Absolutely loved this latest from Helen McGinn it’s the perfect holiday and escapist read!! Set in two timelines of Paris in the early 1960’s and now in London, northern England and Cannes, with a bit of New York in between!!
Maggie’s life is not looking great as she finishes up one job as a tv producer and finds out some devastating news from her ex-husband. Whilst staying with her parents in rural northern England, her mum asks her to see an old family friend in France.
Is this the escape that’s needed or should she carry on in a life she’s not enjoying?!
Great storylines, fabulous characters, cities, country, vineyards, life and love!! It’s all here with some great references to history art culture and of course wine!!
This is a deliciously gorgeous read!!
Hugely recommended and thoroughly enjoyed!!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early read, I loved it!!

"Under a Riviera Moon" is the second escapist, romantic read from Helen McGinn. This one covers the worlds of art and wine-making, with references to the Paris riots in the early 60s about the Algerian crisis. Students Elizabeth and Allegra meet in Paris and become instant friends, spending much of their free time together, and with their boyfriends. Sixty years later Maggie meets Allegra and finds out about the exciting time her grandmother (Elizabeth) spent in Paris and all about Allegra's amazing life.

This is a wonderful, heart-warming novel, with great locations and characters.

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

I really enjoyed Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn—it's the kind of book that whisks you away to sun-soaked destinations while weaving together past and present. I loved following Maggie as she uncovered the secrets of her grandmother’s glamorous life in 1960s Paris. The mix of romance, nostalgia, and self-discovery kept me hooked, and Allegra’s stories added such a beautiful depth to the novel. While some parts felt a little predictable, the rich setting and heartfelt moments made up for it. A solid 4-star read—perfect if you’re looking for an escapist, feel-good story!

Maggie is sent to Cannes by her mother, meets her grandmother's closest friend Allegra and learns of their past lives in Paris as young women. A fascinating story, well written with relatable characters. Perfect holiday/wet weather reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Maggie is still grieving her failed marriage to Jack, her inability to have children and her loneliness in a stressful job as TV producer that she isn't sure she likes anymore. Her father has dementia and her mother asks her to go to Cannes to visit Allegra, an old American friend of her grandmother Elizabeth. They both lived in Paris together for a year in 1961 and now Allegra wants to hand over some old photos. Maggie is intrigued and wangles time off with alarming ease for such a high-pressured job.

This is the framework for flashbacks to Allegra's story which is engrossing, and while there are two timelines and POVs, it feels like Allegra's story is way more interesting and rightly gets more exposition. Maggie's emotional troubles and her romance are almost an afterthought, but that is okay.

The Swinging Sixties in Paris, an art gallery in New York and then retirement in the Riviera - Allegra has had a full life and even though her first love didn't work out, she had a good long marriage to a good guy. That father of hers though - yikes.

What a lovely book this is. The characters and plot are interesting, the setting of Southern France is jealousy-enducing and the food is mouth-watering. This is well-written and reads easily. I just wish we've had heard more of Elizabeth's life - did we ever find out what happened to Luc? I'm glad there is a healing process for Maggie, kick-started when she realises that other lives are available and she can reinvent herself.

This is a wonderful holiday read that reminds you that if life doesn't go as planned you can still make the most of what you've got, with bells on (and a gorgeous cover). Recommended.

4.25 stars