Scottish author Paul Stuart is planning to write a book on the philosophy of food. Chloe, a cousin, invites him to share her rented house in the French countryside while he works on his book. He and Chloe adapt quickly to the idyllic picture-postcard French countryside and its pleasant way of life. The little village lacks the hustle and bustle of Stuart's Edinburgh. However, below the surface calm there's turmoil and conflict, but no overt violence. The story is told against the background of a strong sense of place.

Midway through the story, Paul has a change of heart about his writing and makes a significant decision:
"he (Paul) made up his mind: he would stop writing about the philosophy of food. He would write instead about a village in France that has a restaurant that needs improving. He would write about a man and a woman who come to the village and find that all is not quite as it seems. It would be a book about rescue - about how something that was failing was made to succeed."
For me, this accurately sums up the inspirational message of the book. McCall Smith's "stream of consciousness" writing style produces good results here. Writing in a parable style he produces perceptive and thought-provoking observations about life and human behaviour, without preaching.

Chloe with her "passport of convenience" is a standout character. Her past exploits would be interesting reading material. Another series perhaps?

I can highly recommended the book as an enjoyable read. It's one of McCall Smith's hits! As the sequel to the Paul Stuart series debut novel, "My Italian Bulldozer", it can however be read as a standalone.

p.s. The identity of the worst restaurant in France is never revealed.

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher, via Netgalley. The comments are my own.

BOOK BY: Alexander McCall Smith
The title alone is an oxymoron.
The French take cuisine seriously, and man, I’ve never tasted a terrible French dish, so of course the title caught my eye and I just had to read about the second worst restaurant in France. Are there really any terrible restaurants in France that serve French cuisine????
Scottish cookbook writer Paul Stuart travels to France with his colourful, and not always truthful, cousin Chloe. What ensues is a crazy adventure of everything French and everything wrong with the restaurant owned by their temporary landladies.
Cousin Chloe was a bit much for me, and it felt at times as if her dialogue was just filler and it didn’t really push the storyline further, although it did give some colourful commentary about scenery and history, and anything else Chloe felt like sharing in the moment. Half the time I wondered if she was a bit off her rocker.
Pages are filled with humour, though a bit heavy at times on the dialogue which goes not really any where.
If you’re looking for a humorous read with colourful descriptions of gastronomic delights, check this book out.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Alexander McCall Smith has fashioned a gem of humour and gastronomy in the Second Worst Restaurant in France. Paul, a writer of food related books, and his cousin Chloe migrate to a small French village and discover a very bad restaurant. Paul finds a nascent chef in the nephew of the cook of this restaurant and tries to turn the restaurant around under the guidance of the young chef. Complications of course follow. Read and enjoy.

3.5 stars!
Even though I love romance, in this case, it wasn't what kept me reading!
But nevertheless, it was a great story that I totally recommend!

This is the second book in the Paul Stuart series but can easily be a stand alone. I read it without reading the previous book.. Alexander McCall Smith books are a guaranteed good read. They are charming with witty characters and laugh out loud moments. While this isn't a favorite series of mine I still recommend it as a charming comforting read.

Paul Stuart is a Scottish cookbook writer, fresh off of success from writing a cookbook in Tuscany, is now given the task of writing "The Philosophy of Good in Six Easy Chapters." After a break in his relationship with his girlfriend and editor Gloria, he finds it especially challenging to get started on his book. When his cousin Chloe suggests he meet her a village in the French countryside where she has rented a home, Paul decides a change of scenery is just what he needs to write his book.

Life with Chloe, who has 5 failed marriages under her belt, is anything but boring. When they are introduced to the "Second Worst restaurant in France" via Chloe's landlord, they quickly understand why this restaurant has been bestowed this honour - the food is not fresh and is overall unpleasing. Poor Paul spends days in bed recovering from a bad case of food poisoning after dining at the restaurant at which time Chloe begins helping Claude the owner of the establishment and his nephew Hugo. Following his recovery, Chloe encourages Paul to help Claude find a few recipes which are more palatable and food safe. What he learns from his time helping is that a solution to the restaurants problems is readily apparent.

In amongst his French adventure Paul learns a little more about Chloe through her narrative about her life and marriages. She has truly has led a colourful life and now looks like she's setting her sights on Claude.

Supported by a delightful cast of characters, the plot immerses the reader in the French countryside. Although I found the book to read a little slow in places, the charm of the book is the community spirit of life in this village. I enjoyed this book and rate it 3.5/5 stars (rounded to 4 stars).

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alexander McCall Smith`s novels never disappoint. His dry humor makes me chuckle the whole way through. His messages are always poignant. Another great novel.

In this book, we stroll into the life of Paul Stuart, a food writer. We amble with him as he makes decisions about his relationship and tries to decide whether they are really in love, or just in like. We saunter with him as he wonders whether the fantastical life tales of his cousin are too good to be true. We roam with him as he travels into France. We meander with him as he tries to help the second-worst restaurant become, if not the second-best, at least much better than it was before. We detour on a few philosophical digressions. And we return home, the richer for our peregrinations with this character. In your walk with life, you must include at some point a novel by Alexander McCall Smith. You could start with this one.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

Alexander McCall Smith continues to demonstrate his understanding of the human condition in his latest novel, The Second-Worst Restaurant in France. In his latest work a struggling lovelorn food writer, Paul, accompanies his eccentric aunt on a holiday to a French villa. While there they encounter a variety of bizarre characters, as we have come to expect from Smith.

Paul and his aunt soon become intimately acquainted with both the food and chefs at The Second-Worst Cafe in France. Despite a variety of comedic interventions, the two of them hatch a plan to save the restaurant, but what they are really saving may be themselves.

I received a free copy of this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always look forward to relaxing with a new book by Alexander McCall Smith. He shows a great understanding of human nature. His writing displays a quiet but thought-provoking philosophy in his witty dialogues, as well as a wry sense of humour. His characters are usually endearing.

Having read with pleasure the entire Scotland Street series and all the Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency books, and some of his stand-alone novels, he has become one of my favourite authors. This is the second book in his newest series and features food writer Paul Stuart. This time he is visiting a small village in France which is said to have the second worst restaurant in France. He goes there with an older female relative in hoping for a peaceful setting to write his next book. The local restaurant lives up to its reputation for serving terrible food. The first time he eats there he becomes ill from food poisoning.

Getting caught up in the lives and problems of the villagers, Paul enjoys being of help which leaves little time for progress in writing his book. The description of the pleasant French village, its people, and the food and market makes me want to visit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this delightful ARC.