This is another well written, utterly feel good book. By the best selling author Jo Thomas. Really easy to read, utterly uplifting and perfect for those gorgeously long summer days.

This is a perfect summer holiday read. Great characters in a beautiful setting with a story that keeps you interested. A lovely heart warming ending too. Recommended.

Not my favourite Jo Thomas book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. The plot's a bit basic, and it felt at times as though bits were missing. The dialogue is repetitive in parts (certain phrases are over used), and there was something about Eliza's character I couldn't warm to. The description of the scenery was strong, as were the foodie elements. I loved also how Eliza gave Banderas the pig a new lease of life too. A good read, but not one that wowed me. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jo Thomas takes the reader through The character Eliza on a journey to Spain peppering the journey with love, mystery , pig rearing, iberico ham and tapas.
A gentle read for a warm summer day

All Eliza wants is some peace and quiet to work and study but her three grown up children have all returned home and peace is in very short supply. Spotting an ad for a house sitter on a farm in southern Spain Eliza thinks this will be the ideal solution and within 24 hours she has all the peace and quiet she wants.
The owner, Josep, tells Eliza that al she has to do is look after the house and his two dogs and his farmhand Pedro will take care of his precious Iberico pigs. Oh, and he is insistent that she does not tell anyone he has gone away. Shortly after Eliza has a run in with a wild boar, Pedro disappears. Unable to contact Josep Eliza has to find a way to take care of the pigs, she can't let them come to any harm while she is in charge.
A chance meeting with some of the ex-pat community in the local village gives Eliza a chance to have some fun and make some friends but she also discovers that all is not well in the village. It seems to be run by a group of men who are only interested in themselves and making as much money as possible.
Can Eliza complete her studies and look after the pigs or will Joseps farm be ruined?
You can almost feel the sun pouring from the pages. Perfect summer reading.

The humour and warmth are evident from the start of this heartwarming story full of friendship, mystery and romance. Eliza is a single mother whose children are now adults, and although they have all left home, they have now returned, and it's crowded and full of angst. She is struggling with who she is apart from a mother of young adults and is studying for a new career but is not sure what it is yet. The chance to work as a homesitter in Southern Spain is scary but maybe just what she needs.

Josep is attractive but distant, but his house is lovely, and his dogs are adorable, so she looks forward to her new experience. There is humour when Eliza meets the pigs, and she soon finds skills she didn't know she possessed. The Spanish Conversation Group is lovely and welcoming, but the problems begin when her employer returns unexpectedly.

I love the Spanish culture and food explored through the characters and the friendships between the women. The romance is gentle and believable, and the writing is full of sensory imagery, immersing the reader in the story.

The author has written a lovely, romantic story with an excellent sense of place and people and an emotional journey of self-realisation for Eliza.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Eliza needs space. Simply put, her tiny flat is bursting at the seams, with her three adult children all having returned and she needs space to think, so she can write her University essay. On the spur of the moment, she takes leave from her job and heads off to Spain to house sit for the mysterious Josep. Will she be able to write in peace, and will she find who she really is in the Spanish sun?

A quick easy read, I loved the quirky characters Eliza met in Spain - Juan was my particular favourite with his crazy tastebuds and change of name. I also found the pig storyline really interesting, I now know more about ham than I ever thought I would! It wasn't quite the book I thought I was getting, the rom com turned out to have a bit more of a dramatic storyline than I expected, but definitely a good read.

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

Another fabulous book, Jo’s books just get better every time. Reading this will make you hungry as there’s mentions of sherry and Iberico ham.

Eliza, takes up a job to house sit for a farmer who keeps pigs in Southern Spain, where she’s planning to complete an essay so that she can make changes in her life with regards to her employment.

But, it seems that she’ll be having more to occupy her time than writing her essay. She meets a group of people, who are the ‘learning Spanish’ group, and soon feels like she’s a part of them.

I felt the characters were relatable and wished that the story continued after it finished, wanting to find out how Eliza settles into her life in Spain and what her friends are doing.

Highly recommend this book.

What a lovely escape and heartwarming, fun story! I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, yet relaxing, uplifting, and rewarding summer vacation book whether you’re taking one with you on your trip or stuck at home and wish you were on holiday.

I would like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

<b>The Story</b>
It’s sweet, fun, adventurous, delicious.

The market, sense of community, uncertainty and ambivalence, a bit of mystery, friendship, laughter, falling in love, it’s got it all.

And I always learn something new and interesting with Jo Thomas, whether it’s about an industry, lifestyle, place, or cuisine. I love how each story embraces the full experience with open arms.

That being a lot of lovely culture and food. With food being jamón and various tapas, ingredients of olive oil, chorizo, peppers, tomatoes, dishes of Spanish omelette, patatas bravas, I could go on, it was all immersive.

<b>The Writing</b>
So easy to get into. It’s this casual style, no hesitancy to celebrate secondary language and culture which makes it fresh and flow nicely. Just enough without being distracting, enough to build story and make you curious to dive deeper into every aspect of lifestyle and recipe.

The characters were also lovely, distinguished, and well positioned to support the story through and through, even the side characters were equally entertaining and memorable.

Always looking forward to more!

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Predictable? Yes but it's a fun and feelgood lighthearted read.
Eliza feels cramped in her flat when her kids return home for one reason or another. She has an essay to write for her university application so decides to head to Spain to look after Josep's villa while he has business to attend. Throw in some pigs, the gastronomica society, a few friends and some tapas and you have the perfect summer read.
Really enjoyed this. Jo never disappoints.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Jo

Eliza finds herself struggling with working, doing an online course and trying to keep her three children in line after they all return home. An ad pops up for house sitters in Spain and decides to give it a go just to get some space of her own. Little does she know she will get sucked into Spanish life and find new friendships and love at the same time.

Such a lighthearted and fun read. When 50 something Eliza finds her three almost-grown children squeezed back into her tiny flat, she is unable to focus on her foundation course that she hopes will allow her access to further study and some sort of new life. Long divorced and without a third level education or young children to define her, she has lost her way. A dog sitting job in Spain offers the answers to her lack of space and time to complete her work and think about her future. Landing in Spain, she discovers a host of new friends, experiences, tastes and desires. From pigs to undercover work, tracking down thieves and retrieving stolen goods, her time in Spain teaches Eliza so much about what really makes her happy. Sunshine, spicy tapas and a handsome Spaniard, see temperatures soaring. Along the way, we meet some fun characters, some fabulous tapas and are introduced to amazing Spanish scenery. A great summer read. #retreattothespanishsun #jothomas#spain #summerreads #beachread #romcom #dehesa #spanishham #tapas #pigfarm #findinghappiness #over50s #bookstagram #karla_bookishlife #netgalley

What I love about Jo Thomas’s books is that you can picture yourself sat in a cafe in the market square of whichever country the book is set in and this one is no different. We are in Spain and can taste the most delectable Iberico ham. However there appear to be ham thieves about! Who knew ham was such big business!
Eliza finds herself trying to get to the bottom of it to help Josep, whose house and dogs she has been looking after whilst he was away on business!
She’s escaped her small flat and three children in England for two weeks only to find herself in the middle of the secrecy of the local Gastronomic Society, a lovesick boar, piglets that need looking after and a crime that has been committed!
Throw in friendship and romance and what more do you need! Delightful!

I love books by Jo Thomas and this was no exception.
I was taken straight into the storyline and almost felt I was out in Spain sitting in the town square with the sun on my face. A real page turner and beautiful summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. It was an absolute pleasure.

I am not a fan of summer or hot weather or hot places, and whilst Spain does look inviting, I’m not overly jealous to people holidaying there, even Eliza in this book. However, the idea of shutting yourself away in the quiet countryside with just the dogs and a writing pad, that I’m jealous of.

I’ve only read two other Jo Thomas books and on reflection, I’d say this was the one I related to the least. It felt a little out of reach for me. That’s not to say it’s bad writing, on the contrary, she manages to write characters and setting and emotion really well. But I just didn’t find myself falling in love with this book until at least half way.

The first half is very much setting the scene, getting to know the characters and building up to the climax of the story. I would say from about 60% maybe, shit hits the fan and I enjoyed it much more. There was much more meat on the bones of the story and you finally get a reason to root for everyone, and it just felt more enjoyable for me.

By the end of the book, I definitely felt warmer; the ending was so full of joy and love - love for your friends, your romantic partners, for food, the country, local community, a job, and most importantly, for yourself.

I really enjoyed this book so thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review a copy. Eliza Bytheway is a divorced mum of three young adult children who, for one reason or another, have returned home. Working for a local estate agent, studying a pre-degree course and trying to manage her busy home pushes her into becoming a house-sitter in Spain for a few weeks. We find our she finds being on her own after such a cramped home life and how she discovers friends (and enemies) in the local village. She ends up looking after a herd of prize pigs, trying to finish her essay, trying to learn Spanish and falling in love! Through all this she is constantly harassed by her needy children who look to her to constantly sort out their problems. A crime is committed and her and her friends take matters into their own hands. I won't say any more as it would spoil the story but suffice t say, this is a great summer read, easy to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd definitely recommend it.

Yet another brilliantly written Jo Thomas novel that has left me hungry for more of the book and the gorgeous sounding food she has written about! I could see myself sitting in the square, people watching for hours on end...oh to dream!

Looking forward to the next book already!

Loved this book. Its perfect for a summer holiday read by the beachor the pool. Lovely story and characters. Really good.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for a free copy of this fantastic read. A lovely warm and sunny read. I loved it. It's my first Jo Thomas book but definitely not my last!
The perfect holiday read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Another cracking book from Jo Thomas, you can almost feel the Spanish sun coming off the pages.