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The Gulf of Lions: A Profoundly Moving New Novel Exploring the French Countryside that Elin Hilderbrand Calls "A Five-Star Read"
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"What a deliciously irresistible novel! This book is a five-star read. I guarantee you’ll love it.” — Elin Hilderbrand
"A wry, aching, life-affirming novel about cancer, motherhood, and the mess of being human. Caitlin Shetterly writes with unsparing honesty and grace. A tour de force.” — Christina Baker Kline
From the acclaimed author of Pete and Alice in Maine, comes a standalone and evocative sequel about a mother who, recovering from the trauma of breast cancer and a mastectomy, takes a once-in-a-lifetime trip across France with her two daughters, determined to fully live. There, she finds herself newly awakened by beauty and desire but when the trip takes a turn for the worst, she must decide between a life of pleasure or the deep tethering of family.
Reconciling with her husband after a betrayal and recovering from a yearlong battle with breast cancer, Alice longs for an escape from the trials of everyday life. When the opportunity arises for a once-in-a-lifetime camping trip across France, she packs up her daughters, hoping it’s the new start she so desperately needs.
Alice, teenage Sophie, and young Iris begin their odyssey in the French Alps, entering a foreign world they did not know beautiful people, luscious food, and sensual temptations. It’s a freeing experience—exploring the countryside, sleeping beneath the stars, reveling in the sights and scents of nature. For the first time since her diagnosis, Alice starts to feel alive, less afraid of dying, and less angry about her husband's affair.
But as the family continues south, traveling through Provence, where they camp on the Gulf of Lions, an area of the Mediterranean known for wild, roaring winds and purple fields of lavender, they start to unravel the yarn that binds them together. By the time they head to the charred Pyrenees, and then back across France to stay in a castle that sits on the confluence of two rivers, Alice worries that the trip might have been a disastrous and reckless mistake.
A beautiful meditation on womanhood, personhood, exploration, survival and sexual awakenings, The Gulf of Lions is a breathtaking and emotionally resonant story that plumbs the eternal What, in the end, will keep a family from falling apart?
"A wry, aching, life-affirming novel about cancer, motherhood, and the mess of being human. Caitlin Shetterly writes with unsparing honesty and grace. A tour de force.” — Christina Baker Kline
From the acclaimed author of Pete and Alice in Maine, comes a standalone and evocative sequel about a mother who, recovering from the trauma of breast cancer and a mastectomy, takes a once-in-a-lifetime trip across France with her two daughters, determined to fully live. There, she finds herself newly awakened by beauty and desire but when the trip takes a turn for the worst, she must decide between a life of pleasure or the deep tethering of family.
Reconciling with her husband after a betrayal and recovering from a yearlong battle with breast cancer, Alice longs for an escape from the trials of everyday life. When the opportunity arises for a once-in-a-lifetime camping trip across France, she packs up her daughters, hoping it’s the new start she so desperately needs.
Alice, teenage Sophie, and young Iris begin their odyssey in the French Alps, entering a foreign world they did not know beautiful people, luscious food, and sensual temptations. It’s a freeing experience—exploring the countryside, sleeping beneath the stars, reveling in the sights and scents of nature. For the first time since her diagnosis, Alice starts to feel alive, less afraid of dying, and less angry about her husband's affair.
But as the family continues south, traveling through Provence, where they camp on the Gulf of Lions, an area of the Mediterranean known for wild, roaring winds and purple fields of lavender, they start to unravel the yarn that binds them together. By the time they head to the charred Pyrenees, and then back across France to stay in a castle that sits on the confluence of two rivers, Alice worries that the trip might have been a disastrous and reckless mistake.
A beautiful meditation on womanhood, personhood, exploration, survival and sexual awakenings, The Gulf of Lions is a breathtaking and emotionally resonant story that plumbs the eternal What, in the end, will keep a family from falling apart?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Caitlin Shetterly
7 books170 followersCaitlin Shetterly is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio where she reports on arts and culture, food, and lifestyle. She can be heard on both All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. For Weekend Edition, she created a series of autobiographical audio diaries about the Recession under the title Diary of a Recession. These diaries, along with her blog, Passage West, inspired her memoir Made For You and Me: Going West, Going Broke, Finding Home (Voice, March 8, 2011).
Caitlin's first book, Fault Lines: Stories of Divorce, was published by the Putnam Berkley Group in 2001. For several years, she wrote a bimonthly column, "Bramhall Square," about relationships and love for the Portland Phoenix.
Caitlin is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Winter Harbor Theatre Company, where she produces and directs works that attempt to tackle the important issues of our time. Caitlin graduated with Honors in English and American Literature from Brown University. She lives with her husband, photographer Daniel E. Davis, their young son, and their salty dog, Hopper. When she isn't writing, directing plays, producing radio pieces, cooking, cleaning or childrearing, Caitlin spends as much time as possible reading, watching "Friday Night Lights" and, especially, walking outside in nature.
Caitlin's first book, Fault Lines: Stories of Divorce, was published by the Putnam Berkley Group in 2001. For several years, she wrote a bimonthly column, "Bramhall Square," about relationships and love for the Portland Phoenix.
Caitlin is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Winter Harbor Theatre Company, where she produces and directs works that attempt to tackle the important issues of our time. Caitlin graduated with Honors in English and American Literature from Brown University. She lives with her husband, photographer Daniel E. Davis, their young son, and their salty dog, Hopper. When she isn't writing, directing plays, producing radio pieces, cooking, cleaning or childrearing, Caitlin spends as much time as possible reading, watching "Friday Night Lights" and, especially, walking outside in nature.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 19, 2026
A few years ago, I read one of my very favorite pandemic stories of all time called PETE AND ALICE IN MAINE by Caitlin Shetterly. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the author had a new book coming out this spring. Then imagine my extreme excitement when I found out that it was a sequel! I screamed. I really, truly did. If you haven’t read PETE AND ALICE yet, don’t worry your pretty little head off. Shetterly’s latest can be read as a standalone, but I still recommend reading PETE AND ALICE beforehand to get the full backstory.
If your book-loving soul craves stories about women simply living their lives, getting through various seasons of it, tackling obstacles, processing life’s problems, dealing with personal trauma, and perhaps even finally finding themselves during all of the messiness of it, then this book is for you. It touches on motherhood, marriage, friendships, illness, self-discovery, sexuality, and all of the complexities that life throws at us.
The mother-daughter storyline was the icing on the cake for me. Shetterly perfectly captured the dynamic between a woman and her teenage daughter. As someone who’s in the thick of this stage, it brought much comfort and insight to me. It made me realize that I’m not alone in this journey.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Motherhood and marriage
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Travel and adventure
- Breast cancer stories
- France setting
- Character-driven novels
- Self-discovery
If you loved Catherine Newman’s SANDWICH or WRECK, then this one will be right up your alley—it has very similar vibes. Perhaps even a little Elizabeth Strout-ish as well. Caitlin Shetterly has proven and solidified herself as an auto-buy/read author for me. Her writing style feeds my soul.
4/5 solid stars for THE GULF OF LIONS!
If your book-loving soul craves stories about women simply living their lives, getting through various seasons of it, tackling obstacles, processing life’s problems, dealing with personal trauma, and perhaps even finally finding themselves during all of the messiness of it, then this book is for you. It touches on motherhood, marriage, friendships, illness, self-discovery, sexuality, and all of the complexities that life throws at us.
The mother-daughter storyline was the icing on the cake for me. Shetterly perfectly captured the dynamic between a woman and her teenage daughter. As someone who’s in the thick of this stage, it brought much comfort and insight to me. It made me realize that I’m not alone in this journey.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Motherhood and marriage
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Travel and adventure
- Breast cancer stories
- France setting
- Character-driven novels
- Self-discovery
If you loved Catherine Newman’s SANDWICH or WRECK, then this one will be right up your alley—it has very similar vibes. Perhaps even a little Elizabeth Strout-ish as well. Caitlin Shetterly has proven and solidified herself as an auto-buy/read author for me. Her writing style feeds my soul.
4/5 solid stars for THE GULF OF LIONS!
May 25, 2026
I related SO hard to some of it (breast cancer treatment, perimenopause) and some not at all (being a mother/wife). The imagery was almost…luscious? It was a little much by the end, but most of it really immersed me in the setting. I appreciated the realness of the characters as well and enjoyed the different perspectives in narration.
May 25, 2026
A story that had potential was unfortunately undermined, for me personally, by heavy-handed and frequent political commentary, underdeveloped storylines and shallow characters. I am used to author’s viewpoints not matching my own, and I am more than okay with that. However the references in this book just felt too frequent, unnecessary and performative. The final storyline seemed thrown in there just to extend the book, didn’t really add anything and felt rushed and unrealistic. This was a miss for me.
May 21, 2026
This book was 50/50 for me.
The parts with Alice, I absolutely loved. The whole book could have worked successfully from just her point of view. 5/5 stars for Alice.
When the book shifted to the points of view of her daughters, Sophie and Iris, it didn’t really work for me. (I also didn’t love how the audiobook was produced using the same narrator for all three perspectives.)
I struggled the most with Iris’s chapters. Some of the descriptors she used for things, especially food, just didn’t feel age-appropriate for an eight-year-old.
I also didn’t love the climax of the story. It didn’t feel needed, and I thought the author could have taken the book in so many different directions and ended up with the same overall feeling at the end.
The parts with Alice, I absolutely loved. The whole book could have worked successfully from just her point of view. 5/5 stars for Alice.
When the book shifted to the points of view of her daughters, Sophie and Iris, it didn’t really work for me. (I also didn’t love how the audiobook was produced using the same narrator for all three perspectives.)
I struggled the most with Iris’s chapters. Some of the descriptors she used for things, especially food, just didn’t feel age-appropriate for an eight-year-old.
I also didn’t love the climax of the story. It didn’t feel needed, and I thought the author could have taken the book in so many different directions and ended up with the same overall feeling at the end.
March 8, 2026
A huge fan of Caitlin’s first novel, Pete and Alice in Maine, I was thrilled to read an advanced copy of The Gulf of Lions.
With her signature lyrical writing and characters so vivid, I was swept away from page one and couldn’t put this one down.
Alice is recovering from breast cancer and decides to take her two daughters, Iris and Sophie on a trip to France. Part adventure, part work-the adventure takes them camping in the Alps to Provence, then to the Pyrenees, the Dordogne River Valley, and finally to Lyon.
What unfolds is a story of adventure, determination, secret loves, endurance, inspiration, loneliness, heartbreak, plus a love letter to the region’s culture and food.
At the core, this is the remarkable story of a mother, wife, friend and the resilience of life.
A must-read (pub date 5/2026)
With her signature lyrical writing and characters so vivid, I was swept away from page one and couldn’t put this one down.
Alice is recovering from breast cancer and decides to take her two daughters, Iris and Sophie on a trip to France. Part adventure, part work-the adventure takes them camping in the Alps to Provence, then to the Pyrenees, the Dordogne River Valley, and finally to Lyon.
What unfolds is a story of adventure, determination, secret loves, endurance, inspiration, loneliness, heartbreak, plus a love letter to the region’s culture and food.
At the core, this is the remarkable story of a mother, wife, friend and the resilience of life.
A must-read (pub date 5/2026)
April 2, 2026
It’s so confusing sometimes to be a girl 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Caitlin Shetterly’s The Gulf of Lions really said “let’s take a healing journey” and then proceeded to emotionally dismantle me somewhere between lavender fields, salt air, and decisions that feel a little too human to judge.
Published by Harper—huge thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy because clearly I needed to sit on my patio with a latte in hand and spiral gently before heading into my day.
This is one of those books that doesn’t demand your attention with big twists or dramatic reveals—it earns it quietly, line by line, emotion by emotion. Alice is coming out the other side of breast cancer, but “survival” doesn’t magically hand you your life back the way people think it does. Add in a husband whose betrayal still lingers like an echo she can’t quite shake, and suddenly this trip across France with her daughters, Sophie and Iris, isn’t just a getaway—it’s a grasp at something. Control. Freedom. Maybe even forgiveness.
And listen… on the surface, it’s stunning. The Alps, Provence, the Gulf of Lions, food that feels like poetry, landscapes that practically beg to be romanticized. But underneath all that beauty? There’s tension humming constantly. Conversations that almost happen. Feelings that don’t quite land. The kind of emotional undercurrent that makes everything feel just slightly off-balance, like you’re waiting for something to crack.
What really got me was the mother-daughter dynamic. It’s not softened or idealized—it’s real. Sophie and Iris aren’t just side characters orbiting Alice’s story; they’re reacting to her, pushing against her, needing things from her that she’s not always equipped to give. And Alice herself? She’s complicated in the most honest way. Not always likable, not always right—but deeply understandable. She’s grieving versions of herself she’s lost, trying to reconnect with the ones that still feel possible, and occasionally making choices that feel reckless simply because they remind her she’s alive.
“There are versions of me I don’t recognize anymore.”
That line didn’t just land—it lingered. Because this book understands something a little uncomfortable: healing isn’t clean. It’s not a straight line, it’s not always noble, and it definitely doesn’t look the same for everyone.
And the audiobook? Imani Jade Powers brings this quiet, introspective depth to Alice that feels almost too intimate at times—in the best way. It’s like being inside someone’s thoughts while they’re still trying to make sense of them. The pacing, the tone, the emotional restraint—it all works together to pull you in slowly until you realize you’re fully invested and slightly unwell about it. Highly recommend if you’re someone who likes your stories to feel lived-in rather than performed.
This isn’t a fast read, and it’s not trying to be. It’s reflective, character-driven, and deeply rooted in internal conflict rather than external drama. If you’re a reader who loves literary fiction that leans into emotional nuance, complicated family dynamics, and the quiet question of “what now?” after life changes you—this is absolutely your lane. If you need constant action or tidy resolutions, this might feel too slow. But if you’re willing to sit with it? It gives a lot back.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
It’s immersive, beautifully written, and just uncomfortable enough to feel true. The kind of book that doesn’t wrap things up with a bow, but instead leaves you sitting with your thoughts a little longer than expected—and honestly, I respect that.
So tell me—are you drawn to books that gently help you put yourself back together… or the ones that quietly take you apart first and trust you to figure it out?
#TheGulfOfLions #CaitlinShetterly #HarperBooks #BookReview #CurrentlyReading #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #LiteraryFiction #WomenInFiction #EmotionalReads #MotherhoodStories #HealingJourney #HealingThroughBooks #AudiobookLife #ImaniJadePowers #ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers #SpringReads #CozyReading #BooksAndCoffee #ReadMoreBooks #BookishLife #AdvancedReaderCopy #ARCReads #2026Books
Published by Harper—huge thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy because clearly I needed to sit on my patio with a latte in hand and spiral gently before heading into my day.
This is one of those books that doesn’t demand your attention with big twists or dramatic reveals—it earns it quietly, line by line, emotion by emotion. Alice is coming out the other side of breast cancer, but “survival” doesn’t magically hand you your life back the way people think it does. Add in a husband whose betrayal still lingers like an echo she can’t quite shake, and suddenly this trip across France with her daughters, Sophie and Iris, isn’t just a getaway—it’s a grasp at something. Control. Freedom. Maybe even forgiveness.
And listen… on the surface, it’s stunning. The Alps, Provence, the Gulf of Lions, food that feels like poetry, landscapes that practically beg to be romanticized. But underneath all that beauty? There’s tension humming constantly. Conversations that almost happen. Feelings that don’t quite land. The kind of emotional undercurrent that makes everything feel just slightly off-balance, like you’re waiting for something to crack.
What really got me was the mother-daughter dynamic. It’s not softened or idealized—it’s real. Sophie and Iris aren’t just side characters orbiting Alice’s story; they’re reacting to her, pushing against her, needing things from her that she’s not always equipped to give. And Alice herself? She’s complicated in the most honest way. Not always likable, not always right—but deeply understandable. She’s grieving versions of herself she’s lost, trying to reconnect with the ones that still feel possible, and occasionally making choices that feel reckless simply because they remind her she’s alive.
“There are versions of me I don’t recognize anymore.”
That line didn’t just land—it lingered. Because this book understands something a little uncomfortable: healing isn’t clean. It’s not a straight line, it’s not always noble, and it definitely doesn’t look the same for everyone.
And the audiobook? Imani Jade Powers brings this quiet, introspective depth to Alice that feels almost too intimate at times—in the best way. It’s like being inside someone’s thoughts while they’re still trying to make sense of them. The pacing, the tone, the emotional restraint—it all works together to pull you in slowly until you realize you’re fully invested and slightly unwell about it. Highly recommend if you’re someone who likes your stories to feel lived-in rather than performed.
This isn’t a fast read, and it’s not trying to be. It’s reflective, character-driven, and deeply rooted in internal conflict rather than external drama. If you’re a reader who loves literary fiction that leans into emotional nuance, complicated family dynamics, and the quiet question of “what now?” after life changes you—this is absolutely your lane. If you need constant action or tidy resolutions, this might feel too slow. But if you’re willing to sit with it? It gives a lot back.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
It’s immersive, beautifully written, and just uncomfortable enough to feel true. The kind of book that doesn’t wrap things up with a bow, but instead leaves you sitting with your thoughts a little longer than expected—and honestly, I respect that.
So tell me—are you drawn to books that gently help you put yourself back together… or the ones that quietly take you apart first and trust you to figure it out?
#TheGulfOfLions #CaitlinShetterly #HarperBooks #BookReview #CurrentlyReading #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #LiteraryFiction #WomenInFiction #EmotionalReads #MotherhoodStories #HealingJourney #HealingThroughBooks #AudiobookLife #ImaniJadePowers #ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers #SpringReads #CozyReading #BooksAndCoffee #ReadMoreBooks #BookishLife #AdvancedReaderCopy #ARCReads #2026Books
May 26, 2026
Alice is a changed woman, her year-long battle with breast cancer made sure of that. Now, in the uncharted territory of healthy-but-not-yet-cured, Alice is trying to pick up the shattered pieces of her old life--aftermath of her husband's affair included--and forge a new life where is a woman, a mother, and a writer once more.
However, even with the promise of a camping trip through the French Alps ahead with her daughters Iris and Sophie, Alice's days are tainted by grief and fogged with uncertainty. Iris's anxiety and Sophie's mercurial teenage spirit are already pulling at Alice's delicate seams; suddenly, the journey through France seems more daunting than liberating. Nonetheless, Alice chooses (and she's not had much choice in the last year) to go.
And just like that, readers, "The Gulf of Lions" has soared into my top 10 books of 2026 list with resounding triumph. It is, without a doubt, the perfect story to devour in the sweltering summer heat when you're looking for something not only with rich, gorgeous landscapes, but with an emotional depth that will pull at your heartstrings. "The Gulf of Lions" is decadent without losing its substance even for a moment. Each conversation between characters, each French meal, each landscape feels deliberately and delicately crafted by Shetterly; they sing together in a gorgeous, poignant tribute to womanhood found and lost, and the messiness between both where life happens. An undeniable triumph, "The Gulf of Lions" is the unassuming book of the summer that needs to be on your to-read list today.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Harper Books for my advanced review copy of this title*
However, even with the promise of a camping trip through the French Alps ahead with her daughters Iris and Sophie, Alice's days are tainted by grief and fogged with uncertainty. Iris's anxiety and Sophie's mercurial teenage spirit are already pulling at Alice's delicate seams; suddenly, the journey through France seems more daunting than liberating. Nonetheless, Alice chooses (and she's not had much choice in the last year) to go.
And just like that, readers, "The Gulf of Lions" has soared into my top 10 books of 2026 list with resounding triumph. It is, without a doubt, the perfect story to devour in the sweltering summer heat when you're looking for something not only with rich, gorgeous landscapes, but with an emotional depth that will pull at your heartstrings. "The Gulf of Lions" is decadent without losing its substance even for a moment. Each conversation between characters, each French meal, each landscape feels deliberately and delicately crafted by Shetterly; they sing together in a gorgeous, poignant tribute to womanhood found and lost, and the messiness between both where life happens. An undeniable triumph, "The Gulf of Lions" is the unassuming book of the summer that needs to be on your to-read list today.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Harper Books for my advanced review copy of this title*
Review of advance copy
Reeling from her husband’s infidelity and still processing her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Alice secures an assignment to write about camping across France with her daughters--an opportunity she seizes as a chance for renewal and recovery. Her young daughters, Sophie and Iris, are skeptical but game; her husband, Pete, is supportive but also unhappy to be left behind. On her own in France, Alice meets a variety of locals, who house and feed her and the girls and show her another way of living. Alice recognizes herself for the first time in many months, though her memories of illness and marital discord are never far away.
When Alice meets Didier, a handsome Frenchman, she believes she has found a chance for happiness; he, along with gorgeous food and the beautiful countryside, allow her a peace she has sought for too long. But when Sophie meets a young riding instructor, the idyll of the trip crashes apart, and Alice must reenvision--again--what she wants her life to be. Life happens fast; nothing is forever. Alice and her family will emerge from France forever changed.
***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
***The author's note at the beginning of this ARC was surprising, and, since I read it after I finished the novel, made me rethink the entire book (in a good way).***
When Alice meets Didier, a handsome Frenchman, she believes she has found a chance for happiness; he, along with gorgeous food and the beautiful countryside, allow her a peace she has sought for too long. But when Sophie meets a young riding instructor, the idyll of the trip crashes apart, and Alice must reenvision--again--what she wants her life to be. Life happens fast; nothing is forever. Alice and her family will emerge from France forever changed.
***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
***The author's note at the beginning of this ARC was surprising, and, since I read it after I finished the novel, made me rethink the entire book (in a good way).***
May 21, 2026
Alice is recovering from breast cancer and her husband's infidelity and has taken her two daughters to France for a vacation/new start/bonding time. However time spent away from her home with her teen and younger daughter have not been what Alice had hoped, and she feels torn between the person she was before and the person she has become.
I started out really enjoying this one (I mean a vicarious trip to France - I'm in!) but in the end this book just didn't work for me. I had a bunch of issues with the story - I felt there was an underlying theme of when a mother isn't 100% focused on her children's wellbeing she is being selfish and bad things happen, also I don't enjoy books where a child treats a parent badly and the parent just accepts it. I did like parts of the book and I thought there were some really good lines and I know this one has some really great ratings so my issues with it may be unique but I just couldn't fully enjoy this one.
3.5 stars
I started out really enjoying this one (I mean a vicarious trip to France - I'm in!) but in the end this book just didn't work for me. I had a bunch of issues with the story - I felt there was an underlying theme of when a mother isn't 100% focused on her children's wellbeing she is being selfish and bad things happen, also I don't enjoy books where a child treats a parent badly and the parent just accepts it. I did like parts of the book and I thought there were some really good lines and I know this one has some really great ratings so my issues with it may be unique but I just couldn't fully enjoy this one.
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novel felt really different from what I usually read, but it completely pulled me in! The Gulf of Lions is quiet and emotional, but in a way that just sticks with you. Alice’s journey coming out of breast cancer and dealing with her husband’s betrayal, and you can feel how desperate she is to feel like herself again. The trip across France with her daughters sounds dreamy at first, but there’s this underlying tension the whole time. It’s not just a healing trip…it’s messy, complicated, and sometimes uncomfortable. I really liked the mother daughter dynamics. It felt very real and not sugarcoated. It’s not a fast paced read, but it’s immersive and beautifully written. Definitely more of a reflective, character driven story. If you like emotional and layered books about family and starting over, this one is definitely worth it!
Read
May 23, 2026This family drama set in France was a winner for me. You pickup with Alice and her two daughters as they plan to camp around France for an article she is writing. Alice has recently completed treatment for breast cancer, and is sorting through the pieces of her own fear and trauma, as well as trying to navigate raising two daughters.
The story gives each member of the family their own perspective which I really enjoyed, especially how the author told the story from the girls’ perspectives.
The setting was delectable! I love my summer reading to transport me somewhere else, and this certainly did the trick!
The story concludes with a much different tone and pace, and while it threw me off a bit I was already very bought into the author’s writing and these characters that I was happy to go along for the ride!
The story gives each member of the family their own perspective which I really enjoyed, especially how the author told the story from the girls’ perspectives.
The setting was delectable! I love my summer reading to transport me somewhere else, and this certainly did the trick!
The story concludes with a much different tone and pace, and while it threw me off a bit I was already very bought into the author’s writing and these characters that I was happy to go along for the ride!
May 19, 2026
I LOVED this book! It is honest, messy, human. There is so much heart in this book. It went places I didn't expect. Alice is not perfect. Her struggles after cancer treatment, and reconciling with her husband after a rupture in their marriage, have taken a toll on her, and she is lost. And seeing chapters from the perspective of each of her daughters also, makes this such an engrossing saga. While these characters all struggle with each other, it's clear that they love each other and their journeys to reconcile their individual needs with their family's is so relatable and moving. A must read!
May 30, 2026
TW: breast cancer, infidelity, covid, sexual assault. First off, this cover is gorgeous and transportive, as is the novel itself. I loved her descriptions of the French countryside and the food. The chapters are alternatingly told from the perspective of Alice (mom), Sophie (teen daughter), and Iris (8 yo daughter). I thought the author did an excellent job of exploring the complexity of each of their roles in the family. Her treatment of middle marriage and parenting tweens/teens really hit home. I will say I didn’t love the last 15 percent of the book. Without spoiling it, it felt like kind of a rushed and contrived way to wrap things up.
May 25, 2026
In The Gulf of Lions, Caitlin Shetterly continues the story of Pete and Alice in Maine. So if you loved Pete and Alice in Maine, you should also enjoy The Gulf of Lions. Alice is recovering from her breast cancer treatment and still attempting to reconcile with Pete and the fact of his affair. She is chronicling her journey through her surgery and her chemo, etc. in her attempts to reclaim her life. She is offered the opportunity to write about a camping trip across France with just her two daughters to accompany her and she jumps at the chance. In France, what should be an opportunity for her to reconnect with her daughters becomes a completely self indulgent exploration of Alice. This story is just okay but I found Alice's behavior strained credulity, and to avoid spoilers, that is all I will say.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Harper Books for my advance reader copy. This book is out now.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Harper Books for my advance reader copy. This book is out now.
May 30, 2026
There's a lot I do like about this book: Sandwich vibes (motherhood, looking back at your life) and the French setting-oh do I want to run away on a camping trip in France now as Alice does with her two daughters. I loved the food descriptions. This author can write! BUT there was a big plot element that I don't like in books, and the last 10% veered off in a weird direction to me, and I didn't like it much.
So I'll still give it 4 stars because I did enjoy much of the book.
So I'll still give it 4 stars because I did enjoy much of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An immersive novel that explores life themes with characters who are relatable given the strong character development. Conversations and thoughts were believable and understandable. I enjoyed this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love novels set in France and there was evidence that the author has spent time there, but some scenarios struck me as improbable. Why the campground owners would take such an interest in her in the middle of high season was never explained. Otherwise it was an easy and fast read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2026
This was just ok for me! I liked the premise of a mom who overcomes breast cancer camping her way across France with her two young daughters, but I was rather bored. There wasn't enough pizazz to keep me interested and found myself skimming parts.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved this one. I highlighted so many passages, and the last 20% I never saw coming. It was so beautifully done. Full review to follow.
May 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this story and related to many of the themes (motherhood, raising teenagers, perimenopause, marriage ups & downs) and thought the author treated these subjects with care and authenticity. The imagery of the French countryside and food was beautiful and immersive. The ending was a bit jarring, but overall I enjoyed the characters and how the story was written from different viewpoints. Could be a little slow for those readers that need more action and thrill.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.
Want to Read
May 26, 2026So turns out this is a sequel. It is sold as a stand alone but MF on GR say it’s book 2. So obviously I want to check out the first book in this “series” called Pete and Alice in Maine.
May 28, 2026
Beautifully written mother daughter Odyssey story. This authors descriptions of the French countryside, their people and the food was outstanding.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Caitlin Shetterly takes us on a trip through France where we inhale the scenery, the café au lait and croissants, and the emotional journey of a travel writer as she tries to both heal and forgive. This book is a five-star read. I guarantee you’ll love it.” Elin Hilderbrand
I concur, Elin, and I will also try to adequately describe a novel I believe will be my Best Book of 2026. The author's foreword stopped me in my tracks. Six months after turning in this novel to her editor, Ms. Shetterly received the very same diagnosis as her main character, connecting them forever. This follow-up to Pete and Alice in Maine stands triumphantly on its own as a love letter to the fragile filament of connection we have to our loved ones and to ourselves.
During her breast cancer treatment and in the shadow of her husband’s infidelity, Alice travels in her imagination back to France. She writes a newsletter as a coping mechanism, which leads to a job to write an article for a travel magazine, so she packs up her daughters for a camping adventure in the French countryside. The tenuous nature of a new freedom while living under the cloud of a recurrence is complicated by her husband Pete’s betrayal and the resulting separation. Iris (8) and Sophie (14) create their own drama as the relationship with their parents and with each other evolves in completely relatable ways. Told from multiple points of view, each character in the novel is desperate for a new start while being tethered to the past, and how they navigate the journey of healing and of hope is the book’s crowning achievement.
Every single sense of France, the food, the landscape, and the people, created an evocative reading experience, and Ms. Shetterly artfully and subtly ties the narrative back to the family’s home in Maine with a welcomed cadence.
The push and pull of security versus freedom, past versus future, and disdain versus admiration expands the plot and brings it to life.
If you share my deep affection for the writings of Elizabeth Strout and Alice Elliot Dark, The Gulf of Lions may also feel like it’s a title written just for you!
Thank you Harper Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.
I concur, Elin, and I will also try to adequately describe a novel I believe will be my Best Book of 2026. The author's foreword stopped me in my tracks. Six months after turning in this novel to her editor, Ms. Shetterly received the very same diagnosis as her main character, connecting them forever. This follow-up to Pete and Alice in Maine stands triumphantly on its own as a love letter to the fragile filament of connection we have to our loved ones and to ourselves.
During her breast cancer treatment and in the shadow of her husband’s infidelity, Alice travels in her imagination back to France. She writes a newsletter as a coping mechanism, which leads to a job to write an article for a travel magazine, so she packs up her daughters for a camping adventure in the French countryside. The tenuous nature of a new freedom while living under the cloud of a recurrence is complicated by her husband Pete’s betrayal and the resulting separation. Iris (8) and Sophie (14) create their own drama as the relationship with their parents and with each other evolves in completely relatable ways. Told from multiple points of view, each character in the novel is desperate for a new start while being tethered to the past, and how they navigate the journey of healing and of hope is the book’s crowning achievement.
Every single sense of France, the food, the landscape, and the people, created an evocative reading experience, and Ms. Shetterly artfully and subtly ties the narrative back to the family’s home in Maine with a welcomed cadence.
The push and pull of security versus freedom, past versus future, and disdain versus admiration expands the plot and brings it to life.
If you share my deep affection for the writings of Elizabeth Strout and Alice Elliot Dark, The Gulf of Lions may also feel like it’s a title written just for you!
Thank you Harper Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.
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