Race discrimination mixed with ageism and sexism. Fun for all! Really, a fun light read.

A beautifully written book. I love the way the narrative weaves its stories of inter-generational and cross-cultural conflict together and resists the urge (for the most part)to assign characters the roles of "good guy" and "bad guy." I especially like the careful way Simonson draws Major Pettigrew, himself, allowing him (and the reader) to gradually understand and accept his own shortcomings.

As with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I was a bit disappointed in the ending of this book. The drama on the cliff top is little too Hollywood for me, but the post-climactic scenes (especially with Amina) and the Epilogue return to the thoughtful, understated prose of the majority of this excellent narrative.

Love this book! I have a not-so-secret love of books that take place in the English countryside (I will thank my childhood babysitter, Diane, for that), and this was such a quaint and sweet love story. Usually I go for more overt conflict in the books I choose, but this extremely well-written story about a retired British Major falling for a Pakistani widow/shopkeeper just made me smile the whole time. You have to root for them from the beginning. The setting descriptions made me wish I could go to England right now, they were so beautiful and vivid. A gem.

This book is lovely, charming, delightful, and all those other adjectives you expect to pair naturally with “women’s literature” taking place in quaint English villages full of quirky characters. Both the story and the writing are wonderfully smart (without being self-congratulatory) and deep(ish) without being heavy, and the romance plot felt grown-up and dignified—two characteristics whose lack turns me off of a lot of similar books. (Three cheers for mature people!) I loved how the characters were allowed to be complex enough to change (and to cause a reader’s feelings for them to change), and I thought the balance between plot and atmosphere and message was just right. Almost all of my nitpicky issues (“why does the Major wisely think X but instead stupidly do Y?”) were issues I had with the *characters,* as people, rather than with the *writer,* and that, to me, is a sign that the author did a fantastic job giving us complex, real humans to think about and feel for. Well done.

3.5
Should have been a fast read but seemed to drag - but probably because I was reading as the chaos of school started. Loved Major P's sense of humor.

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio. It is a wonderful view of small village life in England with all the local characters, cliques, generational differences, down and out nobility, the encroachment of "progress", the prejudices against immigrants and local social customs. The Major is a wonderful character as is Mrs. Ali. The shallow career obsessed son and the rigid nephew are great. The "ugly" Americans portrayed are broad caricatures but also well done. The late in life romance was also quite enjoyable with the two individuals thumbing their noses at "proper" behavior.

3.5 stars

Wonderful story!

Cute story.
I was hoping for entirely happy endings.