I think Nina George may be my favorite author. The Little French Bistro is a sweet story supporting the idea that it is never too late to make the life you wish. The writing is lyrical, there is an overriding sense of magic at work that Marianne discovers as she finds her true self by the sea in France. The importance of love, passion and the need to not have to lose yourself to be loved are all highlighted. I read this book in exchange for a review. I plan to read all I can by this author.

I did not enjoy the first book by this author but I wanted to give her another chance. Unfortunately, this wasn't for me.

I was so excited when I got my hands on a copy of The Little French Bistro, full of anticipation after loving The Little Paris Bookshop so much! While I enjoyed Nina George’s latest novel, unfortunately, I was not as moved by this as I was by her previous novel.

Marianne is sixty years old and traveling in Paris with her husband Lothar. There’s is a boring, loveless marriage and she has decided to end her life. When her suicide attempts fail, she heads for the coast in search of a new life, with hopes of rediscovering herself and happiness.

I liked Marianne’s character, feeling “better late than never” towards her journey of self-discovery. Her life had passed her by without any great love or passion with a cheating and controlling husband. She sets off on a journey after being mesmerized by the beauty of painted tile, ending up in a small, coastal town in France. Being German, she doesn’t understand the French dialect there, but with the help of a chef, she begins to pick up the language. I also loved all of the characters she met. Emile and his ailing wife Pascale, Yann the artist, Laurine the waitress, Simon and Paul, Collete and Simonie, and so on. Each and every character had their own unique story but shared the common bond of wanting great love, experiencing great love, and the loss of great love. The only unlikeable character was Marianne’s husband Lothar, but “unlikeable” seems too passive of a word. I despised the man.

Despite the beautiful, descriptive writing, colorful and interesting characters, and the promise of Marianne’s journey of self-discovery, the overall storyline just fell flat with me. My first issue was the slight absurdity of Marianne’s experiences. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I will just say that this was one very lucky woman to run across such good fortune and good people. I realize it’s a work of fiction, but I struggled with wrapping my arms around all of it. Marianne transformed from a suicidal housewife to a successful, helpful, caring, and well-liked woman in the matter of days and weeks. She got an amazing job, an amazing guest room, was able to do what she wanted, was given a car, and so forth. I think my point is that it was too perfect for me to really get into it. But then all of her supposed growth just vanished at sight of Lothar or the sound of his voice, making me wonder, was she just playing a part in a make-believe world rather than really gaining strength and confidence?

Again, there are many wonderful aspects to The Little French Bistro and I am certainly glad to have read it. It has especially romantic qualities in that so many of the characters are older adults yet still yearning for and finding love, despite their ages. Love stories involving older adults is not something you read every day and it was quite refreshing! More focus on her evolving and less fantastical luck would have improved this read for me.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In the beginning chapters, I felt bad for Marianne’s hopeless and sad situation. n short order however, her circumstances shift, she embarks on a journey to self discovery and meets people who will be instrumental in changing the course of her life. Marianne takes one positive step after another, living a more tranquil life and growing the courage she needs to break away from her despicable husband of 40 years, Lothar. There are many interesting characters she meets along her path, but maybe too many. It was a good book to hibernate with on my hammock over the past couple of days.

At first, I had a really hard time getting into Marianne. She seemed like a really weak, spineless woman. I mean the book started out with her wanting to kill herself. She was describing her forty year marriage with how she had one pair of shoes that she paid full price and let her husband berate her for that for years. How her husband had numerous affairs and she stood by and let him. He also took numerous holidays without her. I was loathing this character. How can a woman let herself be treated this way?

Then I realized she was married when she was 19 and knew no better.

Then she discovers what love can be and what it is all about. And yet, she contemplates going back to her husband?

I'm not going to tell you whether she does or does not go back to him, but I will tell you that hers was certainly a jacked up story.

I can say that the story was well written with beautiful descriptions of the scenery surrounding Marianne and of her friends. The characters that Marianne runs into along her journey are definitely interesting and quirky. Marianne's story is not the only love story going on in this book. There are several others and they are quite magical.

An interesting read that did have me shedding a few tears at the end.

Thanks to Crown Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a lovely summer read! I was a little put off in the beginning because it seemed so sad and bleak but the evolution of the story was beautiful. The book engaged all my senses - I loved the "smell of the sea", the beauty of the coast and the taste of the food. A great book to pack for your trip to the beach!

Marianne is at a crossroads in her life.  While vacationing in France with her overbearing husband, she decides that she no longer wants that life.  She cannot go back to it.  A botched suicide attempt leads her to be hospitalized while her husband goes back to the states, agreeing to retrieve her later.  
           While there, she sees a painted tile of a town that is so beautiful it fills her with purpose.  She has to get there!  A mad escape and crazy journey complete with sick nuns finds us at the little town.  Here, she can be someone new- someone she likes.  She can work at the bistro, along side Jean Remy; and befriend an old artist who is loosing her mind.  She finds a version of herself that she loves here, and friends that quickly become family.  When her past catches up with her, though, will she be strong enough to hold onto this new life?
            Apparently I was so excited about this book that I requested it from Netgalley and FTR on accident.  I had fallen madly in love with George upon reading The Little Paris Book Shop.  The character development, slow of the story, and storm of emotions packed into the pages had me reeling.  This book gave me the same feelings.  I loved the character development and how one played off another.  The plot was heartbreaking at times, and life affirming in others.  I enjoyed watching Marianne grow while discovering facets to the other characters.  For me, this was a five star book.  
           On the adult content scale, there is sexual content and language.  I give it a five.

From despair to being able to finally see the infinite possibilities of life, and new beginnings, Marianne, from Germany who has been stuck in a loveless marriage for 40 some years, decides she has had enough, and decides to change her life on her own terms, and after one botched attempt in Paris, where she and her husband were visiting; she decides to leave him and her life and to go to a place called Kerdruc, a place that she had seen painted on a tile, a beautiful depiction of a port village, in Bretagne. Marianne makes her way to this village, where she ends up getting a job in a small restaurant, with little French to communicate. Marianne is taken in by the people of this small town who include her as their own, teaching her the language and making her see her own self worth. She is also a great contributor to all of their lives. This is a magical place that transforms her both inside and out. The town has some wonderful characters each with their own gifts and wonderful insights. A story about a group of people of a certain age, for the most part, yet ageless at the same time.
This is a fun and different story with a bit of magical for all. I cannot wait for another of her stories.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.

The Little French Bistro was quite a read! Very emotional with twists and turns. The author set up the beginning of the story with a very dark, somber feeling. I felt such sadness for Marianne - for her state of mind and for the situation she was in. The story-line progressed slowly as Marianne went on her journey. I was glad that the mood lifted as she traveled. It took me a while to get used to the inserted French and German dialogue but it wasn't overly distracting. What I did find a bit confusing was the introduction of so many characters and their relationships. Some of it was little hard to follow at times. Overall, I think it is a good read. I was very happy that Marianne rediscovered herself and found happiness. I am interested in reading more from the author.

What a pleasure to read a book where the heroine is 60 years old. I found this a lovely book with the central story about a 60 year old German woman, Marianne, who is frustrated with her life to the point of suicide and her journey/escape to Brittany where she examines her life, becomes incorporated into an extensive community and has a later in life awakening. There are numerous other characters, of all ages, who populate the town and life, death, love and meaning are explored by all. The tone is relatively light and joyful. Everyone is a work in progress and no one lives a life that heads in a straight path. Illness is no barrier to love and friendship in this book. This story of community, connection and living a life that is true and meaningful make for a lovely read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Little French Bistro by Nina George. I was so excited to receive this book that I jumped for joy. The first thing that I did was plan a lunch at a French bistro to enhance my reading experience. The only thing better than a book and tea is a book and a meal.

I loved this book! Marianne, an unhappy German woman embarks on a journey across France, by herself after a failed suicide attempt. Similar to the themes in The Little Paris Bookshop (which we reviewed here), The Little French Bistro is a story about personal discovery and growth. Ms. George is so rich with her descriptions of people, places, and food. This book was a joy to read. I loved how the characters in this story grew. They were lifted off the page until I felt that they were in the room with me. Unlike The Little Paris Bookshop, this story contained some components of magic that I loved. It was just enough to be believable without entering the realm of fairy tale.
In honor of this delightful book, Kirsten and I took a little date with us to A La Maison in Ardmore. First off the decor at A La Maison is amazing. It feels like a little Parisian oasis in the heart of the Main Line. Diners can eat outside and people watch or enjoy the Provençal style of the indoor rooms. 
The little man ordered a cheese omelet. Sounds kind of boring right? Wrong- it was totally delicious. I ordered a Salmon crepe that was sooo good. I definitely don’t want to know the calorie count for that baby because I ate every bite.Kirsten ordered a Jumbo Lump Crab Crepe which was mouthwatering! We each had a bowl of amazing French onion soup as well. The little man happily devoured all the cheese off of Kirsten's soup!
On the upside, the food was so delicious and we ate every bite.  On the downside, we were too full for dessert. If you know me at all, you know that not eating dessert is almost a small miracle. I can't believe that I didn’t know about this local gem. I definitely think I will be coming here for a date night sometime in the near future. This BYO features live music from time to time so I would recommend making a reservation for this popular local spot.

Little French Bistro by Nina George was released today! Grab your copy now and enjoy a lovely French meal while you devour the book.

The Little French Bistro it is uplifting, but the story was banal for me. I couldn’t connect with Marianne or any other character. I also wish the subplots had more depth.

Marianne Mesmann, age 60, and her husband, Lothar, are on a tour of Paris. After listening to him blather on all day, she simply walks off towards the Seine and jumps in.

Marianne and Lothar, a German couple, have been married for 41 years. After enduring her mother’s constant put-downs, she endures the same from her husband. Not allowed to work, drive a car, or have her own money, the woman is down-trodden. She was helping out at a hospice for some time and saw the peace of those who had just died and wanted that for herself. Thus, her suicide attempt. But, she was “saved,” hospitalized, and escaped. This time, she heads for Brittany on the west coast of France. There she meets friends and works in a restaurant/hotel. The people she meets are all rather quirky like her. She learns some French and some French cooking skills. She becomes involved in the lives of the people around her and discovers that this life is for her.

This book was not for me. It is kooky, dark, and boring. I don’t know what the author was trying to get across to readers, but it obviously went over my head. I chose to read this book because I love the Brittany area but I was disappointed. Perhaps there are readers who will “get” the point of the author’s story.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Little French Bistro, by Nina George, takes takes the reader on a journey filled with colorful characters, sensuous food, and bucolic Brittany. I appreciated that it showed love at many stages of life. It was fun and romantic, just the sort of book I love to read in the summer.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Marianne is a wonderfully realistic character. At sixty, she has lost the will to live, or so she thinks. When she tries (and fails) to kill herself, she comes to understand why she feels so trapped, and then slowly finds herself, and her joy. I liked that Marianne became open to life and realized, through being kind to others, that she was worthy of love. As the people in the small Brittany town responded to Marianne, she started to obtain her self-worth. But, like most people, newly acquired confidence is a fragile thing. Marianne still second-guesses herself, and then pushes people away. She is not instantly self-aware, or confident.

The small village of Kerdruc, where Marianne finds refuge, is filled with colorful characters, many of whom seem to have missed a love connection. Paul is still bitter over his divorce from Rozenn who has left him for a younger man (oh, the French!), the village bistro's chef, Jean-Remy, is pining away for waitress Laurine, while Genevieve (the hotel's owner) is bitter over a love affair that happened over thirty years ago.

With all these missed romantic opportunities, one would think that love never wins, but there is also an example of a long-term marriage that is quite touching. Emile struggles with his wife, Pascale's Alzheimer's but the couple remaine tender and loving. I loved how respectful Emile was of his wife. As much as he wanted to protect her, he also respected her enough to let her be in her own world, without nagging her.

Setting:

There actually is a town in Brittany, France called Kerdruc. When I looked it up on Google, I was delighted to see that the author's descriptions were spot on!

This seems like a charming town to visit. But if you want to go there, I would do so soon. I think this book is going to be very popular, so I would imagine that tourism to this part of France will go way up by next summer.

Food:

I got caught up in all the marvelous food descriptions. From the fresh seafood to the desserts, my mouth was watering throughout this book. I have never heard of a French Butter Cake, but now I want to make one!

What I Was Mixed About:
Stereotypes:

I will say that the author seemed to rely on various stereotypes of French and German people. All the French characters seemed to be preoccupied with matters of love, while Marianne's German husband was miserly with his money, and his affections. This made me curious about the author, Nina George, wondering if she was French. Given that her last two books are basically love letters to that country, I was surprised to learn that she is from Germany! So much for my assuming anything!

Sexy Scenes:

While this book is nowhere near pornographic, there are some sex scenes in the book that are quite descriptive. If you are trying to read only "clean" romance, this may not be the book for you. Normally, I tend to back away from these scenes, but I thought they were well-done and needed for a certain character's development.

Overall, this was a wonderful book that made me think about life, love, food, and France. Break out that wine and brie, and have a picnic while you read this book.

I found the title of this book very misleading. I was expecting a light and frothy book, but the reality was the exact opposite. I just could not get into it and I did not finish at 50%. Too many new characters that came in and out of the story, and nothing really held me. I found Marianne to be a rather silly character. There is no reason given for her staying with her husband except that she was 'afraid' to leave. I thought the subplots were forgettable--sometimes characters would reappear and I wouldn't remember a thing about them even though I had been introduced to them earlier in the book. Thank you for allowing me to read this advance copy.

This is a love story. Not a romance but pure beautiful love. Marianne, 60 years old, decides to commit suicide after a 41-year marriage to an emotionally abusive husband. When she fails in the attempt to end her life, Marianne heads to Brittany to try again. And while still telling herself that she is there to end her life, Marianne instead begins to learn to love herself and her life. Ms. George’s writing is poetic and her characters are past their prime, based on cultural norms, bringing their emotional baggage with them to enrich the story. I expect to find out that this book has been made into a movie similar to “The Best Marigold Hotel.”

This is a magical tale of a woman finding herself (finally!) at age 60, the French seaside, gorgeous food and setting, and most importantly, the discovery of the importance of a life well-lived. If you like quiet and description-rich stories with interwoven magic, this one is for you.

BROOKE’S REVIEW

Having been a fan of The Little Paris Bookshop, I was excited to visit another one of Nina George’s charming worlds in The Little French Bistro. Our story begins in Paris where we meet our protagonist, Marianne. It isn’t giving away a major spoiler to share that while she is contemplating committing suicide, her husband - Lothar - is more concerned about having to pay for the meal she didn’t eat.

Faced with the general ennui with her life, Marianne runs away from home with the help of some unknowing nuns and takes off on a grand adventure. She finds herself in Kerdruc, a charming town by the sea.

In this new town, Marianne finds a new profession as a sous chef in the bistro and an assortment of friends who accept her for who she is. She also has the opportunity to potentially find real love, if she’ll only believe that she’s worthy of it.

PRAISE

“[Nina] George’s engrossing novel is as much about indulging the senses with succulent dishes and dazzling sights as it is about romance and second chances. With a profound sense of place and sensuous prose, the novel functions as a satisfying virtual visit to the French Riviera. A luscious and uplifting tale of personal redemption in the tradition of Eat, Pray, Love.” -Kirkus Reviews

“George envelops the reader in the sights, sounds, and smells of the coastal town, heightening Marianne’s new experiences with lush descriptions of Breton life. Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert and Isabel Allende will adore this courageous story of new beginnings, second chances, and the power of self-love.” -Booklist

“The author of The Little Paris Bookshop has done it again. The message of this beguiling, second-chance romance—a rich life is possible at any age—will charm readers with its ring of truth.” -Library Journal

AUTHOR

Nina George is the author of the bestselling international phenomenon The Little Paris Bookshop, as well as numerous other books that have been published around the world. She also works as a journalist, writer, and storytelling teacher. She lives with her husband in Hamburg and Brittany, France.

There were so many good moments in this book that made for such an enjoyable read. Who hasn't wanted to disappear from their life as they know it and start anew? The characters and setting were just superb.