As the sun rises over the little Provence village where single mother Adeline has escaped with her little girl Lili, she breathes deeply. This is their new beginning. Here, she can forget the lies her family told her. Here, she can start her story again.

Later she opens the door to the town’s tiny bookstore, where she is to work, ready to meet the mysterious owner Monique for the first time. She expected an ordinary bookshop. But this bookstore feels somehow different… magical. Breathing in the smell of books, she feels a jolt of something. It feels like a new chapter beginning. As she gets to know the villagers – including the handsome Andre and friendly Michel – she starts to believe in the magic of this new start.

This book is like a warm, cozy hug. I recently lost my dad, who owned a book shop for forty years, and the kind of magic in this book is different, but I remember growing up with the magic of my dad's store. This was a magical story in more than one way. I really enjoyed Adeline's journey and this fun story!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

A very sweet, and charming story! It’s predictable, but it’s also comforting in that way. I definitely recommend it for a light read.

This is a pleasant read and one I was excited about after visiting Provence this past summer.
Books, Provence, families, friends, it's all there. It does fall a little short in character development and a few parts dragged a bit.

The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey has a certain charm, with its idyllic French setting and heart-warming premise, but ultimately, it fell short for me. While the novel aims to deliver a feel-good story, the writing and character development didn’t quite hit the mark. Many of the characters felt underdeveloped, and their interactions lacked the depth needed to make them relatable or memorable. As a result, it was difficult to become truly invested in their journeys or care about the relationships unfolding on the page.

The plot itself is predictable, with the outcome becoming obvious early on, leaving little room for surprises or emotional engagement. Though the book has the potential to be a comforting, light read, something essential seemed to be missing. Overall, it’s an average read for me, landing right in the middle at 2.5/5 stars. For readers looking for a light, comforting escape, it may still appeal, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

As a huge enthusiast of bookshops and Provence this seemed like a fantastic combo! The book did take me quite a long time to get into.
I did enjoy main storyline about Adeline's recent loss of her mother and thought that the search for her birth family had a lot of potential, .Monique’ was an interesting character but found her a bit two dimensional and her insistence on the spells and crystals and fate seemed a bit contrived. The ending seemed a bit too coincidental to fit as well.
The romantic plot seemed like it was tacked on and did not really add anything to the storyline - I would have liked more detail about Andre and how their relationship developed over time.

Aside from all that it was enjoyable read, perfect for a vacation in France, sipping a glass of Rose in the sunshine!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adeline moves to Provance in France with her young daughter after her mother dies and she receives shocking news. She has answered an advert for an assistant in a little bookshop in a small village.
Monique, the bookshop owner is a little bit magical and gives advice to people through the books she recommends they read. She feels there's a reason that Adeline saw her advert at the right time.
Adeline speaks French,being a French teacher but even with her knowledge of the language some locals are a bit reticent towards her at first.
I loved this story. It's about settling in a new country,trying to fit in,finding new ways of doing things and finding out about yourself, who you are. and family,always family.
All this with little sprinkles of magic thrown in. What's not to like ?

💖ARC review💖

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It’s cozy and fast-paced and perfect for the season. Feels like a hug after a dense book.

I like Adeline. She’s so smart and caring. She can be very cautious about taking uncomfortable decisions but it is mostly because she has Lili to consider. And that makes her wonderful, I mean, I love her relationship with her kid, I love that kind of respectful upbringing and it made me smile the whole time.

As for the town, I loveeeee its vibes: the community, the closeness, the friendly people, the location, even the descriptions of the weather. I’m very tempted to move to the country myself now! 😂🥰

I did felt the situationship with André a bit undeveloped but that wasn’t the focus of the book. In any case, I’m more of a Michel’s girl 💖

Monique: this is a difficult topic. She is a very cute old lady but sometimes I felt so annoyed by her actions, like her reluctance to confirming her assumptions by science. Still, that’s only my practical side whereas my inner child loves that she’s always spreading her magic.

In short, I feel it conveys beautifully the wanting to belong, the desire for a family. And how if we wish for something strong enough, we might make it come trough.

This book was a really nice read, i found it really easy to get on with and felt like a nice read for holiday. I liked the style of writing and it was a really cosy book to read. i enjoyed it very much and will definitely be picking more up by this author!

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

I enjoyed this beautiful book,

It’s the story of moving to somewhere new and finding friends and making a new start.

The setting was beautiful. The food made your mouth water and it felt like you was there in amongst the books, in Monique’s bookshop.

I highly recommend this book.

In this novel, Adeline, grieving the loss of her mother, uncovers shocking news that sends her from London to Provence in search of her true identity. Along with her young daughter, she ends up in a charming bookshop owned by Monique, an eccentric woman known for her use of crystals, spells, and an intuitive ability to read people. The story incorporates elements of magical realism, a touch of romance, and themes of self-discovery.

However, the descriptions of the bookshop and the village of St. Vianne are immersive, and the concept of bibliotherapy—using books to aid emotional healing—adds a meaningful layer to Adeline’s journey. The inclusion of Emily Dickinson’s poetry and reflections on storytelling add depth to the novel, making it a more thoughtful exploration of human connection and healing.

This was such a lovely story in such a great setting! A couple of surprises which I did see coming but still enjoyed reading this book! Keen to read more books by this author as it is a nice read

What an absolutely delightful enchanting book about family, friends, finding where they belong and all written with a gentle warmth. Adeline, along with 5 year old daughter Lily, moves to Provence after finding out that what she believed about herself and family had been wrong. She starts to work in the local bookshop that is run by Monique and finds that the shop is somewhat magical and that there is a deep unexplained connection between her and Monique. As Adeline tries to find answers and gain a sense of belonging she begins to believe that there is hope. A gorgeous setting, wonderful characters who I could easily visualise and a heartwarming atmospheric storyline. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

The Little Provence Bookshop by Gillian Harvey
This was an awesome bookstore story!
Adeline has escaped her everyday life with her daughter Lili. They find a new beginning and some hope in the little village called Provence. After her mother’s recent death, family secrets were revealed and Adeline feels betrayed to her core. In Provence, she meets Monique when she responds to an ad for a position at a quaint little bookshop. Adeline meets Andre and Michel, with the potential of love and new friendships, she finds her way to the magic that exists in new adventures.
This is a wonderfully warm and romantic story of found family and building family among friends. I really enjoyed reading this one and I love the writing style and complex interwoven characaters and their histories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review an ARC of this great story!
This will be released on 10/9/2024

Adeline, a single mother fleeing a troubled past, finds solace in the charming village of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. She takes a job at the local bookshop, a quaint little store filled with the scent of old paper and the promise of new beginnings.
I loved some parts of the book, firstly the setting its beautiful and all the characters and reading them is heartwarming. It has the perfect blend of Love, loss, discovery of self, magical realism, and betrayal.
The main theme of book BIBLIOTHERAPY is phenomenal.I always believed in that Right book can help you.
The book felt too slow for my liking and too much info dump. The inner monologues of Adeline and description felt unnecessary and made the story dragging.
Otherwise it’s a heartwarming read.

I really enjoyed this beautiful book, telling the story about finding family and friends in unexpected places. The Provençal village setting is delightful, making it the perfect holiday read but equally good for rainy days at home. I love the descriptions of tasty croissants and enticing books, making it easy to imagine yourself in Monique’s bookshop.

Adeline travels to France with her daughter Lili after her mother dies and she finds out that she and her brother had been keeping a secret from her. She found a job in a bookshop to go to, working for Monique, who seems to have a touch of magic about her.
This is a gentle book with romance in the background, rather as the main focus. It is more about how Adeline finds out more about herself and whether there is more about Monique and her knack for choosing books for customers than she originally thought. The setting sounds wonderful, with a small community feel that I'd certainly love to live in, although my French isn't very good. I also loved the magical part of the story, with its is it /isn't it real leaving a sense that there may be more to life than cold, hard facts. Definitely a book to sit back to read and relax to.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

What a lovely feel good read. I just loved this book from start to finish. It just made me happy. This book will make you teary eyed and then smile with joy. ‘The entertainment, the friendships, the drama, the laughs, a book that transports you to the South of France where you can feel like you are actually there. Wonderful book. Read it! You will not be disappointed!

This book starts of with a woman and her daughter moving to France to start a job in a bookshop. I loved the setting of this book, the beautiful area of France and also the cozy bookshop. I liked the plot twist half way through and the ending that tied up loose ends.
However, I found this book slow and not very exciting. I would have liked there to be more romance which it hints at throughout the book but doesn’t go into detail.
If your looking for an easy, cozy read the you might enjoy it but I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise.
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

A lovely story with a little mystery and a little magic. Adeline beings her daughter with her and moves to a small village and France after a shocking discovery. A lovely story and wonderful characters. I really enjoyed it.

📚Finding herself in France: good plot, lovely village setting👩‍👧

3.5🌟 stars
The story focuses on a young, single mother fleeing London to a small town in Provence after discovering major secrets her family kept from her through her mother's death. Devastated after accidentally uncovering the truth, Adeline grabs at the chance to pack up her life in England and accept work in a small French bookstore run by Monique, a bit of an eccentric who believes magic and fate are alive and working in everyday lives. Adeline is interested in new/old family connections and, apart from her lively five year old daughter Lili, Adeline's stop and start search for her birth mother was the best part of the story for me. There are some false starts and surprises along the way. A good chunk of the plot also revolves around village life and Adeline's growing attachments there, including her employer Monique, Monique's nephew Michel, and a handsome pastry chef named Andre.

Although the bulk of the story is heartwarming, cozy and kept my interest, I'm afraid the last few chapters before the epilogue brought my rating down because they just fell flat with me. And I wanted more from the romance for Adeline.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.