The Bordeaux Book Club is the first Gillian Harvey novel that I have read. I enjoy book clubs, which made it easy to enjoy this novel. Book clubs have a way of turning strangers into friends. In Harvey's The Bordeaux Book Club, 5 strangers form a connection that each one needs. The three women are a diverse group, with a difference of age and life experience that still enables them to create a connection. The two men are more different, at least on the surface, but what they have in common is their ability to read and discover the finer nuances of the books the club chooses to read. These 5 book club members are all hiding problems, which they try to keep secret. What they learn is that problems shared become problems easier to bear.

Harvey does a nice job of creating characters with dimension and depth. Graces creates the book club because she a reader with diverse interests but few friends. Leah joins the book club because she knows Grace, even though their connection is superficial. Monica has a newborn infant but needs friends and adult conversation. George is not a reader, but as he discovers, he has an innate understanding of the motivation that lies behind characters' life choices. The final member, Alfie, is a teenager, who joins the bookclub because his mother is unwell and he enjoys reading books to her. At the first book club meeting, 5 strangers meet one another and through books find a much needed connection.

Books create the kind of connection that few other activities share. Discussing novels involves a sharing of ideas that forge connections. I love books and have read all the novels discussed at the book club meetings described in The Bordeaux Book Club. I felt like I was eavesdropping on the book club's wonderful discussions. Reading this novel was a treat. Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this ARC for me to read and review. My comments are my honest review of The Bordeaux Book Club. I am grateful to NetGalley for helping me meet another new author.

Books, wine, french countryside and warm heartfelt stores of people helping one another get through life’s ups and downs. How can you go wrong? Gillian Harvey has once again created a wonderful book based in France. It centres on a group of British ex-pats who come together to form a book club. Not only do they discuss great classic books, but it also becomes a connection to new friends they didn’t know they needed.
I was completely captivated with the various storylines of the characters and found myself turning pages to learn more about their various dilemmas. A light enjoyable read that will transport you away. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a book about books and book clubs as you get to know the characters through the books they read. This was done beautifully in The Bordeaux Book Club. Leah is new to the area and joins a book club as a way to fit in to her new life and surroundings. I loved how the discussions of the books was linked to the characters experiences: some of these experiences touched me personally and some I could relate to because of friends or families experiences. Loved it.

Leah and her family move to France, and it is different then she thought. she joins a book club and eventually makes new friends. Beautiful setting/

This was a most remarkable novel. It was so poignant and true to life. I am sure there will be many people reading it that goes “this is so true, I felt like that when my children were growing up”. As I read this it took me back 30 years when my children were teenagers. Gillian Harvey has definitely got it right.

As the title states, this book is set in Bordeaux. The one thing the people who come together to form a book club has in common is that they have moved to Bordeaux for a better life. They are certainly a mix of personalities. However, they all need to get out and meet people. What better way than a book club.
As they discover the written words of authors who created the classic novels, it is amazing how differently everyone perceives a novel. As they discuss the books some of them even change their views of the characters.

I loved the characterisation. The book made me laugh, it also made me cry. It also shows how important the art of communication is. We need to open up and tell our loved ones how we actually feel.
This is a book you will not want to put down or finish. I thoroughly recommend it and suggest you put it on your TBR list.

Thank you Gillian Harvey for such a fantastic novel and making me realise that I did not get it too wrong regarding bringing up my girls.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to review.

This is my first book by Gillian Harvey but its certainly won't be my last.

When I saw that this was a book about books I was immediately sold. It is filled with relatable characters that you can't help but like.

I really enjoyed the discussions surrounding the literature that they chose for their book club. The ways that they each interpreted the stories dependent on their own history and opinions. It really helps to highlight and remind us that books can be enjoyed by different people in different ways and for different reasons.

The characters deal with some really emotive situations which allows them so become more open with each other. It's lovely to see how reading and sharing your views on literature can help form wonderful friendships. Reading truly is a gift.

Obviously it goes without mention that the setting for the story, in beautiful Bordeaux, is a wonderful setting for this story.

Highly recommend if you want a story of found family, growing friendships and relatable characters.

Leah and her family moved to France, and while Leah had visions and ideals of how this would look for her family, things have turned out a bit differently. She joins a book club, which is rife with strange characters - who eventually become dear friends as they all read the books together and learn about each other. I loved this quirky cast of characters, who grew individually and together as they read books as a club. Also, I got to take a vacation to Bordeaux through this book - yes please!, to France and books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books that you think you know how it will be, and it starts a little slow, but suddenly it blooms like a rose, and it is so NOT what you were expecting. As the reader gets to know each member of the book club, the mish mash of friends is so interesting and it is a lovely journey getting to know more about them, their secrets, and how they cope with them together, and move on for a brighter future! Definatley a feel good chick-lit book, it's perfect for Spring reading!

"The Bordeaux Bookclub" by Gillian Harvey offers a delightful escape to a small village near Bordeaux, where a diverse group of expats form lasting friendships and unexpected bonds through the setting up of a monthly book club meeting.

This was my first book from Gillian Harvey and it was a quick and enjoyable read. The story and characters had great depth and faced relatable challenges. Set against the backdrop of rural France, it was heartwarming to follow the characters evolving from strangers to a close-knit family, finding solace and joy in each other's company. The book explored underlying themes on common expat issues like loneliness, family dynamics, and personal struggles with sensitivity and authenticity. The book-club discussions around the classics certainly made me want to read them!

I will definitely look up more from this author. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book.

The Bordeaux Book Club sees ex-pat Grace decide to set up a book club for English readers. When she and acquaintance Leah open up the first meeting, they are joined by builder George, new mum Monica and student Alfie. All five members of the club have their own private reasons for joining, and the story follows them all slowly opening up and accepting friendship and help.

A beautiful book that cleverly relates classic fiction to modern situations. I loved the discussions the characters had about Heathcliff and Mr Darcy, and how it reflected that people of varying ages and circumstance may see characters in fiction differently. An easy quick read, my first by this author, but I have a feeling it won't be my last.

I love all books that are set in France and this one is one of the best. It is set in Bordeaux, a beautiful setting for a wonderful book about friendships, the love of reading, and the power of love. I read the book in one sitting - I could not put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Bordeaux Bookclub is a gorgeous escapist novel set in a small village outside Bordeaux. A group of expats form a Bookclub though they do not know each other. There is a great mix of people ranging in ages each with their own stories and reasons for joining. There’s plenty of humor, heart-break and challenges for each member of the group. What begins as a bookclub turns into friendships and then family. I love the authors books but this is my favorite of her books so far. There is plenty of depth to the story with wonderful characters and the importance of bookclubs shines through. An uplifting read I would recommend adding to your list.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable story set in the Bordeaux region in France. A group of expats form an English speaking book club but end up becoming more than just book club members to each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I love books, and I'm rather partial to a Gillian Harvey story. So when you combine the two, there is no way I'm going to pass up reading it. And when the Bordeaux Book Club popped up, it was an immediate must-read.
Set in Bordeaux and surrounding areas, five ex-pats begin to meet up for a book club. They feel more comfortable communicating through their mother tongue rather than stumbling through a French one, murdering the language as they go.
Grace is a fifty-something woman who is a bit of an enigma. She lives alone, is well-established in the area and has her fingers in all the pies, seemingly knowing everyone and everything. The book club is her initial idea.
Leah is a wife and mum to a sullen teenage daughter. She's moved here with her family with the idea of living a sustainable life, growing their own produce to eat and sell, chickens for eggs, etc., but not everything is falling into place as easily as they hoped. Grace is her acquaintance, and she goes along to support her.
George is in the middle of a job, renovating a property for a client and living in the area for around a year. He doesn't know many people and decides the Book Club might be an interesting place to meet others.
Monica is a young mum. Her husband's job has brought them to the area, living in a beautiful apartment, but unfortunately this job also leaves her alone with their new baby for long stretches of time. The book club feels like a way to reconnect with adults rather than have a life filled with the four walls of her home and only a baby for company.
Alfie is a young man who moved to Bordeaux with his mum. He's quiet and an unlikely participant in the book club. He keeps himself to himself, but a series of strange phone calls and a slip of the tongue from his girlfriend, Camille, bring his own tragic situation to the forefront.
Each member has his or her own tale to tell, which unravels as the story is told while the books are discussed within the book club. And it is beautiful to see how friendships are forged between some unlikely characters and how they become support networks for one another.
Another emotion-filled tale with such a wide range of characters that there is someone there for most readers to identify with. I, for one, was drawn to Leah, who is feeling a bit lost, but it is her struggles to deal with her teenage daughter that really hit home with me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set in the sun drenched area around the beautiful city of Bordeaux. Grace begins a book club and persuades her fellow ex-pat Leah to come along. They are joined by young mum, Monica, teenage Alfie and George who is a builder working on a friend’s remote farmhouse.
Each of the characters is looking for something as they all have things in their lives that are causing heart ache. Even Grace whose life seems to run perfectly is hiding a secret.
The group initially starts off being a bit awkward but as they begin to read the books and discuss them, the members of the group open up to each other and become friends. I loved the book discussions and the differing points of view held by the group members. I also really liked the way that each of the group found parts of the books that they could identify with and sometimes help them see something in their own lives.
The characters are an interesting mix and each of their stories felt very real. It’s a very uplifting read as each of them realise that the book club has given them far more than they could have hoped for. The setting of the story is gorgeous and the author does a fantastic job of showing us that living the dream in rural France isn’t always as good as people might have expected.
My only gripe about this is that I just wish that authors who write about book clubs didn’t always have to include Pride and Prejudice. I know it’s a great book but does every book club really have to read it?
Thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

****Publishing March 15, 2024****

Gillian Harvey’s books are always so much fun to read as they will transport you to France!

Grace started the Bordeaux Book Club for English Speakers living in Cenac, Bordeaux. Everyone who joined the Bordeaux book club has their own personal reasons, but what they all had in common was they all needed some sort of change in their lives. Something that would give them an excuse to break out of their normal routine! But when Grace chooses a classic, Great Expectations, to start off the book club, will this turn people away? With new-found friendships, will they be able to find the connections they are striving for and support each other through the high’s and lows of expat living?

A fun book that transports you to the Bordeaux region of France, where you can live vicariously through the book club! This author captures what it’s like being an expat, which is not always a rosy picture! This book is entertaining with relatable characters, which is perfect for your next vacation! I could see this book being made into a miniseries! Also, a great book club pick as there is so much there is so much to discuss!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, I was provided an ARC of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

This was another fabulous read from this author and loved how it combined one of my favourite things books nestled amongst the beautiful backdrop of Bordeaux.

This was a heartwarming read but also heartbreaking at times that brought together the power of making new friends and how people from all walks
Of life can be brought together by a love of books.

I loved the references and discussions about the books embedded within the story.

I read this in practically one sitting and it made a fabulous read during a sleepless night.

With thanks to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for the advance e-copy of this book.

I always enjoy Gillian Harvey's tales of life in rural France, and this was no exception. A group of somewhat misfit expats comes together for monthly book club, and over the course of the book, we get to know each member better and understand their reasons for joining, sticking with and eventually needing the book club gatherings.

From the cover and premise, you might expect this to be a somewhat fluffy "expat life in France" read, but the characters have more substance than that, and they all have backstories you care about. The various issues faced by the characters are realistic (dying parents, suspicions of affairs, loneliness, family issues, surly teenagers, postpartum depression) and make the story a deeper read than a scratch-the-surface #lifeinFrance novel.

Another lovely feature of the book is the "stories within the story" aspect - the book club reads their way through classics and I loved how the book club compared and contrasted their own lives with those of the characters in the books they read. This also made me want to read some of those classics all over again!

A delightful read that will transport you to the Bordeaux region and make you want to join your own book club!

And unlikely group of mostly strangers come together to form the Bordeaux book club. Each member is dealing with their own real life issues; Keeping so busy you won't notice your phone discontent, Caregiving for your sick mum while you're still in an age when you need your mum to care for you, slightly shy & awkward, a new mom who's lonely and dealing with postpartum depression, Dealing with teenage daughter angst while worrying about your husband and realizing that your dream life has actually become a bit of a nightmare. I liked reading the story development and watching the character development. I really enjoyed how this book club became a family of sorts by supporting one another through their difficult times. A heartwarming story.

I recently discovered that I love Bordeaux wine, so when I received a request to review "The Bordeaux Book Club," I had to accept it. Sometimes, the reasons we pick up a book can be as simple as that.

Based on the cover, I expected a light-hearted, maybe even rom-com-like story, but "The Bordeaux Book Club" was one that. It wasn't super deep or intense, but it had more substance than I anticipated.

The story revolves around a woman who starts a book club, drawing in a diverse group of men and women. As the narrative unfolds, we get a glimpse into the lives of these characters. From suspicions of infidelity and dealing with long-distance relationships to coping with a dying parent, the book covers a spectrum of real-life issues. It’s about how this book club turns into a support system for its members, helping them navigate the complexities of their lives.

What I appreciated most was how the book club becomes a central part of their lives, offering a space for self-discovery and deepening connections. It's about finding unity and support in unlikely places and the shared experience of reading.

I'm giving "The Bordeaux Book Club" four stars. It's a good read, particularly if you're a fan of women's fiction. You might even rate it higher, depending on your taste. This book was a reminder that sometimes the reasons we pick a book might be whimsical, but the journey it takes us on can be unexpectedly rewarding.

So, if you enjoy stories about life, relationships, and the unexpected bonds formed through shared experiences, then this book might just be for you. It's a testament to the power of books and the unexpected ways they can bring people together.