read!

This book was very good! I loved the setting and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!