This was such an uplifting book, at a time in history where there is so much uncertainty. Rhys Bowen's historical books are so well researched, so the reader always learns some history while being immersed in the lives of her characters.
This book, written about 3 English women, in France during WWll, touches on so many topics. Women's lives were still so restricted by men pre-war. A divorced wife, abandoned for a younger woman, a cleaning lady, abused by her drunken husband, and an elderly spinster, dying of heart failure, take off for France and rebuild their lives. The story is so inspiring and uplifting. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Net Galley for the Arc.

Starting just before World War II and thru the war Mrs Endicott's Splendid Adventure is an adventure, a romance, and most of all one women's journey to truly find herself in all her glory.

After 30 years Ellie Endicott is shocked when her husband tells her they are getting divorced. With a push from her maid she hires a lawyer and realizes she's better off without the cad. With the divorce final she decides she deserves a holiday. Ellie, her housekeeper and her elderly cranky neighbor head out in her ex husbands Bentley for the south of France. A small seaside town, a villa, a monk, a monastery, c these all become key parts of the women and their growth. Thru it all friends are made, lives are lived to their fullest and the women fully become their brightest selves.

You won't regret spending time with Ellie, Mavis and Dora.

"Mrs Endicott's Splendid Adventure" is a wonderful story of redemption and hope. When Ellie Endicott is discarded by her husband (traded in for a newer model) she is initially unsure about her future. Deciding that she wants some new experiences she sets off on her adventures.

There are some lovely characters, and a glorious setting for the majority of the novel. This is definitely a feelgood story, showing that we can all have second chances and should try to make the most of them.

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

Wonderful story of a trio of English women who run away to France to discover beautiful lives for themselves. WWII eventually disrupts their lives with tragic results. Those who survive find new lives and relationships as their small fishing village returns to the post-war normal.

You cant help but get immersed in Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure from the first to the last page.

To say that Ellie is taken by surprise when her husband of many years asks for a divorce is an understatement.

Ellie lifts herself up and plans the next stage of her life and on this adventure she is taking Mavis her cleaner and Dora an elderly neighbour.

Excitement is in the air as these three ladies embark on a life changing and bonding journey as the world becomes unsettled as WW2 is quickly approaching.

They chose to put their hat down in a quaint fishing village Saint Benet where we meet all walks of life and such interesting characters.

The book is about friendship, endurance, sisterhood and tolerance of other peoples way of life.

Tension mounts as the War approached the small village and you arent sure who you can trust to keep your secrets.

Rhys Bowen is a master of hooking in the reader from the begining and getting them to care for the characters throughout the book.

I hated the book to end and highly recommend you grab your copy and settle in for a dellightful story.

Thanks to NetGallley and Lake Union Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing this splendid tale.

As a big fan of historical fiction, I picked up Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure expecting a richly detailed look at another era. While the book leans more heavily into romance than I typically prefer, I can still appreciate how well-crafted it is. The writing is strong and evocative, bringing the picturesque village setting vividly to life—I could easily see this story adapted into a film. The book also stands out for its LGBTQ representation and focus on feminine independence, which add meaningful layers to the narrative. I particularly appreciated that while the characters grow to love the lives they create, there’s a realistic awareness that the looming war will disrupt it all. In the end, this book wasn’t quite the right fit for me, but I recognize that it will resonate with many readers. Fans of character-driven historical romance will likely find much to love here.

Five enthusiastic stars for “Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure.” Thank you to the publisher for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rhys Bowen’s newest novel is filled with several clever twists. The gripping story kept me guessing until the very last page. The only hints: the year and locations in which the book is set — 1938 England and France.

A brilliant, mixed-genre masterpiece! Exceedingly highly recommended for all mature readers.

Did you ever read a book that you couldn’t wait to get back to? This is THAT book.

Ohhh...I just loved Mrs. Endicott and this lovely read.

Ellie Endicott was married for thirty years and waited on her husband hand and foot.

He came home one day and said he wanted a divorce. Ellie took it in stride and decided to go on a vacation to the South of France right before the start of WWII.

Ellie was such a positive, pleasant character.

She always looked on the bright side of things, and she even took her maid and an older woman with her because they needed to escape something in their lives.

Ellie took her husband's car and drove to France with her two companions.

We follow them on their adventures.

What a delightful, uplifting read with wonderful characters.

There are sad events when the Germans came to their little village, but you will love this book.

MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE is a refreshing read with a charming main character and a wonderful change of pace for me.

Setting is absolutely adorable and you won’t want to put the book down or leave the characters.

I want to live in that villa overlooking the entire sea and village. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have been a longtime fan of Rhys Bowen, and her latest stand alone historical novel does not disappoint.

In pre WWII England, Ellie Endicott is blindsided when her long-time husband asks her for a divorce. She demonstrates having a backbone, and with 2 other women from her town, she travels to France. Her car breaks down in a village not far from Marseille, and the women decide to stay.

What I loved about the book: the camaraderie of the disparate women and how they synergistically come together; the fact that they all enjoy a “second act”; the bits of romance and HEAs; the rehabbing of a ruined villa; and finally, towards the end of the book, when the Nazis invade their little town, some exciting resistance episodes.

What draws me to Bowen time and again, is her amazing knack for telling a good story. The downside is that chores will not get done when I’m finishing one of her stories.

Rhys Bowen, Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure, Lake Union Publishing, August 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

I was tempted into reading my first Rhys Bowen novel because of the title. It is reminiscent of the work by some British women novelists writing from the 1930s to the 1960s. There is a particular charm about some of this literature, with its weaving together main female characters who seemingly mildly demand their independence with a well-developed plot which includes gentle humour. Although Rhys Bowen is writing in 2025, her depiction of one such character, Mrs Endicott, in a plot that moves from divorce in an English village to a village in France, portraying the competing demands of old and new friends, war and the sinister arrival of German troops in what has appeared to be a haven, has the appeal of this earlier work.

Bowen’s characterisation is wonderfully uncharged with drama. Lionel Endicott’s confrontation with his wife, Miss Smith-Humphreys gradually decreasing snobbery, Mavis’s dilemma over whether she should join the two women from such a different class and the various people they meet in is well drawn. The plot moves between class and personality clashes to the horror of war and eventual invasion of the women’s home and the deportation of Jews. This is a sharp juxtaposition of ideas and behaviour, cleverly showing the way in which the earlier concerns are of little moment in a swiftly changing society.

There are some happy moments, as well as tragic events, but Bowen lets none of these get away from her quietly authoritative writing. There are no unrealistic outcomes. Rather, Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure, combines the imagery associated with the humour and gentility of the early narrative with the grimness of war with writing that deftly links the way in which the well-intentioned characters think and behave in the circumstances in which they find themselves.

This is a clever novel, and one that I have enjoyed reading on this occasion. I shall save others for when I want something gentler and undemanding than my favourite works.

“Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure” by Rhys Bowen is a charming story set in the late 1930s about a middle-aged woman who is suddenly cast aside by her (jerk) husband who wants to trade her in for a younger model. All her life, Ellie Endicott has lived under her husband’s thumb, but somehow she manages to negotiate a decent deal for herself in the divorce. She takes their Bentley, and heads off to the south of France with her housekeeper Mavis and an elderly, crotchety woman who wants a change. By chance, their car breaks down in a fishing village, and they end up staying there. All three women discover sides of themselves they never knew they had. They make friends, eat new foods they never imagined, and even find love. But then, the war starts. Are they strong enough to survive that?

I loved this book and I felt nostalgia for a time in Europe before all the tourism now. Even though it was many years later, I was reminded traveling through the south of France with my family in the 1960s. I loved how Ellie came into her own and developed into a strong, passionate, and secure self. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

I have been a fan of Rhys Bowen for year and read most of her books. This is my favorite. The characters were enjoyable and the setting is one of my favorites.

I found the first half of the book humorous, relatable and an absolute pleasure. It's rough going from a humorous and splendid adventure to the horrors of World War II and I found that the transition seemed a little forced and rushed. Still a good story overall, but I think picking a World War II history book or a splendid adventure line of thought would have made it a little less disjointed. Well-developed, likable characters.

Love Ellie Endicott!
After 30 years Ellie's husband Lionel asks for a divorce as his younger "educated" mistress is pregnant. Much to his surprise, Ellie consults her own solicitor and gets a decent settlement and takes their Bentley and goes to the south of France (the last place she was happy) with her cleaning lady and the village "dragon" who is dying. After several adventures along the way, the car breaks down in a little off-the-beaten path coastal town.
It takes a while to fix the car and Ellie falls in love with the area and finds an abandoned villa for a small rent if they fix it up.
Meanwhile, Hitler is pushing for world domination, but is still far from their world. Ellie's ex-husband and sons urge her to come home while she can. She thinks they will be safe in their secluded village. Of course, history says otherwise, and Ellie learns too late just how bad it is under German rule. This is a great book of unexpected heroism, betrayal and love, both romantic and platonic. I was totally rooting for Ellie and her friends, old and new and saddened by the losses. It was great to see the friendship of her companions develop as they journeyed into their new (and improved) lives. I absolutely loved the end where she and Lionel meet again and see whose life has been better after their divorce!
Too bad I can'[t give it TEN stars!

If you've ever wanted to leave your current life and strike out on an adventure to find a new way to live, this is your book. It's a gentle amble into another world in another time.

A surprise divorce is the spark that sets everything in motion. Four women of different backgrounds and ages set out across pre-WWII France looking for a new life. When the war begins, their little French port becomes a refuge and a place of resistance.

The writing is clear and warm and follows our main character as she finds her voice and courage.

This is not a cozy mystery but a compelling gentle life adventure. But this splendid adventure has a spine of hidden depth. How to reinvent yourself. How to weather challenges. The inner strength that may be hidden, only waking when needed. But sometimes strength hurts. This book is a reminder that no matter what your age or circumstances, you have choices and sometimes they even work out.

Life itself is the mystery.

It is 1938 in England and Ellie Endicott has just been blindsided by her husband who wants a divorce. They have been married for many years and she was always the dutiful wife doing everything according to her husband’s requirements. Where is she going? He offers her a paltry sum to live on but she negotiates a better offer, leaves him the house and she takes the car, a Bentley. She is off to the south of France and takes with her, Mavis, her housekeeper, and Dora an elderly friend. And they certainly have an adventure. Each person finds who she is meant to be. It was an amazing story and I did not want it to end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sadly, this was a DNF for me. It just didn’t catch my attention from the start and I kept zoning out through the short amount I read. I didn’t care for the dialogue at all. I’m sure others will highly enjoy this one and I’m in the minority but it just wasn’t for me. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own! Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.

I loved this! It's such a hopeful tale about a woman who finally gets to take her own happiness under her control. The little found family she has made for herself is really precious. A very uplifting, escapist book full of beautiful locations that are easy to imagine and dream about afterwards.

MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE by Rhys Bowen is a totally satisfying book, one that puts all other activities on hold for the duration. I do not regret postponed chores, turned off TV, or even missed sleep, only regretting that it’s over. I’m still thinking about those I met within its pages.
Ellie’s superpower is making friends, reminding me a bit of Mrs. Pollifax, whom I’ve missed dreadfully since I finished that series. There’s also a bit of FIRST WIVES’ CLUB in the women’s stalwart plans to deal with life’s disappointments . . . living well with courage, kindness, and laughter is the best revenge on feckless husbands.
Restoring the abandoned villa was a wonderful project, healing, and in such a gorgeous place, with views of the Mediterranean, wonderful friends, and a chance to do good in the world. They are heroes to emulate, and I hope for such strength and courage.
The writing is gorgeous, the story compelling, the characters friends for life. Hurrah!

What a lovely tale of rediscovery and rebirth in middle age. I fell in love with Ellie and her cast of misfits as they made their way from dreary England to the sun-drenched southern coast of France. I could just see the spectacular views of the Mediterranean and feel the wind whipping through the beach town in Bowen’s wonderful descriptive writing. I came to love each and every one of the characters and felt with them as they encountered love and suffered pain, especially during the horrific WWII years. This is a book every woman 40+ should read! Historical fiction with a life lesson about it never being too late to reach for your dreams.