The French House Share: A BRAND NEW heartwarming story of new beginnings, friendship and finding love again from Gillian Harvey for 2026

by Gillian Harvey

A totally captivating story about loss, love and new beginnings, set in beautiful France, from the bestselling author of The Bordeaux Book Club. 🇫🇷🍷🥐❤️

‘I can’t live with total strangers… can I?’

Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes.

Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share.

At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie.

Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?

Don’t miss this gorgeous, escapist, uplifting story! Order now!

Readers love Gillian ‘Enchanting, beautifully written and with characters you will adore… An absolute triumph.’ Clare Swatman

‘An uplifting, heartwarming, escapist novel to be read with a DO NOT DISTURB sign, because once you start that very first page, you are not going to want to put it down.’ Kim Nash, author

‘I inhaled this gorgeous novel in two greedy sittings. Escapist, romantic and deliciously atmospheric.’ Nicola Gill, author

'Gorgeously atmospheric and wise’ Linda McEvoy, author

‘Just wonderful!… In one of the chapters, I cried my way through the whole of it… just so moving and meaningful… [But] this book is also funny and had me giggling and smiling at certain things that happen… This has been the perfect book, in the perfect setting, with perfect characters.’ Reader Review

‘A joy… Honestly, I loved this story so much. It is filled with hope, and there are emotional moments as well.’ Reader Review

‘Gillian Harvey’s books are the ultimate treat… Witty, emotional, endearing… Her books are everything!’ Goodreads reviewer

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 25, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR

Reviews

[Lisa Hemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn’t want to be someone else for a while? A younger version of yourself so you could see what you missed out on when college didn’t work out and you married young and moved to France to chase after your dreams!! Bella was at a crossroads in her life and taking a job in Versailles, as her alter ego, “Isabella” seemed like the right thing to do when she was filling out applications late into the night. Her job at a posh French hotel seemed so extravagant and far removed from her former life as a Bed and Breakfast innkeeper. On top of all that, she was sharing a house with college students who were at least ten years younger than her! Oh my, what had she done? Bella was soon swept up into a daunting schedule consisting of a full day working as a Project Manager, and a long night socializing with her new housemates. That kind of behavior never ends well and she was desperate to come clean with her new friends about who she really was, but why couldn’t she be both women? Bella would always have her memories of her beloved B&B, and now with her new career, she was finally putting herself first, realizing she could do anything if she kept an open mind and a loving heart.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bella seems to be living her dream life–living in the French countryside, owning a B&B and putting her past behind. But then her husband Peter asks for divorce and Bella’s life suddenly turn upside down.

Now Bella is forced to find a job which made her to move to Versailles. She starts living in a house with two twenty something old people, Odette and Henri. And she gets a job as a project manager for a small boutique hotel. But here’s the problem–Odette and Henri believe Bella is in her twenties even though Bella is actually in her thirties and she kind of lied on her resume about the job. Her boss, Claudette hands her a big task of impressing a certain hotel critics and will Bella able to do the job? And thinks get complicated when a handsome American man, Brad, who is the landlord of the house she lives in enters into her life.

Let’s start with the atmosphere--reading this book will actually make you feel like you are living in the rural France and Versailles. The descriptions of the places, the cafes and of course the French people in general will actually make you feel like you are living in France.

About the characters…Bella is a sort of complex character–she is a very likable and related heroine–and realistic. Anyone can actually relate to Bella–feeling insecure when she is around her sister Kitty and funny. Brad and Bella would make a perfect couple and the other supporting characters, Odette, Henri, Claudette and Jeanette are supportive and likable.

The storyline–I really enjoyed reading the story. There were funny moments in the book, which make you laugh out loud and there were so many relatable moments in the book as well. The story overall talks about dealing with love, loss and of course second chances. And overall, it was realistic as well. Bella knew she lied on her resume and living with a lie while trying to achieve a success shows how Bella’s character is resilient and courageous. This is not just a typical romance novel but also a chance to turn your life back again after a loss.

Overall, this is a 4.5 star read. I am looking forward to read more books from this author.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The French House Share is a charming, heartfelt novel about starting over when life takes an unexpected turn. Gillian Harvey captures both the beauty of France and the bittersweet reality of new beginnings with warmth, wit, and emotional depth.

Bella is a wonderfully relatable heroine. Having built her dream life running a rural French B&B, she suddenly finds herself adrift when her marriage collapses. Moving to Versailles and into a chaotic house share is hardly the future she imagined, yet Harvey makes this upheaval feel both poignant and hopeful. The tension between Bella’s desire to belong and her fear of living a lie adds richness to the story, while her interactions with her younger housemates bring humour and heart.

The arrival of Brad, the handsome American landlord, adds a romantic spark, but Harvey wisely keeps the focus on Bella’s journey of rediscovery. This isn’t just a love story—it’s about resilience, identity, and the courage to embrace change even when it feels daunting. The French setting, from the bustle of Versailles to the cozy chaos of the house share, provides a gorgeous backdrop that makes the novel feel escapist and uplifting.

The French House Share is a captivating tale of love, loss, and second chances. Perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Jo Thomas, and Fiona Valpy, it’s a story that blends humour, romance, and emotional honesty into a truly uplifting read.

with thanks to gillian harvey, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Gillian, you've done it again!
Now, not only do I want to go and live in France, but I fancy a change of career to hospitality!
Bella is living in a small village in France with her husband, living the dream. Or rather, her dream.
She has, from a young age, wanted to run a B&B in France, after what was to her an idyllic school trip there, cementing her hopes for the future. And she has achieved that with her husband.
But things are never as simple as that, are they? It's not for him, after eight years, and he wants a clean break, if she isn't prepared to up sticks and head back 'home' to the UK.
What follows is Bella trying to live part of her dream and reinventing herself several times, unintentionally, as she moves to Versailles and gets herself a job in a Paris boutique hotel, under somewhat cloudy circumstances. (I won't say false, as I am sure there are plenty out there who have slightly elaborated CVs to get interviews and jobs!)
The characters she meets along the way, including the students she ends up house sharing with, and the elusive landlord, as well as her new boss, and a rather scary cantankerous old woman who lives at the hotel where she secures a job, all make for a fantastic supporting cast, to this story of second chances, and learning more about oneself in times of pressure.
Oh, and of course there is romance, but it's not always about the handsome French dude...!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

[Julie Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so much more than a regular romance book. In fact, the main love story here is the one Bella is working on with herself.

It starts with a bunch of triggers if you've gone through a nasty divorce (especially if you've been dumped abroad like I have). But that being said, Bella's strong character and stamina is such an awesome support system for any reader dealing with something similar, making this the perfect second chance in life story.



I absolutely loved all the French bits. The locations, the cafes, the people and the overall vibe were simply sublime. It really made me feel like I'm living in France. This book actually made want to travel to Versailles!



I loved how realistic The French House Share felt. I'm new to Gillian Harvey's writing which so quickly proved to be engaging and relatable. Virtually all the characters (aside from Pete) in this story felt like real people you would love to know in real life, making this one of those stories you wish you could step into and live along. Sadly, also giving you the inevitable book hangover when it's all over.

I am looking forward to reading more from this fabulous writer.

Huge thank you to Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading The French House Share by Gillian Harvey.

The story follows Bella, a woman whose long-held dream of living in France unravels when her husband leaves her and she’s forced to sell the rural B&B they built together. Determined not to give up on France—or on herself—Bella moves to Versailles, where she takes a job at a small hotel and ends up living in a lively house share with people much younger than herself. Trying to rebuild her life, Bella quietly bends the truth about her age and experience, juggling new friendships, work pressures, and the fear of being found out. As she navigates heartbreak, reinvention, and unexpected romance, she begins to rediscover who she is outside of the life she lost.

Set against a vivid French backdrop, the story is about second chances, starting over, and finding confidence and happiness after everything you thought you wanted falls apart.

Overall, this is a feel-good, light-hearted novel that delivers escapism, warmth, and hope. Despite a few convenient resolutions, it’s an entertaining and positive read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Kimberly Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, feel-good story about second chances.

Bella’s life imploded when her mum dies while she was in school. Soon after, she gives up on her dreams of attending university, taking on work as a sales clerk at Boots. She continues to relive that one perfect week in school she spent on a class trip to France. When she meets Pete and they fall in love, she convinces him to move with her to France and to run a Bed & Breakfast.

Years later, when Pete walks out on Bella, she’s desperate, broke, and entirely without job prospects. Fudging her cv, she lands a job at a hotel and pretends to be a student to obtain a cheap house share. A job she’s underqualified for and a house share for which she’s far too old keep her busy juggling her lies, while simultaneously providing her the unexpected opportunity to learn who she really is.

I enjoyed this (late) coming of age story, set mostly in Versailles and Paris, following Bella’s story of accidental reinvention.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

[Tamsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella is living her childhood dream…… living in France and running and owning a B&B with her husband Pete. They renovated a rundown and uninhabited farmhouse….. and survived Covid… things were going well…. or so she thought. That is until Pete decides it’s not his dream any more and wants to move back to the UK. And just like that her life is turned upside down.
She needs to pack up and sell the B&B, find a job and somewhere to live.
This is a heartwarming story of friendship, love and loss. Can Bella be happy again. Can she restart and find herself?
I enjoyed this book, it covers many topics, it really delves into Bella finding herself even tho there are some hiccups on the way

Thank you Net galley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The story was entertaining and believable enough and even though I couldn't really relate to FMC Bella at first since she acted very juvenile I grew to like her after a while. I could relate how she might be enticed to live like a carefree twenty-something again especially since she clearly didn't get to do that in her actual twenties. I liked how the story proceeded but I have to say that all of the problems that Bella had or that arose were rather easily fixed in the end which was a bit unbelievable. Still the book is very entertaining and uplifting.
I received an ARC via netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and joyful. Full of friendship and hope. This was a truly beautiful book. I liked Bella a lot she had a very complex life and her tenacity and hope was inspirational. I also really liked her sister Kitty who was stoic and her backbone. This was a great book. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual this author transports the reader to the delights of France and all it has to offer in this Tory of starting over and second chances.

This was an uplifting and easy read full of hope and positivity for the future and how with a bit of determination and good friends life can be changed for the better

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and easy read, perfect for this time of year when were all busy with Christmas preparations. A little predictable but perfectly acceptable. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Carol Perreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman has a dream to own a B&B in France but her husband leaves her. She has to sell the B&B but finds a job managing a small hotel. She also finds a boarding house where she finds friendly people.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gillian Harvey's book. I love books about France and romance with a great story, and she always delivers. Bella is living her dream life in France and running a B and B when her husband asks for a divorce. Needing a job and a place asap, she elaborates on her job history and lands a job at a small hotel and a boss with secrets of her own. She also ends up rooming with some 20-year-olds. There she finds herself in a life not quite her own, but loving it.


This is another book about a girl re-inventing herself after heartbreak. I love how Bella stretched and challenged herself as she rediscovered herself in her new life. The other characters in the story were fun as well, including her roommates, her workmates, and her relationship with her sister. This was a great story of love, rediscovery, friendship, and living your best life.

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.