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Īstas franču kāzas
Trīs burvīgas sievietes – Stefānija, Džoena un Meredita – ir draudzenes kopš skolas gadiem, bet laika gaitā viņas pašķīrušās. Meredita pieņem lēmumu nopirkt romantisku pili idilliskā vietā un secina, ka viena ar to galā netiks. Un kurš gan cits viņai palīdzēs, ja ne divas senas draudzenes? Viņas sanāk kopā un cer iedvest pilī dzīvību un piedāvāt to kāzu rīkošanai Francijā.
Izrādās, šī pasakainā vieta piedāvā ne tikai sauli, vīnu un izcilus franču ēdienus. Te var sastapt arī pievilcīgu šefpavāru, viņa tikpat pievilcīgo dēlu, vīnogu audzētāju no Jaunzēlandes, tāpat britu imigrantu pulciņu un buldogu meiteni Nelliju...
Draudzenes sanāk kopā, lai piepildītu savu sapni, lai padarītu laimīgus iemīlējušos pārus un lai ienirtu Francijā, satriecošās un ļoti īstās franču kāzās.
Izrādās, šī pasakainā vieta piedāvā ne tikai sauli, vīnu un izcilus franču ēdienus. Te var sastapt arī pievilcīgu šefpavāru, viņa tikpat pievilcīgo dēlu, vīnogu audzētāju no Jaunzēlandes, tāpat britu imigrantu pulciņu un buldogu meiteni Nelliju...
Draudzenes sanāk kopā, lai piepildītu savu sapni, lai padarītu laimīgus iemīlējušos pārus un lai ienirtu Francijā, satriecošās un ļoti īstās franču kāzās.
477 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2021
49 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Maeve Haran
34 books68 followersMaeve Haran is an Oxford Law graduate who worked in journalism and television before writing her first novel, Having It All, a worldwide bestseller translated into 26 languages and shortlisted for
the Romantic Novel of the Year. She wrote twelve more contemporary novels, one work of non-fiction, and two historical novels.
Her new book In the Summertime is due out on June 8.
She has grown-up three children and lives in North London.
the Romantic Novel of the Year. She wrote twelve more contemporary novels, one work of non-fiction, and two historical novels.
Her new book In the Summertime is due out on June 8.
She has grown-up three children and lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 18, 2021
I loved this book it was set in France as the title suggests and it was full of wonderful characters and descriptions of the beautiful chateau. It was very easy to pick this up and want to keep reading which is why I finished it so quickly. I hope to read more by this author in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 6, 2022
After my previous read I was after something light This certainly is that, absolute romantic escapism.
Steph, Jo and Meredith despite their obvious differences in lifestyles have remained friends since school. Extremely wealthy Meredith buys a romantic Chateau though run down chateau in France because it brings back memories of her beloved father who has died. Who better to help with it than her two longtime friends. Steph and her husband Dave already live in the area where they run a B and B. Together they hope to restore those chateau and transform it into a romantic wedding venue.
The village of Bratenac with its wine growing and French food is an idyllic place. The village is also home to Philippe, who gave up a life and a three Michelin star restaurant in Paris to care for his father who has dementia. He also has his chef son Jean-Christophe who Philippe has raised since his wife walked out when Jean-Christophe was ten. Another interesting character is Liam, a vigneron originally from New Zealand. But there is also the canine Nelly who manages to add her own stamp on Meredith and some of her attitudes.
This is an amusing story of romance, family relationships and friendship. Though it was not without a couple of minor faults, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just a great bit of escapism that engaged me with the characters and the setting and sometimes that is all I want as a reader. Chick lit certainly but a good fun read.
Steph, Jo and Meredith despite their obvious differences in lifestyles have remained friends since school. Extremely wealthy Meredith buys a romantic Chateau though run down chateau in France because it brings back memories of her beloved father who has died. Who better to help with it than her two longtime friends. Steph and her husband Dave already live in the area where they run a B and B. Together they hope to restore those chateau and transform it into a romantic wedding venue.
The village of Bratenac with its wine growing and French food is an idyllic place. The village is also home to Philippe, who gave up a life and a three Michelin star restaurant in Paris to care for his father who has dementia. He also has his chef son Jean-Christophe who Philippe has raised since his wife walked out when Jean-Christophe was ten. Another interesting character is Liam, a vigneron originally from New Zealand. But there is also the canine Nelly who manages to add her own stamp on Meredith and some of her attitudes.
This is an amusing story of romance, family relationships and friendship. Though it was not without a couple of minor faults, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just a great bit of escapism that engaged me with the characters and the setting and sometimes that is all I want as a reader. Chick lit certainly but a good fun read.
January 9, 2022
was probably more of a summer read, but i still LOVED it nonetheless. the descriptions of an idyllic french town make me want to own my own chateau and vineyard. however, I did find some of the events and characters a bit predictable, such as sophie and jean-christophe ending up together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2021
Novel set in the DORDOGNE
In these less than cheery times, when foreign travel still seems a fairly distant prospect, why not snuggle yourself down in whatever heat you can find -conservatory, sunny window, living-room fire, duvet, whatever – pour yourself a large G and T and settle down for a few glorious weeks in the Dordogne, courtesy of Haran’s latest novel. I can promise you; it really is not that bad a substitute.
Meredith, Steph and Jo were the best of school friends but maturity and the paths their lives have taken have separated them. Steph and her husband David run an upmarket B and B in Bratenac, an idyllic Dordogne village, and coincidentally the same place that Meredith used to visit as a child with her beloved father, who has recently died. Browsing through an in-flight magazine one day, she happens to see a picture of the Bratenac chateau, the focus of her childhood dreams and, on impulse, decides to give up her extremely successful career in Far East investments and go to visit her childhood friend. Meanwhile, back in England the third of the trio of friends, Jo, is running an events management business with her daughter Sophie and trying, without great success, to get over her husband’s defection in favour of a younger model.
In Bratenac, Meredith falls in love with the chateau all over again and decides it would make a brilliant wedding venue. Having no experience of organising weddings, or even renovating chateaux, however, she enlists the help of her friend Steph and encourages Jo and Sophie to join them, bringing their event management skills to the venture. Of course, all is not plain sailing. The former chateau owner is delighted to sell the crumbling pile but not so content to leave the new owners to make their own decisions about it and the village is home to a group of ex-pat-ladies-who-lunch and also specialise in gossip and interference. Their first wedding looks set to be an absolute nightmare and it takes all their considerable combined skills to save it.
A Very French Wedding is peopled with a cast of glorious and often gloriously funny characters. We meet the charming Philippe, who has left his Michelin starred restaurant in Paris to come to live and work in the village so that he can look after his aging and eccentric father; Philippe’s gorgeously sexy son, Jean-Christophe, also a chef; meddlesome aristocratic Margot, ex chateau owner, forever lurking in the vineyard and up to no good; terrifying Suzi, the man-eater; ebullient, irrepressible Jackie; the truly awful Ronnie, the bride’s mother and would-be flower arranger and finally, Nelly, the slobbery, sinisterly smiling bulldog, adopted by Meredith. Surely, there was never a more memorable or endearing fictional canine?
If you’re a Francophile and missing your fix, this has it all. You can get lost in the beautiful, rolling countryside with its sparkling rivers and picturesque villages, explore the fascinating interiors of a chateau, stroll around the luxurious gardens, or simply relax and enjoy the sunshine, the fabulous food or the delicious wines.
When you close the cover on A Very French Wedding, and have to return to the grey normality of a British Autumn, you can hold on to the feeling of the sun on your skin and the tastes of Provence on your palate and the memories of all the interesting, irritating, amusing and endearing characters you met during your sojourn in France.
In these less than cheery times, when foreign travel still seems a fairly distant prospect, why not snuggle yourself down in whatever heat you can find -conservatory, sunny window, living-room fire, duvet, whatever – pour yourself a large G and T and settle down for a few glorious weeks in the Dordogne, courtesy of Haran’s latest novel. I can promise you; it really is not that bad a substitute.
Meredith, Steph and Jo were the best of school friends but maturity and the paths their lives have taken have separated them. Steph and her husband David run an upmarket B and B in Bratenac, an idyllic Dordogne village, and coincidentally the same place that Meredith used to visit as a child with her beloved father, who has recently died. Browsing through an in-flight magazine one day, she happens to see a picture of the Bratenac chateau, the focus of her childhood dreams and, on impulse, decides to give up her extremely successful career in Far East investments and go to visit her childhood friend. Meanwhile, back in England the third of the trio of friends, Jo, is running an events management business with her daughter Sophie and trying, without great success, to get over her husband’s defection in favour of a younger model.
In Bratenac, Meredith falls in love with the chateau all over again and decides it would make a brilliant wedding venue. Having no experience of organising weddings, or even renovating chateaux, however, she enlists the help of her friend Steph and encourages Jo and Sophie to join them, bringing their event management skills to the venture. Of course, all is not plain sailing. The former chateau owner is delighted to sell the crumbling pile but not so content to leave the new owners to make their own decisions about it and the village is home to a group of ex-pat-ladies-who-lunch and also specialise in gossip and interference. Their first wedding looks set to be an absolute nightmare and it takes all their considerable combined skills to save it.
A Very French Wedding is peopled with a cast of glorious and often gloriously funny characters. We meet the charming Philippe, who has left his Michelin starred restaurant in Paris to come to live and work in the village so that he can look after his aging and eccentric father; Philippe’s gorgeously sexy son, Jean-Christophe, also a chef; meddlesome aristocratic Margot, ex chateau owner, forever lurking in the vineyard and up to no good; terrifying Suzi, the man-eater; ebullient, irrepressible Jackie; the truly awful Ronnie, the bride’s mother and would-be flower arranger and finally, Nelly, the slobbery, sinisterly smiling bulldog, adopted by Meredith. Surely, there was never a more memorable or endearing fictional canine?
If you’re a Francophile and missing your fix, this has it all. You can get lost in the beautiful, rolling countryside with its sparkling rivers and picturesque villages, explore the fascinating interiors of a chateau, stroll around the luxurious gardens, or simply relax and enjoy the sunshine, the fabulous food or the delicious wines.
When you close the cover on A Very French Wedding, and have to return to the grey normality of a British Autumn, you can hold on to the feeling of the sun on your skin and the tastes of Provence on your palate and the memories of all the interesting, irritating, amusing and endearing characters you met during your sojourn in France.
June 30, 2022
A Very French Wedding 💑 is a nice, light read about a French Chateau set up in the small town of Bratenac.
It's the perfect location for a Wedding Venue 💑 ~ picture the moon 🌙 🌚 going down over the turrets of the Chateau at night and you've got the scene set. An abundance of flowers 💐 music 🎶 and wine 🍷from the local vineyards and French cuisine made by a renowned Chef 👨🍳.
There's a lot that goes on between the scenes to make the perfect wedding 💑.
I enjoyed the making of the Wedding cake the best 👌. Made from turning ice-cream cones upside-down for the turrets of the Chateau Wedding 💑 cake and the use of old Cadbury's cocoa tins for the towers. Very inventive!
A nice, light French read that is in some parts humorous.
Perfect light read in between heavy stuff.
It's the perfect location for a Wedding Venue 💑 ~ picture the moon 🌙 🌚 going down over the turrets of the Chateau at night and you've got the scene set. An abundance of flowers 💐 music 🎶 and wine 🍷from the local vineyards and French cuisine made by a renowned Chef 👨🍳.
There's a lot that goes on between the scenes to make the perfect wedding 💑.
I enjoyed the making of the Wedding cake the best 👌. Made from turning ice-cream cones upside-down for the turrets of the Chateau Wedding 💑 cake and the use of old Cadbury's cocoa tins for the towers. Very inventive!
A nice, light French read that is in some parts humorous.
Perfect light read in between heavy stuff.
March 13, 2025
Loved this, a romance for some new enterprise for others,a Busy group of friends who are all quite different in a beautiful place I found it easy to remember each character separately. And some nosy neighbours too
August 19, 2021
Meredith, Steph and Jo are best friends, who used to go to school together. Now they are experienced, mature women living their own lives: Steph and her husband David run a B&B in a village in France, the same village Meredith used to visit with her father as a child. She is now a powerfull businesswoman, who now decides to buy the chateau she has always admired with her father, leaving her lucrative career in Far East behind. Jo is in Basingstoke, actually reeling from her husband’s betrayal and upcoming marriage. Meredith’s purchase brings all the women together again and they decide, with help of Jo’s daughter, Sophie, to make the chateau a wedding venue. However, life is not all plain sailing – there are relationship problems, betrayal, hurt feelings and also a meddling group of ex – pat ladies who not only lunch together, but also want to know everything and interfere wherever they can.
There were plenty of characters in this book but they were strong enough, however, what I didn’t appreciate too much, was the fact that the author has overdone some of them, stereotyping them too much for my liking and already dooming us to liking or not liking them, there was not another option for you as a reader. You are literally told by the author what to think about them, especially those „bad“ ones, who feel a bit too grotesque and exaggerated. Nevertheless, they were colourful and very different and yes, they annoyed me now and then but I think it’s a good sign, right, it only shows that they all grew on me and yes, I was keeping my fingers crossed for them. I think that Steph was my least favourite character, I felt I didn’t know her good enough to understand her, there was too little about her life with David to completely get her and her actions. This whole snapping, being angry with David – it didn’t work. Either get help, Steph, or stop acting like diva, pretty please. She – they all – were mature women, so really I was expecting something more from her. However, they were actually like a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed their shenanigans and interfering, because they really wanted only good things. Experienced and often already burned, they were careful and it was lovely to see them coming out of their shells, leaving their comfort zones, daring.
There were moments that the book felt a bit too chopped – it was focusing on one thing and then suddenly moving to another. It also tried to bring many subplots together, jumping between the characters and while mostly it worked, sometimes I had a feeling that the author simply wants to spread herself too thin and it felt too overdone, unrealistic and unnatural. And there were also so many characters! Till the end I was not able to differentiate some of them, especially those with the names beginning with „M“, Meredith, Mandy, Margot… however altogether they were distinctive enough to know who is who. The end focused too much on the wedding, I think, I didn’t feel satisfied with it, I’d rather read more about Stephanie and David than on the short storm and tipping the flowers over – although Ronnie deserved it very much.
Altogether, I liked „A Very French Wedding“, it was entertaining and I loved the setting and it had this feel – good factor. The descriptions of the food were delicious and the adventures of the friends hilarious and also poignant, with more depth to them than expected. It is an axcellent summer read, filled with romance, weddings, wine, food and sunshine. Light – hearted, uplifting, though sometimes too short on descriptions between the scenes and characters and taking a shortcut, but still really worth reading if you are looking for something light and relaxing. I enjoyed it!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review / PB purchased
There were plenty of characters in this book but they were strong enough, however, what I didn’t appreciate too much, was the fact that the author has overdone some of them, stereotyping them too much for my liking and already dooming us to liking or not liking them, there was not another option for you as a reader. You are literally told by the author what to think about them, especially those „bad“ ones, who feel a bit too grotesque and exaggerated. Nevertheless, they were colourful and very different and yes, they annoyed me now and then but I think it’s a good sign, right, it only shows that they all grew on me and yes, I was keeping my fingers crossed for them. I think that Steph was my least favourite character, I felt I didn’t know her good enough to understand her, there was too little about her life with David to completely get her and her actions. This whole snapping, being angry with David – it didn’t work. Either get help, Steph, or stop acting like diva, pretty please. She – they all – were mature women, so really I was expecting something more from her. However, they were actually like a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed their shenanigans and interfering, because they really wanted only good things. Experienced and often already burned, they were careful and it was lovely to see them coming out of their shells, leaving their comfort zones, daring.
There were moments that the book felt a bit too chopped – it was focusing on one thing and then suddenly moving to another. It also tried to bring many subplots together, jumping between the characters and while mostly it worked, sometimes I had a feeling that the author simply wants to spread herself too thin and it felt too overdone, unrealistic and unnatural. And there were also so many characters! Till the end I was not able to differentiate some of them, especially those with the names beginning with „M“, Meredith, Mandy, Margot… however altogether they were distinctive enough to know who is who. The end focused too much on the wedding, I think, I didn’t feel satisfied with it, I’d rather read more about Stephanie and David than on the short storm and tipping the flowers over – although Ronnie deserved it very much.
Altogether, I liked „A Very French Wedding“, it was entertaining and I loved the setting and it had this feel – good factor. The descriptions of the food were delicious and the adventures of the friends hilarious and also poignant, with more depth to them than expected. It is an axcellent summer read, filled with romance, weddings, wine, food and sunshine. Light – hearted, uplifting, though sometimes too short on descriptions between the scenes and characters and taking a shortcut, but still really worth reading if you are looking for something light and relaxing. I enjoyed it!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review / PB purchased
June 21, 2021
Amazon's tendency to push books at you that you've shown an interest in can be annoying but, unfortunately, effective. Given my reading history, a romantic novel set in France was right up my street. I had read Ms Haran's debut novel 'Having it all' back in the 90s but had never been tempted by her subsequent novels. I now remember why.
Stephenie and her husband, David, have moved to a village in France where they run a B&B. Her old friend Meredith has recently lost her beloved father, in her childhood they spent camping holidays in the same village and Meredith's invitation, to visit them, tempts her to revisit her past. Once there she sees the chateau of her childhood dreams and decides to give up her lucrative career, in Far East investments and buy it. Although she knows nothing about organising a wedding their recently divorced friend in England, Jo, runs an event management business with her daughter, Sophie, both agree to join her in her new venture.
In the village, there are a group of ex-pat ladies who lunch together. Jackie, their matriarchal head, is married to Steve a British builder who undertakes most of the local building works. A Parisian 3-star chef has recently moved back to his hometown with his son, Jean-Christopher. The only other French people featured are the aristocrats from whom Meredith buys the chateau, even it's vineyard is overseen by a New Zealander, Liam.
The story is set after the BrExit vote but before Covid. Neighbours of my parents were due to retire to France when the vote took place but decided against due to the uncertainty following the vote. I realise that the majority of ex-pats would have moved to France before the vote but Meredith is not only moving to France but buying a business there, I can't help but wonder what problems she may face but the author ignored them.
Ms Harem is not a subtle writer, her voice is ever-present telling you what to think about the characters and signposting the plot. Her descriptive powers are not strong and I rarely felt transported to France. 'Scenes' were often short and switched fast to another character somewhere else. I was also confused as originally I imagined the main women to be in their mid-forties but with 30 years of marriage mentioned I had to revise their ages to mid-fifties. Overall it wasn't a satisfying reading experience and I won't be reading any of this author's books again.
Stephenie and her husband, David, have moved to a village in France where they run a B&B. Her old friend Meredith has recently lost her beloved father, in her childhood they spent camping holidays in the same village and Meredith's invitation, to visit them, tempts her to revisit her past. Once there she sees the chateau of her childhood dreams and decides to give up her lucrative career, in Far East investments and buy it. Although she knows nothing about organising a wedding their recently divorced friend in England, Jo, runs an event management business with her daughter, Sophie, both agree to join her in her new venture.
In the village, there are a group of ex-pat ladies who lunch together. Jackie, their matriarchal head, is married to Steve a British builder who undertakes most of the local building works. A Parisian 3-star chef has recently moved back to his hometown with his son, Jean-Christopher. The only other French people featured are the aristocrats from whom Meredith buys the chateau, even it's vineyard is overseen by a New Zealander, Liam.
The story is set after the BrExit vote but before Covid. Neighbours of my parents were due to retire to France when the vote took place but decided against due to the uncertainty following the vote. I realise that the majority of ex-pats would have moved to France before the vote but Meredith is not only moving to France but buying a business there, I can't help but wonder what problems she may face but the author ignored them.
Ms Harem is not a subtle writer, her voice is ever-present telling you what to think about the characters and signposting the plot. Her descriptive powers are not strong and I rarely felt transported to France. 'Scenes' were often short and switched fast to another character somewhere else. I was also confused as originally I imagined the main women to be in their mid-forties but with 30 years of marriage mentioned I had to revise their ages to mid-fifties. Overall it wasn't a satisfying reading experience and I won't be reading any of this author's books again.
June 5, 2023
Anglietei Stefānijai ar vīru pieder viesu nams Francijā. Kādu dienu viņa saņem zvanu no savas bagātās draudzenes Mereditas, ka viņa braukšot ciemos. Aizbraucot uz Franciju, Meredita uzzina, ka pārdošanā ir pils, kuru viņa bērnībā apmeklēja kopā ar tēti. Sentimenta vadīta viņa pili nopērk ar domu rīkot tajā kāzas. Palīgos tiek pieaicināta arī trešā draudzene Džoena. Kas var būt romantiskāks par kāzu rīkošana Francijas pilī. Stāstu bagātāku padara netālu dzīvojošais slavenais šefpavārs un viņa skaistais dēls, vīnogu audzētājs no Jaunzēlandes,kolorītais dāmu pulciņš no Anglijas un buldogu meitene Nellija.
Tiklab viss izklausās labi. Viegls, romantisks vasaras romāniņš. Ne gluži manai gaumei, bet nolēmu pamēģināt.
Gaidīju romantiski skaistu stāstu ar kāzām, skaistā Francijas apkārtnē. Vīlos, jo kāzas notika tikai pašās grāmatas beigās. Pārējā grāmata sastāvēja no tā,kā Meredita nopirka pili no hercogu pāra, kā viņa ar draudzeņu palīdzības pili iekārtoja pēc savas gaumes.
Ja sākumā likās,ka grāmata varētu pat patikt, tad ar katru mirkli grāmata kļuva kaitinošāka. Pieļauju, ka autorei ir kaut kāds aizvainojums uz vīriešiem,jo gandrīz katra sieviete domāja, ka vīrieši sievietes pamet un nodara tām pāri. Savukārt iesaistītajiem vīriešiem šad tad uznāca atklāsme, cik viņi bijuši slikti vīri.
Pamanīju, ka autore ik pa laikam atkārtojas, atgādinot lasītājam dažādus faktus vairākas reizes. Rodās sajūta, ka grāmatu lasīs sievietes, kurām ir slikta atmiņa un visu vajag vēlreiz un vēlreiz atkārtot, lai saprastu.
Ja šobrīd esi labās domās par stipro dzimumu, izlasot šo grāmatu radīsies sajūta, ka autore nemitīgi centās Tevi pārliecināt, ka vīrieši ir neiejūtīgi, bet bez viņiem dzīvot arī nevar, viņi ir vajadzīgi, lai justos laimīga un piepildīta.
Mulsināja pēkšņo ainu maiņas, kuras mainījās bez brīdinājuma nākamajā teikumā, tā radot apjukumu.
Grāmatā bija iekļauti daudzi franču vārdi un teikuni. Diemžēl nekur nebija tulkojuma, līdz ar to varēja tikai minēt, kas tur bija rakstīts.
Pašas kāzas bija tikai fons. Ja sākumā likās, ka varētu pat iepatikties, uz beigām grāmata jau ļoti kaitināja.
Tiklab viss izklausās labi. Viegls, romantisks vasaras romāniņš. Ne gluži manai gaumei, bet nolēmu pamēģināt.
Gaidīju romantiski skaistu stāstu ar kāzām, skaistā Francijas apkārtnē. Vīlos, jo kāzas notika tikai pašās grāmatas beigās. Pārējā grāmata sastāvēja no tā,kā Meredita nopirka pili no hercogu pāra, kā viņa ar draudzeņu palīdzības pili iekārtoja pēc savas gaumes.
Ja sākumā likās,ka grāmata varētu pat patikt, tad ar katru mirkli grāmata kļuva kaitinošāka. Pieļauju, ka autorei ir kaut kāds aizvainojums uz vīriešiem,jo gandrīz katra sieviete domāja, ka vīrieši sievietes pamet un nodara tām pāri. Savukārt iesaistītajiem vīriešiem šad tad uznāca atklāsme, cik viņi bijuši slikti vīri.
Pamanīju, ka autore ik pa laikam atkārtojas, atgādinot lasītājam dažādus faktus vairākas reizes. Rodās sajūta, ka grāmatu lasīs sievietes, kurām ir slikta atmiņa un visu vajag vēlreiz un vēlreiz atkārtot, lai saprastu.
Ja šobrīd esi labās domās par stipro dzimumu, izlasot šo grāmatu radīsies sajūta, ka autore nemitīgi centās Tevi pārliecināt, ka vīrieši ir neiejūtīgi, bet bez viņiem dzīvot arī nevar, viņi ir vajadzīgi, lai justos laimīga un piepildīta.
Mulsināja pēkšņo ainu maiņas, kuras mainījās bez brīdinājuma nākamajā teikumā, tā radot apjukumu.
Grāmatā bija iekļauti daudzi franču vārdi un teikuni. Diemžēl nekur nebija tulkojuma, līdz ar to varēja tikai minēt, kas tur bija rakstīts.
Pašas kāzas bija tikai fons. Ja sākumā likās, ka varētu pat iepatikties, uz beigām grāmata jau ļoti kaitināja.
June 4, 2021
A very french wedding is a perfect summer read based in beautiful France! Three old school friends and the most magical french chateau, gastronomic delights,and wedding planning make for an entertaining read!
Meredith, jo and Steph are all middle aged women who used to go to school together, Steph and her husband David run a french B and B working all hours and not really no living the expat dream, Jo is in Basingstoke reeling from her husbands defection and remarriage, Meredith the powerhouse of the trio, an extremely wealthy business women decides to buy a chateau very close to the B and B and in doing so brings the three women together in her shared vision of arranging romantic dream like weddings at the chateau! Life is not all plain sailing but we met an array of colourful characters and possible future relationships as the trio plan and execute their first chateau wedding!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
Meredith, jo and Steph are all middle aged women who used to go to school together, Steph and her husband David run a french B and B working all hours and not really no living the expat dream, Jo is in Basingstoke reeling from her husbands defection and remarriage, Meredith the powerhouse of the trio, an extremely wealthy business women decides to buy a chateau very close to the B and B and in doing so brings the three women together in her shared vision of arranging romantic dream like weddings at the chateau! Life is not all plain sailing but we met an array of colourful characters and possible future relationships as the trio plan and execute their first chateau wedding!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
June 28, 2021
This book is far from the Maeve Harans that made me interested in this author. Having It All was Haran's first book, and the following novels, as I recall, It Takes Two and All That She Wants, were novels I enjoyed, with their mix of the issues that feminists were debating at the time, and some romance. Having read A Very French Wedding, I feel that romance has overtaken the social comment content to an extent that has been a disappointment.
For readers who were not thrilled to be introduced to Haran's feminist approach in her early novels, A Very French Wedding could offer a romantic read with some small nods to the feminism that made the early novels so strong. The relationships between the married couples demonstrate the ease with which a partner's work toward the marriage can be underestimated and the newly forming relationships are not without their hazards. Women working together, and socialising together are portrayed positively.
However, for me this was not enough.
For readers who were not thrilled to be introduced to Haran's feminist approach in her early novels, A Very French Wedding could offer a romantic read with some small nods to the feminism that made the early novels so strong. The relationships between the married couples demonstrate the ease with which a partner's work toward the marriage can be underestimated and the newly forming relationships are not without their hazards. Women working together, and socialising together are portrayed positively.
However, for me this was not enough.
May 15, 2022
A Very French Wedding by Maeve Haran – Meredith buys a chateau in the Dordogne – what was she thinking? She can’t possibly manage it on her own. She calls on her old school friends to help her bring the chateau back to its former self and as an elegant and romantic back drop for couples wanting to marry in France. The chateau, set in a beautiful little village, sees Steph, Jo and Meredith shaking up their current lives and throwing themselves into a whirl of new friends, antagonists, and lovers – accompanied by wine and delicious French food. I seem to only be reading page-turners recently, and this book was unputdownable.
December 8, 2021
Indeed a very French romance. The setting is beautiful and one can almost smell the French summer and see the château. Wedding business is one aimed at selling dreams and this book sure sells a new age 20th century fairy tale.
The story of the three friends and there lives was entertaining and warm. No major upheavals and yet not plain. This book is nice winter read . The kind you want o read next to fireplace, bundled in a quilt preferably with mulled wine in hand.
I loved the book for the pleasant read it is.
The story of the three friends and there lives was entertaining and warm. No major upheavals and yet not plain. This book is nice winter read . The kind you want o read next to fireplace, bundled in a quilt preferably with mulled wine in hand.
I loved the book for the pleasant read it is.
June 27, 2022
When Meredith decides to buy a chateau in France she needs help renovating it, to turn it into a wedding venue. So she turns to her old school friends for help.
A lovely read for a winter Sunday to take your mind off what is happening in the world right now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A lovely read for a winter Sunday to take your mind off what is happening in the world right now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 24, 2022
Being a bit of a francophile I had to read this! A story about a woman who buys a chateau for weddings. She meets Phillipe and falls in love herself. But there's all sorts of other things that happen. I enjoyed it but nearer the end I felt some of the incidents seemed a bit brief. And stephs sister Ronnie was quite an annoying character. Nevertheless I did enjoy the story as a whole
May 2, 2024
A good read, agreed. However, a lot of characters to keep up with, a lot of words & lot of pointless, needless chitter chatter & actually I felt it needed another chapter to finish it off better. Was a little abrupt & unfinished. What happened to Suzi & the Birkin, what happened to the duchess? What happened to Jo & Liam? What about Sophie & Jean-Christophe? What about Steph & David?
October 25, 2025
I picked this up in the library after a holiday in France. It's an easy read, though it took me a little while to get into it. Two-thirds of the way through and i couldn't put it down! A lovely setting, a happy if predictable ending. It would make a great summer holiday sunlounger read!
July 7, 2021
ReView
Really good read, very jolly tale uncommitted up the flavour and atmosphere of rural FRance perfectly, liked this book a lot
Really good read, very jolly tale uncommitted up the flavour and atmosphere of rural FRance perfectly, liked this book a lot
August 19, 2021
An easy summer read. Predictable in places. Pleasant story and characters.
January 15, 2022
Great book , loved the characters, kept you rooting for them .
Well worth a read.
Well worth a read.
February 28, 2022
A nice easy read.
March 6, 2022
This book was amazing
March 13, 2022
Fantastic story! Made me want to catch a plane to France and buy a chateau.
April 20, 2022
Quite predictable but a good read
June 12, 2022
Predictable trash
September 17, 2022
Not my cup of tea! The way the characters spoke felt very unrealistic and I felt the story line re Steph and David was forgotten, so quickly summarised in the last sentence!
November 2, 2022
I borrowed this from the local library. My son (aged 7) spotted it and said “you might like this one Mummy” and he was right! Lovely feel good story that keeps your interest right the way through.
February 7, 2023
This was a lovely and easy feel good feel, with a good storyline and nice characters. a Lovely bit of escapism
June 2, 2023
Strange start... coudn't finish it
June 19, 2023
A cozy read
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