Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen was an outstanding story!
I loved the mystery which kept me glued to the pages.
Along with the romance, secrets and family made for a very entertaining read.
This is an highly readable, enjoyable and enlightening read.
Well-developed character pulls you into the story

Rumblings of Hitler's rise to power whisper across Europe, including England. But Ellie has more immediate and personal concerns. Out of the blue, her husband announced he wished a divorce. Ellie knew she didn't love him but was taken off guard. However, it sparked a desire to take control of her life and set out on adventures of her own. After hammering out settlement details, she includes her housekeeper and friend Mavis in her plans to go abroad. Shortly after, her older friend Dora expresses interest in joining them. She is ill and doesn't know how long she has left to live.

The three women leave their homes and lives behind and plunge into the exciting unknown, not without trepidation. Southern France is their destination and they encounter locals, excellent fresh food and Mediterranean sunsets. They navigate eye-opening adventures and the group of three becomes four. Ellie falls in love with Villa Gloriosa and decides to renovate and rent it. The seasons fly by and the ladies become more and more besotted with their new surroundings and freedom. However, change comes as Nazis occupy France and Jews are rounded up and taken to labour camps. The ladies encounter people involved in the Resistance. Betrayals are rife. As foreigners, they cannot leave and moments of fear arise. Marriages, births and deaths still mark life. The landscape changes after the war, too. But there are still glimmers of hope and times of joy.

What a fantastic novel! It came to me at exactly the right time. I really liked the slow pace, friendships and characters discovering their true selves. But what appealed to me most was new life abroad. As someone who lives on two different continents, I relate to language and culture differences. And as I live on the Mediterranean, I can taste the octopus, whitebait and persimmons. As always, Rhys Bowen's writing captured my heart. I adore slice-of-life stories!

Ellie Endicott is surprised when her husband announces that he is leaving her for another woman and wants a divorce. Ellis, the smart woman that she is, knows that her husband will take everything from her. So, she decides to leave with the Bentley, her housekeeper Mavis, and her friend Doris. They set for the south of France. However, Bentley decides to break down, so they must seek refuge while the Bentley is fixed. She sets her eyes on a run-down villa on the hill. The women are happy and doing well and renovating the rented villa when WWII and the Nazi invasion start to descend upon them.
This is my first time reading this author, and I am hooked. Beautiful storyline, majestic scenery, historical fiction, amazing main character, wonderful side characters, and an overall positive view during awful times in history.
Thank you, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

England in 1938 and the war is waiting in the wings. Ellie Endicott has never imagined not continuing on as a faithful married woman when her husband suddenly announces he wants a divorce. There follows one of the best parts of the book when Ellie finds a little part of her former self and takes a stand. Having received a satisfactory settlement she sets out for France taking Mavis, her housekeeper, and Dora, a friend with her. Oh and she takes the Bentley too which was marvellous!

I really enjoyed seeing the three of them making a home in France and beginning relationships and friendships with the people of the town. Of course the war hovers over them, coming closer and closer until German soldiers actually arrive in the town. I found this final part of the story less effective and the conclusion was rushed and predictable. So four not five stars but still one of the most enjoyable books I have read by this author and I have read many.(I still wish she had continued her Constable Evans series.)

After her husband abruptly announces that he wants a divorce, the former Mrs. Endicott decides to go on an adventure. She ends up bringing along two other women who are also in need of adventure, and they become the best companions for each other. This story took turns being heart-warming, devastatingly sad, and a little bit quirky. It kept me coming back to learn what Mrs. Endicott's next adventure would be. It was not your typical historical fiction and was a very enjoyable read.

This book was charming. After being the picture-perfect wife, giving up her own identity to serve her family, Ellie is left reeling as her husband wants a divorce in order to marry his younger and shinier—and pregnant—affair partner.

Ellie makes a bold move and decides to travel. She ends up inviting other women who are at loose ends to accompany her, and, along with a desperate young pregnant woman, ends up creating a new home and family in a tiny town on the French riviera.

Watching Ellie and her friends come into their full potential was such a satisfying read. Their journeys are not without hiccups or disagreements, but they all develop in such wonderful ways.

The hardships of WWII are also a part of the story, as is their work in helping Jews to escape the Nazis.

There are so many layers to this book—belated coming of age, romance, a war story. It’s all wrapped up into a lovely package that I will definitely read again.

Well-written, well-edited, well-researched. Well done!

Possible objectionable material:
Divorce, an affair, unwed pregnancy. Ellie “steals” her ex-husband’s car. War and death—a couple of particularly sad ones. Same sex-couples. A (quite moving) declaration of faith in God; if you’re not into the mention of religion in your books, this might bother you.

Who might like this book:
If you like women’s fiction that is more about growth than the romance, this will do the trick. Readers of WWII fiction, although WWII isn’t the true focus of the story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #RhysBowen #WWII #WomensFiction
#MrsEndicottsSplendidAdventure #LakeUnionPublishing

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-truly-splendid-adventure.html

Its Surrey, England in 1938. One day Ellie Endicott discovers that her husband desires a divorce. Ellie seizes this opportunity for change and sets off in their Bentley to the South of France. With her are her housekeeper Mavis and an elderly friend who are both also in need of a change. Thus begins their adventure. Unfortunately, the Bentley breaks down in a charming fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. Forced to stop Ellie eventually rents an abandoned villa. She also makes great friends with the locals and is attracted to a handsome, enigmatic man Nico. With no longing for unexpected destinations anymore Ellie stays put at Saint Benet. But the winds of change are on the horizon as war encroaches. Ellies life soon takes on a very different complexion.

This is a charming new novel by well known writer Rhys Bowen. She captures every sentiment that the main protagonist and her two companions face in this adventure that spans a few years. Yup, this is no quick read though I doubt one can put the book down till the very end. Such is Bowens bravura. Her insight into the characters and their emotions is an awesome read. I can’t comment in depth without giving the plotline away. True she uses some familiar tropes. It is her verve though that makes this novel so enthralling. How do her two friends happen to join her? Or maybe it’s a why or both. How do three women well advanced in age mange to start life afresh? As I read Ellies adventures I was increasingly absorbed in the tale.

I was given an insight into the worry faced by that generation as the war drew closer. Bowen captures all their angst, concern for their well-being and those of their new acquaintances. And when all seems well the war finally reaches St Benet. I felt their trepidation and fear of the Germans. Bowen is not shy to write about the atrocities of war. Other problems also raised their ugly head. Could Ellie sit back and not take part in any of this? What a dilemma!

Her two companions also had their own adventures. For three women who had led a mundane life wow! what a second chance they had. This novel delves into each of their lives. It does have an happily ever after. A brilliant read for anyone who likes an insightful human story.

What a wonderful and life affirming novel. A great Summer read.
Ellie Endicott has been a perfect wife to her husband,Lionel. She has created a beautiful home, brought up two sons and prepares all his meals as he likes them. When one day he tells her he wants a divorce she is shocked and hurt. She manages to negotiate a settlement and decides on a whim to go to the South Of France, a place she has always dreamed of returning to. As she prepares to leave she acquires two unlikely travelling companions, her cleaning lady, Mavis and a neighbour, Dora, who has had some bad news.
The three women make their way across France but when they break down in St Benet, a small fishing community on the Mediterranean they decide to stay, rather than heading for Nice or Antibes.
They gradually integrate into the village and make some new friends but it is 1938 and despite pleas to return home due to the political situation, they decide to stay which leads to some heartbreaking occurrences .
This book had me hooked from the very first page- I was really rooting for all 3 women and hoping they would find happiness in their new lives. It is a story of 2nd chances, of taking any opportunities that are offered and also it examines courage in the face of great adversity. Mrs Endicott certainly has a “splendid adventure”but she also finds a new meaning and purpose for her life. She is a fabulous character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her journey.
I definitely recommend this book .
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

It was 1938 in Surrey when Mrs Endicott was shocked to hear her husband of thirty years, Lionel, ask for a divorce. He'd found a younger model and wanted out. But Ellie was determined not to be ripped off, which is what he tried to do, so once she was happy, she took Lionel's Bentley, and accompanied by Dora and Mavis, they headed for the South of France. Enjoying the scenery - and the freedom - the three women only stopped when necessary, heading for the Mediterranean, their ultimate dream. But the Bentley decided it had had enough at a little village called Saint Benet, breaking down, refusing to move. Louis could fix the car, but it would take time.

The women stayed in a small pension, run by an English couple, but when Ellie learned of the ruined villa on the hill overlooking the ocean, she was drawn to it. Renting it, renovating with the owners approval, they found a place to love, with views to die for. Gradually, the women made friends with the locals - and then the war began. Thinking that so far south, they wouldn't be affected, they were shocked when trouble hit...

Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure was an enthralling, captivating read from the beginning and I loved it. Author Rhys Bowen writes enjoyable stories, and I've read a lot of them - this one was, IMO, one of her best. I found the characters inspiring; Ellie was a kind, caring person, sometimes to her detriment, while Dora changed for the better, once she reached France. Mavis was a delight! I loved the way the villagers took to them and made them welcome, so they joined their celebrations, including Christmas. An excellent read which I recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

“Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure” is one of those great summer reads where you give a deep sigh of satisfaction when you finish it. The small seaside village in the south of France is magical. The characters are endearing.

Ellie Endicott lives her safe, but boring life in the pre-World War II English countryside. She’s involved in the usual activities of a banker’s wife: homemaking, volunteering, and the like. She is more or less satisfied. Then her husband declares he wants a divorce so he can marry his young, pregnant mistress. Ellie is gobsmacked, but resigned, then angry. She wrangles a very good settlement then heads to France with her part-time housekeeper and an elderly woman from the village. When their car breaks down on the way to the French Riviera, the three end up in a remote fishing village. They decide to stay a spell, then longer. They develop relationships with the villagers, ponder life, and make their rental villa a home against the backdrop of World War II.

Ellie is a strong older woman who is comfortable in her own skin and ready to take on the world. Her partners in adventure find their own peace and strength to face challenges head on. You won’t regret picking up this book.

This story is great for those who enjoy historical pieces or historical women’s fiction.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Captivating, heart-tugging, and atmospheric!

Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure is an immersive, tender tale predominantly set in France during the late 1930s to mid 1940s that follows Ellie Endicott, a middle-aged, British woman who decides to make the best of her predicament and embark on an adventure to France with an elderly neighbour and her loyal housekeeper after her husband blindsides her after thirty years of marriage with a request for a divorce.

The prose is seamless and vivid. The characters are kind, brave, and strong. And the plot is a compelling blend of life, loss, surprises, heartbreak, betrayal, survival, danger, grief, war, friendship, romance, community, selflessness, and courage.

Overall, Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure is an alluring, rich, engaging tale by Bowen that transports you to another time and place and immerses you so thoroughly into the feelings, lives, and personalities of the characters that you can’t help but be absorbed and fully invested from start to finish.

I was enchanted by Ellie Endicott's story from the very first page. This was one of those rare books that once you have started reading it, you cannot put it down.

The story starts with divorce. Imagine the shock Ellie had when her husband of 30 years announces at breakfast that he wants a divorce so he can marry a much younger women. Imagine his shock when his up until now compliant ex-wife actually fights back and consults a lawyer to get a fair settlement. Then while she is in a state of flux she took the Bentley, their long time house keeper who has an abusive husband, and an elderly lady who hasn’t much longer to live and sets off for France to take the time to think and plan what they all want to do next. They ignore the fact that the German leader, Adolf Hitler, is preparing for war and head south to the Mediterranean.

The Bentley breaks down at a small fishing village near Marseille and it is there they stay. While they wait for a car part, Ellie finds an abandoned villa hidden in the hills behind the village and persuades the owner to let her rent it. The women quickly make close friends with the villagers; when the feared war breaks out, and France is occupied by the Germans, the ladies stay on.

Once the war starts the book covers some heavy subjects but does not ram the horrible events down your throat. The treatment of the Jewish people, gays and special needs people are part of the story. Some of the events brought tears to my eyes - but you can’t have a book set in an occupied country during WWII and ignore what happened. Yes, some good people died; and yes, some people that were counted on as friends betrayed cruelly and selfishly. But overall the story is about life changes, bravery, love, working together against a common foe, but above all hope in times of despair.

The war ends and the happy ever after finally arrives. Lessons are learned, life moves on for the characters and this reader could finally put the book down after sharing Mrs Endicott's Splendid Adventure.

I recommend you share the adventure too

I went into this novel blind, and by blind, I mean I wasn’t even aware that it was set in the years leading up to World War II. Ultimately, aside from very brief comments, World War II doesn’t really play much of a part in this novel until the near end, and it is much more a story about rediscovering yourself and making a life for yourself, even when it feels like it might be too late.
One thing that I found a little startling at first was how stoic the writing is. There were multiple instances where emotional things were happening in the story, and they were said so matter-of-fact-ly that it felt difficult to emotionally connect as much as I think I could have; that being said, it did feel a bit immersive to the theory that English people, especially in the past, were very stoic and hid their emotions.
I absolutely loved Nico as a character, and really appreciated how he remained a mystery to the reader for the entirety of the time that he’s a mystery to Ellie as well. Most characters were fantastic, and were written very realistically. Every character seemed like a person I might truly meet in real life, which really helped the story feel relatable and realistic.
Overall, I did enjoy this novel. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or the time period surrounding World War II, with the caveat that it is not a tearjerker in the way that Kristin Hannah tends to be. Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure is available on August 5th – thank you to Netgalley, Rhys Bowen, and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Just perfect! Three English women who, for various reasons, decide to travel to the south of France. Their lives change as they decide to settle in a small fishing village near Marseilles. They experience love and loss, friendship and betrayal, hope and grief. The story kept me reading into the wee hours.

3.5 stars

Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure is a warm and quietly engaging story that takes place as rumblings of war begin and continue through the next 5 years.
Eddie Endicott, recently divorced - a scandalous status for a woman in that age - finds herself searching for meaning and freedom in a time that offered little of either to women. Her journey takes her to a fictional village on the French coast, it's a great setting, it is charming and made me want to visit. There, she reconnects with herself and builds new bonds with Dora and Mavis, two women also quietly pushing back against the roles society has forced upon them.

Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure is a story of friendship, trust and self discovery. It explores the lingering effects of the war with sensitivity. The war years, with it's historical context help shape the characters’ choices, relationships and courage to change. While the pacing was a tad slow and some resolutions a bit too neat, the novel’s heart lies in its depiction of women taking charge of their lives, often for the first time, highlighting it's not too late to go after what you want in life.

My thanks to Lake Union for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This was a much better story than the author's book in 2024 (The Rose Arbor.) Ellie Endicott was a terrific, consistent main character, whose strength in the face of multiple challenges was both inspiring and entertaining. Some of the "adventures" were a bit far-fetched, but if the reader suspends reality enough, not completely impossible. The extra cherry on top were the supporting characters: Dora, Mavis, Mr. Tommy, Clive, Abbot Gerard, and the mysterious Nico. All of them contributed much in their own individual ways, rounding out the plot and creating an engaging read that runs the gamut of the human experience before, during and after WWII.

Who hasn’t dreamed of running away on a continental adventure? Well, Mrs. Endicott hadn’t until her husband dropped his divorce bomb on an otherwise perfectly average (and boring) day. A most significant change in her life trajectory follows. I loved how she turned from a meek British wife to an adventurous “why not” sort, and I loved even more that her courage and impulsivity with only a loose plan ended up including two other unexpected women - her maid and a crabby town lady. This story explores how the bonds of friendship are limited by the very narrow personas we show the world, and are opened up when we let our true selves through. Finding out who they are later in life than expected, finding small joys amidst wartime and its sadnesses, and being braver than they ever imagined, Mrs. Endicott and her friends definitely have a splendid adventure. Though the ending was a bit too saccharine for me, I loved every bit of the 90% that preceded this turn in tone.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Netgalley, and Rhys Bowen for early access to yet another well-crafted WWII novel.

One morning as she is making her husband's daily breakfast, Ellie Endicott's husband tells her that after 30 years of marriage he wants a divorce. He has met a younger woman, and they are wanting to get married. {Insert eye-roll here} Instead of sitting around and dwelling on her dilemma, Ellie takes matters into her own hands. She brings along an old lady who is having health issues and her housekeeper who is living with an abusive husband, and they head off to the south of France in her husband's car. Along the way, they help a young girl who appears to be in trouble, only to find out that she is running away from home and is pregnant. Ellie has a heart for helping broken people. Almost to their destination, the car breaks down in a small fishing village. While they wait for the car to be fixed, they spend some time in this little village and become quite enraptured with it that they decide to stay for a while. Then the effects of WWII are being felt all around them, and they become unsure of what to do. They decide that they are safer there than going back home to England. While they didn't experience the total effects of WWII, their little fishing town did not go unscathed. I found this book to be very uplifting, filled with deep friendships & strong women finding themselves and being given the lives that they truly deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

No one spins a tale quite like Rhys Bowen and this might be one of her finest works to date. If you are already a fan you will love it and if your are new to her work you will soon be reading her back catalogue!

I really enjoyed my first experience with Rhys Bowen's work last year, so when I learned there was going to be a new historical fiction story I immediately knew I had to add it to my shelves. Then I read the blurb and saw the 1938 southern France setting, and I only wanted to read it even more... It's no secret that I have a weak spot for WWII stories and I liked the sound of the three women traveling together to southern France. And while I can't deny that it was a pleasant enough and quick read, the story also kind of left me wanting for more.

If you are looking for a historical fiction novel that dives deeply into the era, Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure is without doubt not a great fit. This story ended up being surprisingly superficial, only skimming over what is happening during that period in France without fleshing things out properly. Especially the part that was set during the war was a bit underwhelming for me, as the terrible things happening mainly felt like an afterthought only worth a short anecdote. As a result, certain events in the second half that should have made you feel heartbroken weren't able to provoke any emotion at all... Which was shocking considering some of the things that happened.

This probably also had to do with the fact that the plot itself was extremely predictable and some of the characters were quite one-dimensional and cliche. The focus of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure seems to be on the three women, their adventure and their growing friendship; nothing wrong with that, but the majority of the story felt like it could have been set at any time before the 1960s or so. I did enjoy the friendship itself, although there were parts that were quite repetitive and again they could have been more developed. The travel aspect was great though, and I loved the descriptions of the fictional Saint Benet.

I think it is Saint Benet that mainly saved the story for me. I love a small town setting, and this fictional southern France fishing village sounded wonderful. I loved the community spirit and the inhabitants themselves... Although again there were quite a few cliches involved. If you are looking for a quick and lighthearted historical fiction read that mainly focuses on friendship and a healthy dose of romance, Mr. Endicott's Splendid Adventure fill fit the bill. Just don't expect any in depth exploration of the era and events during the war, because you will feel disappointed otherwise.