The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters

by Jaimie Admans

Escape to beautiful France this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy.

Where dreams come true…?

Wendy Clayton stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Instead, she has a ‘nice’ life. Nice job. Nice flat. Absolutely no men. Until her life is turned upside-down when her elderly neighbour, Eulalie, passes away and leaves her the Château of Happily Ever Afters!

But there’s a catch: she must share the sprawling French castle with Eulalie’s long-lost nephew, Julian. And no matter how gorgeous he is, or how easily she finds herself falling head over heels, Wendy needs to find a way to get rid of him…

Because surely happily ever afters don’t happen in real life?

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, France, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2017

About the author

Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.

She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.

Reviews

[Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Review at Of Pens and Pages.

The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters is not just a house, or a home, or a castle. There is magic in the walls, and there is treasure too… When you find it, you will be rich enough that you will never have to worry about anything again. But the chateau will show treasure to you only when you are ready to see it.”

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters is a funny, romantic, and whimsical holiday read perfect for anyone who wants to escape from reality and go on an imaginary trip to a chateau in France.

When an elderly neighbor/close friend who died recently bequeaths you a chateau in Normandy, France, you leave your small flat in London to go and protect the chateau from a grand nephew who never knew said neighbor existed finds himself inheriting half the place. And that’s exactly what Wendy Clayton does after a solicitor informs her of her dear friend Eulalie’s will and testament and she meets her grand nephew, Julian McBeath.

Written in Wendy’s POV, this book is more about her journey in opening up again and getting out of her comfort zone by finding it in Le Chateau de Chataignier, Eulalie’s old chateau in France. She hasn’t always been so afraid of doing more fun things and going on adventures, but a bad romantic experience turned her jaded and extremely protective of what she has left.

The banter in this book is ace! I laughed a lot throughout this story, especially when Wend and Jules are going at it.

Not my fault you can’t appreciate musical talent.”
“I’d appreciate your musical talent if you were performing it in a box. Twenty feet underground. Preferably on a different continent.”

Dear Julian McBeath. Honestly, much like Wendy, I didn’t like Julian at the start of the story. He seemed to be this mercenary who wants his half of the chateau for money. But he proved Wendy (and me) wrong, and boy, I was putty in this man’s hands. He’s a green thumb animal lover who has a great sense of humor but has insecurities you wouldn’t expect someone as fit and beautiful as Julian would have. And when he opened up to Wendy and showed her who he really was? Squeal!

You’re the first person I’ve ever not had to hide with, and there are no words I can say to tell you how much that means.”

I have to admit, as much as I understood where Wendy was coming from, it annoyed me when she still attacked and put little trust in Jules even when he’s proven how trustworthy he is. Other than that, I had no complaints about Wendy. She’s kind when her claws aren’t out, and she’s such an effortlessly funny person. I loved her quips!

I loved these two, but I enjoyed the side characters just as much, especially English ex-pat baker, Kat, and her burgeoning romance with Theo, the butter-making local.

I would have given this book four stars, but the ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt. Just as I was getting attached and in love with Jules and Wend’s romance, there were only a few pages left. I definitely want to read more about them.

To end things, here’s a GIF of Aidan Turner as a half-naked Ross Poldark scything away. Mmm.



Tropes: Hate to Love, Inheritance from a distant-relative/old person
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Enchanting, Funny, Magical

From the very first chapter I knew this book was going to be special.

When Wendy and Julian both inherit a Chateau, Wendy firmly believes Julian has no right to claim it. He is Eulalie's Great Nephew.
He was never around and although he is a relative, Wendy is set to fight him every step of the way!
Wendy isn't a relative to Eulalie but a neighbour, a very good friend and almost like family. Which is why she is hurt when Julian appears after all this time.

Eulalie was a story teller and often told Wendy magical stories about the Chateau, so when Wendy discovers the stories were actually true she was blown away and determined to visit the Chateau she heard so much about.

At the very start Julian tries to reach out to Wendy but she really isn't having any of it. So a fight is exactly what is going to happen. They butt heads alot!  With hilarious outcomes.

The riddle of the magic and treasure within the Chateau immediately sparked interest and I couldn't wait to try and work out what magic was about to be uncovered and was there really any treasure!

When both Julian and Wendy both set off to France to visit the Chateau neither was aware they would both be arriving at the same time.

Much to Wendy's dismay. She would have to endure Julian's companionship.
Julian is everything Wendy dislikes, he looks gorgeous, he's a model and comes across in her eyes as flash and arrogant!

The Chateau needs plenty of work and both are determined to make it happen. Even if it means working in the same air space lol!!
 
As the story progresses and the Chateau gets some TLC you can envision the beauty surrounding the Chateau and the elegance inside. The charm of the village and villagers.
I was swept away with the magic of the Chateau and it's beauty.

I loved seeing Wendy's ice barrier starting to melt as she fell in love with the Chateau and in turn her guard dropped towards Julian. Revealing a spark between the two! Maybe that was the magic?!
Although the sarcasm was never far away!

I really did warm to Julian... You really got to hand it too him he put up with A LOT from Wendy. The constant bickering, sniping, sarcastic comments. Even though Julian worked really hard to put life back into the Chateau. She still found fault.

But he never gave up. Despite what he appeared to be... a model with the glamourous car etc.. it just shows, you should never judge a book by its cover! Julian was a prime example of this.

Wendy and Julian despite their constant bickering made me laugh out loud.

Jaimie created the perfect dynamics between the two, the ability to create almost slap stick comedy with the disasters had me laughing out loud.
Her ability to create the Chateau and inject life and magic into it was simply beautiful.

I was enchanted, enthralled, I laughed out loud alot, fell in love with the Chateau, Really enjoyed Wendy and Julian' s love/ hate relationship.

I have a very strong feeling The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters is going to be a big Summer Hit!

This is my first book by Jaimie, I'm excited to read more!

Perfect read for lovers of Chick Lit, Comedy, Romance, Beautiful Chateau's in France, Fun Characters with a love/ hate relationship, Perfect Summer Read.

I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - "Opinions can change you know." Stars!

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters, is so well described that it’s impossible not to want to go there yourself.



There was so much to love about this book, the locale, the Chateau itself, the secondary characters and Julian McBeath to name but a few, but sadly the one thing that dulled my enjoyment the more of the book I read was Wendy Clayton, being one half of the lead characters and the person who the story is told through it became increasingly difficult to like or find any empathy for her as the book progressed.

"There’s never a shortage of PG Tips in London."

It was understandable that she was prickly towards Julian after their initial meeting, having not known that her close friend Eulalie had any family until her death and the reading of the will, was understandably a shock, especially to then find out her closest friend was also the owner of a massive French Chateau, of which she is now part owner of. But what stuck and really got on my nerves as the book progressed and especially in the second half was just how poorly she treated Julian.

"That defense mechanism of calling him names is only going to hold up for so long you know…"

In Wendy’s head Julian started out as 'Nephew-git McLoophole' and was called a few derivatives of that mainly in the first half, the use of 'git' was included over forty times in the whole telling of the story, and the woman started to sound like a broken record, it went from amusing to annoying very quickly.

"We’re in this together."

Again I could understand her distrust, but the poor guy went above and beyond time and time again, only to have his efforts crapped all over by a sarcastic comment, name-calling or general indifference for most of the book. Then when you find out the reasons for her behavior towards him, and her feelings to men in general, it just felt really weak, in relation to her attitude. I started name calling myself in the end and Wendy was renamed 'Judgey McJudgerson' & 'Bitchy McBitchface'.

"Since I got here, I’ve been feeling like I’m supposed to be here. That’s something I’ve never felt before…"

Judgey McJudgerson aside, I loved Julian, the author gave such a unique spin on your bog standard male model with muscles and looks in all the right places, and everything that went on between them initially was pretty amusing, I loved Kat the ex-pat Baker, and her story could well be worth exploring in a future book. I am hoping that the lack of an epilogue means that the author will possibly be writing further books set in this area.

"You don’t need to put up any fronts for me… I couldn’t give a toss what you look like."

This was my first book by Jaimie Admans, and the writing and story were in general sound, if Wendy’s acerbic nature had been pulled back a little this would have been a five star read for me, but I think there is a definite line between being prickly and distrustful through the presented circumstances, to just coming over as an ungrateful harridan as things progress, because the gravitas of the backstory you are given not really matching up to your behaviour and actions, which for me was the case on this occasion. I would certainly be happy to read more from this author in the future though.

"I can breathe here…"

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Clayton’s, elderly neighbour, Eulalie, used to tell her stories about a Duke and his wife living in a beautiful Chateau in Normandy, ‘The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters’, but she always believed that’s they were just that, stories. Eulalie lived in a horrible, small flat, with little money, so why would Wendy ever think that the stories were real. That was until Eulalie died, and in her will left the 19th century chateau worth just under a million euros to her.

There was just one problem, Eulalie’s Great-nephew, model Julian McBeath, was also entitled to a share of the property, via a loophole in the law. Wendy took an instant dislike to him, with his six-pack, sleek hair, and sports car. She believed that he was only after one thing, money. Especially when a letter written by Eulalie stated, ‘There is magic in the walls, and there is treasure too. But the chateau will show treasure to you only when you are ready to see it’.

Taking a few weeks holiday from work, Wendy set off to Normandy to see the chateau for herself, but it was not long before Julian turned up. Now the game was on as the two tried to outdo one another, hoping to make the other leave, and give up their share of the property.

The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters, is one of the funniest books that I have read this year, with the hilarious ways in which each of the main characters tries to get the other to leave, but they are both made of tougher stuff than the other one realises.

Wendy is a ‘Food Ambassador’ for a local supermarket – okay, she is the person who gets in the way in the aisles, trying to get you to taste that day’s samples. She doesn’t exactly like her job, but it pays the bills. She also likes to live within her comfort zone, so flying out to Normandy, to stay at the chateau, completely overwhelms her.

Julian is a fitness freak. He doesn’t eat, but lives on protein shakes, and runs miles each day to make sure he looks good, otherwise he would lose his modelling job. But there is far more to him that just his good looks. He is also hiding a big secret from the world.

Ms. Admans has done a fantastic job creating characters that you can really get to know, and understand. There aren’t many secondary characters, but those that are present really do add depth to the story, especially Kat, the mobile baker, and her delicious, mouthwatering food that I could almost taste.

The French scenery is so vividly written, that you can feel the warmth of the sun bouncing off the pages, and smell the land that surrounds the property, with it’s many different fruit trees.

The book has everything you could ever want from a chick-lit. Fun, warm characters who are hard not to like, a hilarious plot, a lot of drama, and of course a budding romance just bubbling beneath the surface.

I was completely hooked right from the first page, until the last. The book is certainly uplifting, and leaves you feeling happy. The ending was perfect. I just hope that Ms. Admans carries on the story, as I believe the chateau has so much more to share with us.

Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Wendy gets a letter telling her she has been left a Chateau by her elderly neighbour Eulalie, she doesn't expect it to come with a clause that it will be shared by an estranged great nephew, Julian. Wendy doesn't think her neighbour knew about him and is determined to dislike him from the off.

They both set off to spend a few weeks at the Chateau unbeknown to the other. Julian is a male model and Wendy thinks he must be very shallow.

This is such a heartwarming book. The Chateau is believed to have some magical properties and the villagers are all keen to meet them and find out more about them. One of the neighbours has a bakery round- and you just imagine the aroma in the air and the croissants for breakfast.

There is a lot of work to be done in the Chateau- but they both love seeing rooms come back to life. They both begin to love life in France and there is defianately a spark between them that is being denied. I would love to wander round the chateau and the gardens and walk into the village on market days and buy cheese and cakes and browse through all the stalls.

You get to meet and fall in love with the villagers and can imagine living there. You really can imagine the sights all around and the sense of it being a really relaxing place to be, despite a very temperamental generator.

Wendy starts to bake and although he's used to a lifetime of counting calories, Julian is drawn to the kitchen, or is he drawn to Wendy?

An ideal read for the summer.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.

I’ve been a fan of Jaimie Admans’s books since her debut, Kismetology. The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters was a breath of fresh air. With Admans’ trademark humour, wisdom, and sass, plus a touch of magic, this book was a delight from beginning to end.

I connected quickly and easily with Wendy. Besides being the same age, we’re similar in other ways - she’s afraid to go outside her comfort zone or take chances, and she has trouble trusting people, and I related to those things. I think if I’d been placed in the same situation as hers (co-inheriting a French chateau with a hot Scot), I would have acted/reacted much differently than she did, but her pettiness and immaturity were fun to read and had me laughing myself silly. I was glad when she started to come around and formed a tentative friendship with Julian, because these two were perfect for each other. They were both complex characters with realistic issues and hang-ups about relationships, and I loved watching them turn from enemies to a tentative truce to friends to something more. I adored Julian, and I appreciated how he turned Wendy’s perceptions of him upside down - he had so much depth to him and was much more than just a pretty face and a hot body.

Hilarious, charming, and romantic, The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters is one of my new favourite romantic comedies. I was transported to Normandy and could easily picture myself living in the Chateau and experiencing life in the village. Read this book if you want to feel like you’ve been whisked away to the French countryside where you’ll laugh, swoon, fall in love, and be reminded what it’s like to believe in magic.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy lives a very limited life in London: she’s a creature of habit, unfortunately her habits are exceedingly limited and rather dour. A musty apartment in a less-desirable area, no family, little opportunities for happiness and her only friend is her elderly neighbor Eulalie, who she trades baked goods with and listens to endless stories about a young girl in France who married a Duke and lived happily-ever-after. Wendy has spent the last years struggling to make ends meet while guarding herself and her heart from any new experiences, joy or chances that are not sure-things. After Eulalie’s death, she can add friendless to the inventory of her life, when an unexpected bequest and request to meet with a solicitor comes to her door.

Apparently, Eulalie had owned a chateau in Normandy, and left it to Wendy. And, French Inheritance laws being what they are, they had also found a long-lost and unknown great nephew, Julian, who will inherit with her. Instantly Wendy is on guard: her dislike of Julian purely from his gorgeous appearance to his questions about the chateau and a mentioned ‘treasure’ have her hackles up. Taking the steps she believes will secure her piece of the estate, and keep Julian out – she heads to France: half packed, unprepared and ready to see just what is there. Not moments after she arrived to open the doors on an unused and ignored chateau of 40 rooms, bat-infested towers and whole villages of spiders, Julian arrives in a sports-car, top down, glammed up and ready to investigate the building.

From the initial moments where Wendy can barely get a sentence out without slinging insults and proving her lack of trust in anyone, to the genuine efforts Julian makes to show her he is not the cad she believes, Wendy is really hard to like, and frustrating to the nth degree. Not speaking any French, and not having prepared for the lack of electrics, plumbing, massive cleaning or need for food, both Wendy and Julian are offered a breath of fresh air in ex-pat Kat, another Brit who left the UK behind for life in Normandy, escaping the end of a bad relationship and taking a chance on a dream. When she spots Julian, and listens to Wendy’s never-ending litany of complaints about him, she instantly sees something is brewing there.

What kept Wendy out of the empathetic was her childish refusal to judge Julian by what he was showing her: his never-ending attempts to repair electrics, plumbing and clear the garden, his willingness to shoo away the creepy-crawlies, his slow change from fitness model perfection to revealing his unvarnished self. She listens to everything and watches him carefully – she can see his insecurities and his issues, although he doesn’t fully share any of it. And Wendy’s actual story doesn’t come clear until far too late in the story to fully redeem her: even as she shows her concern and care for Julian, and the house seems to be giving them spectacular little surprises from electrics in just one room, to the whole house, a library full of books, and a garden full of fruit and chestnut trees, the chateau and the essence of France is strong in this book. With a dash of interference from an elderly woman from beyond the grave and opportunities that scare as much as they excite, the story is quick to read and ends with some truly memorable moments.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy wants safety in her life. She prefers boring and stable, as someone hurt her badly and she never wants to go through the heartbreak and shame it caused again. She has a job she doesn't particularly like, but it pays the bills. Wendy is close to her neighbor Eulalie. They aren't relatives by blood, but Eulalie is Wendy's family. When she passes away she leaves Wendy a château in France. Wendy had no idea the castle she knows so much about because of Eulalie's stories is actually real. However, Wendy isn't the only heir. She has to share the château with someone else, Eulalie's nephew Julian.

Wendy had no idea Eulalie had a nephew. He didn't visit Eulalie and he's actually never even met her. Wendy's annoyed by Julian's presence. He might be a gorgeous model with a six-pack, but looks aren't everything and Wendy doesn't like him. She thinks Julian is a git who has cheated her out of half of the castle. She's stuck with him though and when they visit the château neither of them is prepared to leave. How can Wendy get rid of Julian and will she keep disliking him so much when she gets to know him?

The Château of Happily Ever Afters is a wonderful story. Wendy likes to know what to expect, to be in control. She's a serious person with a strong sense of responsibility. Spending time in France is a big adventure for her. She doesn't speak the language and she has no idea what to expect of a castle in the countryside and isn't prepared at all. There are many things she has to learn, but she's determined to make the best of her stay and wants to find out why Eulalie loved the place so much. Eulalie and Wendy shared their love of baking and the descriptions of Wendy's creations are mouthwatering. She loves baking for people and doesn't mind spoiling them with her delicious cakes. This shows how warm her character actually is, but Wendy pretends to be cool and distant instead. She has a fantastic versatile personality. She's also sweet and hilarious and she keeps landing herself in uneasy situations. I liked Jaimie Admans's sense of humor a lot. When Wendy denies that she likes Julian she's especially funny and I laughed out loud several times when I read her amusing dialogue.

Julian is stunning on the outside, but he isn't arrogant because of it and his personality is actually quite beautiful. He's a model and has to work hard to keep fit. He's often cheerful, is great at teasing and his behavior regularly made me smile. He's a fabulous person to read about. His character has plenty of hidden layers and I enjoyed the way Jaimie Admans slowly peels them off. I liked his connection with Wendy very much. At first they bicker, but it's impossible to dislike Julian's good-naturedness. This made me love the story even more.

The Château of Happily Ever Afters is romantic and mysterious. I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous setting and enjoyed reading about the French countryside, the food and the calm and cozy way of life. I could easily picture every detail and think Jaimie Admans is a skilled storyteller. She makes everything she writes about come to life incredibly well with her colorful, vivid and sometimes funny descriptions. The Château of Happily Ever Alters is a terrific summer read with an endearing ending. I highly recommend this enchanting, heartwarming, entertaining and charming book.

[Tracie Banister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! Author Jaimie Admans did such a wonderful job conjuring up visions of a quaint village in Normandy with her lovely prose that I felt as though I'd actually visited the area and met all of its charming inhabitants after completing the book. Inheriting a castle in France would be a dream come true for me, but heroine Wendy Clayton isn't altogether thrilled when she receives the news from her deceased neighbor Eulalie's solicitor. Wendy's not the type of woman who likes change or going off on larks. But she's more motivated to check out Le Château de Châtaigne when she learns she has to split the property with a long-lost nephew of Eulalie's whom she thinks is way too interested in a "treasure" mentioned by Eulalie in a letter.

Wendy doesn't want to share the castle with Julian (she not-so-fondly refers to him as "the git"), but he refuses to give up what he considers to be rightfully his. So, the two of them become roommates of a sort, at first getting on each other's nerves, then slowly, but surely, connecting over the property and learning that first impressions aren't always accurate. I really liked how the author peeled back the layers on both of these characters. Little by little, we get to see who they really are and when their backstories are revealed, their guarded natures make sense. Will they take a chance on the château and each other, or will they return to their safe, but unsatisfying, lives?

I enjoyed this book and the characters so much that I was sorry to say goodbye when the story ended. I'm hoping the author intends to write more books in this world. I'd love to find out what's next for the lead characters, as well as how the budding romance between Kat (the wild-haired baker Wendy befriends in Normandy) and Theo, the hunky, French butter-maker, plays out. And I think a prequel starring Eulalie and her husband, the duke, would be amazing. I'd really like to know how they met and fell in love and what the château was like in its heyday.

Kudos to the author for writing such a rich and engaging story. These are characters I won't soon forget.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wondeful romantic read. I loved being swept away to the stunning French countryside. The characters were fantastic and I found myself swept away with this book loosing all track of time. It was funny and light hearted and wondeful. Perfect for chicklit and romance fans. Thank you to Netgalley, publishers and Jaimie Adams for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review. My reviews can be found on both Goodreads and Amazon from publication date. I really hope this does well for Jaimie and I can't wait to read more of her books. Wondeful.

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Château of Happily - Ever - Afters is my first book by Jaimie Admans, but for sure not the last! It took me so positively by surprise, with a brilliant storytelling, larger than life characters that were almost jumping out of the pages and brilliant plot, and I found myself racing through the pages either laughing out loud or cringing with awkwardness, desperately wanting to know how things would turn out and how many snakes are we going to find in the kitchen.

I loved the characters in this book, all of them! OK, I must admit, at the beginning Julian was so, so annoying, did you have the feeling as well? Oooh, somehow he seemed so uptight and self - important, appearing out of the blue and pursuing Wendy to France, and so very well prepared! I don't know, I just liked Wendy so much and I so wanted to box Julian on the ear, and I so wanted to encourage her to get her own back on him, however Wendy did disappoint me here a little, I was hoping for a funny open war here, and it was only Julian coming up with some annoying ideas. But whatever. But then, slowly, I started to warm to him so much, and the fact that he's an incredibly handsome model with a six - pack had nothing to do with it. Really! I promise! So yes, together with Wendy we've been changing our mind about him - starting with thinking he's a git and a cheat who only wants Wendy's half of the château and ending with totally different feelings.
Wendy was somehow so funny with her being so serious and with the strong sense of responsibility, and so going to France was for her a real adventure, especially as she doesn't speak French and didn't have any experience when it comes to packing - but really, would YOU know what to take with you to a chateau that you a while ago didn't believe exist at all? Exactly. However, our Wendy is determined to make the best of the chateau. Moreover, she can bake delicious things - really, guys, the descriptions of her creations were mouth - watering. She is accident - prone and often finds herself in awkward situations.
What both of them had in common was that they were both full of puzzles and secrets and many layers, and it was a great journey full of bumps and surprises while unpeeling all of them - and I really liked what emerged at the end. They were truly brilliant characters, full of fun and joy.

I loved the setting and the descriptions of the chateau, its rooms and gardens, the neighbourhood and French countryside, and especially I enjoyed the village market - it was so easy to imagine all those stands, friendly sellers, I could really easily picture every detail and smell not forget the descriptions of the lovely, delicious French baking - mmmmm!

The book really took off when the characters found themselves in France - it was then that it started to be hilariously funny and that I began to feel that I'm getting to know the characters. However, then, it started to slow down - don't get me wrong, the writing style was brilliant, the dialogues were more than brilliant, it was so funny and sometimes also poignant, but there was just too much of nothing, in fact, happening. I loved the banter, or Wendy and Julian trying to first drive out each other from the house and then getting to know each other, it's just that if felt too slow. I am also not sure how I felt about the château bringing people together, with it having secrets and treasures - somehow this part of the story felt for me too far - fetched and not completely finished. I personally couldn't believe in the magical walls - call me a killjoy. But altogether, I totally adored this book. It was fresh, and funny, and surprising.

"The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters" is a brilliant summer read, full of colours, smells, humour, this all brought to us in incredibly vivid way. It is sassy, charming and romantic and so easily transported me to the sunny Normandy - a really perfect read for the summer evening! Highly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chicklit is a genre that is difficult to get exactly right. And unfortunately Admans hasn’t got every element exactly right in this book.

Admans writing is not awful, but it is quite simplistic. There isn’t any gorgeous turns of phrase that make you want to read paragraphs again and again or capture you with their imagery. This type of writing isn’t a prerequisite for me to adore a book, but the plot is also a little too basic for my liking.

Perhaps my biggest issue is how Admans uses popular romance tropes in her plot. It’s like she wasn’t letting the plot flow (and the characters develop) organically as she wrote and instead had a schedule of cliches/tropes she just had to fit in at certain times.

We start out with the ‘shared inheritance’ one when a neighbour, Eulalie, leaves Wendy her chateau in France. It turns out, however, that Eulalie has a great nephew, Julian. According to French law, the property must pass equally to surviving relatives as well as those specified in the will. So, obviously, Wendy and Julian are not impressed when they learn about each other and this stipulation hindering either of them taking full possession of the chateau.

The next cliche is Eulalie leaving a letter saying there is a treasure within the walls. We all know the treasure will be Julian and Wendy finding love with each other. We do expect that. This one might have worked if there was a little more to it. Perhaps if Julian and Wendy joined forces to search? Or if there were more supernatural or unexplained happenings in the house. There is a part in the letter that mentions the house has a way of forcing couples together. I think I would have perhaps liked this explored further. (This is odd, because I’m not usually a fan of ‘magical happenings’ in chicklit but, in this case, I think it would have worked.)

The chateau in France itself is a cliche. I mean, it’s in France. It’s a chateau. The overseas romanticised setting is almost mandatory.

I thought the use of chestnuts as the main crop at the chateau was an original idea and a nice touch. I think I would have liked Wendy to have experimented more with the chestnut recipes than the cakes. A cake-making heroine is actually cliche number four. I don’t mind foodporn in books, but cakes etc have been done to death. Using chestnuts as the main ingredient could have given the baking a fresh spin. (Or maybe that’s just me as chestnuts aren’t exactly commonplace in Australia.)

Julian is a cliche. He’s a gorgeous male model. Funnily enough, I just realised Wendy is hardly described in the book, so I’m unsure about her appearance. The book is written in her first person point of view, but thinking about it now, there seems to be pages and pages dedicated to Julian’s looks and zero to Wendy. Odd.

The cliche of Julian showing off his pretty bod was downright uncomfortable. Would you really just accept a man you hardly knew walking around starkers? I know Brits have this habit of stripping off their shirts every time they get a tiny bit of sun, but Julian removes all his clothes. It's a very strange part of the book. While I'm struggling with making sense of it, Wendy just looks away and carries on as if everyone gardens in the nude.

But it’s the misuse of my favourite trope that grated on my nerves the most. The old chestnut (see what I did there) of having to share a bed is one of my absolute favourites but in this novel is so forced and so ridiculous. The chateau has forty rooms. From what I can make out, there’s beds in more than one. And yet, Wendy and Julian must share a bed because… wait for it… only one room has a light bulb. Yep, light bulbs are essential when you’re sleeping. *sigh*

I did like Wendy’s backstory and her reasons for distrusting Julian, but every time she mentioned rushing back to England because of her job I must admit I got the giggles. Surely anything would pay more than offering samples in a grocery store, including selling cakes at a market in France.

I don’t want to be too harsh. The book isn’t completely bad. I did finish it. And I’m sure if you’re looking for a pleasant book to while away the hours, this book should suit. I was perhaps just hoping for more.

2 ½ out of 5

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely read I was instantly drawn in as soon as I started reading. It starts with a legacy left to the main characters, Wendy and Julian. This pair are from two totally different ends of the social spectrum. In reality they would never have met if it weren't for the fact that they find themselves equal owners in a chateau in France.

From the moment they arrive at the chateau hilarity ensues. The chemistry is not what you would expect as they all but hate each other on sight. Wendy in particular forms her own opinion of Julian almost instantly, and he has to work very hard to change her views.

I love the way the author brings in other strands throughout the story. We meet local people whose lives become intertwined with those of Wendy and Julian in such a way I found myself rooting for them almost as much as I was for the main characters. The way these stories blend together is brilliantly done.

This is a lovely summer read, ideal for those who want to be transported to somewhere picturesque and hot. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting story that features a huge French Chateau that depending on what you believe may or may not have magical walls and a treasure hidden inside. It also features two people who inherit the Chateau, both suspicious of each other, and both want to get rid of the other, with amusing consequences.

Wendy rarely takes chances on anything, she hates change, holidays, she is happy to work a job that is so loosely related to what she wants to do, and has a flat. She is very content with her life, so when she is told she stands to inherit a Chateau in Normandy that her next door neighbour owned, she is scared. She also didn't realise it was a real place, and thought the stories, Eulalie (her neighbour) had told her about a big house and a Duke, and parties were all fiction, when it could turn out to be the truth.

Julian is a male model and Eulalie's great nephew although they never met. He is the loophole in the inheritance laws and now owns half the chateau too They take an instant dislike to each other, both suspicious, and both intrigued by a riddle Eulalie laid out in the will too.

I was laughing almost as soon as they both arrived separately in France, their approaches are marked contrast. One clearly having travelled before and knowing what to expect, the other managing to get stuck in a wall cavity on day 1! And the catalogue of slight disasters doesn't stop there, watch out for an entertaining scene with a snake, the pair sharing a bed together, and not in the way or reasoning you may be thinking.

They make a new friend quite early on who helps Wendy especially start to feel settled at the chateau, and I also loved seeing how Julian started to change too. There are a lot of mentions of delicious french baking, and I loved the descriptions of the nearest village, and the twice weekly market held there.

This really gives a great look into life in rural Normandy life, and the possibilities of living in a big chateau and self sustainability.

The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters is the first book I have read by Jaimie Admans and it was charming and such a pleasurable read. I found myself whizzing through the pages, as the story overtook me, and I just had to see how things would turn out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Charanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Magical stars! Honestly this is one of the books that I stumbled upon having not heard of the author's previous books. When such books turn out to be a delight, I cannot but not give it five stars - I was enchanted. My scale of giving a five keeps alternating between the moods or the story and the writing. But the most important category is it lingers... It lingers long after I have finished the book!

The blurb or the cover does not do justice to the story that unravels in the pages. The title is sappy in itself and I was apprehensive when I picked this one up, but I was so happy to be proved wrong. This is the first book where an inanimate object, like the Chateau, is the third most important "character" of the story after Wendy and Julian. Kudos to the author for breathing life in to the chateau, it's the glue that holds the story together.

Wendy inherits this eponymous Chateau from her nonagenarian neighbour Eulalie. She has heard of all the magical stories that took place behind its walls and is surprised when Eulalie leaves it to her since she thought it was a figment of her neighbour's imagination. A French legality entails that she has to share her inheritance with Eulalie's great-nephew Julian, or so she would have us believe. Thus begins the battle of wills between Julian and Wendy. Wendy has been burnt in the past and is determined not to let an absentee relative take Eulalie for a ride. Julian is seeing this place as his grand escape from the vices of his current life.

Credit again to the author, for having confidence in just these two characters to move the story forward. I was laughing out loud in the initial few chapters when these two kept butting heads. Julian is a lot more patient with Wendy and once the initial hurdle is crossed Wendy more than makes it up with her Tender Loving Care. It is one of those books where you feel the characters deserve each other and since both have been traumatized in the past - monetarily (Wendy) and emotionally (Julian), it is fitting that their characters complement each other and bring to the relationship the thing that the other is seeking out. The romance is almost an afterthought, the slow burn kind. What comes before is the trust and caring and then the cakes, the farmer's market, the beautiful gardens and of course the Chateau and you have for yourself, a beautiful recipe for a book! :)

I loved this book and hope to read more from the author. This is clean, wonderful book with good emotional depth. The supporting characters also add to the flavor - you almost start believing in the magic yourself... :)

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters was like taking a little vacation from day-to-day life. I felt like I was transported away from the world of work, bills, and other monotonous things as the main characters inherited an old chateau in France and were able to leave the demands of their own life behind to explore their inheritance. As they explore their chateau, they find themselves breaking down walls within themselves and the house seems to respond (a little magic?).

This is a romance book that speaks to your heart, and does not contain any steamy bedroom scenes, which I find distracting from the main story most of the time. The author uses a little imagination and bit of romance to create a truly fun read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on Got Books, Babe?

Good Lord, what a delightfully charming & deliciously romantic story this was! I knew as soon as I read the blurb for this book, and clapped eyes on that wonderful cover, that it was a story I would enjoy. If you know me at all then you'll know that I'm a complete sucker for a fairy-tale, and so The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters spoke right to that whimsical part of me, the part that has me hankering after anything that will take me to a world where these things are possible.

As the story begins to unravel, readers are introduced to Wendy Clayton. Not really living, but simply existing, Wendy isn't getting the most out of her life and she knows it, yet she isn't quite sure of what to do about it. It seems, though, that the choice is taken right from out of her hands when she is made aware of an inheritance from her dear elderly neighbour, Eulalie, who has passed away. Suddenly, Wendy finds herself part-owner of a stunning French castle and trying to figure out the message behind the riddles that Eulalie left behind in her letter. This would all be pretty much perfect if it wasn't for the added presence of Julian, Eulalie's long-lost nephew, who is joining Wendy at the castle, to push her every button...

One thing is for sure. Jaimie Admans certainly knows how to make me roar with laughter. The author's style is fresh, funny and constantly entertaining, not to mention full of wit and sarcasm, something I find myself understanding perfectly. I was either reading this book with a smile or my face or a laugh ready to rumble free. It was hilarious and I loved the feel-good factor to it. When Wendy arrives at the chateau, with Julian arriving not too long after, I knew fireworks were about to take place. There was a certain something between these two that would go either one of two ways. Either they'd give in and face up to the facts that chemistry was sparking like a sparkler between them, or they'd fight it out till the death. Wendy, of course, feeling duty-bound to the lovely Eulalie, refuses to sell the chateau, because it's worth more than that. It's full of memories and keepsakes and things that make up the life of the elderly woman Wendy adored. Julian, on the other hand, seems keen to sell the chateau so that they can both go their separate ways with the proceeds of the sale. With butting heads and clashing personalities, I just knew I was going to adore the results of these two spending so much time together. And I couldn't wait for Wendy and Julian to get past the 'I really can't stand you' phase. Such fun!

Set in such a beautiful location, I couldn't get enough of this gorgeous story and felt myself yearning to head to the chateau myself. It was whimsical with an edge of reality to it that certainly kept things grounded. The characters, the setting, the author's writing style and the general feel-good factor to it ensured that this was an uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable novel that I adored spending my time in. I will certainly not be hesitating to read more from Jaimie Admans, in the very near future I hope!

With thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this book.

[Rebecca Stobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my typical choice of book but this year has been the year of saying yes to more things and I'm so glad I gave this book a go. It was a breath of fresh air when I needed it -now on with the review!

Wendy and Julian have both inherited a French Estate, nice for them right? What are the chances? Well, as it turns out they've unfortunately inherited the same estate and neither are happy about sharing. So it's down to battle of wits to see who will emerge as the soul caretaker.

I've never read a book by Jaimie Admans so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really felt a connection to her characters and writing style from the start of the novel.

Wendy is a no nonsense kind of women, she is settled in her life and isn't too fond of change. So inheriting a Chateau in Normandy wasn't a part of the plan and could uproot her quiet life, but she hadn't believed the stories her neighbour Eulalie had told her about the magical French home, now she has to see it for herself.

The only problem is that Wendy isn't the only one on the way to France to see her new Chateau. Julian, male model and considerably more prone to risk taking than Wendy, has inherited half of the estate too on the grounds that he is Eulalie's long lost nephew. I liked Julian's character a lot more than Wendy's, mainly because of how much more open-minded he is when it comes to the other party, he has a good soul despite looking like he'd be overly egotistical.

This is such a feel good book, it borders on cheesy at times but it was still incredibly enjoyable. There are a lot of funny moments and you'll definitely feel the smile on your face the entire time you read the book. Julian to offer an olive branch to Wendy early on but she's suspicious of this stranger and is ready to fight for inheritance.

Of course with all this hostility, sparks chemistry. Sort of. If you're looking for a soppy love story, this isn't it -but it's pretty damned good.

Something I really loved about this book was how descriptive it was, you could really imagine the little Normandy village and surrounding grounds, all painting the picture of the perfect summer getaway. This would be a good read on your holidays, maybe a good read in the winter too if you don't mind being totally jealous of the characters.

I'd recommend this book to all you chick-lit fans out there, anyone interested in sampling what life in a big French home would be like and anyone who likes the story of a handsome and misjudged protagonist.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fabulous book in a gorgeous setting with characters that are intriguing to watch as they sort out their differences as they work on the Chateau that they have suddenly found they joint own.
Wendy has huge trust issues, and is floundering at the loss of her dear friend Eulalie, and the sudden arrival of a long lost nephew of Eulalie’s , who lays a claim on her inheritance. Julian has his own issues that we learn about as the book unfolds, true to say that you shouldn’t judge a book by it cover, his initial behaviour and appearance is nothing like what he actually is like. I loved following their relationship, especially the sparring and insults in those first few days of house sharing!
The descriptive writing is spot on, you feel like you are along side them, trying the tasty french foods 🥖🧀 and exploring the chateau and local villages.
A perfect escape from a chilly and wet Norfolk, especially enjoyable with a glass of wine 🍷 tucked up on the sofa 🛋

[Lisa Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy inherits a chateau from her old nieghbour Eulalie. There's a catch though, she has to share it with Eulalie's great nephew, Julian.

This is the first book I've read by Jaimie Admans and I will be reading more.

It's a lovely light hearted story that me laugh so many times. The love/hate relationship between Wendy and Julian was just really amusing. I enjoyed being on their journey with them as they tried to find out who they really were as well as discovering what life would be like to live in the chateau.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I caught myself smiling throughout the book. The ending was a little disappointing, but I like things done up in a nice little bow. But, I would recommend this book for a sweet fun read.

[Becky Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with Jaimie, her books take you on an adventure with characters who you root for, characters you could see being your friends.
Describing the surroundings so well that you can be there inside the book.
This is a great story of 2 people thrown together from a little old lady who has passed away. Wonderful storyline and one I could DEFINITELY do with an update on!

[bookscoffeeandcats77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute hate to love story. The romance was extremely slow burn and I loved it. I loved Julian and Wendy. The setting was perfect and it made me want to stay with them for an extended holiday possibly permanently too.

[Samantha Chick Lit & Hot Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is magnificent, it ticks all the chick-lit boxes and is a perfect summer read. Wendy Clayton is miserable, her elderly next door neighbour and best friend has just died and Wendy is stuck in a job she hates, grieving for her best friend and living in a run down and utterly awful high rise block of flats. That is until her best friend Eulalie leaves her a chateau in her will. There’s only one catch – French loophole law means Eulalie’s nephew also inherited the chateau. Wendy is positive nephew Julian is only in it for the money but can they put their differences aside long enough for what’s best for the chateau? A whimsical and laugh out loud read, I couldn’t put it down and with a magical chateau (in more ways than one), what’s not to love? Jaimie Adams has a wonderful way with words that transports you straight to Normandy, complete with summer sunshine and fresh croissants.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate it, but I was 88% through the book and the main character was still being as difficult as she was at 8%. I understand needing a build up to the romance but good lord. I will say it’s a cute read if you’re looking for something quick and fun in the cheesy romance category.

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness for romantic comedies, anything to do with France and yes of course a happily ever after. So when this book came on my radar, I knew that I was going to click it. The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters ticked all the boxes plus the enemies to lovers trope that never gets old. Wendy and Julian are two characters you might think are not going to click at all. This was probably because we only get Wendy's viewpoint at first regarding Julian which was not painted in a flattering light until the story progresses. Pretty soon readers are going to be on team Julian and want to shake Wendy to the realities of why he is a nice guy. This book is entertaining, funny and will make you believe that there really is a Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters.

*ARC provided thru NetGalley*

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was rooting for Wendy pretty much from the very first paragraphs in chapter one, she desperately needed her life to get a bit shaken up. To be given the ability to dream and see beyond her mundane life she's led up to that point. But Julian? He took a bit of warming up to. Much like Wendy, I was very uncertain of his motives and it was a while before I trusted him. But I have to say that once he won me over, I was hooked. I loved the banter between the two, especially as they warmed up to each other! I didn't love this story, though, as much as I enjoyed others I've read by Ms. Admans. I simply wasn't as pulled into the story-world like I wished to be. But that's okay! I enjoyed my time in France anyway!

[Ginger Gonzales-Price · Rating 2 out of 5]

Judge me: I bought this for 99 cents off of BookBub, and it was the only other story I had downloaded on the plane ride home after reading a Jenny Colgan novel, so, like, this was it, and I'm embarrassed by the fact that I bought and then continued to actually read and finish it (sooo much chick-lit in a row), but I'm a nervous flier, so it had to be done. I knew within the first, like, 15 pages how the entire story was going to end, so, really just pull up some lemonade and ginger snaps and read this on a sunny porch, because that's really what this book is here for.

[Brenda Brown]

This was super cute. And Julian is perfectly swoony and lovely. This book was a great escape!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. This was escapist lit with so much substance and depth. (And I don’t use the term “escapist lit” as an insult.) I’m looking forward to reading more by Jaimie Admans.