A beautifully written, historical tale that you can easily lose yourself in.

Wonderful characters with a captivating story to tell.

Fictionalized story based on the life of a strong woman who had a lot of courage and determination . Despite opposition and many setbacks she created the famous Veauve Cliquot champagne house in France . Fascinating historical fiction that delves into the growing and cultivation of grapes.

: Pub Date: 04 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I felt as if i was walking through the French Vineyards. This story was so well written, I was completely captivated and read this in one sitting. I highly recommend this book.

Superb Book
An amazing story of a famous champagne house and really well written. I would recommend this.

A beautiful rendering of the history of the woman behind such a well known champagne house. Best enjoyed drinking a flute of something bubbly.

This was a beautifully written story and was rich in historical detail. It was very interesting reading about the vineyards and the making of champagne. I hated to reach the ending.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The French House is based on the true story of Nicole Clicquot and set in post revolution France. The story is a mix of fact and fiction depicting the struggles of making champagne and how Nicole takes a difficult situation and revives a dying vineyard into a famous supplier of French champagne. Nicole is a strong female character who defies the odds to become s successful wine maker. An interesting story that has you cheering Nicole on !
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in echange for my honest opinions.

Filled with lush descriptions, memorable characters, and vivid events, this historical fiction novel about the world-renowned vineyards of France is not to be missed.
You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to understand the nuances of the plot. Anyone who even pays half attention to wine or celebration will recognize the names of Moet and Cliquot right from the start.
(But just in case, those are two of the most famous brands of champagne available to this day).
Set in the late-1700s to 1800s, the story follows Nicole, the headstrong daughter of a vineyard owner in Reims, France. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that she becomes (shall we say) extremely involved in the wine-making process.
Her journey to get there, however, is not without heartache and lots of troubles.
In fact, from the very beginning in the prologue, the author does a fantastic job of melding fictional and non-fictional events and characters into a seamless, compelling, and emotional narrative.
It actually took me a bit longer to read this book than it normally would because I kept stopping to verify who was a real historical figure and who wasn’t. Some were obvious, some less so.
I liked the message of resilience that was woven through the story. It applied not only to Nicole’s situation, but to the grapes themselves. It’s hard to explain, but it worked for me because I saw the vineyards as an extension of her.
I don’t know if that’s what the author intended, but it’s how I read it.
I also particularly liked Natasha. I’ve mentioned how a Russian history class doomed my History major in college, but I remain fascinated with the historical aspect of the culture and people. I’d never given much thought to Russians living in France, or how they would have been impacted by the Napoleonic Wars.
As I have said before, I love learning new things from historical fiction novels.
I was utterly charmed by this novel. Frankly, it was a nice break from WWII (which makes up much of my historical fiction reading). The author’s research was informative, and her writing talent made the vineyards of France come alive.
I can’t wait to read more from her.

A fascinating story built on the life of Nicole Clicquot and her dreams and hard work in the world of Champagne. I loved reading about her fight for survival in such a man’s world, and the historical references to the French Revolution and the Russian invasion of Europe were interesting additions to the story. The characters are all well developed and add depth to Nicole’s story. We learn a lot about their involvement in her life and who she can trust, love and fight with.

When there is a story about a strong woman, I need to read it! Which is why I requested The French House that is based on Nicole Clicquot, the lady who ran the Veuve Clicquot, the largest house of champagne makers at a time when women were confined to the kitchen and were expected to be baby-making machines.

The story was good though the writing was clunky in parts. Some of the side stories had no relevance to the main plot and could have been done away with completely as also some characters.

3.4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Ok, I did try to like this book with all my heart; historical fiction is one of my favourite genres after all. But sometimes, even the best of reading intentions don't work in making the book click. Looking at the other ratings and reviews, I am much in the minority. So please take this review with a pinch of salt and do give the book a try.

The French House is set in post-revolution France, where Napoleon was on his rampage and the European political situation was unstable. (Thank you, publishers, for changing the title. The earlier name had a huge spoiler.) Nicole Clicquot has big dreams along with her husband François of having a successful winery. But passing times bring greater tribulations and she soon finds herself dealing with the chauvinist members of society who can't palate the idea of a woman handing a business successfully.

Nicole Clicquot might be known to you as Veuve Clicquot, one of the first ever successful businesswomen and owner of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, a French champagne house founded in 1772 and existing even today as a specialised premium champagne producer. Madame Clicquot was also renowned for inventing the riddling table process to clarify champagne in 1816 and creating the first known blended rosé champagne in 1818. She was an independent thinker in spite of the era she was born in and is a woman to be admired and emulated.

However, the book must be judged not for what it tells us about Madame Clicquot but on how it does so. And sadly, the "how" didn't work for me. The book is a debut work and it shows. The author tries to include everything possible to provide a valid historical fiction and in the process, creates a great deal of clutter. Many of the secondary characters appear and disappear randomly. Some of the side-tracks were not relevant to the main story at all. Nicole's character in the book seems to go back and forth in her decisions, without any justifiable reasons. Natasha's and Clementine's characters are underexplored, Teresa's is over-utilised. Xavier's and Louis' characters seem to change as per the whims of the author. I could not identify with the rationale of even a single character.

This could have been a fantastic story, not just because of the uncommon era it is set in but also because it brings to us a powerhouse of a woman from the forgotten past. But I guess I picked this up at the wrong time because everyone else seems to be going gaga over the book.

If you want a look into the fictional life of a great woman from history, you could certainly give this book a try. I regret that it didn’t work for me, but from the other reviews, it does look like it could be a pleasant reading experience if picked up at the right time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The French House is the story of the creation of Veuve Clicquot and the woman who was these vines. This story runs from the Revolution to the exile of Napoleon to Elba. During this time Nicole becomes Madame Clicquot and learns the world of wine. Then seven years later she becomes Veuve Clicquot. Just as she was about to sell to Moet she is drawn back to the vines that are in her blood. Through years of trials she is able to make a success of the venture and create an innovation that will change Champagne forever.
The story is interesting and one I never knew. It is inspiring to see a woman who was kept from doing what she loved because she was a woman and succeeded in the end. If you like historical fiction and strong women then grab this one.

The French House by Helen Fripp
Source: Purchase, NetGalley, and Bookouture
Rating: 5 stars

As a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, the headstrong Nicole Clicquot agrees to marry the man of her dreams. With the world at their feet and beautiful and bountiful vineyards as their future, there is nothing the Clicquot’s cannot accomplish. Unfortunately, Fate always has her hand in the lives of mere mortals and this time, she takes Nicole’s husband far too soon. With a small child and employees to care for, Nicole decides, against all the odds and conventions of her time and place, she will run the vineyards and make them the success she and her beloved once dreamed they could be.

Though Nicole knows the mechanics of running a vineyard, her job is made doubly hard given the fact she is a woman. In her time and place, single, even widowed women, simply don’t own and run a successful business. At nearly every turn, Nicole is faced with yet another man hellbent on hindering her success. What’s more, the men willing to work with her either have to grudgingly admit to her knowledge and expertise and work with her as well as becoming to next focus of the town’s gossip.

Over the years, Nicole, her vineyards, and her employees see hundreds of ups and downs, not the least of which is Napoleon’s march across Europe. With each new victory, Napoleon shuts down more and more of Europe making is nearly impossible and certainly illegal to export goods. On more than one occasion, Nicole risks her own life and the lives of some of her dearest friends in order to get her wares to the countries clamoring for them. Sometimes, the deliveries go according to plan and others are epic disasters. The disasters threaten the very existence of Nicole’s livelihood and she will do whatever she must to ensure its existence.

The Bottom Line: This was a long, saga-esque read that I enjoyed every minute and every page of. I am always a fan of strong women who are far, far ahead of their time and place. In Nicole’s case, she doesn’t bow to the whims of others, but expects others to come around to her way of thinking. Nicole expects those who are with her to work as she does, defy convention as she does, and reap the benefits of their hard work and determination. What I found particularly interesting about this read is the descriptions of the vineyards and the lengths Nicole is willing to go to in order to ensure her continued success. Make no mistake, this isn’t a terribly happy read, but it is one of knowledge, determination, sheer stubbornness, and cleverness beyond anyone’s reckoning. Nicole defies all the odds and comes out all the better for it in the end.

Wealthy but headstrong Nicole marries for love. Her spurned lover becomes her bitter rival and the feud continues after her husband's death. Nicole defies convention to take over the business and founds Veuve Clicquot. Can Nicole and her brand survive personal and political war...?
The French House is an historical novel set at the time of the French Revolution and its aftermath. Nicole was a real person and I loved reading about her true history. It was interesting to see how Helen Fripp has fictionalised the events in her life. This book was originally titled The Champagne Widow and I actually preferred that title as it seemed more evocative.
We first meet Nicole as an 11 year old and see her courage. This grows as she becomes an adult and has to face tragic circumstances and financial ruin. The author has taken the facts of Nicole's life to create an uplifting story of a woman's survival in a man's world.
Love drives her to achieve but she often has to put her personal happiness aside. I felt frustrated and even a little angry with her husband. His mental fragility and probable suicide have significant consequences for his wife so his selfishness endeared me to Nicole even more.
The other characters in the book take friendship and enmity to extremes. Some characters support Nicole but also betray her trust, yet the strength of her friendship overcomes their actions. Others are staunchly loyal throughout, inspired by Nicole to hope. Her antagonistic relationship with Moet reverberates across the years, from her refusal to marry him, to her business success.
The French House is full of vivid descriptions of the Champagne region. The taste of the Champagne is synonymous with the grapes and their growing environment which the author conveys with her rich imagery.
I thoroughly enjoyed The French House, the strong female lead, the burgeoning feminism and history of France, and the gripping plot.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

This historical story about the woman behind one of the world's most famous champagne producers hits all the right notes. The writing style is not clunky or overly modern, but also accessible, Nicole is a feisty and likeable (though flawed) heroine, and there are plenty of twists and turns to her story.

I didn't know anything about how Veuve Clicquot got its name so it was fascinating to read this story of an unusual time and an unusual woman. The book seemed well researched to me (although I don't know much about wine production!) and there were no jarring notes in the historical setting to pull me out of the story. The French was also appropriate and accurate, which was a huge plus for me as a francophone.

A great escapist historical novel of good quality!

Due to medical reasons, I don’t drink so what I know about alcohol is, well, miniscule. But even I know about Veuve Cliquot, a famous label of champagne. This is fact blended with fiction about the story of Nicole Cliquot, aka Veuve Cliquot or ‘the widow Cliquot’. Before reading this, I didn’t know that Veuve was French for widow and that the brand was basically named for her. Her life makes for fascinating reading, I did a bit of googling whilst I was reading this. She was born to wealthy parents and lived throughout an incredibly tumultuous time in France. The French Revolution reset the calendar, did away with religion and many previously privileged went by way of the infamous invention, the guillotine. Nicole married Francois Cliquot although he was troubled and he died some 6 or 7 years after they married, leaving her a widow at 27. There’s some ambiguous circumstances surrounding his death – it may have been typhoid but it could’ve also been suicide, which at the time would’ve meant burial at the crossroads and severe implications for those left behind, especially Francois and Nicole’s young daughter Clementine. Without Francois, Nicole is determined to make a name for their wines and champagnes, to export their product to Russia where the wealthy long for French vintages. There’s a lot of things in her way though, including but not limited on going war, poverty, distrust at a woman in charge and rival vintner Jean-Remy Moët.

I really enjoyed reading this. Nicole is such a strong, determined rebel – from the time she’s a child, she is very stubborn, she doesn’t want to marry just to become an ornament, someone in charge of directing a houseful of servants. She loves freedom and being able to visit the vineyards her father has and when she meets Francois, it’s love at first sight. And Francois is happy for Nicole to work beside him, he admires and appreciates her for all her headstrong tendencies, although Francois is very troubled. Nicole is the strong one and when she’s left alone, she goes on in such a determined manner even when it would’ve just been so much easier to sell to Moët and live a comfortable, privileged life, the one that she’d always known. Instead she perseveres, facing setback after setback. She constantly has to deal with Moët’s underhanded tactics, his pressure to get her to sell and lots of other different struggles, especially with how tumultuous the situation is in France and the fact that very few have the money to buy what they are making. Nicole also comes up with a way that enables her to turn a lot of champagne bottles swiftly and store them in a way that means the sediment, which can ruin a bottle, gathers at the neck and when opened, is released swiftly, leaving a crystal-clear vintage behind. Even when everything seemed hopeless, when she kept facing devastating setbacks, she never gave in. In the background are the constant struggles for power in Europe and the wars that go along with it.

My only real complaint was that there was a section maybe just over halfway where things started to feel a bit repetitive. Nicole facing similar adversities over and over again and it just kind of made that part of the book feel like it was dragging. If this had been tightened up a little, I think it would’ve made the adversity she faced feel more compelling rather than just ‘oh here’s another obstacle in her way again’ and often it’s the same obstacle and sometimes, it’s even in the same way. But that’s a small quibble really, it just got to feel a bit long.

8/10

I have to say my French history is sketchy to say the least so apart from a great story this book was part history lesson. I liked the way it was based on the familiar names of Verve Clicquot and Moet and was inspired by Nicole Clicquot journey to become a famous champagne producer - and it was not an easy journey.
The descriptions of France at this troubled times really bring the story to life. Nicole is such a strong character and I was willing her to succeed all the way through the book.
I didn't realise this was the authors first book. I hope she goes on to write more as I would definately read them. An impressive debut.

Reims, France - 1789

Nicole Ponsardin is seeing the pitiful offerings at the market and how results of the Revolution have spread from Paris to Reims. Crops are dying in the fields, buildings are crumbling. Aristocrats are eating well while workers starve. Now, the workers are planning to gather up the aristocrats and cut off their heads via the guillotine. An altercation breaks out between the starving locals and a rich Comte, resulting in the death of the husband of Nicole’s friend, Natasha. That’s when Nicole swears to build her own wealth and power using it for good.

Eight years later

Europe is at war and the young general, Napoleon Bonaparte, is leading the troops. Monsieur Moet, owner of a vineyard, wants to marry Nicole, but she refuses. Her father has made a fortune from his vineyards and Nicole secretly reads all of his vineyard manuals.

When Nicole meets Francois Clicquot, owner of a vineyard making champagne, they soon marry and Nicole has a little girl. When Francois dies, Nicole is determined to carry on his legacy against all odds, and there are many.

This book shows the determination of a woman to succeed at the top of the wine making game despite all of the many people who triy to stop her. We see how many people suffered from the war, yet we also see how people refused to give up. It was a very difficult time period, but is one reason, I think, that the French are as tough as they are. Having lived in France for quite a number of years, I saw proof of this determination passed down from generations of tough French people. A very good depiction of this time period.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Beautifully written book and i was hooked from the start very descriptive and the cover is very vibrant

I know little about The French Revolution as I was never really a history buff. I know even less about Champagne or how it is made. So this book is probably an odd one for me to choose, but one of my goals for 2021 is to reach into genres that I normally wouldn’t read. The cover was so gorgeous that I felt compelled to raise my hand when the blog tour offer came in. I’m so glad that I did!

This historical fiction centers around Nicole Clicquot, the Widow of Reims, the real-life owner of Veuve Clicquot, the world’s most popular Champagne house in the early 1800’s. The tale covers her struggles to keep her Champagne line afloat after the loss of her husband. Facing both challenges abroad (no export options during the war) and at home (enemies, weather and so much more) Nicole braves it all for her daughter and the memory of her beloved husband.

The story has so many wonderfully beautiful moments. The setting, the friendships, the courage of a woman and the beautiful writing made this a pleasurable read. There were a few slow spots throughout the story and overall, the book can feel a bit depressing as Nicole faces continued challenges, one after another. It’s best to be prepared as this is not a happy or joyful book. But I learned so much about this trailblazing woman that it made it all worthwhile.

Thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.