This is a compelling and heartwarming novel that follows three generations of women—Agnes, Francine, and Jasmine—as they navigate old wounds, hidden truths, and the delicate threads of reconnection. The alternating perspectives of these women added beautiful depth and emotion to the story, allowing readers to truly understand their individual struggles and shared strength. Themes of resilience, forgiveness, and second chances are woven throughout, making for an uplifting and satisfying read. While I would have loved a more immersive portrayal of the Riviera setting and a deeper dive into some emotional moments, the strong character work and fast-paced plot kept me engaged from beginning to end. A lovely read for fans of family dramas and women's fiction.

Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky by Jennifer Bohnet

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

As one door closes, another one opens…

When Agnes Agistini receives a phone call from Theo, her brother-in-law informing her that her estranged, abusive husband Oscar has died in an accident, she feels nothing but relief. But that relief is short-lived as Oscar’s vengeance from an early grave forces Agnes to return to the place she fled from over forty years ago. A place and time she’s not keen to revisit.

At the request of a French notaires dealing with Oscar’s last will, Agnes travels to Cannes in the South of France alongside their daughter Francine and her grand-daughter Jasmine.

Agnes knows that going back will inevitably drag up deep, dark memories which she is yet to reconcile, but what choice does she have?
What she wasn’t prepared for are the family secrets that will come to light, or the cruel way in which Oscar treats her right until the bitter end.

As always Theo remains by her side, helping to navigate the myriad of bombshells Oscar leaves in his wake. But as wonderful memories begin to resurface Agnes begins to wonder if she can finally make peace with the past and find an everlasting happiness?

My Opinion

From the beginning Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky had me hooked. A quick and easy read with lots of family drama and secrets. Jennifer Bohnet has written a stunning book with a great setting.

Rating 4/5

I was underwhelmed by this story. I normally really enjoy Bohnet's books, but not this one so much. I couldn't connect with any of the female characters. There was a lack of emotional depth. Serious storylines were dealt with lightly. I thought Zazz to be an unpleasant character, her mother to be a bit bland (no real story for her), whilst I cannot understand how passive Agnes was. I really didn't understand her at all. What a waste. Theo was the nicest character, too nice probably. He waited for Agnes all that time. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Agnes Agostini receives a call from Theo, her ex-husband's brother, that he has died in an accident, she is initially relieved. At the request of her ex's notaire, she travels to Cannes, France, to deal with his will and affairs. She is relieved at first, but then finds that he has a lot of secrets he's been hiding. This story was told from three perspectives: Agnes, her daughter Frances, and her granddaughter Jasmine, who goes by Zazz.

It was an interesting story told from the perspectives of the 3 women as they dealt with the repercussions of Oscar's death. It was a great story of second chances, moving on, and reconnecting with family and friends. I enjoyed immersing myself in the descriptive language that drew us into the Riviera and each woman's personal journeys after their loss.

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @rachelsrandomresources, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.

I enjoyed this emotional story, full of family drama and secrets that drew three generations of women back to the South of France, where their stories began. When Agnes receives news from her brother-in-law Theo that her estranged husband, Oscar, is dead, she feels only relief. Travelling to the South of France for the legal formalities is unavoidable for Agnes, daughter Francine and granddaughter Jasmine(Zazz), and it's a life-changing experience. The story revolves around family secrets with characters you invest in. Agnes' story is poignant, and you want her to have justice and the life she should have had. Francine is particularly emotionally fragile, and her character development as she comes to terms with her past life and the many changes that unfold is satisfying. Zazz is a contemporary woman who is not constrained by her upbringing, like her grandmother and mother; she challenges their perceptions and helps them move forward positively. I like the connection between the women, Theo's enduring love and the glamorous French setting of this story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The person Agnes married wasn’t who is portrayed in front of others, and after she had as much as she could take, she left France, taking her daughter with her a long time ago, her husband’s brother Theo helped her.

Then she receives news that Oscar, her ex husband is dead. Also that because of how the law is in France, along with her daughter, she must come for a meeting with Oscar’s lawyer regarding the Will.

Agnes, her daughter and granddaughter travel to France where secrets come to light that Agnes has to hear one after the other, but, it seems that she too has things that she has kept to herself, which are also revealed.

I highly recommend this book.

A beautiful and immersive story set in a beautiful area. This story was heartbreaking and such a lovely tale. I enjoyed this very much. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

If this is your first book by this fabulous author, I’m confident that it won’t be your last, as it has everything that a reader could hope for and delivers by the lorry load.
Agnes Agistini escaped from her abusive, controlling husband and loveless marriage when her daughter was still very young, and so she is horrified to learn that he has died and that she, her daughter, and her granddaughter are all mentioned in his will. However, they all need to return to the Riviera to receive their bequests.
Agnes travels to Cannes in the South of France alongside her daughter Francine and her granddaughter Jasmine. They each have reasons for feeling trepidation at the thought of returning but maintain their focus on the task at hand. What nobody could have imagined is the fallout from Jasmine’s confession or the shockwaves from learning about Agnes and Theo.
I loved all of the characters in this book but felt most drawn to Agnes and Theo. Their friendship had survived some painful challenges, and his support had given Agnes the strength to start over once she moved to the UK.
I found particular comfort in learning that Francine and her husband had forged a solid and lasting marriage. Despite this, I did expect a twist to appear and impact their happy ending. Meanwhile, granddaughter Jasmine or Zazz as she preferred, was a wildcard, and I certainly didn’t know what to expect from her. However, I did know better than to doubt Jennie’s excellent writing skills.
As usual, I was completely absorbed in this story of broken hearts and the impacts of toxic relationships. I can wholeheartedly recommend a trip to Cannes; just remember to fasten your seatbelt.

Agnes had fled France with her daughter years ago from an abusive marriage. She was helped by her husband’s brother Theo. Now she receives news that her ex husband Oscar has died and because of French law her and her daughter have to go to France to have a meeting with Oscar's lawyer.

This book is full of secrets and they hit Agnes one after the other ,but she has her own secrets too.
I enjoyed this book but I felt annoyed with Agnes that she had never been able to move on from Oscar and follow her heart,what a waste.
Another good read from Jennifer Bohney whose books set in the French Riveria always entice me to go to France,maybe next year.

oh stop it! Jennifer does it once again. does she ever not write a great book. i am truly in love with this authors every single word. i shove other books aside on my TBR books just to read her. and i stop, think "No i need to read the other first dont i?" but soon dont care about that when each new book Jennifer writes is a new favorite of the moment. please never stop writing books Jennifer. we need your talent.

this book follow three generations. they all have their tale to tell. they all have their individually needs and things to move on from and heal from or at least tell someone about in some cases! but together and apart their stories and Pov are each told wonderfully.
each way through this book had so many heartfelt moments and each plot point held my heart. i was rooting for every character not least the gorgeous brother in law theo who was thankfully nothing like his brother.
the book begins when Agnes abusive ex seems to want to punish her from the grave. as on his death this wont be the final peace she needs. no no instead in his will she is called to France to settle his orders. it seems hes not finished with the harm he can spread. so alongside her daughter and granddaughter the three set off to do this together. i wont give spoilers of what is waiting for them or what comes next but its a well thought out and is told with sensitivity and hope it needs to make another wonderful story. secrets come to light and wounds need to heal.a few surprises along the way mean they might all come out of this with some very different answers to the ones they sort, or believe to be true going in.
of course the other character in this book was the setting. the French riviera yes please. this only added to the beauty of this book.
another wonderful book.

Family saga beach read🏖

3.5🌟 stars
Sunny skies, lovely French cuisine and pastries😋, and a front row seat for the swaths of humanity roaming the picturesque streets of Cannes: all pleasant elements as backdrop for a multi-generational saga set around the recent death of a selfish, manipulative Frenchman called Oscar. Family descends on Cannes to settle his estate and old wounds are reopened and some surprises are revealed.

It was an easy, quick read and the twists, not all that unexpected, provided some light drama. There's romance for several of the characters but no steamy stuff. The plot was fine but I just did not connect well with the characters. I also found the ending a bit too all sweetly wrapped up. It made me feel even further removed from the characters who seem to be living a charmed life.

I generally like the author's work, especially her French settings and the challenges her female characters face. I've read and greatly enjoyed quite a few and plan to continue seeking her books.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 4/8/25 on Waterstones and Goodreads, and with Barnes & Noble. To be shared with kobo and Google Play upon publication.

This was a beautiful story depicting romance and family secrets in a gorgeous Italian setting.
I liked the storyline of the book and the way in which the story followed three generations, as they navigated difficult circumstances and secrets from within the past. I really liked following each of them individually and I thought that the story progressed for each of them really well and I liked how things ended for them all. You could see cracks between them healing and I really liked seeing their relationships grow.
Theo for me was the perfect gentleman 😍. He was the ideal support for Agnes and my heart went out to him at the end when the twist was revealed, although I did suspect that would be revealed. He was the complete opposite of his brother, who I really did not like!
The setting of the book sounded so nice and I could picture myself sitting on the balcony and listening to the sea with morning pastries like Francine and Jasmine.

Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky is a heartwarming novel that delves into family bonds, resilience, and the impact of the past, all set against the picturesque backdrop of the French Riviera. The story follows three generations of women—Agnes, Francine, and Jasmine—as they embark on a journey to uncover long-buried family secrets, forcing them to confront past wounds and redefine their relationships with one another.While the Riviera setting adds charm to the story, it could have been more vividly described to fully immerse the reader in its atmosphere. Additionally, while the book successfully explores emotional depth, certain moments could have been given more weight to heighten their impact. Overall, Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky is a compelling and fast-paced novel that will resonate with fans of contemporary women’s fiction and multi-generational family dramas. It offers a touching exploration of rediscovering the past, healing old wounds, and embracing the hope that comes with new beginnings.

I enjoyed this story about an extended family with a beautiful French setting. I identified mainly with Agnes, (probably my age!), and found Francine a bit annoying. The multi-generational characters should mean there’s someone for readers of all ages to connect with. The Cannes setting was a highlight for me, it would make a perfect holiday read.

The story is told thru multi points of view from past to present tense. It made the story difficult to get into and connect with the characters. The secrets that unfolded were somewhat predictable as was the mother daughter conflict between Zazz and Francine. It is a fast read, but the story was not as good as I hoped.

If this doesn’t speak romcom perfection I don’t know what does!… I was so delighted with the warm fuzzy feeling this book left me with

Set in the South of France this is Agnes's story of her return to France with her daughter and granddaughter on the death of her estranged huband. She has old hurts and memories to confront but as the secrets emerge and are resolved, the story moves to a very satisfying ending. An excellent read as always from this author.

This book was hard to get into. Did not like where the scenery was and did not connect with the characters. This book was not my cup of tea.

Jennifer writes such gorgeous books set in the South of France and this one is no difference. I loved every minute of reading this easy but page turning book about Agnes, Francine and Zazz in the aftermath of the horrible Oscar's death. There were moments I wanted to scream at Francine as she, as one of the characters says 'uptight' but she is also a vile and controlling person at times. The chapters are short and I easily flew through this book, not wanting to put it down as we follow three generations as they return, and in someways visit, Cannes for the first time. I loved the backdrop of the book too,

I can't wait for Jennifer's next book.

Jennifer Bohnet’s "Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky" was a delightful and enjoyable read, offering a charming escape to the picturesque French Riviera. While the novel had some shortcomings, its strengths in storytelling, setting, and character development made up for them, creating a pleasant and engaging experience overall.

One of the standout aspects of this book was its sweet and heartfelt storylines. The novel followed three generations of women—Agnes, her daughter Francine, and her granddaughter Zazz—each navigating their own personal journeys. Their individual arcs were well-developed without becoming overwhelming or difficult to follow, which can sometimes happen with multiple perspectives. Bohnet did a great job intertwining their stories in a way that felt seamless and natural, keeping the reader engaged throughout.

The setting was another highlight. The vivid imagery of the French Riviera truly transported me into the world of the novel. Bohnet’s descriptions of the landscape, atmosphere, and culture painted a beautiful and immersive picture, making the book feel like a mini getaway. However, while the use of French vocabulary throughout the story contributed to the authenticity of the setting, it occasionally made the narrative feel choppy. For readers familiar with the language, this addition might enhance the experience, but for those less fluent, it could interrupt the flow of the story.

Despite these strengths, the novel did have some weak points, particularly in its dialogue. There were moments where conversations felt rushed or understated, especially when characters were relaying key information to one another. This sometimes diminished the emotional weight of significant plot developments, as major turns in the story were often glossed over rather quickly instead of being given the depth they deserved. If these moments had been explored more thoroughly, they could have added more substance and impact to the narrative.

While the book leaned heavily into fluff, it was nonetheless a very pleasant read. The light and uplifting tone made it easy to get through, and despite my critiques, I found myself enjoying the journey. It was a quick read for me, it could easily be finished in two or three sittings. Ultimately, while this specific story may not be one I’d typically gravitate toward, I appreciated its warmth, likable characters, and satisfying conclusion. For those who enjoy feel good contemporary fiction with a scenic backdrop, Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky is certainly worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for ARC