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My Stylish French Girlfriends
Meet 20 beautiful, creative French women who live with passion; work every day; and love to take care ot their homes and families. Visit them in their grand chateaux or charming little country cottages or Parisian apartments. Learn where they shop, where they work, where they play, how they dress and, how they entertain. Absorb each girlfriend's style and joie de vivre.
Santoni's affectionate writing, along with gorgeous photography, tells each woman's story with an intimacy usually reserved for the closest of girlfriends.
Santoni's affectionate writing, along with gorgeous photography, tells each woman's story with an intimacy usually reserved for the closest of girlfriends.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 9, 2016
Dear Lord! Here's the book in a nutshell--look closely at my wealthy French friends! They didn't mean to buy that chateau/grand estate but oops! they couldn't resist! My friends are "wonderfully creative" and somehow manage to balance both family life and horses and redecorating/flea marketing/styling. Gosh, aren't they fantastic? Gag! Only one or two of these women deserve the attention they receive and appear to be genuinely hard working in their creative fields. When I picked this book up at the library and read the title I thought it was going to be a bit tongue in cheek. Nope.
February 25, 2023
I think the title of this book gives the wrong impression. If you are hoping to get an insight into how French style is achieved, you won’t find it here. A more accurate title would be: “The beautiful lives of my French girlfriends.” My goodness, the author knows a privileged set of people. There are lots of chateaux and stunning gardens and holiday homes by the sea.
The strength of the book is its beautiful photography, and the weakness - I get no pleasure from reporting, as she seems to be a likeable person - is the author’s gushing tributes to her friends. They are very much in the style of certain French magazines, though, so perhaps that is what her audience is accustomed to.
Her friends certainly are accomplished: nearly all of them run multiple homes, and perhaps a business, and most of them are gourmet cooks and impeccable hostesses. There is also a lot of emphasis on their happy home lives: their harmonious marriages and strong family ties. I’m not a particularly envious or insecure person, but I did feel slightly in awe of the proficient serenity of these women. In a way, it’s undoubtedly a privilege to be exposed to this kind of haute-bourgeois French woman, whose lives are generally private and closed off to the world of media (social or otherwise); but do be forewarned.
I very much liked the “natural” beauty of these women; they all seem to go in for the discipline of old-fashioned French grooming as opposed to “tweakments” and the like. A small gripe would be that the promised address book of the women is short on addresses of anything other than their own businesses. Yes, there is the odd fromagerie or whatever, but it’s not terribly helpful or extensive.
The strength of the book is its beautiful photography, and the weakness - I get no pleasure from reporting, as she seems to be a likeable person - is the author’s gushing tributes to her friends. They are very much in the style of certain French magazines, though, so perhaps that is what her audience is accustomed to.
Her friends certainly are accomplished: nearly all of them run multiple homes, and perhaps a business, and most of them are gourmet cooks and impeccable hostesses. There is also a lot of emphasis on their happy home lives: their harmonious marriages and strong family ties. I’m not a particularly envious or insecure person, but I did feel slightly in awe of the proficient serenity of these women. In a way, it’s undoubtedly a privilege to be exposed to this kind of haute-bourgeois French woman, whose lives are generally private and closed off to the world of media (social or otherwise); but do be forewarned.
I very much liked the “natural” beauty of these women; they all seem to go in for the discipline of old-fashioned French grooming as opposed to “tweakments” and the like. A small gripe would be that the promised address book of the women is short on addresses of anything other than their own businesses. Yes, there is the odd fromagerie or whatever, but it’s not terribly helpful or extensive.
August 19, 2017
I really liked this lovely book about accomplished, mostly middle aged, French women who are doing what they want to do to contribute to the arts and crafts of France. I am jealous of ALL of them. I would like to trade places with ANY of them. The photography is simply lovely. It reminded me of many spreads in the Victoria Magazine issues from the 90s. I recommend a perusal of this lovely table top book for inspiration into your own creative self.
August 15, 2016
Indulgent book looking into the homes of the author's girlfriends. Just gorgeous homes! However, there is not a single swimming pool in a book of 20 homes and I am sure it gets hot in France. Though it would suck if you were the only one with a pool and the other 19 rocked up with a "Yoohoo! Just popping in for a dip".
(There is 1 beach scene but that isn't the same).
(There is 1 beach scene but that isn't the same).
January 20, 2016
Beautiful book - but I quickly became tired of reading sketches of one after another woman who had an interesting, creative career (artist), a perfect family, and, oh yes, also a townhouse in Paris and an unbelievable country home full of quirky, individual items. It sort of gave me a headache.
January 27, 2016
If you love France, you'll love this book (though the writing veers on the saccharine from time to time, the photography is gorgeous).
October 29, 2018
When you want to take a peek into the lives of those rich French friends of friends, without the jet lag or need to get dressed up, this is the book for you. I had fun curling up with this over-sized, weighty tome full of drool-worthy color photos accompanied by a few pages of descriptions for each girlfriend. Each of these women has a unique and confident sense of style which they demonstrate in their homes, gardens, and even their clothing. A few of them operate B&B's on part of their property and the author provides contact info for all of them at the back of the book. I'm getting ideas for my next trip to France.
August 15, 2018
Women of France
A lovely book about the authors French girlfriends.Talented women gorgeous homes lovely lifestyles.The decor their clothes their stores their country &city homes.Really enjoyed getting a peek into their lives,
A lovely book about the authors French girlfriends.Talented women gorgeous homes lovely lifestyles.The decor their clothes their stores their country &city homes.Really enjoyed getting a peek into their lives,
January 15, 2021
Most of the homes I loved, and I'd move right into, and getting a peek into these creative French ladies' homes and lives made me long for French country living. This book was like stepping into a stress-free dream!
June 30, 2024
Such an amazing volume. It MUST be enjoyed outside on a breezy day with a bubbly drink. Read, look at the beautiful photographs, and completely savour it! What a delight!
August 4, 2015
Followers of Sharon Santoni's blog "My French Country Home" will be thrilled with her new book, a peek it into the awe-inspiring lives of her amazingly talented French girlfriends. Francophiles as well as fans of art and decorating will enjoy both the stories and the stunning photographs by Franck Schmitt. I am looking forward to more from Sharon Santoni and dreaming of someday taking one of the brocante trips that she leads.
December 20, 2015
Interesting to see all of her girlfriends doing all sorts of different things. A neat glimpse into life in France.
May 4, 2022
Only good for the photos
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews