An unexpected legacy coincides with a forced vacation. Becky's high-stress job is side lined when she acting out uncharacteristically in frustration, Becky is banned from work for a month so she heads to the Loire to evict her new bakery's tenant, Upon arrival, Becky is surprised by the man in residence. Forced to confront her past, awakens new possibilities. Will Becky rise to the occasion or is her new path a pie in the sky dream?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of The Village Cafe in the Loire in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed armchair traveling to France and unlocking new chapter in Becky's life.

This book has such a unique and gripping story, that makes you think deeply about life and what truly matters.

Becky has been signed off for burnout. She's dealing with pressure at work as well as pressure her ambitious mother is constantly putting on her. But, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, with a sitting tenant who refuses to budge. She makes a risky decision - to travel to France and deal with the tenant in person. What can possibly go wrong?

During her stay in France, a lot more happens - Becky discovers family stories as well as her deep buried emotions. She simultaneously goes on an emotional journey and explores her own heart as she discovers what she truly wants in her life.

A gorgeous story about finding peace, freedom and fulfillment.

Becky has been signed off for burnout but she's determined she's not burnt out...there's just a lot of pressure and she's desperate for the new flat and she can't let her mum down and then she inherits a cafe in France and that adds a whole heap of everything else she just doesn't have the time for....

It is a modern escapist read; written in Harvey's usual flowing way which means the story moves at a good pace, the characters are easy to interpret and get along with and by the end, they feel like friends.

I enjoyed this book, it's a touch predictable but not entirely. A nice holiday read!

Free courtesy of Netgalley

Again another new Author for me. I really enjoyed this book, it is no secret that I love books that can take me to another place, and then make me want to visit it.

This book follows the story of high flyer Becky, who has had an unfortunate incident in work, when due to the stress of her great aunt leaving her a cafe in France, threw her Laptop across the office, nearly hitting an intern. So instead of following her 5 year plan that her mother encouraged her to write, she is signed off work for a month, much to her disgust.

She talks it over with her friend and decides to go to France, to get rid of the unwanted tenant, so she can sell the cafe and use the money to buy a luxurious flat. Becky is faced with her own shortcomings and has to reevaluate her life and her choices. Is her forceful mother making all the decisions in her life, and is she going to allow this to continue.

Not only is the location, somewhere you dream of going but the characters are well written and it goes through how a burnout can change your perspective and your life.

I found this to be a lovely lighthearted read. The characters were believable and settings well described.

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

When Becky's Aunt Maud passes away and leaves her her cafe in her will, Becky is a little flummoxed. Especially as there is a sitting tenant in the flat above the cafe.
Escaping her interfering mother and her stressful job she goes to France on the premise of closing and selling the cafe and evicting the tenant, Pascale.
However, when she arrives, she finds that there is a caveat in the will, one which require her to stay in France a lot longer than she had planned...
Pascale isn't keen to leave the flat that he lives in, or the cafe he works at, and persaudes Becky to stay, helping her to make the renovations she is keen to make to the cafe, but also advising her on the local customs and traditions.
A great escape to the country read that will resonate with many readers

oh it feels so lovely to be back with Gillian. its like coming home and being tucked in knowing your about to have the best time ever through a book. not least because of where in some of her books she takes us away to magical places with magical stories.
there is so much heart warming and heart healing moments in this book. its light and bright and wonderful as all Gillian's books are but its also wise, slow, and tender when it needs to be. there is such depth to her novels i cant get enough of them each and every time. they totally absorb my time from start to finish and fill me with total book joy.
this book brings us Becky. she is a worker. she is a worker worker worker in a very demanding job. but this comes at a cost, and when day it goes too far and she indeed burns out and is put on leave to rest. but how will she deal with life when her life is in work, she gets up and goes to sleep only for work! but deep down, like many or as outsiders we see she needs this. the pressure you can see her being put under from work and home is enough to push anyone under.
but next comes the news she has inherited a cafe in the Loire. what? and from an estranged Aunt Maud no less. she remember her Aunt of course she does as some of her best younger memories are spending time with her there. but they lost touch. or should i say Becky lost touch. so Becky knows exactly what she will do. this leave will be filled with going and getting this cafe sorted to sell. but when she gets there she sees a very handsome something in her way. that something is a tenant of the cafe who does not want to budge.
and this is just the start for Becky. there is more to come in terms with questioning her own life, the life shes been told about to do with family and even the relationship or her priority's concerning her friend. Becky starts to re think everything and all things. has she been getting it all wrong? but what bravery will it take to make different choices?
does anyone ever ask you whether your happy? be it friends or strangers we always want to know their status, what they do, what they are winning at in life. but does this bring happiness and does anyone ever just ask if we are happy or want to know? this book runs around those questions and perhaps what we need to ask ourselves or think on for those we love. i know i did.
another beautiful book. ive barely mentioned what transpires in Becky's life. but all of it you will adore just like i did. i feel honoured when i get to read books by certain authors. and Gillian is most certainly one of those.

This is a must read book!! Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read The Village Cafe in the Loire by Gillian Harvey. The characters were all likable and believable. There were a bunch of messages within these pages. There was even a love story included as well as a mother daughter relationship. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say, the ending was not really an ending that tied up all the loose ends so I anticipate there being a book two and I will read that as well. I highly recommend this book.

Becky is a high-flying London marketing executive, on her hard-fought rise up the career ladder to upper management. A surprise inheritance of a small café in a small town in France sets her on edge, and her frustration mounts as she learns selling it will be more complex than she imagined.

She sets off to France, ready to sell and return. But along the way, Becky begins to appreciate the slower life of the French village, to reevaluate her life, and to fall for the handsome café worker with a poetic soul. Is her carefully cultivated five-year career plan truly what she wants?

I tend to be drawn to novels set in France, and this was a light, escapist read in a fun setting. Becky and her best friend in London felt much younger than thirty, and I might have enjoyed a bit more depth, but otherwise it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

3.8 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming and hopeful

Becky Thorne cannot afford to stop or slow down. Who cares about burnout when she has to climb up the ladder while handling her mother’s meddling? However, when she is signed off and asked to get some rest, Becky doesn’t know what to do. She learns about the café she inherited from her great-aunt and flies to France.
Becky’s plan is clear. Sell the café. But the tenant is not willing to budge. She flies to France for a show, but the trip brings forth a visit to the past, a meeting with the handsome tenant, and interactions with the villagers. Maybe it’s time for Becky to sit and think about what she wants.
The story comes in Becky’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is proper women’s fiction with a sprinkling of romance. The book is about finding oneself, prioritizing relationships over jobs, and not being afraid to do something different.
The FMC is flawed and realistic. She can be annoying, which is exactly how she should be. This is the story of her character growth. At the same time, there’s nothing too deep or complex about it.
The tone and quick pacing work well to make this a light yet heartwarming read. If you want philosophical explorations, this is not for you. But if you want feel-good fiction with characters who realize some valuable lessons, pick this up.
Amber is my favorite character. She is such a wonderful bestie! I felt sad for her quite a few times, seeing how the FMC takes her for granted and acts selfishly. Still, it aligns with the arc and is done realistically. Can’t complain!
The side characters (including the love interest) are okay. He is a decent guy, one who is not afraid to hold a mirror or tell the truth to the FMC. Still, he is compassionate and kind.
Since romance is not the central plot, there isn’t enough development or connection for readers to root for. So, when it happens, it feels formulaic rather than organic.
The book discusses the pressure of corporate culture, security vs. freedom, success vs. happiness, etc., and whether one should come at the cost of the other. It makes valid points about how a person can choose to take risks only when they have financial security to cushion them. After all, you have to pay the bills every month, like it or not!

To summarize, The Village Cafe in the Loire is a heartwarming book well suited for a weekend read or when you want something thoughtful yet light. It’s a small book and can be completed in a couple of hours.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is my first Gillian Harvey novel and it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this beautiful, enchanting Women’s Fiction relationship story set in France that carried so much truth and wisdom. The Village Café in the Loire held my attention from the first page to the last. It demonstrated common modern themes of self-discovery, job burnout, overachievers, and extensive parent pressure on children to succeed, to name a few. But it also reflects the timeless need for forgiveness, the importance of solid friendships, to be loved for who you are, the need for second chances, freedom to make choices and courage to follow your heart, gifts and passions. There is so much packed into this heart-warming story, there is no time to let your thoughts wander!

Becky Thorne has had a busy demanding life and stressful job. One day she loses it and is put on burnout leave to recuperate. She doesn’t take the news well from her doctor and employer. But dealing with both the issues at work and home with her mother who is constantly pressuring her to excel, well, it has all taxed her mental health. And on top of these dramas, she receives word that her estranged Aunt Maud has left her a café in the Loire. She has good memories of her childhood with her aunt but the years rolled by and she has been out of touch. Mainly because her mother had some issues with their aunt. But Becky decides this enforced leave of absence from work is a good time to take off to France and sort out her affairs. She plans to get the café ready to sell but what meets her when she lands, is a very different scenario. And then there’s a handsome grumpy tenant named Pascal who works in the café who challenges her decisions. She is faced with reconsidering her future and her life’s direction. Plus she begins to question her past choices. What is she going to do now? Especially after a huge misunderstanding is rectified. There are more surprises in store that set her off balance. Including, some happenings with her best friend Amber, who has been a huge piece of her life. When Becky learns of her predicament, she blames herself for being so self-absorbed that she misses her friend’s trouble signs. I want to add here, there is a big focus on the importance of this friendship. Amber may not be her blood relative but she is just like a sister.

There are many lovely things about this story such as great character growth and a very happy ending. The setting is heavenly, too, and well described. There are wonderful surprises—including a romance that transpires. I really enjoyed this novel on so many levels. The magic and relaxed atmosphere of Vaudrelle, France, is certainly a polar opposite to London, England’s hustle and bustle. But as Becky quotes from Jerry Maguire: “Problems are part of the journey to transformation.” So true! Obstacles are always painful to overcome but are essential for growth and self-discovery! Which is a real theme in The Village Café in the Loire. This is a definite must-read, uplifting fictional story. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the review copy.

Success is what shapes us, what defines us. When you meet someone new, no one asks if you're happy—they ask, "What do you do for a living?" Say you're a doctor or a company director, and suddenly you're worth their time and attention. Say you work in a factory, and they turn away.

Rebecca understands this well. So does her mother. Rebecca is, of course, a director—well on her way to a seat on the board, even though she's only in her late twenties or early thirties (the exact age is unclear). But success comes at a cost. It drains your health, erodes your sense of self, and demands a never-ending performance of happiness. In high-status roles, appearances matter—you're expected to look vibrant, successful, and joyful, even when it's all an illusion.

So when Rebecca goes to France, tries out a slower lifestyle, and finds love—while still being financially secure (sic!), she hesitates. There’s no glamour in a quiet, simple life. No prestige. No ego boost. Who would want that? A quiet life is for the unambitious, the unskilled, the uneducated—for those who can’t afford to travel. Or so she’s been taught.

And yet… those people seem healthier, mentally at least. Maybe even happier.

What will Rebecca choose?

All of this could have been explored in greater depth, but it isn’t—because this book is exactly what it sets out to be: a light read. Something to relax with, not reflect on too deeply. The writing style is decent. There's a lot of dialogue, but thankfully it doesn’t feel too simplistic or fake. Overall, it’s fine. One of those books with a gorgeous cover and a forgettable story—perfect for lounging in the sun.

A Deliciously escapist read,
This book is a perfect blend of romance, self-discovery, & the undeniable charm of rural France, making it an ideal read for anyone yearning for a dose of warmth & whimsy.

The author excels at creating a vivid sense of place, the fictional village of Vaudrelle truly comes alive. You can almost smell the freshly baked pastries from the cafe, hear the gentle chatter of villagers, & feel the sunshine on your skin.

This contrast between Becky's cold, impersonal London existence & the warm, close-knit community of Vaudrelle is a central & effective theme.

Beyond the charming setting, "The Village Cafe in the Loire" is a story about growth & connection. Becky, initially self-centered & focused on her career, slowly learns the value of true friendship & the importance of looking beyond her own desires.

The relationships are well-crafted & engaging, with a good balance of witty banter & genuine emotional depth.

The rich tapestry of characters & the overall feel-good atmosphere truly make this book shine.

An uplifting, heartwarming, & truly escapist novel that reminds you that sometimes, the greatest adventures begin when you least expect them!

Following a diagnosis of "burnout", Becky goes to France to the café her great Aunt has bequeathed to her, with the intention of selling it . Pascal is a sitting tenant in the flat above and is running the café . Will Becky's plans change? Can she escape her domineering mother and find happiness? A wonderful feel good read , ideal holiday/wet weather reading.

I absolutely loved The Village Café in the Loire! From the moment Becky Thorne is forced to hit pause on her high-powered life and lands in a sleepy French village, I was completely hooked. What starts as a reluctant detour quickly turns into a beautifully layered journey of self-discovery, healing, and unexpected love.

Becky is a refreshingly relatable character—driven, a little stubborn, and initially completely out of her element. Watching her clash with the brooding (but very swoon-worthy) Pascale had me smiling more than once, and their chemistry is the perfect slow burn. The village setting is pure escapist bliss, with its quaint charm, quirky locals, and just the right touch of mystery surrounding Becky’s inherited café and her family’s past.

Yes, it’s a romance—but it’s also about reconnecting with yourself and rethinking what success really looks like. The writing is warm and funny, with just enough emotional depth to give it real staying power.

If you're in the mood for something uplifting, cozy, and irresistibly French, The Village Café in the Loire is a perfect getaway in book form. I didn’t want it to end!

A lovely story. Set mainly in a French cafe. Parents have a lot to answer for. The main character takes some warming too. Her best friend Amber is a rock. You get some good twists in the story . Won’t spoil it. Good ending.

Ooh wow. A pitch perfect escapist read addressing the difficult theme of burn-out before whisking the reader off to a cafe in France. I’ve already recommended it to my friends!

An absolutely charming read which I read in a couple of sittings as I got engrossed in Becky's life.
Becky has a meltdown in her corporate role,, and a long with an offer from her elderly aunt Maud finds herself heading to France.
She has an overbearing mother who wants to run her life and a best friend Amber whom she takes for granted.
This is a novel about finding yourself, understanding what you need from life and realising what is important. The gorgeous Pascal, the French village cafe and Aunt Maud help Becky to come to terms with what she wants from life.
A really good read. Highly recommend. Will be looking for more from this author.

Great piece of escape is in the transport to straight over to France.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I love Gillian’s books, and this was no exception. A glorious setting and an unexpected love story, this is a book where the writing conjures up a glorious picture of the French countryside.