The Valencia Expat Club

by June Patrick

One Italian Summer meets Eat, Pray, Love in this heartwarming novel following a recent divorcee’s escape to Spain where delicious food, romantic adventures, and the transformative magic of starting over leads her to reconnect with family, forge new friendships, and rediscover herself.

Dahlia Delaney’s marriage just imploded, her friend group picked a side (not hers), and her fancy San Francisco life now fits into a single suitcase. Armed with a broken heart, a freelance marketing gig, and one blurry childhood memory of her abuela’s garden, she impulsively hops on a flight to Valencia, Spain, to reconnect with distant family—and maybe herself.

But Valencia isn’t just sunny plazas and sangria. There’s her chaotic new job at a quirky expat bar, a family she barely knows but who embrace her like she’s always belonged, and a brooding American bar owner who’s frustratingly attractive and entirely too familiar.

As Dahlia stumbles through language mishaps, clashing cultures, and late-night paella with new friends, she begins to realize that the fresh start she came for might turn into something even better—if she can let go of the life she planned and embrace the one unfolding around her.

Perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of starting over somewhere with better wine, The Valencia Expat Club is a sparkling, laugh-out-loud romantic escape about second chances, delicious detours, and finding home where you least expect it.

Genres: Travel, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

June Patrick’s The Valencia Expat Club is an effortlessly charming, slow-simmering story about heartbreak, second chances, and finding yourself somewhere between tapas, wine, and a stubborn American bartender. Thank you to Florence & Reynolds, Simon Maverick Audio for the gifted ARC and ALC—I read it, then re-listened, and loved the warmth of both.

Dahlia Delaney is at her breaking point. Her husband left her, her social life in San Francisco imploded, and all she’s got left is a half-fuzzy childhood memory of her grandmother’s garden in Valencia. With no grand plan—just a freelance marketing gig and emotional exhaustion—she books a one-way flight to Spain.

What she finds there isn’t some picture-perfect escape. It’s messier, funnier, and more human. Her job at a buzzing expat bar throws her into the deep end with locals, tourists, and semi-permanent wanderers. Her long-lost family embraces her like a prodigal daughter, and she starts to stitch together a life from the unfamiliar. She even meets a handsome but guarded bar owner who sees through her defenses a little too easily.

This is not a whirlwind romance. It’s slower, more introspective—less about falling in love with a person and more about learning to like yourself again. Dahlia’s story feels lived-in and real, full of relatable missteps, culture clashes, and accidental joy. It’s about starting over without knowing how, and learning to be okay with the mess of it.

The quote that stuck with me? “You shouldn’t wait for a special occasion to drink the good wine. Every day you’re alive is a reason to celebrate.” That line sums up the heart of this book perfectly.

The writing is breezy but thoughtful, and the Valencia setting bursts with flavor—from paella on a terrace to late-night street music and sun-dappled plazas. You can practically feel the warm tile under your feet and smell the citrus in the air.

But the real gem here? The audiobook.

Carlotta Brentan brings Dahlia to life with layered emotion, perfect pacing, and just the right edge of sarcasm and softness. Her Spanish accents are seamless, her delivery warm, and she fully embodies the spirit of a woman figuring herself out in real time. Listening added a whole new dimension to the story—if you enjoy audiobooks, this is how you should experience it.

The only drawback is the slower pace in the middle section. It meanders a bit—but in the way life does. If you’re looking for dramatic twists or grand declarations, you won’t find them here. What you will find is a story that respects the quiet beauty of change, and the courage it takes to choose a different kind of life.

This is a book for anyone who’s ever fantasized about quitting their job, flying to Europe, and starting fresh—not in a romcom fantasy way, but in a “maybe I really could” way. It doesn’t offer easy answers, just good company, gorgeous atmosphere, and the steady realization that joy is worth chasing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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[Mayra Tepi · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You shouldn't wait for a special occasion to drink the good wine. Every day you're alive is a reason to celebrate."

✈️ If you were looking to travel this summer.. here is your ticket to SPAIN!

🧳 We follow Dahlia, who is going through a divorce, decides to run away from her life in San Francisco and goes back to her roots in Valencia, Spain. She feels lost and decides to reconnect with distant family. In this adventure, she meets new people, bumps into a new culture, becomes closer with her family, but most importantly, learns that it is okay to start over.

🥘 I LOVED the mouthwatering Spanish food writing and the wine and drink descriptions. I am craving to try Paella and Agua de Valencia!

⏳️ This story is a reminder that it is okay if we do not have life figured out by a certain age in our life, and it is never too late to start fresh a second time.

🎧The audiobook was exceptional. The narrator has the right voice for our MC plus the Spanish accents! I do want to mention it is character driven and slow-paced.

Thank you @simonmaverickaudio for the #gifted ALC! 🫶

[BethFishReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be fair, I should have read the book description more carefully. I decided to listen to this audiobook because it was set in Spain and was supposed to include food references and deal with reconnecting with family.

While the story did indeed mention many yummy Spanish dishes, the book was really a classic contemporary romance. And here's where I had problems. I don't know why, but I have never really clicked with this genre. I don't know the name of the trope, but it's girl meets boy, girl is unimpressed with boy, girl likes boy, girl misunderstands something and hates boy, girl learns truth and loves boy. Happiness for all.

Once I realized that Spain, family, and foodie references were merely the backdrop for the romance, I should have DNF'd. For all you romance readers, I hope you laugh at the romcom moments and root for our couple as they find their way to love.

The audiobook was nicely performed by Carlotta Brentan. I don't speak Spanish, but to my untrained ear, her Spanish and accented English sounded authentic. She conveyed the characters' feelings and kept the story moving.

Thanks to Simon Maverick for the review copy.

[AnnaDea Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
"You shouldn't wait for a special occasion to drink the good wine. Every day you're alive is a reason to celebrate."

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this ARC! This book resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Having visited Spain when I was 16, the author’s descriptions felt incredibly authentic—from the midday siestas and savory paella to the vibrant pulse of late-night street music, it all rang true.

The story follows Dahlia Delaney, a woman pushed to her limit. After a messy divorce and the collapse of her social circle in San Francisco, she’s left with nothing but a hazy childhood memory of her grandmother’s garden in Valencia. Driven by pure emotional exhaustion and a freelance marketing gig, she takes a leap of faith on a one-way ticket to Spain.

While I didn't have a glass of Rioja in hand while reading, the mouth-watering food references have me ready to book a flight back to Spain immediately. This is a beautiful exploration of starting over when you don't have a map.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC • 🎧

"You shouldn't wait for a special occasion to drink the good wine. Every day you're alive is a reason to celebrate."

I adored this book and felt it in my soul. I went into this blind simply because I'm currently an expat in a European country and thought this would be a fun read. It brought so many experiences to life like finding peanut butter is impossible or finding a place that serves breakfast like home lol. The things you don't really realize until you do it. There is also a beautiful love story here but the most beautiful one was the love story with herself. I loved all the food references and this really made me want to visit Spain asap.

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the 'Eat, Pray, Love' moment. It's about Dahlia who just got divorced and found a way to live a different life in a different country. Dahlia went to Valencia, Spain to see family she barely knows. She also explores many things, such as food, adventure, culture, and other things. It's a well-written read and I enjoy most about the life in Valencia, Spain in this book, through Dahlia's perspective.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read for work.

Predictable plot line, nothing really special about it but cute, made me miss abroad :(

On another note, if I have to see the words “they talked in rapid Spanish” again I’m going to lose it. Seriously woman we’ve heard the same sentence like 16 times already.