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The Bordeaux Book Club
Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2024
4469 people are currently reading
2906 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Harvey
12 books310 followersI'm a British author and freelance writer, currently living in Norfolk, England with my husband and 5 children. I write contemporary, uplifting and emotive fiction, often set in France where I lived for 14 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
August 3, 2024
EXCERPT: George was just stepping out of the café, takeaway coffee in hand, when he saw Grace appear in the window of the tabac opposite. He recognised her instantly, despite his throbbing temples, and felt his neck prickle as he remembered trying to talk to her at the garden club meet and finding his tongue had tied itself in knots. It had shocked him, this sudden mutism; he'd always been able to talk for England, so everyone told him. But then he wasn't in England any more. And he'd felt a bit out of place among all those posh retirees.
The cold, silvery, winter light crept softly around the edges of the white, February clouds, and fell on Grace's skin as she searched for an empty place in the window. Reaching up, her tongue protruding slightly at the edge of her mouth, she pressed the corners of the A4 sheet against the glass alongside the adverts for a local artisan market, a babysitting service and a poster advertising a music night, the date of which had already passed. He could just make out the word 'club' in bold on the paper.
Another club. He tried not to laugh. He barely knew the woman, but he'd gathered that if there was an event or club or fete or pretty much anything going on in the local community, she'd be involved somehow. He wondered what she was up to this time.
He busied himself, looking at the property adverts in the estate agent window while he waited for her to leave, and then, when she had, strolled nonchalantly across the street and had a quick gander.
Sure enough, it was an advert for a new organisation - with Grace at its helm. This time, it seemed, she was starting a book club for 'Anglophones' - the advert written in English, with French translation underneath in the hope of attracting a wider clientele.
He wasn't sure why he took a picture of the number with his phone. Just in case, he told himself. He hadn't read a book for years, not a fiction one at least. But maybe it was time. Another night in with the boys at the house would probably finish him off - he was getting too old for so much alcohol. And he couldn't just sit around in his tiny flat - he'd go mad. At least it would be something to do.
ABOUT 'THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB': Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So, when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
MY THOUGHTS: The Bordeaux Book Club is an eclectic mix of characters -
Grace, divorced, heading for sixty, organised and opinionated;
Leah, who has a sullen teenage daughter, a husband who suddenly needs 'me time', and a terrifying clutch of chickens;
Monica, a mother with a young baby, an absent husband, who is missing her friends and family back home;
George, a builder helping a friend renovate his French dream home; and
Alfie, a sixteen-year-old who joined the book club to please his mum.
They don't sound like a scintillating bunch of people, do they? And yet, as I came to know them and their life problems are slowly revealed, I began to feel a great affection for them. Their problems are ordinary ones, nothing exceedingly dramatic, just problems, at least some of which, we all experience at one time or another. As friendships are formed and support networks build up, the book club members find their lives changing slowly and inexorably for the better.
I think this is the first book about a book club I have read where the books are discussed fully and frankly, and I gained a new perspective on some old favorites. Personally, I would enjoy belonging to this book club.
A charming and uplifting read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheBordeauxBookClub #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I'm a British author and freelance writer, currently living in France with my husband and 5 children. I write contemporary, uplifting and emotive fiction, often set in France.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I listened to the audiobook of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey superbly narrated by Lucy Scott.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The cold, silvery, winter light crept softly around the edges of the white, February clouds, and fell on Grace's skin as she searched for an empty place in the window. Reaching up, her tongue protruding slightly at the edge of her mouth, she pressed the corners of the A4 sheet against the glass alongside the adverts for a local artisan market, a babysitting service and a poster advertising a music night, the date of which had already passed. He could just make out the word 'club' in bold on the paper.
Another club. He tried not to laugh. He barely knew the woman, but he'd gathered that if there was an event or club or fete or pretty much anything going on in the local community, she'd be involved somehow. He wondered what she was up to this time.
He busied himself, looking at the property adverts in the estate agent window while he waited for her to leave, and then, when she had, strolled nonchalantly across the street and had a quick gander.
Sure enough, it was an advert for a new organisation - with Grace at its helm. This time, it seemed, she was starting a book club for 'Anglophones' - the advert written in English, with French translation underneath in the hope of attracting a wider clientele.
He wasn't sure why he took a picture of the number with his phone. Just in case, he told himself. He hadn't read a book for years, not a fiction one at least. But maybe it was time. Another night in with the boys at the house would probably finish him off - he was getting too old for so much alcohol. And he couldn't just sit around in his tiny flat - he'd go mad. At least it would be something to do.
ABOUT 'THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB': Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So, when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
MY THOUGHTS: The Bordeaux Book Club is an eclectic mix of characters -
Grace, divorced, heading for sixty, organised and opinionated;
Leah, who has a sullen teenage daughter, a husband who suddenly needs 'me time', and a terrifying clutch of chickens;
Monica, a mother with a young baby, an absent husband, who is missing her friends and family back home;
George, a builder helping a friend renovate his French dream home; and
Alfie, a sixteen-year-old who joined the book club to please his mum.
They don't sound like a scintillating bunch of people, do they? And yet, as I came to know them and their life problems are slowly revealed, I began to feel a great affection for them. Their problems are ordinary ones, nothing exceedingly dramatic, just problems, at least some of which, we all experience at one time or another. As friendships are formed and support networks build up, the book club members find their lives changing slowly and inexorably for the better.
I think this is the first book about a book club I have read where the books are discussed fully and frankly, and I gained a new perspective on some old favorites. Personally, I would enjoy belonging to this book club.
A charming and uplifting read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheBordeauxBookClub #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I'm a British author and freelance writer, currently living in France with my husband and 5 children. I write contemporary, uplifting and emotive fiction, often set in France.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I listened to the audiobook of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey superbly narrated by Lucy Scott.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 27, 2024
In her latest novel, “The Bordeaux Book Club,” Gillian Harvey transports the readers to the picturesque countryside of France. Protagonist Leah uproots her life to move there with her husband and teenage daughter, expecting to live out an idyllic existence growing their food. But Leah soon realizes that farm life is not the romantic ideal she envisioned.
Seeking connection, Leah joins a newly formed book club at the urging of her friend. This ragtag group of members initially seems to be very mismatched, yet they all bond over the stories they read and the intimacy of sharing their struggles. Leah forms many meaningful female friendships through the club to sustain her when her marriage shows many cracks.
Harvey excels at creating relatable characters and immersing the readers in the beauty of the French landscape. The themes of friendship, new beginnings, and reinvention give the story depth. Yet the pacing falters when Harvey lingers on the descriptive details at the expense of the plot movement.
Overall, the bibliophiles will delight in this story-within-a-story exploring the power of books to unite the people. Through the book club members ‘ literary discussions, Harvey delivers witty dialogue, well-crafted metaphors, and an aesthetic escape. For fans of female-centered fiction examining life’s inevitable ups and downs, “The Bordeaux Book Club” makes for a charming and quintessentially beach read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Seeking connection, Leah joins a newly formed book club at the urging of her friend. This ragtag group of members initially seems to be very mismatched, yet they all bond over the stories they read and the intimacy of sharing their struggles. Leah forms many meaningful female friendships through the club to sustain her when her marriage shows many cracks.
Harvey excels at creating relatable characters and immersing the readers in the beauty of the French landscape. The themes of friendship, new beginnings, and reinvention give the story depth. Yet the pacing falters when Harvey lingers on the descriptive details at the expense of the plot movement.
Overall, the bibliophiles will delight in this story-within-a-story exploring the power of books to unite the people. Through the book club members ‘ literary discussions, Harvey delivers witty dialogue, well-crafted metaphors, and an aesthetic escape. For fans of female-centered fiction examining life’s inevitable ups and downs, “The Bordeaux Book Club” makes for a charming and quintessentially beach read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
March 15, 2024
An exciting look into the world of living abroad!
Grace came to France to live years ago at her husband's request; when he left, she stayed and has filled her life with lots of different things, all keeping her busy and her latest thought if to start a book club for fellow anglophiles. Monica's husband sees the poster and sends an image to here. Leah and her family recently moved just outside Bordeaux with her family and they have plans to be self-sufficient; she already knows Grace so is signed up to join. George is working in the country helping a friend with renovations and is happy to do something different once a month .. and then there's Alfie; so much younger than the others and with a secret none of them are aware of.
This is a warm, escapist read and I was enthralled all the way through. While a collective group, we learn about each person individually and there are a wide variety of traits and passions to discover. To my mind, this is how a book club should be - a mix of eclectic characters who share their notions and impressions of various literary reads and, on the way, get to know each other. I so enjoyed this one - it is a lovely novel and one I'm happy to recommend. 5*.
Grace came to France to live years ago at her husband's request; when he left, she stayed and has filled her life with lots of different things, all keeping her busy and her latest thought if to start a book club for fellow anglophiles. Monica's husband sees the poster and sends an image to here. Leah and her family recently moved just outside Bordeaux with her family and they have plans to be self-sufficient; she already knows Grace so is signed up to join. George is working in the country helping a friend with renovations and is happy to do something different once a month .. and then there's Alfie; so much younger than the others and with a secret none of them are aware of.
This is a warm, escapist read and I was enthralled all the way through. While a collective group, we learn about each person individually and there are a wide variety of traits and passions to discover. To my mind, this is how a book club should be - a mix of eclectic characters who share their notions and impressions of various literary reads and, on the way, get to know each other. I so enjoyed this one - it is a lovely novel and one I'm happy to recommend. 5*.
March 14, 2024
Master storyteller British author Gillian Harvey returns following A Month in Provence with THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB , another charming tale that will transport you to the picturesque countryside of France with a group of misfits, good food, wine, laughs, wisdom, a fun book club and so much more!
Welcome to Bordeaux the Book Club!
A book club for English speakers.
Meet the 5 ex-pats:
Book Club Members:
Grace
Leah
George
Monica
Alfie
Grace, an avid reader, 50-something. Her idea for the book club. An enigma and high energy. She knows everyone.
Leah (15 yrs younger than Grace) is a mom and wife. She has a not-so-happy teen daughter. She thought the idea of moving to the area would be to live a sustainable life growing and selling food, but things are going differently than planned. Grace is her friend.
Monica is a young mom whose husband's job (pilot) has brought her to the area. However, due to his job, she is left alone with a young baby. She is excited about the Book Club and connecting with other adults.
George, a handyman, has lived in the area for a year. He is renovating a property for a client and lives here year-round. He decides to join the Book Club to meet other people.
Alfie is a quiet young man and the youngest of the group (among the other 40s and 50s). He moved to Bordeaux with his mom years earlier. He keeps to himself. Grace thought he might be more suited to a chess club or gaming organization.
With the unlikely bunch, they each take turns choosing a book and hosting. Slowly, they form friendships, getting to know one another better. They choose such great classics to read and discuss. Books will eventually open their eyes to the possibility of something new. If you are a book lover and love to travel, this is for you!
From humor and heartbreak, THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB has a beautiful, lush French setting that is fully immersive and captivating! From making friendships to offering support, empathy, and love, the novel will delight readers and book lovers seeking their own escape.
ENCHANTING! Who doesn't want to be surrounded and bonded over books, classics, friends, literature, laughter, food, wine, love, and joy? A book within a book.
Gillian Harvey is a new author for me. I enjoyed her last book and was excited about another adventure. She does not disappoint. Character-driven, filled with beautiful metaphors, vivid settings, and most importantly, the power of stories.
Filled with insights and humor, this is a beautiful, witty, heartwarming story of loneliness, grief, and self-discovery with the unlikeliest characters. It's a book club that turns into something more!
A joy of a read! Whether on a beach, mountain, countryside, tropical island, or home settled in a comfy chair on a rainy day, THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB will transport you. I cannot wait for Harvey's next adventure. (it is like going on holiday)!
This is for fans of US authors Sarah Jio, Aimie K. Runyan, Wendy Wax, and Mary Ellen Taylor.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 15, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
March 2024 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter
Welcome to Bordeaux the Book Club!
A book club for English speakers.
Meet the 5 ex-pats:
Book Club Members:
Grace
Leah
George
Monica
Alfie
Grace, an avid reader, 50-something. Her idea for the book club. An enigma and high energy. She knows everyone.
Leah (15 yrs younger than Grace) is a mom and wife. She has a not-so-happy teen daughter. She thought the idea of moving to the area would be to live a sustainable life growing and selling food, but things are going differently than planned. Grace is her friend.
Monica is a young mom whose husband's job (pilot) has brought her to the area. However, due to his job, she is left alone with a young baby. She is excited about the Book Club and connecting with other adults.
George, a handyman, has lived in the area for a year. He is renovating a property for a client and lives here year-round. He decides to join the Book Club to meet other people.
Alfie is a quiet young man and the youngest of the group (among the other 40s and 50s). He moved to Bordeaux with his mom years earlier. He keeps to himself. Grace thought he might be more suited to a chess club or gaming organization.
With the unlikely bunch, they each take turns choosing a book and hosting. Slowly, they form friendships, getting to know one another better. They choose such great classics to read and discuss. Books will eventually open their eyes to the possibility of something new. If you are a book lover and love to travel, this is for you!
From humor and heartbreak, THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB has a beautiful, lush French setting that is fully immersive and captivating! From making friendships to offering support, empathy, and love, the novel will delight readers and book lovers seeking their own escape.
ENCHANTING! Who doesn't want to be surrounded and bonded over books, classics, friends, literature, laughter, food, wine, love, and joy? A book within a book.
Gillian Harvey is a new author for me. I enjoyed her last book and was excited about another adventure. She does not disappoint. Character-driven, filled with beautiful metaphors, vivid settings, and most importantly, the power of stories.
Filled with insights and humor, this is a beautiful, witty, heartwarming story of loneliness, grief, and self-discovery with the unlikeliest characters. It's a book club that turns into something more!
A joy of a read! Whether on a beach, mountain, countryside, tropical island, or home settled in a comfy chair on a rainy day, THE BORDEAUX BOOK CLUB will transport you. I cannot wait for Harvey's next adventure. (it is like going on holiday)!
This is for fans of US authors Sarah Jio, Aimie K. Runyan, Wendy Wax, and Mary Ellen Taylor.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 15, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
March 2024 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter
November 15, 2024
4.25 ⭐
I love books with found families, and what better book with a book club? The members became the founding family in Bordeaux, France The Bordeaux Book Club, a book club of English-speaking people living in Bordeaux or its suburbs. Each member comes to the book club to escape their troubled life. Yes, during the novel, they read four classic books: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Hights, Pride and Prejudice, and Madame Bovary. My suggestion is not to read The Bordeaux Book Club if you don't want spoilers of the above classics if you haven't read them.
The Bordeaux Book Club whisks you away to a picturesque setting - in this case, the rolling hills of France - where the characters' stories unfold amidst the beauty of nature. At the same time, the novel explores themes of identity, relationships, and finding one's place in the world, all with a lighthearted and humorous tone.
I believe readers who are lovers of founding family, and books about books will enjoy The Bordeaux Book Club
I love books with found families, and what better book with a book club? The members became the founding family in Bordeaux, France The Bordeaux Book Club, a book club of English-speaking people living in Bordeaux or its suburbs. Each member comes to the book club to escape their troubled life. Yes, during the novel, they read four classic books: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Hights, Pride and Prejudice, and Madame Bovary. My suggestion is not to read The Bordeaux Book Club if you don't want spoilers of the above classics if you haven't read them.
The Bordeaux Book Club whisks you away to a picturesque setting - in this case, the rolling hills of France - where the characters' stories unfold amidst the beauty of nature. At the same time, the novel explores themes of identity, relationships, and finding one's place in the world, all with a lighthearted and humorous tone.
I believe readers who are lovers of founding family, and books about books will enjoy The Bordeaux Book Club
July 20, 2025
As a book club member myself, I loved reading about how different personalities come together and form real friendships over their shared love of books.
It’s a cute, heartwarming read set in a perfectly idyllic, French setting. Bonus points for including book club questions at the end, making it perfect to read and discuss with your own group.
It’s a cute, heartwarming read set in a perfectly idyllic, French setting. Bonus points for including book club questions at the end, making it perfect to read and discuss with your own group.
March 21, 2024
An engaging and wonderful story of intersecting lives. A group of people who would most likely walk past each other on the street without even noticing each other become friends that are like family when they form a hodgepodge book group. Each is going through emotional turmoil quietly on their own, but as they delve into books and discuss the characters, they start to see parallels to their own lives and start to open up to each other thus helping to lighten the emotional load they are carrying. The author absolutely drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat as I joined the characters as the dumped their dirty laundry for the others to see and help them to clean up and carry the load. An absolutely engaging story that had you both in love with the characters as well as frustrated with them at times just as the author means for you to be! There is a happily ever after for each member of the book club, but it isn't always what you think it will be. I am absolutely in love with this author's writing and can't wait to read more!!!
July 18, 2024
Lovely story. Did not disappoint. Various people from different walks of life with different challenges. But they all become close friends and supporters all because they got together for a newly created book club.
This was another book that includes fine wine at book club and snacks and desserts. I’m beginning to see a cozy trend that I keep getting myself into…
This was another book that includes fine wine at book club and snacks and desserts. I’m beginning to see a cozy trend that I keep getting myself into…
June 12, 2024
I am in the midst of reading several heavy nonfiction books, so it seemed the perfect time to insert something of lighter fare into the mix and The Bordeaux Book Club fit perfectly.
Grace, who is a powerhouse in her own right, decides to start a book club for English speakers in Bordeaux and recruits an odd mix to join. Among the members are a new mother, a woman who with her husband and teenage daughter decided to move to France and try their hand at living off the land, a builder who is helping a friend remodel and a young college student. Of course there is Grace, as well who is busy living her best life or is she?
They all have their problems and secrets and we get to know each of them as we discuss Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and Madame Bovary.
While this book is seemingly light it does touch on serious issues among the members and the ways in which they support each other.
I quite enjoyed my interlude in Bordeaux.
Grace, who is a powerhouse in her own right, decides to start a book club for English speakers in Bordeaux and recruits an odd mix to join. Among the members are a new mother, a woman who with her husband and teenage daughter decided to move to France and try their hand at living off the land, a builder who is helping a friend remodel and a young college student. Of course there is Grace, as well who is busy living her best life or is she?
They all have their problems and secrets and we get to know each of them as we discuss Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and Madame Bovary.
While this book is seemingly light it does touch on serious issues among the members and the ways in which they support each other.
I quite enjoyed my interlude in Bordeaux.
May 17, 2024
Needed something light and frothy to read. This was more stodgy and tedious. The plot is implausible. It was like the writer made a bouquet of stock characters and situations that are currently popular (angry teen, philandering husband, wise widow, wealthy postpartum mum, young inexperienced “homesteaders”), set the plot in France to make it “classy”, and tied it all up in a ribbon of “come on people make this work”. The male characters in this book speak and behave in completely unbelievable ways. Not for me.
June 14, 2024
It was thin in terms of character development, plot and likeability. I struggled to warm to any of the characters apart from Gollum the chicken…
August 2, 2024
This got a bonus star bc it reminded me how grateful I am for book club!! Nice to ready something that wasn't purely about romance.
February 10, 2024
I love books, and I'm rather partial to a Gillian Harvey story. So when you combine the two, there is no way I'm going to pass up reading it. And when the Bordeaux Book Club popped up, it was an immediate must-read.
Set in Bordeaux and surrounding areas, five ex-pats begin to meet up for a book club. They feel more comfortable communicating through their mother tongue rather than stumbling through a French one, murdering the language as they go.
Grace is a fifty-something woman who is a bit of an enigma. She lives alone, is well-established in the area and has her fingers in all the pies, seemingly knowing everyone and everything. The book club is her initial idea.
Leah is a wife and mum to a sullen teenage daughter. She's moved here with her family with the idea of living a sustainable life, growing their own produce to eat and sell, chickens for eggs, etc., but not everything is falling into place as easily as they hoped. Grace is her acquaintance, and she goes along to support her.
George is in the middle of a job, renovating a property for a client and living in the area for around a year. He doesn't know many people and decides the Book Club might be an interesting place to meet others.
Monica is a young mum. Her husband's job has brought them to the area, living in a beautiful apartment, but unfortunately this job also leaves her alone with their new baby for long stretches of time. The book club feels like a way to reconnect with adults rather than have a life filled with the four walls of her home and only a baby for company.
Alfie is a young man who moved to Bordeaux with his mum. He's quiet and an unlikely participant in the book club. He keeps himself to himself, but a series of strange phone calls and a slip of the tongue from his girlfriend, Camille, bring his own tragic situation to the forefront.
Each member has his or her own tale to tell, which unravels as the story is told while the books are discussed within the book club. And it is beautiful to see how friendships are forged between some unlikely characters and how they become support networks for one another.
Another emotion-filled tale with such a wide range of characters that there is someone there for most readers to identify with. I, for one, was drawn to Leah, who is feeling a bit lost, but it is her struggles to deal with her teenage daughter that really hit home with me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Set in Bordeaux and surrounding areas, five ex-pats begin to meet up for a book club. They feel more comfortable communicating through their mother tongue rather than stumbling through a French one, murdering the language as they go.
Grace is a fifty-something woman who is a bit of an enigma. She lives alone, is well-established in the area and has her fingers in all the pies, seemingly knowing everyone and everything. The book club is her initial idea.
Leah is a wife and mum to a sullen teenage daughter. She's moved here with her family with the idea of living a sustainable life, growing their own produce to eat and sell, chickens for eggs, etc., but not everything is falling into place as easily as they hoped. Grace is her acquaintance, and she goes along to support her.
George is in the middle of a job, renovating a property for a client and living in the area for around a year. He doesn't know many people and decides the Book Club might be an interesting place to meet others.
Monica is a young mum. Her husband's job has brought them to the area, living in a beautiful apartment, but unfortunately this job also leaves her alone with their new baby for long stretches of time. The book club feels like a way to reconnect with adults rather than have a life filled with the four walls of her home and only a baby for company.
Alfie is a young man who moved to Bordeaux with his mum. He's quiet and an unlikely participant in the book club. He keeps himself to himself, but a series of strange phone calls and a slip of the tongue from his girlfriend, Camille, bring his own tragic situation to the forefront.
Each member has his or her own tale to tell, which unravels as the story is told while the books are discussed within the book club. And it is beautiful to see how friendships are forged between some unlikely characters and how they become support networks for one another.
Another emotion-filled tale with such a wide range of characters that there is someone there for most readers to identify with. I, for one, was drawn to Leah, who is feeling a bit lost, but it is her struggles to deal with her teenage daughter that really hit home with me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
June 6, 2024
I chose this book based on the preview and thought this will have some great plot and scenery to imagine. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the book. Nothing happens in the book. The characters are very basic and sugar coated. The teenager and mum relationship dragged on for so long and nothing actually interesting happened with that. Ending was utter disappointment, I was hoping for plot twists. And Leah and Nathan journey was lazy. Their journey exhausted me,it was cliché . This book unfortunately seemed promising, however, it did not engage me as there is no plot twists. As much as there was drama but it was very rainbow like, all the characters are written as socially and emotionally victims. I gave 2 stars because I didn't quit on this book, i kept going to find out perhaps I have misjudged and let my assumptions get the best of me, but it went just as I predicted.
February 26, 2024
A bookclub of expats in France trying to make a go at life in Bordeaux.
A book about friendship and learning the importance of communication in relationships and opening up and discussing things together .
There was something I could relate to with each character in the novel which helped maintain my interest in how everything would work out for the bookclub members . The wiring is skillful and the many characters and their subplots are well balanced .
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for this ARC. This is my honest review !
A book about friendship and learning the importance of communication in relationships and opening up and discussing things together .
There was something I could relate to with each character in the novel which helped maintain my interest in how everything would work out for the bookclub members . The wiring is skillful and the many characters and their subplots are well balanced .
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for this ARC. This is my honest review !
December 8, 2024
Had to DNF around the halfway point. The cliched family issues were too depressing for the first 150 pages and I didn’t care how any of it resolved. I was hoping for more descriptions of beautiful Bordeaux!
September 27, 2024
Leah, her husband and daughter move to France to become self-sufficient. It isn't what they were expecting and even growing a carrot takes forever. Her teenage daughter is not happy, she is belligerent and acting out. Her husband keeps disappearing and Leah is worried he might be having an affair. Her friend Grace came to France to live years ago at her husband's request, but when he left, she stayed. Always finding something to keep her busy, she starts a book club for other anglophiles. Leah joins as well as Monica, George and young Alfie. Drinking some wine and discussing the books they read, they begin to get to know each other and become friends. They share secrets, give each other advice and become a found family.
The Bordeaux Book Club introduces us to an eclectic group of characters who are all very different from one another. As we get to know them, they become so relatable and I wanted to join this group. This is a wonderful book about characters, but also about the books they read and how they affect their lives. There are themes of friendship, discovering self and what you really want out of life and moving on. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in France, especially living on the farm trying to be farmers and self-sufficient. There were times that I laughed, and times I was sad for the characters. There were times where the story bogged down a bit, but overall, this was an enjoyable read. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lucy Scott, a new narrator to me. I enjoyed her performance and my time listening to this book.
The Bordeaux Book Club introduces us to an eclectic group of characters who are all very different from one another. As we get to know them, they become so relatable and I wanted to join this group. This is a wonderful book about characters, but also about the books they read and how they affect their lives. There are themes of friendship, discovering self and what you really want out of life and moving on. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in France, especially living on the farm trying to be farmers and self-sufficient. There were times that I laughed, and times I was sad for the characters. There were times where the story bogged down a bit, but overall, this was an enjoyable read. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lucy Scott, a new narrator to me. I enjoyed her performance and my time listening to this book.
June 22, 2025
3.25⭐
A feel good easy read with relatable characters.
This book is set around a book club with characters from different walks of life, all coming together discussing books and forming friendships.
A feel good easy read with relatable characters.
This book is set around a book club with characters from different walks of life, all coming together discussing books and forming friendships.
September 16, 2024
On a gloomy monsoon Sunday, you can either mope around picking up books and putting them down, or you can read 'The Bordeaux Book Club". Grace, Leah, George, Monica, Alfie- all English, all currently living in Bordeaux. They all had different reasons for moving to France (some didn't even have much of a say in the move), they are at different stages of accepting and adapting to the move, and none of them has much in common with the rest. And yet, however improbable it may seem, they gell. They hold each other up, they tell them truths that are better left unsaid, they inspire the other to do things they may not otherwise do.
You could relate to what many of them were going to, perhaps you need to hear someone ask you who you are as a person- "What do you want? Need? What things make you happy? And don’t wait for someone else to bring those to you. Build them for yourself." The beauty of the book lies in the fact that each of them does exactly that, but in a manner that is not contrived. By the end of the book, you do agree that '"Families come in all sorts of forms. Not always the ones you think."
What made the book extra special is the fact that books were actually discussed during the book. Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Madame Bovary - all classics we have read and loved, but not seen through the eyes of someone who is reading them after having lived a lifetime. I am certainly going to re-read them over the next few months through a fresh pair of eyes.
You could relate to what many of them were going to, perhaps you need to hear someone ask you who you are as a person- "What do you want? Need? What things make you happy? And don’t wait for someone else to bring those to you. Build them for yourself." The beauty of the book lies in the fact that each of them does exactly that, but in a manner that is not contrived. By the end of the book, you do agree that '"Families come in all sorts of forms. Not always the ones you think."
What made the book extra special is the fact that books were actually discussed during the book. Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Madame Bovary - all classics we have read and loved, but not seen through the eyes of someone who is reading them after having lived a lifetime. I am certainly going to re-read them over the next few months through a fresh pair of eyes.
June 20, 2025
Enjoyable
February 9, 2024
The Bordeaux Book Club
Gillian Harvey’s books are always so much fun to read as they will transport you to France!
Grace started the Bordeaux Book Club for English Speakers living in Cenac, Bordeaux. Everyone who joined the Bordeaux book club has their own personal reasons, but what they all had in common was they all needed some sort of change in their lives. Something that would give them an excuse to break out of their normal routine! But when Grace chooses a classic, Great Expectations, to start off the book club, will this turn people away? With new-found friendships, will they be able to find the connections they are striving for and support each other through the high’s and lows of expat living?
A fun book that transports you to the Bordeaux region of France, where you can live vicariously through the book club! This author captures what it’s like being an expat, which is not always a rosy picture! This book is entertaining with relatable characters, which is perfect for your next vacation! I could see this book being made into a miniseries! Also, a great book club pick as there is so much there is so much to discuss!
Thanks to Boldwood Books, I was provided an ARC of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley
Gillian Harvey’s books are always so much fun to read as they will transport you to France!
Grace started the Bordeaux Book Club for English Speakers living in Cenac, Bordeaux. Everyone who joined the Bordeaux book club has their own personal reasons, but what they all had in common was they all needed some sort of change in their lives. Something that would give them an excuse to break out of their normal routine! But when Grace chooses a classic, Great Expectations, to start off the book club, will this turn people away? With new-found friendships, will they be able to find the connections they are striving for and support each other through the high’s and lows of expat living?
A fun book that transports you to the Bordeaux region of France, where you can live vicariously through the book club! This author captures what it’s like being an expat, which is not always a rosy picture! This book is entertaining with relatable characters, which is perfect for your next vacation! I could see this book being made into a miniseries! Also, a great book club pick as there is so much there is so much to discuss!
Thanks to Boldwood Books, I was provided an ARC of The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley
March 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, if I could, but I enjoyed the characters so much that I'll round it up for Goodreads. The main characters are the stars for me. There are five of them, and their differences make them intriguing. Leah is a happily married woman who is questioning their life-changing decision to move to France and live off the land. Grace is pretty much an entrenched older woman who has learned to rely on herself and create her own happiness by keeping busy. Monica is a lonely new mother who feels left out of things even though she lives in the midst of a bustling community. Alfie is a young man who is devoted to caring for his sick mother. And George is a middle-aged man who has been disappointed in love, but he's still an optimist. See what I mean about a variety? I particularly loved that they were pretty non-judgmental, listening to each other and actually listening to each other's comments and accepting them, building relationships between such unlikely friends. My biggest negative is the book club portion of the book. Yes, I know that's an integral part of the story, but they actually sat and discussed specific books, getting into detailed conversations about characters and settings. Yes, they are classics (Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Madame Bovary). But no, I haven't read any of them. It's disappointing when an author bases a large percentage of a book on the assumption that "everyone" is familiar with the details. I felt like the dork who shows up for book club night without having read the book. Luckily, I was able to decipher most of the conversations, but I'm sure there were subtleties that I missed, and I felt a little left out. I did enjoy the Bordeaux setting, and I will look for more from this new-to-me author.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, if I could, but I enjoyed the characters so much that I'll round it up for Goodreads. The main characters are the stars for me. There are five of them, and their differences make them intriguing. Leah is a happily married woman who is questioning their life-changing decision to move to France and live off the land. Grace is pretty much an entrenched older woman who has learned to rely on herself and create her own happiness by keeping busy. Monica is a lonely new mother who feels left out of things even though she lives in the midst of a bustling community. Alfie is a young man who is devoted to caring for his sick mother. And George is a middle-aged man who has been disappointed in love, but he's still an optimist. See what I mean about a variety? I particularly loved that they were pretty non-judgmental, listening to each other and actually listening to each other's comments and accepting them, building relationships between such unlikely friends. My biggest negative is the book club portion of the book. Yes, I know that's an integral part of the story, but they actually sat and discussed specific books, getting into detailed conversations about characters and settings. Yes, they are classics (Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Madame Bovary). But no, I haven't read any of them. It's disappointing when an author bases a large percentage of a book on the assumption that "everyone" is familiar with the details. I felt like the dork who shows up for book club night without having read the book. Luckily, I was able to decipher most of the conversations, but I'm sure there were subtleties that I missed, and I felt a little left out. I did enjoy the Bordeaux setting, and I will look for more from this new-to-me author.
June 22, 2024
Quick easy read about finding friendships, taking risks, and learning how to communicate.
March 13, 2024
Beautifully written and poignant, escapism is the order of the day in this gorgeous novel. An unlikely mix of ex-pats in Bordeaux form a bookclub and discover as much about themselves as they do the characters in the books they read. I really enjoyed how they picked the classics to read and how they all had a very different reaction to the protagonists in those books, offering a modern insight into how societal behaviours have changed and what was once considered romantic could now be perceived as controlling.
With each of the well developed characters facing very different challenges in their personal lives, what starts as a distraction for them, turns into a deep and supportive friendship that really highlights the importance of books.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Gillian Harvey and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
With each of the well developed characters facing very different challenges in their personal lives, what starts as a distraction for them, turns into a deep and supportive friendship that really highlights the importance of books.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Gillian Harvey and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2024
Fun, light read.
May 29, 2024
I was going to give up on it halfway through. Then read all the reviews here and decided to push through it . It's a nice book
December 18, 2024
2.4/5 I would like to say it was an “easy” read, but some of the plot just felt unbearable to get through. The primary storyline (Leah) was painfully repetitive and shallow, and we only gained glimpses into the lives of the other book club members. Grace’s big secret was shared with no one but the reader, which seems antithetical to the moral aimed at her character and we never actually even learn how Leah and Grace know each other. The way Leah describes her in the beginning seems to contradict what we get from the rest of the book. And George. I never thought I’d read a genuine “good guys finish last” breakdown and have another character call it beautiful. He argues that we take boring for granted which I assume is supposed to directly reflect on his character. And those two feelings are about all we get from his entire background (lasts what I assume is 2 pages?). Except, as I’m faintly remembering, he was giving low-key stalker vibes watching Grace post her flyer at the get go… sequel is a murder mystery.
I could go on, but I won’t.
At the time of this review, the rating for this books is 4.01/5 with just over 9K ratings. I’m curious how that will change over time and if it’s just me who feels this way.
I could go on, but I won’t.
At the time of this review, the rating for this books is 4.01/5 with just over 9K ratings. I’m curious how that will change over time and if it’s just me who feels this way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2025
I’ll admit that this book and I did not get off to an easy start. The opening chapters moved slowly enough that I found myself restarting more than once, trying to find my footing in the story. The pacing felt slow—and for a while I struggled to understand where the narrative was headed or why certain details mattered.
But once the characters began to take shape, everything clicked into place.
As the author gradually revealed the personalities, histories, and motivations of the eclectic group of club members, the story became far more engaging. What once felt slow suddenly felt purposeful. The groundwork laid in the early pages started to pay off, enriching the relationships and adding emotional depth to each development that followed. By the midpoint, I found myself fully invested—turning pages quickly, eager to see how these now-familiar characters would handle the challenges ahead.
The book ultimately rewarded my patience. The character development was nuanced, and the emotional arcs were satisfying. By the end, I wasn’t thinking about how long it took me to get into the story; I was thinking about how glad I was that I stuck with it.
Overall, this is a book that requires a bit of perseverance, but it absolutely pays off. If you enjoy character-driven narratives and don’t mind a slow build, you may find the experience as rewarding as I did.
4.5 stars
December 9, 2025
Gillian Harvey is a prolific author who writes escapist stories often set in France. I only discovered her writing last year and ' The Bordeaux Book Club' is the third title I have read.
As the title tells us the novel is set around a Book Club in Bordeaux France when an eclectic group of ex-pats come together in a bid to make new friends. The group consists of Grace, a divorced strong willed woman with an organised life, who is the instigator of the club. Leah, struggling with a moody teenage daughter and a seemingly depressed husband, living a life style she is not really enjoying. George a builder in the area whilst helping a friend with a renovation project. Alfie a sixteen year old who has only joined to please his Mum. Finally Monica, a new Mum finding herself struggling with motherhood and very lonely as her pilot husband is often away. This motley collection of individuals find the Book Club discussions draw them together as friendships and support networks form.
Real life dilemmas dealt with in a compassionate story. Just like the last title of hers that I read I found this to be a touch of escapism that will appeal to those looking for a quick mood enhancing read.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
As the title tells us the novel is set around a Book Club in Bordeaux France when an eclectic group of ex-pats come together in a bid to make new friends. The group consists of Grace, a divorced strong willed woman with an organised life, who is the instigator of the club. Leah, struggling with a moody teenage daughter and a seemingly depressed husband, living a life style she is not really enjoying. George a builder in the area whilst helping a friend with a renovation project. Alfie a sixteen year old who has only joined to please his Mum. Finally Monica, a new Mum finding herself struggling with motherhood and very lonely as her pilot husband is often away. This motley collection of individuals find the Book Club discussions draw them together as friendships and support networks form.
Real life dilemmas dealt with in a compassionate story. Just like the last title of hers that I read I found this to be a touch of escapism that will appeal to those looking for a quick mood enhancing read.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
March 15, 2024
Have you ever tried to start a book club? It can be a bit difficult, especially if you are trying to bring together a group of strangers. In the latest book by Gillian Harvey we meet Grace, Leah, Monica, George and Alfie who are all British expats who have been living in France for varying lengths of time.
Grace decides that she wants to start a book club for English speakers who live in and near Bordeaux. She already knows that her friend Leah will be a member, but she doesn't know how much more interest she will get. She is therefore really pleased to learn that there are several other interested parties, but you never really know if everyone will click, and if they will come back after the first meeting!
Leah and her family moved to the area three years previously with the idea that they would be able to be self sufficient. They have planted the veggies, bought the chickens, but really, it hasn't turned out to be that easy. They have plenty of eggs, although it is a bit of a risk to go in and get them because at least one of the chooks doesn't like Leah but there are only so many egg dishes you can have. Leah's teenage daughter has turned into a moody teenager and her husband is behaving very strangely. It all just feels a bit too hard
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2024...
Grace decides that she wants to start a book club for English speakers who live in and near Bordeaux. She already knows that her friend Leah will be a member, but she doesn't know how much more interest she will get. She is therefore really pleased to learn that there are several other interested parties, but you never really know if everyone will click, and if they will come back after the first meeting!
Leah and her family moved to the area three years previously with the idea that they would be able to be self sufficient. They have planted the veggies, bought the chickens, but really, it hasn't turned out to be that easy. They have plenty of eggs, although it is a bit of a risk to go in and get them because at least one of the chooks doesn't like Leah but there are only so many egg dishes you can have. Leah's teenage daughter has turned into a moody teenager and her husband is behaving very strangely. It all just feels a bit too hard
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2024...
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