I was transported to every location. Every moment of intrigue,memory and love. This was a beautiful book. I was in the depths of the pages throughout and didn't want to leave. I wanted to be in the lounge,garden,bedroom and kitchen reading this book because every time I put it down I jist coupdnt wait to start again.
It's got all the things from the genre you could wish for. And one of those brilliant books where the characters are just as special as the storyline they enter.

A magical read. You move back and forward in time . A lovely story . You follow Maggie who is unsettled in life and she goes to the south of France to find about her grandmother and you have a beautiful love story , a horrid father, kindness of others , vines and a brilliant ending . You can’t put it down. A perfect spring Saturday afternoon read.

Thanks for giving me an advance copy.

Pick up this gorgeous hug of a book and get transported to a beautiful place wraps itself round you like a cosy blanket. It has warmth, charm, laugh-out-loud moments and a wistful nostalgia. I absolutely loved it.

"Under a Riviera Moon" by Helen McGinn is the first book I've read by this author, and it had me hooked from the very start. I immediately connected with the characters. The narrative flows smoothly between two different timelines.

In the present, we meet Maggie, a divorcée living in the UK, whose life is not what she expected it to be at this stage. The other timeline follows Allegra, who lives in Cannes today but shares her experiences as a student in 1960s Paris and later in New York.

The story explores themes of love, loss, second chances, acceptance of the past, hope for the future, and, most importantly, friendship. The two women are linked through the friendship of Maggie's grandmother. Maggie travels to Cannes to collect a box of her grandmother's belongings as a favor for her mother. This seemingly simple errand ultimately alters Maggie's life in ways she never anticipated.

The author paints vivid imagery, making you feel as if you are walking the streets of Paris, admiring art in both Paris and New York, and taking a dip in the waters of the Riviera.

Under a Riviera Moon sounds like the perfect romantic escapist novel and it delivered exactly what I hoped it would!
Helen McGinn has a brilliant way of describing the heady days of 1960s Paris and New York and present day Cannes that made me wish I could transport myself to these exotic locations!
The heroine of the present day novel, Maggie, has been having a difficult few months in London- after a divorce and career uncertainty she finds out some news that drives her further into despair. A trip home to Scotland sends her on a mission to France to recover some of her beloved grandmother's belongings from an old friend, Allegra, whom Maggie has never met.

The story then switches to the 1960s and the story is told from Allegra's point of view. She has been sent to Paris by her wealthy but distant parents to get rid of the trouble she has caused them. Allegra meets some wonderful friends and learns how to delve into the beautiful world of art, which sets her on a course to change her life.

This is the perfect holiday read, preferably somewhere on the Riviera with a glass of champagne in your hand! I really enjoyed both timelines. Believable characters, a plot with a few twists and a satisfying ending - what more does one require? Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars from me

Absolutely loved this latest from Helen McGinn it’s the perfect holiday and escapist read!! Set in two timelines of Paris in the early 1960’s and now in London, northern England and Cannes, with a bit of New York in between!!
Maggie’s life is not looking great as she finishes up one job as a tv producer and finds out some devastating news from her ex-husband. Whilst staying with her parents in rural northern England, her mum asks her to see an old family friend in France.
Is this the escape that’s needed or should she carry on in a life she’s not enjoying?!
Great storylines, fabulous characters, cities, country, vineyards, life and love!! It’s all here with some great references to history art culture and of course wine!!
This is a deliciously gorgeous read!!
Hugely recommended and thoroughly enjoyed!!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early read, I loved it!!

"Under a Riviera Moon" is the second escapist, romantic read from Helen McGinn. This one covers the worlds of art and wine-making, with references to the Paris riots in the early 60s about the Algerian crisis. Students Elizabeth and Allegra meet in Paris and become instant friends, spending much of their free time together, and with their boyfriends. Sixty years later Maggie meets Allegra and finds out about the exciting time her grandmother (Elizabeth) spent in Paris and all about Allegra's amazing life.

This is a wonderful, heart-warming novel, with great locations and characters.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn—it's the kind of book that whisks you away to sun-soaked destinations while weaving together past and present. I loved following Maggie as she uncovered the secrets of her grandmother’s glamorous life in 1960s Paris. The mix of romance, nostalgia, and self-discovery kept me hooked, and Allegra’s stories added such a beautiful depth to the novel. While some parts felt a little predictable, the rich setting and heartfelt moments made up for it. A solid 4-star read—perfect if you’re looking for an escapist, feel-good story!

Maggie is sent to Cannes by her mother, meets her grandmother's closest friend Allegra and learns of their past lives in Paris as young women. A fascinating story, well written with relatable characters. Perfect holiday/wet weather reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Maggie is still grieving her failed marriage to Jack, her inability to have children and her loneliness in a stressful job as TV producer that she isn't sure she likes anymore. Her father has dementia and her mother asks her to go to Cannes to visit Allegra, an old American friend of her grandmother Elizabeth. They both lived in Paris together for a year in 1961 and now Allegra wants to hand over some old photos. Maggie is intrigued and wangles time off with alarming ease for such a high-pressured job.

This is the framework for flashbacks to Allegra's story which is engrossing, and while there are two timelines and POVs, it feels like Allegra's story is way more interesting and rightly gets more exposition. Maggie's emotional troubles and her romance are almost an afterthought, but that is okay.

The Swinging Sixties in Paris, an art gallery in New York and then retirement in the Riviera - Allegra has had a full life and even though her first love didn't work out, she had a good long marriage to a good guy. That father of hers though - yikes.

What a lovely book this is. The characters and plot are interesting, the setting of Southern France is jealousy-enducing and the food is mouth-watering. This is well-written and reads easily. I just wish we've had heard more of Elizabeth's life - did we ever find out what happened to Luc? I'm glad there is a healing process for Maggie, kick-started when she realises that other lives are available and she can reinvent herself.

This is a wonderful holiday read that reminds you that if life doesn't go as planned you can still make the most of what you've got, with bells on (and a gorgeous cover). Recommended.

4.25 stars