My Thoughts
In her latest novel, “The Bordeaux Book Club,” Gillian Harvey transports the readers to the picturesque countryside of France. Protagonist Leah uproots her life to move there with her husband and teenage daughter, expecting to live out an idyllic existence growing their food. But Leah soon realizes that farm life is not the romantic ideal she envisioned.
Seeking connection, Leah joins a newly formed book club at the urging of her friend. This ragtag group of members initially seems to be very mismatched, yet they all bond over the stories they read and the intimacy of sharing their struggles. Leah forms many meaningful female friendships through the club to sustain her when her marriage shows many cracks.
Harvey excels at creating relatable characters and immersing the readers in the beauty of the French landscape. The themes of friendship, new beginnings, and reinvention give the story depth. Yet the pacing falters when Harvey lingers on the descriptive details at the expense of the plot movement.
Overall, the bibliophiles will delight in this story-within-a-story exploring the power of books to unite the people. Through the book club members ‘ literary discussions, Harvey delivers witty dialogue, well-crafted metaphors, and an aesthetic escape. For fans of female-centered fiction examining life’s inevitable ups and downs, “The Bordeaux Book Club” makes for a charming and quintessentially beach read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
