goyvonreads's reviews
406 reviews

With a topic like adoption, The Little Provence Book Shop had a lot of potential to be a great story about finding out who you are and where you came from. Unfortunately, for me the plot fell a little flat and the topic could've been developed a bit more. 
Adeline runs away from London when she finds out that she was adopted. She discovers this after her adoptive mother passes away. Together with her daughter Lili, she goes to the Provence in France where she starts working for Monique, who owns a bookshop. A unique bookshop as there's some magic involved.
As Adeline struggles with her adoption, she's happy to be in the Provence, trying to decide what she wants. She's pushed everyone away from her, including her brother Kevin and friend Chris. Eventually she makes things up with Kevin, which helps Adeline in some way to find out more about her adoption.
As it's a romance, Adeline of course finds love. It's not surprising to see where she finds it and although, as a reader, I was happy for her, I think the relationship popped up out of nowhere and the characters didn't really get to know each other.

Although the story and plot could've been developed a bit more, I did enjoy reading The Little Provence Book Shop.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

Automated English translation below.

Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAQc5gHAmDj/

Op zoek naar een leuk, vermakelijk, en ‘whodunnit’ boek? Lees dan October Fest van Jess Lourey! Mira woont in Battle Lake waar ze journalist is en de plaatselijke bibliotheek beheert. Tijdens het lokale Octoberfest vindt er een debat plaats tussen twee kandidaten die in het congres kunnen plaatsnamen. Er is veel over de kandidaten te zeggen en dus is er veel pers op de been om verslag te doen van het debat. Helaas loopt dit niet goed af voor iedereen; Bob de blogger wordt al vrij snel dood gevonden in een hotelkamer. De schoonmaakster vindt Bob, maar ook Mira is ter plekke. Het wordt vervolgens Mira haar missie om er achter te komen wat er is gebeurd. Heeft Bob echt zelfmoord gepleegd zoals de plaatselijke sheriff het benoemd of is er meer aan de hand? 

October Fest is een heerlijke ‘cozy mystery’, het is niet te gruwelijk en luguber, ik heb juist meerdere keren hardop moeten lachen. Mira neemt haar taak als ‘detective’ erg serieus en terwijl ze dit mysterie probeert op te lossen leren we haar beter kennen; we komen er achter hoe belangrijk de oude Mrs. Berns voor haar is (en dat haar verloofde een van Mira’s verdachten is), en haar relatie met Johnny zorgt ook voor het nodige vermaak. 

October Fest is deel 6 in de Murder-by-Month Mystery series, maar is heel goed op zichzelf te lezen. Ik vond het een prima boek voor tussendoor en zou zeker meer boeken uit deze serie lezen mocht ik eens in een leesdip zitten. 

Looking for a fun, entertaining, and ‘whodunnit’ book? Then read October Fest by Jess Lourey! Mira lives in Battle Lake where she is a journalist and manages the local library. During the local Octoberfest, a debate takes place between two candidates who can take a seat in Congress. There is a lot to say about the candidates and so a lot of press is present to report on the debate. Unfortunately, this does not end well for everyone; Bob the blogger is found dead in a hotel room quite quickly. The cleaning lady finds Bob, but Mira is also there. It then becomes Mira’s mission to find out what happened. Did Bob really commit suicide as the local sheriff calls it or is there more to it? October Fest is a wonderful ‘cozy mystery’, it is not too gruesome and sinister, I actually laughed out loud several times. Mira takes her job as a ‘detective’ very seriously and while she tries to solve this mystery we get to know her better; we find out how important the old Mrs. Berns is for her (and that her fiancé is one of Mira's suspects), and her relationship with Johnny also provides the necessary entertainment.
October Fest is part 6 in the Murder-by-Month Mystery series, but can be read very well on its own. I thought it was a great book for in between and would definitely read more books from this series if I were ever in a reading slump.

Thank you NetGalley for this book in return for my review.

Zie mijn volledige review hier; https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_kbd40A5BZ/?igsh=MXh6bzZtN3Z6dWVsOQ==