An engrossing and atmospheric 1960's story, full of the ups and downs,of life, I enjoyed the rich descriptions and lovely characters immensely. With travel adventures and romance. this is a real page turner.

A wonderful romance with two side by side stories . Set in London and France. Lots of interesting facts that will amuse and amaze you.
Enjoy I did.

This is probably the first Katie Fforde book that just didn't hit for me. I think the fact that it was set in the 60s is what ruined my enjoyment in it as her writing was as fabulous as always.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Century for my copy, 1.5/5.

Better than the last Katie Fforde I read, but for what should be an easy rom com her books are such a slog!

This one is set in the 60s and centres around 2 women in London - Felicity is 20, half French and has come to stay with her absentee mother for the summer whilst doing a secretarial course; Violet is in her 30s and is staying in a flat in the same building as Felicity’s mother and working in the basement of a bookstore. Both women are country mice but of course very attractive and soon strike up a friendship. Felicity meets Oliver - a mudlarker, odd job man and wannabe jeweller - on the street, promptly falls in love. Violet hitchhikes a ride from Henry, an academic, on the way to her visit her father (a Lord, natch), finds out he’s the boss she’s never met before and promptly falls in love. Misunderstandings ensue and, well, you know what happens in the end.

Not only were the romances poorly developed to the point we had no idea why these people liked each other but the side characters were awful!!! Felicity’s mother was a snob who never took her daughters side, Felicity’s beau Oliver was a selfish, thoughtless cheat, Oliver’s father was an anti-French snob and authoritarian (which her divorced independent mother loved??)… it was unbelievably classist again, with the Lord being a kindly man besieged by common gold diggers, and greasy spoons and the working man patronised all the way through. Oh, and the biscuits! She did not shut up about cheese biscuits! It would have been funny once or twice but it became like biscuit bingo. And of course posh people spend the whole day drinking and are obsessed with scrambled eggs.

As you probably gathered, I wouldn’t recommend. It is better than her dodgy island book tho so there’s that.

Katie takes us back to the swinging 60's, but this time we are in London not France. We join Felicity who is Alexandras (who we have met in previous books) stepdaughter, as she moves from France to stay with her mother Lucinda to complete a secretarial course before starting Art college in Paris.
Felicity makes friend with Violet who lives in her Godmothers flat in the same building, their flourishing friendship holds both their stories together as they navigate their new lives in London - new romances, new jobs and escapades in The Thames and draughty castles in a Scottish Winter.

The book is nicely joined together with the previous 60's storylines with David who keeps travelling between France and England with his antique business. but this is still a book you could read and enjoy without reading the others before.

Enjoyed the stories of Violet and Felicity and how they came together with the same but different issues around love. Good characters - some you liked and some you didn't (as was the intention).

I wanted to know more at the end so wanted a few more chapters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC.

I've been reading Katie Fforde's novels for years and I've always liked them but I only gave the last one 3.5 stars. I had high hopes this would be better but unfortunately I couldn't get on with this at all.

The story is so slight. There are two young women living in the same house in a posh part of London in 1968 who become friends and both deal with step families and romances that suffer from miscommunication.

There was some attempt to show the quaintness of the sixties with maps and telephone directories (and the casual sexism of that period) but other than that I don't think that decade was drawn too well and it didn't feel particularly relatable.

I didn't like all the classism and hatred towards French people, there wasn't enough plot going on and I constantly mixed up Felicity and Violet and their two suitors. I also didn't believe in the chemistry of any of the love stories, and the pacing was all over the place.

The mudlarking and trying to find a forgotten palace was at least some semblance of a story but it wasn't enough. I am afraid this was too predictable and instantly forgettable. There was also no reason to set the story so far back in time. This book will work for a lot of people but for me it's not one of the author's best.

Katie Fforde does it again! Another hit for me!

Fantastic storyline, I loved Violet and Felicity's friendship, following their romantic adventures ❤️ well done Katie!

Another glorious winner from Katie Fforde!
Absolutely revelled and enjoyed this latest book, based in London in the late 1960’s.
Felicity has come to stay with her birth mother Lucinda in Chelsea to attend a secretarial college from Provence in France, and although Felicity is bilingual the English can be challenging.
Violet lives in the flat at the top of the Lucinda’s house where Felicity is staying and they become great friends. Through love and family complications the two new friends support each other.
Amazingly reminiscent of late 60’s London, English culture and class. Refreshingly good, this tale is full of kindness and love.
A hugely feel-good book that will lighten up anyone’s day! Another absolute classic which I loved from the first page to the last!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read, loved this book!!

I really enjoyed this book. The book is set in the 1960s, and tells the story of Felicity who has moved to London from France. I really enjoyed the developing of friendships and love, and felt that this was a perfect chilled out read.

This is a cozy quick read...a fun read. Curl up in a comfy chair with a warm afghan, a cup of steaming tea, a delicious scone and enjoy...family and friends...

An easy read. I do enjoy Fforde's books, but this one seems a bit twee. Everything's so simplistic and there's little conflict. I think it lacks emotion too. Oliver is lovely and I think is given too hard a time. But there is lots to like; life in London, the new friendships which are struck up . . . With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun novel from Katie Fforde.

It's the 1970s, and Felicity has moved from rural France to London to live with her mother, who she has rarely seen throughout her childhood. She soon meets Violet, a neighbour, and Oliver. Will she settle into London life, or will France call her back? How will her relationships develop?

As ever, an effortless (and somewhat predictable) read. Thoroughly enjoyable and great for holidays or curling up with on the sofa.

This is a light and gentle read that effortlessly draws you into the lives of two young women. Their friendship, romances, and personal journeys are beautifully portrayed, making for an enjoyable and heartwarming story. The characters feel genuine and authentic, allowing readers to easily connect with their experiences and emotions. A perfect book for those seeking a relaxed and uplifting read about the joys and complexities of friendship and love.

I love Katie Fforde and feel she is back on form with this book, having not loved her last one. A gentle charming story which I throughly enjoyed, Katie writes with real warmth and I thought the setting and characters were well explored and engaging. Thank you!

This is a sweet, easy read. I’ve read all of Katie Ffordes’ books and this isn’t my favourite. I think it was the time period it was set in? I prefer her writing up to date novels. Having said that, it passed a rainy Sunday, so give it a go!

Another great read y a fabulous author. I really enjoyed the story, and learned some new things I’d never heard of before!
Well written, nicely paced on the whole and enough realism to keep it interesting. Would recommend.

I usually enjoy KF's books, but this one didn't quite work. Having lived through the sixties myself, I didn't recognise my experiences in this book. Perhaps the characters were too young - but I could not empathise with them.

It's well written of course but sadly not as enjoyable or as emotionally involving as her other books.

An enjoyable read. I always look forward to a new Katie Fforde book but found this one a bit slow to start with.Following Felicity's journey as she arrives in London from France to stay with her mother was interesting and as she encounters the dashing Olivier the story begins to grab your attention more especially with the addition of the other characters who all added much to the story. It's well worth a read

I felt this was a little different to Katie’s usual novels, still a good read but slow in places then totally rushed at the end. Interesting facts about mudlarking, a good capture of London in the swinging sixties and the general attitude to women. I too was expected to go to secretarial college to “learn something useful until I got married”. Other than that, a nice easy read but definitely not my favourite of her books.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review