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Villa of Second Chances
Everyone deserves a second chance…right? Escape to the Villa in the South of France with Top 10 international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet, for an uplifting story of family, love and second chances.
Run by sisters Rebecca and Delphine, Villa Sesame is a popular venue for small intimate weddings on the sparkling French Riviera. Beautiful terraces and a horizon pool overlook the Mediterranean, a setting where dreams come true.
When recently widowed Delphine unexpectedly announces her desire to retire and live a different life, Rebecca feels her own life could be slipping into free fall.
How can she possibly carry on with the business without her sister at her side? Could this be the beginning of the end for Villa Sésame and Rebecca’s life as she knows it?
As the guests gather for the June wedding of Freya and Marcus, Freya’s two childhood friends bring their own problems to the villa and cousin Verity has her own agenda.
But it's the arrival of a certain guest who throws Rebecca’s whole world into turmoil and she finds herself asking the question, where do I go from here?
Run by sisters Rebecca and Delphine, Villa Sesame is a popular venue for small intimate weddings on the sparkling French Riviera. Beautiful terraces and a horizon pool overlook the Mediterranean, a setting where dreams come true.
When recently widowed Delphine unexpectedly announces her desire to retire and live a different life, Rebecca feels her own life could be slipping into free fall.
How can she possibly carry on with the business without her sister at her side? Could this be the beginning of the end for Villa Sésame and Rebecca’s life as she knows it?
As the guests gather for the June wedding of Freya and Marcus, Freya’s two childhood friends bring their own problems to the villa and cousin Verity has her own agenda.
But it's the arrival of a certain guest who throws Rebecca’s whole world into turmoil and she finds herself asking the question, where do I go from here?
Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
485 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Bohnet
39 books289 followersSixteen years ago Richard and I, with our then dog, 14 year old Holly in a trailer attached to Richard's bike, cycled down through western France via the canal paths, arriving in Antibes in July. With the exception of two fleeting visits back to the UK we have lived in France ever since.
For the past five years we have lived in a small cottage in central Brittany with one large collie dog called Viking, one fat cat known as Little’un and a young tortoiseshell cat called Missy. Oh, and there are various ducks and chickens in the garden, and a large pond with about a hundred fish in!
I have contributed short stories and serials to many of the UK women's magazines including, The People's Friend, Candis, My Weekly, Best, Yours and my stories have been published in Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Ireland.
I also write magazine features and my work has been published in national magazines and newspapers like, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Home and Country, Devon Life. For over three years I had my own newspaper column in the South Hams Group of Newspapers, that took a wry look at family life.
I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors.
For the past five years we have lived in a small cottage in central Brittany with one large collie dog called Viking, one fat cat known as Little’un and a young tortoiseshell cat called Missy. Oh, and there are various ducks and chickens in the garden, and a large pond with about a hundred fish in!
I have contributed short stories and serials to many of the UK women's magazines including, The People's Friend, Candis, My Weekly, Best, Yours and my stories have been published in Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Ireland.
I also write magazine features and my work has been published in national magazines and newspapers like, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Home and Country, Devon Life. For over three years I had my own newspaper column in the South Hams Group of Newspapers, that took a wry look at family life.
I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 4, 2025
*Revelations*
This was such a lovely story. It was gentle with a touch of drama, set against the beautiful backdrop of the French Riviera. The majority of the cast were near my age group, and the main leads, sisters Rebecca and Delphine, run the very popular Villa Sesame. They specialise in delivering intimate weddings, and the descriptions of the venue overlooking the Mediterranean sounded idyllic.
Delphine is thinking of retiring mainly due to the recent loss of her beloved husband. She has plans to travel, but she is concerned about what it would mean for her sister.
Rebecca, on the other hand, has a son who has no idea who his father is. Rebecca knows far too well who he is. They spent a weekend together and lost touch. She often wonders what if…
They have a wedding planned, a remarriage, and there will be a lot of catching up to do as they are old friends. Rebecca gets the shock of her life when something happens that will change her life. This will mean facing up to things and a huge secret being revealed that will affect more than herself.
I will stop there as the cast of characters are great, with one prickly person, but this time will mean change for them all.
This was such a lovely story. It was gentle with a touch of drama, set against the beautiful backdrop of the French Riviera. The majority of the cast were near my age group, and the main leads, sisters Rebecca and Delphine, run the very popular Villa Sesame. They specialise in delivering intimate weddings, and the descriptions of the venue overlooking the Mediterranean sounded idyllic.
Delphine is thinking of retiring mainly due to the recent loss of her beloved husband. She has plans to travel, but she is concerned about what it would mean for her sister.
Rebecca, on the other hand, has a son who has no idea who his father is. Rebecca knows far too well who he is. They spent a weekend together and lost touch. She often wonders what if…
They have a wedding planned, a remarriage, and there will be a lot of catching up to do as they are old friends. Rebecca gets the shock of her life when something happens that will change her life. This will mean facing up to things and a huge secret being revealed that will affect more than herself.
I will stop there as the cast of characters are great, with one prickly person, but this time will mean change for them all.
February 26, 2022
How lovely it was to be able to spend time in the South of France, on the French Riviera with this fabulous cast of characters.
And what an apt title this book has, as the Villa Sesame really did seem instrumental in giving out all manner of second chances.
There are some fun surprises to be uncovered too, as threads of the story, connect in ways you may not have initially imagined.
I loved getting to know Freya Rebecca, Clemmie, Angela and to a lesser extent Verity, as Freya and Marcus' wedding approaches.
These are all characters in the prime of their lives, perhaps a tad more mature than you would perhaps expect, and learning about their various life experiences and how they are dealing with their current situations is heartening.
This is another fabulous story from Jennifer Bohnet who always brings gorgeous scenery, a lovely glimpse into France, and characters that get under your skint to the extent you actually care what is happening to them.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
And what an apt title this book has, as the Villa Sesame really did seem instrumental in giving out all manner of second chances.
There are some fun surprises to be uncovered too, as threads of the story, connect in ways you may not have initially imagined.
I loved getting to know Freya Rebecca, Clemmie, Angela and to a lesser extent Verity, as Freya and Marcus' wedding approaches.
These are all characters in the prime of their lives, perhaps a tad more mature than you would perhaps expect, and learning about their various life experiences and how they are dealing with their current situations is heartening.
This is another fabulous story from Jennifer Bohnet who always brings gorgeous scenery, a lovely glimpse into France, and characters that get under your skint to the extent you actually care what is happening to them.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
June 19, 2024
I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I have read several novels from this author now and I can’t seem to recreate the excitement of the first couple of reads. Maybe I haven’t connected with the Riviera setting, as the most recent books are part of this location however, I am a bit disappointed that I can’t find that immersive read from the “early days” of my Bohnet reading.
In this story, sisters Rebecca and Delphine are reaching the end of their time running Villa Sesame. Delphine wants to go travelling, leaving Rebecca in a whirlwind of doubt about what the future holds. Their next big event at Villa Sesame is a wedding and we meet all the different characters that are attending. There’s not too many but I did find it overwhelming in the beginning as I tried to identify all the different people and their backgrounds. Readers are mostly on the visitors from England and their past. From a widower to an estranged family guest, the wedding of Freya and Marcus does not promise to be plain sailing, despite the beautiful location.
As the novel progressed, I grew less interested in the characters. For me, the plot development felt too obvious and I did not feel connected to the characters and their dilemmas. I wonder if this is because the book felt a bit similar to previous reads from Bohnet, perhaps explaining why the story fell flat with me. Also, as there were so many characters and they were a bit older than me, I could not relate to this crossroads moment in their lives. Everything was wrapped up neatly at the end, which was quite satisfying, but perhaps lacked a bit of “bite”.
I liked the premise of being taken to a Riviera hotel but I think I was expecting younger characters and a lobby full of character episodes, rather than just focusing on the one wedding. The descriptions of the setting were lovely to feel transported away to sunnier climes. The estranged family member seemed the most interesting of characters but it was a shame they did not feature more and were more troublesome: all the tension seemed to diffuse too quickly for my liking.
Despite hating this word, I cannot help but use it…. this was a “nice” read from Bohnet. It was an easy bit of escapism fiction but I think I need to find a new location if I am reading any future books from this author.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this story, sisters Rebecca and Delphine are reaching the end of their time running Villa Sesame. Delphine wants to go travelling, leaving Rebecca in a whirlwind of doubt about what the future holds. Their next big event at Villa Sesame is a wedding and we meet all the different characters that are attending. There’s not too many but I did find it overwhelming in the beginning as I tried to identify all the different people and their backgrounds. Readers are mostly on the visitors from England and their past. From a widower to an estranged family guest, the wedding of Freya and Marcus does not promise to be plain sailing, despite the beautiful location.
As the novel progressed, I grew less interested in the characters. For me, the plot development felt too obvious and I did not feel connected to the characters and their dilemmas. I wonder if this is because the book felt a bit similar to previous reads from Bohnet, perhaps explaining why the story fell flat with me. Also, as there were so many characters and they were a bit older than me, I could not relate to this crossroads moment in their lives. Everything was wrapped up neatly at the end, which was quite satisfying, but perhaps lacked a bit of “bite”.
I liked the premise of being taken to a Riviera hotel but I think I was expecting younger characters and a lobby full of character episodes, rather than just focusing on the one wedding. The descriptions of the setting were lovely to feel transported away to sunnier climes. The estranged family member seemed the most interesting of characters but it was a shame they did not feature more and were more troublesome: all the tension seemed to diffuse too quickly for my liking.
Despite hating this word, I cannot help but use it…. this was a “nice” read from Bohnet. It was an easy bit of escapism fiction but I think I need to find a new location if I am reading any future books from this author.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2022
This is a slightly different book in this genre. The average age of all the characters is slightly higher than the cover might signify. This does not mean that it changes much of the ‘feel’ of the book.
There are two separate sets of characters in the story; one consists of a pair of sisters who run a villa as a wedding destination on the French Riviera, and the other is a trio of friends who have a long history. The first pair are confronting change of the monumental kind. One of the sisters wants to retire from the business, and having been a team for a long time, the possibility of doing it alone is daunting to the other.
The trio of friends is at a crossroads in life. They each are making a life-altering decision. This book is about how they help or hinder each other and how they come to terms with the things they have to do. This is a very simple, straightforward story, and the ‘twists’ were things I saw coming. I liked the author’s narration. Although the characters’ voices are different enough to sound like individuals, there seem to be too many of them. They all receive an arc and have their story wrapped up by the end of the book. This made it hard for me to be emotionally invested in any one person, and it is a task to appreciate everyone’s tale simultaneously. The emotions run deep, and all the women take some significant decisions. I read this quite quickly and enjoyed it. It is not light and fluffy, which is something readers of this genre should be aware of before going in. I would read another by the author.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
There are two separate sets of characters in the story; one consists of a pair of sisters who run a villa as a wedding destination on the French Riviera, and the other is a trio of friends who have a long history. The first pair are confronting change of the monumental kind. One of the sisters wants to retire from the business, and having been a team for a long time, the possibility of doing it alone is daunting to the other.
The trio of friends is at a crossroads in life. They each are making a life-altering decision. This book is about how they help or hinder each other and how they come to terms with the things they have to do. This is a very simple, straightforward story, and the ‘twists’ were things I saw coming. I liked the author’s narration. Although the characters’ voices are different enough to sound like individuals, there seem to be too many of them. They all receive an arc and have their story wrapped up by the end of the book. This made it hard for me to be emotionally invested in any one person, and it is a task to appreciate everyone’s tale simultaneously. The emotions run deep, and all the women take some significant decisions. I read this quite quickly and enjoyed it. It is not light and fluffy, which is something readers of this genre should be aware of before going in. I would read another by the author.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
March 1, 2022
Villa Sesame is a wedding venue on the French Riviera run by two sisters Rebecca and Delphine…imagine an azure blue swimming pool, gorgeous terraces, and the chirping of the cicadas of a balmy evening and you’re halfway there!
Freya and Marcus have rekindled their love and are getting married to each other…again and decide to have their wedding at Villa Sesame, gathering their friends and family to share their special day.
However behind the scenes at the villa Delphine has announced to her sister that she wants to retire and travel, however Rebecca doesn’t know where life is going to take her especially when Rufus turns up at the villa as a guest at the wedding.
Jennifer writes books that are completely relatable even if they are set in exotic locations that you may never get to visit – but we can all dream though can’t we?
I am a similar age to most of the characters so it was refreshing to read about people in their 50s falling in love and getting a second chance at things it was completely endearing.
I absolutely love Jennifer’s writing style, when you flick through the first pages of her books you know that she has bought you an airline ticket to a gorgeous, sunny location, where she will then introduce you to new friends and feed you with plenty of food and wine! You will never want to leave!
March 11, 2022
I loved the opportunity to visit this lovely selection of characters, with the story set against the gorgeous backdrop of the French Riviera. We meet Rebecca & Delphine head towards a change in their paths after Delphine was suddenly widowed, whilst they are also preparing for the second wedding for Freya and Marcus.
I am a massive fan of books by this wonderful author as they are always set in a warm and sunny location and always contain that wonderful feel good factor to make you smile even on the most miserable days. The villa that they have hired for the wedding sounds amazing and as soon as the words swimming pool were uttered, I could just imagine cocktails around the pool.
This story is about second chance for everyone whether that be in love or just reconnecting family ties, I love the insight we gain into each personal story as we spend time with everyone. A truly gorgeous story based around the wonderful love story of Freya and Marcus, another highly recommended read.
I am a massive fan of books by this wonderful author as they are always set in a warm and sunny location and always contain that wonderful feel good factor to make you smile even on the most miserable days. The villa that they have hired for the wedding sounds amazing and as soon as the words swimming pool were uttered, I could just imagine cocktails around the pool.
This story is about second chance for everyone whether that be in love or just reconnecting family ties, I love the insight we gain into each personal story as we spend time with everyone. A truly gorgeous story based around the wonderful love story of Freya and Marcus, another highly recommended read.
June 26, 2023
Not for me this one... Sooooo boring, people behaving weirdly and having odd reactions to stuff.
January 31, 2022
I really connect with Jennifer Bohnet’s writing style and am so pleased that she’s written about strong female characters over 50 in ‘Villa of Second Chances’. Books with these characters are less than plentiful and I’m happy to read about mature women who are having a great second act in life. Women in my age group want to know how others handle their challenges and what inspires them to keep going. I absolutely loved this cast of characters who found freedom, power and joy as they aged and took hold, with courage, at a chance to reinvent themselves, find new love and embrace change.
Everyone in this story has baggage in the form of regrets. You’ll read about a couple who are getting remarried after being married for 17 years and divorced for 5, a woman who wants to make time for her dreams and is thinking about retiring early, a woman who shares a secret with a man she hasn’t seen for 25 years, a woman who hasn’t talked to her childhood friend for 43 years because she couldn’t apologize for a near-fatal accident when they were 14-year-olds, and a woman who has a guilty secret she can’t share with her friends nor her son. All of these people meet together at Villa Sesame, a boutique wedding venue on the Cote d’Azur. With unexpected timebombs in their luggage, will things get explosive or, with maturity on their side, can they be diffused quietly?
The villa works its second-chance magic on these guests, women who were at a crossroads and faced with new opportunities, and they are inspired to move on to the next stage in life by fully embracing their past and stepping out from the complicated shadows caused by their long-held secrets and mistakes.
This wonderful read about the power of second chances is a must for anyone who is looking for inspiration to move on to the second half of their life with courage. We all need the gift of a second chance!
I was gifted this advance copy by Jennifer Bohnet, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Everyone in this story has baggage in the form of regrets. You’ll read about a couple who are getting remarried after being married for 17 years and divorced for 5, a woman who wants to make time for her dreams and is thinking about retiring early, a woman who shares a secret with a man she hasn’t seen for 25 years, a woman who hasn’t talked to her childhood friend for 43 years because she couldn’t apologize for a near-fatal accident when they were 14-year-olds, and a woman who has a guilty secret she can’t share with her friends nor her son. All of these people meet together at Villa Sesame, a boutique wedding venue on the Cote d’Azur. With unexpected timebombs in their luggage, will things get explosive or, with maturity on their side, can they be diffused quietly?
The villa works its second-chance magic on these guests, women who were at a crossroads and faced with new opportunities, and they are inspired to move on to the next stage in life by fully embracing their past and stepping out from the complicated shadows caused by their long-held secrets and mistakes.
This wonderful read about the power of second chances is a must for anyone who is looking for inspiration to move on to the second half of their life with courage. We all need the gift of a second chance!
I was gifted this advance copy by Jennifer Bohnet, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 17, 2022
A story of women facing challenges who embrace second chances and new love, all narrated against the sundrenched backdrop of the French Riviera - this novel was just up my alley.
Sisters Delphine and Rebecca run the elegant Villa Sésame, spectacularly located on the Riviera. Together they built and operate a successful venue that caters to weddings and events. But Delphine is beginning to rethink her life after the death of her husband; she is ready to hang up her chef’s whites and travel the world, leaving her sister to wonder what will become of their business. But concrete decisions must await the next busy wedding booking.
Freya and Marcus have booked a lavish week at Villa Sésame. After marriage, divorce and falling in love once again, they are marrying for a second time in their late fifties and replicating the old bridal party. Freya’s friends Clemmie and Angela, eager to escape their own concerns, come down from the UK to reprise their bridesmaid roles, while best man Rufus joins them.
This story was told through the perspectives of multiple characters and deftly addressed the themes of love, loss, grieving, and the power of second chances. I enjoyed the characters and their layered stories and the heady setting of southern France. A highly enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.
Sisters Delphine and Rebecca run the elegant Villa Sésame, spectacularly located on the Riviera. Together they built and operate a successful venue that caters to weddings and events. But Delphine is beginning to rethink her life after the death of her husband; she is ready to hang up her chef’s whites and travel the world, leaving her sister to wonder what will become of their business. But concrete decisions must await the next busy wedding booking.
Freya and Marcus have booked a lavish week at Villa Sésame. After marriage, divorce and falling in love once again, they are marrying for a second time in their late fifties and replicating the old bridal party. Freya’s friends Clemmie and Angela, eager to escape their own concerns, come down from the UK to reprise their bridesmaid roles, while best man Rufus joins them.
This story was told through the perspectives of multiple characters and deftly addressed the themes of love, loss, grieving, and the power of second chances. I enjoyed the characters and their layered stories and the heady setting of southern France. A highly enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2025
Really good story, good characters, it showcased the South of France perfectly 👌 very satisfying ending :-)
February 9, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm sure I requested this one because it takes place in the French Riviera and sometimes that bites me in the butt because I don't like the book as much as I think I will...but this time I loved it as much as I thought I would. There were quite a few main characters in this book...and most were much older than the characters in the books I usually read...but it allowed me to have more in common with them at the same time. They all have their own stories within the main story and I loved getting to know everything about them. And, of course, there were some twists and turns...but that keeps a reader interested, in my opinion. And I loved getting to spend a little time in this amazing location :) It had me looking many things up to see if they were real places...
March 4, 2022
Changes are coming at the Villa Sésame at Antibes on the French Riviera. Over the last twenty-five years, the sisters have turned it into the perfect wedding venue – Rebecca front-of-house and the supremely efficient organiser, Delphine creating the wonderful food. But Delphine – who’s recently lost the love of her life – has decided that it’s time to retire and do some of those things she’s never had time to do, and Rebecca’s not sure whether she can carry on without her.
But first, they must both turn their attention to the second time marriage of Freya and Marcus, and their friends and family who will be staying at the villa for the next week, and an intriguing cast of characters assembles. There are the two childhood friends who are to be bridesmaids – Clemmie in the early stages of a new relationship, Angela recently widowed and struggling with her grief and a secret that’s tearing her apart. And, as is often the case with weddings, there’s the family member that no-one really wanted to attend – scheming cousin Verity, whose presence will be uncomfortable for many – along with all the family members across the generations. But it’s perhaps best man Rufus who causes the most ripples – and gives Rebecca more to think about than the future of the villa as her past begins to catch up with her and force some difficult decisions.
I really enjoyed this one – with well-drawn characters of an age where they’ve lived a little, a nice layering of secrets and echoes from the past, interesting relationships unfolding in the present. The whole story is beautifully constructed – the introductions to all the characters and their back stories in the last week of May, the developments and relationships between them over the week of the wedding (with a few surprises and revelations along the way), then the sorting out of all the complications once the dust has settled and the wedding is over. At times, it’s primarily Rebecca’s story – but all the characters take their turn in the spotlight, every one of them with interesting depth and engagement. It’s a light read, but has the perfect emotional touch – and it all plays out against a background that’s quite beautifully drawn, where the villa almost becomes another character in the story.
Perfect escapism, an engaging and well told story, a few individuals I really took to my heart, well-drawn relationships and character development, convincing problems and satisfying solutions – and a read I’d thoroughly recommend.
But first, they must both turn their attention to the second time marriage of Freya and Marcus, and their friends and family who will be staying at the villa for the next week, and an intriguing cast of characters assembles. There are the two childhood friends who are to be bridesmaids – Clemmie in the early stages of a new relationship, Angela recently widowed and struggling with her grief and a secret that’s tearing her apart. And, as is often the case with weddings, there’s the family member that no-one really wanted to attend – scheming cousin Verity, whose presence will be uncomfortable for many – along with all the family members across the generations. But it’s perhaps best man Rufus who causes the most ripples – and gives Rebecca more to think about than the future of the villa as her past begins to catch up with her and force some difficult decisions.
I really enjoyed this one – with well-drawn characters of an age where they’ve lived a little, a nice layering of secrets and echoes from the past, interesting relationships unfolding in the present. The whole story is beautifully constructed – the introductions to all the characters and their back stories in the last week of May, the developments and relationships between them over the week of the wedding (with a few surprises and revelations along the way), then the sorting out of all the complications once the dust has settled and the wedding is over. At times, it’s primarily Rebecca’s story – but all the characters take their turn in the spotlight, every one of them with interesting depth and engagement. It’s a light read, but has the perfect emotional touch – and it all plays out against a background that’s quite beautifully drawn, where the villa almost becomes another character in the story.
Perfect escapism, an engaging and well told story, a few individuals I really took to my heart, well-drawn relationships and character development, convincing problems and satisfying solutions – and a read I’d thoroughly recommend.
August 9, 2023
I enjoyed this book, the characters are older than expected but the story is lovely. Second chance romance, second chance family and is set in a beautiful place !
April 25, 2022
DNFed a little way into part II (around 30%). Nothing really fun or exciting or even enticing has really happened yet and I'm kind of losing interest. I do think this might be better suited to an older demographic.
It was just taking way to long for me to get to the fun, escapism part of the book and that really why I picked up this book in the first place. I think I'm a bit too young for this book and was getting a bit bogged down by the "I've lived life and just need a break" aspect of the story. To me the cover read a lot more fun (or even young and fun) so even though I knew going in the book centered around someone retiring, I thought we would get to the enjoyable part of the book much faster. Additionally the summary gave me the impression this book would focus on taking chances and doing the things you always wanted to do but never had the time for. Maybe it gets there eventually, but I was starting to get pretty board of everything in the way of that.
I think this story could be really enjoyable and feel good, but I wasn't really the right demographic.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an Arc of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It was just taking way to long for me to get to the fun, escapism part of the book and that really why I picked up this book in the first place. I think I'm a bit too young for this book and was getting a bit bogged down by the "I've lived life and just need a break" aspect of the story. To me the cover read a lot more fun (or even young and fun) so even though I knew going in the book centered around someone retiring, I thought we would get to the enjoyable part of the book much faster. Additionally the summary gave me the impression this book would focus on taking chances and doing the things you always wanted to do but never had the time for. Maybe it gets there eventually, but I was starting to get pretty board of everything in the way of that.
I think this story could be really enjoyable and feel good, but I wasn't really the right demographic.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an Arc of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 18, 2022
A charming read to warm your soul. I love Jennifer Bohnet's books, and this one doesn't disappoint. Villa of Second Chances follows four middle-aged women as they navigate change in their lives. The characters move through the story with a grace and kindness, and the ending left me very satisfied. Absolutely adored this book!
August 19, 2022
Light reading and a quick mind vacation to the south of France!
August 19, 2023
A villa in France run by sisters and their lives and the customers
March 6, 2025
3 Stars.
This is my first experience with this author. I picked this book up on a sale, thinking it sounded decent and I would give it a try (for the price, it made sense).
When I first started the book, I was into it. Right away, I was comparing it to Anita Hughes, which I always enjoy. I have read all of Anita's books and I felt like this one followed a similar story; romance, scenic area, lots of visualizations from the area in the story. However, by close to midway through this book, I began to realize I had been wrong. This was not like an Anita Hughes, it was not quite at that level.
In the beginning, I was invested in the characters. I wanted to see what would happen but, like I said, by midway through, I was pretty bored. One thing I wanted to comment on is that I think there were too many stories going at once. I was invested when it was Rebecca and her family in the Villa. I was invested when it was just Marcus and Freya's second chance at love. But then we had Verity, Effe, Angela, Bart, Rufus, Clemmie, etc. It got too much. I wish the writer had focused on one story. Maybe the Villa and the future of it, and maybe introduce Rufus and Bart. Or, focus on Marcus and Freya, but have the Villa as just the location. I felt like all of the other stories were short and some did not serve any purpose to the overall story (Verity and Effe, I felt Verity completed was added for a bit of conflict that kind of faded pretty fast).
In the end, I think I skimmed the last 2-3 chapters and called it a day. I read it, I enjoyed some it, but I won't hang onto this. I might try to explore a different book from this author again, just to see if my feelings change. But, for me, this book was a one and done.
This is my first experience with this author. I picked this book up on a sale, thinking it sounded decent and I would give it a try (for the price, it made sense).
When I first started the book, I was into it. Right away, I was comparing it to Anita Hughes, which I always enjoy. I have read all of Anita's books and I felt like this one followed a similar story; romance, scenic area, lots of visualizations from the area in the story. However, by close to midway through this book, I began to realize I had been wrong. This was not like an Anita Hughes, it was not quite at that level.
In the beginning, I was invested in the characters. I wanted to see what would happen but, like I said, by midway through, I was pretty bored. One thing I wanted to comment on is that I think there were too many stories going at once. I was invested when it was Rebecca and her family in the Villa. I was invested when it was just Marcus and Freya's second chance at love. But then we had Verity, Effe, Angela, Bart, Rufus, Clemmie, etc. It got too much. I wish the writer had focused on one story. Maybe the Villa and the future of it, and maybe introduce Rufus and Bart. Or, focus on Marcus and Freya, but have the Villa as just the location. I felt like all of the other stories were short and some did not serve any purpose to the overall story (Verity and Effe, I felt Verity completed was added for a bit of conflict that kind of faded pretty fast).
In the end, I think I skimmed the last 2-3 chapters and called it a day. I read it, I enjoyed some it, but I won't hang onto this. I might try to explore a different book from this author again, just to see if my feelings change. But, for me, this book was a one and done.
September 18, 2025
Picked this up in a charity shop for £1 and read it in about 36 hours — definitely a holiday read. But wow, so many things didn’t add up. A clearly needs therapy, the way she tells her “secret” to everyone except her own son until the very end baffled me. And she was airlifted after the accident, but we barely learn anything about her injuries? Surely the police would’ve known who was driving, too?
C — how are fully grown women not just being honest about how they feel? Being scared of the ex-wife is a red flag, not drama. F & M were meant to be the main event, but we hardly saw their POV at all.
The title “Second Chances” feels misleading — most storylines were way too idealistic. Verity’s was maybe the most realistic (minus the borderline GBH). The one-year-later epilogue summed it all up really a bit ridiculous.
And don’t get me started on R & R — moving in together and playing happy families after spending less than 24 hours together 24 years ago. WTF?
B involvement with his new girlfriend, seemed completely pointless and we didn’t really build any relationship with him / care much that he was acting like a spoilt child regarding his dad coming out of the woodwork. But when they meet their bestie pals because his girlfriend told him to play nice?
The villa setting sounded beautiful, but the descriptions weren’t detailed enough to bring it to life. Honestly, it took me ages to even get to grips with the story because there are so many characters and nothing to clearly mark out the chapters. All that said, I still flew through it, so I guess it did the job as a quick, easy holiday book.
C — how are fully grown women not just being honest about how they feel? Being scared of the ex-wife is a red flag, not drama. F & M were meant to be the main event, but we hardly saw their POV at all.
The title “Second Chances” feels misleading — most storylines were way too idealistic. Verity’s was maybe the most realistic (minus the borderline GBH). The one-year-later epilogue summed it all up really a bit ridiculous.
And don’t get me started on R & R — moving in together and playing happy families after spending less than 24 hours together 24 years ago. WTF?
B involvement with his new girlfriend, seemed completely pointless and we didn’t really build any relationship with him / care much that he was acting like a spoilt child regarding his dad coming out of the woodwork. But when they meet their bestie pals because his girlfriend told him to play nice?
The villa setting sounded beautiful, but the descriptions weren’t detailed enough to bring it to life. Honestly, it took me ages to even get to grips with the story because there are so many characters and nothing to clearly mark out the chapters. All that said, I still flew through it, so I guess it did the job as a quick, easy holiday book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
Surprised this book has such a good rating. The plots have potential but they all get resolved too easy. They build up to a resolution that takes up minimal space in the book. The book also seems to finish before the book ends, there is no need to read the final 100 pages in my opinion, you already find out everything you need to know.
On the plus side, it did offer me an interesting perspective on retirement and life over 50. It seems to be a liberating period in your life, where you are truly free to pursue your dreams and what you might have postponed in your earlier years because of family and other commitments.
On the plus side, it did offer me an interesting perspective on retirement and life over 50. It seems to be a liberating period in your life, where you are truly free to pursue your dreams and what you might have postponed in your earlier years because of family and other commitments.
June 4, 2023
Oplæser: Grete Tulinius. Fin oplæsning. ****
En helt vidunderlig feelgood roman. Efter at have læst bogen, sidder jeg tilbage med en varm følelse af glæde og tilfredshed.
Vi møder en række forskellige mennesker en varm sommer i Frankrig. Et bryllup er under opsejling og familie og venner samles for at fejre det lykkelige par. Rammen om brylluppet, er den vidunderlige Villa Sesame.
Alle gæsterne har deres problemer, men disse har det med at forsvinde under den smukke blå himmel.
Skønne portrætter af en række mennesker i deres bedste alder.
En helt vidunderlig feelgood roman. Efter at have læst bogen, sidder jeg tilbage med en varm følelse af glæde og tilfredshed.
Vi møder en række forskellige mennesker en varm sommer i Frankrig. Et bryllup er under opsejling og familie og venner samles for at fejre det lykkelige par. Rammen om brylluppet, er den vidunderlige Villa Sesame.
Alle gæsterne har deres problemer, men disse har det med at forsvinde under den smukke blå himmel.
Skønne portrætter af en række mennesker i deres bedste alder.
June 14, 2023
3.5/5 Stars
Two sisters have ran a place for 25 years for wedding venues. The next one is for Freya and Marcus and one of their guests happens to be one that is part of one of the sister’s past.
There was a lot of characters hence the rating however I enjoyed the scenary described in the French Riviera with the villa.
Perfect beach side read.
Review: https://clife.blog/2023/06/27/book-re...
Two sisters have ran a place for 25 years for wedding venues. The next one is for Freya and Marcus and one of their guests happens to be one that is part of one of the sister’s past.
There was a lot of characters hence the rating however I enjoyed the scenary described in the French Riviera with the villa.
Perfect beach side read.
Review: https://clife.blog/2023/06/27/book-re...
November 8, 2023
If it wasn’t for the fact I have to finish what I started I wouldn’t have read this the whole way through
This may be a bit better as a physical book but as an audio book there was just too many characters with similar personalities. It was quite confusing from the get go who was who
The storyline was a little bland and pretty obvious and the characters were only late 50s and early 60s yet they read as 80 year olds
I wouldn’t bother with this one
This may be a bit better as a physical book but as an audio book there was just too many characters with similar personalities. It was quite confusing from the get go who was who
The storyline was a little bland and pretty obvious and the characters were only late 50s and early 60s yet they read as 80 year olds
I wouldn’t bother with this one
October 27, 2023
What a lovely book, I loved the chance meetings along the way. I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason and we meet people at a certain time because we are meant to. This book had my heart and I could picture Villa Sesame right from the start. Thank you for a great read.
February 17, 2024
Sweet light read between murder mysteries
Nice love story in a beautiful setting. Second chances abound in this quick novel. Nice characters and relationships, lots of loss as well.
Nice love story in a beautiful setting. Second chances abound in this quick novel. Nice characters and relationships, lots of loss as well.
February 27, 2024
The perfect holiday read, well written easy going, I liked all the characters, just a nice uplifting story, nothing too offensive. It’s not one of those stories that will stick in your mind but if it’s just a lighthearted read you are after then this fits the bill.
March 5, 2024
It was a solid read. I’m a sucker for happy endings so to have many was great. It was like reading a couple of short stories with the second introduced by the first. I’ve read a couple of books by Jennifer Bohnet and will likely read another if the chance presents itself.
June 12, 2024
The difficulties and love of a family. Good read from Jennifer as always. She has always put her time into research so she is knowledgeable about a specific topic. Nice to read as I'm unwinding from the day.
August 20, 2023
Endnu en fantastisk bog fra denne forfatter.
September 7, 2023
Countryside vibe with a touch of modernity. For some reason, old people cottagecore is so much more sensible than young people cottagecore. Or should I say villacore
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