Member Reviews
This was the first book I’ve read by this author and what a joy it was. I loved the detailed description of Spain and I was ready to pack my bags and get to Spain as fast as possible. The flow of this wonderful story had me flying through the pages. I loved it.
Beautiful story about Juliana finding out about her past whilst discovering herself with some romance thrown in.
She knows very little about her Spanish heritage so jumps at the chance to live in her Uncle's house in Spain but that doesn't come with some strange and unusual conditions.
The story was set in the most beautiful peaceful suroundings that made you feel like you were there. The cottage felt warm and cosy.
Of course I love romance novels but the romance wasn't all this story was about which made a refreshing change.
Its a lovely easy and cosy read.
Such a fun read! Loved this one!
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.
I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.
Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.
However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x
Did not finish prior to publishing deadline, but excited to read it in its entirety! I know it has high reviews, and it sounds so good!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I have no problem saying that I chose this book based on nothing but the cover and the name...and if I am being honest, this has been one of my favorite books this year. Any book with an inheritance to do list is my kind of book...especially if it involves a house in Spain. There really was not anything I didn't love about this book...I loved the premise, I loved the characters, I loved the descriptions of the area...I would recommend this book to fans of romance and far off destinations...
This book feels like a vacation to Spain! This is my first book from Cherry Radford, but I look forward to reading more from this author. The characters are just a delight.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.
Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book
This book transported me to Spain and reading this dramatic story was so much like binge-watching a telenovela -- with incredible characters and beautiful landscapes! Will wait to read more of the author's work!
Thanks NetGalley, Aria and Cherry Radford for an advanced reader copy to review.
A heartwarming set in a picturesque Spain.
I liked it.
I loved the idea of a book set in Spain but unfortunately the clunky writing and slow pacing didn't match this beautiful setting. I DNF'd at 15 per cent.
A DNF for me at 20% I haven't really warmed to the characters it the plot, it's not for me I'm afraid.
The Spanish House by Cherry Radford
Source: NetGalley and Aria
Rating: 3/5 stars
The Bottom Line: Yet another middle of the road, on the fence kind of read for me. Generally speaking, The Spanish House is a type of book I dive into and refuse to come up for air until I am finished. A wayward soul looking to find herself is given a list of conditions to be met in order to inherit the quaint little Spanish house owned by her beloved uncle. With items such as “paint the house – make it your own,” “get on with the neighbors,” and “become involved in the local cultural scene,” this book should have had wonderfully vivid descriptions of a wild and foreign land as seen through the eyes of a quasi-native. While there certainly are some lovely descriptions, I would have liked more related to the house and how it evolves under Juliana’s care and attention. Further, I found some of the relationships to be somewhat awkward in terms of the writing. There is certainly meant to be awkwardness as the plot demands, but the way a few of the relationships ended up felt forced and not at all natural.
With the above being said, I also found aspects of this book completely delightful. Uncle Arturo is lovely with his list of conditions and well-intentioned words and actions. Juliana’s willingness to submit to the conditions and truly sink herself into the experience of Spain is brave and heart-warming, and most of her interactions with Josemi and his mother are frustratingly interesting and often fraught with miscommunication. Oh, and there’s a goat 😊
In all, I can’t find one quality or another that pushes me over the edge to a higher/lower star rating. I’m well and truly on the fence. Do I recommend this book? Sure, why not? It’s a good read, not great, but it is good enough to keep readers of the genre interested and turning pages. I wouldn’t hop it up to the top of your TBR list, but I wouldn’t delete it either.
Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley & Aria for the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of The Spanish House by Cherry Radford. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The truth when I got the book, I was happy because I like to read books set in Spain because my maternal grandmother was born in Barcelona (even though the plot of the story takes place in the southern part of Spain, in the state of Sevilla.)
When I first approached reading the book, I wanted to be like a lighter and more contemporary version of The Return by Victoria Hislop.
The premise and the idea of the plot are beautiful, but I felt it dragging, and I didn't want to pick up to read the book. I have difficulty believing the complex life that Julie/Juliana had entangled. Her life is full of lies, that if I were in her place, it would be tough not to be mad, and forgiveness is something that it would have taken me a lot of time to give.
Yes, I would love to visit the places she writes about in her blog someday.
There were many times that I said to myself, it is a book that you need to read for review, and that is the reason that I finished the book and DNFed it.
Very good book about decorating a house and relationships.
Juliana has come to Spain as her Uncle wants her to do up his house that he doesn’t live in anymore on certain conditions that she has to meet. We see her discovering things from the past that she didn’t know and it changes things for her. It is the start of new beginnings for her.
Would recommend this book
A gripping story of family ties set within a gorgeous location. This story has romance, intrigue, excitement and more. 5 stars
Wow!! What an absolute joy to read!! I feel like I've just been on holiday in Almeria!!
Juliana is a little stuck in her life in Ealing London. Being half Spanish, she is trying to learn more the language with some Spanish lessons. She hears from her Spanish uncle who has a request for her to come out to Spain and spend three months in his little house, painting and decorating and getting to know the places that her mother grew up with, and a chance for some time with her uncle.
She finds so much more, reconnecting with her roots, and finding out more about her family.
This book made me long to stroll around the villages, beaches and places she visited. Her neighbours and new friends have been brilliantly depicted. The whole culture and way of life beautifully drawn and easy to imagine!!
Great read, thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.
Thanks to Aria & Aries, Aria and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
The first book I have read by Cherry Radford but having really enjoyed this, it won't be the last.
I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t realize that it was a love story as well as a story about family that includes a house in Spain.
Juliana lives in England and works as an “ethnic” extra in movies and TV shows. Her mother was Spanish, and she has relatives in Spain.
She gets an intriguing letter from her Uncle Arturo that says his home by the sea in Andalusia can be hers if she fulfills a list of 10 things that will bring her closer to her Spanish roots, including redo the house, visit the movie studio where her mother worked, and get along with the neighbors. She’s not sure what that last one means, but she’s got 90 days to finish and must live in the house.
When she arrives, the house is nicer than she imagined. The neighbors might be harder, on one side lives a surly, good looking artist whose friendship is going to be a challenge.
As she goes through the list, what looked like simple requests are turning out to be more complicated as she learns about her mother, who left her to to Spain when she was 7. She meets family she never knew she had, and learns things about herself as well.
Back to the neighbors, Josemi is a well-known artist and Juliana is initially put off by his manner. As they get to know each other, their feelings deepen, but she’s leaving in 90 days and deciding what to do with the rest of her life.
The descriptions of Spain, from the scenery to the food, were gorgeous. I wanted to buy a plane ticket and have some paella, ASAP. Juliana’s personal journey was very interesting and I liked reading about it, 4 stars.
Delightful story set in scenery which is so perfectly described you can imagine yourself there and feel the warmth of the sun. Light read with an easy to follow story uncovering family secrets. Really enjoyable.
Thank you Netgalley