it must be summer when the wedding stories come out! amazing setting for this story and you are keeping everything crossed for the two MCs throughout. amusing storyline and well written, I really enjoyed it

The beginning of this story sets the scene wonderfully for a friends-to-lovers romance. Olive and Nico, best friends since primary school, have done everything together. After a travelling holiday, they are still only friends. The status quo prevails as the years pass until Nico requests Olive's presence at a life-changing event in Italy. The invitation forces Olive to admit her true feelings to herself, but Nico is set on a different outcome, seemingly oblivious to his best friend's torment. It is a lovely, romantic, and often humourous story. It is frustrating in parts when Nico seems blind to Olive's feelings. The ending is dramatic and romantic, and the journey there is evocative, with sensory descriptions of culture, food, people and places. I like this story's setting, relationships and gentle romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was a lovely read. Olivia has been invited to her old friends wedding in Italy. At one point she thought that her future lay with Nico, but her life took a different path to the one she wanted. She arrives and doesn't gel with the bride to be. She finds herself completely in charge of organising their wedding when the original venue cancels last minute. I loved the travelling round the local area, finding the perfect wedding venue, food and tables etc. You really feel a part of the whole thing, whilst privately possibly hoping that the book will go in a different direction!
The characters are wonderful, Nico's family make up for the aloof hosts, The build up promises an absolutely beautiful wedding day

Wedding season is almost upon us and this is the book to read for your summer romance fix!

The beautifully described setting sets the backdrop for true romance to flourish. The author is blessed with the gift of poetry in her writing skills- her words come naturally, and ebb and flow as they should- I did not feel like I was reading a book... it all felt so real. Nico and Olivia belong together- nothing and no one could change that fate. Their journey was heartwarming and flourished despite all the obstacles.


Annabel French is one of my favorite authors so I am thrilled that her latest book did not disappoint me. This is a gorgeous, second chance romance that made my heart slip away from the world, and melt in clouds of happiness.


French delivers... again.

I thank the author and publisher for an ARC of this book published on April 11, 2024. All opinions given are my own.

A easy enjoyable romantic read set in magical Tuscany. Somewhat predictable in places, I kept thinking I'd read this book before or something very similar. But still a good lighthearted holiday read with plenty of humour when one's imagination goes overboard especially with the influencer bride's frosty family and a truly awful sounding bridesmaid dress. Plenty of sun and prosecco.

I enjoyed reading A Wedding at the Chateau by Annabel French. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

Olivia and Nico were close friends for years until he decided to move to Italy, where his mother was borne, to study for his degree. Although they kept in contact over the years, including her unsuccessful marriage and the birth of her son, but she is shocked when he invites her to his wedding in Italy to his short-term girlfriend. When the wedding venue falls through she is asked to make use of her event organisational skills to try to arrange a complete new wedding - in three weeks.
The location sounds wonderful, but why do authors always describe local food in such loving detail that I always feel hungry? Sophia, the bride to be, sounds like a real bridezilla and, if it was me in Olivia's place, I would have walked away in a very short time. Sophia does come across as very cold, but with a few human touches, but her mother sounds horrible. Olivia, on the other hand, comes across really well. Nico seems blind by love.....
A book to give you a sense of frustration whilst you hope for a good outcome, but well worth reading.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Nico and Olivia were the best of friends in school. They never imagined they would go separate ways but then that is the path they each took.
The surprise Olivia got from Nico was an invitation to his wedding. He was getting married to Sofia, a bigger surprise was he had only known her six months.
Olivia replies she will be at the wedding. Things don’t go as planned for the wedding when Nico and Sofia find out they cannot have the venue that want. Olivia offers to help find a new venue. This does not go as well as Olivia had hoped it would. This is hard for her considering she still has feelings for Nico.
Reading this book was so enjoyable. The author makes everything feel so real.
Thank you NetGalley, Annabel French and Avon Books UK for the copy of the book A Wedding at the Chateau. This is my personal review.

A Wedding at the Chateau is the third book in Annabel French's Chateau series and in my opinion, the best one yet! I absolutely loved it - I couldn't put the book down.

Olivia and Nico had been childhood friends, went travelling together, and despite him breaking her heart when he decided to move back to Italy, they remained good friends. However, when Nico says he's about to get married and wants Olivia and her now teenage son to come to it, old feelings resurface.

Olivia goes to Italy early to get some relaxation time in before the wedding, but when the venue cancels, she ends up reorganising the whole thing for Nico and his very ungrateful influencer fiancee. She spends a tough couple of weeks trying to make the wedding perfect for Nico, while also trying to keep her own feelings for him at bay.

This book was lovely - lots of likeable characters (plus the bridezilla and her mother) and it was an easy read - the book flowed perfectly! This is definitely my favourite Annabel French book so far!

I really enjoyed this romantic tale of the one that got away. Nico and Olivia were such loveable characters that were perfect for each other. When Olivia is thrown in at the deep end, trying to plan a wedding in three weeks for her best friend and his frosty bride to be, I was immediately invested in the story. Italy is another character in the book that was decribed so well I felt like I could see and smell everything French describes, I could almost taste the food and swwet treats. This was a really enjoyable escape to Italy and I was pleased to see familar characters from the other chateau novels, though I think youd be able to read them as stand alone books. I love French's style of writing and found myself smiling and laughing at Olivia's antics, she really was a selfless friend and I was so pleased with the conclusion.

I usually know within the first couple of chapters how much I’m going to enjoy a book but I knew within the first 2 pages that this was one I was going to struggle to put down. There are not enough words for how much I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining, clever and the narrative was stunningly intelligent. I couldn’t put it down I was captivated.

I think this is the first time I have read this author but it won't be the last. I enjoyed this book very much, the characters are good and so it the setting, very well written I give it 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

Friends since childhood, Olivia and Nico were inseparable, until the time came for university and Nico went back to Florence to study. Although the spark was always there, neither dared to take things further . Now, divorced with a teenage son, Olivia is invited to Tuscany for a holiday with Nico before his wedding to Sophia.
As Olivia’s feelings for Nico intensify, she has to keep their friendship intact and cannot reveal her feelings for him nor her realisation that his wedding to Sophia is a mistake.
The tension increased as the story unfolded; will they remain friends or will Sophia drive them apart?
I enjoyed the tension and the strangeness of Sophia’s family. It was a good ensemble of characters with Nico’s family gregarious and welcoming to Sophia’s cold and challenging.
A lovely read to sit and relax within

While I generally enjoy these types of books I found this book to be a bit of a bore. It felt like the story was dragged out and painful to read with the fiancé's nasty family randomly popping in and doing mean things to Olivia to humiliate her. While her oldest friend ever Nico just looks the other way without standing up for her. It made him seem like a push over when he could have stood up to them earlier rather than waiting until one of the last chapters. I did enjoy the last few chapters and wished the whole book had been like them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the copy of the ARC.

I really enjoyed this lovely easy to read book. The characters are lovely and the story was well written. The story of friendship, love and not to be, will they ever be able to rekindle their love ? I just love tucking into an Annabel French book.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Avon Books for the pre read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Olivia and Nico have known each other since they were at school. They were best friends, with dreams of their future.

But, things changed and they went in different directions.

Nico, now living in Italy, invites Olivia to his wedding to Sofia, who he’s only known for six months.

Olivia goes to attend the wedding, but, after her arrival, and meeting Nico, Sofia and their families, they receive news that they can’t hold the wedding at their chosen venue as it’s been allocated to someone else.

As Sofia isn’t happy that the wedding won’t happen where she wants it to, Olivia informs her that she will help in looking for another venue, as she has experience in planning events,

Sofia’s family aren’t that pleased, so it won’t be that straightforward, along with her feelings for Nico, will make her plan this wedding harder.

I loved the setting, the characters, and the delicious food made by mouth water.

I highly recommend this book.

All the feels! I had tears. I laughed and I loved. A Wedding at the Chateau brings you to Italy. The way Annabel French writes about the country makes you feel like you’re there at the moment you’re reading the book. I have read it in one day and with all the feels I should give it 5 stars, but because the ending goes so fast I have a feeling I’m missing a lot I gave it 4 (4,5) stars.
The story is predicted with a lot of build up romance, so anyone who is into friends-to-lovers should read this.
The best thing about Netgalley is learning other authors. Due to the book I’m putting Annabel French to my want-to-read author.

Olivia and Nico have been best friends forever. On their last holiday, Nico tells Olivia that he wants to live in Italy to be close to where his mum and dad met. Olivia is heartbroken, but still, they maintain their friendship.
Olivia receives a call from Nico to tell her he is getting married and he wants her at the wedding.
Disaster strikes when their venue cancels in favour of a footballer. Cue Olivia being asked to arrange a new venue and everything else that a wedding entails.
Well, Sofia certainly lived up to the term Bridezilla. Honestly, she was just awful. Her mother was even worse! If I were Olivia, I would have told her to sort her own wedding. I couldn't see what Nico saw in her.
The setting sounded amazing. Blue skies, warm sunshine.
It's a lovely heartwarming read with love in the air.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Nico and Olivia have been best best friends since childhood. After Nico invited Olivia to his wedding she wonders how she will hide her love for him as he goes about marrying social media star Sophia. After the wedding of their dreams is cancelled Olivia sets about organising a dream day for her best friend. She hopes she can keep her emotions under wraps.
This is a great book for summer holidays and sunny days. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review l.

What a lovely book!
Olivia's close friend Nico is getting married & she's invited to stay in Italy leading up to the wedding. They have been friends since school & have always been close. It's a whirlwind wedding after he met Sofia six months before they set a date for the wedding.
When Olivia arrives, the venue for the wedding is cancelled & given to an Italian footballer instead. Olivia steps in & offers to step in as wedding planner. Sofia's family are unwelcoming, so the job is not easy & her feelings for Nico make the process more difficult.
Great characters! I loved Olivia, a great friend, mum & all round good person.
Recommended read!