I loved this book, so much so that I bought and read several others written by Sophia Money Coutts after reading it.

It’s set against a background of a longing for a baby and unsuccessful IVF attempts but as the action moves to Provence and the inheritance of a run down hotel, the mood lifts and there are some very funny moments. I particularly enjoyed reading about the renovations to the hotel and of course the developing romance between Maggie and the Hollywood actor who is hiding out at the hotel. The characters are well drawn and the pace feels just right for a summer read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A really enjoyable book which I will certainly recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Content Warning: Infertility

‘The Right Place’ by Sophia Money-Coutts is an unexpected gem of a novel about finding happiness, love - and yourself - in the most unexpected place. Telling the story of Maggie Lemon, who has spent the last seven years giving up more and more of what she loves on her IVF journey with her husband Mungo, this book explores the grief and transformational power of an unanticipated inheritance. Set mostly in Provence, I enjoyed the combination of summer holiday vibes and deep emotional layers.

This book bears many of the hallmarks of the author’s other works, with the lead character being a nice upper-middle class woman with a pushy mother and a mostly traditional outlook - and while I have enjoyed most of these, what I loved about this one was how the French hotel setting thrust Maggie into a different environment and allowed different parts of her personality to blossom. With sprinklings of romance (and a HEA, of course), this novel was reflective, dramatic and funny and far more about Maggie as a person rather than as part of a couple, which I appreciated.

I loved the varied and hilarious guests at Le Figuer, as well as the intriguing staff member Audrey and Maggie’s fabulous friend Jamie. I also laughed at the image of a famous movie star in hiding getting stuck into hotel renovations, and greatly enjoyed the donkeys! I was deeply affected by the raw and honest way Maggie grappled with decisions about continued fertility treatments and her confidence in reclaiming her own agency.

This gets five stars from me, and I really recommend it for anyone looking to be swept away to the south of France for something slightly different and altogether beautiful.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher HQ via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Firstly, I loved that this book followed mature characters, it really gave such a fresh perspective on a ‘romance’ book that I don’t often see. This book follows Maggie who moves to France after having IVF struggles with her husband back in London. Her aunt has left her a hotel in France that needs some serious work done, so Maggie moves there to try and rediscover herself and what she wants from life.

While there, she meets Gray who is a Hollywood actor looking to lay low, who helps Maggie reform the run down hotel to its former glory.

I looved the setting and the premise of the book, and although I couldn’t relate much to Maggie, I really felt her struggles. However, I feel like this book was more women’s fiction than romance, as the romance was quite minimal and rushed.

The characters were really likeable, and I feel like this would be such an amazing book to read at the beach on holiday!

3⭐️

This was a fun, easy read perfect for devouring by the pool or on the beach.
I enjoyed the setting of Provence, the hotel, the quirky characters and overall, Maggies journey to where she ended up.
I would say that Maggie and Grays relationship felt a little rushed, I would have liked some more dialogue between the two especially in the aftermath of the party.

Why did reading this make me want to own my own hotel??? Reading about the South of France made it feel like i was escaping into my own little holiday. Maggie comes a long way in this book and where she ends up is EVERYTHING. The flash back chapters were abit annoying as I felt i was really into the story then got launched backwards, but i understand how they fitted in the telling of the story

I really enjoyed this. Gray is adorable.

I flicked through the flash backs other than the time they explained why Phil and Maggie fell out.

My only set back is that I wish we had more time between Gray and Maggie. It felt a tad rushed.

Got this on the recommendation of a friend as she was loving it, and I thought the cover was lovely. I enjoyed it. It was a slow start, and didn’t love the flashback chapters chucked in - it kinda seemed very disruptive to the flow, though the book still whizzed by. I thought both Veronica and Mungo were the wettest rags ever, and Mungo just made my eye twitch.

Anyway. Jamie was fun, and I liked the setting of the hotel and France, the cooking, and even the useless Audrey. A nice, fluffy, fun, if predictable, read. Genuinely just what I needed, have been in a bit of a funk for a while. I will check out more of Sophia Money-Cotts’ work, especially if I want a relaxing, easy read.

3⭐️

This book was completely different to what I’ve read before.
Maggie’s aunt dies and she inherits a hotel in France and decides to go for a much needed break after fertility issues and marriage troubles. She has loved this hotel since her youth so naturally it’s her first love

Maggie begins a journey of grief and rediscovery whilst finding love on the way, in both a person and France itself. Her life is full of losses both through the loss of her aunt and the loss of her identity after her marriage.

I liked this book but I feel it was more a journey of self discovery than a romance as advertised.

Thanks to HQ stories and the author for a copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this one and it was a closed door fun, summery read. The book touched upon some really serious topics without dragging the whole story down.

The banter between characters was great and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Set predominantly in Provence - this is the exact type of book you should be reading lying on a beach with a cocktail in your hand!

A famous chateau in Provence fallen into disrepair. The owner dies leaving a millions euros worth of debt behind.. the owners much loved niece Maggie inherits it, but she lives in London and is desperately trying to get pregnant via IVF!
The chateau was previously “the” place to be seen at! A celebrity hide out with mouth watering food…
What should Maggie do?! Sell up and move on? Or try to save the chateau!?
“Leaving a place doesn’t mean you lose the memories”

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Dual timelines: visiting memories
- Easy summer beach reads
- Enchanting fiction
- Decisional dilemma stories
- Happy endings

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I found The Right Place different in tone to Sophia Money-Coutts' previous books but certainly no less enjoyable for that. A great cast of characters and a wonderful setting for a novel that has you rooting for the lead characters and wishing you could taste some of the many dishes that come out of Maggie's kitchen.

When we meet Maggie Lemon, she's struggling after six failed IVF attempts, pressured by her husband and mother to give up her restaurant and even change her name. But when her estranged aunt leaves her a French countryside hotel, Maggie sees it as a chance to escape. Despite her husband's objections, she decides to refurbish the hotel for sale. Along the way, she takes on guests like Hollywood star Gray Hudson, hiding from bad press. Flashbacks reveal Maggie's past conflicts with her aunt.

I've always enjoyed Sophia Money-Coutts' witty stories about upper-class women navigating life changes and romance. "The Right Place" skillfully addresses infertility and alcoholism, showing Maggie's slow progress as she regains confidence through cooking and freedom from fertility treatments. The bond between Maggie and Gray, both facing infertility, adds depth to the story. It's a funny, heartwarming, and poignant read, possibly Money-Coutts' best work yet.

Special thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC.

Just loved watching Maggie grow as a character
A beautiful tale set in France. Charming characters in a beautiful setting.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading

This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful writing.

I loved the French setting and the story of continuing and building a life after grief and big changes. It’s definitely not a light fluffy read as the character of Maggie faces tough decisions and reflection when it comes to grief, separation and fertility.

It does have some comic relief with the side characters and it was a really interesting read.

When Maggie’s aunt dies and leaves her a dilapidated hotel in France, Maggie travels there in order to finalize the sale. Tired of several failed IVF attempts, Maggie finds solace in the happy place of her youth, while trying to overcome the loss of her aunt and find herself again.

This was a charming read and I very much enjoyed the atmosphere of the book. The chateau felt almost tangible in a way that I could feel myself being transported there. I loved following Maggie’s journey through grief and self-discovery, she was an insanely likable character whom I found really easy to empathize with. There is a good balance between heavier subjects and humor, and a really good cast of supporting characters that add a bit of levity to the book. The only thing I found lacking was the romance, which felt rushed and didn’t have enough breathing room to develop properly. Otherwise, this was a perfect beach read.

3.5⭐️

Many thanks to publishers and NetGalley UK for this ARC.

What a well written book once I started reading it was difficult to put it down. From beginning to end I couldn't wait to turn the next page. A story of a couple struggling to conceive and the true reality of what it can do to a marriage.
The description of life living in in her Aunt's Chateau and how Maggie turned it round and found true love.
Looking forward to a sequel.

When we meet Maggie (Meriwether) Lemon, she's a shell of herself, having undergone six unsuccessful rounds of IVF. On the pressure of her husband Mungo and mother, she's given up her beloved restaurant she opened at 25 and even her surname in the process, while Mungo has given up nothing.

Upon learning her estranged aunt has died and has left her Le Figuier, her hotel in the French countryside, Maggie decides to return, citing the need for a break, much to Mungo's chagrin as he wants her to see another doctor. Much like Maggie, the hotel has seen better days, nothing like the place it was when celebrities clamoured to stay there. With pressure from Mungo to sell it, Maggie ends up staying longer to prepare the place to sell but finds her taking on the remaining remaining bookings, including the Hollywood movie star Gray Hudson, who is hiding after reports of his bad on-set behaviour. Short and sharp flashbacks from teenage Maggie leading up to her falling out with her aunt eight years prior also form part of the story to show how Maggie's decisions led her to the present.

I've been a fan of Sophia Money-Coutts' comedic stories that carefully balance character growth of usually upper class women undergoing life changes and a slow-burn romance, infused with her gentle humour. 'The Right Place', has all of this and more as she sensitively tackles infertility and alcoholism. Just like the hotel, Maggie is a slow work in progress, finding her confidence returning after cooking again and being free of endless fertility treatments. I also loved the scenes between Gray and Maggie, as they both find themselves drawn to each other having a similiar outlook in life and also going through infertility journeys.

This book is funny, heartwarming but also poignant. I think this is Sophia's best work.


Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a wholly enjoyable room - perfect for those sunny holidays. Characters you will love, easy to get into and difficult to put down - a classic beach read for 2024.

"The Right Place" by Sophia Money-Coutts is a delightful romp through the chaotic world of love, friendship, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of London's glamorous social scene, this charming novel follows the journey of heroine Maggie Lemon as she navigates the highs and lows of modern dating. Money-Coutts' witty prose and engaging storytelling draw readers into Clara's world, filled with eccentric characters and unexpected twists. With its humor, heart, and irresistible charm, "The Right Place" is a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression. A perfect blend of romance and humor, it's a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.