I've gotta say upfront that Tilly Tennant's books are my idea of a perfect summer read. A little romance, European settings, and adventure. This one's set mostly in the south of France, with the coincidental reunion of single mother Ashley with the father of her daughter (the product of a one night stand on vacation as teens). One feels carried away to that beautiful locale while reading the book. A great summer escape!

Ashley had a holiday romance in Ibiza and came home with more than she bargained for when Molly arrived 9 months later. Not contacting the father she raises her daughter on her own and so when she takes her daughter to the South of France on holiday 15 years later imagine her shock when she finds that the man in the next villa is Haydon Molly's father! What a dilemma should she tell him exactly who Molly is?

Another lovely book by this author, as always a heartwarming book woth lovely characters that you think of friends by the time you have finished

Even when I wasn't reading this, thes story was playing on my mind - I just had to know what would happen next.

This was such a fabulous story, incredibly summery and at the heart of it was the will she or won't she reveal to Haydon some important life changing information.

For Ashley and Haydon had a one night stand in Ibiza 16 years ago, and lost contact and then Ashley realised she was pregnant. Fast forward to the present day and Ashley and daughter Molly got to St. Raphael for a weeks holiday and a great aunts 100th Birthday party . It just so happen that on the same week Haydon and his daughter Ellie agree to a week away in the same resort, and in the neighbouring villa.

What are the odds, of them being in the same place at the same time, recognising each other and having children that are getting on together.

This is fabulous as various people work out the connection and others stay completely ignorant, and in amongst this there is a week in France including a big French family to get to know, a delicious sounding market, and some wonderful days involving the beach.

This really was a perfect book to read during this summers heatwave or anywhere else that is hot - from its stunning cover, to all of the contents this a joy to read and is Tilly Tennant back to her best.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This timely tale seamlessly slides the tumult of everyday life into the middle of a much-needed holiday. This need is something that we can all relate to, even though the day to day drama of our own lives maybe vastly different to our leading lady Ashley’s. As someone who is faced with a second summer of ‘staycation’, this story was indeed a much-needed summer getaway. I really enjoyed being whisked off to the South of France even though this summer in England even Southend-on-Sea resembles our very own Cote d’azur.
I really enjoyed the feeling of Ashley’s extended family all around me and felt like an unnoticed, but very welcome guest, who had managed to slip in and enjoy the rambling house and garden belonging to Aunt Violette. Ahh, the bliss of sitting quietly and swinging comfortingly on a summer seat by oneself. By the end of the book I almost felt like one of the adopted family. This a story to read and re-read just for the fun of feeling like you are visiting the restful resort once more.
Of course, as an added delight we have the thrill of romance which is tantalisingly good. There is plenty of will they/won’t they and lots of spanners are thrown into the proverbial works. The pages seem to turn themselves, and there is hardly time to apply another layer of factor 30 before the next juicy instalment comes along. The story raises all sorts of relatable issues, relational tiffs and the age-old struggle of making the Mother – Daughter relationship a resilient one. The writer wryly observes the dynamics between Ashley and her Mum and Molly and Ella with theirs. We get to feel that tug of love, (you know that one that no matter how much one may loosen the apron strings, never fully relaxes it’s hold,) it pulls at our heartstrings and has us sitting on the edge of our sun loungers as we watch the characters doing their best, to do their best for one another.
The writer captures the joys, trouble and strife that flow alongside us, as part of the journey of family life. Seen through the sensible and salutary lens that comes from being part of the 100 birthday celebrations of the elegant, enigmatic and laconic Madame Dupont. As the reader you get the feeling that she has seen it all, the ups and downs of life will have washed over her in many different ways as she has experienced 100 summers and everything in between. The book reminds us that to press the refresh button is a good thing, that we can all turn over a new leaf, or open up a new blank page whenever we want. Perhaps all we need once in a while is a summer getaway to gain a little more love, peace and understanding. Now I come to think of it, that makes perfect sense.

Coffee Cup Conversations and Teapot Talking Points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down together today, having both read the book, here are a few of the points we could mull over together, out on a sun-filled terrace with a sip of something chilled and sparkling.
Have you ever stayed in a private villa?
With the advent of air BnB I know that more and more tourists are enjoying a holiday in private residences. Living it up like a local is one of the perks of this way of booking accommodation. As my family have grown up and become adults themselves our holiday needs have changed and evolved. For one thing we needed much bigger beds! The appeal of hiring a villa or a house that would mean all of them could come and bring a friend or partner is looming large in our life. This story has given me the nudge I needed to get my head around this brave new world and start researching future holidays.
Have you ever met up with a long-lost love or friend from the past whilst on holiday?
I remember one holiday, back when our kids were little, when we were paddling and pootling around Weymouth and we bumped into someone we knew around every corner. It was really strange and a little surreal to see people that we knew from our everyday life popping up and out of nowhere. Just seeing people in a different context, when you and the family are in holiday mode feels strange. Sometimes it is a wonderful surprise. Watching Mama Mia 2 this summer has been a joy – hearing those familiar tunes that are old friends to me in themselves has been a delight.
What is your favourite, go-to seaside resort – or better still the destination of your holiday dreams?
I have such happy memories of summer seaside holidays with our kids. Usually it doesn’t matter to me where we are, just as long as we are together and there is an adequate percentage of sun, sea and sand to hand. As my kids are grown up now, I still want to have leisurely flake out time with them, but I would also like to start exploring again – and to experience new sights and sounds – not only with them, but alone with my lovely husband. I can always find ways to relax, but I know that he particularly finds getting away the bet part of a holiday. I love going to anywhere Spanish speaking so that I can use my language skills – but now I am feeling the pull of the city break – we are calling them our ‘Whedventures.’ I think that New York is on our wish list next, to celebrate my husband’s half century - he is not quite in Violette’s league .... yet!

I have a few of Tilly Tennant's books previously and really enjoyed them so I was eager to start The Summer Getaway.
The main characters are Ashley and Haydon who spent a night together on holiday in their teens but then lost touch. Ashley fell pregnant but with no way to contact Haydon, raised Molly on her own. Hayden went on to marry then divorce with a daughter of his own, Ella.
The couple are reunited while on holiday and Ashley struggles to tell Haydon that he has another daughter.
Honestly, I found this book a bit dull. The characters are irritating and I had no sympathy for Ashley who constantly moans, drags her heels and gets irrationally jealous when Haydon goes on a date with another woman. The only character more annoying than Ashley is her awful mother. Hayden is a blithering non-entity and it's a surprise any woman would be interested in him.
Overall, this book was a disappointment.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

Another brilliant read by Tilly Tennant....
Fifteeen years ago a child was born from at the gift of a holiday romance. Ashley has brought the child up alone after trying to get into contact with the dad... failed numbers etc and no matter how hard life is for the duo, Ashleys mum offers them to join her in the french riveria for a holiday... Molly meets up with some more holiday makers but Ashley realises they have a similar look and will it come out?
A truly brilliant book, i loved Ashley who has worked hard to bring Molly up and keep their heads above water.... well written.

Brilliant summer read. I had to read it in one sitting just because I wanted to see how the story will develop and see if there will be HEA.
More on my blog https://heyjustreadit.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/the-summer-getaway-a-feel-good-holiday-read-by-tilly-tennant-review-netgalley/

Who doesn't love a good summer romance? To think you will never see the father of your child after the night of conception and then to see him? What a whirlwind! Great, easy, breezy summer read :)

The first half of this book was enjoyable but then the story quickly lagged and stalled. Suddenly the main characters seemingly lovely mother turns into a bitter crank towards her daughter and granddaughter.

The plot goes a bit too zany for me at the point where Ashley realizes who Haydon is. You're telling me there is no window to have given the man this big piece of news in a normal amount of time?

If I were Haydon I'd run away screaming.

I don't like to rate this 3* as I normally love anything by Tilly Tennant! This one just didn't catch me as they usually do! I liked the storyline but I found the characters to be so unlikeable! Ashley spent too much time going on and on about how to tell Haydon but not actually telling him! I just found it a bit frustrating to read. Not my favourite, but still well written.

Another success by Tilly Tennant: most definitely a feel good summer romance, one I couldn’t put down. A lovely tale of love lost and found, family and friendship, all in a lovely setting. Perfect for a sunny day’s reading.

I was transported to the South of France through Tilly Tennant's fantastic writing and spent a relaxing weekend basking in the sunshine and beautiful setting while devouring The Summer Getaway.

I did find the book rather slow going to start with, however I persevered and was glad that I did because I did really enjoy the final third of the book. I think that this was because I was hoping to read more about the fall out of the secret rather than the build up to the telling - it reminded me of Mamma Mia a little!

A good storyline with likeable characters. Tilly Tennant has again written a good summer read to enjoy poolside or basking in the sun.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review from the publishers, Bookouture.

Eeee. Where do I start? A gorgeous cover, the perfect holiday read or if you are like me in the garden on a perfect sunny day! This is the first book I have read by Tilly and boy have I found a gem of an author.

I loved every second of this. Parts had me laughing, parts had me saying oh dear and oops. Brilliant. I found it an easy read and a story which can easily be devoured. The story is told through Ashley and Haydon’s lives alongside both their daughters, but they have had something between them. A shared secret. What will the outcome be?

A well deserved five stars. Highly recommend. An author I must read more of. A story that highlights how important family can be.

I simply adore this author’s books and as soon as I see that she has a new release, I eagerly await it arriving on my Kindle!

This book is written brilliantly, the flow is spot on and I loved the story! The characters in the book are genuine, very likeable and easy to relate too – and that makes it a very enjoyable story. I loved the setting and well, if I am honest I loved pretty much all of it from the front cover to the last page!

This one was a complete treat to read and definitely THE perfect summer read – 5 stars from me, very highly recommended- make sure you grab a copy now- it is SO worth it!!

The Summer Getaway as mentioned in the title of Tilly Tennant's new book proves to be anything other than relaxing and calming for our main female character Ashley Moon. She certainly gets a lot more than she bargained for when she first accepts the offer from her step father of a week away in France to cerebrate his aunt's one hundredth birthday. The cover suggests this story may well be another one of those fun, girly, holiday, romance reads that are to be found on bookshelves in shops at this time of year but that's not the case and there is a far more pressing issue at hand. What happens if on your first foreign holiday you leave with a lot more than you arrived with and your life is changed forever?

If she had known all that was in store would she have taken up the opportunity? The Summer Getaway is told from two perspectives that of Ashley and that of Haydon and that's one thing that was good about this book. Rarely do we get to hear from the male viewpoint so here it was a refreshing change and to be honest it was vitally needed otherwise the story would have become very one sided.

Each chapter moves between Ashley and Haydon and it soon becomes apparent that the stars are aligning after a 16 year gap for things to finally come out in the open. The truth needs to be told given the situation the characters find themselves in. But can Ashley finally built the courage to pour out her deepest secret? For Ashley that one drunken night spent with Haydon in Ibiza resulted in the focus of her life, her daughter Molly. The only problem is that was the only time she met Haydon as the number he gave her to hopefully contact him was incorrect. Ashley has done her best to raise Molly single handedly accepting when really needed the help of her mother Sue and stepdad Maurice. She feels under constant pressure to give Molly everything although the funds needed for her entrance into a prestigious music school just aren't there.

Ashley for me throughout the entire book was a very stubborn character, for the most part she wanted to do things her own way and that's the same when she unexpectedly meets Haydon once again. From the outset, given they all only had a week away, she should have told Haydon about Molly and not allowed in my opinion such a tangled mess to develop. Others may criticise her mother for always nagging her and constantly putting pressure on her and berating her for so many missed opportunities to tell Haydon the truth, I didn't feel like this at all. I thought Sue was right to keep getting on at her daughter and I don't think she was looking at it from the financial point of view rather looking upon it as a chance for Molly to connect with the father she never knew. Plus I don't think it was fair to on Haydon to be in such close proximity to his daughter not knowing they were related. Ashley proved to be a frustrating character and for once I think I liked the male character far more. Even Maurice was preferable to some of the female characters. He was warm, wise, kind and loving and not in a seedy way. I think he had genuine affection for Ashley and Molly and wanted the best possible outcome for them in order to guarantee happiness in the future.

Haydon is divorced from his wife Janine who is now moving on with Kevin. When the father of one of his music students asks would he like to stay in his villa in France he jumps at the chance to take away his daughter Ella viewing it as an opportunity to further strengthen their bond given the changes that are on the horizon with Janine and Kevin. Coincidentally the villa they are staying in is right next to the home of Violette - Maurice's aunt. So sooner rather than later it was obvious Ashley and Haydon would meet once again. I'm glad their meeting wasn't delayed or drawn out but what was, was Ashley building up the courage to tell Haydon the truth. This formed the basis of the story with the author providing so many opportunities for Ashley to blurt out the truth only for things to get in the way. It got to the point where I myself wanted to be a character in the book so I could stride in and say excuse me there is something Ashley needs to tell you. At this stage to be honest it became a bit repetitive, just when you think Ashley is on the brink of finally getting things out there something trivial occurs and she bottles it. I wanted to shake her and almost give her a slap to bring her back to reality to just get on with things. Given the connection between the pair had been re-established fate was saying the time was now.

On the other hand one could say how could Haydon not have noticed the obvious and joined the dots regarding ages etc? But I think he was so caught up in keeping Ella happy and as he was worried about his future with her that his clarity was clouded. The little sub plot with stall holder Audrey was perhaps the weakest element of the book, it didn't need to be here at all and was very implausible that someone could really develop feelings for someone having met them for a few minutes and knowing they were going to be around for a week. I know it was put in place as a distraction for Haydon and for him to wrestle with his feelings once he saw Ashley again but the book would have been fine without its inclusion.

As the week progresses there were plenty of tense situations when the truth was just there ready to pop out but the author held off and as we reached the celebration of Violette's birthday that's when things kicked off. These were the best scenes of the book and given so much time had been given to the setting up of the entire plot I wanted more of the birthday to feature. I thought the first half of the book was too long and dragged out and I would have preferred more focus on all that came in the end allowing for perhaps a little bit more of a fall out and allowing each character to really express how they felt about the situation. It all just happened to quick as I do think acceptance and understanding takes time.

Overall The Summer Getaway was a nice, easy read that had such beautiful descriptions of its setting that did make you feel as if you were there on holiday observing all the trials and tribulations and between Ashley and Haydon. The reader does know very much from the beginning what the outcome be and it was enjoyable to journey with them as they reach that point of disclosure and deal with the resulting fallout in order to move on in the future. This wasn't my favourite read from Tilly Tennant but it is ideal if you have a few hours to sit and enjoy the sun as this book will keep you entertained.

The Summer Getaway was a joy to read, it was the perfect read to escape some of the World Cup madness that was going on! While most people were watching the games, I had my head glued to my kindle while reading The Summer Getaway!

I will admit, I did find the plot a bit far-fetched however Tilly has written such a wonderful story that I didn't mind too much about the plot! Ashley Moon found herself pregnant after a holiday fling, she doesn't tell the father so raises Molly on her own. Now 15 years later, Ashley is taking Molly on her first ever holiday to a French resort. Staying in the villa next door is Haydon, now who is Haydon? You'll have to read the book to find out!

I absolutely adored the descriptions that was in this book, I was whisked away to a gorgeous French resort without leaving my house. Tilly has done a beautiful job of setting the scene and creating some characters who I did genuinely care about. Ashley was a brilliant character, she was determined to do right by her daughter and she was very protective of her which is understandable. Haydon was a likeable character, I really liked him and it was delight to read about him.

There are some deeper issues addressed in this storyline and I will admit on some occasions my heart strings were pulled as these were explored. I did love Tilly's writing style, it was easy to get lost in and she drew me in to the pages. I would love to know what happens next for these characters, they were a pure delight to read about.

The Summer Getaway is a lovely summery read that is perfect for when the sun is shining and the drinks are flowing. Escape to France this summer with Tilly Tennant with this heart-warming read.

4.5 Second Chance Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Magnifique! Loved this second chance love story set in the beautiful south of France... another book that allowed me to go on vacation without needing to pack a bag or board a plane.... A lovely story filled with French food, French villas, French family, and French kissing 💋

16 years ago Ashley found herself pregnant after A fling on a holiday to Ibiza... all she knows about the baby daddy is his name and the fact that he gave her the wrong phone number... now 16 years later Ashley finds out that the handsome Englishman vacationing next-door is Haydon AKA baby daddy... now this is extremely coincidental and highly improbable, but hey it’s fiction, right? Loved getting to know both Ashley and Haydon they were both real relatable characters and fierce parents...

So... what do you do when you find yourself vacationing next to an old fling who is also the father of your daughter? Oh and I forgot to mention he does not know this..... Panic! And then you read this book to find out what not to do 😂 well Ashley probably did not handle this as well as she could have,but.... who am I to judge? I’ve never been in this situation.... and Ashley’s mom really did not help the situation she was a bit hostile and a bit pushy....

This was a very sweet love story... with a beautiful setting and charming characters that left me with a smile on my face and craving a croissant... absolutely recommend when you’re in the mood for a second chance love story that will sweep you away to the south of France!

*** many thanks too Bookouture for my copy of this most delightful book ***

This was an easy book to read, it didn’t take a lot to see where the story was going, but then sometimes this is exactly the kind of book I like to read.

This book encapsulates three of the main bonds in life, family, friends and love. Just as in reality these bonds are tested as we follow two separate groups holidaying in France. The past always has a way of catching up with us and for Ashley and Haydon it impacts those around them.

The author has managed to capture the complexities of relationships, in particular, for me, those of broken marriages, this is only a small part of the story but unusually for me, it struck a chord. The actions and voices of secondary characters, such as the mother and ex-wife play such a huge part and bring a depth to the plot I’ve not seen in contemporary fiction novel for some time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend for anyone to pick up to while away a summers afternoon, with a glass of something sparkling in their other hand.

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book. I am a huge fan of Tilly's writing so I knew I would read this book before I even read the blurb.

Ashley was an easy character to like. She has worked hard to bring up her daughter and loves her dearly. She is a fierce mamma bear and would do anything to protect her. I can see why she was struggling so much with the decision to tell Hayden the truth. For her whole life it had just been Molly and her mum, bringing a third person into the mix was always going to change things but she needed to know it was a good change and not a bad one.

I fell hard and fast for Hayden. There was something about him that I was instantly drawn to. Then the way he was with his daughter just solidified that. He clearly just wants to be a good dad and do right by her. 

I've always loved Tilly's writing. This book had so many laugh out loud moments. I spent a lot of time giggling on my sofa with this book. 

Tilly does a wonderful job describing the French Riviera and it made me want to jump in the car and drive there right now. it sounded beautiful and I could honestly do with a week in the sun right now.