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A Year at the Chateau
Like many couples, Dick and Angel had long dreamed of living in France, but where others might settle for a modest bolthole in the French countryside, the Strawbridges fell in love with a 19th-century fairytale château, complete with 45 rooms, seven outbuildings, 12 acres of land and its own moat.
Throwing caution to the wind, Dick and Angel swapped their two-bedroom flat in East London for an abandoned and derelict castle in the heart of the Loire valley and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their two young children Arthur and Dorothy.
Sharing their full journey for the first time, A Year at the Château follows Dick and Angel from when they first moved to France in the depths of winter and found bedrooms infested with flies, turrets inhabited by bats, the wind rattling through cracked windows, and just one working toilet, which flushed into the moat, through to the monumental efforts that went into readying the château for their unforgettable wedding and their incredibly special first Christmas.
Along the way we'll read glorious descriptions of rural life in France, with charming characters, delicious food and wonderful seasonal produce, together with the extraordinary list of renovations and restorations Dick and Angel completed, many of which were never shown on TV.
As warm and entertaining as their much-loved show, A Year at the Château is a truly irresistible story of adventure and heart, epic ambitions and a huge amount of hard graft.
Throwing caution to the wind, Dick and Angel swapped their two-bedroom flat in East London for an abandoned and derelict castle in the heart of the Loire valley and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their two young children Arthur and Dorothy.
Sharing their full journey for the first time, A Year at the Château follows Dick and Angel from when they first moved to France in the depths of winter and found bedrooms infested with flies, turrets inhabited by bats, the wind rattling through cracked windows, and just one working toilet, which flushed into the moat, through to the monumental efforts that went into readying the château for their unforgettable wedding and their incredibly special first Christmas.
Along the way we'll read glorious descriptions of rural life in France, with charming characters, delicious food and wonderful seasonal produce, together with the extraordinary list of renovations and restorations Dick and Angel completed, many of which were never shown on TV.
As warm and entertaining as their much-loved show, A Year at the Château is a truly irresistible story of adventure and heart, epic ambitions and a huge amount of hard graft.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2020
177 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
December 12, 2020
I bought this book from them so I could get the signed bookmark. And I got the book on Audible as Dick & Angel are the narrators 😃
I love these people so much!! I bought me and mom the boxed set of the first few seasons as soon as it became available from their website. They made sure they were made for their American fans which was lovely!
I have bought books, notebooks, and pillows from them and am saving up to buy more. I wrote an email to them and Angel answered me, which made my crappy day! I would love to be adopted by them if they wanted an old kid 🤣😂 I mean I couldn’t do a few things that they do but everything else is perfect. I sure wish I was as creative as Angel and married to an engineer/chef like Dick.
And I’m lucky to have a best male friend that loves them too as well as my mom. We enjoy watching them together. 💕
Anyhoo, I love them I don’t care if anyone else does. They make me happy. The end 😘
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I love these people so much!! I bought me and mom the boxed set of the first few seasons as soon as it became available from their website. They made sure they were made for their American fans which was lovely!
I have bought books, notebooks, and pillows from them and am saving up to buy more. I wrote an email to them and Angel answered me, which made my crappy day! I would love to be adopted by them if they wanted an old kid 🤣😂 I mean I couldn’t do a few things that they do but everything else is perfect. I sure wish I was as creative as Angel and married to an engineer/chef like Dick.
And I’m lucky to have a best male friend that loves them too as well as my mom. We enjoy watching them together. 💕
Anyhoo, I love them I don’t care if anyone else does. They make me happy. The end 😘
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 27, 2024
It's rather bold to leave the only home you've ever known, move to a country where you don't speak the language, and buy and try to renovate a château.
I won't lie, I've dreamt of it. Living in a château, not renovating it. But my French is next to nonexistent and I just wouldn't feel super comfortable moving somewhere without being proficient in the language first.
As you can see with the other reviews, and probably fans of the show, which I've never watched, my opinion isn't the only one that matters.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Seven Dials
I won't lie, I've dreamt of it. Living in a château, not renovating it. But my French is next to nonexistent and I just wouldn't feel super comfortable moving somewhere without being proficient in the language first.
As you can see with the other reviews, and probably fans of the show, which I've never watched, my opinion isn't the only one that matters.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Seven Dials
June 25, 2021
Although I'm a big fan of the TV series, I came to this book with fairly low expectations. I thought it would sit on my coffeetable and I'd dip in and out until it was time to return it to the library. But no! To my surprise, I read it word for word, and looked forward to catching up with Dick and Angel every day until I'd finished reading it. In fact it made me nostalgic for the early episodes (which unfortunately aren't currently available to me for streaming - I'll wait). Well-written, extremely engaging, and peppered with details and anecdotes from behind the scenes, anyone with even the smallest admiration for or interest in the Strawbridges will enjoy spending a few days poring over this book.
November 4, 2020
Perfect escapism for the hell year that is 2020.
March 15, 2023
I am a big fan of the tv show Escape to the Chateau, so I already knew what to expect. Dick and Angel Strawbridge go into even more depth on their first year in the Chateau de la Motte-Husson, which they bought in pretty rough condition, and renovated on a budget.
The book is as delightful as the show, and I really enjoyed it. Dick and Angel take turns describing their experiences in the first year, so we get both of their perspectives. Angel approaches it as a creative, artistic person, and Dick approaches it as an Engineer. Together they make a great pair, both in life and in renovating castles.
Anyone who enjoys home renovation will enjoy this book, and the tv series.
I received a free digital copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
The book is as delightful as the show, and I really enjoyed it. Dick and Angel take turns describing their experiences in the first year, so we get both of their perspectives. Angel approaches it as a creative, artistic person, and Dick approaches it as an Engineer. Together they make a great pair, both in life and in renovating castles.
Anyone who enjoys home renovation will enjoy this book, and the tv series.
I received a free digital copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 29, 2022
I loved this and became thoroughly engrossed. After following all of their adventures on the television, this book was the next step.
Not only do I admire their spirit and hard -working ethic, it is so lovely to see their respect and love for each other and those held dear to them.
Yes, there were a few minor editing mistakes but this all added to the quirky nature that many of us have come to know and love. ♥️
I look forward to watching the next series here in the UK.
Not only do I admire their spirit and hard -working ethic, it is so lovely to see their respect and love for each other and those held dear to them.
Yes, there were a few minor editing mistakes but this all added to the quirky nature that many of us have come to know and love. ♥️
I look forward to watching the next series here in the UK.
January 7, 2021
A lovely book, full of stories that did not feature in the first TV series of Escape to the Chateau. Full of interesting facts about France and how living there varies from living in the U.K. I felt you could really here Dick and Angela in the book. Would loved the book to be longer as I’m nosey! I do hope they continue with the adventures and put them down with pen to paper.
December 28, 2023
If you've ever dreamed about buying a rambling old castle, here you go—vicarious kicks! When the Strawbridges started looking for a place in France, they initially had their eyes set on a standard house...but when they realized that they could rehabilitate something much grander, they switched tracks and eventually ended up buying the Château de la Motte-Husson, a dilapidated 47-room castle that hadn't been lived in for some 40 years.
This is more or less what I was hoping for when I read Downton Shabby, I think—a light read that is chock full of personality and, you know, castle. The Strawbridges documented their chateau journey for television, and even without having seen the series it's clear to me that they must have made good television. The whole book feels upbeat and vibrant, with a fairly hefty dose of whimsy.
A Year at the Château covers just that—the first year of ownership and renovations and, finally, their first event. I'm hoping that Living the Château Dream will also be more widely published so that I can read about the adventures and renovations that followed...because I don't want to renovate a castle of my own (let alone do TV shows to make it possible—no shade, and I'm delighted that other people are doing it, but being on television is not any version of my dream job!), but I do want to read about the adventure that is other people renovating a castle. Also, foodies take note: there are plenty of recipes to spur your imagination. I'm low-key the opposite of a foodie, but even I flagged a recipe or two to test out this summer.
My wish list is short: pictures! floor plan! The end. I read an ARC, so I'm optimistic that there will be many pictures in the final version. I'm always so curious about floor plans with this sort of thing, too, because they let me better imagine how spaces might have been used back when the building was built...or now that it's been repurposed. Or, in twenty or thirty years, maybe one of the Strawbridges' kids will write a book about what it was like growing up in a castle in the 21st century...
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
This is more or less what I was hoping for when I read Downton Shabby, I think—a light read that is chock full of personality and, you know, castle. The Strawbridges documented their chateau journey for television, and even without having seen the series it's clear to me that they must have made good television. The whole book feels upbeat and vibrant, with a fairly hefty dose of whimsy.
A Year at the Château covers just that—the first year of ownership and renovations and, finally, their first event. I'm hoping that Living the Château Dream will also be more widely published so that I can read about the adventures and renovations that followed...because I don't want to renovate a castle of my own (let alone do TV shows to make it possible—no shade, and I'm delighted that other people are doing it, but being on television is not any version of my dream job!), but I do want to read about the adventure that is other people renovating a castle. Also, foodies take note: there are plenty of recipes to spur your imagination. I'm low-key the opposite of a foodie, but even I flagged a recipe or two to test out this summer.
My wish list is short: pictures! floor plan! The end. I read an ARC, so I'm optimistic that there will be many pictures in the final version. I'm always so curious about floor plans with this sort of thing, too, because they let me better imagine how spaces might have been used back when the building was built...or now that it's been repurposed. Or, in twenty or thirty years, maybe one of the Strawbridges' kids will write a book about what it was like growing up in a castle in the 21st century...
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
March 3, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the first season of Escape to the Château but don't think this book adds much to it. If you've seen the tv show, you've probably seen enough. While there are certain insights that are interesting (such as expat life in France) but too much is devoted to describing wedding preparations and gushing about how "special" their life is (seriously, three times in one paragraph!).
If you like humble-bragging, you'll be delighted with Dick and Angel's account of their own life. It all smacks too much of personality cult for my taste. I would have liked a more "real" account of the struggles of owning and renovating a derelict château, managing a family and being essentially broke (their word). Weirdly enough, there was never any mention in the book about having a film crew tracking their lives and how that felt. There were a lot of technical details mentioned by Dick, which was good, but again a lot of that was covered in the tv version.
The first season of Escape to the Château was a real inspiration to me and I love Angel's taste. I was even inspired by her ideas in decorating my own house! But I have to admit that, upon learning that she has ripped off Michael Petherick's design and claimed it as her own (and is now making bank with that design on a ton of merch), a lot of the shine was taken off while I was reading this book. She also has a tendency to not credit her artists on later seasons of the show and on the Château's social media accounts, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
If you like humble-bragging, you'll be delighted with Dick and Angel's account of their own life. It all smacks too much of personality cult for my taste. I would have liked a more "real" account of the struggles of owning and renovating a derelict château, managing a family and being essentially broke (their word). Weirdly enough, there was never any mention in the book about having a film crew tracking their lives and how that felt. There were a lot of technical details mentioned by Dick, which was good, but again a lot of that was covered in the tv version.
The first season of Escape to the Château was a real inspiration to me and I love Angel's taste. I was even inspired by her ideas in decorating my own house! But I have to admit that, upon learning that she has ripped off Michael Petherick's design and claimed it as her own (and is now making bank with that design on a ton of merch), a lot of the shine was taken off while I was reading this book. She also has a tendency to not credit her artists on later seasons of the show and on the Château's social media accounts, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
April 20, 2023
I have never seen this show before, and I didn’t think watching it would be a prerequisite, but I think this book is better suited to show watchers who are looking for more behind the scenes information. As someone who has never seen it, I felt that it glossed over so many things and was really lacking detail in places I was really craving more.
First, this book is missing something essential for all memoirs but especially ex-pat memoirs — dialogue. A quoted exchange between different people prevents a book from becoming a mundane recounting of, “I went here,” “We did this,” “I thought this,” “We bought this.” They are self-proclaimed time poor, and I understand the urgency of having the castle ready for the wedding deadline, but I find it sad they slaved away constantly on a building in their new home country and rarely took time away to smell the roses and interact with people. They did talk of a few meetings with their neighbors, but there were very few details, which may have been at the neighbor’s request since she wouldn’t allow her children on TV.
Too much detail in some places (bathing and caring for children and food consumed) and not enough in others. A bat got in the room? Tell me more. You really need to infuse some humor into retelling situations like this. Without it, I’m just reading a miserable tale of a woman left in a freezing chateau with 2 young children surrounded by millions of flies with no instructions from her husband on how to work anything. To be clear, miserable is the word I choose to describe it. Dick and Angel are optimistic troopers who take everything in stride and seem to actually enjoy the myriad challenges along the way.
They have a treasure trove in their attic that barely got a mention and could be a book in itself. Psst! Dick and Angel, I would read that book. I’m thinking a coffee table book with pictures of all the items.
This book would be great for:
- Anyone looking to purchase an old castle and fix it up themselves (or anyone wanting to talk themselves out of doing that) to learn a little more about the experience.
- Anyone who enjoys journal-style writing.
- Anyone who loves reading about the details of food.
Perhaps Peter Mayle and Bill Bryson have ruined me, but this book was very lacking, in my opinion. It was obvious to me that this was all written from memory or that details noted along the way were very sparse.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First, this book is missing something essential for all memoirs but especially ex-pat memoirs — dialogue. A quoted exchange between different people prevents a book from becoming a mundane recounting of, “I went here,” “We did this,” “I thought this,” “We bought this.” They are self-proclaimed time poor, and I understand the urgency of having the castle ready for the wedding deadline, but I find it sad they slaved away constantly on a building in their new home country and rarely took time away to smell the roses and interact with people. They did talk of a few meetings with their neighbors, but there were very few details, which may have been at the neighbor’s request since she wouldn’t allow her children on TV.
Too much detail in some places (bathing and caring for children and food consumed) and not enough in others. A bat got in the room? Tell me more. You really need to infuse some humor into retelling situations like this. Without it, I’m just reading a miserable tale of a woman left in a freezing chateau with 2 young children surrounded by millions of flies with no instructions from her husband on how to work anything. To be clear, miserable is the word I choose to describe it. Dick and Angel are optimistic troopers who take everything in stride and seem to actually enjoy the myriad challenges along the way.
They have a treasure trove in their attic that barely got a mention and could be a book in itself. Psst! Dick and Angel, I would read that book. I’m thinking a coffee table book with pictures of all the items.
This book would be great for:
- Anyone looking to purchase an old castle and fix it up themselves (or anyone wanting to talk themselves out of doing that) to learn a little more about the experience.
- Anyone who enjoys journal-style writing.
- Anyone who loves reading about the details of food.
Perhaps Peter Mayle and Bill Bryson have ruined me, but this book was very lacking, in my opinion. It was obvious to me that this was all written from memory or that details noted along the way were very sparse.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2021
A magnificent companion to any avid watcher of Escape to the Chateau.
Set in Dick and Angel’s first year of owning the chateau. It takes you through every magical moment from the purchase of Chateau de la Motte Husson to the celebration of their wedding and Christmas.
Dick and Angel both have their turn at telling their own version of events. You definitely get a sense of their personality. Dick very much a practical man, while Angel is the dreamer.
As an added bonus, every few chapters there are pictures of the families special moments. Showcasing their flare for design but even more so their love of good food and family.
Fair to say, I fell in love with Chateau de la Motte Husson all over again. I would recommend this book to anyone, even without prior knowledge of the show. Especially in times like these, we all need a little escape and A Year at the Chateau offers that in abundance.
Set in Dick and Angel’s first year of owning the chateau. It takes you through every magical moment from the purchase of Chateau de la Motte Husson to the celebration of their wedding and Christmas.
Dick and Angel both have their turn at telling their own version of events. You definitely get a sense of their personality. Dick very much a practical man, while Angel is the dreamer.
As an added bonus, every few chapters there are pictures of the families special moments. Showcasing their flare for design but even more so their love of good food and family.
Fair to say, I fell in love with Chateau de la Motte Husson all over again. I would recommend this book to anyone, even without prior knowledge of the show. Especially in times like these, we all need a little escape and A Year at the Chateau offers that in abundance.
January 4, 2022
Interesting, if you are into chateaus, diy and everything french.
Grammatical errors throughout.
Grammatical errors throughout.
February 22, 2021
This book was painful and I really struggled to finish it.
I was expecting a book about a families first year at a chateau, the ins and out of renovating a chateau and maybe even a little history about the historic building. What I got instead was a recount of a narcissistic couple planning their wedding. I did not sign up for a book about wedding planning but literally over half this book is them talking about their wedding, the food for the wedding, the clothes for the wedding etc etc it does not stop and for a moment if they start talking about the chateau or renovating again the sentence will end with something along the lines of “ but that can wait.... we have a wedding to plan!”
Dick is completely obnoxious he is rude arrogant and a bully. If someone doesn’t complete a task to his standard he belittles them, discredits their work ethic and even goes as far as calling them names (when french workers didn’t want to travel over an hour to do a job for them he insinuated they were being precious and calls them poppets) also I don’t like the way he brags about his life also the claim he invented avocado on toast was very cringe.
Angels parts of the book were a tad easier to to read although she seemed to think she is only person in the world with alternative taste (I’m having mismatched chairs at my wedding oh my god I’m so wacky) she sees Dick with rose coloured glasses and can also join in with him on his bullying.
I wish they added more photos so you could visualise different areas of the chateau but then again 2 out of the 4 photo sections of the book were dedicated to their wedding (Narcissism at its finest)
I have watched some of their show but their attitude really puts me off, I guess that should have been a warning against this book but was hoping they would be more humble and kinder in print. I’m really interested in historic buildings and history so I guess I was hoping to get this out of this book but sadly I was wrong.
If you really want to watch and experience nice people restoring a chateau I suggest going on YouTube and watching “The Chateau diaries” and “Doing it ourselves” both are likeable and kind to the people around them, oh and the focus is less on themselves and more on the chateau.
I was expecting a book about a families first year at a chateau, the ins and out of renovating a chateau and maybe even a little history about the historic building. What I got instead was a recount of a narcissistic couple planning their wedding. I did not sign up for a book about wedding planning but literally over half this book is them talking about their wedding, the food for the wedding, the clothes for the wedding etc etc it does not stop and for a moment if they start talking about the chateau or renovating again the sentence will end with something along the lines of “ but that can wait.... we have a wedding to plan!”
Dick is completely obnoxious he is rude arrogant and a bully. If someone doesn’t complete a task to his standard he belittles them, discredits their work ethic and even goes as far as calling them names (when french workers didn’t want to travel over an hour to do a job for them he insinuated they were being precious and calls them poppets) also I don’t like the way he brags about his life also the claim he invented avocado on toast was very cringe.
Angels parts of the book were a tad easier to to read although she seemed to think she is only person in the world with alternative taste (I’m having mismatched chairs at my wedding oh my god I’m so wacky) she sees Dick with rose coloured glasses and can also join in with him on his bullying.
I wish they added more photos so you could visualise different areas of the chateau but then again 2 out of the 4 photo sections of the book were dedicated to their wedding (Narcissism at its finest)
I have watched some of their show but their attitude really puts me off, I guess that should have been a warning against this book but was hoping they would be more humble and kinder in print. I’m really interested in historic buildings and history so I guess I was hoping to get this out of this book but sadly I was wrong.
If you really want to watch and experience nice people restoring a chateau I suggest going on YouTube and watching “The Chateau diaries” and “Doing it ourselves” both are likeable and kind to the people around them, oh and the focus is less on themselves and more on the chateau.
January 30, 2022
There is little about renovating the chateau, and tons of repetitive chatting and wedding preparations. Read this book if you really want to know about their wedding invitations and the vintage napkins they set out.
> Soon after, we discovered that, in our part of France at least, you don’t pay to park over lunchtime. Why would you? Everyone civilized is having a two-hour lunch break so there would be no traffic wardens.
> We were getting married in two weeks, all our family and friends were coming to see us in our new home and we were entertaining a couple of hundred people in a château that hadn’t had running water or electricity eight months earlier.
> the only way to seat eighty people in the orangery was to have five tables, each of sixteen, equally spaced. There was just enough room for service and everyone had sufficient space to be comfortable. Each table was overflowing with vintage "stuff" and flowers. I had used all my favorite props that had been with me ever since I started the Vintage Patisserie. All the tables had vintage games and memorabilia that dated back to before the Second World War and each place setting had vintage china, cutlery and a vintage French napkin. To me, it looked wonderful.
> Soon after, we discovered that, in our part of France at least, you don’t pay to park over lunchtime. Why would you? Everyone civilized is having a two-hour lunch break so there would be no traffic wardens.
> We were getting married in two weeks, all our family and friends were coming to see us in our new home and we were entertaining a couple of hundred people in a château that hadn’t had running water or electricity eight months earlier.
> the only way to seat eighty people in the orangery was to have five tables, each of sixteen, equally spaced. There was just enough room for service and everyone had sufficient space to be comfortable. Each table was overflowing with vintage "stuff" and flowers. I had used all my favorite props that had been with me ever since I started the Vintage Patisserie. All the tables had vintage games and memorabilia that dated back to before the Second World War and each place setting had vintage china, cutlery and a vintage French napkin. To me, it looked wonderful.
February 27, 2021
A fun and easy enjoyable read. My favourite bits were about some of the cultural differences they encountered in France, that was quite fascinating and hilarious. I learned a fair bit about their "lunch culture." I liked a good amount of this book but kind of skipped ahead over much of the last couple chapters (which are broken down into months) as it was mostly made up of wedding preparations, sentimental lovey-dovey stuff and family and friends info which I was not as interested in.
If you like the show I think you'll enjoy some more behinds the scenes things in this book. I would have liked to know more about the process of the filming.
If you like the show I think you'll enjoy some more behinds the scenes things in this book. I would have liked to know more about the process of the filming.
February 19, 2021
Having watched the show it was good to read Dick and Angels words about the shoe. Well written and easy to read
March 15, 2021
What a delight! I've enjoyed the TV show about the Strawbridge's purchase and renovation of a stunning 19th Century Château in the French countryside, so I knew I would also love the book. These two never cease to amaze me with their hard work and creativity. I wouldn't make all the same design choices, but it's really fun to read all about what they did in much more detail than the TV show allows. The book even includes recipes, which are completely wasted on me, but if you're into cooking you would probably enjoy it even more. I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of the show.
July 29, 2021
When I stumbled upon this tv series I was hooked on the first episode. It was wonderful that TLC showed all of the years at one time. I watched it over much of the pandemic. I could not get enough. When I saw this book I just had to get it. I really enjoyed it more than I thought since I had watched the series. They amaze me with what they have done. I am not sure how they have payed for everything or how they even have the energy to do it but it is fun watching them do it. I didn't give it five stars for a few issues with language. I would love to stay there someday.
November 7, 2021
I chose this book as something light after wading through a very long Dickens novel. I was going to take it to a charity shop once I’d read it, but I’m going to keep it as it’s so cheerful.
March 24, 2023
I will start by saying I've known of Dick, Angel, and their Chateau for a couple of years after finding them on HGTV one night when I couldn't sleep.
That being said I was fascinated and had everyone I know watching this couple renovate what was essentially a fairytale castle in my mind.
Seeing this book brought back all of those real life magic feelings and I couldn't get through it fast enough, reading all of the behind-the-scenes things, from their point of view was fascinating and honestly I want more.
The book itself is wonderfully written, with witty anecdotes, fabulous recountings of this remarkable renovation, and the surprising addition of Dick describing his cooking (which sounds beyond amazing to me) it was the icing on the cake and now I want to try mussels.
The ups and downs, the budget overages, and the difficulties of doing all of this with two small children, Dick and Angel lay it all out on the table. While the show may have made it seem like everything happened for a reason (that fabric wallpaper in the tower comes to mind) this book tells all of the behind-the-scenes moments and it was anything but easy.
They worked through it, supported each other, and created a fantasy world for themselves and anyone lucky enough to have an encounter at the Chateau.
I loved every moment of reading this book, and can't recommend it enough to anyone interested in following your dreams, owning a Chateau or home restoration in general.
That being said I was fascinated and had everyone I know watching this couple renovate what was essentially a fairytale castle in my mind.
Seeing this book brought back all of those real life magic feelings and I couldn't get through it fast enough, reading all of the behind-the-scenes things, from their point of view was fascinating and honestly I want more.
The book itself is wonderfully written, with witty anecdotes, fabulous recountings of this remarkable renovation, and the surprising addition of Dick describing his cooking (which sounds beyond amazing to me) it was the icing on the cake and now I want to try mussels.
The ups and downs, the budget overages, and the difficulties of doing all of this with two small children, Dick and Angel lay it all out on the table. While the show may have made it seem like everything happened for a reason (that fabric wallpaper in the tower comes to mind) this book tells all of the behind-the-scenes moments and it was anything but easy.
They worked through it, supported each other, and created a fantasy world for themselves and anyone lucky enough to have an encounter at the Chateau.
I loved every moment of reading this book, and can't recommend it enough to anyone interested in following your dreams, owning a Chateau or home restoration in general.
January 24, 2022
A year at the chateau is a lovely book to read! I honestly didn’t want the book to end, I loved how the book tells the the readers the story how Dick and Angel meet and the relationship they have with their family,but I loved how they had a fascinating relationship with the Chateau and how they turned the Chateau into their forever home 🏡
I would definitely recommend this book 📖
Truly a lovely 🥰 book to read!
Love,love,love this book !!
I would definitely recommend this book 📖
Truly a lovely 🥰 book to read!
Love,love,love this book !!
September 27, 2021
It was a real pleasure to revisit The Strawbridges. This book is fairly faithful to the first season of Escape to the Chateau but fleshed out with a lot more details. Also included are photos from the Strawbridges first year at the chateau and a few super recipes. (I’ll be doing the baked eggs this week). Very enjoyable read.
October 27, 2021
Peak comfort reading. It's no surprise that Dick and Angel are not the greatest authors ever but this book was just so cosy and fun. I loved the exact descriptions of food eaten, as well as inserted recipes just for fun. I could never do what they did but it's fun to read about it. I really liked having both of their points of view - it felt just like watching the show.
September 29, 2021
Loved it! Such a uplifting book, inspiring you to follow your dream and take the plunge. A lovely family.
January 15, 2021
Really enjoyed this. I watch the show but there was lots of new information and I like the way both Dick and Angel give their perspective on the same task or event, very amusing.
May 6, 2021
quite lovely
January 14, 2021
Delightful
December 27, 2020
The concept of moving house let alone moving to another country sounds like a massive headache, however the positive way in which this book is written would allow people to at least contemplate a move to a ‘better way of life’ where you could possibly live self sustainably or just be in a place where you can appreciate the culture more. This book is pure escapism for the soul.
As I read, I literally can’t stop smiling at the splendour and beautiful picture that Dick and Angel paint of the whole scene. Nature is described at its best and the couple literally plonk you right in the surroundings with them. Of course pictures tell a thousand words and the ones featured within the pages of the book add a nice touch and allow you further inside into their lives.
Note to reader, certain parts are hard to read if you are particularly hungry. There are talks of shins of beef, slow cooked ‘Boeuf bourguignon’ and mussels cooked in white wine sauce. All these mouthwatering dishes had me running to the kitchen cupboards to find something that could never match up to Dick and Angel’s pallet. At the halfway point, it is fair to say the Strawbridge’s might be a little too focused on the food aspects of France (and you can’t blame them), Thankfully, the aspects of the chateau eventually come back to the forefront and their journey continues.
Angel’s lack of knowledge in certain DIY procedures and terms are entertaining, heartwarming and endearing and I can imagine it allows a lot of people out there to relate on some level. I know I certainly do. There is no doubt, Angel is extremely good in her area of expertise (interior design and making things look outstandingly pretty), but there are times in her book she has struggled. Examples of these include not being able to start or maintain a fire, struggling to change a gas bottle and being completely hopeless when it came to getting rid of a bat. Now there will be a lot of women - and men come to that - nodding their heads and thinking “yeah, I wouldn’t know what to do in that situation either”. Hats off to Angel for admitting it to the world.
But that’s what makes Dick and Angel so compatable as Dick tends to the engineering type jobs. Note that I didn’t say ‘dirty’ jobs as to her credit, Angel has stated on more than one occasion that she’s not afraid of getting dirty when a job needs doing and I can imagine there is a lot of cleaning to be had in a home that’s been sitting empty for decades.
This book is a very honest account of pulling up your deep set roots and planting them in an alien country. It might as well be another world. It’s apparent that it isn’t all plain sailing for the couple and their children. Things don’t always work first time and as Dick finds out; something as simple as drilling a hole in the wall is a momentous task that takes him days as opposed to hours. The chateau would fight back at times but the mistakes that were made were learnt from and the couple’s collaborative effort achieved positive results.
As I read, I literally can’t stop smiling at the splendour and beautiful picture that Dick and Angel paint of the whole scene. Nature is described at its best and the couple literally plonk you right in the surroundings with them. Of course pictures tell a thousand words and the ones featured within the pages of the book add a nice touch and allow you further inside into their lives.
Note to reader, certain parts are hard to read if you are particularly hungry. There are talks of shins of beef, slow cooked ‘Boeuf bourguignon’ and mussels cooked in white wine sauce. All these mouthwatering dishes had me running to the kitchen cupboards to find something that could never match up to Dick and Angel’s pallet. At the halfway point, it is fair to say the Strawbridge’s might be a little too focused on the food aspects of France (and you can’t blame them), Thankfully, the aspects of the chateau eventually come back to the forefront and their journey continues.
Angel’s lack of knowledge in certain DIY procedures and terms are entertaining, heartwarming and endearing and I can imagine it allows a lot of people out there to relate on some level. I know I certainly do. There is no doubt, Angel is extremely good in her area of expertise (interior design and making things look outstandingly pretty), but there are times in her book she has struggled. Examples of these include not being able to start or maintain a fire, struggling to change a gas bottle and being completely hopeless when it came to getting rid of a bat. Now there will be a lot of women - and men come to that - nodding their heads and thinking “yeah, I wouldn’t know what to do in that situation either”. Hats off to Angel for admitting it to the world.
But that’s what makes Dick and Angel so compatable as Dick tends to the engineering type jobs. Note that I didn’t say ‘dirty’ jobs as to her credit, Angel has stated on more than one occasion that she’s not afraid of getting dirty when a job needs doing and I can imagine there is a lot of cleaning to be had in a home that’s been sitting empty for decades.
This book is a very honest account of pulling up your deep set roots and planting them in an alien country. It might as well be another world. It’s apparent that it isn’t all plain sailing for the couple and their children. Things don’t always work first time and as Dick finds out; something as simple as drilling a hole in the wall is a momentous task that takes him days as opposed to hours. The chateau would fight back at times but the mistakes that were made were learnt from and the couple’s collaborative effort achieved positive results.
February 13, 2022
I was drawn to this book as it was listed as a bestseller on Waterton Books. I wasn't terribly familiar with the television series however I did watch a few vignettes from the series on Youtube. I was expecting a modern equivalent of Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence" but as a stand alone book it didn't come close to the classic book about moving to France and renovating a house.The couple move to France with two young children to renovate a derelict French Chateau with the deadline of having a wedding 10 months after taking possession. Talk about a nightmare scenario. The book describes the renovations and design challenges that they face but it just wasn't very interesting. There are some interspersed stories of outings that they take and meals that they eat but these seem to have been thrown in to spice things up as the story of the renovations is just so boring. Maybe I would have gotten more out of the book if I had watched the television series but as it was this was just one boring book and I skimmed the last chapters on their wedding as I was worried that if I continued reading that I would lapse into a coma.
April 6, 2021
First of all, I have to say I loved the in lays of the book they were just beautiful!
The book recounts the couples first year at the chateau and their wedding preparations and of course the wedding it self. I would say Christmas but I feel that the month of December was very rushed, which was a shame. A lot of the photos seem to focus on the couples wedding, even though it was beautiful and it is a focus on their business, I felt the readers probably wanted to see the progress of each of the rooms that were spoken about instead.
I did feel that the book was just a carbon copy of the first series, and even though it is a lovely book for fans, I was hoping for lots more like nuggets that was not featured on the channel four show. Basically anyone could have written this book based on the programs around the chateau, and a little background info!! Most fans have watched the series several times during the past year, so we was expecting and excited to received something new and different about the chateau, but I was left not learning anything knew.
3 1/2 stars
The book recounts the couples first year at the chateau and their wedding preparations and of course the wedding it self. I would say Christmas but I feel that the month of December was very rushed, which was a shame. A lot of the photos seem to focus on the couples wedding, even though it was beautiful and it is a focus on their business, I felt the readers probably wanted to see the progress of each of the rooms that were spoken about instead.
I did feel that the book was just a carbon copy of the first series, and even though it is a lovely book for fans, I was hoping for lots more like nuggets that was not featured on the channel four show. Basically anyone could have written this book based on the programs around the chateau, and a little background info!! Most fans have watched the series several times during the past year, so we was expecting and excited to received something new and different about the chateau, but I was left not learning anything knew.
3 1/2 stars
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