Publication Date: 11th June 2024
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/therivierahousesocial
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208517081-the-riviera-house-swap
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
3 Stars
One Liner: Good concept and themes but…
Book Blurb:
Would you swap houses with a stranger?
Nina has always
played it safe. But when her divorce papers come through on her fortieth
birthday she decides enough is enough.
She’s always chosen the sensible route, staying in
her stable job and marrying her rather boring ex. In fact – she realizes –
she’s chosen security over excitement for years. Ever since she refused to
elope with her first love: beautiful, poetic, thoughtful Pierre, the man
she met aged 17, on her French exchange. The only man who ever made her heart
race.
Maybe it’s time to take a few risks?
Impulsively she goes online and finds another kind
of French exchange… a house-swap. She can’t imagine what French businessman Jean-Luc
wants with her terraced home in rural England, but she can’t wait to stay in
his beautiful, spacious, bougainvillea-strewn villa on the French Riviera.
She’s not just there for the house though. She’s
decided to find the love she missed all those years ago. But will Pierre still
be the man of her dreams after all this time?
As two lives collide, will love bloom on
the French Riviera?
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Nina’s third-person POV.
I enjoy lighthearted reads with some important themes. This book promises fun with a touch of romance and some introspection. While the premise is attractive, the results are sadly mixed.
What I Like:
The side characters are cool (except for one
person). Nina’s best friends are the right mix of support and caution. They
know when to let her rant, when to tease her, when to encourage her decisions,
and when to remind her to be careful.
Sabine is proper sunshine. She can be overwhelming
but gives exactly what Nina needs. Moreover, the humor in scenes with her feels
more realistic and natural.
Nina’s pros and cons lists are great. As a list
maker, I see the rationality of this approach even if her actions and decisions
aren’t great.
Some scenes with Nina’s fears and vulnerabilities are
well done. Her confidence has taken a hit, which makes her do some stupid
things but she does realize in time.
The hubby is not the bad guy (this is not a
spoiler). Given how most ex-husbands are supposed to be jerks, I like that he
is a decent human.
What Could Have Been Better:
For a light read, the pacing is a bit on the slower
side. While the plot doesn’t drag, it doesn’t sustain the tempo, either. I was
easily distracted during the first half.
This is not a romance. It is women’s fiction with barely
a touch of romance. While I enjoy both genres, I wish the ‘love’ track was
better handled. I couldn’t feel any chemistry despite liking the character.
The track with Pierre was easy to smell from a mile
away. While predictability is a thing of the genre, I think the whole part
could have had a little more depth. It is not fun when the reader thinks the
FMC is not using her brain cells even when we are 70% into the book.
The initial humor feels forced. It doesn’t become
seamless until Sabine enters. That makes the FMC a weaker character. In fact, I
never laughed or chuckled when she tried to be funny. It was the others who
made me smile.
To summarize, The Riviera House Swap is an easy read
with some decent themes. I’d say your enjoyment will depend on how well you
connect with the main character.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and
Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
Author Bio – Gillian Harvey
Gillian Harvey is a freelance journalist and the author of two well-reviewed women’s fiction novels published by Orion. She has lived in Limousin, France for the past twelve years, from where she derives the inspiration and settings for her books such as A Year at the French Farmhouse and A Month in Provence.
Follow the Author:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillPlusFive
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Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/GillianHarveyNews
Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gillian-harvey
***
This has been a stop on the #TheRivieraHouseSwap blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!
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