Ebook: 346 pages Kindle Edition
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction
Publisher: January 25th 2026 by Boldwood Books
Source: NetGalley
First Sentences: 'Do you want to do the honours?' Pete held up the ridiculously enormous key that had been handed to them by the agent an hour earlier.
Setting: France
Review Quote: ‘Gillian Harvey’s books are the ultimate treat… Witty, emotional, endearing… Her books are everything!’ Goodreads Reviewer
My Opinion:
'The French House Share' is the fourth title I have read and enjoyed from Gillian Harvey and I only discovered her writing in 2024. Her novels offer the reader a dose of escapism and transport them to France.
Isabella, (Bella) the protagonist of this emotional story is in her early thirties and for the last eight years has along with her husband been living a dream life in France. Forced to unexpectedly relinquish her rural B and B she decides that the last thing she wants to do is leave France. To enable her to stay she manages to obtain a job in a hotel in Paris and a room in a house share in Versailles. Unfortunately she has been telling a few white lies to facilitate the job and the room and one would suspect they start to catch up with her and make life even more complicated. Will she be able to sort things out and actually enjoy the new life she has made for herself.
A read that will transport you to France and lift your spirits as you find yourself encouraging the protagonist to be optimistic as she sets about taking chances to make changes in her life, though maybe not always in ways one would personally approve of.
With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes.
Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share.
At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie.
Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?
Previous Review: The Riviera House Swap. The Little Provence Bookshop.
Author Profile:
Courtesy of Goodreads
Gillian Harvey is a British author and freelance writer, currently living in Norfolk, England with her husband and 5 children. She writes contemporary, uplifting and emotive fiction, often set in France where she lived for 14 years.
Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Gillian Harvey - Author Website. Goodreads Author Profile Facebook Profile