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A Wedding in Provence
From the bestselling author of French Lessons comes a delightful and thought-provoking novel about love, family and marriage, set in the vineyards and beaches of Southern France.
What could be more idyllic than a wedding in Provence? That's what Olivia and Brody think when they invite their closest friends and family to spend their wedding weekend with them. But when Olivia's older daughter from her first marriage invites a man she met on the plane to join her, the delicate balance of the entire weekend is upset. Soon Olivia's best friend, the owner of the inn who is hosting the wedding, discovers that her husband has cheated on her. Then Brody's mother shows up without his father, who has gone into hiding. How can one choose love in the midst of chaos? Told from the point of view of Olivia and her two daughters, A Wedding in Provence is a moving novel about love, trust, secrets and family.
What could be more idyllic than a wedding in Provence? That's what Olivia and Brody think when they invite their closest friends and family to spend their wedding weekend with them. But when Olivia's older daughter from her first marriage invites a man she met on the plane to join her, the delicate balance of the entire weekend is upset. Soon Olivia's best friend, the owner of the inn who is hosting the wedding, discovers that her husband has cheated on her. Then Brody's mother shows up without his father, who has gone into hiding. How can one choose love in the midst of chaos? Told from the point of view of Olivia and her two daughters, A Wedding in Provence is a moving novel about love, trust, secrets and family.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
42 people are currently reading
2193 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Sussman
18 books144 followersEllen Sussman is the New York Times bestselling author of four novels, A Wedding in Provence, The Paradise Guest House, French Lessons, and On a Night Like This. She is the editor of two critically acclaimed anthologies, Bad Girls: 26 Writers Misbehave and Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex. She teaches through Stanford Continuing Studies and in private classes. www.ellensussman.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
October 8, 2014
I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exhchange for my honest opinion. I typically enjoy chik-lit. French chick-lit is even better. This book made me wish for 1 thing. A friend who owns an inn in Provence with a seemingly endless supply of wine. The story was entertaining, yet the daughters Nell and Carly took turns irritating me. Nell lusted after anything in pants. Carly wanted to be a bad girl. Eh. The rest of the characters played their part fairly well, if a bit on the cliche side. The two people I'd have liked to get to know better were Sebastien and his wife Emily.
The best part was the Provence setting....the lush French countryside and the breathtaking scenery, the food, the local flavor. The rest of it was pale by comparison.
This book was ok. Just ok. When we got to the end and everything was wrapped up in a big lavender bow I was ready for something new. Not a bad read, but not "magnifique" either.
The best part was the Provence setting....the lush French countryside and the breathtaking scenery, the food, the local flavor. The rest of it was pale by comparison.
This book was ok. Just ok. When we got to the end and everything was wrapped up in a big lavender bow I was ready for something new. Not a bad read, but not "magnifique" either.
July 31, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an easy and entertaining read. The story moved along quickly, and though the book, overall, didn't have too much depth, there was enough believable relationship drama to keep me interested. The dialogue could be cliche at times, but, for the most part, I liked how the characters interacted with each other. And I did appreciate Sussman's willingness to work with some unique and somewhat random personalities. Ultimately, A Wedding in Provence is good for what it is: light and entertaining chick lit with a bit of drama and a neat and tidy ending.
This was an easy and entertaining read. The story moved along quickly, and though the book, overall, didn't have too much depth, there was enough believable relationship drama to keep me interested. The dialogue could be cliche at times, but, for the most part, I liked how the characters interacted with each other. And I did appreciate Sussman's willingness to work with some unique and somewhat random personalities. Ultimately, A Wedding in Provence is good for what it is: light and entertaining chick lit with a bit of drama and a neat and tidy ending.
September 2, 2014
This book was definitely a mixed bag. While I liked the setting and eye candy of French countryside, and I liked the premise, the writer rushed back to back dramatic incidents and quick backstory for readers as if anticipating super short attention spans, rather then taking the time to develop the characters beyond cliches. The neat resolutions of all the predicaments at the end didn't help either. There were also numerous scenarios that simply did not ring true. Call me old fashioned, but I do not know anyone who would meet a guy on a plane and take him to her mother's wedding...really? Nor get in a car with a complete stranger just because they felt attracted to them, or the fact that they were in...France! Or, get on a boat with young drunk French sailors...really? The supposed rift between the 2 sisters over a drug related high school incident felt forced, and the sum up narration of exchanges, glances, and "so glad I finally met you" type dialogue felt soap opera-esque. The 2 main characters getting married didn't convince me that they belonged together, and the rugged Wyoming man stereotype got old quickly. I can get into a good beach read, but this wasn't it.
August 15, 2014
I thought this would be cute and comedic but was disappointed. None of the characters were particularly sympathetic and couldn't stop thinking about themselves long enough to enjoy someone else's important moment. Even the main character, the mom bride, was a narcissist. Really wasn't much of a plot.
June 18, 2014
Going into this book, I knew that it would be a wedding type book. I knew that it would be set in a beautiful part of France. I knew there would be some drama. I got all of that plus more. I thought that it would be focused on the wedding and less on the character development or the scenery, but I was happily wrong.
I’ve never been to France but Sussman makes it so easy to picture the scenery. Her writing was spectacular in this book. It’s hard to picture a place that you’ve never been without great description and that’s what I got in this book. If I ever thought I didn’t want to go to France, then now I definitely do. Not only did the fabulous writing help the scenery, but it helped with the character development. With timely flashbacks to Pre-Wedding, I got to know more about the characters and see how they ended up at the end. Every character seemed to grow in their own way.
Some characters grew up; some characters grew out; and some characters grew in. Carly grew out. She was always the quiet one, but by the end she was taking up the space she finally saw that she deserved. She became selfish and impulsive. She did what she needed to do. I enjoyed watching her development and growth the most. Nell grew in. She realized it’s not all about her and that she is not the only one hurting. She was always self destructive and raw. By the end, she found out what was important to her and that she needed to work to get it. Jake, Brody’s longtime best friend, didn’t get a huge spot in this book but I definitely think he grew up. He had his moments where I wanted to beat him up and he had his moments where I might have high-fived him.
The greatest part about this book for me was that it was more than just a book about a wedding. It was about a family growing together while all of them are going through rough times while they are going through as awesome time. The story, for me, was more about the sisters coming together and being there for each other when they needed it most. It was more about the story of two older people finding love again after losing it before. It’s about changing yourself if you don’t like who you are. I went into this book thinking that it would be a light summery beach read and I got life lesson as well, so I would call that a win.
I also enjoyed that this book was about older people falling in love. Brody and Olivia are in their 50′s and are getting married in France. How perfect is that? My dad is in his late 40′s and is getting married next year so I read this at the perfect time. It’s nice to see a book that focuses on older people that especially older people that are starting over in a way.
Carly reminded me of Lena in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She’s quiet and reserved and then finally breaks out and becomes who she always wanted to be. Nell reminded me of Bridget in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Lucky for me, those are my two favorite characters. I saw obvious parallels Carly and Lena; and Nell and Bridget.
I would suggest that if you’re going to read this book: have google translate open if you don’t know French. I only know the very basic words and there was some French in this book which I had to look up. Obviously the book is going to have some French because they are in France. I’ve also decided that I want to learn French but I highly doubt it would go well.
Really, this was a fantastic book and I highly plan on looking for more things by Ellen Sussman. She is a great writer and writes awesome characters. This was such a strong book that I could relate to.
I’ve never been to France but Sussman makes it so easy to picture the scenery. Her writing was spectacular in this book. It’s hard to picture a place that you’ve never been without great description and that’s what I got in this book. If I ever thought I didn’t want to go to France, then now I definitely do. Not only did the fabulous writing help the scenery, but it helped with the character development. With timely flashbacks to Pre-Wedding, I got to know more about the characters and see how they ended up at the end. Every character seemed to grow in their own way.
Some characters grew up; some characters grew out; and some characters grew in. Carly grew out. She was always the quiet one, but by the end she was taking up the space she finally saw that she deserved. She became selfish and impulsive. She did what she needed to do. I enjoyed watching her development and growth the most. Nell grew in. She realized it’s not all about her and that she is not the only one hurting. She was always self destructive and raw. By the end, she found out what was important to her and that she needed to work to get it. Jake, Brody’s longtime best friend, didn’t get a huge spot in this book but I definitely think he grew up. He had his moments where I wanted to beat him up and he had his moments where I might have high-fived him.
The greatest part about this book for me was that it was more than just a book about a wedding. It was about a family growing together while all of them are going through rough times while they are going through as awesome time. The story, for me, was more about the sisters coming together and being there for each other when they needed it most. It was more about the story of two older people finding love again after losing it before. It’s about changing yourself if you don’t like who you are. I went into this book thinking that it would be a light summery beach read and I got life lesson as well, so I would call that a win.
I also enjoyed that this book was about older people falling in love. Brody and Olivia are in their 50′s and are getting married in France. How perfect is that? My dad is in his late 40′s and is getting married next year so I read this at the perfect time. It’s nice to see a book that focuses on older people that especially older people that are starting over in a way.
Carly reminded me of Lena in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She’s quiet and reserved and then finally breaks out and becomes who she always wanted to be. Nell reminded me of Bridget in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Lucky for me, those are my two favorite characters. I saw obvious parallels Carly and Lena; and Nell and Bridget.
I would suggest that if you’re going to read this book: have google translate open if you don’t know French. I only know the very basic words and there was some French in this book which I had to look up. Obviously the book is going to have some French because they are in France. I’ve also decided that I want to learn French but I highly doubt it would go well.
Really, this was a fantastic book and I highly plan on looking for more things by Ellen Sussman. She is a great writer and writes awesome characters. This was such a strong book that I could relate to.
November 21, 2014
Good book, but I was upset because French sentences were not translated.
My feeling during this book was “this is a good writer.” I enjoyed the group of people, the things they did, things they said. The main ideas are a mother, her best friend, her two adult daughters, and their relationships with men. They all had difficulties, problems, or losses from men they loved. The plots and conflicts are about relationships. I loved the ending. It was feel good. There is a hopefulness.
The main idea of a couple in their 50s getting married was appealing. I loved their love for each other. I would not put this in the “romance genre” because we don’t watch the relationship develop. They are already in love and are waiting for wedding guests to arrive when the book begins.
The characters are not perfect. That made them interesting. I wish the author wrote more about Gavin.
WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?
Some reviewers were unhappy about sex scenes and swearing language. Apparently they want womens fiction without that. This is not romance, but I think many romance readers will like it – those who are fine with sex and strong language and can live without relationship development if other things are good.
SEX:
There are four sex scenes with not much detail and a few other references to sex.
MY COMPLAINT:
It made me angry and I am still angry. The author used French phrases and did not translate them – at least 30 times. I’m fine with foreign phrases if the author puts the translation immediately after in parentheses. But this was not done. Each time it happened, it pulled me out of the story. I thought what am I missing? What are they saying? You’d think I would be ok since I had a semester of French in college - but that didn’t help. The author did the same thing, only more of it, in her earlier book “French Lessons.”
OTHER BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR:
I liked “A Wedding in Provence” better than “French Lessons.”
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 267 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day Provence, France. Copyright: 2014. Genre: womens fiction.
My feeling during this book was “this is a good writer.” I enjoyed the group of people, the things they did, things they said. The main ideas are a mother, her best friend, her two adult daughters, and their relationships with men. They all had difficulties, problems, or losses from men they loved. The plots and conflicts are about relationships. I loved the ending. It was feel good. There is a hopefulness.
The main idea of a couple in their 50s getting married was appealing. I loved their love for each other. I would not put this in the “romance genre” because we don’t watch the relationship develop. They are already in love and are waiting for wedding guests to arrive when the book begins.
The characters are not perfect. That made them interesting. I wish the author wrote more about Gavin.
WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?
Some reviewers were unhappy about sex scenes and swearing language. Apparently they want womens fiction without that. This is not romance, but I think many romance readers will like it – those who are fine with sex and strong language and can live without relationship development if other things are good.
SEX:
There are four sex scenes with not much detail and a few other references to sex.
MY COMPLAINT:
It made me angry and I am still angry. The author used French phrases and did not translate them – at least 30 times. I’m fine with foreign phrases if the author puts the translation immediately after in parentheses. But this was not done. Each time it happened, it pulled me out of the story. I thought what am I missing? What are they saying? You’d think I would be ok since I had a semester of French in college - but that didn’t help. The author did the same thing, only more of it, in her earlier book “French Lessons.”
OTHER BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR:
I liked “A Wedding in Provence” better than “French Lessons.”
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 267 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day Provence, France. Copyright: 2014. Genre: womens fiction.
May 17, 2014
An Idyllic Inn, A Wedding, and the Stress of Old and new Relationships
Olivia and Brody, a couple in their fifties, are getting married at Emily's Olivia's best friend's, inn in Provence. When they arrive the setting is perfect. They're very much in love. It seems like a perfect weekend.
Then family and friends arrive: Olivia's two daughters, Brody's best friend, Jake, and Brody's mother, Fanny. Each brings problems. Casey, the good daughter, is upset because her boyfriend didn't come. Nell, the wayward daughter, invites a guy she meets on the plane to come to the wedding. Jake, who will do the wedding ceremony, doesn't believe in marriage. Fanny is distraught. He husband of fifty-five years left her without an explanation. In addition, Emily and her French husband Sebastian, are having marital difficulties.
If you like romance, you'll like this book. The characters hold your interest. Olivia and her daughters are very real. My only criticism is that Brody seems too good to be true. He allows Oliva to deal with her daughters' traumas without becoming involved or upset. He's just there for her.
This is a story about the importance of love, particularly the love of family and close friends. It has a heart warming ending. I enjoyed it.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
Olivia and Brody, a couple in their fifties, are getting married at Emily's Olivia's best friend's, inn in Provence. When they arrive the setting is perfect. They're very much in love. It seems like a perfect weekend.
Then family and friends arrive: Olivia's two daughters, Brody's best friend, Jake, and Brody's mother, Fanny. Each brings problems. Casey, the good daughter, is upset because her boyfriend didn't come. Nell, the wayward daughter, invites a guy she meets on the plane to come to the wedding. Jake, who will do the wedding ceremony, doesn't believe in marriage. Fanny is distraught. He husband of fifty-five years left her without an explanation. In addition, Emily and her French husband Sebastian, are having marital difficulties.
If you like romance, you'll like this book. The characters hold your interest. Olivia and her daughters are very real. My only criticism is that Brody seems too good to be true. He allows Oliva to deal with her daughters' traumas without becoming involved or upset. He's just there for her.
This is a story about the importance of love, particularly the love of family and close friends. It has a heart warming ending. I enjoyed it.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
July 31, 2014
Make sure to clear you calendar when you get started on this book. You'll not want to put it down and, if you are anything like me, you'll stay up late and do everything you can to get back to this book. A Wedding in Provence is about all kinds of love - new, lost, parental, romantic, lustful, hurtful ... and Ellen Sussman captures them all beautifully. She also captures the beauty of Provence in such a way that you'll want to keep your calendar clear for vacation. You will find yourself trolling the internet for flights to France.
June 22, 2020
Love in all its messiness and beauty, the challenges that can come even in an idyllic spot, and a host of characters you want to wrap in a giant hug. This book broke through some of my recent 'who needs love?' cynicism -- in the best of ways.
July 9, 2014
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The story centers around Olivia and Brody, a couple in their fifties, who are getting married at an Inn in Provence. Emily and her husband who own the Inn are friends of Olivia. The weekend and the Inn seem like the ideal place to have their wedding celebration. They are so in love with each other.
Olivia's two daughters and Brody's best friend and his mother arrive. What started out as a wonderful weekend is suddenly emotional and tense as the guests bring problems with them. Casey shows up alone and lies about why her boyfriends isn't with her. Nell, who is still unsettled and without direction shows up with the guy that was sitting next to her on the plane. Jake, who obtained his license online and will be performing the wedding ceremony, doesn't believe in marriage. Fanny, Brody's mother is distraught as her husband of 55 years walked out of their house saying he didn't want to be with her anymore.
On top of all this drama, Emily and her French husband are fighting, seems Sebastien strayed and had an affair with someone.
Through all the drama you discover a well written story about love, family, and friends. You discover sisters who start off as strangers but end up reconnecting and forming a bound as adults. You read about second love and the joys and worries that come with it. You read about the pain, anger and hurt from infidelity and finding the ability for forgiveness.
This is such a strong story with so much going on, but it all flows so well. Ellen Sussman has written a story that engages her readers and keeps them engaged right to the end.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
The story centers around Olivia and Brody, a couple in their fifties, who are getting married at an Inn in Provence. Emily and her husband who own the Inn are friends of Olivia. The weekend and the Inn seem like the ideal place to have their wedding celebration. They are so in love with each other.
Olivia's two daughters and Brody's best friend and his mother arrive. What started out as a wonderful weekend is suddenly emotional and tense as the guests bring problems with them. Casey shows up alone and lies about why her boyfriends isn't with her. Nell, who is still unsettled and without direction shows up with the guy that was sitting next to her on the plane. Jake, who obtained his license online and will be performing the wedding ceremony, doesn't believe in marriage. Fanny, Brody's mother is distraught as her husband of 55 years walked out of their house saying he didn't want to be with her anymore.
On top of all this drama, Emily and her French husband are fighting, seems Sebastien strayed and had an affair with someone.
Through all the drama you discover a well written story about love, family, and friends. You discover sisters who start off as strangers but end up reconnecting and forming a bound as adults. You read about second love and the joys and worries that come with it. You read about the pain, anger and hurt from infidelity and finding the ability for forgiveness.
This is such a strong story with so much going on, but it all flows so well. Ellen Sussman has written a story that engages her readers and keeps them engaged right to the end.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 29, 2014
A WEDDING IN PROVENCE by Ellen Sussman
Brody and Olivia are in France planning their wedding. They are in their 50’s and are excited about their new life together. They are staying with Olivia’s best friend, Emily. She and her husband moved to France two years ago and are running an inn. Olivia’s daughter’s, Nell and Carly, are on their way to attend as well as Brody’s mother and best friend, Jake. Olivia is not looking forward to their coming, knowing they will be bringing trouble with them.
Olivia has a dysfunctional family – two young women who can’t seem to find what they need to make them happy. They are two sides of a coin – one frivolous and the other serious, and have a difficult time relating to each other. Can they discover a better understanding of themselves and each other? There are a lot of family dynamics throughout the story. Brody is a wonderful hero. A WEDDING IN PROVENCE is an interesting and enjoyable tale with an excellent ending.
Brody and Olivia are in France planning their wedding. They are in their 50’s and are excited about their new life together. They are staying with Olivia’s best friend, Emily. She and her husband moved to France two years ago and are running an inn. Olivia’s daughter’s, Nell and Carly, are on their way to attend as well as Brody’s mother and best friend, Jake. Olivia is not looking forward to their coming, knowing they will be bringing trouble with them.
Olivia has a dysfunctional family – two young women who can’t seem to find what they need to make them happy. They are two sides of a coin – one frivolous and the other serious, and have a difficult time relating to each other. Can they discover a better understanding of themselves and each other? There are a lot of family dynamics throughout the story. Brody is a wonderful hero. A WEDDING IN PROVENCE is an interesting and enjoyable tale with an excellent ending.
July 3, 2014
Olivia and Brody have traveled to the Provencal town of Cassis to be married. Olivia's best friend Emily runs a local country inn which is the backdrop for the story. As family gathers for the wedding, we are introduced to Olivia's daughters, Nell and Carly. Wild child Nell shows up with someone she just met on the plane on the way over. Prodigal daughter Carly arrives having just about reached her breaking point. Brody's mother, his best friend, and Emily's husband round out the rest of the guests. Every single character has a love-related problem and only the bride and groom seem the least bit happy. A line in the book reads "New love and old love. Good love and lousy love." To me this summed up the book. The novel reads easily, but it is a little emotionally heavy with all of the problems. Things end well, but I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been a little lighter.
October 20, 2014
Won this book from goodreads. I really liked this book because it showed the characters true colors. I was very happy that the wedding wasn't between two young adults but two mature adults who have both been married before. There are many people who after being married once don't feel like marriage is the right route. I loved how Olivia and Brody were together at all times before there wedding as everything around them was a disaster. The two daughters Nell and Carly really were the opposites. Nell was a walking disaster and everyone knew it while Carly was a disaster, while not showing that she couldn't take her life anymore. I love how weddings bring the whole family together regardless of differences. There were moments in which you could feel the agony and pain that each character was enduring while trying to move on. This book reflects love, death, power, commitment, arguments and disagreements but they made it through it all. I recommend you pick this new release.
March 28, 2014
I received a complimentary ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and enjoyed about 95% of this book. The story is of Olivia and Brody - both in their mid 50's and single. The book takes place during their wedding weekend and includes the meshing of Olivia's daughters with Brody's mom, and a small grouping of very close friends.
Olivia and Brody are madly in love, but their friends and family all have personal struggles they are dealing with over the weekend.
I really enjoyed how the character point of view changed with each chapter to prevent the story from getting stale. The downside to this book - use of the f-bomb and a love scene that was just a little too much for my taste.
Overall, a good book and worth the read.
I really enjoyed this story and enjoyed about 95% of this book. The story is of Olivia and Brody - both in their mid 50's and single. The book takes place during their wedding weekend and includes the meshing of Olivia's daughters with Brody's mom, and a small grouping of very close friends.
Olivia and Brody are madly in love, but their friends and family all have personal struggles they are dealing with over the weekend.
I really enjoyed how the character point of view changed with each chapter to prevent the story from getting stale. The downside to this book - use of the f-bomb and a love scene that was just a little too much for my taste.
Overall, a good book and worth the read.
August 13, 2014
I have to say that A Wedding in Provence by Ellen Sussman was not my favorite read. Luckily, it was a fast read so I did finish the book.
I was expecting something light and easy however this book just had no "umph" whatsoever. I was okay that the story line was predictable but I was disappointed in the complete lack of plot.
I found the characters to be flat and dull. There was simply no development at all.
The little bit of tension among the characters and conflict seemed to be out of left field. There was no rhyme or reason to how or why a character felt a certain way - the author just put it all out there blatantly and it felt unsubstantiated and shallow.
I really like a quick, enjoyable read but the novel needs to have likable characters, an and interesting story line. Sadly, A Wedding in Provence fell short.
I was expecting something light and easy however this book just had no "umph" whatsoever. I was okay that the story line was predictable but I was disappointed in the complete lack of plot.
I found the characters to be flat and dull. There was simply no development at all.
The little bit of tension among the characters and conflict seemed to be out of left field. There was no rhyme or reason to how or why a character felt a certain way - the author just put it all out there blatantly and it felt unsubstantiated and shallow.
I really like a quick, enjoyable read but the novel needs to have likable characters, an and interesting story line. Sadly, A Wedding in Provence fell short.
August 6, 2016
A Wedding In Provence tells the story of a late-in-life wedding in the French countryside. A divorced mother of two grown daughters falls madly in love with a widowed cowboy, and they decide to marry at her friend's inn in Provence. Although the story opens in Provence, after Olivia and Brody have met, fallen in love, and decided to marry, we see their romance unfold in memories and references, and quickly learn that even a happy relationship is not without complications.
Read the whole review.
Read the whole review.
December 25, 2014
Olivia and Brody are getting married in an inn in Provence with just immediate family. Carly, with the image of the successful good daughter, is struggling with her choices, while her sister Nell, has made mistakes and is the wild one. As the family gathers for the wedding, the family dynamics continue to develop. I enjoyed this novel, which was not just a fluff piece, but a look into the complicated relationships of family and couples.
February 6, 2015
Was hoping for more meat-on-the-bones romance book. Though I read it through to the end, it was pretty light and fluffy; which might be exactly what another reader may be looking for in a romance.
I was disappointed in the 2-d characters and the seeming arbitrary and short sex scene interjections and the F bombs that seemed placed in the dialog to prevent this from being a squeaky-clean romance (which would have worked for it).
I was disappointed in the 2-d characters and the seeming arbitrary and short sex scene interjections and the F bombs that seemed placed in the dialog to prevent this from being a squeaky-clean romance (which would have worked for it).
May 27, 2014
This was a great book! First, I enjoyed reading about the beautiful French setting. Also, the characters were so interesting! Enjoyed their journeys and reflections throughout the story. I felt like I was there with them, celebrating this wonderful wedding event.
*I received this via NetGalley.*
*I received this via NetGalley.*
April 4, 2017
A nice quick read, great for the beach!
August 6, 2014
Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train, is quoted at the top of Ellen Sussman's new book. About A Wedding in Provence, she says: "Utterly charming and wildly romantic." No offense to Christina, but she grossly undersells Wedding. This book is yes charming, and it is yes romantic. But it's also extremely poignant. I certainly teared up many times through the course of the book - until the last 40 pages. And then I basically bawled until the end. Not surprised, you say? Fair enough. But this one hit me harder than most. Here's the storyline from our good friends at Goodreads:
What could be more idyllic than a wedding in Provence? That's what Olivia and Brody think when they invite their closest friends and family to spend their wedding weekend with them. But when Olivia's older daughter from her first marriage invites a man she met on the plane to join her, the delicate balance of the entire weekend is upset. Soon Olivia's best friend, the owner of the inn who is hosting the wedding, discovers that her husband has cheated on her. Then Brody's mother shows up without his father, who has gone into hiding. How can one choose love in the midst of chaos? Told from the point of view of Olivia and her two daughters, A Wedding in Provence is a moving novel about love, trust, secrets and family.
As you can see, the story is told from the viewpoint of the bride and her 2 daughters. Olivia is 55, and her daughters, Nell and Carly, are 28 and 26. They are San Francisco women. Nell, an actress, has always been free and footloose. Carly, a high tech executive, is just the opposite - focused and highly successful. Are they close? What do they learn, if anything, about relationships and themselves? And then there's Olivia's fiancee, Brody, who is a cowboy and veterinarian from Wyoming. How does he relate to Olivia's girls and will he be able to adjust to living in San Francisco? There is really a lot going on here and a ton of intermingled relationships - which I think is a good thing.
In addition to the 3 women and Brody, there are all of these people:
Jake, Brody's best friend and the officiant for the wedding
Fanny, Brody's mother, a no-nonsense ranch hand who still lives in Wyoming and who just had her husband of 55 years walk out on her
Gavin, a guy that Nell met on the airplane and who comes with her to the wedding
Emily, Olivia's best friend since college at Cal (my alma mater, I say proudly), who married a Frenchman and who owns an inn in the South of France (the venue for the wedding)
Sebastien, Emily's husband, and the co-owner of the inn
Paolo, the chef for the weekend
And then there are those who don't come to the wedding:
Wes, Carly's live-in, workplace boyfriend, who was too busy to come to the wedding
Sam, Brody's father and Fanny's husband, the former doctor who is living by himself, away from his family and civilization
Chaney, Nell's former live-in boyfriend, who killed himself 6 months earlier
Lilian, Chaney's mom, who we only meet for 4 pages, but who(m?) I connected with in a big way
Why am I listing all of these people, including the 4 that weren't even there (we know that Chaney certainly wasn't there!)? Because they all matter. Ellen made me care about every one of them. Some more than others, to be sure. But all at least a little. That is a rare occurrence for me and, probably, for most people. Every novel typically has a throwaway character or 2. Not this one. It reminds me of Jonathan Tropper's This Is When I Leave You. I cared about all of those people too. What can I say? When it's done well, it's pretty darn special.
I feel honored that Ellen is VHOB Book Club's August author. She will be at our new store on August 20 at 7:15 to answer questions and sign books. If you get a chance to read it by then, please come on down (our club discusses the book from 6:30-7:15 before Ellen arrives). If you don't have a chance to read it before August 20, come on down anyway. I guarantee that you will be happy to have a chance to meet such an accomplished author and teacher (ask Keith Raffel what kind of teacher she is) as Ellen Sussman.
GENRES - GRRRR: We've still got the genre issues for this book. The title makes you think it's chick lit, women's fiction, up-market fiction - whatever the heck you want to call it. But it is no such thing. Is every book with a strong female protagonist just for women? Is every book with a strong male protagonist just for men? The whole think makes me mad. But, hey, I'm just one reviewer. How can I fight the publishing industry?...I'll get back to you on that.
What could be more idyllic than a wedding in Provence? That's what Olivia and Brody think when they invite their closest friends and family to spend their wedding weekend with them. But when Olivia's older daughter from her first marriage invites a man she met on the plane to join her, the delicate balance of the entire weekend is upset. Soon Olivia's best friend, the owner of the inn who is hosting the wedding, discovers that her husband has cheated on her. Then Brody's mother shows up without his father, who has gone into hiding. How can one choose love in the midst of chaos? Told from the point of view of Olivia and her two daughters, A Wedding in Provence is a moving novel about love, trust, secrets and family.
As you can see, the story is told from the viewpoint of the bride and her 2 daughters. Olivia is 55, and her daughters, Nell and Carly, are 28 and 26. They are San Francisco women. Nell, an actress, has always been free and footloose. Carly, a high tech executive, is just the opposite - focused and highly successful. Are they close? What do they learn, if anything, about relationships and themselves? And then there's Olivia's fiancee, Brody, who is a cowboy and veterinarian from Wyoming. How does he relate to Olivia's girls and will he be able to adjust to living in San Francisco? There is really a lot going on here and a ton of intermingled relationships - which I think is a good thing.
In addition to the 3 women and Brody, there are all of these people:
Jake, Brody's best friend and the officiant for the wedding
Fanny, Brody's mother, a no-nonsense ranch hand who still lives in Wyoming and who just had her husband of 55 years walk out on her
Gavin, a guy that Nell met on the airplane and who comes with her to the wedding
Emily, Olivia's best friend since college at Cal (my alma mater, I say proudly), who married a Frenchman and who owns an inn in the South of France (the venue for the wedding)
Sebastien, Emily's husband, and the co-owner of the inn
Paolo, the chef for the weekend
And then there are those who don't come to the wedding:
Wes, Carly's live-in, workplace boyfriend, who was too busy to come to the wedding
Sam, Brody's father and Fanny's husband, the former doctor who is living by himself, away from his family and civilization
Chaney, Nell's former live-in boyfriend, who killed himself 6 months earlier
Lilian, Chaney's mom, who we only meet for 4 pages, but who(m?) I connected with in a big way
Why am I listing all of these people, including the 4 that weren't even there (we know that Chaney certainly wasn't there!)? Because they all matter. Ellen made me care about every one of them. Some more than others, to be sure. But all at least a little. That is a rare occurrence for me and, probably, for most people. Every novel typically has a throwaway character or 2. Not this one. It reminds me of Jonathan Tropper's This Is When I Leave You. I cared about all of those people too. What can I say? When it's done well, it's pretty darn special.
I feel honored that Ellen is VHOB Book Club's August author. She will be at our new store on August 20 at 7:15 to answer questions and sign books. If you get a chance to read it by then, please come on down (our club discusses the book from 6:30-7:15 before Ellen arrives). If you don't have a chance to read it before August 20, come on down anyway. I guarantee that you will be happy to have a chance to meet such an accomplished author and teacher (ask Keith Raffel what kind of teacher she is) as Ellen Sussman.
GENRES - GRRRR: We've still got the genre issues for this book. The title makes you think it's chick lit, women's fiction, up-market fiction - whatever the heck you want to call it. But it is no such thing. Is every book with a strong female protagonist just for women? Is every book with a strong male protagonist just for men? The whole think makes me mad. But, hey, I'm just one reviewer. How can I fight the publishing industry?...I'll get back to you on that.
August 6, 2014
This is an amazing story of families, love and betrayal in the French countryside. The descriptions of the Villa and Cassis are exceptional. Definitely a place I want to visit.
Olivia met Large Animal Veterinarian Brody in a small town in Wyoming getting a drink at a local bar. It was close to love at first sight and after living apart for close to a year, Brody moved to San Francisco. Their relationship became deeper and here they are driving in Provence to their wedding at Olivia's best friend's B&B, La Maison Verte. The setting is perfect and the ceremony will be small and intimate. Olivia and Brody never thought they would get another chance at happily ever after. Brody is fifty-two and a widower, while Olivia is fifty five and divorced. Their relationship is stable, strong and very loving which is very important with the chaos coming their way.
Olivia has two daughters, Nell and Carly, who are polar opposites. Nell is reckless and needy. Carly is a believer in the straight and narrow and prefers doing thinks herself to make sure their done properly. The combination of both of them together can be exhausting. Jake, Brody's best man, is a happy go lucky womanizer. Olivia is uncomfortable with him and knows he tried to convince Brody not to marry her. To top the whole thing off, Emily and Sebastien, owners of the villa and hosts for the wedding, have hit a crisis in their own marriage.
This charming wedding story has beautiful gardens and views and unbelievable food created by an Italian Chef Paolo. Despite the world imploding around them the love story of Olivia and Brody never falters and it's a joy to be a part of it. I highly recommend this story of a middle aged couple, getting their second chance at living a dream
I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce.
August 23, 2014
I received this from NetGalley to read and review. Olivia is in her fifties and about to marry Brody, a one-time vet who left his practice in Wyoming to be with Olivia. They have decided to marry at Olivia’s close college friend’s B&B in the south of France. Olivia’s two daughters come for the wedding. The younger, Carly, appears to every parent’s dream child: good looking, smart, a successful businesswoman involved with another successful businessman. However, all is not what it seems. Carly arrives without her guy, but with some quirky, made-up reasons why he did not come to the wedding. Olivia’s other daughter Nell is a free spirit, an aspiring actress who just hasn't quite made it to the big time yet. She has no beau but brings a guy she meets on the lane to the wedding party/weekend. As the weekend progresses, things spiral out of hand quickly. Nell’s “date” leaves. Carly mysteriously goes off on her own. Olivia’s friend and her husband encounter some rough patches in their marriage. Brody’s mother, deserted recently by her long time husband arrives, uncertain what to do or say, smarting still from her husband’s departure from her life but trying valiantly to be strong for appearances and her son Brody. The story is filled with many personal challenges and changes for all involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the smooth flow of the story and storyline. The characters were realistic and well done. Sometimes I felt sorry for Olivia, having children who went every which way but the way a parent would hope. I also found the way Brody coped with all the drama involved was admirable. This is a great summer read, which will keep the reader glued to the book, wondering what will happen next or how things will turn out.
January 8, 2015
Ellen not only writes, she teaches.
An example of one of her classes:
JUMP START YOUR NOVEL - One Day Seminar
This seminar is for students who are ready to begin writing a novel or who have hit some roadblocks along the way. It would also help the student who has a fledgling idea for a novel and doesn't know how to develop it.
In this workshop, we will tackle essential novel-writing questions including:
Is my novel idea big enough? Is it interesting enough? How much do I need to plan before I begin writing? What point of view should I use for this novel?
Are my characters well-developed? Do I know who they are and how they'll change? Do I need to know where I'm heading in this story? How much plot do I need to know? How will I write this novel?
By the end of the day, the students will discover how pre-writing can help them bring their novel ideas into focus and prepare them for first draft writing.
Or hear what she has to say about writing on Newbie Writers Podcast Episode 150 on iTunes.
An example of one of her classes:
JUMP START YOUR NOVEL - One Day Seminar
This seminar is for students who are ready to begin writing a novel or who have hit some roadblocks along the way. It would also help the student who has a fledgling idea for a novel and doesn't know how to develop it.
In this workshop, we will tackle essential novel-writing questions including:
Is my novel idea big enough? Is it interesting enough? How much do I need to plan before I begin writing? What point of view should I use for this novel?
Are my characters well-developed? Do I know who they are and how they'll change? Do I need to know where I'm heading in this story? How much plot do I need to know? How will I write this novel?
By the end of the day, the students will discover how pre-writing can help them bring their novel ideas into focus and prepare them for first draft writing.
Or hear what she has to say about writing on Newbie Writers Podcast Episode 150 on iTunes.
June 28, 2014
I would definitely not class this as chick-lit-fluff, but it also isn't the most complex story ever. The characters do have some background, but for the most part they are bare bones. There is quite a lot of relationship and family drama which keeps the story progressing though, so it isn't boring.
The idea behind this story, of two people finding one another later in life and making a commitment appealed to me. The love story that is at the heart of this book was well crafted and one that I wanted to see succeed.
I could relate to certain other situations that some of the characters found themselves in, so it was an easy read with few hitches along the way.
Overall, this was a nice afternoon book and I would recommend it to those who like to get to the point of a story without massive amounts of description and complex plots. It was a good book.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The idea behind this story, of two people finding one another later in life and making a commitment appealed to me. The love story that is at the heart of this book was well crafted and one that I wanted to see succeed.
I could relate to certain other situations that some of the characters found themselves in, so it was an easy read with few hitches along the way.
Overall, this was a nice afternoon book and I would recommend it to those who like to get to the point of a story without massive amounts of description and complex plots. It was a good book.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 15, 2014
A Wedding in Provence is about that one thing we all want. Love. The characters are all at various stages of wants and needs when it comes to love. Olivia and Brady (the couple whose wedding is referred to in the title) are gently and madly in love. The kind of love that comes when you’re older (they’re in the 50’s) and more appreciative for something you thought you might not find ever again.
Olivia’s daughters, Carly and Nell, are both in and out of love. Carly is in a relationship with Wes, and though they have a lot in common, they really aren’t there for each other. Nell, after losing her love in a horrible way, is now searching for it everywhere, even with a stranger she meets on the plane.
Brody’s mother, Fanny, is trig to recover from her husband of 50+ years leaving her.
The couple whose home the wedding is at, are trying to get past infidelity.
It’s a story of relationships, love, and family. I loved it from the first page to the last page.
Olivia’s daughters, Carly and Nell, are both in and out of love. Carly is in a relationship with Wes, and though they have a lot in common, they really aren’t there for each other. Nell, after losing her love in a horrible way, is now searching for it everywhere, even with a stranger she meets on the plane.
Brody’s mother, Fanny, is trig to recover from her husband of 50+ years leaving her.
The couple whose home the wedding is at, are trying to get past infidelity.
It’s a story of relationships, love, and family. I loved it from the first page to the last page.
July 29, 2014
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reading copy.
Meh...meh. I really need to be smarter about the ARCs I request because I feel like this type of book comes from a big barrel of meh. The blurb sounded a little better than other books in the genre, and it did start out with some promise, but by the end it had completely devolved into schmaltz. No depth, no teeth. It was somewhat entertaining while I read, but was instantly forgotten when I finished.
Meh...meh. I really need to be smarter about the ARCs I request because I feel like this type of book comes from a big barrel of meh. The blurb sounded a little better than other books in the genre, and it did start out with some promise, but by the end it had completely devolved into schmaltz. No depth, no teeth. It was somewhat entertaining while I read, but was instantly forgotten when I finished.
October 10, 2016
I am a sucker for a book with a setting that takes me back to one of my favorite places on earth, Provence.
I liked that the main character wasn't a young person, but a middle aged person... and not a depressed, fatalistic middle aged person but one starting a thrilling new chapter in her life.
There wasn't much beneath the surface of this book, but not every book or reader needs that at all times. I needed something light and this fit the mold.
I liked that the main character wasn't a young person, but a middle aged person... and not a depressed, fatalistic middle aged person but one starting a thrilling new chapter in her life.
There wasn't much beneath the surface of this book, but not every book or reader needs that at all times. I needed something light and this fit the mold.
May 25, 2015
I won this Free book through Goodreads-First reads. A romantic story of a second marriage; taking place in Provence at a beautiful Inn. The bride to be, her daughters and friends were there for the happy event. There was family drama between the two sisters, both single and looking for love too. It all came together with a happy ending.
June 14, 2015
I won this book from Good Reads!
A nice story. I enjoyed it!
A nice story. I enjoyed it!
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