This book is a 3.5/5 ⭐️

Ask yourself!!

‘Why do you love books? ^^What makes your heart beat faster?’

Adeline our fmc, moved to little provance from London with her 5 year old daughter Lili completely uprooting herself and starting afresh, world away from her place to St Vianne.

If you are looking for a light hearted quick read this book is for you. I always had an overwhelming love for a delightful story with finding family and newly formed friendships. And this book has it all. I loved the relationship between Adeline and Monique. She cannot quite explain what she feels and how to explain the strange connection with her boss. We often think that we are only one with a bag full of secrets and we tend to run away with them only to find out it’s not just us.

When Adeline and Monique both have their own secrets and have their own struggles, will they have each other’s back or will they find themselves lost in their stories?

These little details made me absorbed in the moments. There were occasions that I felt deeply in love with and found myself sharing the espresso in France with the characters on the book. And there were quite few places that I have to read twice to understand where I was.

‘‘Stories do not fit neatly into a spreadsheet. They fill the space they need, in our hearts, our heads, our imaginations’

The ending was perfect! It made me realise one can believe in magic. And a definite pick for book clubs which pave way for healthy discussion.

“The right book more than just a tale to entertain”

I was interested in this book because of the cover and the description but it honestly was such a great read! The book focuses on Adeline, a single mother, who just moved to St. Vianne, a small and quaint village in France from London after the sudden death of her mother. Adeline, along with her daughter Lilli, navigate their new life in a different country.

Adeline is hired by Monique, a bookshop owner, and together we see their similarities yet they both have different stories to tell. I also love how we get to see a character working at a bookshop and learning about how books tell stories that don’t fit in a spreadsheet. Not only that but we also join Adeline through her journey of discovering her own identity and her mysterious past.

I also love how the story doesn’t revolve around romance (although it is still done well in the book) but rather focuses on the themes of loss, family, and forgiveness. As I was reading the first few chapters I thought it was predictable but I was so wrong! The plot twists were written so well that it made me second guess everything. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it!

✨Thanks @netgalley for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

****Publishing October 9, 2024****

Set in Provence, Monique owns a bookshop where she helps people by selecting books especially for them. She calls herself the book doctor as she believes books help people improve their mental health.

Adeline and her daughter Lili, move from England to Provence to help Madeline with the bookstore. Adeline is ready to start anew. Can Monique provide the support she needs?

Both Monique and Adeline have their own struggles. Will they be able to support each other and help each other find their way? What will they discover?

This book will bring a fun escape to Provence, France. I loved how this author tackles the issues surrounding birth mothers and adoption, while creating a heartfelt and entertaining read. I loved the ending! I would never have guessed it! A great book for book clubs, as it will lead to many great discussions!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, I was provided an ARC of The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think I may say this every time I read one of Gillian Harey's France-based books, but a little bit of me wants to find a small village somewhere in France where I can lose myself!
This time, in The Little Provence Book Shop the main character, Adeline, has taken a big step after a tumultuous period in her life, and uprooted herself and Lili, her five-year-old daughter, from London to a sleepy village in rural Provence where she has somehow found a job in a tiny bookshop.
Armed with enough French to get by, and not much more, Adeline starts work and develops an interesting relationship with the shop's owner, Monique, with whom she feels a strange connection that she cannot pinpoint.
There is a secret that she is running from and a possible answer she is looking to find, and at the bookshop, she slowly realises that she might not be the only one with something she is hiding, and secrets rarely stay in the box we put them in.
Of course, there is a chance of romance - why would there not be? But whether it comes from hunky patissier Andre or more friendly Michel is not for me to tell!
The Little Provence Bookshop is a feel-good, heartwarming story about a woman looking for her roots. Along the way, she finds them and helps others find their branches.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for an ARC.

I just love the cover, the title and the plot!

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for the ARC.

I love the idea of this book and hence read the book with the greatest excitement. However, the writing, the character development or their interactions including their dialogues do not work for me.

I really wanted to LOVE LIVE LET the book!

Love a little “magic”. This book swept me in from the moment I started. What a sweet story of finding family. I loved the connection between Monique and Adeline. The story was a little bit of a giveaway with a twist. If you are looking for something to make you smile and a quick read, this is the book. I was lucky to read this DRC. I enjoyed picturing the small town in France and found myself wanting a cup of coffee to join along with the characters in the book. Adeline needs to get away from things when her mom passes away and she finds out she was actually adopted. She takes her young daughter and off they go to a small town in France where Adeline is going to work in a bookstore. There she meets the owner Monique and the story takes off.