I truly enjoyed the first part of the book where Adeline and her 5 year old daughter Lili move to a small city in Provence after Adeline's mother passes away and Adeline discovers that she was adopted from a teenage girl from the Provence region. Adeline gets a job at a bookstore where the owner, Monique, believes in the power of magic. As the story progresses, we learn that Monique had to give up a child when she was young and then the story evolves from there. It definitely kept me interested, but I didn't care for the magic potions and how neatly everything seemed to fit at the end.

I received this ARC book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

What constitutes a family Is sharing the same DNA a requisite? When Adeline's world is shattered, she flees her childhood home for a reset in the French countryside. Escaping to St. Vianne with her daughter Lili, Adeline is determined to commence her new chapter in Monique's La Petite Librairie.

The French bookstore provides the perfect haven and Monique lovingly bestows kindness upon St Vianne's newest residents. While settling in, Adeline realizes that the Provence bookstores is filled with secrets. If Adeline is brave enough to browse between the covers, she'll discover
the truth.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheLittleProvenceBookShop in exchange for an honest review. Gillian Harvey's heartwarming tale will leave booklovers eagerly paging through the novel to discover Adeline's ancestry. Will Adeline take a chance on the future or remain stuck in the past?

The Little Provence Book Shop is a fun, lighthearted read that explores family dynamics with a hint of romance and, possible even magic in this journey to a bucolic village in France. St Vianne becomes the new home of Adeline and her daughter Lili, after the loss of Adeline's mother and the discovery of a shocking family secret. She hopes to find time to address the news and to find the truth for herself.
it's easy to guess how this story will turn out but I enjoyed the elements of 'magic' sprinkled throughout the tale and it was a fun, quick read.

Warming cosy books are the best aren't they? Add in some France and I'm in. I always think books that describe France are the best. And wonder whether these are real places the author has scoped out. Because I really enjoyed reading about this little place and it's cobblestone lanes. And I definitely wanted to visit the bookshop where she was to work.
This story is about family,belonging and finding what that means to you. Our main character finds out she's adopted and so flees to France where she is embraced by a whole cast of great characters. The owner of the bookstore where she is to work is very ethereal and beleives in the power of books connecting and healing people. It does get very enthusiastic on crystals,fate etc. But you can take that with thus book as it doesn't feel too much.
I was so invested in our main characters journey.
It was written well,very loping and smooth. Not too heavy. Not too light.
A great read.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Little Provence Book Shop.

Adeline goes to France with her daughter in search of who she really is. Her mother just recently passed away and when going through things Adeline finds out that she was adopted and she feels like she has no idea who she is anymore. She gets a job working for Monique at a book shop and she realizes that Monique has a unique gift of seeing and knowing what people need. Adeline goes in search of her biological family and she gets way more than she bargained for.

This book was good but I felt like some parts were way to drug out and other parts like the romance aspect was way sped through. It was still an okay read.

With a topic like adoption, The Little Provence Book Shop had a lot of potential to be a great story about finding out who you are and where you came from. Unfortunately, for me the plot fell a little flat and the topic could've been developed a bit more.
Adeline runs away from London when she finds out that she was adopted. She discovers this after her adoptive mother passes away. Together with her daughter Lili, she goes to the Provence in France where she starts working for Monique, who owns a bookshop. A unique bookshop as there's some magic involved.
As Adeline struggles with her adoption, she's happy to be in the Provence, trying to decide what she wants. She's pushed everyone away from her, including her brother Kevin and friend Chris. Eventually she makes things up with Kevin, which helps Adeline in some way to find out more about her adoption.
As it's a romance, Adeline of course finds love. It's not surprising to see where she finds it and although, as a reader, I was happy for her, I think the relationship popped up out of nowhere and the characters didn't really get to know each other.

Although the story and plot could've been developed a bit more, I did enjoy reading The Little Provence Book Shop.

This a compelling, emotional novel about identity and belonging. I was so invested in Adeline’s story that couldn’t put it down.
It’s both heartfelt and introspective, causing me to ponder mine own experiences of family dynamics and identity. Adeline goes on an adventure with her young daughter to find herself while struggling with feelings of gratitude, loss and the desire for connection with others. Such a powerful story that I highly recommend to all.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As the sun rises over the little Provence village where single mother Adeline has escaped with her little girl Lili, she breathes deeply. This is their new beginning. Here, she can forget the lies her family told her. Here, she can start her story again.

Later she opens the door to the town’s tiny bookstore, where she is to work, ready to meet the mysterious owner Monique for the first time. She expected an ordinary bookshop. But this bookstore feels somehow different… magical. Breathing in the smell of books, she feels a jolt of something. It feels like a new chapter beginning. As she gets to know the villagers – including the handsome Andre and friendly Michel – she starts to believe in the magic of this new start.

This book is like a warm, cozy hug. I recently lost my dad, who owned a book shop for forty years, and the kind of magic in this book is different, but I remember growing up with the magic of my dad's store. This was a magical story in more than one way. I really enjoyed Adeline's journey and this fun story!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

A very sweet, and charming story! It’s predictable, but it’s also comforting in that way. I definitely recommend it for a light read.

This is a pleasant read and one I was excited about after visiting Provence this past summer.
Books, Provence, families, friends, it's all there. It does fall a little short in character development and a few parts dragged a bit.

The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey has a certain charm, with its idyllic French setting and heart-warming premise, but ultimately, it fell short for me. While the novel aims to deliver a feel-good story, the writing and character development didn’t quite hit the mark. Many of the characters felt underdeveloped, and their interactions lacked the depth needed to make them relatable or memorable. As a result, it was difficult to become truly invested in their journeys or care about the relationships unfolding on the page.

The plot itself is predictable, with the outcome becoming obvious early on, leaving little room for surprises or emotional engagement. Though the book has the potential to be a comforting, light read, something essential seemed to be missing. Overall, it’s an average read for me, landing right in the middle at 2.5/5 stars. For readers looking for a light, comforting escape, it may still appeal, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

As a huge enthusiast of bookshops and Provence this seemed like a fantastic combo! The book did take me quite a long time to get into.
I did enjoy main storyline about Adeline's recent loss of her mother and thought that the search for her birth family had a lot of potential, .Monique’ was an interesting character but found her a bit two dimensional and her insistence on the spells and crystals and fate seemed a bit contrived. The ending seemed a bit too coincidental to fit as well.
The romantic plot seemed like it was tacked on and did not really add anything to the storyline - I would have liked more detail about Andre and how their relationship developed over time.

Aside from all that it was enjoyable read, perfect for a vacation in France, sipping a glass of Rose in the sunshine!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adeline moves to Provance in France with her young daughter after her mother dies and she receives shocking news. She has answered an advert for an assistant in a little bookshop in a small village.
Monique, the bookshop owner is a little bit magical and gives advice to people through the books she recommends they read. She feels there's a reason that Adeline saw her advert at the right time.
Adeline speaks French,being a French teacher but even with her knowledge of the language some locals are a bit reticent towards her at first.
I loved this story. It's about settling in a new country,trying to fit in,finding new ways of doing things and finding out about yourself, who you are. and family,always family.
All this with little sprinkles of magic thrown in. What's not to like ?

💖ARC review💖

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It’s cozy and fast-paced and perfect for the season. Feels like a hug after a dense book.

I like Adeline. She’s so smart and caring. She can be very cautious about taking uncomfortable decisions but it is mostly because she has Lili to consider. And that makes her wonderful, I mean, I love her relationship with her kid, I love that kind of respectful upbringing and it made me smile the whole time.

As for the town, I loveeeee its vibes: the community, the closeness, the friendly people, the location, even the descriptions of the weather. I’m very tempted to move to the country myself now! 😂🥰

I did felt the situationship with André a bit undeveloped but that wasn’t the focus of the book. In any case, I’m more of a Michel’s girl 💖

Monique: this is a difficult topic. She is a very cute old lady but sometimes I felt so annoyed by her actions, like her reluctance to confirming her assumptions by science. Still, that’s only my practical side whereas my inner child loves that she’s always spreading her magic.

In short, I feel it conveys beautifully the wanting to belong, the desire for a family. And how if we wish for something strong enough, we might make it come trough.

This book was a really nice read, i found it really easy to get on with and felt like a nice read for holiday. I liked the style of writing and it was a really cosy book to read. i enjoyed it very much and will definitely be picking more up by this author!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this beautiful book,

It’s the story of moving to somewhere new and finding friends and making a new start.

The setting was beautiful. The food made your mouth water and it felt like you was there in amongst the books, in Monique’s bookshop.

I highly recommend this book.

In this novel, Adeline, grieving the loss of her mother, uncovers shocking news that sends her from London to Provence in search of her true identity. Along with her young daughter, she ends up in a charming bookshop owned by Monique, an eccentric woman known for her use of crystals, spells, and an intuitive ability to read people. The story incorporates elements of magical realism, a touch of romance, and themes of self-discovery.

However, the descriptions of the bookshop and the village of St. Vianne are immersive, and the concept of bibliotherapy—using books to aid emotional healing—adds a meaningful layer to Adeline’s journey. The inclusion of Emily Dickinson’s poetry and reflections on storytelling add depth to the novel, making it a more thoughtful exploration of human connection and healing.

This was such a lovely story in such a great setting! A couple of surprises which I did see coming but still enjoyed reading this book! Keen to read more books by this author as it is a nice read

What an absolutely delightful enchanting book about family, friends, finding where they belong and all written with a gentle warmth. Adeline, along with 5 year old daughter Lily, moves to Provence after finding out that what she believed about herself and family had been wrong. She starts to work in the local bookshop that is run by Monique and finds that the shop is somewhat magical and that there is a deep unexplained connection between her and Monique. As Adeline tries to find answers and gain a sense of belonging she begins to believe that there is hope. A gorgeous setting, wonderful characters who I could easily visualise and a heartwarming atmospheric storyline. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

The Little Provence Bookshop by Gillian Harvey
This was an awesome bookstore story!
Adeline has escaped her everyday life with her daughter Lili. They find a new beginning and some hope in the little village called Provence. After her mother’s recent death, family secrets were revealed and Adeline feels betrayed to her core. In Provence, she meets Monique when she responds to an ad for a position at a quaint little bookshop. Adeline meets Andre and Michel, with the potential of love and new friendships, she finds her way to the magic that exists in new adventures.
This is a wonderfully warm and romantic story of found family and building family among friends. I really enjoyed reading this one and I love the writing style and complex interwoven characaters and their histories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review an ARC of this great story!
This will be released on 10/9/2024