I told you A Wedding in Provence wouldn’t be my last Katie Fforde read!
And guess what? OEE was a chance for Hannah and me to attempt another buddy read. (Psst, epic fail as usual… *snorts* but we do have fun with our messages.)
Set in 1964, OEE follows the adventures of 22-year-old Meg as she sets off to help her mother run a small hotel in Dorset.
Meg had my heart from Chapter One. The world is in the midst of social change where women fought for equal rights and pay, and our Meg is a girl with a plan. She is doing all she can to make her dreams of becoming a professional cook a reality. Not easy in a male dominated world. Yet, woe betide anyone who gets in her way…
Enter Justin, the son of the hotel owner and professional chef… you see where I’m going with this?!! Total enemies-to-lovers vibes *nods*
I bet you’re sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, here she goes again with her I-don’t-know-if-I-wanted-to-smack-him-or-climb-him-like-a-tree thing again!’ (I can see your eyeroll from here!) Well, nu-uh, I was firmly in the Smacking Camp for a great portion of the book. Justin frustrated the heck out of me!! *grrr* Although, I wonder if there was a bit of reverse psychology at play… *taps chin*
I loved watching Meg, together with help of her mum, the staff (who are just as invested) and her friends, breathe new life into the hotel. It felt like I was catching up with old friends when first David then Alex & Antoine (swoon!), and the kids turned up to help and support Meg. This group of friends prove family isn’t just about blood.
I have to give a special mention to Ambrosine. I could have happily sat beside her for hours as she regaled me with her life stories *sighs*.
Whoops, I’m waffling again. Remind me to tell you of the summer I spent working with my mum (also a PC) in a hotel in the Highlands as a teenager sometime…