As a great fan of Katie Fforde, I was looking forward to reading her latest book, and wasn’t disappointed. The story takes place in 60’s London and Lizzie is living with two friends while taking a cookery course. Away from home for the first time, she is keen to explore the exciting new wave of fashion and pop culture, Mary Quant designs, mini skirts and geometric hairstyles.
The strength of the story is within its characters – there is a real sisterhood between Lizzie who is warm, friendly and likeable, Alexandra and Meg, who are lodging together in a rundown house in Belgravia. The mix of characters are supportive of each other, and well described. The story is light-hearted and humorous, with a warm, welcoming feel. Older readers who lived through the 60s will be particularly interested in the Swinging London scene, but younger readers will also be amused and entertained, especially as some of the designs are still fashionable today.
The story unfolds at a steady pace, with lots going on to keep readers interested. Parts of the story are hilarious, moving to heartbreak and despair at times. You can always be assured of a well plotted, interesting read, with an entertaining mix of characters in books by Katie Fforde, and I recommend this book highly.

This was another winner from Katie afforded, I’ve read if not all but most of her books and have enjoyed every one of them. This one was quite a lot different from her others as it was set in 1963 which I loved as the sixties was my era. I remember so much about the fashion and especially the music as I was growing up. This story had everything I love in it, friendships, romance and a lot of fun. This took me away from the cares of the world for awhile which I needed as we all do. Wish I could have given this more stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure initially about the book’s setting - a change from Katie Fforde’s usual contemporary setting. But soon the things she writes so well - friendship, relationships, a sense of place - came to the fore, and all faith was restored!

Love light hearted read about life and love. The plot was engaging and the characters were fun and very likeable. Very enjoyable read.

Absolutely love Katie Fforde novels and have read them all. Was thrilled to be able to access her latest. As usual did not disappoint....but took me by surprise a little as it was set in the 60s. Story revolves around Lizzie, her friends and a life away from home which results in complications. A very enjoyable read, looking forward to Katie Ffordes next offering! Would highly recommend.

Another great read from Katie Fforde. I was surprised that this was set in the 60's as all of her novels which I have previously enjoyed were present day. This story covers class issues (at the time quite a big thing) and the possibility of love at first sight. Superior chick lit.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

I am a big fan of Katie Fforde, having read all of her previous books. This book was a bit different to her usual ones. Firstly, it is set in the 1960s rather than present day. Secondly, the plot seems to lack a bit of depth. Yes there’s a main character you root for, but I feel like we don’t really get to know the leading man very well - we’re just told the main character is in love with him. All, in all, I’m sad to say this was a bit of a let down. If you’re new to Katie Fforde, I’d start with a different one by her as this isn’t the best example of her work. Just an okay read for me.

I enjoy a good Katie Fforde book and this one lived up to expectations.

It’s the early 60’s and Lizzie’s parents send her to London to take a cookery course so she can become a good wife. Lizzie has always been the obedient daughter but she wants to enjoy her London life before she complies with her parents wishes. However an unexpected moment of madness will seal Lizzie’s fate for the future.

A lovely lighthearted story with good characters. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I should start by saying I love Katie Fforde usually and have read all her books, however this was really not great. It was cliched and written with none of the wit and the charm that her books usually display. On a par with an average Mills and Boon - quite readable but not at the authors usual standard in my opinion.

Such a cosy read. Following the lives of 3 girls living in London during the 1960’s. This gentle historical romance was captivating. Lizzie (a naive girl from the Home Counties being pushed by her mum to marry for money) Alex (a woman with wealth) and Meg (A girl brought up by her mum), they begin to mix inupper class circles but this does crumbling down. A good solid storyline, lovable characters and a great backdrop.

It's 1963 and home counties girl Lizzie Spencer is in London as a pupil at Mme Wilson's cookery school for young ladies. Looking for a new place to live, she meets and falls in love with dashing Hugo, sadly tied to haughty Electra. She moves in with classmates Alexandra and Meg, to Alexandra's large but faded Belgravia family house...

Typically for Katie Fforde, it's a good story with very sympathetic characters. Lots of period charm too. Overall a light feel good read.

I cannot even begin to explain how much this book has cheered me up over the last few days. I have long been a fan of Katie Fforde and I may seem a bit of a fangirl, but I have read all of her previous books so this latest novel has been on my wishlist since it was announced.
It did not disappoint and I would recommend it to everyone in need of a pick up right now. It is a little different from many of her recent books as it is set in the 1960s but the warmth and loveliness of Ms Fforde's world is still there in full colour. I always leave her books feeling like I am great friends with the characters and this is no different. I particularly wish I had a David in my life, as a friend rather than a family retainer though, may I add. The romance does not disappoint either and Lizzie is a fabulous protagonist. Honestly I could go on for days but I would hate to run it for anyone. All I can say is that a new Katie Fforde book is like putting on your favourite pair of fluffy slippers and a dressing gown, made a cup of tea and told to spend an hour to yourself with the biscuit tin. Divinely comforting.

Thoroughly enjoyable and shamelessly romantic. This is a book for curling up with in front of a warm fire one afternoon. Effortless reading for a lazy day

You can't go wrong with a Katie Fforde book.

We go back to the 60s and meet Lizzie who is a world away from who she is in London setting up home in a house share whilst on a cookery course to find the perfect man.

Unfortunately that perfect man is engaged.

I loved stepping back in time. This was such a fun read that I really enjoyed.

I love all of Katie Fforde's books and so I also enjoyed this. However it wasn't her best one, I love the way she writes romances and so I felt a bit deprived of interactions between the two main characters, especially in the first half, as those interactions are often my favourite parts of her books! I did still thoroughly enjoy the book though, it was funny and sweet and the perfect antidote to 2020 in general. I loved the cast of characters, especially in the London House, and the main romance was very sweet, just a tiny bit underdeveloped compared to some of Katie's other wonderful books. Overall a lovely escapist treat.

I have been a fan of Katie Fforde’s books for many years now, so I was excited to receive a review copy of A Wedding in the Country.

I was slightly confused as I managed to miss the description saying that the book is set in the 60s, and so I kept expecting it to switch back to current times.

I really enjoyed the friendship aspect of this book. The way the three (and eventually four) girls and David support each other is great. I didn’t enjoy the romance as much as I normally do with this author. I think it was simply that Lizzie and Hugo CHECK didn’t have enough interaction time to really convince me. It all felt rushed. However, this was dictated by the circumstances.

I found the way that Lizzie was treated by everyone other than her friends really upsetting. She also seems a little passive for my liking, though she does have a quiet determination on the things that matter to her, which is admirable.

Overall, this story had a lovely friendship, a gentle romance, and a happy ending, but I felt the whole way through as though I were navigating some foreign land that I didn’t quite understand. I think if you’ve read the description properly, you will enjoy this book a lot more than I did! It’s a lovely, gentle read, mostly.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This was so unexpected, I was completely lost in this cute little bubble of 1960s life.

It's essentially a historical romance, set in the 1960s. I've read loads of books by this author (and by 'loads', read 'all') as I find her books easy to read and consistently enjoyable. The most recent ones though haven't quite hit the spot for me; typically there's an older, sage character in some sort of advisory role and a younger female lead who, I'm sad to say, speaks, acts and behaves like someone my mum's age in spite of being in her twenties.

So when this story started following young Lizzie joining a cookery/finishing school style course in London I was totally expecting the timeline to flip to the now at some point and her be the old lady, but it never did.

Instead we get to experience a (gentle) swinging London through Lizzie's naivety and curiosity as she lives independently from her well meaning but in her business parents for the first time and learns who she is.

The romance in this wasn't all that I'm afraid, Hugh needed a bit of a shake and his dithering wasn't exactly swoon-inspiring, but that Hansel and Gretl cottage...sign me up for that.

Even with the romance feeling a bit lacking, I still really enjoyed escaping into this world. Wish there'd been an epilogue.

*My thanks to the publisher via netgalley for my arc.*
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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoy this authors books and this was no exception, fantastic storyline, great characters. Loved it.

A great story, nice and easy to read and lots of threads to the story keeping you enthralled at all times.

I always love reading a Katie Fforde book, you know where you are with them. They will be well written, have great characters (who you will mostly love), great descriptions of places and houses, and have a nicely rounded ending. This book had all of that, but interestingly was set in the 1960s which made it a bit different. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.