Natalie had started writing for the Expats Guide To Living and Working In France. She hadn’t thought she would be working there a year later. Natalie’s real dream was to work for a famous magazine, where she’d have her own desk, attend meetings, and interview A-List stars. Charlie was Natalie’s best friend . Charlie’s mom Dolly couldn’t understand why they weren't a couple. Charlie and Natalie had clicked the day she entered the cafe. Than natalie told Charlie how she had lost her job in London when the magazine- Chatter- she had worked for had folded. Also her long term relationship had crumbled not long after. Then she decided to come to Chameleon and stay with her dad- Marty-who had retired from being a cop for thirty years- until she worked out what she wanted to do next. It turned out she and Charlie had grown up not far from each other , both had birthdays in January - but Charlie was two years older than Natalie who was thirty one. They both had parents no longer together and they both came to France with a broken heart, looking for change. Charlie to help his mom run the Cafe Belle Vue that she’d bought six years ago and Natalie was still figuring it out. Since that first day they had many conservations, played card games. Had dinner at each others home, even traveled to England together the previous Christmas to visit friends and families. Charlie knew Natalie’s ex boyfriend Matt of three years had traded her in for an ex girlfriend he had reconnected with. Natalie knew Charlie’s long term girlfriend cheated on him with his cousin Ben. but they had never fallen for each other. Since Matt Natalie had little desire to change her single status Marie who lived next store to Marty and Natalie told Marty that Jay Marino who hated publicity and refused to give reviews but was a famous actor who was on the island was on the island. Natalie knew Jay before he was famous as he was born on a estate near where Natalie had lived. Jay wasa couple years older that Natalie who was seventeen when she met Jay. Jay's brother had crashed a party and Jay was sitting on a swing in the backyard, Natalie went and sat next to him on a swing, they had fallen into a conversation. She told him she wanted to be a writer and he told her when he was famous he would give her an interview. Then he kissed her and left. Nicolas Julliard was the editor in chief of Magnifique and Natalie wanted to work there desperately. Natalie and said she knew Jay -when Nicolas called- and he had promised her an interview. Natalie goes to track down Jay and runs to protect him from a woman with a gun only to find out it was they were shooting a scene for his next movie. Jay did remember Natalie and the promise of an interview and that kiss. Jay did agree to an interview and took a selfie with Natalie to show Nicholas later on that day when she was to meet him with proof of knowing Jay. Simon showed up with the back she had left by the hotel -she had already met with Nicolas - and said Jay wanted to cook dinner for her. So she went with Simon. He took her to the cottage Jay had bought and he was there waiting for her. Natalie felt a fizz of electricity when jay and her hand touched and she knew Jay had felt ti too by his expressions.
I enjoyed this book but had mixed feelings about it. I really liked Jay and Natalie together. I loved how he believed Natalie when she told him she hadn’t went to the media about him. But I felt this was more insta lust not even a week and she is going to Budapest with him. All of a sudden she is ready for a relationship after three years. Not even being leery of being hurt again until she is. This tended to drag for me and I found it hard to keep my interest but I did finish this book and felt it was an pretty good read but not one I would read again and i take that into consideration when I rate a book. I did like the ending although rushed in my opinion. I did love Charlie’s and Natalie’s relationship as best friends. I did also like the plot. But as i said I had mixed feelings on this book.

A delightful heartwarming story. A lovely romance sprinkled with humor and friendship!

What a fun escape to the French seaside this book was! This is one of those stories that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy, a book that will make you smile, a tale that will leave you craving croissants! Karen Clarke has crafted another engaging story packed with amazing characters and a beautiful setting!

Natalie is picking up the pieces of her broken heart and decides to head to the French seaside for a change of pace and to be closer to her father. This small French Village is the perfect place to mend a broken heart. Natalie also has the company of her BFF Charlie and the dating antics of her dad to keep her mind off her woes. Soon Natalie runs into her old crush Jay, someone who she long-ago shared a fleeting kiss. Natalie is a struggling journalist and she thinks scoring an interview with Jay who is now a major screen star will help elevate her career. Jay grants her the interview and when they meet up Sparks fly. BUT when parts of the interview are leaked Natalie‘s career and her budding romance are in jeopardy.

This was a sweet slow burning romance that was super adorable. Natalie was a great character I really liked her and I really wanted her to find her happily ever after. Her BFF Charlie was great and I have to say I would have had no problem if they had ended up together! And I am keeping my fingers crossed that the next book is about him. Jay and Natalie had some pretty strong chemistry, I really loved reading there romance. This really was a straightforward old-fashioned romance. Set in the sun on the French seashore. What more could you want then sunshine, love, friendship, and croissants?

*** huge thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

When I just started reading this book it felt like I was in the middle of the story already but the more I read the more I start liking the writing style and the pacing of the story.

I absolute got great vibes from the way Karen described Ile de Re and Cafe Belle Vie. It really made me want to go and eat those pain du chocolat!

I loved the friendship between Charlie and Nathali and the relationship with her dad.

In my opinion Fleur could have been a little more bitchy then she was.

Overall I really like this book, the romance, the drama were typical for a chicklit that I really enjoy picking up every now and then.

Thank you very much for sending me this book! I made my days more sunny while it was pouring outside.

Escape to the Little French Café by Karen Clarke.

Whilst, in general, I enjoyed this book; it took me a little while to get into it.
I enjoyed the story, the two main characters having met when younger, one going with the flow and becoming an overnight star whilst the other had a plan but was unable to break onto her chosen path.
That being said I found Natalie, a little wishy-washy to begin with, perhaps I saw a little of my own life choices in her. Her character does seem to change when she finds out that Jay is filming local to her and she has an opportunity to chase her dream.
Charlie is an excellent male friend sidekick and her father is hilarious.
What I really enjoyed about the plot was the downward turns, I really felt the emotions that Natalie was feeling, the guilt, the sorrow, and her acceptance, it shows true character growth.

My thanks to @bookouture and @Netgalley for allowing me to voluntarily review an advanced reader copy of this book.

Blue sky, blue sea that's certainly not what I see when I look out of my window. One more reason to dream away with this lovely story. 

France is not my kind of country. I am more a Spain loving girl. I have only been to France once and you will never guess where. So I will tell you. I have spend a wonderfull three days in La Rochelle and visited the beautiful Ile de Ré. Reading about a place you have been makes it even more attractive.

This book is about second chances, because you thought you had lost love but you didn't really, about finding true love after being betrayed, about jealousy wrecking people's lives and about a very strong friendship. When some funny sitations are added to all of the above, the result is a very entertaining story. 

It was nice being taken back to this beautiful part of the world. I enjoyed this fluently written story very much. If I would have to pick my favourite character, it would definitely be Simon. 4 stars.

Thank you, Karen Clarke, Bookouture and Netgalley.

A great read and a great setting for this book - makes you want to go and visit!

This is the story of Natalie, living in France with her dad after leaving her life in England behind.

When she hears news that Jay is in town, she knows she needs to get an interview with him to kick-start her career at the magazine she is desperate to work for. Someone is out to get her though, so will she figure out who before any chance she has with Jay is lost?

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review

Although a little predictable at times, this was an enjoyable read... definitely a good-mood kind of book that will keep you entertained. I enjoyed the writers style and the characters were fun. Would for sure read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. It has a great story line, excellent main characters and it is a real page turner. I read this book in one sitting and the hours just flew by!

Just ok. I normally like books by this author but I couldn’t get into this as much as her last series.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book!

I had never read a book by Karen Clarke, but am going to go purchase all of her books for my Kindle! I was hooked from the beginning of the story, and all of my emotions came out also!

I laughed out loud, cried, felt angry at betrayal, this story has it all, and in the end, I have a smile on my face!

Thoroughly loved this story!

Never having read any of Karen Clarke’s books I was unsure of her writing style. What a treat ! This book had me laughing out loud. It was a real feel good book and I loved the setting

Natalie Bright moves to a small French Island called Ile de Rie, staying with her dad who has a house there to escape a bad relationship. She earns a living blogging in an ex pats magazine but is struggling to make it as a serious journalist . Her dream being to write for a popular magazine such as Magnifique, she spends her days writing in the cafe and spending time with her best friend Charlie.
When the famous but extremely private Jay Merino comes to the island to film his latest film, it is a real blast from the past as Jay and Natalie share a hometown , and once shared a moment!
As they become close, Jay agrees to Natalie interviewing him as an exclusive and she manages to get the editor of Magnifique interested.
Unbeknown to Natalie, someone leaks details of their private conversation , before the interview is printed and Jay and Natalie’s romance is over before it has really begun. The story continues with a few twists as Natalie has to prove to Jay that it wasn’t her that leaked the conversation.
The book also had some brilliant subplots, her dad and his relationships, Simon (Jays friend and bodyguard ) and his story
Excellent .
Thank you to Netgalley and Book Outre for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Karen Clarke.***

Escape to the Little French Cafe, by Karen Clarke, was just an okay read for me. Natalie is a writer who moves to France after getting dumped. She’s focusing on her career, trying to come up with a story idea to impress the owner of a magazine she dreams about writing for. That story falls into her lap when she hears that a movie is being filmed in her village and she once met the movie’s main actor, Jay, when she was a teen.

I struggled a bit with this book. It surprised me because I loved the 2 books I’d read previously by this author. At about a third of the way through, it felt as though nothing had truly happened. Aside from a few laughs, I mostly felt swamped by unimportant details and descriptions. Natalie was in her head too much. Nicolas Juilliard, the magazine owner Natalie was trying to impress, was condescending, rude and inappropriate with her. It was beyond me why she wanted to work for him. I felt like I wasn’t really given the chance to fall in love with Jay. Truth be told, I liked Natalie’s best friend Charlie better than any other character. For me, the characters didn’t seem to have enough depth. The romance felt like insta-love and on the cheesy side, if I’m being honest, and the reunion was pretty anticlimactic. As a fan of Clarke, the book was not as enjoyable as others I’ve read by her.

Karen Clarke’s Escape to the Little French Café is a predictably cute book that’ll have you longing for a pain au chocolat and a seaside romantic adventure of your own. The plot isn’t anything new but it’s a fun and light read with charming characters and a stunning setting.

Writer Natalie Bright has attempted to escape heartbreak by moving to the picturesque village of Chamillon. She spends her time writing for an expat magazine, following her father’s hilarious dating misadventures, and hanging out at the charming Café Belle Vie with her best friend. Natalie wants to work for a successful French magazine but can’t get her foot in the door. When she finds out that famously reclusive actor Jay Merino (who she happened to kiss years ago) is filming nearby, she seizes her chance to get an exclusive interview. When Jay agrees to the interview, sparks fly between them. However, when secrets from their conversation leak, Jay and Natalie’s blossoming romance as well as her career are in trouble!

The plot is predictable and I figured out the villain instantly. However, I didn’t mind at all because the plot is light, entertaining, and well-paced. It’s a fluffy and feel-good read with funny and moving moments. The setting is absolutely beautiful. I’m dying now for my own French seaside adventure!

The characters are well-written and likable. Natalie is a funny and relatable protagonist. I love her relationship with loyal best friend, Charlie. They have great chemistry and I would have loved if they got together. However, I really like the slow-burn romance between Natalie and Jay. Their super sweet connection feels natural. The adorable subplot with Natalie’s parents is nicely done. I love that Clarke doesn’t only focus on romance but dedicates time to the heart-warming friendships among the characters. It’s really nice to read a book that pays attention to healthy and supportive friendships.

Escape to the Little French Café is a quick and charming read filled with friendships and romance. The plot is familiar but that didn’t bother me because it’s a lovely rom com. I quite like this book and I hope it’s the beginning of a series because the characters and setting are just wonderfully done. I would definitely check out more of Clarke’s work!

🥐 🥐 🥐 ½ French croissants out of 5!

I love Karen Clarke’s books and Escape to the Little French Café was no exception. Natalie Bright has always wanted to be a writer and when she moved from England after breaking up with her boyfriend to Île de Ré to live with her father, she thought that the job she took at a magazine for expats would only be temporary until she had landed her dream job working for the impressive Magnifique magazine. So far though she’s been on the island for a year and all her submissions have been rejected.

She spends a lot of her time at the nearby Café Belle Vie run by best friend Charlie’s mum, where she writes her articles and eats too many pain au chocolats. Then one day she discovers a secret, superstar actor, Jay Merino is filming on the island. They met years before and it occurs to Natalie that if she can only find a way to meet him and get an exclusive interview from the intensely private actor, she can sell the story to Magnifique and land her dream job on their team. She just has to find a way to do it.

As always, Karen’s brilliantly portrayed cast of characters took me on a journey making me laugh (a lot), gasp (usually followed by shouts of No!) and wince (I can SO relate to Natalie). This book was no exception. I loved how vivid Natalie’s life on the island came across as she attempted to make her dream come to fruition.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I don't have much to complain about with this story, I also didn't have much to brag about.

The good:
- The setting of a cafe in France was gorgeous. Some day I'll make it out there. Sigh.
- Natalie's dad is kinda adorable.
- Jay and Natalie were pretty cute.
- I snort laughed at one scene in particular. It was hilarious and totally something that would have happened to me.
- That cover <3

The bad:
- As soon as everything went wrong it was SUPER obvious who was behind it.
- i wish we had got to know Charlie more. He's supposed to be Natalie's best friend and I barely knew the guy.
- The creepy magazine dude. Ugghhhhh. He's the worst and I know way too many guys like him.
- I tried but couldn't get invested in the characters.

When Natalie is dumped by her boyfriend she goes to stay with her father on the French Ile de Re. Soon settling in and getting a job as a journalist on a local ex pat magazine she is enjoying spending time in the cafe with her best friend Charlie but then Jay comes to the island. Jay is a famous actor that Natalie knew from the past and so it is a great coup when she gets an exclusive interview with him....... is love in the air?

Another lovely book by this author, I always look forward to reading her stories, you know you are always going to end up with a nice warm feeling inside and a smile on you're face when you finish them and this one is no exception, there are some great characters and a beautiful setting...... perfect beach read

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book and for my spot on the blog tour. I have read most of Karen's books an I like her writing style so I was excited to read this story.

Karen's previous books have been set in the UK seaside but this book is set on the French island of Île de Ré. The island sounds beautiful and the village where Natalie lives sounds so welcoming. The locals are so friendly and they really seem to open their arms for expats.

Natalie was such a great character. Sometimes I did want to give her a little shake because she frustrated me but on the whole, she was quite likeable. I could easily see us going shopping or for dinner and cocktails. The other characters in this book are easy to identify with and you can't help but fall in love with Jay Marino. Jay is a good guy who really wants to help those in bad situations.

I was surprised to find myself halfway through the book as while it was an easy read not too much had happened. After that, the story quickly picks up speed. I raced through the second half of the book

This book was a pleasant read during a really busy time for me. I enjoyed this little escape from reality.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this eARC.

Unfortunately I DNF’d it. I was so excited to be reading a book set in France, but in all honesty, this book could’ve been set in any country and the story line would be the same. It was also very predictable. I read the last chapter to see if I guessed right (I was only 9 chapters in when I decided to give it up) and sure enough, I was.

If you love a cute romance then this is for you. Just not for me unfortunately.

Would that we all had parents with homes on the French seaside! Natalie has had a bad run of luck and love so she heads to her father's place. She is lucky enough to get a job writing AND that her old love interest Jay turns up in town. He's a star now but he doesn't like attention so Natalie is thrilled when he agrees to be interviewed. Things go wrong, of course. Natalie's best buddy Charlie is always there to support her as she tries to sort things out. This has a familiar plot but Clarke has added humor and created good main characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A light cheery read.

A sweet fun read, heartwarming romance but felt it dragged a bit at times and felt longer than it needed to be. Still entertaining though.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion