The Farmer Wants a Wife

by Maeve Haran

Flora Parker is sassy and stylish with a mouth as big as Wembley Stadium and a tendency to act before she thinks, which is how she ends up getting drunk and on the front of a newspaper in her Wonderbra and not much else. Filled with self-loathing she retreats to her aunt's house in the country to look for a little meaning in her life. Instead she finds an overbearing uncle, a farm on the brink of bankruptcy, a child who won't come out of the airing cupboard and a precocious 10-year-old who lists all Flo's faults. As if she didn't already know them. But, being Flo, instead of running away she itches to put it all right...especially when the farmer next door announces an intriguing bet: he will give his farm and glorious farmhouse to whichever of his handsome nephews finds a wife by Michaelmas. So Flo takes up matchmaking full-time, ignoring the fact that it might be she who is the object of their affections. Meanwhile she finds she's falling in love herself...with a way of life that is muddy, smelly and under threat. But is she prepared to put her head on the altar to keep it?

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Maeve 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.

Reviews

[Tink Magoo is bad at reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this a few times now and it never fails to cheer me up. It's an easy no nonsense romance; the definition of chick lit

[Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing really exciting. Story is too similar to so many others and often felt over the top, forced and kinda stupid...Unfortunately the character and the writing style couldn't keep me interested enough to continue reading. Stopped somewhere in the middle and never picked the book up again, after a couple months of carrying it around with me I gave up.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly interesting chick-lit.

[Clio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great laugh with characters you learn to love along the way.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/...

[Yang Shu-yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aller schlechten Dinge sind drei: Zuerst zu viel irischen Whiskey, dann mit dem falschen Mann ins Bett und schließlich auch noch halbnackt auf der Titelseite der Morgenzeitung ... Flora Parkers Leben ist definitiv aus den Fugen. Dagegen hilft nur noch die Flucht aus London, raus aufs Land zur lange verschmähten Verwandtschaft. Doch deren Idyll hat Macken: Die Farm steht vor der Pleite, die Ehe der Tante ist in der Krise, und ihre Töchter unglücklich. Flora schmiedet Rettungspläne, insbesondere da ein spleeniger Nachbar eine grandiose Wette verkündet: Wer von seinen beiden attraktiven Neffen bis Kirchweih unter der Haube ist, erbt Moreton Manor, ein wunderschönes Gut, mit allem Drum und Dran ...

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be looking for more books by this author. The novel is set in England and I assume that the author is British. I am loving British chick flick because I prefer British humour (spelling intended). The author spins the story so that you don't want to put the book down. It was just the escape I needed during a hectic work week.

[Jayne]

Flora disgraces herself in London and decides that it's time for a life change. She heads to her aunts in the country where she not only discovers herself but affects all those around her. Lightweight.

[Lisa]

really good story where a girl desperatley wants to belong somewhere and nearly marries the wrong man in doing so, happy ending after all though...

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

fluff novel about a a young woman, Flora who is desperate for a change of lifestyle. So she heads to the country. And changes the lives of her aunt, uncle and neighbours. Romantic easy read.

[Laura Bowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

My perfect type of read. Country gal myself I could totally relate, really really enjoyed this book, highly recommended.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread it for at least the 5th time. One of my all time favourite rereads when I want a book I'll know I'll enjoy reading.

[Andrée · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chick Lit light

[Karen Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice light piece of chick lit even if some of what happens is rather improbable