A French Affair
Jennifer Bohnet
Rating: 5 stars
What will be will be...
Belinda Marshall's idyllic teenage life in Brittany, France, fell apart when her parents dramatically separated and her mother took her back to England.
Fast forward thirty-five years when Belinda's world is once again turned upside down. It's the week before Christmas and Belinda's employer 'surprises' her by asking for her help to rejuvenate their latest investment, a run-down campsite in Brittany.
Memories and anxieties that had lain dormant for years suddenly begin to resurface. As secrets from a lost life threaten to overwhelm her, there is a realisation that maybe she wasn't told the whole truth by her mother all those years ago.
Can Belinda reconcile her emotions and find happiness once more in the place she so loved and called home?
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I do quite enjoy Jennifer Bohnet novels so when I saw that her newest one was set in France, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I just really enjoy Jennifer's style of writing. It's quite elegant but also easy to read so you end up flying through the chapters. The cover of this novel is particularly pretty. I adore the bright summery colours, the French stripes and all the beautiful flowers surrounding the edges.
This novel actually follows two different women (although Belinda is the main character overall). We follow Belinda, who has recently had to move to France for a few months to oversee a new glamping site being brought up to her standards, and we also follow Fern who runs an inn (otherwise known in the book as the auberge) in the same town.
Belinda seems to have been through a lot in her past but she seems to be keeping her cards close to her chest as we aren't 100% told what exactly happened in her life has made her dislike being back in France. We are told at the start that it has something to do with her parents so this keeps you on the edge of your seat, dying to know what happened!
With regards to Fern, she is more of an open book. Belinda and Fern meet through Belinda staying at her auberge whilst the living accommodation gets cleaned at the glamping site. She confides in Belinda that her French husband died 18 months earlier due to a drunk driver and due to strict French laws, she cannot sell the inn and move elsewhere so she is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Together the two women become firm friends and their time in France is split between each chapter. Belinda meets (and dislikes) Alain the site manager, but you can tell from the off there are sparks between the two of them. Fern meets an American man whilst out walking her dog and the pair click straight away, but Fern is nervous about meeting new potential partners.
It's a great read with fabulous locations and delicious sounding food and drink. I really clicked with both women despite them being a lot older than me. They are relatable and enjoyable to read about. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.
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