‘I can’t live with total strangers… can I?’
Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes.
Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share.
At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie.
Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?
About The Author
My Review
This is a warm, uplifting novel about starting over when life unravels unexpectedly. Bella appears to be living her dream in rural France, running a B&B and leaving her past behind—until her husband asks for a divorce and everything collapses. Forced to rebuild, Bella moves to Versailles, house-sharing with two twenty-somethings while quietly hiding her real age and a résumé exaggeration.
What truly shines is the atmosphere. Harvey’s descriptions of French villages, cafés, and city life are immersive and comforting, making the setting feel like a character in its own right. Bella is a wonderfully relatable heroine—flawed, insecure, funny, and resilient. Her struggles with self-doubt, especially when compared to her sister, feel authentic and heartfelt.
The supporting cast adds charm and warmth, particularly Odette, Henri, and the formidable Claudette. Brad, the handsome American landlord, brings a gentle romantic thread that complements the story without overpowering it. Filled with humour, emotional depth, and themes of love, loss, and second chances, this novel is far more than a simple romance—it’s a reassuring reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.
My Rating
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